Essay+Writing

__**Essay Writing**__ __**﻿**__ **Activity 1:**

**﻿Key Characteristics of Excellent Writing:** -The topic is clear and consistent -Their is a thesis statement -Their is an introduction and a conclusion **Additional Keys to Excellent Writing in Social Studies:** - Supporting details -Actual facts that support your main idea

**Activity 2:**

**15 keys to excellent (social studies) essay writing: **


 * 1) Be knowledgeable about your content ﻿(I'd usually do this by researching my topic as much as I can before I start)
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Read the directions / prompt / question carefully <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Always reread the directions over again, not just once!)
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Brainstorm & Outline <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Is there a certain type of outline that works best?)
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Have an appropriate title <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(This is something I have trouble with, I never know what to title my essays.)
 * 5) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Directly answer the question / respond to the prompt
 * 6) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: #ffff00; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Use a strong, clear thesis statement <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Is there a certain spot in your essay where you should put your thesis statement?)
 * 7) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prove your thesis statement throughout the essay
 * 8) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make sure your arguments are presented in an organized way
 * 9) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Include evidence/examples //and// analysis of them <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Should you use direct quotes?)
 * 10) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Include key terms, academic vocabulary, appropriate research/documents/sources
 * 11) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Provide context <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(What is meant by context?)
 * 12) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Acknowledge other POVs / opposing arguments (and disprove them, if possible) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Would this only apply if you are writing an argument?)
 * 13) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Use correct grammar and spelling
 * 14) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make sure the paragraphs and sentences flow together, that it’s a smooth read
 * 15) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Finish with something profound <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; vertical-align: baseline;">
 * 16) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Proofread and revise*

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 288pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">*bonus 16th key <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The top three most important keys to excellent essay writing in social studies are being knowledgeable about your content, read the directions/prompt/question carefully and using a strong, clear thesis statement. Being knowledgeable about your content is really important because you want to be an expert on something before you start writing about it. It is really important to read the directions carefully before you start writing so that you know what you are supposed to be writing. Lastly, the thesis statement tells the reader what your essay is mainly about so it is important that it is strong and clear.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 3:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">There are some parts of excellent essay writing that I am good at, and others that I need to improve upon. I am a really organized person so my biggest strengths are brainstorming and outlining and making sure my arguments are presented in an organized way. **I am also very thorough so I always read the directions carefully and make sure that I am knowledgeable on my subject.** My first draft of an essay is always so much different than my final draft because I proofread and revise over and over again until I am content with my essay. I am pretty good at writing my thesis statement and supporting that thesis statement. I can usually incorporate key terms, evidence, and examples into my essay. As for my weaknesses, I have trouble finishing my essays. **I never know how to conclude them**. I also have trouble titling my essays. I have never acknowledged other point of views into my essay so I don't know how I would go about that. Things **I need to improve include spelling and grammer, and making sure the paragraphs and sentences flow together.**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 4:**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">[]

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In order to respond to this prompt, you need to know: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-what it means to analyze <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-what happened in the Revolutionary War <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-specifically what happened during 1775 - 1783 <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-political reasons for the U.S. victory <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-diplomatic reasons for the U.S. victory <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-military reasons for the U.S. victory

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Which parts of essay writing does the 8-9 essay incorporate? In other words, when you read the requirements for an 8-9 essay for this particular prompt, what are you reminded about excellent writing in general?** You are reminded to create a clear thesis statement, support this thesis, and organize your supporting details within your essay.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**What are the main differences between an 8-9 essay and a 5-7 essay?** An 8-9 essay and a 5-7 essay are both very similar and the thesis and supporting details are most important but the main difference is that in a 5-7 essay, your thesis might be a little less clear and your words a little less organized. Only some of the analysis is provided.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 5:**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">I think that this essay is a 5-7 essay because there is a thesis statement and supporting details but the thesis statement is a little unclear and unspecific. Also the essay doesn't seem very organized. The official evaluation was an 8. I agree with what they said about the thesis statement but disagree about it being organized. The evaluation also recognized other strengths in the essay that I hadn't taken into consideration.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 6:**


 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Proper Essay Structure: **
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Title
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Introduction Paragraph
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">3 Body Paragraphs
 * <span style="color: #800080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Concluding Paragraph

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Essay Structure <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Title__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> – always have a title that <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">you have created <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Creating a good title is usually hard for me.)

