Essay Structure
This sentence tells the reader what my essay will be about by answering the prompt & stating my reasons why.
What is a thesis?
The thesis formula in an argument essay.
What is Claim + reason 1 + reason 2 + reason 3?
This is the author's universal message in a text. It is inspired by what literally happens, but should actually be about an abstract idea or theme.
What is a central idea?
This is what you need to do in order to correctly answer the multiple-choice questions.
What is reading the passage carefully? (and/or) What is
As I read a text, I should do this to help me comprehend it.
What is annotating the text? (Ex: using the 5Ws)
This sentence tells the reader what the pharagraph is about.
What is the topic sentence?
This is the formula for the topic sentence in an argument essay.
These are the 3 things that MUST be in the topic sentence/thesis of your literary analysis paragraph.
What are the title of the text, the central idea, and the author's writing strategy?
This strategy helps get rid answers that are clearly wrong by crossing them out (after I have looked for evidence to support them).
What is process of elimination?
If I encounter an unfamiliar word, I should use these clues to determine its meaning.
What are context clues? (and/or) What is breaking down the parts of the word?
This is the "Say" part, in Say-Mean-Matter.
What is quotes taken directly from text?
The part of the argument essay where I reject the counterclaim and explain why it is actually wrong, using a phrase like "However..."
What is a rebuttal?
These are the 5 most common writing strategies. You can find AT LEAST 1 of them in EVERY text you read.
What are characterization, conflict, imagery, symbolism, and tone?
This clue within the question lets me know which part of the text to re-read before answering.
What are the line numbers in the question?
This strategy involves restating information in your own words to check understanding.
What is paraphrasing?
This is the "Mean" part in Say-Mean-Matter.
What is explaining what the quote means in my own words?
The part of the argument essay where I acknowledge the opposing argument using a phrase like "Some might argue..."
What is a counterclaim?
This strategy can help me figure out the central idea of the text.
What is thinking about the deeper meaning? noticing what idea shows up again & again? going from literal meaning to abstract meaning? (etc.)
If two answer choices seem correct, I should choose the one that is best supported by or has the most of this.
What is textual evidence?
When writing a response, I should always support my ideas with this.
What is evidence from the text?
This is the "Matter" part in Say-Mean-Matter.
When I connect the evidence back to the claim?
3 body paragraphs.
How many body paragraphs I should write to support my thesis?
Readers do this by combining clues from the text with their own knowledge/reasoning from outside the text.
What is inferencing?
When two answer choices seem correct, this is the option that is trying to trick you and can be proven wrong by thinking about the text more deeply or finding evidence that shows the opposite.
What is the distractor choice?
I can take the ELA Regents exam in this order to give myself the best chance of passing.
What is 1. argument essay, 2. literary analysis, and 3. multiple-choice?