ARE WritingWhat ARE your insights?

What other words do we use?● Thesis● Topic Sentence

What is an Assertion or an Argument?● Your main idea or insight● What you are going to prove in your essay and in each body paragraph

Assertion/Argument

What other words do we use?● Context

You developed your idea BECAUSE…(anything that completes that sentence is part of your reasoning)

Reasoning

What other words do we use?● Examples● Supporting Details

Evidence provides PROOF!

Evidence

● Direct quotes from primary sources● Major historical documents (i.e., The Declaration of Independence, The

Constitution, The Magna Carta)● Conflicts, wars, battles (i.e., The Civil War, World War II)● Movements (i.e., The Women’s Rights Movement, The Abolitionist

Movement)● Leaders as well as their missions and values● Social systems (i.e., slavery, indentured servitude)● Laws● Artwork and pictures● Current events

Evidence in History Class

● Direct quotes from novels and short stories● Connections to poems, stories, articles or concepts from outside of

class/other subjects● Music and lyrics● Current events● Artwork and pictures

Evidence in English Class

Do you ever ask yourself, “Why should I care?”

That is exactly what your readers ask after every piece of evidence in your paper!

Explain how and why your evidence supports your assertion.● How does it affect people’s attitudes, idea, beliefs, and behaviors?● Why does it cause or prevent conflict?● How does it impact future events?● Why is it important?!?

Significance

Introduction Paragraph

Grabber!

Context

Assertion/Argument/Thesis

How are you going to capture your audience’s attention? Quote?

Anecdote? Statistic?

What specifically are you going to prove throughout your paper?

What is your argument, position, or insight?

What information and vocabulary does your audience need about historical conflicts, social

situations, values, or people in order to best understand your topic?

EVERY Body Paragraph

Assertion

Reasoning

Evidence

Significance

One clear, specific point that you are going to prove throughout your paragraph.

3-4 sentences where you explain your ideas in your own words and use relevant vocabulary.

Supporting details with parenthetical citations - cite your sources (Creeden 2015).

How does your evidence support your assertion? How does it connect to society? DIG DEEPER. Pull back the layers. Keep asking yourself: “Why?”

What does parenthetical citation do?Gives people credit for their work, words, and ideas

Where does a parenthetical citation go?At the end of the sentence BEFORE the period

Parenthetical Citation 101

...(Creeden 2015).

Parenthetical Citation Components

Author’s Last Name (from the article, book, document where you found the information)

Date of Publication (of the article, book, document where you found the information)

If you have more than one author, list their last names in alphabetical order.

...(Creeden, Pokorney 2015).

Conclusion Paragraph

Summarize your Assertion

Summarize your Reasoning

Make us THINK about the significance.

Use specific, meaningful, powerful vocabulary!

Pull your ideas together in a new way. Draw connections!

Show us. Do not plop facts down.

Leave your readers with a TAKE AWAY message. Give them something to think about.

❏ No “I” or “I think”❏ No good, bad, mad, glad, sad (Use specific, meaningful vocabulary!)❏ No “this”❏ At least 3 transition words and phrases per paragraph❏ Commas after transition words and phrases (i.e., prepositional phrases,

adverbial clauses)❏ Commas before direct quotes❏ Commas with FANBOYS❏ Proper parenthetical citation when you use other people’s words and ideas❏ Capitalize proper nouns

Basic Writing Check-List