"A good essay must have this permanent quality about it. It must draw its curtain around us, but it must be a curtain that shuts us in, not out." ~Virginia Woolf
3x3 Pre-writing Strategy
The following strategies can serve as your "GPS" for writing!
Worried about this method being too formulaic? Don't! Like training wheels, this is a basic strategy for those who struggle with writing, or those who need to be guided. Over time, as you begin to develop as a writer, you will learn how to write to the depth and complexity of a more advanced-level writer.
Expository Essay
Prompt: Write an essay that explains the impact of gossiping.
|
Brainstorm
(list all possible answers) Hurtful
Deceitful Anti-social |
Thesis
People should not gossip because it is hurtful, deceitful and can lead to anti-social behavior.
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Topic Sentences
(1) To begin with, the cliche, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt," is a lie because words can be hurtful when someone gossips about you.
(2) Next, it is very deceitful to talk about someone behind their back instead of confronting them in a mature way with your issue. (3) Also, gossiping can make a person feel so isolated that they develop anti-social behavior. |
Literary Analysis Essay
The following is a fill-in-the-blank template that can help you develop your introduction and thesis statement to respond to any analytical writing prompt:
In ___________ (author's name) ________ (poem, novel, novella, play, short story, memoir), __________________ (title of work), ________________ (summarize the plot). [1-2 sentences of commentary here would enhance your intro.] Throughout the __________ (poem, novel, etc.), ________________ (author) uses ____________________ (diction, imagery, detail, figurative language, tone, mood) to ___________ (verb: reveal, explore, portray, suggest) _______________________ (theme). [This last sentence is your thesis statement.]
Outline Example
Defend or challenge whether schools should provide alternative milk options to students during lunch.
I. Introduction (Hook, Commentary, Thesis)
II. Lactose Intolerance
A. Weak immune systems (How/Why+Proof)
B. Chemicals in foods (How/Why+Proof)
III. Cost-effective
A. Food preference surveys (How/Why+Proof)
B. Stop wasting food (How/Why+Proof)
IV. Special Diets
A. Vegans/Vegetarians (How/Why+Proof)
B. Diabetics (How/Why+Proof)
C. Food Allergies (How/Why+Proof)
V. Conclusion (don't repeat the thesis, reinforce it with a real-world connection which answers "So what?" or "Why do I care?")
Rhetorical Analysis Essay
A rhetorical analysis thesis sets up an analysis of how the author argues, not what the argument is about and is set up like the following.
Steps to get there:
In [title of the text], [author’s name] uses [rhetorical appeals: e.g., ethos, logs, pathos, kairos, etc.] to [author's purpose: explain, persuade, entertain, critique, etc.] to [effect on audience or broader message], [effect on audience or broader message], and [effect on audience or broader message].
In [title of the text], [author’s name] uses [rhetorical appeals: e.g., ethos, logs, pathos, kairos, etc.] to [author's purpose: explain, persuade, entertain, critique, etc.] to [effect on audience or broader message], [effect on audience or broader message], and [effect on audience or broader message].
Example thesis:
In her article, "Got Milk...Alternatives?," published in The Dallas Morning News, professional writer, journalist, and high school rhetoric teacher, delmetria millener-adams, uses a gripping emotional appeal to parents to highlight the health of their children, logical reasoning through data to support the dietary need for alternatives, and inclusive language to emphasize equity and access to persuade schools to adopt more diverse milk options in their cafeterias.
Or...
Professional writer, journalist, and high school rhetoric teacher, delmetria millener-adams, uses emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and inclusive language in her Dallas Morning News article on dairy alternatives because she wants to show schools how important it is for schools to provide more equitable and health-conscious options for all students.
Example Introduction paragraph with thesis statement:
Professional writer, journalist, and high school rhetoric teacher, delmetria millener-adams, who is also a certified tea sommelier, has a unique understanding of how dietary choices impact the body, wellness, and cultural practices. In her claim on the urgent and often overlooked nature of dietary equity in public schools, her perspective adds credibility and nuance to her position on the importance of offering inclusive dietary options in schools. In her article, "Got Milk...Alternatives?" published in The Dallas Morning News, millener-adams uses a gripping emotional appeal to parents to highlight the health of their children, logical reasoning through data to support the dietary need for alternatives, and inclusive language to emphasize equity and access to persuade schools to adopt more diverse milk options in their cafeterias.
In her article, "Got Milk...Alternatives?," published in The Dallas Morning News, professional writer, journalist, and high school rhetoric teacher, delmetria millener-adams, uses a gripping emotional appeal to parents to highlight the health of their children, logical reasoning through data to support the dietary need for alternatives, and inclusive language to emphasize equity and access to persuade schools to adopt more diverse milk options in their cafeterias.
Or...
Professional writer, journalist, and high school rhetoric teacher, delmetria millener-adams, uses emotional appeals, logical reasoning, and inclusive language in her Dallas Morning News article on dairy alternatives because she wants to show schools how important it is for schools to provide more equitable and health-conscious options for all students.
Example Introduction paragraph with thesis statement:
Professional writer, journalist, and high school rhetoric teacher, delmetria millener-adams, who is also a certified tea sommelier, has a unique understanding of how dietary choices impact the body, wellness, and cultural practices. In her claim on the urgent and often overlooked nature of dietary equity in public schools, her perspective adds credibility and nuance to her position on the importance of offering inclusive dietary options in schools. In her article, "Got Milk...Alternatives?" published in The Dallas Morning News, millener-adams uses a gripping emotional appeal to parents to highlight the health of their children, logical reasoning through data to support the dietary need for alternatives, and inclusive language to emphasize equity and access to persuade schools to adopt more diverse milk options in their cafeterias.