Essay Formatting Tips
Helpful notes on essay formatting, AzMERIT rubric guidance, common errors to avoid, and mistakes that affect your score. Learn about scoring criteria and key elements in essay writing to improve your performance.
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Presentation Transcript
ESSAY FORMATTING NOTES
AZMERIT RUBRIC Graded with an AzMERIT rubric Score number is circled Main reason is highlighted
COMMON ERRORS The reason you got that score may be more detailed than the following slides
SCORE OF 4 (HIGHEST) This was PERFECT.
CONVENTIONS SCORE 2 (Best you can get) Good grammar/spelling No contractions Limited first person (I, me, we etc) This will soon drop you to a 1 1 (Lowest) Needs help with grammar/spelling Contractions Majority was in first person
MISTAKES THAT AUTOMATICALLY GIVE YOU A SCORE OF 3 Purpose, Focus and Organization: Score 3 If you only provided facts or elaboration in your counterclaim This is NOT a score 3 counterclaim: Although GM foods can be helpful, they can be hurtful too. No facts/no elaboration on how they are helpful and hurtful If you had less than 4 paragraphs If you had less than 8 quality sentences in each paragraph Evidence and Elaboration Score 3 If you only sometimes cited sources correctly If you provided less than 4 total pieces of quality evidence If you only sometimes elaborate on your facts
MISTAKES THAT AUTOMATICALLY GIVE YOU A SCORE OF 2 Purpose, Focus and Organization: Score 2 If you did not provide facts or elaboration on BOTH sides of the controversy. If you had less than 4 paragraphs If you had less than 6 quality sentences in each paragraph Evidence and Elaboration score 2 If you cited sources incorrectly If you provided less than 3 total pieces of quality evidence If you didn t elaborate on your facts
MISTAKES THAT AUTOMATICALLY GIVE YOU A SCORE OF 1 Purpose, Focus and Organization: Score 1 If you were one sided, biased (argumentative) If you had less than 3 paragraphs If you had less than 5 quality sentences in each paragraph Evidence and Elaboration score 1 If you did not cite sources If you did not give quotes from the sources provided
STEPS IN WRITING AN ESSAY
WHAT IS AN ESSAY? ESSAY GUIDELINES AND INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS AN ESSAY? WHAT IS AN ESSAY? A 3-5 paragraph essay that argues or explains a point and provides evidence to support that argument. The essay can be timed OR untimed. You must annotate 1 or more articles before your begin writing. You will use the information from the articles in your paper to support your argument or opinion. The essay will be in MLA format. It may be hand written or typed.
STEPS TO COMPLETING AN ESSAY STEPS TO COMPLETING AN ESSAY These may vary depending if the essay is timed or un-timed. 1. Dissect/Annotate Prompt 2. Annotate Article(s) 3. Find Quotes to use in your paper 4. Write your thesis statement 5. Complete a Prewrite Worksheet 6. Write Rough Draft 7. Edit 8. Final Copy
COVER PAGE & PRE-WRITE SHEET
COVER PAGE Background: Information about the subject Can contain directions Prompt: The question you will be responding to Sources Check to find the most reliable New date? Legit publication? Which one is the visual (video, carton etc)
3D PRINTING: EXPLANATORY ESSAY Foods that have been genetically modified are widely produced and consumed throughout the world. Despite the growth in genetically modified (GM) foods, most people are unaware of the place of GM foods in the food supply. Producers of GM (also called biotech) foods insist that they are safe and desirable, especially as the rapidly increasing human population requires more food. Many scientists and health practitioners, however, maintain that GM foods are not just undesirable but dangerous, both to individuals and to ecosystems. Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Then synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-written essay that addresses this prompt: Explain the controversy of GM foods in the global food supply. Use the sources to develop and explain your argument. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Cite the sources using MLA documentation (e.g. author or article/video title).
PRE-WRITE SHEET Argument? You are taking a stand for or against something Explanatory? Explain the topic by analyzing the sources What is the subject? Hint: Whatever you re writing about Who is the audience? A paper written for a school newspaper will be formatted differently than something small business owners will read. Outline your ideas No need to write in full sentences (especially if this is a timed essay!) Use parenthetical citations Your conclusion must relate back to your hook!
