HOW DO YOU WRITE A PARAGRAPH/ESSAY

RULES FOR SUCCESS

ISSUES WITH WRITING

STARTING

FINISHING

WHAT IS ANALYSIS

WAFFLE

WHAT IS A CRITICAL DISCUSSION

AND MUCH MORE…..

BEST THING TO DO FIRST:

Get students to write – about something of their choice.

Give them 10 minutes to construct something.

No longer.

It can be about anything they like, something about themselves.

Put them into small groups and get them to read to each other their stories.

Get students to choose one to read to class.

Ask why they picked it, what was good about it? Identify features?

Get them to count how many words they wrote. (160?)

Its about getting them to like writing.

BATTLE OF THE HEART

5 DIFFERENT WAYS TO WRITE A SENTENCE: 1. START:

The very short sentence – 5 words or less. Eg the door slammed shut. London in 1967 was buzzing. Components of fitness need consideration. Use at the opening of a paragraph, or middle.

2. The W start: When, While, What, Where as,

Complex sentence using a W word.

E.g. While we were writing Colin was thinking about fishing. When looking at developing the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems.

3. Adverbs (connecting): Curiously, fortunately, remarkably, interestingly writing was not that difficult. Interestingly we use Methods and Principles of Training to help us develop a training programme that will create appropriate adaptations/physiological changes to the body.

4. The em - (dash) –the Ferrari – elegant, expensive – stalled at the lights. OR Elegant, expensive, brilliantly engine stalled at the lights.

- The body – leaner, stronger – more efficient at processing oxygen throughout the body.

5. Explore the subject sentences.

SUBJECT; Something about the subject, finish with what you want to talk about. John Key, who made a fortune selling off NZ, failed at High School. Components of Fitness, are needed if you want adaptations to take place in the body.

THE PARAGRAPH

REMEMBER – ZERO marks in the first sentence of writing!!!

Sentence 1: A neutral sentence

Sentence 2: Example

Sentence 3: Argument held/position taken

Sentence 4: Example (draws in reader, states the argument)

Sentence 5:

EXAMPLE OF THE PARAGRAPH Sentence 1: Neutral: Mining remains an important economic force in many countries today.

Sentence 2: Example – From copper mining in Peru to bauxite mining in Australia, more than 2.5 million people work in this significant global industry.

Sentence 3: Argument/position – This essay will argue that despite its obvious economic benefits, the long-term environmental impacts of mining outweigh any real gain for society. OR Though some suggest otherwise, despite its obvious economic benefits, the long term environmental impacts of mining outweigh …..

Sentence 4: Example – Land and communities remain scarred long after the mines have closed.

STARTING AN ESSAY - EXAMPLE Why is Cambridge High a good school?

Get students to brain storm: Pleasing environment Good sized classrooms Great Opportunities – Sport/Culture Results in sport and Academic are positive Great community Friendly Staff and Students Good Gymnasium House competition

Get students to then rank these as most important 1-4.Now are there any connections between them?Most powerful idea, most compelling idea first.

IDEAS RANKED AND LINKED

1. Great Community

2. Behaviour of students/Teachers

3. Lots of opportunities

4. Pleasing environment

Great community – links with behaviour of staff and students

Supportive community – assists with opportunities offered

Pride in community transcends pride in school environment

Results?

DESENSITISE THE FEAR

This brainstorming process assists with lower/decreasing anxiety, fear, stress

Stress the importance of brainstorming

ARGUMENT ESSAY

INTRODUCTION

FOR

FOR

FOR

AGAINST

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSSION = is as long as a body paragraph. 4 components to a conclusion.

ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE

5 Paragraph Essay Introduction Paragraph 1, 2, 3 Discussion paragraph involves analysis/perception/insight/evaluation Conclusion

HOW LONG?

RULE OF THUMB: Words per paragraph

Year 9’s/10’s 100 words long 5/6 sentences Year 11’s 120 words long Year 12’s 140 words Year 13 160 words

CONCISE - ESSAYS

Creative writing average sentence length 20 words or less. E.g Hunger games 17.5 words is average sentence length

GOAL TO GREAT WRITING IS CLARITY. THE LONGER THE SENTENCE MEANS AMBIGUITY, MISUNDERSTANDING.

IMPOSE WORD LIMITS – STOPS WAFFLE

SCHOLARSHIP

160 words in 10 minutes

200 words in 15 minutes

This is a rule of thumb – students need to write this fast to achieve scholarship.

Introduction – 100 words no more (40-60 ideal)

Paragraph 1=160, 2=160, 3=160, 4=160, 5=160 6=160

Paragraph 1: Strongest idea

Paragraph 2: Best idea considered from alternative

perspective/comparing

Paragraph 6: Discussion of previous paragraphs counter argument

Conclusion

TWO TECHNIQUES

INTRODUCTION: Neutral sentence, plus the argument sentence 40 words no more than a 100 words. Make it concise and state a powerful argument.

Eg. Neutral sentences

Over the past 10 years the world has seen a rise in obesity. Or

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally.

This essay will argue that there are many contributing complex factors for obesity occurring nationally, and internationally.

The result of obesity is due to social issues, and the increasing cost of healthy food.

PARAGRAPH TECHNIQUE - CRITICAL Sentence 1 – State the idea What is the assumption?

Sentence 2 – Introduce the expert someone who studies it (quote) – relevance

Sentence 3 – what the experts or study looked at (knowledge)

Sentence 4 – he found that 75% of people (understanding)

Sentence 5 – this is important (evaluation)

Sentence 6 – how does it relate to your idea (perception)

Sentence 7 & 8 – how this refines/challenges/informs/extends our understanding (Critical analysis).

CRITICAL ANAYLSIS

Show how others see it and how it refines challenges and extends our understanding.