Items You Need Your on-demand writing materials (notes, prewriting diagram, brainstorming from yesterday, etc.) Copy of the informative prompts from yesterday (Aristotle OR Careers) At least 2 blank sheets of paper (maybe more) Writing utensil (pencil is probably best) THINK FAST: Why did I use a bulleted list here instead of a numbered list?
Prewriting Diagram Remember this? You were given 2 copies in October. Get out one of those copies, preferably the blank one. You will use this blank diagram to prewrite for your informative on-demand.
Paragraph 1: Introduction Notice the introduction paragraph is represented by an inverted triangle. This means the introduction should start out with BROAD information--a general question, a story that applies to anyone, a general fact or statistic. Pick one of the introduction strategies listed on your diagram. As we discussed earlier, questions are a good, easy choice. The introduction NARROWS from broad information to the THESIS STATEMENT. Begin broadly to engage your reader. Use strategies such as Story or anecdote Quote Question (s) Description, etc End with the point of the piece, why you re writing and what you want from the reader. End lead with your thesis statement.
How to Write a Thesis Statement EXAMPLE: 1. Look at the P in TAP 2. RESTATE the P into a sentence that expresses your purpose for this T = letter A = new students P = informing new students about important school rules particular topic. DO NOT begin this sentence with I am... or In this article... Thesis statement: Our school has several important rules that students should follow every day.
Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4: Body Each body paragraph should contain ONE main idea that is a part of your overall topic. Turn this main idea into a topic sentence for the paragraph. The rest of the paragraph should be details to support/ explain/describe this main idea. Use the box on the right side of your Prewriting Diagram to find strategies you can use to create these supporting details. EACH body paragraph should begin with the reason or point you re making, along with support for that point. Support can take the form of the following: *Contrasts/ comparisons *Embedded stories or examples from your own lives/ experiences *Facts the reader needs to know *Statistics that support your viewpoint *The history of the incident that led up to you want to get done *Quotes from folks involved in the situation *Descriptions that help to pull the reader to your point of view *Comparisons, contrasts, analogies *Scenarios of what might result if the problem isn t attended to
Paragraph 5: Conclusion Notice the conclusion paragraph is by a triangle (opposite from the introduction). This means the conclusion paragraph should start out with the NARROW thesis statement. However, do NOT use the same wording you used in the introduction. The conclusion BROADENS from the narrow thesis statement to the THESIS STATEMENT. To add details to this paragraph, pick one of the introduction strategies listed on your diagram. If you began with a question, answer it in the conclusion. Begin with your thesis statement. An interesting conclusion may include one of the following examples: *Finding a solution *Summarizing your points *Ending with a quote *Leaving the reader with a challenge or something to think about *Projecting the future *Answering the question you began with or somehow going back to how you began
YOUR TURN! Complete the prewriting for the informative prompt you chose yesterday. Remember, you are only writing about ONE of those prompts, so you should only complete ONE prewriting diagram. DO NOT write on your copy of the prewriting diagram. Leave it blank for next time. Instead, complete your prewriting on ONE of your blank sheets of paper. Label your paper like this: Intro Par. 2 Par. 3 Par. 4 Feb. 6, 2013 Name Informative On-Demand Prewriting Conclusion On your paper, do NOT write a draft. That takes up too much time. Instead, jot down BULLET points of main ideas & supporting details for each paragraph that you can turn into sentences when you write your draft. Use the helpful boxes on your prewriting diagram.
20 Minutes... You have 20 minutes to complete a detailed prewriting for your prompt AND to write the introduction paragraph of your draft. Remember that you need to brainstorm the following things on your paper for prewriting: Introduction strategy (from the diagram) Thesis statement 3 main ideas for the 3 body paragraphs 3 supporting details for each body paragraph (9 supporting details in all) using the strategies on the diagram Rewording of thesis statement to begin conclusion Conclusion strategies (from the diagram) Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs are a minimum of 3 sentences long. Body paragraphs are a minimum of 4 sentences long. If you have time, write your introduction paragraph ONLY on your SECOND blank sheet of paper.