Thesis Statements
What is another way of describing a "thesis statement" (2 words)?
A controlling idea or main idea.
How do you show a new paragraph when writing? (2 parts)
Start on a new line and indent.
True or False: Everything you write in an expository essay has to be 100% true.
False. You can make up examples and details, as long as they are realistic. :-)
What is the name of the resource you can use to learn SYNONYMS for words?
Thesaurus
True or False: Because you don't have a lot of time, it's okay to skip brainstorming for your essay.
FALSE! Taking time to brainstorm will help you come up with good ideas that will be easier to write about. If you skip brainstorming, your essay will NEVER be as good as if you had taken time to plan.
True or False: A good thesis statement includes reasons.
False. A good thesis statement will only state the opinion of the writer, not the reasons why the writer has those opinions.
Where should the thesis statement be located in an essay?
Thesis statement should be the last sentence of the introduction paragraph.
How many examples should you have for each reason in your essay?
1 example for each reason that proves your thesis statement.
True or false: Your handwriting affects your essay score.
TRUE- if it's bad enough! Be aware of your handwriting (random capital letters, confusing letters, etc.)
Name one way to brainstorm ideas for an essay.
-Idea Web
Where is the correct location for a thesis statement?
The last sentence of the introduction paragraph.
According to Mrs. Clark, what are "examples" in body paragraphs?
"Mini-stories" that prove your reasons.
What kinds of things can you use as a "closing statement" in your essay?
The same kinds of things you can use as a hook in the beginning of your essay can be used as a closing statement (quote, question, fact, anecdote, etc.)
What words can be used in your essay to describe HOW actions are happening?
Adverbs
True or False: Outlines for essays need to have complete sentences.
FALSE- an "outline" is just a "skeleton" of an essay. The more planing and organizing you do before writing a 1st draft, the better.
What kind of punctuation should be at the end of a thesis statement?
A period. Thesis STATEMENT, not QUESTION!
How long should your introduction/conclusion be in your essay?
2-4 sentences or 2-4 lines on the paper.
Fill in the blank: "_______ are used to prove the thesis statement"
Reasons
True or false: It's better to fill up the essay paper with lots of small, simple words than to have a shorter essay with larger, more complex vocabulary.
FALSE- Higher-level vocabulary (used correctly) is better than lower-level vocabulary.
Name two things you can do to REVISE your essay. ("Revision" is about making the essay ideas clearer)
-Highlight every sentence in essay in 2 colors to check sentence length.
-Circle the first word of each sentence to make sure you're not being repetitive.
-Look for overused words and phrases
What would be a good thesis statement for the following prompt:
WRITE an essay explaining whether it is important to have a close friend.
-It is important to have a close friend.
OR
-It is NOT important to have a close friend.
What do you call the sentence between body paragraphs?
A "link" or "transition"
Name 4 types of hooks that can be used at the beginning of an essay.
-Quote
-Anecdote (mini-story)
-Question
-Onomatopoeia
-Fact
-Definition
What is the best way to improve your vocabulary (in general)? (According to Mrs. Clark and anyone who has ever taught ELA- EVER)
READ LOTS OF CHALLENGING BOOKS!!!
Name 4 things you can do to EDIT your essay. ("Editing" is about improving the correctness of your essay)
-Read essay backwards to focus on checking spelling.
-Check spelling with dictionary
-Add adverbs to describe important verbs.
-Check capitalization.