Strong academic writing has a clear structure. Start by
drafting an outline to help you stay on track. Sample Outline:
Intro Paragraph Hook Background/Context Thesis Body Paragraph
(repeat as needed) Topic Sentence Supporting Detail/Quotation
Analysis/Explanation Relation to thesis Conclusion Rephrase Main
Idea Summary Significance
Slide 3
Print out each set of the outline process Break student into
two groups Have groups compete to correctly put the outline in the
correct order Print out steps Laminate Magnetic strips
Slide 4
Slide 5
The intro paragraph should give the reader a concise overview
of everything that is to follow, just like a film preview does for
a movie.
Slide 6
Too boardit will make it harder to focus your writing, rather
than give you more to work with Too personalit will not be academic
in nature if its all based on personal experience or opinion Too
skimpy in evidenceyou can argue whatever you want, as long as there
is supporting evidence Too factualits difficult to make an argument
out of something that is entirely factual
Slide 7
A strong introductory paragraph set the stage for the essay by
providing: A hook to lure the reader in Background to explain what
the book, text, or theory will be used to further discuss the topic
And a thesis to make your claim
Slide 8
The hook grabs the readers interest by introducing a topic. Be
careful not to make this statement too broad or specific. Too
Broad: Some things in life seem destined to happen, regardless of
what we do to try to stop them. Too Specific: In Romeo and Juliet,
the lovers are doomed from the start, and sure enough, end up dying
by the plays end. Just Right: Many of Shakespeares tragedies
illustrate the concept that individual will is no match for
predetermined fate.
Slide 9
The background/context guides the discussion of the topic by
situating the reader within a particular text, historical time, or
theoretical frame. We move from a broader topic to a specific
context. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers struggle to
overcome many barriers in order to be together. However, the
rivalry between the Capulet and Montague families predetermined the
fate of Romeo and Juliet long before they met at the
masquerade.
Slide 10
Introductory Paragraph: Many of Shakespeares tragedies
illustrate the concept that individual will is no match for
predetermined fate. In Romeo and Juliet, the young lovers struggle
to overcome many barriers in order to be together. However, the
rivalry between the Capulet and Montague families predetermined the
fate of Romeo and Juliet long before they met at the
masquerade.
Slide 11
Slide 12
The thesis makes an overall claim about your topic and lays out
key evidence to support that claim. Thesis Elements: Claim: WHAT
are you saying about the book/text/theory? Evidence: HOW can you
support your claim?
Slide 13
Claim: The play reinforces the idea that individuals are
powerless to change their fates Evidence: The foreshadowing element
of the chorus The characterization of Romeo and Juliet as young and
nave The situational irony of the final scene Thesis: The play
reinforces the idea that individuals are powerless to change their
fates through the foreshadowing element of the chorus, the
characterization of Romeo and Juliet as young and nave, and the
situational irony of the final scene.
Slide 14
Many of Shakespeares tragedies illustrate the concept that
individual will is no match for predetermined fate. In Romeo and
Juliet, the young lovers struggle to overcome many barriers in
order to be together. However, the rivalry between the Capulet and
Montague families predetermined the fate of Romeo and Juliet long
before they met at the masquerade. The play reinforces the idea
that individuals are powerless to change their fates through the
foreshadowing element of the chorus, the characterization of Romeo
and Juliet as young and nave, and the situational irony of the
final scene.
The first sentence in a paragraph Identifies the main idea of
the paragraph Should be general enough to show the paragraphs main
idea, not just one of the details Thesis Statements vs. Topic
Sentences
Slide 19
1. My hometown is famous because it is located by the Delaware
River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an
unusually steep hill called Delaware Hill. 2. There are two reasons
why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmissions and
two reasons why others like cars with manual transmissions. 3.
Clouds are white.
Slide 20
My hometown is famous because it is located by the Delaware
River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an
unusually steep hill called Delaware Hill. Contains too many
details Topic sentences are general and details should appear later
in the paragraph Corrected: My hometown is famous for several
amazing geographical features.
Slide 21
There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with
automatic transmissions and two reasons why others like cars with
manual transmissions. Mentions two ideas Paragraphs are usually
about one main idea and so their topic sentences should also be
about only one main idea. Corrected (Paragraph 1): There are two
reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic
transmissions. Corrected (Paragraph 2): On the other hand, there
are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with manual
transmissions.
Slide 22
Clouds are white. Corrected: The color of clouds are determined
by various factors. Too general (Also very boring)
Slide 23
My first day of college was a disaster. First, I went to the
wrong classroom for math. I was sitting in the class, surrounded by
people taking notes and paying attention to how to do equations,
which would have been okay if I was supposed to be in an algebra
class. In reality, I was supposed to be in geometry, and when I
discovered my error, I had already missed the first twenty minutes
of a one-hour class. When I got to the correct class, all twenty-
five students turned and looked at me as the teacher said, Youre
late. That would have been bad enough, but in my next class my
history teacher spoke so fast I could not follow most of what he
said. The only thing I did hear was that we were having a quiz
tomorrow over todays lecture. My day seemed to be going better
during botany class, that is, until we visited the lab. I had a
sneezing fit because of one of the plants in the lab and had to
leave the room. When I finally finished my classes for the day, I
discovered I had locked my keys in the car and had to wait for my
brother to bring another set. My first day of school was so bad
that I know the rest will have to be better. Topic Sentence Check
List: Is it the first sentence of the paragraph? Does it identify
the main idea? Does it generally identify the main idea without
giving specific details?
Slide 24
Break into groups Work on Creating a Topic Sentence worksheet
together After 5-10 minutes, each group will write their topic
sentence for each number on the board As a class, we will go over
each topic sentence to discuss if it is appropriate