11B English
Ms. Kajder
Dissonance Unit
 

Name _________________________________  Period ______  Date _____________
 

Writing the Five Paragraph Essay

Now that you have read and considered the text, the trick is to do something meaningful with that which you know and believe.  This paper is the backbone for the thinking your study of Miller's play has generated.  IT MUST FOLLOW THE FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY FORMAT!  For this to really work well, you must address both sides of the issue.  The following will assist you in the writing and structuring of the paper. This paper is your opportunity to develop your thinking in terms of the STRONGEST points related to your stance. You don’t want to clutter up your writing.
 

Step One:  Write an interest catching sentence (or two) that will begin your paper.  You may use a question, a quotation, or an incident.  (*** IF it is easier to write the interest catcher after you have planned the body of your paper, feel free to do so.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Two:  In a complete sentence, state your opinion as completely as possible.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Three:   1.  List at least THREE reasons for your opinion.
  2.  Number the reasons from least important to most important.
  3.  Rewrite your reasons so that they are in parallel grammatical form.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Four:  Write a thesis statement that deals with your topic AND includes your three reasons/topic sentences.  Be sure to include the author, title and genre of the text you are using as support!  Use the reasons in order of increasing importance, and write them in parallel form.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Five:  Gather evidence for each of your reasons.  Under each reason, make a list of specific pieces of evidence from your research that explain and support your reason.  You need at least 3 specific details for each reason.  Write your reasons as sentences; then you can use them as your topic sentences for your paragraphs.

 Reason #1:
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

 Reason #2:
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 Reason #3
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

Step 6:  Restate your thesis statement in different words.  Include your three supporting ideas in the same order and maintain parallel structure.
 
 
 
 
 

Step 7:  Write a clincher sentence that ends your paper.  (If your thesis restatement clearly ends your paper on its own, you might not need this sentence.)
 
 
 
 
 

Step 8:  Write a rough draft of your paper using this plan.  Check carefully to be sure that you use TRANSITIONS to link your paragraphs and the specific details within each paragraph.  Follow this order:

  First Paragraph:   Interest catcher and thesis statement
  Second Paragraph:   Develop Reason #1
  Third Paragraph:   Develop Reason #2
  Fourth Paragraph:   Develop Reason #3
  Fifth Paragraph:   Thesis restatement and clincher
 

Step 9:  Revise your paper as necessary, using this planning guide and the rubric. Be sure to proofread for mechanics and spelling errors.

          11B English
          Ms. Kajder

Name _________________________________  Period ______  Date _____________
 

Writing the Persuasive Essay

Now that you have read and considered the text, the trick is to do something meaningful with that which you know and believe.  This paper is the backbone for the thinking your study of Miller's play has generated.  IT MUST FOLLOW THE FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY FORMAT!  For this to really work well, you must address both sides of the issue.  The following will assist you in the writing and structuring of the paper. This paper is your opportunity to develop your thinking in terms of the STRONGEST points related to your stance. You don’t want to clutter up your writing.
 

Step One:  Write an interest catching sentence (or two) that will begin your paper.  You may use a question, a quotation, or an incident.  (*** IF it is easier to write the interest catcher after you have planned the body of your paper, feel free to do so.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Two:  In a complete sentence, state your opinion as completely as possible.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Three:   1.  List at least THREE reasons for your opinion.
  2.  Number the reasons from least important to most important.
  3.  Rewrite your reasons so that they are in parallel grammatical form.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Four:  Write a thesis statement that deals with your topic AND includes your three reasons/topic sentences.  Be sure to include the author, title and genre of the text you are using as support!  Use the reasons in order of increasing importance, and write them in parallel form.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step Five:  Gather evidence for each of your reasons.  Under each reason, make a list of specific pieces of evidence from your research that explain and support your reason.  You need at least 3 specific details for each reason.  Write your reasons as sentences; then you can use them as your topic sentences for your paragraphs.

 Reason #1:
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

 Reason #2:
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 Reason #3
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 

  Specific evidence (and citation):
 
 
 
 
 

Step 6:  Restate your thesis statement in different words.  Include your three supporting ideas in the same order and maintain parallel structure.
 
 
 
 
 

Step 7:  Write a clincher sentence that ends your paper.  (If your thesis restatement clearly ends your paper on its own, you might not need this sentence.)
 
 
 
 
 

Step 8:  Write a rough draft of your paper using this plan.  Check carefully to be sure that you use TRANSITIONS to link your paragraphs and the specific details within each paragraph.  Follow this order:

  First Paragraph:   Interest catcher and thesis statement
  Second Paragraph:   Develop Reason #1
  Third Paragraph:   Develop Reason #2
  Fourth Paragraph:   Develop Reason #3
  Fifth Paragraph:   Thesis restatement and clincher
 

Step 9:  Revise your paper as necessary, using this planning guide and the rubric. Be sure to proofread for mechanics and spelling errors.
 


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