Essay Writing Tasks

Tuesday, January 31st: Opening paragraph (Introduction) due
Wednesday, February 1st: Use all 25 of your word wall words in a sentence and find one poem to Tweet or send to me as well
Thursday, February 2nd: Third paragraph and concluding paragraph due
Friday, February 10th: Final copy due  




For this section of the magazine you are asked to write a five paragraph essay responding to 

the question: Does your novel deserve to be a part of the Grade 8 Language Arts curriculum?

To do this you must explain your position on this question using three arguments in the form of criteria as to why a novel would get chosen to be in the curriculum (i.e., engaging plot, age appropriate, deals with relevant themes for youth, rich descriptive language). This is due Friday and you will be assessed using the Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Scoring Guide which can be found at this link.

1. Introduction: 

The introduction should hook the reader in, speak in general terms about the book, and then provide a clear thesis statement or position as to whether your book should be included in the Grade 8 Language Arts curriculum. Here you should lay out the three main reasons why you think this is so.

The following supporting resources will help you:

Good Essay Format Article:

http://www.bookrags.com/articles/4.html

How to write strong openings article:

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/paperassignments/a/introsentence.htm

Passage from the link:

1. Introduction
i) The Introduction consists of an opening line that should catch the readers attention. This opening line can be a generalization about life that speaks to your topic. It can also be a quotation. Another segway into the introduction is to start it with a little anecdote (or story). By "breaking the ice" so to speak with the reader, you are luring him or her into the rest of your essay, making it accessible and intriguing. 
ii) Once you have "introduced" the Introductory paragraph with a generalization, quotation, or anecdote, you can write vaguely for a few sentences or simply jump into the crust of the argument. 
iii) When you feel you are ready to introduce the specific focus of the essay, then you write the thesis statement. The thesis statement should generally come at the end of the Introductory Paragraph. If you are writing about a particular book, author, or event, you should name it (in entirety) in the thesis statement. You should also list your argument with its supporting evidence in this sentence. Essentially, the thesis statement is your tagline for the essay and the final sentence of the Introduction.

2. Body Paragraph


Wednesday, February 1st: First and second paragraphs in the body due

1. Body Paragraph One
i) The Body Paragraph One should open with a sentence introducing your first argument to back up your position laid out in your thesis statement. The purpose is to lead the reader into the first piece of evidence you use to support your thesis statement, your argument. It is essentially a mini-thesis for the paragraph. 
ii) From the transitional/opening sentence, you can go on to cite evidence to support your argument. This evidence must all revolve around a single theme and should come in the form of a quotation (or factual information from a primary source). 
Things to consider: If you put too many different themes into one body paragraph, then the essay becomes confusing. Body Paragraph One will deal with one theme for your argument. You may have several pieces of evidence to support this one theme, which is absolutely fine. Once you use a piece of evidence, be sure and write at least one or two sentences explaining why you use it. Then, wrap up the Body Paragraph with a mini-concluding sentence summing up only what you have discussed in that paragraph.

See this article here for an outline of what should be in your body paragraph:


http://www.bookrags.com/articles/4.html

Thursday, February 2nd: Third paragraph and concluding paragraph due

See the essay writing format to ensure you have all the elements needed in your five paragraph essay. 

Friday, February 3rd: Final proof-read and revisions

Reminder of your task:

In this task you are asked to write a five paragraph essay responding to the following question: 

Write a letter to the Ministry of Education arguing for or against the inclusion of your novel in the Grade 8 Language Arts curriculum. 

Your letter must be sent to an individual or organization with the power to make decisions involving whether a novel should stay or go. Groups include the Ministry of Education, Miss Alden, or any of the admin. staff (i.e., Dr. MacKinnon, our superintendent). 

To write this letter, we will be using a five paragraph essay format and you will be evaluated using the grade 9 Provincial Achievement Test writing rubric. Note that this rubric has five criteria for evaluation including: word choice, supporting details, coherency and flow.

Responses may include:

•  suspense continues to build in a way where you can't wait to find out what is going to happen next 

•  an appealing character that you strongly identify with 

Now write down some ideas as to what criteria the Ministry of Education might consider for whether a book should be used in the curriculum: 

•  rich use of language

•  a message or theme that appeals to a broad audience

•  age appropriate (reading level pushes a grade 8 reader but is not too difficult that they would give up)

Find for each of the criteria you chose (remember this needs to be criteria the Ministry of Education would use), 2-3 different examples from your book that provide evidence as to whether your book should stay in the curriculum or go. For example, if you chose rich use of language, you would find evidence that this was used in your book or evidence of writing where this was absent.