ANNOTATING HANDOUT
WHAT IS ANNOTATING? an no tate / an t t/ verb 1. add notes to (a text or diagram) giving explanation or comment "documentation should be annotated with explanatory notes" synonyms: comment on, add notes/footnotes to AKA: Mark up the page with MEANINGFUL comments The following are NOT annotations: This is sad I think so too! Random highlights without explanation
FIRST STEPS OF ANNOTATING 1. WRITE: Number the paragraphs or chunks of text 2. THINK: Take a look at the title/author/publisher/date of publication Do you recognize the author s name? Was this article published a long time ago? 3. THINK: Make predictions Based on the title, what could this be about? 4. THINK: Question Reliability of Source If it is from Wikipedia or Ask.com etc. it is NOT reliable! Run away from this source! 5. WRITE: Begin to annotate using the abbreviation codes on your bookmark
SUGGESTED CODING V=Vocabulary word You need to look it up OR it is a great Tier 3 word ?=Question This question could be answered in another source *=Information that supports the thesis statement/author This info will back up their opinion Underline=Details that are against the author s position A counterargument they include TT=Text to Text Another article, book etc connects to it TW=Text to World Connects to a current event TS=Text to Self (use sparingly!) Connects to your own life Highlight important info that you might use as evidence in your actual essay
Look at the article Controversy Rages over GM Food Aid (#5) Number every paragraph 1. THINK: Take a look at the title/author/publisher/date of publication Do you recognize the author s name? Was this article published a long time ago? 2. THINK: Make predictions Based on the title, what could this be about? 3. THINK: Question Reliability of Source GM PRACTICE FOR ANNOTATING:
Each table is in charge of a different part of the bookmark Important terminology Questions Info to support pros/positive aspects Info to support cons/negative aspects Highlight for essay support (find quotes to use with a specific part of the essay) Decide as a class what you need to write We will combine info as a class **Write in a different color than you originally did!** ANNOTATE WITH YOUR TEAM:
ORGANIZING THE OVERALL ESSAY HANDOUT
ESSAY ORGANIZATION 4 paragraphs: Introduction Body Body Conclusion
INTRODUCTION SENTENCES This paragraph introduces the topic and provides a roadmap for the rest of the paper. Introduction is 2-4 sentences in length. What do you need to include? Attention Grabber-The first sentence to hook your audience Thesis Statement 1-2 sentences that explains The controversy One major positive and one major negative aspect
HOOK/ATTENTION GRABBER IDEAS Shocking statements a startling statement can attract people easily to join the conversation. Scene hook the scene hook instantly instructs the mind of the reader to picture the scene. Humorous hook You can use some humor in your essay by simply providing a statement that is ridiculously funny or absurd. Adding humor into your work may develop the reader s interest into the topic.
AVOID THESE ATTENTION GRABBERS Have you ever wondered ? The definition of ____ is In this essay I will tell you about
HAVE YOU WONDERED? GOOD OR BAD? Have you ever wondered what is put in food to make it tasty and long lasting? Have you ever wondered if GM food is bad for you? Have you ever wondered why there is such a big hype over GM foods?
GOOD HOOK EXAMPLES: Imagine being a government official and having to choose whether to restrict certain foods causing citizens to starve, or provide generous amounts of genetically modified food that may decrease immunity to diseases. This is a dilemma happening today, relating to the controversy of genetically modified foods and their affects on humans.
GOOD HOOK EXAMPLES: A political cartoon, originally published in an Iowa newspaper, portrays a woman asking a obviously starving child if he knew what GM foods could do to him. The child s response of Yes, help keep me alive! draw attention to the controversy of GM foods on whether the means justify the end game.
THESIS STATEMENT A THESIS STATEMENT It is one complete sentence that answers the prompt and contains two main ideas to support the response. It proves that your opinion is right! How to Generate a Thesis Statement: Almost all assignments, no matter how complicated, can be reduced to a single question. For example, if your assignment is, Write a newspaper article for Perry High School explaining the controversy over student cell phone use. Filter it to: What are the potential helpful and harmful uses of cell phones at school?
