Writer's WorkshopHow to Become a More Successful Writer

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FOA- Write four adjectives that describe Malala and the Taliban. Then write a paragraph explaining how they are different.

FOA- Write four adjectives that describe Malala and the Taliban. Then write a paragraph explaining how they are different.

Objectives•I can use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing,

speaking, reading, or listening.

•I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and

convery ideas, concepts, and information through the selection,

organization, and analysis of relevant content.

•I can cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an

analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn

from the text.

•I can determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development

over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting

ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

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Formal Writing Faux PasNo Abbreviations or SymbolsWrite out words such as "and," rather than using &Write out first, second, third, etc.No abbreviations! For example, write sentence, not sent. or paragraph, not para.

ContractionsWrite them out. For example, write cannot rather than can't.

Be SpecificDo not use "thing." If there is a "thing," then name it.Do not use "like." It is much more appropriate to say "such as." Better yet, try not to use it all.Try to avoid the phrase "kind of" as well.

YouAvoid using "you." Replace you with words such as: one, the reader, the author, the audience, etc.

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The Introductory Paragraph

What is a hook?The hook is the part of your essay that “hooks” the

reader in. It should grab the readers attention.

Think of the hook is that television remote. What happens when a television show or movie does not grab your attention within the first few minutes? Change the channel! You do not want the reader to “change the channel” on your essay.

For explanatory writing, quotes, questions, and anecdotes make great hooks.

Great Hook Examples

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•“Who can depict the feeling of desolation, homesickness, uncertainty, and anxiety with which an emigrant makes his first voyage across the ocean?” In this statement...•As someone who has never entered a new country, I cannot tell you what it feels like to go to one, but if I could imagine it, I would assume that most emigrants feel the same as this one. At first, he was...•Have you ever traveled to a new world? How does it feel to travel to a place you have never seen? Would you feel scared or overjoyed?

What is a thesis statement?

•The thesis statement is that sentence or two at the beginningof your essay that tells the reader what this is essay is goingto be about.

•Each body paragraph will also have a mini-thesis that tells the reader what it will be discussing.

•It should be clear and concise (to the point).

Wrong!!!In this paper, I am going to tell you my opinion of

the things that are going on in the world of television in the modern day world. And your point is? Just tell us!

Hello, my name is ___________, and today I am going to tell you about.... NO!!! Never introduce yourself in an essay. The reader knows who you are...your name is on it. Never tell me what you are going to tell me about...just tell me!

Great Thesis Examples

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In the passage, The Rise of David Levinsky Book V, I have concluded that the authors tone changes several times.

Mount Rainer is a tremendous resource for climbers, offering great mountaineering experiences of many kinds.

The human right of education should be protected and defended around the world.

Background Info

Background information is a good way to “beef up” your introductory or body paragraphs.

•Mention the author’s name and article title•Remember, when speaking about literature, stay in present tense. Ex: Write “the author says...” rather than “the author said...”

Intro Example Among the various hardships one faces in a lifetime, none compares to leaving one's home to start a new life. In Abraham Cahan's The Rise of David Levinsky: Book V, the author describes one emigrant's journey across the sea to a new world. Through his use of figurative language, analogies, and allusions, the reader can detect the author's roller coaster of tones throughout the passage.

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Which part is in blue? black? red?

Begin writing your thesis statement for your essay.

Keep in my mind the tips that you learned today. Use your

notes and handouts.

Write an essay that summarizes and analyzes how the central ideas introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in the text. Be sure to cite evidence from the text to support your analysis. Be sure to follow the conventions of standard written English.

Writer's WorkshopHow to Become a More Successful WriterDay 2

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Objectives•I can use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing,

speaking, reading, or listening.

•I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and

convery ideas, concepts, and information through the selection,

organization, and analysis of relevant content.

•I can cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an

analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn

from the text.

•I can determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development

over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting

ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

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Quotes

When using someone else's quotes in your writing, you must indicate clearly that the words are not your own.Tell your reader who is speaking. Avoid using he said/she said too often. Change it up.