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2) <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Intro Paragraph__ <span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Introduce the topic with a <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">general topic sentence.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Include a year or <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">time frame.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Provide context : explain key background and related info for the time period and topic.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Transition into a brief, <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">general mention of the specific topic of the essay.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Provide a <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Thesis Statement__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> that clearly responds to the essay question or topic. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Should the thesis statement be in a certain spot?)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Make sure the sentences connect, that the paragraph flows.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Body Paragraphs__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Break the essay into <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;">specific subtopics (which should have been mentioned in your thesis statement)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Begin each body paragraph with a <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;">TOPIC SENTENCE that is basically a thesis statement for that paragraph’s subtopic
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Topic sentences should bridge the previous paragraph (may require only one word to make a bridge (e.g. “also”))
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Follow general topic sentences with <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;">specific details, examples, evidence (from documents/research if applicable) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Should we ever use direct quotes?)
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Include<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"> key terms, names, dates, events, and data (#s) <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(Academic vocabulary!!)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ANALYZE your evidence and examples - why are they important? what do they show? So what?!
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;">PROVE YOUR THESIS throughout each paragraph

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">4) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">__Conclusion Paragraph__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">:
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Summarize some of the most important information from the essay.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Acknowledge <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">opposing arguments (and refute, if possible).
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Restate your thesis in different words. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">﻿(I sometimes have trouble with this and become repetitive.)
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Explain <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">why your topic is important in the big picture of history (so what?) and/or give a preview of what is or may be next to come...give your audience something strong to leave with.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 7:**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">One weakness I have is creating a title, I never know what I should title my writing. Another weakness is that sometimes I get really repetitive. I don't know if that can ever be a good thing, but if not I want to learn how to change things so that they aren't repetitive. A strength I have is that I am good at organizing my three body paragraphs so that each of them take on a different subtopic. I am also good at creating a thesis statement and supporting it.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">﻿**Activity 8:**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">What is a <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">thesis statement ? A thesis statement is a sentence or two that directly responds to the question you are answering. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Why are thesis statements so important? Thesis statements are important because <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">they tell the reader what your essay is going to be talking about. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sample 2A: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">What is the thesis statement used in that essay? "A myriad of political, diplomatic, and military advantages all eventually produced a republican experiment that would shake the balance of power for centuries." <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">What is my evaluation of the thesis statement? I don't think that this is a good thesis statement because it does not explain what these advantages are it just says that there are political, diplomatic, and military advantages.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 9:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Thesis Statements <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">a. What is my topic? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">b. What argument am I prepared to make? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">c. How can I state my argument as clearly and powerfully as possible? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">d. Is my statement a direct answer to the question or response to the prompt or claim about the topic?
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">A thesis statement is **an argument**. It is a 1-2 sentence **statement of the purpose of your essay**: what will you be proving to the reader in the essay?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">It should be **toward the end of an introductory paragraph** and include enough specifics that the reader has a general idea of the key points you will make to support your biggest claim.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Your thesis statement should likely be a **compound sentence**, including a preview of the major points you will make to support your big claim. So, instead of writing a simple thesis statement like "The end of World War II brought about major consequences" you should probably write something like "When World War II ended in 1945, the major consequences included the division of Germany, the start of the United Nations, and the beginning of the Cold War."
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">To write your thesis, ask yourself 4 questions:

