The A B C Ds of Essay Writing!!!

Transcription

1 The A B C Ds of Essay Writing!!! As you view this PowerPoint, take notes. You will need the information to complete the questions and activities on your worksheet. Completing this assignment will help you prepare to take the EAP writing exam. EAP stands for Early Assessment Program. Your score on the EAP will determine your readiness for college. ALL juniors are required to complete this assessment. Click when you are ready to go to the next slide.

2 A B C D!!! A is for Attack! B is for Brainstorm C is for Choose D is for Detect!

3 When given a writing prompt You need to remember your ABCDs Attack the prompt Brainstorm possible answers Choose the order of your response Detect errors before turning the draft in

4 A is for Attack the Prompt! If you don t know how to attack a prompt you may find yourself distracted by all the words. The first half of the prompt sets the situation. The second half of the prompt contains the writing directions.

5 Attack the Prompt! 1. Identify the portion of the prompt that contains the directions and mark that. 2. Highlight or circle any words that ask you to do something (verbs). 3. Underline what the verbs ask you to do. 4. Summarize your directions under the prompt adding a spot for the author s full name and your thesis. 5. Underline the author s main points in the prompt and identify the author s thesis.

6 Attack the Prompt! Because of cell phones, hiking in wilderness areas may be safer than before, but it is also noisier than ever. Although people might bring cell phones with them to use in case of an emergency, emergencies are rare. More often, people receive incoming business and even social calls. Technology seems to be following us everywhere: into the wilderness, and then back into civilization. Anywhere at any time, everyone else present can be disturbed by one person s call. Because more people in these circumstances are bothered by cell phones than are helped, these gadgets should not be permitted in certain public places or designated natural areas. Lois Quaide Explain Quaide s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with her analysis. Support your position by providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

7 A properly attacked prompt Because of cell phones, hiking in wilderness areas may be safer than before, but it is also noisier than ever. Although people might bring cell phones with them to use in case of an emergency, emergencies are rare. More often, people receive incoming business and even social calls. Technology seems to be following us everywhere: into the wilderness, and then back into civilization. Anywhere at any time, everyone else present can be disturbed by one person s call. Because more people in these circumstances are bothered by cell phones than are helped, these gadgets should not be permitted in certain public places or designated natural areas. Lois Quaide THESIS Explain Quaide s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with her analysis. Support your position by providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

8 Remember to include: Author: Lois Quaide Explain: Quaide s argument Discuss: Agree or Disagree Support: because (thesis) Provide: position with reasons and examples

9 B is for Brainstorm Brainstorm your thesis. Brainstorm what your examples are. Brainstorm how your examples back up your thesis.

10 B is for Brainstorm Brainstorm your thesis. The thesis answers so what? or why you are writing the essay. Your thesis should make a point which is proven by your examples. Your thesis drives the entire essay! 1. I agree with Quaide that cell phones should not be allowed in wilderness areas because they cause too much disruption. 2. I disagree with Quaide. Cell phones should be allowed in wilderness areas because the chance of them being needed for an emergency far outweighs the chance of them being a nuisance to others. Decide on the strongest thesis or the one that you can write the most about.

11 B is Brainstorm I disagree with Quaide. Cell phones should be allowed in wilderness areas because the chance of them being needed for an emergency far outweighs the chance of them being a nuisance to others. What (examples) Lost Injured Animal attack How (prove thesis) Could end in death if they can not call for help which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in death or permanent disability if they do not receive help quickly which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Out of food/water Health issues (pregnancy, RX, allergy) Could end in death or serious injury if no help arrives which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in starvation or death which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in serious complications, injury or death if no help can be called which is far more serious than someone being disturbed.

12 C is for Choose! Choose what examples most clearly back up your thesis. Make sure that your examples actually relate to your thesis and make a point. What (examples) How (prove thesis) Lost Injured Animal attack Out of food/water Health issues (pregnancy, RX, allergy Could end in death if they can not call for help which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in death or permanent disability if they do not receive help quickly which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in death or serious injury if no help arrives which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in starvation or death which is far more serious than someone feeling disturbed. Could end in serious complications, injury or death if no help can be called which is far more serious than someone being disturbed

13 C is for Choose Always Remember: Once you have chosen your side of the argument and lined up your reasons, it s important to remember to address the other side in your essay and then counter their reasons. Example: Some might agree with Quaide and feel that the noise pollution of someone talking on a cell phone is such a nuisance that it outweighs the slight chance of an emergency; however, the opposite is true. People talk all the time in the wilderness to their hiking partner, to their children, to friends. A cell phone conversation is no more annoying than that, and none of those minor annoyances outweigh the cost in possible loss of life for someone experiencing an emergency situation.