ANSWER THE QUESTION Turn your answer to the question into a complete sentence then you have your thesis! Q: What are the potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class? A: The potential benefits of using computers in a fourth-grade class are . . . OR A: Using computers in a fourth-grade class promises to improve . . . (better option) The answer to the question is the thesis statement for the essay.
BODY PARAGRAPHS 2 body paragraphs Use SEE sets
Impressive Writing Is Clear Thinking Made Visible
Writing SEE Sets: Writing Made Visible S Statement about your topic that you are going to prove and explain. E Evidence that proves your topic (facts/quotes from the sources) E Explanation or Elaboration of that evidence that connects it back to your original statement.
Statement Evidence Explanation/Elaboration Example: S: Genetically Modified foods can be mass produced, therefore making it easy to feed more people. E: Manda shares that the UN s World Food Program provides thousands of tons of emergency food aid to help combat severe famine conditions (Manda). E: Since famines are not predictable, GM foods become very advantageous to countries that struggle to feed their populations. GM foods could help eliminate starvation around the world.
WRITE A SEE SET FOR THIS GM foods cause health risks
Basic Paragraph Structure A well-developed paragraph includes 2 SEE sets However, you need to use a TOPIC SENTENCE at the beginning and a CONCLUDING SENTENCE at the end. 1. Topic Sentence-Statement that clarifies your focus for the paragraph 2. SEE Set-Statement/example/explanation of your 1st piece of evidence 3. SEE Set-Statement/example/explanation of your 2nd piece of evidence 4. Concluding Sentence-Commentary that ties these SEE sets back to your topic sentence. Total of ______ sentences!
BREAKDOWN OF PARAGRAPH SENTENCES 1. Topic Sentence 2. Statement 3. Evidence 4. Explanation 5. Statement (serves as a transition too!) 6. Evidence 7. Explanation 8. Conclusion Sentence
THE COUNTERARGUMENT ONLY FOR ARGUMENT ESSAYS!!
COUNTER ARGUMENT A paragraph on its own OR a single SEE set within your second body paragraph Varies by essay There is a reason your argument could be wrong what is it? Example: If you think 4thgrade classrooms should get computers why would someone think they shouldn t? Too expensive Should focus on handwriting They can do everything out of a book
CONCLUSION This paragraph does not merely repeat what has already been said. Instead it offers new insight and leaves the reader with something to think about. This paragraph is 2-3 sentences in length. What do I need to include? Restate your thesis using different words Tie it back to your hook
CITATIONS You have to give the author credit for his/her ideas Requirements: Put their words in quotation marks in order to show that they are the one who came up with it Include their name 2 types of citations Parenthetical citations: last name of the author is in parentheses at the end of the sentence OR Embedded citations: In the lead in of a sentence include the author s
EMBED YOUR QUOTE? Definition of embed: to surround tightly or firmly to fix into a surrounding mass OR embed kind of sounds like in bed . So you want to tuck your quotes in bed or tuck them into a sentence.
RULES to remember: You must have a lead in to your quote-evidence can not be just one big quote. Good Example: According to Freddie Dawson, a writer for Forbs magazine, 3D printing has been hailed as revolutionary technology without significant potential to alter business, manufacturing and society in general. Bad example: 3D printing is a new amazing piece of technology. 3D printing has been hailed as revolutionary technology without significant potential to alter business, manufacturing and society in general. Don t START or END a paragraph with direct quotes Don t use quotes in Introduction Conclusion Keep quotes short
RULES CONTINUED: Your quote must make sense in your sentence in the sentence. Bad: John Patrick Pullen, writer for Entrepreneur likes 3-D printers 3-D printers can't print money, but they can produce prototypes for almost anything else. Good: John Patrick Pullen, writer for Entrepreneur, knows there s limitations to 3-D printing, but also recognizes the merits of it when he clarifies that, 3-D printers can't print money, but they can produce prototypes for almost anything else.
PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS Citations that give the, quote and credit the author in parentheses (Author Last Name).
EMBEDDED CITATIONS Citations that introduce the author s name in the lead in and then give the quote so there are no parentheses required. Notice that the period goes inside the quotation marks.
Parenthetical Method 1 Tier 2 Word or Transitional Phrase Author s name Parenthetical Citation Notice that the only period is after the parentheses.
