Let's Start Writing.

If you're looking for a visual way to
outline, plotting things with index
cards is a well-known strategy for
organizing evidence and structure.

Today's Goal: WRITING

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1.A
Introduce claim(s) and organize the reasons and evidence clearly.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1.B
Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, ...demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1.C
Use words, phrases, and clauses to clarify the relationships among claim(s) and reasons.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1.D
Establish and maintain a formal style.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Essay Prompt
3. Organizing your Essay
4. Writing!

Essay Prompt

CLICK HERE for the overall essay guidelines and prompt. They are very clear about what goes into this essay. 

PROMPT: In the novel, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, how does Brian Robeson’s
 characterization change from the beginning of the story to the end?

Please note in the directions linked above that your essay will be four paragraphs long. Your body paragraphs will not be small. They will be big. They will be a lot of sentences. They will not be lazy.

Organizing Your Essay

Alright, today we start writing, but it involves some organization first.

There are basically two ways to organize this essay. There may be others, but which way you organize your essay kind of depends on your thesis.

Option #1: Before and After (Old and New)

• Body paragraph 1 = Evidence and explanation of what Brian was like before his changes.
• Body paragraph 2 = Evidence and explanation of what Brian was like after his changes

Option #2: Specific Character Trait Changes

• Body paragraph 1 = Explain one way that he has changed by giving evidence and explanation of how he was the opposite before and how he has become that now.
• Example: Evidence 1 is about how he was dependent
                  Evidence 2 in this paragraph demonstrates how he became independent.
• Body paragraph 2 = Explain another way that he has changed by giving evidence and explanation of how he was the opposite before and how he has become that now.
• Example: First evidence demonstrates how he was emotional, and your second piece of evidence demonstrates how he became stronger and more emotionally stable.

Writing!

I have attached a number of resources to Google Classroom, but you can use as many or as few as you want. Your body paragraphs need lots of time and effort, though, because rushing or being lazy will not show off your writing skills. You will need to challenge yourself to dig deeper than you would normally do. 

Source

Body Paragraphs need to follow the RACE format, but it is a MODIFIED RACE format.

BODY PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE:

• RA - Topic sentence that addresses what the paragraph will be about
• C - Evidence #1 in a complete sentence
• E - what's the significance of this evidence?
• E - how does it prove that Brian has that character trait?
• E - more if needed. E IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
• probably a sentence here to transition from one piece of evidence to the next.
• C - Evidence #2 in a complete sentence
• E - what's the significance of this evidence?
• E - how does it prove that Brian has that character trait?
• E - more if needed. E IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
• S - Sum it up and help transition to the next paragraph.

At the minimum, that means your body paragraphs will be eight sentences OR MORE. 

DO YOU NEED EVIDENCE? YES. 

IS THERE A RESOURCE FOR THAT? YES.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE EVIDENCE WE GATHERED!

Reminders/Homework:

• Are you reading at home? You should be. It's not homework, it's a lifestyle.
• There will be a No Red Ink Capitalization Quiz next class. This is your fair warning. Maybe tell your friends if you see this.
• Essay Due Date
• Period 1, 3, 5: Tuesday, January 22 by the end of the school day
• Period 4, 6: Wednesday, January 23 by the end of the school day