Take out your Take out your ““Turning 16Turning 16” ” assignmentassignment

and and assignment assignment notebooksnotebooks!!!!!!

MEL-Con:MEL-Con:How to write for the WKCE How to write for the WKCE

and beyond!and beyond!

IntroductionIntroduction

What is MEL-Con?What is MEL-Con? Why should I care about MEL-Con? Why should I care about MEL-Con?

How will it help me?How will it help me?

2 Types of MEL-Con2 Types of MEL-Con

Mini (Short Answer)Mini (Short Answer)– Used mainly on short answer tests and Used mainly on short answer tests and

on the WKCE!on the WKCE! Monstrous (Essays)Monstrous (Essays)

– Used as the body paragraphs of essays!Used as the body paragraphs of essays!

The Building Blocks of MEL-The Building Blocks of MEL-ConCon

M M = Main Idea (Topic Sentence) = Main Idea (Topic Sentence) EE = Evidence = Evidence

(Support/Examples/Proof)(Support/Examples/Proof)

L L = Link (Explains how support = Link (Explains how support proves main idea) proves main idea)

Con = Concluding sentence Con = Concluding sentence (summarizes main idea and (summarizes main idea and

evidence) evidence)

Writing Main IdeasWriting Main Ideas What is a main idea?What is a main idea?

– First sentence of paragraph (topic First sentence of paragraph (topic sentence)sentence)

– Answer the question or respond to the Answer the question or respond to the prompt.prompt. Prompt: Should high school students have to Prompt: Should high school students have to

write MEL-Con paragraphs?write MEL-Con paragraphs? Main Idea:Main Idea:

– High school students should have to write MEL-High school students should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs. Con paragraphs.

…….OR.OR– High school students should not have to write High school students should not have to write

MEL-Con paragraphs.MEL-Con paragraphs.

Writing Transitions and Writing Transitions and EvidenceEvidence

Transitions:Transitions:– Each piece of evidence should begin Each piece of evidence should begin

with a transition with a transition Something that connects one piece of Something that connects one piece of

information to anotherinformation to another Introduces new informationIntroduces new information

NOTE: The transitions “First, Second, NOTE: The transitions “First, Second, Third”, are WAAAAAYYYY overused. Third”, are WAAAAAYYYY overused. Be more creative, PLEASE!Be more creative, PLEASE!

EvidenceEvidence Evidence:Evidence:

– Something to support main ideaSomething to support main ideaEvidence Evidence (Support/Examples/Proof/Direct (Support/Examples/Proof/Direct Quote)Quote)

Mini – 1 – 2 pieces of evidenceMini – 1 – 2 pieces of evidence Monstrous – 3 pieces (unless Monstrous – 3 pieces (unless

otherwise specified)otherwise specified)

High school students High school students should have to write should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs.MEL-Con paragraphs. To To beginbegin, , writing MEL-Con writing MEL-Con paragraphs helps students paragraphs helps students organize and focus their organize and focus their ideas.ideas.

Writing LinksWriting Links You must have a link for each piece of You must have a link for each piece of

evidenceevidence Links must fully explain how evidence Links must fully explain how evidence

proves the main ideaproves the main idea– One link Can be anywhere from a few words One link Can be anywhere from a few words

(mini) to a full sentence (monstrous). (mini) to a full sentence (monstrous). – They should explain how the evidence supports They should explain how the evidence supports

or proves the main idea.or proves the main idea.– How many links will you have in one paragraph How many links will you have in one paragraph

if you must have 3 pieces of evidence?if you must have 3 pieces of evidence?

The Missing Link The Missing Link ((and I’m not talking about Big and I’m not talking about Big

Foot!)Foot!) The link is what often separates The link is what often separates

great writing from mediocre writing.great writing from mediocre writing. Challenging to write, but ABSOLTELY Challenging to write, but ABSOLTELY

needed for well structured needed for well structured paragraphs.paragraphs.

High school students High school students should have to write should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs.MEL-Con paragraphs. To To beginbegin, , writing MEL-Con writing MEL-Con paragraphs helps students paragraphs helps students organize and focus their organize and focus their ideasideas, , which is an which is an important component of all important component of all writing. writing.

Writing Concluding Writing Concluding SentencesSentences

The final part of your perfect body The final part of your perfect body paragraphparagraph

Should restate the main idea in a Should restate the main idea in a different way and include a different way and include a summarysummary of the evidence.of the evidence.

One sentence longOne sentence longBecause writing MEL-Con paragraphs Because writing MEL-Con paragraphs helps students maintain focus,…it is helps students maintain focus,…it is necessary for all students to use this necessary for all students to use this writing format.writing format.

How many How many sentences should sentences should

be in the two types be in the two types of MEL-Con of MEL-Con Paragraphs?Paragraphs?

MiniMini–Should have anywhere Should have anywhere from 4 – 5 sentencesfrom 4 – 5 sentences

MonstrousMonstrous–Should have anywhere Should have anywhere from 6 – 8 sentences from 6 – 8 sentences

““Turning 16” RevisionsTurning 16” RevisionsYour task:Your task: Revise your “Turning 16” paragraphs into 1 – 2 Revise your “Turning 16” paragraphs into 1 – 2

Mini MEL-Con paragraphs.Mini MEL-Con paragraphs.

Requirements:Requirements: Label ANY MEL-Con parts in existing Label ANY MEL-Con parts in existing

paragraph(s). Use key on the whiteboard.paragraph(s). Use key on the whiteboard. Outline your revised paragraphs.Outline your revised paragraphs. Rewrite (or type) your paragraphs.Rewrite (or type) your paragraphs. Label all MEL-Con parts in your revised Label all MEL-Con parts in your revised

paragraph(s)paragraph(s) Must turn in ALL parts on Thursday for FULL Must turn in ALL parts on Thursday for FULL

Credit.Credit.