Summer ReadingSummative Essay

ELACCGPS Focus Standards:   ELACC11-12RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to

support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

  ELACC11-12RI5: Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the

structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.

  ELACC11-12W4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the

development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

   

CCGPS Standards

Learning Target: the student will demonstrate comprehension of their summer reading assignment by writing an essay on their chosen novel.

Learning Target:

1. Article of the day 2. Review of essay structure/ power point 3. Thumbs up/thumbs down 4. Return summer reading. Bring your

SCASI, your articles (seniors only), a pen or pencil (you need to like what you are writing with) and be ready to write. Paper will be provided.

5. Seniors may NOT write on Song of Solomon. You read it last year, in class

Agenda

It is important to remember:

Answer the darn question! Be sure you’ve read it carefully and understand what you are being asked to do.

ATDQ!

You may want to use the five paragraph format for your essay:

Paragraph 1: Introduction Paragraph 2: First Argument/main point Paragraph 3: Second Argument/main point Paragraph 4: Third Argument/main point Paragraph 5: Conclusion

Another visual:

INTRODUCTION = CONTEXT & ARGUMENT

BODY PARAGRAPH #1

= BODY OF EVIDENCE

BODY PARAGRAPH #2

BODY PARAGRAPH #3

CONCLUSION = SYNTHESIS

Five-Paragraphs are just a template:

Do not use first person in formal writing …

Avoid using:

Etc Abbreviations (LOL, SOS, u, luv, b/c)

Remember to write in paragraph form …

In the New York Times bestseller The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson, Harriet Vanger, scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, disappeared over forty years ago.

Include the author and title of the book in the opening paragraph

Be certain you have a specific thesis statement that answers the question you’ve chosen

The introduction functions as a tool to bring the subject before the reader in an interesting manner. Regardless of the subject, it is your task to present the material in such a way that the reader is stimulated to read more. A well-written introduction "puts the readers in the right frame of mind for the rest of the essay. It establishes a context for the ideas you wish to present. With a proper context your audience will be more likely to understand your intended message" (Goldman, Hirsch 141).

Introductions

Quotation Startling statement Example Summary Question

Begin with a hook

The children’s book Olivia … and the missing toy, by Ian Falconer, is about a feisty young pig whose active imagination makes the seemingly mundane loss of a favorite toy an imaginative story. Falconer uses indirect characterization to exemplify the high-spirited Olivia.

Maurice Sendak’s children’s book Where The Wild Things Are is about a young boy who uses his active imagination to make his punishment more bearable. Sendak uses indirect characterization to exemplify the mischievous but relatable Max.

The book Olivia and the missing toy, by Ian Falconer, utilizes a variety of stylistic devices to exemplify the “spicy” child Olivia.

Another sample thesis:

The book Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendek uses a variety of stylistic devices to exemplify the mischievous nature of the protagonist Max.

Olivia is a pig who lived in a house with her mom and dad.

Poor thesis:

Another poor thesis – Where the Wild Things are is a book about a

boy named Max.

The use of style in the book clearly sets the tone.

Another poor thesis:

Use specific examples to support your thesis. These are the details:

The character of Olivia wears a lot of red.

Olivia wants her mother to make her a red soccer shirt because her “uniform comes in a really unattractive green.”

Olivia looks for her toy.

The story takes place in a house.

Olivia’s imagination is exemplified by the setting, which changes from “a camel in Egypt” to “a dark and stormy night” – all while staying in the confines of her own house.

Max is a boy with an active imagination.

Max is sent to his room without supper.

Max’s active imagination exemplifies his mischievous character.

Writing a Conclusion

An effective concluding paragraph should provide closure for a paper, leaving the reader feeling satisfied that the thesis has been fully explained. Probably the shortest paragraph of an essay, the conclusion should be brief and to the point. The conclusion should provide a restatement of the thesis, a summary of the author's conclusions, and perhaps a solution to the problem, if this is the writer's intent.

Conclusions

Try to relax and enjoy the writing process

Briefly organize an essay on the following topic:

DHS students should (or should not) be allowed to go off campus during lunch.

Practice