BLOG ENTRY #11

HOW TO WRITE AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

STEP 1: WATCH WHAT IT'S DONE: The teacher has to show his/her students sample essays, excellent examples within the genre. Students read the texts, compare them and find evidences where the authors back up their assertions and facts and examples the authors use to develop their ideas. 

STEP 2: INFORMAL ARGUMENT FREESTYLE: Students do informal debates on easy high interest topics. The teacher reads a statement and Students who agree with the statement move to one side of the room, and those who disagree move to the other side. Then they take turns explaining why they are standing in that position.

STEP 3 INFORMAL ARGUMENT NOT SO FREESTYLE: The teacher provides students with texts which contain evidence they need to stand on either one side or the other. Next step is the "Philosophical Chairs debate" but students use textual evidence to support their points. This experience should make them appreciate the value of evidence whrn trying to persuade. Finally, students would transfer thir thoughts into a paragraph, which will be a statement of their point of view, plus three reasons to support that point of view.

STEP 4: INTRODUCTION OF THE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT: Teacher gives students a major writing assignment. Also, shows them a model of a piece of writing that meets the requirements of the assignment, to fit the parameters of the assignment.

STEP 5: BUILDING THE BASE: In this stage, the teacher 

would devote at least one more class period to having students consider their topic for the essay, drafting a thesis statement, and planning the main points of their essay in a graphic organizer. For some students, this early stage might take a few more days, and that’s fine.

STEAP 6 WRITER'S WORKSHOP: Here the teacher I would show them how to choose credible, relevant evidence, how to skillfully weave evidence into an argument, how to consider the needs of an audience, and how to correctly cite sources. Then students work individually. 

FINAL ASSESSMENT: Finally, the finished essays are handed in for a grade. At this point, the teacher is pretty familiar with each student’s writing and has given them verbal (and sometimes written) feedback throughout the classes. if a student hands in an essay that’s still really lacking in some key areas, the teahcer will arrange to have that student revise it and resubmit for a higher grade.

BLOG ENTRY #9

HOW TO WRITE A BOOK REVIEW 

A book review is a reaction paper; 

It focuses on 1)Purpose, 2)content and 3)authority in which the strengths and weaknesses of the material are analysed. 

It consists of two main parts: 

1. Summary, which is the easiest part of the paper. You restate the author's main points, purpose intent and supporting details in your own words. It is of high importance to conceive the book as a whole so do not try to come up with a summary on every chapter. And avoid excessivce quoting. 
2. Analysis: it's a detail evaluation of what the author is trying to do. It looks at the work's weaknnesses and strengths. Avoid being subjective, that is to say, do not give your personal feelings and thoughts on the book. If you use quotes, they have to prove what you have written. Present an accurate balance betweenn strenghts and weaknesses, cite your source and remember to look beyond the surface, go deeper in the analysis to evaluate everything that has been written. A good analysis always requires time and critical thinking.  

Writing a Book Review BLOG ENTRY #9

BLOG ENTRY 7#

MORE ON THESIS STATEMENT 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=270&v=9R0ivCaLtnY

  

All thesis statements have to cover four basic points. 

1)- Answer the question of your essay.

2)- Refine your answer, make sure that you answer all parts of the question. 

3)- Focus with examples; refine it into a more focus thesis statement by including some expamples you plan to use. 

4)- Go deeper; it has to be not only creative but also, thoughtful and profound.

FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY-BLOG ENTRY #6-

Five paragraph essaay.  

• Formulas:  

1. The magic of the three. 

Limit yourself to the most notable points, which then, will be separated by paragraphs.   This is a clever organization of an essay and is known as academic expository structure.  

The thesis formula: The thesis is the result of the topic of your essay and the opinion you hold on it.  

1. 1-3-1 outline. 

It is made up by, an introduction, three paragraphs for the body of your essay,  which are in fact the three main points you have selected. Finally, a conclusion of your paper.