Elements of Writing (Thesis/Unity/Organization)

The ________ of an essay is its main idea, the point the writer is trying to make.

• hypothesis

• thesis statement

• prediction

• conclusion

An effective method for developing a thesis statement is to begin by writing,___________

• I hope you like my paper!

• What I want to say is that . .

• eh, I totally know what I am doing!

Answer explanation

Later, when you delete the formulaic opening, you will be left with a thesis statement.

__________________is used when describing a person, place, or thing. (((This organizational pattern begins at a particular point and moves in some direction, such as left to right, top to bottom, east to west, outside to inside, front to back, near to far, around, or over.))

• Chronological Order

• Space order

• Logical Order

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Some common patterns of organization are___, ____, &____.

****Please select Three***

• time order

• logical order

• space order

• hypothetical order

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

The principle of unity requires that every element in a piece of writing—whether a paragraph or an essay—be related to

• the conclusion

• the first and third paragraphs

• the main idea/thesis

Sentences that stray from the subject, even though they might be related to it or provide additional information, can weaken an otherwise strong piece of writing. These are called_________.

• cohesiveness

• Digressions

• diphtheria

• Duplicity

Answer explanation

The first requirement for unity is that the thesis itself be clear, either through a direct statement, called the thesis statement, or by implication. The second requirement is that there be no digressions — no discussion or information that is not shown to be logically related to the thesis.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A good way to check that your essay is indeed unified is to___________.

Answer explanation

A good way to check that your essay is indeed unified is to underline your thesis and then to explain to yourself how each paragraph in your essay is related to the thesis. If you find a para- graph that does not appear to be logically connected, you can revise it so that the relationship is clear. Similarly, it is useful to make sure that each sentence in a paragraph is related to the topic sentence.

If you find a paragraph that does not appear to be logically connected, you can

• revise it so that the relationship is clear.

• hope that French/Laffin won't notice

• keep going so I can be done

• oh, I will find a way to connect it!

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

A thesis statement should be_______________________________.

• • The most important point you make about a topic,

• • More general than the ideas and facts used to support it, and

• • Focused enough to be covered in the space allotted for the essay.

• all of the above