AddedAdded RemarkedRemarked ExclaimedExclaimed AnnouncedAnnounced

Wrote/writesWrote/writes RepliedReplied StatedStated CommentedCommented

RespondedResponded ArguedArgued ProposedProposed ClaimedClaimed

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ParaphrasingInvolves putting a passage into your own words. It must still be attributed to the original source.It is normally shorter than the original material.No quotation marks.If you use any of the original words besides a, an, the, etc., you are quoting.

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Avoiding Plagiarism

Always credit the original source. It's not enough to just use quotation marks. Example: The author states, "..."If you're not directly quoting, summarize from what you remember.Check your writing against the original text.Quotation marks!!!

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C.S.I.Claim: Make your claimState: State your evidence—quote, paraphrase, etc.Interpret: Interpret what it means to you. Why is this evidence significant?

As an emigrant to America, Cahan begins his journey simultaneously anxious, lonely, and doubtful. He demonstrates his anxiety in his interpretation of the sounds and thoughts entering his mind – “ghastly” roars of the engine, maddening “whispers” of the waves, and the schizophrenic thought, “Are you crazy?” Certainly, new experiences have made him fearful, just as they would for me If I entered a foreign land. Adding to Cahan’s “anxiety” is a feeling of “homesickness,” no doubt caused by being crammed tightly into the belly of a Bremen steamer. The sights, smells, and comforts of home are surely absent here. Overwhelmingly, Cahan is full of self-doubt. He alludes to Columbus and his death-defying journey, sharing the same worries that he will never reach land. When surrounded by “an unrelieved, a hopeless monotony of water,” Cahan likely longs for the sweet sight of soil.

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Great ExamplesCSI

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Great ExamplesCSI

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Great ExamplesGood use of words other than "said."

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What goes in the body of my essay?Central Ideas!!! Remember, the central idea is

the most important point the author makes. You are the author now. What are your central ideas?

We read three articles, watched a video, and read about Malala in CORE at the beginning of the year. From all of that information, you should be able to choose three central ideas for your essay--three points to back up your thesis statement. You are not limited to three, but you should have no less than three (one for each body paragraph that you write).

What goes in the body of my essay?

What goes in the body of my essay?For each central idea/paragraph, you should have

at least 3 pieces of evidence to back up your claim. Make sure that you cite correctly and provide an explanation of the significance of the evidence.

Examples of body paragraphs

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Examples of body paragraphs

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Examples of body paragraphs

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The Importance of Pre-Writing

Helps generate ideasProvides a "skeleton" for your essayOnly takes about 10-15 minutesCan be tailored to your learning style—outlines, web charts, pyramids, etc.

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Begin pre-writing for your body paragraphs. When finished, raise your hand. I will check your pre-

writing and approve you for beginning your paragraphs. Choose

any style of pre-writing you wish.

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Writer's WorkshopHow to Become a More Successful WriterDay 3

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Objectives•I can use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing,

speaking, reading, or listening.

•I can write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and

convery ideas, concepts, and information through the selection,

organization, and analysis of relevant content.

•I can cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an

analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn

from the text.

•I can determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development

over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting

ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

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Let's Review

Claim: Make your claimState: State your evidence—quote, paraphrase, etc.Interpret: Interpret what it means to you

What does CSI mean?

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A conclusion is your chance to wrap up your essay for the reader.Revisit your thesis statement. Do not simply restate it. It's redundant.Restate the title of the passage and author.Your conclusion should reflect what you have learned.Leave your reader with a message—what you want them to remember, what to take away from it. It should be based on the information you provided in the essay.Do not introduce new ideas.

I can write a conclusion.

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• A good way to get started writing conclusions is to give yourself a starting point. You can begin with any of the following: to sum up, in conclusion, in summary. Make sure these sound appropriate and fit well with what you’ve written. As you grow as a writer, you might want to leave these behind and try other strategies.

Tips and Examples

• Use what you’ve written to help you write your conclusion. You can often rephrase what you included in your introductory paragraph. If you began with, "The colors of autumn make it my favorite season," then you can include a similar sentence in your conclusion. For example, "It is the orange, red, and brown of the leaves that make me love the fall."

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Examples

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Examples

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