Persuasive Essay
Why is it important to have a hook in your persuasive essay? Where does it belong?
The Hook grabs the reader's attention. It belongs in the intro. It is the first sentence in your intro!
There was once a grand city on the northeast coast of the Mediterranean Sea near Egypt, known as Thonis. Some records indicate that Helen of Troy visited the area before the Trojan War. Founded around 700B.C., it thrived for centuries and then allegedly disappeared into the depths of the ocean.
What does the word it refer to?
The city of Thonis
What is the question asking for when it states, "pick the sentence that could be considered the thesis"?
It is asking you to provide a sentence that tells the reader what the story is going to be out. Or a sentence that tells the reader the main idea.
When you come across a word that you do not know, what should you do?
Look it up in the dictionary or Thesaurus
The word transition means...
To move from one idea to the next. To move from one thing to another.
Give at least two examples of the types of hooks!
Personification, simile, counterargument, anecdote, quote, rhetorical question, description, imagine statement.
You have just come across a question that states, "What change should be made in sentence ___". One of the answer choices says to change the spelling of a word. How can you easily determine if this is the correct answer choice or not?
Look up the spelling of the word in the dictionary or thesaurus
What does the word theme mean?
The message or the overall idea(s) of the story, or what you can learn from it.
When writing the persuasive essay, it is important to come up with two examples that support your thesis. Where will you write about your two examples?
In the two body paragraphs
The song "Gucci Gang" is very redundant. It states the same song lyrics over and over again. Define Redundant.
unnecessary repetition
What should a thesis statement include?
What you believe and two reasons why (opinion + 2 reasons).
In what instance would you add an 's to the end of a word?
Ex: Smith's
When showing possession
EX: Ms. Smith's diet consists of Chick-fil-a.
The tone of the story refers to:
The author's attitude toward the topic, or, in other words, how the author feels about the topic.
What answer choice can you almost always mark off as being the incorrect answer?
D) No Change
When students talk over their teacher, she has to reiterate her message over and over again. Define reiterate.
to say something again and again, or multiple times
While looking at the page that your essay prompt is on during the STAAR test, how can you determine what the actual prompt is?
It will state, "Write an essay stating your position on..."
In what instance would you add an apostrophe (') after the s?
Example: Boys'
To show possession when the noun is plural.
Ex: The boys' jerseys were in the locker room. More than one boy has a jersey. The word Boy is plural (meaning more than one)
The mood of the story refers to:
the feeling that the reader gets when reading. The reader's reaction to the story. (Emotions the story makes us feel - happy, sad, angry)
If you come across a question and you are unsure about the answer, what should you do to come up with the answer?
Reread the story. Flip back to the story. Use context clues from the story to help you find the answer.
The children have always been quiet. In fact, they are so quiet and shy that they are unable to articulate their feelings. Define articulate.
to express
Which part of your persuasive essay tells the reader what you are going to talk about?
The Thesis Statement
When is it ever okay to capitalize words like:
High School
President
Park
When the specific name is given.
Ex:
Grape Creek High School
President Abraham Lincoln
Olive Tree Park
Example Question:
1. For Mackenzie, the chestnut tree in paragraphs 15 and 16 symbolizes —
Define the term symbolizes. Why is this question different than a question that states "What object symbolizes Valentine's Day"?
It means "to represent."
This question is asking us what the tree represents to Mackenzie, not just what the tree represents as a whole.
A heart representing Valentine's Day is universal - everyone has the same idea.
If you get a question like this:
In paragraph 14, the word asymmetrically means —
A lopsidedly
B luxuriously
C stylishly
D conspicuously
What tool can you use to help you find the synonym of the word?
A Thesaurus
A lot of extraneous information is put into your questions in order to trip you up. Define extraneous
irrelevant or unrelated topics