ctss final exam!

What is the best structure for my persuasive essay?

1. Introduction: Introduce topic Use a creative hook preview main ideas end w/ thesis statement 2. B.P.1: Explain 1st main idea Support w/ facts, details use correct structure 3. B.P.2 4. B.P.3 5. Conclusion: review main points restate thesis end w/ a call to action

Reliable and unreliable sources

1. Unreliable Sources Wikipedia and Blogs (anyone can create and edit) Articles with Anonymous Authors (if they don't take credit, are they avoiding blame?) Slanted to a Specific Agenda (choosing facts that only support their cause) Entertainment Purposes (filled with ads for "15 photos you won't believe") 2. Reliable Sources Academic Journals (written and reviewed by people in the field) Reputable Newspapers and News Agencies Known, Credible Authors

How do I know if my sources are reliable?

1. Use specific, detailed search words. If your topic has unique terms those can make a good search term. 2. Since the results are sorted to provide the most relevant information first, look through the first two or three sites. Don't stop at the first one. 3. When looking at a Web site, skim the first two or three paragraphs to see if the information is useful. Don't take the time to read the entire web page unless it fits what you are looking for. 4. If you find a helpful Web site, bookmark it so that you can return to it later. 5. Finally, look to see if the Web site provides links to other Web sites that might have helpful information. Some reliable sources are: Academic Journals (written and reviewed by people in the field) Reputable Newspapers and News Agencies Known, Credible Authors

How do I revise my essay and get it ready to publish?

1. Use the essay rubric 2. use the ARMS technique

CUPS strategy

1. capitalize 2. understanding 3. punctuation 4. spelling

CRAAP Method for evaluating sources

1. currency: is the info outdated? 2. relevance: does the info connect to my topic? 3. authority: do i trust the source? 4. accuracy: is the info true? 5. purpose: is the info biased?

Rubric criterion

1. organization 2. introduction 3. thesis statement 4. 1.B.P: present problem 5. 2bp: present solution 6. 3bp: counterargument 7. conclusion 8. mechanics 9. coherence 10. reflection

steps in the writing process

1. prewriting- strategies such as brainstorming, graphic organizers, notes, and logs to generate ideas and plans to determind audience and purpose; 2. draft- develop by organizing ideas into paragraphas to suit the audience and purpose 3. revise- draft for coherence, progression, and logical support of ideas by adding, elaborating, deleting, combining, and rearraging text; 4. edit- drafts to ensure standard usage, varied senence structure, and appropriate word choice; 5. publishing- use available technology to support aspects of creating, revising, editing, and publishing final product

Prompt

1. type of essay 2. purpose 3. audience 4. prompt 5. format 6. example issues 7. due

interview process

1. use questioning strategies (open ended-close ended) 2. ask follow-up questions 3. decide the questions in advance 4. show gratitude

Works Cited page

A Works Cited page is a list of all the sources you use your paper. First, you must keep track of the information you use. Then, you can use correct MLA format to record this information in your Works Cited page. You may use information from a book, magazine, newspaper, encyclopedia, interview, or online source. The possibilities are almost endless, but you need similar information from each one in order to properly cite your sources: Author and other contributors Title of source Title of container (larger collection) — if applicable Publisher Date of publication Page number(s)

Thesis statement

A brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader? The thesis statement is placed within the introduction of the essay. It is usually found at the end of the first paragraph.

Thesis statement - requirements

A thesis statement connects to the type of essay you are writing. Since you are writing a Problem-Solution Essay for this assignment, your thesis statement will focus on the fact that you have a good solution to the problem you are addressing. A thesis statement is specific. For this assignment, your thesis statement should be narrow enough that it can be supported with three body paragraphs. The thesis statement is placed near the end of your introduction (the first paragraph of your essay).

ARMS strategy

A: Add words and sentences R: remove unneeded words & sentences M: move words& sentences S: substitute

Why is academic integrity important?

