JUNIOR ENGLISH SOCIAL REFORMER ESSAY 10/5/12
FIRST DRAFT: DUE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2012
Grading rubric:
* Must show writer is finding thesis 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
· Writer is answering the 4 fundamental questions 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
· Writer shows sense of logically organizing material 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
HOW TO GET STARTED
After reading through material on your subject, and taking notes, there are several ways to get started writing your essay.
1. Create a rough outline
A. The four fundamental questions could be used as major sections
B. List important facts under each question that answers that question
C. Take some time to create a strong thesis statement:
a. although this is a biographical essay, your subject’s life is being examined based on his/her affect on others through social reform, thus you can create a thesis that states how the reform has grown out of the subject’s life experiences or how the reform has affected the subject’s life
b. a strong thesis centers and controls your essay
2. Begin by writing off the top of your head based on what you can remember from your research.
A. After writing, read what you wrote and find the center or thesis in what you found most memorable and interesting
B. Often the best thesis grows out of a free writing. And is often found at the end, not the beginning of what you wrote.
C. How to get length into this rough writing: Set a timer and free write until time is up; set timer and free write on one question at a time. (For example, write on question 1 for five minutes, take a break, then work on question 2 for five minutes.)
3. Combine outline and writing.
A. Write out parts where you have plenty of information or that you remember well.
B. Fill in parts where you need more information or that you do not remember well with outline style statements and/or questions.
4. Once you have a rough draft, then you can see the holes that need to be filled. You can also see how to logically and clearly develop your essay.
5. After writing a rough start, write a first draft to bring to class on Wednesday October 10, 2012. Remember your first draft is worth up to 25 points! Do not neglect it!