The Components of aThe Components of a Mini-Essay Mini-Essay

by Mr. Duncan - presented by Mr. Duncan - presented only as a reference.only as a reference.

A Mini-Essay is made up of A Mini-Essay is made up of one paragraph. one paragraph.

There are four parts to a There are four parts to a Mini-Essay. Mini-Essay. (That is not to (That is not to say that a Mini-Essay is only say that a Mini-Essay is only four sentences long, however.) four sentences long, however.)

The four parts of a Mini-The four parts of a Mini-Essay include:Essay include:

I. The Thesis Statement. I. The Thesis Statement. This is also known as the Topic Sentence. This is also known as the Topic Sentence.

This sentence tells the reader of your This sentence tells the reader of your Mini-Essay the Mini-Essay the Main IdeaMain Idea. This sentence . This sentence should be clear and to the point. should be clear and to the point.

If there are any terms, or vocabulary If there are any terms, or vocabulary words in your Thesis Statement that words in your Thesis Statement that need a definition, or an explanation, you need a definition, or an explanation, you should place that definition in the Thesis should place that definition in the Thesis Statement sentence. Statement sentence.

The Thesis Statement is the part where The Thesis Statement is the part where you make an inference, or a statement you make an inference, or a statement that says that you have figured that says that you have figured something out. (When you infer you something out. (When you infer you simply figure something out based on simply figure something out based on evidence, observations, and logic.)evidence, observations, and logic.)

II. Supporting Details. II. Supporting Details. These sentences give These sentences give evidenceevidence that that supportsupport the the

Main Idea, or Thesis Statement.Main Idea, or Thesis Statement.

The evidence should come from the articles, The evidence should come from the articles, books, notes, etc., that you have read in books, notes, etc., that you have read in class or on your own. You should be able to class or on your own. You should be able to go back to this evidence in order to verify go back to this evidence in order to verify the information, or make sure it is true the information, or make sure it is true information.information.

This is the part where you act like a detective. This is the part where you act like a detective. You find and lay out all the information that You find and lay out all the information that supports the initial inference, or Main Idea.supports the initial inference, or Main Idea.

The The Supporting DetailsSupporting Details part of your Mini-Essay part of your Mini-Essay should consist of at least two or more should consist of at least two or more sentences that show evidence that supports sentences that show evidence that supports the Main Thesis.the Main Thesis.

III. Synthesis.III. Synthesis.This sentence tells the reader that the This sentence tells the reader that the

evidence that you have just stated really evidence that you have just stated really does support your Thesis Statement, i.e., does support your Thesis Statement, i.e., that it really does support your initial that it really does support your initial inference, or Main Idea.inference, or Main Idea.

This is the part where you act like a lawyer This is the part where you act like a lawyer who is standing in front of a jury telling who is standing in front of a jury telling them that the pieces of evidence that them that the pieces of evidence that you have just stated really are good you have just stated really are good examples, that, yes, indeed, they examples, that, yes, indeed, they support your Main Idea, or Thesis support your Main Idea, or Thesis Statement.Statement.

IV. Conclusion.IV. Conclusion.

This is the sentence that tells the reader This is the sentence that tells the reader that since all the evidence is such a great that since all the evidence is such a great example of the Main Idea that example of the Main Idea that we (both we (both the author and the reader of the Mini-the author and the reader of the Mini-Essay) Essay) may therefore correctly infer, may therefore correctly infer, figure outfigure out, that the Thesis Statement, or , that the Thesis Statement, or Main Idea, of the Mini- Essay must be Main Idea, of the Mini- Essay must be true!true! A conclusion usually re-states the main A conclusion usually re-states the main idea to the reader. Only this time, you idea to the reader. Only this time, you state the Main Idea againstate the Main Idea again so that if they so that if they (the reader) did not pick up on the Main (the reader) did not pick up on the Main Idea the first time, the can get it now. It Idea the first time, the can get it now. It says that the initial inference, or says that the initial inference, or Thesis Thesis StatementStatement, was correct and has been , was correct and has been supported well by the examples that you supported well by the examples that you have given. have given.

There are transitional words to look for There are transitional words to look for in a in a

Mini-Essay:Mini-Essay:

Supporting Details part:Supporting Details part:

Evidence for these inferences comes in Evidence for these inferences comes in two (or more) places: first, on pagetwo (or more) places: first, on page… … ((give page, or paragraph, and factgive page, or paragraph, and fact).).

Second on pageSecond on page… (state the page or … (state the page or paragraph and fact).paragraph and fact).

If you a third piece of evidence, use it!If you a third piece of evidence, use it!

Third, on pageThird, on page… (state the page or … (state the page or paragraph and fact).paragraph and fact).

Synthesis part:Synthesis part:

A person (A person (or whatever your or whatever your talking abouttalking about) who, ( ) who, ( or that, or that, or which- it all depends on or which- it all depends on what you are talking aboutwhat you are talking about) ) …and a person who…are both …and a person who…are both examples of a person whoexamples of a person who……

Conclusion part:Conclusion part:Since both (Since both (or allor all) of these ) of these

actions are examples of a …, actions are examples of a …, we may correctly infer thatwe may correctly infer that… … (the Thesis Statement is (the Thesis Statement is correct).correct).