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Compound Sentence**: A sentence that includes **two different ideas**. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The second thesis statement in example #3 is better than the first thesis statement because the first statement only includes the basic idea of what happened but unlike the second thesis statement, there is no explanation of what exactly happened. c <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**﻿Activity 10:** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Prompt A: Why were the American colonists successful in winning independence from the British in the late 18th century? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Choice 1: Aid from the French helped turn the tide of the American Revolution toward victory for the colonists. This, in addition to their previously held advantages of strong military leadership and homeland advantage, led the colonists to win the war and gain their independence. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Choice 2: In the late 18th century, after years of protesting unfair laws and many key battles, the American colonists won independence from their mother country of Great Britain. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: -27pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Answer: Choice 1 - Choice 1 explains why the American colonists are successful, in doing so it directly answers the question. Choice 2 only restates that the American colonists were successful in winning independence from the British. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">//Prompt B:// In what ways was the abolition movement of 19th century America divided? <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Choice 1: The abolition movement of 19th century America was divided in terms of both tactics and goals, as there were strong, differing opinions over how to most effectively make abolition occur and the process by which complete abolition should be sought. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Choice 2: Leading up to the Civil War, the abolition movement in America was divided, but ultimately remained united enough to push leaders of the country to end slavery forever. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Answer: Choice 1 - Choice 1 gives us two ways in which America was divided and choice 2 only tells us that America was divided and also gives us irrelevant information about the outcome of the civil war. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">//Prompt C// <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: To what extent did Andrew Jackson’s presidency benefit the United States of America? <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Choice 1: Despite his record on treatment of Native Americans, Andrew Jackson’s presidency greatly benefited the U.S. due to his administration’s work on expanding voting rights and economic policies. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Choice 2: Andrew Jackson was the eighth president of the United States and known for being the symbol of Jacksonian Democracy. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Answer: Choice 1 - Choice 1 tells us that exactly how Jackson's presidency benefitted the U.S. while choice 2 only told us that he was the eigth president and was a symbol of Jacksonian Democracy, both having nothing to do with the benefits to the U.S.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 11:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Thesis: The statement that no movie should ever have a sequel is incorrect because most of the time people are intrigued to see the sequel of a movie that they liked. Therefore sequels make the audience happy and they make the movie more money. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Thesis: Immigrants should not be allowed into the United States if they cannot speak speak basic English because they are going to end up unable to make money, unable to pay for a home, and a large percentage of the U.S. citizens are unemployed because of the current state of the economy, so it will be even harder for immigrants to find jobs. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thesis: The reasons that a ratings system has been implemented for video games are so that the parent/guardian can judge whether the game is appropriate for their child and so that the child can know if the video game is within his or her skill level.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Asses this statement: no movie should ever have a sequel
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should immigrants be allowed into the United States if they cannot speak basic English?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the reasons that a ratings system has been implemented for video games?

