Informative Essay Extended Writing Project Assignments

Today in class we did a writers workshop on the conclusion of the essay.  We took a look at our thesis statement - and then reflected on what we had covered in our two body paragraphs.  The concluding paragraph should have the following:

- A sentence restating the thesis

- No longer would people be treated like . . .

-  1865 13th Amendment . . .

-  Your opinion:  Do you think the Civil War was a good or bad thing?  Why or why not?

-  Your opinion:  Do you think the work that was started with the Civil War is finished?  Is there more work to do?

-  Concluding thought

 

This paragraph should have at least 6 sentences.  

 

You also received an essay checklist - use this checklist to review your essay.  When you have finished reviewing and have a check in each box you are done!  Print your essay out and bring it to school on Monday.  You also need to have all of the pre-writing papers ready to turn in.  If you need me to print your essay please send an email that says PLEASE PRINT.  

Notes we took along the way writing the informative essay.

Today during English class we had a writers workshop in room 416.  During this session we worked on the introductory paragraph.  We reviewed the model introduction on page 463 of the Study Sync book.  You were given ideas on how to write the hook and given time to actually write the hook.  We also looked at your introductory paragraph for Sullivan Ballou and the concluding sentence for House Divided.  We worked on smoothly transitioning from one paragraph to another - we also worked on connecting the introductory sentence to the thesis.  

 

In Support we continued the writers workshop.  We added to the hook. 

 

Hook

Two sentences about the South

Two sentences about the North

A sentence about how slavery divided the North and South. 

A sentence about why the Civil War was fought. 

Many passages from the period explore these ideas of freedom. 

Abraham Lincoln's "House Divided' and the "Sullivan Ballou Letter" are good examples.  

Thesis statement

 

You should have finished your introductory paragraph.  

 

Tonight for homework make sure you have completed the Introduction - House Divided Paragraph - Sullivan Ballou Paragraph. 

Come straight to room 416 tomorrow we will do a writers workshop for the conclusion. 

Today was a writing period in both English and Support.  The expectation for students was that they would complete the body paragraph for the "Sullivan Ballou" information independently.  Since we worked on the "House Divided" paragraph together, through discussion, the Ballou paragraph needed to be completed independently.  By the end of Support class students were expected to have completed the "House Divided" body paragraph and the "Sullivan Ballou" paragraph - both paragraphs were to be typed and shared with Mrs. Thompson by the end of the period.  Tomorrow we will work on the introduction.  

Today Mrs. Bucklew introduced the Essay Road Map which will help direct the writing of the essay.  We specifically looked at the body paragraphs.  After a skill lesson on body paragraphs and transitions a set of students went to Mrs. Thompson's room and worked the body paragraphs.  We put the articles into chronological order and determined that our first body paragraph would be the "House Divided" speech by Lincoln.  Using the Essay Road Map we brainstormed possible introductory sentences.  During the class period we finished a, b and c of the road map.  During Support we finished d, e, f.  Period 5 and Period 6 had different responses after discussing possible sentences.  See attached.  

Mrs. Thompson was in a meeting this morning - Mrs. Bucklew covered Introductions - see attached.  In Support we continued our discussion of the Declaration of Independence - what did it really say?  We went back to our Douglass passages and read the alarming state the slaves lived in - ask yourself - Did they have liberty?  We reviewed the definition of liberty.  The government has an obligation to make sure that all men are equal.  That all men have the right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" - did the slaves have this?  So this is what Lincoln was talking about.  We discussed using this information to draw the reader into the essay.  

Today in class we worked on the Thesis statement.  You should have completed your thesis statement for the essay.  In Support we reviewed the Frederick Douglass quotes we found.  We also took a look at the presidents from the start of the United States until the time Lincoln was elected.  We learned that over half of them owned slaves.  Consider this information when writing your introductory paragraph.  The Declaration of Independence came up - what did it really say?  Thomas Jefferson wrote it and he owned slaves.  Interesting information for a hook.  

Today in class Mrs. Bucklew introduced the Informative/Explanatory Essay Organizer and provided an example using Anne Frank.  

 

In Support we completed Pre-write for the Sullivan Ballou article - see attached

We also started the graphic organizer which MUST be turned in with your pre-write information. 

Extended Writing Project:  Prewrite was started today.  

Attached you will find the in class lesson as well as the work completed in Support.  

In Support we completed the prewrite information for "A House Divided" 

The Extended writing project:  Informative Writing was introduced.  

 

See Attached