writing an Essay !!

Step 1 – Rough Plan

Step 2 – Detailed Plan

Introduction:

· Grab Reader’s Attention (use a fact, quote, strong controversial statement, rhetorical question, definition)

· Introduce the title and authors of your sources & give a brief summary of the Hero’s Journey

· Thesis (Subject+ Direction + 3 Reasons/Points) is a one sentence answer to the essay prompt.

Body Paragraph #1: DON’T FORGET TO PEE! (Make a Point with Evidence and Elaborate it!)

· Topic sentence for point #1 in support of thesis – MAKE A STRONG, DECLARATIVE POINT

· Evidence #1 This is your textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) from your Evidence Planning Guide.

· Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have the author’s last name and page number. Ex: (Rand 15).

· Elaborate - Explain how Evidence #1 relates to point #1

· Evidence #2 - This is your textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) from your Evidence Planning Guide.

· Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have the author’s last name and page number. Ex: (Rand 15).

· Elaborate - Explain how Evidence #2 relates to point #1

· If you haven’t already, explain how claim #1 relates to thesis, and transition to point #2

Body Paragraph #2: DON’T FORGET PEE Make a Point and support it with Evidence. Elaborate.

CONSIDER A REFUTATION IN THIS PARAGRAPH

· Topic sentence for point #1 in support of thesis – MAKE A STRONG, DECLARATIVE POINT

· Evidence #3 This is your textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) from your Evidence Planning Guide.

· Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have the author’s last name and page number. Ex: (Rand 15).

· Elaborate - Explain how Evidence #3 relates to point #2

· Evidence #4 This is your textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) from your Evidence Planning Guide.

· Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have the author’s last name and page number. Ex: (Rand 15).

· Elaborate - Explain how Evidence #4 relates to point #2

· If you haven’t already, explain how point #1 relates to thesis, and transition to point #3

Body Paragraph #3: DON’T FORGET PEE Make a Point and support it with Evidence. Elaborate.

· Topic sentence for point #3 in support of thesis – MAKE A STRONG, DECLARATIVE POINT

· Evidence #5 This is your textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) from your Evidence Planning Guide.

· Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have the author’s last name and page number. Ex: (Rand 15).

· Elaborate - Explain how Evidence #5 relates to point #3

· Evidence #6 This is your textual evidence (quote/paraphrase) from your Evidence Planning Guide.

· Quotes can’t stand alone, and they MUST have the author’s last name and page number. Ex: (Rand 15).

· Elaborate - Explain how Evidence #6 relates to point #3

· If you haven’t already, explain how claim #1 relates to thesis, and transition to conclusion

Conclusion

A conclusion should stress the importance of the thesis statement, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader.

Suggestions:

· Answer the question "So What?"—Synthesize, don't summarize— Redirect readers

· Show the readers why this essay was important. Show them that this essay was meaningful and useful.

· Don't simply repeat things that were in the paper. Show how the points, evidence, and elaboration made were not random, but fit together to form a larger picture.

· The “big picture” can relate to understanding the concept of the hero’s journey, analyzing any work of literature, or any other idea you might connect with.

· Give the reader something to think about, perhaps a way to use the essay in the "real" world.

· Stress the thesis:

· Final thoughts for reader (relation to real world or what readers should learn from the work, etc.)