What is it? How do I write one? Mauri Fava

Transcription

1 What is it? How do I write one? Mauri Fava

2 It s an essay, so it has the typical structure of an essay: introduction, body, and conclusion. But it is text-dependent analysis (TDA). This means that you must support your ideas with specific details from the text you are writing about. It involves analysis of the text so you must closely examine the small parts while reading to see how they relate to the whole. Mauri Fava

3 Restate the Questions Answer the Question Cite Evidence Explain the Answer Summary Statement 3

4 R RESTATE the question Did you turn the question into a statement? Intro A ANSWER the question Does your answer to the question express a main idea (a point you are going to prove)? Thesis Intro C E S CITE evidence Did you transition from your A (thesis)? EXPLAIN the answer SUMMARY statement Did you use a starter such as o The narrator says, o The text says, o It explains, Do you have a direct quote to prove your main idea? Does it begin with something :This shows that Does it answer Why and/or How? Does it use some key words from the citation? Does it explain fully, using because? Does it reuse the (A) main idea with some new wording? Did you make sure all parts connect? Did you wrap up your ideas by summarizing your response into one final statement? Body Body Conclusion 4

5 Like any good essay, you start with a hook and end with the thesis or main idea statement. Hook: Use a powerful quote from the text you are analyzing or begin with a comment about the text. Main Idea Statement (thesis): Restate the prompt using key words and include title and author of the text you are analyzing. Mauri Fava

6 Sample question: Analyze the language of Edgar Allen Poe s The Raven and discuss how it contributes to the mood of the poem. Hook: It is a mark of great craftsmanship to find just the right words to make a reader shake and shudder, and Edgar Allen Poe is such a master. Restate: Poe establishes a dark and hopeless mood through language in his poem, The Raven. Mauri Fava

7 It is a mark of great craftsmanship to find just the right words to make a reader shake and shudder, and Edgar Allen Poe is such a master. Poe establishes a dark and hopeless mood through language in his poem, The Raven. Mauri Fava

8 Sample question: Analyze the metaphor of the staircase in Langston Hugh s poem, Mother to Son. What does the staircase reveal about the speaker s life? Hook: Life for me ain t been no crystal stair. Restate: In his poem, Mother to Son, Langston Hughes uses the metaphor of the staircase to describe to the hardships endured by the speaker throughout her life and her power to overcome. Mauri Fava

9 Life for me ain t been no crystal stair. In his poem, Mother to Son, Langston Hughes uses the metaphor of the staircase to describe to the hardships endured by the speaker throughout her life and her power to overcome. Mauri Fava

10 After the introduction, a good essay has a body of several paragraphs that supports the main idea statement or thesis. Each paragraph should have the following: Topic sentence: Set a focus for the paragraph. Present an idea that supports your thesis. Make sure that you can support this idea with specific text evidence. Evidence: Provide at least two specific references to the text to support your idea. At least one of these should be a direct quote. Analysis and explanation: Analyze the evidence presented and explain how it supports your ideas. Mauri Fava

11 Topic sentence: The speaker of Mother to Son has experienced her share of hardship. Evidence: She asserts that life for me ain t been no crystal stair. Her life has had tacks and splinters. Her stairs are torn up and bare. Analysis and explanation: This description of the speaker s life in terms of a rundown staircase suggests that she has struggled in life. Tacks and splinters and torn up are images of pain. The lack of carpet implies poverty. The metaphor suggests that the speaker is as worn down from the trials of her life as a wooden staircase that has not been cared for. It is a powerful metaphor. Mauri Fava

12 The speaker of Mother to Son has experienced her share of hardship. She asserts that life for me ain t been no crystal stair. Her life has had tacks and splinters. Her stairs are torn up and bare. This description of the speaker s life in terms of a rundown staircase suggests that she has struggled in life. Tacks and splinters and torn up are images of pain. The lack of carpet implies poverty. The metaphor suggests that the speaker is as worn down from the trials of her life as a wooden staircase that has not been cared for. It is a powerful metaphor. Mauri Fava

