Written Projects:

  • Criteria: Paper must be 5 paragraphs long (See 5 Paragraph Essay Guidelines).
  1. There needs to be an introduction with a capturing opening, necessary background information and the last sentence should be your thesis statement (the main idea that runs throughout the paper).
  2. You must have 3 paragraphs to make up the body of the paper. The body must remain focused on the thesis. You must include your opinions and back them up. Each paragraph in the body should have a topic that relates back to the thesis.
  3. You must have a concluding paragraph that restates your thesis and brings your thoughts to a close or completion. Your conclusion should be between three to five sentences, but is not limited to those numbers.
  4. MAKE SURE THAT YOU USE GOOD TRANSITIONS SO YOUR PAPER FLOWS EASILY FOR THE READER.
  5. DICTION/WORD CHOICE, PUNCTUATION, SPELLING, MECHANICS, GRAMMAR, and USAGE will be looked at closely.
  6. All Papers MUST Include a handwritten Rough Draft (25 pts) and a typed Final Copy (100 pts)
  7. Final copy should have your name, assignment, block and date in upper left hand corner (MLA style), and should have a title (be inventive, imaginative, etc.). View MLA for OPEN OFFICE in your English folder.
  8. The final paper should be typed and double-spaced all the way through – from your name to the last line. Each page should have your last name and the page number in the upper right hand corner.
  9. Length should be 2-3 pages, no more – keep your focus.

Persuasive Papers

  1. Select a topic which is both current and controversial. This means the issue should be of concern to a sizeable group of people – and that the people in that group have more than one reasonable opinion on the subject. This issue should also be one which you have strong, personal feelings about.
  2. Write in the style of:
  • Franklin: writing to the public about Moral Perfection.
  • Henry: writing to persuade Colonists to take up arms and fight for freedom from Britain.
  • Jefferson: writing to Colonists, British Government, and the world declaring independence.
  1. In your rough draft, write your personal feelings about the issue and the reasons you feel that way.
  2. Notice how others feel about your issue. Listen closely, especially to those with whom you disagree. They will give you a preview of the response you can expect from your audience. Understand why they feel the way they do. You must understand what you are up against if you want to persuade your audience.
  3. Use calm, reasoning tone throughout your paper; use a balance of logic and emotion.. Likewise, be diplomatic. Give credit to the reasonable arguments on the other side of the issue; then point out clearly the weaknesses of each.
  4. Use hyperbole and parallelism to emphasize your stand. Analogies are often good to help with understanding.
  5. Who is your audience? Appeal to the needs of your audience. Let each of them know what’s in it for him or her. Prove to them that they do have something to gain by changing their opinions.
  6. Use your two strongest arguments first and last. People are more likely to remember arguments placed in these positions than the others.
  7. Use strong examples to back up your main points.
  8. Choose your words very carefully. Remember that words convey feeling (connotation) as well as meaning (denotation). Select words which your audience will react to positively. Define any terms directly related to the issue.

FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY

The Introductory Paragraph

  • The opening paragraph sets the tone
    It not only introduces the topic, but where you are going with it (the thesis). If you do a good job in the opening, you will draw your reader into your "experience." Put effort up front, and you will reap rewards.
  • Write in the active voice
    It is much more powerful. Do that for each sentence in the introductory essay. Unless you are writing a personal narrative, do not use the pronoun "I."Do not write “I believe,” “I know,” “I think,” etc. It is your paper; we know what you believe, know, think, etc., because you are stating it in your paper.
  • Varying sentence structure
    Review to avoid the same dull patternof always starting with the subject of the sentence.
  • Brainstorm to find the best supporting ideas
    The best supporting ideas are the ones about which you have some knowledge. If you do not know about them, you cannot do good job writing about them. Don't weaken the essay with ineffective argument.
  • Practice writing introductory paragraphs on various topics
    Even if you do not use them, they can be compared with the type of writing you are doing now. It is rewarding to see a pattern of progress.

Supporting Paragraphs

  • Write a transition to establish the sub-topic
    Each paragraph has to flow, one to the next.
  • Write the topic sentence
    The transition can be included in the topic sentence.
  • Supporting ideas, examples, and details must be specific to the sub-topic
    The tendency in supporting paragraphs is to put in just about anything.
    Avoid this: the work you have made above with details and examples will help you keep focused.
  • Vary sentence structure
    Avoid repetitious pronouns and lists
    Avoid beginning sentences the same way (subject + verb + direct object).

The Concluding Paragraph

This is a difficult paragraph to write effectively. You cannot assume that the reader sees your point

  • Restate the introductory thesis/paragraph with originality
    Do not simply copy the first paragraph.
  • Summarize your argument with some degree of authority
    this paragraph should leave your reader with no doubt as to your position or conclusion of logic.
  • Be powerful as this is the last thought that you are leaving with the reader.