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Writing Terminology
ESSAY
A piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary)
about a subject.
An essay consists of 4 parts:
1. Introduction
2. Two body paragraphs
3. Concluding paragraph
INTRODUCTION (INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH)
1. The first paragraph in an essay
2. Includes the thesis
3. Thesis is most often at the end.
BODY PARAGRAPH
A middle paragraph in an essay
Develops a point that supports thesis
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
Last paragraph in essaySums up, reflects on previous comments, gives more commentary or personal statement regarding subject
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH DOES NOT:
Include concrete detailRepeat key words from paper
(especially from thesis or introduction)
However…It provides a finished feeling
to essay
THESIS
Sentence with subject & opinion (commentary)
Located at the end of introductory paragraph
PRE-WRITING
The process of getting your concrete details on paper
before you organize the essay into paragraphs
PRE-WRITING INCLUDES:
Bubble ClustersSpider DiagramsOutlinesLine ClusteringColumns
CONCRETE DETAILS (CD)
Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body
paragraphs
SYNONYMS FOR CONCRETE DETAILS (CD)
1. Facts
2. Specifics
3. Examples
4. Ilustrations
5. Support
6. Evidence
7. Quotations
8. Paraphrasing
COMMENTARY (CM)
Your opinion or comment about something: not concrete detail.
SYNONYMS FOR COMMENTARY (CM)
1. Opinion
2. Insight
3. Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Personal Response
6. Feelings
7. Evaluation
8. Explication
9. Reflection
TOPIC SENTENCE
First sentence in a body paragraph
Must have a subject & opinion (cm) for the paragraph
It does the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for the whole essay
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Last sentence in a body paragraph
It is all commentary (cm)Does not repeat key wordsGives finished feeling to
paragraph
SHAPING THE ESSAY
Step completed after pre-writing & before the first draft
Functions as an outline for thesis,
topic sentences, concrete details, & commentary
FIRST DRAFT
The first version of your essay
(rough draft)
FINAL DRAFT
The final version of your essay
PEER RESPONSE
Written responses & reactions to a partner’s paper
CHUNK
The smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write &
contains:
1. One sentence of CD
2. Two sentences of CM
WEAVING
Blending concrete details & commentary in a body
paragraph
(comes after format mastery)
RATIO
The ratio of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentary
(CM)
1 CD : 2+ CM
WORD COUNTS
The minimum length per paragraph to earn a “C.”
CONFUSED?
Never fear
Mrs. Laurence is here!
(rhyming couplet)