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Thesis: The United States should never attack another country that has not attacked the U.S. first because there are other ways to solve a problem other than by violence. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Thesis: There are numerous reasons for teenagers to drop out of school including family problems, drug or alcohol abuse, bullying, and feelings that no help is given at school and school is too hard.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Should the United States ever attack another country that has not attacked the U.S. first?
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: lower-alpha; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Analyze the reasons for which some teenagers drop out of school.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 12:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Teen drop out rates are a large problem in America. These high drop out rates raise a question: what reasons do these teens have for dropping out of school? Why do teens drop out? There are numerous reasons for teenagers to drop out of school including family problems, drug or alcohol abuse, bullying, and feelings that no help is given at school. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Everyone has their family problems, some have more than others. Problems within the family greatly affect teens because your family is where you go to for support. When there are issues within the family, it's hard to have their support. Sometimes when a teen needs someone that they can talk to about issues in school, a family member is usually the most helpful. If a teen doesn't have someone that they are able to talk to, it may lead them to drop out of school. Drug abuse and alcohol abuse is a rising problem with teenagers. The effects that drugs and alcohol have on a person may lead them to become a different person. They may care about different things, and no longer care that much about school. If the drugs and alcohol become a problem, they may let it take over them and eventually drop out of school. Another rising problem with teenagers is bullying. Bullying is becoming a life threatening problem within schools and it is another thing that may lead a person to drop out. Lastly, a teen needs someone at school that they can go to when they are having trouble with schoolwork. Sometimes they might feel that there is no one they can go to. They might think that no one call help them. They might just develop the feeling that they will never do well in school and that it is to hard. All of these things can lead a teen to drop out of school. After analyzing the reasons that teens have for dropping out of school, I wonder whether the key to lowering drop out rates is to fix these problems.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 13:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Practice using these tips: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 14:** <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Thesis Statement: There are various viewpoints on Obama, some believe him to be a good leader, and some believe him to be a bad leader that has yet to make a difference. These viewpoints are so varied because of people's differing morals and standards, support belonging to previous presidents that had different beliefs than Obama, and influence of others. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Outline: <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Introduce the different viewpoints on Obama, introduce why people may have these different viewpoint, and include the thesis statement. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Talk about people's differing morals and standards. Use the example of Document 5. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Talk about some people's support belonging to previous presidents that had different beliefs than Obama. Use the examples of document 5 and document 3. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Talk about how the influence of others can change a person's viewpoints. Not just others, it might also be the influence of media or news. Use the examples of document 1, document 3, and document 7. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Sum up all that I've talked about and repeat the thesis statement.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Learn the commonly misspelled words : their vs. there vs. they're, are vs. our, led vs. lead, etc...and then pay attention to these in your work! Confusing Words.com!might be a helpful site for you.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Don't use don't: <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">DO NOTuse conjunctions (don't, can't, won't, etc). Use do not, can not, will not, etc.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Use <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__ACADEMIC LANGUAGE__ : always use key terms AND words like significant, important, aspect, factor, etc. instead of words like big, thing, etc. and use the vocabulary of your topic, including key terms.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Learn to write mostly in <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__compound sentences__, they are usually required in order to write thoughtfully.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Become adept at using words and phrases such as: because, however, though, including, along with, for example, similar to, different than, etc...which help create compound sentences and good arguments.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Avoid absolutes . Try not to use the words such as never, always, all, none, etc. Instead, use words like most, some, few, almost all, many, etc.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Don't use "etc." Instead use "and others" or "and many more" or something similar.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Use the __past tense__ . Start in the past tense. Stay in the past tense. (You may need to write in another tense, but the key is to not jump around among tenses).
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Call historical figures by their <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">full name once and then by their last name. Abraham Lincoln should be discussed as Abraham Lincoln once and then called Lincoln after that.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Call Americans Americans . Don't call Americans "us" or "we".
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The United States is a country. Americans are people. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">A country is "it" whereas a people is "they."
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Don't use "I" or "In my opinion" or "The two topics I am choosing are _". Just write what you would write after those items.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Learn the difference between "between" and "among." <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Between is for two items, among is for more than two.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Every time you make a general point, support it with at least one example or piece of evidence.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Recognize (and refute, if possible) at least <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">one argument that opposes the one(s) you are making.
 * 1) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">__There__ are many people who disagree on __their__ views on Obama.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Many __do not__ believe that Obama has made any important changes, some of these people believe that he still __will not__ in the future.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama has promised a __significant__ amount of changes, but it is disagreed upon whether this __factor__ is really __important__.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama hopes to make many changes as president. He shared some of them in his inaugural speech.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama says he will turn things around, however only some believe this to be true.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Many people believe in Obama, but there are still many who don't.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama addresses the horrible state of the economy. He promises that there will be these changes and many more.
 * 8) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama was presented as someone who brings hope in Shepard Fariey's poster of him in 2008.
 * 9) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Many people view Barack Obama as a well-suited president. Others disagree and say that Obama hasn't helped with anything.
 * 10) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama has addressed the poor state that Americans are in in terms of the economy and health care.
 * 11) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama is president of the United States of America, where Americans are led by him. There is argument between us over whether he improved it or made it worse.
 * 12) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama has made significant changes since he was elected for president.
 * 13) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Between those who believe in Obama and those who are against him, there are still maybe people among uswho are unsure on their views on Obama.
 * 14) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">There are mixed views on Obama. Some believe he is a good leader, others believe he is a bad leader.
 * 15) <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Obama is a good president. On the other hand, Daniel Kutzman does not believe this and says that all Obama does is make agonizingly slow decisions and make pretty speeches.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Paragraph 1: Introduction
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Paragraph 2: Body Paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Paragraph 5: Conclusion

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**Activity 15:**

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">