Remember to check for Remember to check for spelling mistakes.spelling mistakes.

Remember to check for proper Remember to check for proper punctuation. When you list punctuation. When you list your supporting details use your supporting details use commas. commas. first,…Second, …first,…Second, …Third,… Third,…

Use a colon. Use a colon. Evidence for these Evidence for these inferences comes in two (or inferences comes in two (or more) places: …more) places: …

Here is a Here is a very simplevery simple example of a mini essay: example of a mini essay:(The four parts and transitional phrases for each part are in italic bold (The four parts and transitional phrases for each part are in italic bold

for emphasis.)for emphasis.)

In In The Summer of the Swans,The Summer of the Swans, a novel by Betsy Byars, Sara a novel by Betsy Byars, Sara Godfrey, a fourteen-year-old girl, suffers from low self-esteemGodfrey, a fourteen-year-old girl, suffers from low self-esteem; the ; the way in which she feels about herself, both physically and/or way in which she feels about herself, both physically and/or socially, is not placed in a positive light. socially, is not placed in a positive light. Evidence for this inference Evidence for this inference comes in two places: firstcomes in two places: first, on page nineteen of the novel, Sara is , on page nineteen of the novel, Sara is explaining to her Aunt Willie that she and her sister Wanda are very explaining to her Aunt Willie that she and her sister Wanda are very different in terms of looks. “Wanda is a hundred times prettier than I different in terms of looks. “Wanda is a hundred times prettier than I am.” Sara believes that she will never be considered as beautiful as am.” Sara believes that she will never be considered as beautiful as her sister is. her sister is. Second, on page three of the novelSecond, on page three of the novel,, we read that Sara is we read that Sara is complaining to her sister about the shape of her hands. “ I have complaining to her sister about the shape of her hands. “ I have perfectly terrible hands,” Sara tells Wanda. Sara goes on to explain perfectly terrible hands,” Sara tells Wanda. Sara goes on to explain that she is uncomfortable with some of her other physical attributes. that she is uncomfortable with some of her other physical attributes. A person whoA person who thinks that they are inferior looking in comparison to thinks that they are inferior looking in comparison to others, others, and a person whoand a person who feels insecure about that about their feels insecure about that about their physical attributes, are both examples of a person who suffers from physical attributes, are both examples of a person who suffers from low self-esteem. low self-esteem. Since both of these actions are examplesSince both of these actions are examples of a how of a how a person with low self-esteem might feel, a person with low self-esteem might feel, we may correctly infer we may correctly infer thatthat Sara Godfrey is a girl who suffers from low self-esteem. Sara Godfrey is a girl who suffers from low self-esteem.

Here is an example of a journal entry that you could Here is an example of a journal entry that you could use at the end of class as a writing (mini-essay) use at the end of class as a writing (mini-essay) review tool.review tool.

Journal Topic: What was the teacher’s purpose of Journal Topic: What was the teacher’s purpose of today’s class? today’s class? (or yesterday’s class…whenever)(or yesterday’s class…whenever)

The teacher’s purpose of today’s class was The teacher’s purpose of today’s class was to inform the student’s about _____________. to inform the student’s about _____________. Evidence for this inference is supported by the Evidence for this inference is supported by the following details: first, the class discussed following details: first, the class discussed ____________________. Second, the class examined ____________________. Second, the class examined _____________________________. Third, the class also _____________________________. Third, the class also discussed ________________________. Any class that discussed ________________________. Any class that discusses and examines _____________________, discusses and examines _____________________, __________________, and ______________________, is __________________, and ______________________, is an example of a class about an example of a class about ________________________. Therefore, we may ________________________. Therefore, we may correctly infer that the teacher’s purpose of correctly infer that the teacher’s purpose of today’s class was ______________________.today’s class was ______________________.

The teacher’s purpose of today’s class was The teacher’s purpose of today’s class was to inform the student’s about _____ (main to inform the student’s about _____ (main idea)_________. Evidence for this inference is idea)_________. Evidence for this inference is supported by the following details: first, the class supported by the following details: first, the class discussed ____ (first detail from class) discussed ____ (first detail from class) __________________. Second, the class examined __________________. Second, the class examined _______ (second detail from class) _______ (second detail from class) ______________________. Third, the class also ______________________. Third, the class also discussed _____ (third detail from class) _______. discussed _____ (third detail from class) _______. Any class that discusses and examines ___(first Any class that discusses and examines ___(first detail from class) __________________ , detail from class) __________________ , ____( second detail from class)__________________ , ____( second detail from class)__________________ , and ______ ( third detail from and ______ ( third detail from class)________________, is an example of a class class)________________, is an example of a class about ____(main idea) ____________________. about ____(main idea) ____________________. Therefore, we may correctly infer that the Therefore, we may correctly infer that the teacher’s purpose of today’s class was ______ teacher’s purpose of today’s class was ______ (main idea) ___________________.(main idea) ___________________.

Another template…cookie cutter, but sometimes useful.