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The Freshman Essay The Granite Hills High School English Department utilizes The Jane Schaffer Essay Writing Program to help prepare Students for the California High School Exit Exam, Golden State Exams, SAT II, and Advanced Placement Exams. To advance this program, click the left mouse button. Students might want to take Cornell notes in case their teachers give a quiz on this information. Steps in the Writing Process 1. Prewriting • Brainstorming • Clustering • Web Diagrams 2. Shaping the essay 3. First draft and student revised second draft 4. Editing conference 5. Revision 6. Final draft 7. Publication Freshman Essay Format The basic freshman essay is composed of four paragraphs: 1. Introduction: 3 sentences 40+ words 2. First Body Paragraph: 8 sentences 100+ words 3. Second Body Paragraph: 8 sentences 100+ words 4. Conclusion: 3 sentences 40+ words Introduction The introduction is composed of three sentences: 1. The first sentence introduces the literary selection’s theme. 2. The second sentence introduces the literary selection’s title, author, plot, setting, and characters. 3. The third sentence is the thesis statement, which is written in the form of a strong opinion and addresses the essay prompt . The order of these sentences may be varied. Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph is composed of eight sentences: 1. Topic sentence, written in the form of an opinion, that supports the thesis statement (TS) 2. Concrete Detail with integrated evidence that supports the topic sentence (CD) 3. Commentary sentence that analyzes the evidence presented in prior Concrete Detail sentence(CM) 4. Commentary sentence that delves deeper into ideas presented in prior Commentary sentence (CM) 5. Second Concrete Detail sentence with integrated evidence that supports the topic sentence (CD) 6. Commentary sentence that analyzes the evidence presented in prior Concrete Detail sentence (CM) 7. Commentary sentence that delves deeper into ideas presented in prior Commentary sentence (CM) 8. Transition to next paragraph (CS) Concluding Paragraph When students get to the conclusion, we tell them to write a paragraph that fulfills three requirements: 1. It is all commentary. 2. It does not repeat key words from anywhere in the essay 3. It gives a finished feeling to the paper. Essay Terminology Essay: A piece of writing that expresses thoughts (commentary) about a subject. At GHHS, freshman essays will be composed of at least 4 paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph. Introduction: The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the end. Thesis: A sentence with a subject and opinion. This sentence comes somewhere in your introductory paragraph and most often at the end. Essay Terminology Body Paragraphs: Topic Sentence: Develop logical, well supported arguments that support the thesis statement. Body paragraphs include both specific textual examples (CD) and insightful analysis (CM). The first sentence in a body paragraph. This must have a subject and express an opinion. It does the same thing for the body paragraph that the thesis statement does for the whole essay. Continued Essay Terminology Concrete Details: Specific details that form the backbone or core of body paragraphs. Synonyms for concrete detail include: facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot references. Commentary: Student’s commentary about the importance and meaning of examples used in CD sentences. Synonyms include: opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, personal response, feelings, evaluation, explication, and reflection. Concluding Sentence: The last sentence in a body paragraph. It is all commentary, gives a finished feeling to the paragraph, and makes a transition to next paragraph. Essay Terminology Concluding Paragraph: The last paragraph in the essay. It may reflect on what student wrote in the essay, provide more commentary, or express a personal statement about the subject. Shaping the Essay: The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft. It is an outline of the essay’s thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas. Essay Terminology Chunk: One sentence of concrete detail and two sentences of commentary (CD, CM, CM) Weaving: Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraph. Students can do this after they master the format. Essay Terminology Ratio: Word Counts: The ratio of 1 part concrete detail to 2 parts commentary The minimum length per paragraph to earn a “C.” Building the Freshman Essay To continue building the freshman essay, open the Building the Freshman Essay (Mitty) PowerPoint Presentation.