14 D is for Detect Errors After writing your first draft, take the time to reread the essay out loud to detect any errors. Often times your brain knows what you mean to say and will self edit your paper as you read; unfortunately, many of these edits do not make it to your paper. Turn your self edit off by reading the paper out loud (mumble to yourself) which will force your ears to edit the paper instead of your brain. Your ears do not know what your brain means and so it will catch many more errors in your paper than rereading the essay silently to yourself.

15 What I expect I do not expect you to write mistake-free essays in on-demand writing situations; I do, however, expect you to reread your essay carefully before turning it in, in order to detect at least some of your first-draft errors. Common errors include: Using symbols instead of words (24/7 instead of twenty four hours, seven days a week) Leaving words out your sentence because don t reread your essay. CapitaLizinG things that Should not BE capitalized because it is a part of your handwriting.

16 ABCDs A is for B is for C is for D is for Why is this important? When do you use the ABCDs? (Write your answers on your worksheet.)

17 Let s Practice It is painfully apparent today that millions of Americans would never think of themselves as lawbreakers, let alone criminals, and are taking increasing liberties with all sorts of minor laws that are nonetheless designed to protect and nourish society. When it comes to tax codes or laws against littering or speeding or noise pollution, more and more ordinary citizens are becoming scofflaws (people who casually break the law). The slogan of the day seems to be, You re a fool if you obey the rules. Americans are used to thinking that law-and-order is threatened mainly by violent crime. But the foundations of social order are more profoundly shaken when ordinary lawabiding citizens take to skirting the law. adapted from Frank Trippett s A Red Light for Scofflaws Explain Trippett s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.

18 Let s Practice Follow the ABCDs of Essay Writing. ABCD Underline, circle, and/or highlight important information in the prompt. Choose which side of the argument you will write about. Make notes; organize your paragraphs. Make of list of examples and reasons that will support your side of the argument. Address the other side; then, counter with strong reasons and examples. Write your first draft. Reread and detect with a critical eye your common errors. Write in pencil, so you can make your corrections on your first draft. Reread one more time aloud (mumble to yourself). Correct any secondary errors you might find. You will be taking the EAP writing assessment sometime during your junior year (11 th grade).

19 More help: Paragraph 1: Introduction Begin with a general statement taken from the prompt. Include the name of the author and title of work, if given. End with a strong thesis statement which may be your opinion or your side of the argument.

20 For example: Technology seems to be following us everywhere: into the wilderness, and then back into civilization, according to Lois Quaide. Her argument is that cell phones are offensive to those who want to enjoy the sounds of nature rather than being forced to listen to the sounds of people talking on their cells. She thinks that cell phones should be banned from wilderness areas since emergency situations are rare; therefore, because more people are offended than helped, cell phones should not be allowed in these areas. I disagree with Quaide s reasoning. Her solution is to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If having a cell phone could save a person who is lost or bring help to an injured or sick person, then they should never be banned in wilderness areas.

21 More help: continued Body paragraphs 2-4 Support your thesis with reasons and examples. Use transitions: First, second, finally, etc. or therefore, however, consequently, also, additionally. Think logically! If you have written good notes and organized your thoughts, you should have plenty to say. Take each reason, and back it up with an example or personal observation. Example: paragraph 2 might discuss how cell phones could save someone s life if he/she was lost, sick, or injured. Paragraph 3 might discuss personal observations, stories you ve read or heard about when someone was saved because they were able to call for help. Paragraph 4 might offer your own solution to the situation, such as a campaign to educate people about cell phone etiquette: don t take business calls or unimportant social calls when in a wilderness area, speak softly, or go somewhere where people can t hear your conversations.

22 More help: continued Conclusion paragraph Summarize your ideas in a different way. Don t merely repeat your intro paragraph. Include your personal solution to the argument, if you have one.

23 The End Now, complete Worksheet 4 and practice your ABCDs.