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left18415Explanatory Essay Cheat SheetExplanatory Essay Cheat SheetWhat is included in an explanatory essay?An ______________________ paragraph that clearly states what is about to be analyzed.Each subsequent paragraph has a distinct ________________________Each of the sentences of the paragraph relates directly to the topic.All the paragraphs are sequenced properly and make smooth transition from one topic to another.Precise and accurate words are used to __________________________________________.The concluding paragraph reinforces the position in a meaningful way. What are the required skills to get an “A”? (Look at the rubric on page 142 in the springboard book)IdeasOrganizationLanguage and ConventionsIntroduction:The three main parts of the introduction are:__________________________________Grabs the reader’s attention early and right away. Include:Anecdote: Begin with a brief story about real life that relates to ____________________Question: Ask a thought-provoking question relating to the concept of your thesis. Don’t ask simple questions like ___________________________________________________Quote: Find a quote that states an ordinary idea in an extraordinary way. This quote can come from ______________________________________________________________Intriguing statement: Knock down common assumptions or define a word in a new way. __________________________________This section connects ____________________ to the __________________.The purpose is to ____________________ the information and make it _____________ what you will be discussing. May also provide necessary __________________________ as needed.__________________________________My response to the ______________________.Only _________________ sentence. Should not have (_____/_______) or announce the intent of the essay (“____________________________________________”)Writing a Thesis:Prompt: (highlight the prompt in yellow) Write a multiparagraph explanatory essay explaining how to adjust to 6th grade. In your essay, give examples from your own life, from your independent reading, or from society that help support your explanation. Thesis: (highlight the prompt in yellow) underline body paragraph 1, circle body paragraph 2 and highlight body paragraph 3 in another color. To adjust to 6th grade, you must know how to use a binder, manage your time well, and learn how to make new friends. Formula: ___________________________________, _____________________________________, _________________________________________, and _______________________________________.Practice: Revising and Evaluating an Introduction: Highlight the hook in yellow (or circle it). Highlight the bridge in pink (or underline it). Highlight the thesis in green (or double underline it).In “The Giver “by Lois Lowry the world Jonas lives in is very controlled. The people follow all of the rules, but it is because they are brainwashed to do so. They have no emotion. The people call death and euthanasia release. When you receive a job the Chief Elder chooses it for you based upon observation and skills. They believe it is a perfect utopia, but it is not. This society has similarities and differences from our modern day society. Two areas of focus are death and jobs. Let’s Evaluate it!Is the hook engaging?If the hook is a quote, is it integrated smoothly?Is there a bridge that effectively links the hook to the thesis?Is the thesis clear and precise interpretation of the topic?Is the use of language formal or informal?Is the language effective?Where can it be made more clear?Where can ideas be stated more smoothly?Revising Thesis Statements: (Begin the thesis with a dependent clause)Thesis: Herosim means taking action when you are needed, showing dedication to your quest, and not giving up even when the odds are against you. Thesis: Heroism means putting others before oneself and directly facing challenges, but not always saving or satisfying everyone. Thesis: Heroism is being brave and helping other people before yourself, but it does not always guarantee a happy ending. Body Paragraphs: What three elements should be included in every body paragraph?Conclusion: What three questions should the conclusion answer?What should I avoid doing in my conclusion?What is one way to conclude my essay?Outline: (Example) Your outline for the essay should look similar to this. INTRODUCTION:Hook: (What would make an effective hook for your essay?)Bridge: (What background information does that reader need and what connections do I need to make?)Thesis: (State your response to the prompt with the topic of each body paragraph)BODY PARAGRAPH 1Topic SentenceSupporting detailCommentarySupporting detailCommentary BODY PARAGRAPH 2Topic sentence Supporting detailCommentarySupporting detailcommentaryBODY PARAGRAPH 3Topic sentenceSupporting detailCommentarySupporting detailcommentaryCONCLUSIONRestate your thesis (do not simply change the word order)What did you say? (literal/level 1)What does it mean? (Interpretive/level 2)Why does it matter? (universal/level 3)Prompts: (Circle which prompt you would like to write on) Think about your protagonist’s characteristics, what he achieved, and how he changed by the end of the story. Contrast the protagonist with another character from his society. Be sure to:Introduce the topic clearly, establishing a clear controlling ideaProvide examples from the text (including at least one direct quotation) and analysis to support your ideas.Use transitions and correctly embed quotationsUse an academic voice through the use of literary terms and precise languageThink about the final stage in the Hero’s Journey: the Crossing or Return Threshold. What does the hero learn about life as a result of the journey (theme)? Be sure to:Introduce the topic clearly, establishing a clear controlling ideaProvide examples from the text (including at least one direct quotation) and analysis to support your ideas.Use transitions and correctly embed quotationsUse an academic voice through the use of literary terms and precise languageWrite an essay that compares and contrasts life in the dystopian society of the novel you read with our modern-day society. Be sure to:Introduce the topic clearly, establishing a clear controlling ideaProvide examples from the text (including at least one direct quotation) and analysis to support your ideas.Use transitions and correctly embed quotationsUse an academic voice through the use of literary terms and precise languageWrite an essay that explains how the protagonist (hero) changes as a result of conflict with his dystopian society (Road of Trials) and how this change connects to the novel’s theme (the Crossing, or Return Threshold). Be sure to:Introduce the topic clearly, establishing a clear controlling ideaProvide examples from the text (including at least one direct quotation) and analysis to support your ideas.Use transitions and correctly embed quotationsUse an academic voice through the use of literary terms and precise languageEmbedding Quotations: Signal PhrasesAccording toClaimsPoints outDiscussesProposesNotesStatesWritesDemonstratesArguesExplainssaysStrategies to embed quotes: Set-off Quotations: Set off the quotation and sentence with a comma. Capitalize the first word of the quote. Notice the signal phrases (bolded below). Write an example below: Strategies to embed quotations: Build-in Quotations: Unlike set-off quotations, built-in quotations are built seamlessly in to a sentence. They are not set off with commas and usually use the word “that” along with a signal phrase. Do not capitalize the first word of these quotes. Write an example below:Common Errors in Embedding quotations: Ambiguous Pronouns: Make sure the person who said/wrote the quote is part of the subject of the sentence.Incorrect: In Jane Smith’s book about pets, she claims that “people who won dogs have lower stress levels.”Correct: Floating Quotations:There should not be a sentence that is just a quote. Incorrect: Jane Smith states that there are many good reasons to eat dark chocolate. “Dark chocolate contains many antioxidants.”Correct: Practice Embedding Quotations:Embed the following quotations using the name Jane Smith and any of the two techniques for embedding quotations mentioned above. Try using different signal phrases for each. “The Grammy Awards were created to fight the new wave of rock music.”“The Mars rover landed on August 2012 and is there to discover whether Mars is suitable for life.”“People should try to exercise for at least thirty minutes every day.” ................
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