Essay Terminology

Essay Terminology

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

ESSAY TOPIC SENTENCE

DETAILED OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION

THESIS CONCLUDING SENTENCE

FIRST DRAFT

BODY PARAGRAPH

PRE-WRITING

PEER REVIEWCHUNK

CONCRETE DETAILS

RATIO COMMENTAR

YWEAVING

ESSAYESSAY

A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have at least FOUR paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have at least FOUR paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

INTRODUCTION (also called the introductory paragraph)

INTRODUCTION (also called the introductory paragraph)

The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the end of the paragraph.

The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the end of the paragraph.

BODY PARAGRAPHBODY PARAGRAPH

A middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point you want to make that supports your thesis.

A middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point you want to make that supports your thesis.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH (also called the conclusion)

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH (also called the conclusion)

The last paragraph in your essay. It may: sum up your ideas reflect on what you said in your essay say more commentary about your subject give a personal insight about the subject

Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat key words from your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.

The last paragraph in your essay. It may: sum up your ideas reflect on what you said in your essay say more commentary about your subject give a personal insight about the subject

Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat key words from your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.

THESISTHESIS A sentence with a subject

and analysis (also called commentary.)

Controls the focus and topic of your essay; everything in the essay should connect back to and support the thesis

This comes somewhere in your introductory paragraph and most often at the end.

A sentence with a subject and analysis (also called commentary.)

Controls the focus and topic of your essay; everything in the essay should connect back to and support the thesis

This comes somewhere in your introductory paragraph and most often at the end.

PRE-WRITINGPRE-WRITING

The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns.

The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns.

CONCRETE DETAILS (CD)CONCRETE DETAILS (CD)Specific details that form the

backbone or core of your body paragraphs.

Most often your CD will be quotation, paraphrasing, or plot reference.

Other synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, proof illustrations, support, or evidence.

Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body paragraphs.

Most often your CD will be quotation, paraphrasing, or plot reference.

Other synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, proof illustrations, support, or evidence.

COMMENTARY (COM)COMMENTARY (COM)

Your analysis of or comment about something; not concrete detail.

Synonyms include analysis, insight, inference, interpretation, evaluation, explication (for poetry)

In personal essays ONLY, commentary can be reflection, feelings, or personal response

Your analysis of or comment about something; not concrete detail.

Synonyms include analysis, insight, inference, interpretation, evaluation, explication (for poetry)

In personal essays ONLY, commentary can be reflection, feelings, or personal response

TOPIC SENTENCE (TS)TOPIC SENTENCE (TS)

The first sentence in a body paragraph.

This must have a subject and analysis (commentary) for the paragraph.

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

The first sentence in a body paragraph.

This must have a subject and analysis (commentary) for the paragraph.

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

CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS)

CONCLUDING SENTENCE (CS)

The last sentence in a body paragraph.

It is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.

The last sentence in a body paragraph.

It is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.

DETAILED OUTLINEDETAILED OUTLINE

The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft of an essay; it is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas.

The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft of an essay; it is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas.

FIRST DRAFT FINAL DRAFTFIRST DRAFT FINAL DRAFT

The first version of your essay

(also called the rough draft).

The first version of your essay

(also called the rough draft).

The final version of your essay that you turn to be assessed.

The final version of your essay that you turn to be assessed.

PEER REVIEWPEER REVIEW

Written responses and reactions to a partner’s paper. Usually completed

on first and later drafts.

Written responses and reactions to a partner’s paper. Usually completed

on first and later drafts.

CHUNKCHUNKoOne sentence of concrete detail and

two sentences of commentary (1 CD and 2 COM).

o It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write.

oThere are usually at least TWO chunks per body paragraph.

oOne sentence of concrete detail and two sentences of commentary (1 CD and 2 COM).

o It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write.

oThere are usually at least TWO chunks per body paragraph.

RATIO RATIO

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

1 CD: 2+ COM

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

1 CD: 2+ COM

WEAVINGWEAVING

Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraph. You can do this after you master the format.

Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraph. You can do this after you master the format.

INTRODUCING AND CONTEXTUALIZING

QUOTATIONS

INTRODUCING AND CONTEXTUALIZING

QUOTATIONS

Also called lead-ins.When including quotes in an essay, they must always be introduced so that they make sense. Transition words and lead-ins help to smoothly incorporate the quote. Context is giving enough information in the set-up so that the quote makes sense to the reader.

Also called lead-ins.When including quotes in an essay, they must always be introduced so that they make sense. Transition words and lead-ins help to smoothly incorporate the quote. Context is giving enough information in the set-up so that the quote makes sense to the reader.

The EndThe End