Writing Terminology

ESSAY

A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary)

about a subject.

An essay consists of 4 parts:

1. Introduction

2. Two body paragraphs

3. Concluding paragraph

INTRODUCTION (INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH)

1. The first paragraph in an essay

2. Includes the thesis

3. Thesis is most often at the end.

BODY PARAGRAPH

A middle paragraph in an essay

Develops a point that supports thesis

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

Last paragraph in essaySums up, reflects on previous comments, gives more commentary or personal statement regarding subject

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH DOES NOT:

Include concrete detailRepeat key words from paper

(especially from thesis or introduction)

However…It provides a finished feeling

to essay

THESIS

Sentence with subject & opinion (commentary)

Located at the end of introductory paragraph

PRE-WRITING

The process of getting your concrete details on paper

before you organize the essay into paragraphs

PRE-WRITING INCLUDES:

Bubble ClustersSpider DiagramsOutlinesLine ClusteringColumns

CONCRETE DETAILS (CD)

Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body

paragraphs

SYNONYMS FOR CONCRETE DETAILS (CD)

1. Facts

2. Specifics

3. Examples

4. Ilustrations

5. Support

6. Evidence

7. Quotations

8. Paraphrasing

COMMENTARY (CM)

Your opinion or comment about something: not concrete detail.

SYNONYMS FOR COMMENTARY (CM)

1. Opinion

2. Insight

3. Analysis

4. Interpretation

5. Personal Response

6. Feelings

7. Evaluation

8. Explication

9. Reflection

TOPIC SENTENCE

First sentence in a body paragraph

Must have a subject & opinion (cm) for the paragraph

It does the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for the whole essay

CONCLUDING SENTENCE

Last sentence in a body paragraph

It is all commentary (cm)Does not repeat key wordsGives finished feeling to

paragraph

SHAPING THE ESSAY

Step completed after pre-writing & before the first draft

Functions as an outline for thesis,

topic sentences, concrete details, & commentary

FIRST DRAFT

The first version of your essay

(rough draft)

FINAL DRAFT

The final version of your essay

PEER RESPONSE

Written responses & reactions to a partner’s paper

CHUNK

The smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write &

contains:

1. One sentence of CD

2. Two sentences of CM

WEAVING

Blending concrete details & commentary in a body

paragraph

(comes after format mastery)

RATIO

The ratio of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentary

(CM)

1 CD : 2+ CM

WORD COUNTS

The minimum length per paragraph to earn a “C.”

CONFUSED?

Never fear

Mrs. Laurence is here!

(rhyming couplet)