Components of an Essay

Where does your thesis statement belong?

• It is repeated at the beginning of every body paragraph.

• It is the last sentence of the introductory paragraph.

• It is the first sentence of the essay.

How do you write a thesis statement?

• Recycle the prompt into a statement and then add my reasons

• Use a direct quotation from the text

• Summarize the text so that it's clear to the reader

What comes directly before a quotation?

• A topic sentence

• Words that introduce the source and quotation

• A parenthetical citation like this: (Teacher 5).

Where does the writer re-state the thesis in slightly different words?

• Introduction

• Body paragraph (claim)

• Body paragraph (counterclaim)

• Conclusion

What must the thesis DO in the order to be a GOOD thesis in the essay?

• It must be very pretty with lots of big words.

• It must be easily split into clear topic sentences for each paragraph.

• It must cost a great deal of money on Ebay and drive a nice car.

What kind of evidence should you NOT use for a quotation?

• A direct quotation from a good, reliable source.

• An indirect quotation (written in your own words but based on the words from) a good, reliable source.

• Something you found from a random blog written by a man who lives in his mom's basement with many cats.

What is a thesis statement?

• A way of explaining the details of your argument by offering many examples

• An explanation of the other side's point of view, complete with quotations

• A simple, strong, clear sentence that states what the writer is trying to prove in the essay.

What kind of sentence appears at the end of a body paragraph?

• A topic sentence

• A direct quotation

• A conclusion sentence

What happens in the body paragraph after the quotation?

• Analysis! Thinking through what the quotation says, what it means, and why it matters. The writer is explaining his/her point further.

• Repeat the topic sentence

• Ask a question and get the reader engaged in the essay.

• Use another quotation to really drive home the point of the first point.

When you see in the prompt to write an essay/multi-paragraph response, how many paragraphs should you write?

• One?

• Two? Three?

• Four?

• At least five.