13 Topic sentence: The metaphor of the staircase is also used to describe how the speaker has dealt with her setbacks throughout life. Evidence: She tells her son, I se been a-climbin on Despite many setbacks in life, the speaker is still reaching landings and turning corners. She urges her son not to set down on the steps Analysis and explanation: The evidence suggests that while this speaker has had her share of hardships, she clearly has the power to endure and overcome. She can still climb or rise above anything that life throws at her. Reaching landings and turning corners, this speaker does not give up no matter what. This mother tries to impart the importance of perseverance to her son by telling him not to sit down just because life is hard. Mauri Fava

14 The metaphor of the staircase is also used to describe how the speaker has dealt with her setbacks throughout life. She tells her son, I se been a- climbin on Despite many setbacks in life, the speaker is still reaching landings and turning corners. She urges her son not to set down on the steps The evidence suggests that while this speaker has had her share of hardships, she clearly has the power to endure and overcome. She can still climb or rise above anything that life throws at her. Reaching landings and turning corners, this speaker does not give up no matter what. This mother tries to impart the importance of perseverance to her son by telling him not to sit down just because life is hard. Mauri Fava

15 Restates key points: Langston Hughes constructs the perfect metaphor to describe both the hardships of the speaker s life and her determined spirit. Her life, like the staircase with tacks and torn up boards, has been difficult. But she has continued to climb and overcome challenges. Synthesizes information; draws conclusions for the reader: As the speaker tries to inspire her son to never give up no matter how hard life gets by climbing and turning corners on the staircase of life, the reader is also inspired by her strong spirit. Mauri Fava

16 Langston Hughes constructs the perfect metaphor to describe both the hardships of the speaker s life and her determined spirit. Her life, like the staircase with tacks and torn up boards, has been difficult. But she has continued to climb and overcome challenges. As the speaker tries to inspire her son to never give up no matter how hard life gets by climbing and turning corners on the staircase of life, the reader is also inspired by her strong spirit. Mauri Fava

17 Be specific when presenting text evidence: Direct Quote: 1. Use quotation marks. 2. Begin with phrases such as: Paraphrase: The author says... The text states For example, the author says... Describe what is in the text in your own words. Be sure to describe something specific in the text. Mauri Fava

18 Direct Quote: Use quotation marks when you repeat a sentence, phrase, or even unique words from the text. author says... Examples: She asserts that life for me ain t been no crystal stair. She urges her son not to set down on the steps Tacks and splinters and torn up are images of pain. Mauri Fava

19 Restate a relevant part of the text in your own words. Make sure that you are referring to something specific in the text.author says... Examples: The staircase represents life because the speaker keeps talking about climbing stairs throughout the poem as she talks about life. In the final stanza, the speaker tells her son that it is important to keep climbing and never sit down just because life is hard. Mauri Fava

20 Explain how the quote or paraphrased evidence supports your idea. Begin with signal phrases such as: This shows. This means This reveals This illustrates Evidence According to the speaker, her staircase in life has had tacks and splinters and boards torn up and no carpet. Explanation This description of the speaker s life in terms of a rundown staircase suggests that she has struggled in life. Tacks and splinters and torn up are images of pain. The lack of carpet implies poverty. The metaphor suggests that the speaker is as worn down from the trials of her life as a wooden staircase that has not been cared for. Mauri Fava

21 Read the prompt closely and repeatedly until you are sure that you understand your task. Underline or highlight key words. Read your text once through. Read the text again and annotate, underlining evidence and labelling it. Take notes on the text as thoughts occur. Complete the graphic organizer using as few words as possible. Don t bother writing entire quotes. You can do that in your draft! If time permits, complete a draft and review it using the writer s checklist and scoring guidelines. Complete the final copy. Review the final copy for convention errors. Mauri Fava

22 Key Verb Task Example Analyze Compare/contrast Take something apart to see how it works. Discuss likenesses/differences. Compare = alike Contrast=different Analyze the lyrics Frozen and identify the central theme. Compare and contrast the vision of the future presented in the novels The Giver and Hunger Games. Discuss Talk about something in detail. Discuss how Mattie, the protagonist of Fever 1793, is changed by her life experiences. Explain Give reasons for something. Explain the author s purpose of Martin Luther King s I have a Dream speech. Interpret Summarize Give the meaning or significance of something. Give a brief overview of the main points. Mauri Fava Interpret the symbol of the weed in Julio Noboa Polanco s poem, Identity. Summarize the major causes of World War II as told in the article World War II: An Overview.

