The document provides guidance on essay writing structure. It recommends introducing the thesis in the first paragraph and supporting it with three arguments - a strong, weak, and strongest argument. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence outlining the argument, followed by three supporting sentences. The conclusion should tie everything together. An example basic five-paragraph essay structure is also outlined.

1. Writer’s Notebook “Student Involvement Plan” What is the best way to get students to behave and get involved in class? Be realistic, practical, and pick one (1) idea. Give three reasons why that one idea will work. 8/19/10 Content: On Demand

2. Essay Format Review Taking the Basics and Making Them Work for You!

3. Basic Paragraph Topic Sentence Supporting Sentence Supporting Sentence Supporting Sentence Closing Sentence

4. Behind the Ideas Humans remember the first and last things they hear and some of the middle. Essay starts strong, ends stronger, and buries the weak stuff in the middle. Humans like the balance of odd numbers. Three arguments are more convincing than 2 or 4.

5. Resulting Structure Introduction Strong reason Reason (usually weaker one) STRONGEST reason Conclusion

6. Basic Paragraph Topic Sentence Supporting Sentence Supporting Sentence Supporting Sentence Closing Sentence

7. Basic Paragraph Example I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

8. Basic Paragraph Example I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

9. Basic Paragraph Example I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

10. Basic Paragraph Example I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

11. Basic Paragraph Example I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

12. Basic Paragraph Example I will have a successful year if I meet three goals. My first goal is to get all A’s. Second, I plan to make the Varsity Lacrosse team. Third, I plan to get involved by joining the student council. If I meet these three goals, this year will be a success.

13. Basic Paragraph Example The best way to improve student behavior is to let teachers use cattle prods. First, the cattle prods will provide a consequence for disruptions that cannot be ignored. Second, students will pay attention in class to avoid getting shocked. Finally, students will no longer sleep because there will be an effective way to wake them up. For these reasons, teachers should be allowed to use cattle prods to improve student behavior.

14. Basic Paragraph NOW YOU TRY IT! Write a basic paragraph using your idea from the Writer’s Notebook entry and the three reasons why it will work.

15. Friendly Reminder INDENT!

16. Check It Trade with a classmate. Check your classmate’s paragraph: Does it have five sentences? Is there a clear topic sentence? Relevant support? Closing?

17. Basic Essay Follows same ideas behind basic ¶ Extended version of basic ¶ Will serve as our “back pocket” option

18. Basic Essay Structure ¶ 1- Introduction and Thesis ¶ 2- Strong Reason and evidence ¶ 3- Weak Reason and evidence ¶ 4- Strongest Reason and evidence ¶ 5 -Conclusion where you tie it all together

19. Friendly Reminder INDENT!

20. Basic Essay What is your thesis? The essay’s only function is to prove the thesis Each supporting paragraph must directly support the thesis

21. Extension To extend the Basic Essay Format, you Give an overview of the reason and its evidence in a paragraph Discuss each piece of evidence or support in its own paragraph Use paragraphs to transition between ideas Provide more background for the reading

22. Extended Essay Format Par1- Introduction and thesis Par2 – Overview of Case Par3- Overview of Argument 1 Par4- 1 st piece of evidence for Argument 1 explained Par5-2 nd piece of evidence for Argument 1 explained Par6-last piece of evidence for Argument 1 explained Par7- Overview of Argument 2 Par8- 1 st piece of evidence for Argument 2 explained Par9- 2 nd piece of evidence for Argument 2 explained Par10- last piece of evidence for Argument 2 explained Par11-Overview Argument 3 (Continue for Argument 3.) Conclusion Stuff in BLUE is the Basic Essay Structure Framework!