The Writing Process
Break down the prompt.
How many body paragraphs should your essay have?
3
What are the three parts of a body paragraph (in order)?
Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning
Explain the purpose of a claim.
The claim should establish the topic of the body paragraph and connect back to the overarching argument of the essay.
What should you include at the beginning of a new paragraph to help draw connections between ideas?
A transition word or phrase.
What is the second step of the writing process after breaking down the prompt?
Brainstorming
What order should you place your body paragraphs in?
In the same order as the points you listed in your thesis statement?
What are the three parts of an introduction (in order)?
Hook, Bridge, and Thesis
What is evidence, and where does it come from when writing an SOL essay?
Evidence is made up of specific details and examples that prove your point. In an SOL essay, it must come from your brain. You can pull from your own personal experiences, background knowledge, and media you're familiar with.
What should you make sure to do at the beginning of every paragraph?
Indent
What is the first sentence of your essay that you should write?
Thesis statement
What shape can help you remember the structure of an introduction?
An upside down triangle. It starts broad and narrows down to your specific argument.
What are the three parts of a conclusion (in order)?
Restate the Thesis, Summarize Main Points, and So What?
What is reasoning?
Reasoning is an explanation of how the evidence connects to the claim and proves your overarching argument.
When should you hit enter or start a new line in your essay?
Only at the end of a paragraph, not after each "part" of the paragraph.
What should you do after you've finished typing your draft?
Read over your draft and edit and revise.
What shape can help you remember the structure of a conclusion?
A right side up triangle. It starts with your specific argument and broadens back out to real-world implications/big ideas.
What are the three parts of a thesis statement (in order)?
What is a bridge?
The bridge should help transition from the hook to the thesis statement and provide background information/context.
What word/POV should you avoid using in your essay?
What should you do after editing and revising your draft?
Give your eyes a break, then come back and read through one last time.
What shape can help you remember the structure of a body paragraph? What does an extra-strong body paragraph look like?
A regular body paragraph looks like a hamburger. The top bun is the claim, the evidence is the meat of the argument, and the bottom bun is the reasoning that connects back to the claim. An extra-strong body paragraph is shaped like a Big Mac because it repeats the evidence and reasoning steps.
What is the thesis template?
Although some people think [concession/opposite argument] because [one reason], [refutation/your argument] because [reason 1], [reason 2], and [reason 3].
What is a So What?
A So What? statement makes a connection beyond the immediate context of the prompt and shows the reader why the argument of the essay matters. It can also contain a call to action.
When is it acceptable to use first person (I) in your essay? When should you avoid it?
You can use first person when giving an example from your own personal experience. You should avoid using first person to make statements like "I think," "I believe," "I agree/disagree," "in my opinion," etc.