Benchmark Essay Review Structure
How many paragraphs should a benchmark essay have? At least 5 Introduction Body paragraphs (3) Conclusion (6 th paragraph is optional for opposing viewpoint)
Paragraph 1: Introduction Hook Use a hook to get the reader s attention at the beginning of introductory paragraph Introduce topic Provide background information this can be taken directly from the prompt State your position (in a thesis statement) This should be the LAST sentence of your intro paragraph
Paragraphs 2-4: Body Paragraphs 3 body paragraphs should correspond to the 3 reasons you support your claim Ex: 1 st body paragraph = reason (or argument) #1 2 nd body paragraph = reason (or argument) #2 3 rd body paragraph = reason (or argument) #3 Keep each paragraph focused to ONE REASON (or argument) Include opposing opinion and REFUTE opposing opinion If you include and refute the opposing opinion in your body paragraphs, you must include it in ALL body paragraphs
Optional body paragraph If you do not want to give and refute the opposing opinion in each of your body paragraphs, you may include an additional paragraph in which you give and refute the opposing opinion of ONE reason or argument This paragraph should follow whichever argument you are opposing Ex: If you d like to show the opposing side of body paragraph 1, your paper would look like this: Introduction Argument #1 Opposing viewpoint Argument #2 Argument #3 Conclusion
Paragraph 5: Conclusion Restate your thesis (in new words) Include opposing views Should be summarizing all of the arguments you talked about in your essay DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW MATERIAL IN THE CONCLUSION summarize what you have already written/argued End with your most convincing reason (clincher sentence) You want your point to stick with your reader after they have finished reading your essay
Benchmark Essay Review Hooks and Thesis Statements
The Hook Catches the attention of the reader Give your audience a reason to read the rest of your paper
Strategies to use to catch your reader s attention 1. Begin with a simile or a metaphor My life has been a carnival. My family is like an open book. 2. Begin with a question Who is the greatest athlete of all time? 3. Begin with a definition Amiable is the best way to describe my personality: I am friendly and caring
4. Begin with a quotation Learn to laugh is something my kindergarten teacher told me after Ralph Thorsen spilled pain on my daffodil picture. 5. Begin with a comparison to a well-known person or celebrity Suzy Brown is as photogenic as Tyra Banks. 6. Begin with placing yourself in the future In the year 2012 I see myself as a supreme ballerina performing in Camelot at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 7. Begin with a dilemma Deciding to attend Hampton Roads Academy, a private school, was one of my most difficult decision
8. Begin with a scene The day of my graduation began with Hurricane Charlie pounding at our door in Charleston, South Carolina. 9. Begin with the best advice you have ever received Butch, did you practice the piano? Since I was six years old, this has been a daily reminder from my dear mother. Be all you can be has been my inspiration from my grandfather who is a retired Marine Corps colonel and my mentor. 10. Begin with an anecdote As my cousin and I pedaled our new bikes to the beach, 6 years old, suntanned and young, we met an old, shaggy-haired man weaving unsteadily on a battered old bike.
Examples It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not (City of Glass). Throughout the history of education, literacy has come to be defined as an individual s ability to use printed information to function in society, to achieve one s goals, and to develop one s knowledge and potential (Hock, 1). For many the line between fantasy and reality is generally clear cut; however for some this line can be thin, grey, blurred or even nonexistent as is the case for Richard Wright s protagonist in Native Son, Bigger Thomas.
What is a Thesis Statement? A mini argument A sentence that briefly describes the main idea of your paper and the main argument(s) that you are trying to make Offers your readers a quick preview of what your paper is going to be about Focuses your paper on a very specific, debatable point Gives your audience guidance about the conclusions you draw in your paper
Thesis Statements The thesis statement is crucial for clearly communicating your topic and purpose to the audience. Be sure to make the statement CLEAR, CONCISE and EASY TO REMEMBER. Location: The LAST sentence of your introductory paragraph DO NOT USE I IN YOUR THESIS STATEMENT
Thesis Statement Qualities Your thesis statement should be SPECIFIC it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper (and may be supported with specific evidence) Ex: The driving age should not be raised to 18 years of age. The driving age should be raised to 18 years of age to diminish rates of teen car crashes, allow teens more time to mature before taking the road and lessen the financial burden car maintenance places on families.
Thesis Statement Qualities Thesis statements should be used to guide your essay but they are NOT set in stone If you start writing and find you want to change an argument or position, you can go back and revise or change your thesis statement. Just make sure that once you are finished, your thesis statement is representative of the rest of your paper.
Testing the Strength of your Thesis Statement If you would like to know whether or not your thesis is strong, ask yourself the following questions: Do I answer the question? Have I taken a position that other might challenge or oppose? Am I specific enough?
Examples Weak: The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. Stronger: While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the south fought to preserve its own institutions.
Practice: Turning Weak Statements into Strong Statements The driving age should be raised. Older driving age would prevent more crashes and some other things. I think the driving age should not be raised. Don t raise the driving age.
Benchmark Essay Review Transitions and Topic Sentences
Transition Words Transitions are words or word phrases used to connect one idea to the next Transitions help papers read more smoothly and allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next Begin each paragraph (except for the intro) with a transitional word or phrase
Transitional chains Transitional chains may be used in separating sections of an essay that are arranged chronologically First second third Generally furthermore finally In the first place also lastly
To Signal Conclusion Therefore This Hence In final consideration TRY TO GET AWAY FROM USING IN CONCLUSION
Topic Sentences A topic sentence summarizes the main idea of that paragraph The topic sentence should be the FIRST sentence in a paragraph The only thing that should come before the topic sentence is a transitional word or phrase The topic sentence should also provide a claim or insight that is directly related to the thesis
Example There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by welltrained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
Practice Idea: dogs make good pets Dogs make good pets because Idea: cooking requires many skills Cooking requires many skills, one of which is
Benchmark Essay Review Closing and clincher sentences
Closing and Clincher Sentences The closing or clincher sentence comes after all the details have been included in the body of the paragraph The closing sentence reminds the reader what the topic of the paragraph is really all about, what it means This should be the LAST sentence of your paragraph (excluding intro the last sentence in the intro is your thesis)
Example My Dog Romeo is so much fun to play with. One reason he s fun is because he loves to play catch. What s also fun is that he follows me around the house with a toy and drops it on my foot, so I will kick it. Additionally, he can catch just about anything, but his favorite thing to catch is a Frisbee. Finally, he loves it when I pretend like I m falling dead, and he runs over to lick me. All these reasons show why I really have fun playing with Romeo.
Final Tips Know the difference between there they re and their Make sure you use the correct form Make sure your transitions make sense i.e., don t start your first body paragraph with furthermore Make sure you are using complete sentences Don t start sentences with the words because or but Use 3 rd person No I, me, mine, we, us, our, ours, you, your or yours State your thesis clearly For this paper your thesis should state the two things you are comparing Ex: (insert event here) is similar to the Salem Witch trials discussed in The Crucible because both events caused fear, mass hysteria and affected the lives of many innocent people