Mini-Writing Workshop

The Note Check/Classwork & Homework Check Consisted of the following five things:

1. List of the Major Components of a Great Essay


2. Organized Outline of those Terms/Components


3. Writing a short essay on a particular topic guided by your outline


4. Revisions made to your essay/paper by self-checking using the revision portion of the outline


5. Peer Editing/Critiques/Grading

Also, you should have copied down the following notes in regards to another essay structure called the Jane Schaffer model.
Using this model, please understand that all essays, that is great essays, should contain these items:

• Introductory Paragraphs


• Thesis Statement should be last sentence.


Your thesis statements should do more than just identify the theme or main idea of your paper. You should, in fact, have a thesis statement that takes a stance on your paticular topic. That is to say, rather than just creating a sentence that states, "I will be discussing drunk driving.", you write, "I will be discussing the irresponsibility, incosiderate, and wreckless nature of drunk drivers, who traumatize, harm, and even kill innocent people, all in the name of 'fun'."




• Body Paragraphs


• The Topic Sentence should be the first sentence, this should tie in whatever stance that you take and also repeat any synonyms or key terms. For instance, "Though many people drink alcohol just to 'have a good time', one person's 'good time' can end up causing another family a lifetime or pain and misery.'
• Note the use of Vice-versa and repetition of key message, "What may start as harmless fun could end up being a deadly nightmare."


• The Supporting Details


• Concrete Detail, if you have given your paragraphs solid Topic Sentences, then you are able to then provide the reader with a fact/quote/iota of information/data, that will show him or her that you are an authoritative figure on this topic. Make sure that you ALWAYS provide RELEVANT, ACCURATE, and UP TO DATE information to support the topic of that particular paragraph. THIS IS WHERE YOUR CONSTANT READING AND EXPOSURE TO NON-FICTION OR QUALITY FICTION STORIES/BOOKS/MEDIA WILL BE OF VITAL USE!!!


• Commentary, this is nothing more than your opinion or your comments/personal feelings about the issue. Here you can and should insert your personality into the paper and set the reader at ease, so that he or she really feels your candor and sincerity.


• The Concluding Sentence should sum up the paragraphs topic/point and lead your reader into your next point smoothly, so that your paper flows and they finish reading it, not even realizing what just happened. For instance, "Though many people believe that they can make it home, due to their inability to gauge sobriety and feel they are "good" driver's citing their infrequency of accidents, in actuality, any alcohol consumption impairs drivers so that they fall below average in their skills, but this often goes unnoticed because of the driver's "buzz".
• Concluding Paragraphs


• This last paragraph should remind the reader of they key points, using synonyms and related ideas whenever possible. However, a reader must be careful to underscore and restate without being redundant. For instance, "We must all make sure to do well by not only ensuring our personal safety, but that of others, especially when partaking of behavior altering substances." P.S. If you find this sentence to be somewhat bland, then season it by including or removing certain words and/or phrases.