Paragraph Essay Terms

Thesis

A sentence with a subject and opinion (also called commentary). This comes somewhere in your introductory pargraph and most often at the end.

Weaving

Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraph. You can do this after you master the format.

Chunk

One sentence of conrete detail and 2 sentences of commentary. It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write.

Concrete details (CD)

Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body paragraphs. Synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot references.

Final draft

The final version of your essay.

Introduction (also called the introductory paragraph)

The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis most often at the end.

Topic sentence

The first sentence in a body paragraph. This must have a subject and opinion (commentary) for the paragraph. It does the same hting for a body pararaph that the thesis does for the whole essay.

First draft

The first version of your essay (also called the rough draft).

Pre-writing

The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before ou organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns.

Ratio

The ratio of 1 part conrete detail (CD) to 2+ parts commentarty (CM).

Shaping the essay

The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft on an essay; it is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, conrete details, and commentary ideas.

Body Paragraph

A middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point you want to make that supports your thesis.

Word counts

the minimum length per paragraph to earn a "C".

Peer response

Written responses and reactions to a partner's paper.

Commentary (CM)

Your opinion or comment about something; not concrete detail. Synonyms include opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, personal response, feelings, evaluation, explication, and reflection.

essay

a piece of writing that gives your thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will have at least 4 paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.

Concluding paragraph (also called the conclusion)

the last paragraph in your essay. It may sum up your ideas, reflect on what you said in your essay, say more commentary about your subject, or give a personal statement about the subject. Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include concrete detail. It does not repeat key words from your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory paragraph. It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.

Concluding sentence

the last sentence in a body paragraph. It is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.