Jane SchafferJane SchafferWriting TermsWriting Terms

Tracy Unified School District Tracy Unified School District

Adopted Writing ProgramAdopted Writing Program

Essay:Essay:

An essay is a piece of writing that An essay is a piece of writing that gives the writer’s thoughts gives the writer’s thoughts (commentary) about a subject. (commentary) about a subject. All the essays will have at least All the essays will have at least four paragraphs: an introduction, four paragraphs: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.conclusion.

Introduction:Introduction:

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

Body Paragraph:Body Paragraph:

This is a middle paragraph in an This is a middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point the essay. It develops a point the writer wants to make that writer wants to make that supports the thesis.supports the thesis.

Format of theFormat of theBody ParagraphBody Paragraph

Topic Sentence Topic Sentence (TS)(TS)

Concrete Detail Concrete Detail (CD) For example, …(CD) For example, …

Commentary Commentary (CM) This shows that …(CM) This shows that …

Commentary Commentary (CM) This also shows …(CM) This also shows …

Concrete Detail Concrete Detail (CD) In addition, …(CD) In addition, …

Commentary Commentary (CM) This shows that …(CM) This shows that …

Commentary Commentary (CM) This also shows …(CM) This also shows …

Concluding Sentence (CS)Concluding Sentence (CS)

Conclusion:Conclusion:

The conclusion is the last paragraph in The conclusion is the last paragraph in an essay. It may sum up the writer’s an essay. It may sum up the writer’s ideas, reflect on what is said in the ideas, reflect on what is said in the essay, or give a personal statement essay, or give a personal statement about the subject.about the subject.

The conclusion is all commentary and The conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat any key words from the does not repeat any key words from the paper and especially not from the thesis paper and especially not from the thesis and introduction. It gives a finished and introduction. It gives a finished feeling to the essay.feeling to the essay.

Thesis:Thesis:

The thesis is a sentence with a The thesis is a sentence with a subject and opinion. This is most subject and opinion. This is most often found at the end of the often found at the end of the introduction.introduction.

Pre-Writing:Pre-Writing:

Pre-writing is the process of getting Pre-writing is the process of getting the concrete details down on paper the concrete details down on paper before the writer organizes the essay before the writer organizes the essay into paragraphs.into paragraphs.

There are several kinds of pre-There are several kinds of pre-writing. There are five basic kinds: writing. There are five basic kinds: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, and columns.outlines, line clustering, and columns.

Concrete Details (CD):Concrete Details (CD):

Concrete details are specific details Concrete details are specific details that form the backbone or core of the that form the backbone or core of the body paragraphs. body paragraphs.

Synonyms for concrete detail include Synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, quotations, proof, evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot references.paraphrasing, or plot references.

Commentary (CM):Commentary (CM):

Commentary is the writer’s opinion or Commentary is the writer’s opinion or comment about something; not comment about something; not concrete detail.concrete detail.

Synonyms for commentary include Synonyms for commentary include opinion, insight, analysis, opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, personal interpretation, inference, personal response, feelings, evaluation, response, feelings, evaluation, explication and reflection.explication and reflection.

Topic Sentence (TS):Topic Sentence (TS):

The topic sentence is the first The topic sentence is the first sentence of a body paragraph. sentence of a body paragraph. The topic sentence must have a The topic sentence must have a subject and opinion subject and opinion (commentary) for the paragraph. (commentary) for the paragraph. It does the same thing for a body It does the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for paragraph that the thesis does for the whole essay.the whole essay.

Concluding Sentence Concluding Sentence (CS):(CS): The concluding sentence is the The concluding sentence is the

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

Shaping the Essay:Shaping the Essay:

This step is done after pre-writing This step is done after pre-writing and before the first draft of the and before the first draft of the essay. It is an outline of your essay. It is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas.details, and commentary ideas.

First Draft:First Draft:

The first draft is the first version The first draft is the first version of your essay. This version is also of your essay. This version is also known as the rough draft.known as the rough draft.

Final Draft:Final Draft:

The final draft is the final version The final draft is the final version of the essay, but NOT of the essay, but NOT NECESSARILY the second draft. NECESSARILY the second draft.

Peer Response:Peer Response:

A peer response is a written A peer response is a written response and/or reaction to a response and/or reaction to a partner’s paper.partner’s paper.

Chunk:Chunk:

A chunk is one sentence of A chunk is one sentence of concrete detail (CD) and two concrete detail (CD) and two sentences of commentary (CM). sentences of commentary (CM). It is the smallest unified group of It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that one can write.thoughts that one can write.

Weaving:Weaving:

Weaving is the blending of Weaving is the blending of concrete details (CD) and concrete details (CD) and commentary (CM) in a body commentary (CM) in a body paragraph. One can do this after paragraph. One can do this after the format is mastered.the format is mastered.

Ratio:Ratio:

The ratio for English is one part The ratio for English is one part concrete detail (CD) to two parts concrete detail (CD) to two parts commentary (CM)commentary (CM)

Shifting Ratios:Shifting Ratios:

ENGLISHENGLISH HISTORYHISTORY MATHMATH

1:2+1:2+ 2+:12+:1 1:01:0

CDCD CDCD CDCD

CMCM CDCD CDCD

CMCM CMCM CDCD

Word Counts:Word Counts:

The word count is the minimum The word count is the minimum number of words in a specified number of words in a specified paragraph that will allow the paragraph that will allow the writer to earn a “C”.writer to earn a “C”.

Word Count Word Count for 9for 9thth Grade Grade

FIRST SEMESTERFIRST SEMESTER

Introduction: 40+Introduction: 40+

Body Paragraphs: Body Paragraphs: 100+100+

Conclusion: 40+Conclusion: 40+

SECOND SECOND SEMESTERSEMESTER

Introduction: 40+Introduction: 40+

Body Paragraphs: Body Paragraphs: 125+125+

Conclusion: 40+Conclusion: 40+

Sentence Count:Sentence Count:

The sentence count is the The sentence count is the minimum number of sentences in minimum number of sentences in a specified paragraph that will a specified paragraph that will allow the writer to earn a “C”.allow the writer to earn a “C”.

Sentence CountSentence Countfor 9for 9thth Grade Grade

FIRST SEMESTERFIRST SEMESTER

Introduction: 3+Introduction: 3+

Body Paragraphs: 8+Body Paragraphs: 8+

Conclusion: 3+Conclusion: 3+

SECOND SECOND SEMESTERSEMESTER

Introduction: 3+Introduction: 3+

Body Paragraphs: 11+Body Paragraphs: 11+

Conclusion: 3+Conclusion: 3+