23 Read the prompt closely and repeatedly until you are sure that you understand your task. Underline or highlight key words. What would you underline in the prompt below? Task: Analyze the lyrics Frozen and write an essay about the central theme. Mauri Fava

24 Read the text through once. Read it a second time and annotate Underline evidence Label evidence with number or topic name Make notes in the margin Mauri Fava

25 Let it Go : how would you annotate this poem? The snow glows white on the mountain tonight Not a footprint to be seen A kingdom of isolation, And it looks like I'm the queen. The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried! Don't let them in, don't let them see Be the good girl you always have to be Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know Well, now they know! Let it go, let it go Can't hold it back anymore Let it go, let it go Turn away and slam the door! I don't care What they're going to say Let the storm rage on, The cold never bothered me anyway! It's time to see what I can do To test the limits and break through No right, no wrong, no rules for me I'm free! Let it go, let it go I am one with the wind and sky Let it go, let it go You'll never see me cry! Here I stand And here I'll stay Let the storm rage on! My power flurries through the air into the ground My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast I'm never going back, The past is in the past! Let it go, let it go And I'll rise like the break of dawn Let it go, let it go That perfect girl is gone! It's funny how some distance Makes everything seem small And the fears that once controlled me Here I stand In the light of day Let the storm rage on, Mauri Fava

26 Complete the graphic organizer using as few words as possible and in ten minutes or less. Don t bother writing down entire quotes. You can do that in your draft! Mauri Fava

27 BODY: Topic: Cite + Explain Topic: Topic: CONCLUSION: Restate: Final thought: Mauri Fava

28 BODY: Topic: hiding in the past Topic: Release / reveal Cite + Explain Conceal Now they know Perfect girl Kingdom of isolation queen This suggests that the speaker kept her true self a secret but is now finding the courage to show the world that she is no longer the perfect girl she once pretended to be Let it go Can t hold it Light of day The speaker can t hold back her emotions anymore in order to hide her true self. She is releasing them and showing the world in the light of day who she really is. CONCLUSION: Restate: Central theme of Frozen encourages self-acceptance Final thought: Important message about identity Mauri Fava

29 It is a message that you can t hear too often. Be yourself. The central theme of the song Let it Go is to be yourself no matter what the consequences. The speaker realizes that she no longer wants to hide herself from the world; she wants to let it go. In her past, this speaker had clearly been afraid of being judged by others, but she no longer wants to be ruled by fear. The speaker describes a time when she was forced to Conceal, don t feel, don t let them know. She then declares, Well now they know. This suggests that the speaker kept her true nature a secret in fear of judgment, but she is now finding the courage to reveal herself to the world. She is no longer the perfect girl she once pretended to be. Hiding herself from others has caused a lot of pain and loneliness. The speaker realizes that she no longer wants to be the queen in a kingdom of isolation. According to the speaker, it is now time to release the pent up emotions and reveal her true self. She can t hold it back anymore. She is ready to reveal to the world her long-time hidden self in the light of day. This is a person who has finally accepted herself and is no longer afraid of rejection or judgment. The speaker is relieved that perfect girl is gone! Let it go has an inspiring theme about self-acceptance that is really uplifting for anyone who struggles with identity. The speaker has realized that she does not need to hide her imperfections. An important part of being yourself is accepting that you are not perfect. Therefore, the central theme of the lyrics is be yourself. Mauri Fava

30 Restated the question in your introduction and mentioned the name of the text. Addressed ALL parts of the question in your body paragraphs. Provided relevant evidence in the form of direct quotes and paraphrasing. Analyzed your evidence and explained how it supports your answers. Used appropriate transitions as you moved from one idea to another. Showed some ability to synthesize ideas in your conclusion paragraph. Mauri Fava

31 Mauri Fava