Purpose, Focus, and Organization
What kind of essay is this and what does that essay type mean?
Prompt: Write an informative essay in which you explain the benefits of sports. Include the health and social benefits.
Informative, which means that I am providing information (explaining).
Can you make up what you write about on the FSA? Why or why not?
No, because it is based upon the actual text provided with the prompt.
Fix the error in the sentence: Children often report that their feeling better after exercising.
Children often report that they're feeling better after exercising.
How should you start and end the introduction paragraph?
Start with a hook to grab the readers attention. End with your thesis statement (informative) or claim (argumentative).
What kind of essay is this and what does that essay type mean?
Prompt: Write an essay in which you give your opinion on whether students should be required to wear uniforms to school. What are the social and educational effects of your choice?
Argumentative essay, which means that I have to take a side about whether students should have to wear uniforms or not.
How is evidence different from elaboration?
Evidence is pulled from the text. Elaboration is when you take the evidence and apply it in some way, using your own creative ideas.
Fix the two errors in this sentence: Physicians will tell there patients too exercise daily.
Physicians will tell their patients to exercise daily.
What should be included in your claim (argumentative) or thesis statement (informative)?
Your opinion + reasons (argumentative)
Your topic + sub-topics you will explain (informative)
What is the best way to decide which side to take on an argumentative essay?
There is no correct side, but I should choose a side that has significant text evidence to support my claim.
What do you need to do with your text evidence to help the reader understand it?
I must elaborate on my text evidence. I can explain, give examples, provide more details, or tell what it reminds me of.
Fix the three errors in this sentence: Principals belive that uniforms prevent student's from being distracted
Principals believe that uniforms prevent students from being distracted.
What is a counterclaim/counter argument and how/when do you use it?
The counterclaim or counter argument is what people who oppose your opinion believe. You use it in argumentative essay. You have to explain why that view (the counterclaim) is wrong to make your argument stronger (using a rebuttal).
What three kinds of paragraphs do ALL FSA essays have to have? What does each paragraph do?
1) An introduction paragraph: introduces the topic and sets up the organization of the essay
2) Body paragraphs: elaborate and explain ideas
3) A conclusion paragraph: restates main ideas and leaves an impact on the reader
Where does your evidence come from? How do you choose it? What paragraphs does it go into?
Evidence comes from all the texts provided with the prompt. I look for text evidence that will support my reasons or big ideas and include it in my body paragraphs.
Fix the four errors in this sentence: Wearing a uniform doesnt stop a students creativity. it encourage it.
Wearing a uniform doesn't stop a student's creativity. It encourages it.
How should you start each of your body paragraphs? What should be included in each body paragraph?
Start with a topic sentence to introduce the reason you will focus on in that paragraph.
Include text evidence supporting that idea and a clear, well-developed explanation of the idea.
What is the most important sentence of your essay that you MUST have to clue the reader in on how your essay is going to be organized? Where in your essay should this be located?
A thesis statement (or claim)--it should be the last sentence in your introduction paragraph.
What is citation? What are two ways that you can cite? Where do you cite?
Citation is telling the reader where you got your text evidence. You can use, "According to," "in the article," you can give the author or the title of the article. Your citations need to be right before or right after the evidence.
Fix the five errors in this sentence: Have you ever wondered why adults tell you that to much t.v. is bad for you. The florida department of health says that being a couch potato leds to obesity.
Have you ever wondered why adults tell you that too much T.V. is bad for you? The Florida Department of Health says that being a couch potato leads to obesity.
What should be included in your conclusion paragraph?
Restate the thesis statement, summarize the main ideas in the body paragraphs, and leave the reader with something to think about or a call to action.