Introduction



371475081407000How to Get a “5” on the FSA(and an “A” in English)Introduction Do you begin with an engaging HOOK? Do you provide enough BACKGROUND INFO for the Martian? Have you saved your QUOTES for the body paragraphs? (No text evidence in the intro.) Is your thesis statement the LAST (or close to the last) sentence in your paragraph? Are you using an OPEN or CLOSED thesis? Why did you choose one instead of the other?? Can you improve the paragraph using the Grammar, Mechanics, & Style Checklist?Body Paragraphs 1, 2, & 3? Do you begin with a TOPIC SENTENCE?? Do you include two or three pieces of TEXT EVIDENCE (quotes)?? Is each piece of text evidence sufficiently INTRODUCED?? Do you EXPLAIN how each piece of text evidence supports your thesis?? Is the paragraph YOUR IDEAS supported by quotes, not the other way around? ? Do you include a SUMMATIVE (concluding) sentence? ? Can you improve the paragraph using the Grammar, Mechanics, & Style Checklist?Counter-claim and Rebuttal? Do you introduce, cite, and explain a COUNTER-CLAIM from someone who disagrees with you?? Do you provide a detailed REBUTTAL to the claim?? Can you improve the paragraph using the Grammar, Mechanics, & Style Checklist?Conclusion? Do you refer back to your HOOK?? Do you restate your THESIS in different words?? Do you touch on the issue’s SIGNIFICANCE, perhaps by issuing a call to action?? Do you end with a PROFOUND thought or observation?? Can you improve the paragraph using the Grammar, Mechanics, & Style Checklist?Grammar, Mechanics, & Style Checklist Fix FRAGMENTS. Each sentence must have a subject, verb, and complete thought. JOIN independent clauses (clauses that could stand alone as sentences) in one of the 5 Ways.“A shot rang out, a maiden screamed” is a COMMA SPLICE ERROR. Instead, join the clauses with a PERIOD: “A shot rang out. A maiden screamed.”SEMI-COLON: “A shot rang out; a maiden screamed.”COLON: “A shot rang out: A maiden screamed.”COMMA + COORDINATING CONJUNCTION: “A shot rang out, and a maiden screamed.”SEMI-COLON + CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB + COMMA:“A shot rang out; therefore, a maiden screamed.” Punctuate FUSED SENTENCES (aka “run-ons”): “A shot rang out a maiden screamed.” Make sure all pronouns are in THIRD PERSON: he, she, they. NO first person (I, me, mine, our, we, us), ? very limited second person (you). Incorporate STAND-ALONE QUOTES (quotes that form an entire sentence) into your own sentences. Eliminate vague and wordy occurrences of THIS and IT, particularly in phrases such as “This is because,” “The reason for this is,” or “By using the Internet, it allows people to . . .” Check for appropriate TRANSITION words and sentences. Can your reader follow your argument? Delete REFERENCES to the paper: “This paper will discuss,” “As mentioned earlier,” “As will be seen.” Cite sources in PARENTHESES after each quote; don’t write, “In the second source” or “Source three ? says.” (You may use the name of an author or publication: “As William Safire wrote, . . .” or “The New York Times claims . . .”) Check for VARIED SENTENCE STRUCTURE. Never bore your reader with the same type of sentence twice in a row. Make some short, some long. Mix up compound and complex sentences. Add dependent clauses. Have fun. Change SLANG or CHATTINESS to more precise, formal language. Spell out contractions. Avoid OVERSTATEMENTS. “Everyone uses a computer” is an untrue statement. Fix it by changing “Everyone” to “Many people” or “Most Americans.” Eliminate CLICH?S, including “In this day and age” and “Since the beginning of time.” Delete UNECESSARY WORDS. Your paper has to be laser-focused to keep your reader’s attention. ................
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