Academic Integrity means that you are truthful about your own ideas and you give credit to others if you use their ideas in your writing or other work. If you are not honest, then you make the mistake of plagiarism. This means you steal someone else's work and use it as your own. This is plagiarism and it is illegal.

Academic integrity

Another word for integrity is honesty. If you are honest, you tell the truth. Academic Integrity means that you are truthful about your own ideas and you give credit to others if you use their ideas in your writing or other work. If you are not honest, then you make the mistake of plagiarism. This means you steal someone else's work and use it as your own.

peer review

Because we spend so much time looking at our own work, it's easy to get so attached to it that we don't recognize important changes we might make to improve it. Sometimes, we hold things in our minds that don't quite make it onto the paper. To help with this problem, we can use the revise and edit stages of the writing process to get advice from others — this strategy is called peer review, which means working with a classmate to give and receive advice for making our work better. Peer review has three important benefits. 1. First, it allows you to work with a classmate and get some good advice on your writing. By seeing your work for the first time, they will notice things that you may have missed. 2. Second, as peer review is a reciprocal process, it gives you a chance to see how other people think, which leads to more idea sharing. 3. Third, you have an opportunity to give good advice to someone else. Your opinion as a reader will help someone else make important revisions to their work. Peer review gives us a chance to take a final look at our writing and make wise choices for improvement. Each writer has different strengths and skills that they can discuss with each other.

Closed questions

Closed questions can be answered with just one word.

Types of graphic organizers

Cluster One circle in the middle shows the topic. Smaller circles surround it to provide details and examples related tothe topic. Double Cluster Two center circles to compare-contrast two ideas or topics. Smaller circles surround each center circle to provide details and examples related to each topic. Series Circles or squares in a row shows the sequence of events from first, to middle, to last. Tree Circles or rectangles divide information about a topic into clear categories.

How do I use the different writing elements in my persuasive essay?

Create a central idea, argument or thesis around which to organize your material. Have supporting material, such as: facts, details, explanations etc. Use expressions, type of word choices and different points of view. Check your spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Essay structure for your final essay

Essay Structure: Introduction Introduction. This is the very first paragraph of your essay. It is one paragraph long and contains three parts: Hook: This first sentence catches the readers' attention in some way. You may begin with sensory language that paints a word picture, a powerful statement, or a surprising fact. Background information: Next, your introduction gives some basic background information that helps readers know why your topic is important or meaningful. Thesis statement: Finally, you'll end your introduction with a thesis statement that clearly states your main idea. It should be strong. It should be clear. It should be a statement that you can support with an explanation. The thesis statement is the key to creating a good essay. It is the foundation of your writing; everything else you say in your essay depends on and relates to this statement. Essay Structure: Body Body. This is the middle section of your essay. A very short essay may have just one body paragraph. Most essays will have at least two or three body paragraphs. Essay Structure: Conclusion Conclusion. Finally, you will end your essay with one paragraph that summarizes the main points of your essay. Your goal in the conclusion is to remind readers of the main points you have just made in the body of the essay, and then to end in a way that leaves them with something intriguing to think about.

How can graphic organizers help me to plan an essay?

Graphic organizers are very visual ways of recording and presenting information. Graphic organizers are helpful for a couple of reasons. First, they make use of your multiple intelligence strengths. Secondly, they are a brain booster. Your mind is much more likely to remember bold colors, shapes, and the placement of information on a page than it is to remember individual words and numbers.

in text citations

In-text citations are notes that you make in the paragraphs you write. These notes tell readers where you found the information. For example, imagine you wanted to use this quote in a paper you are writing: "People cannot change their habits without first changing their way of thinking." There are two main ways you can use this quote in your own writing, and both ways require that you cite the original source.

Supporting ideas

Once you have written a thesis statement, you can then identify what information you must include to explain it to your audience. To do this, you need to identify supporting ideas by asking yourself the questions, "How?" or "What?" in response to the thesis statement you have written. You can see that the thesis is the second sentence. You can then begin identifying supporting ideas by asking, "How can parents find resources?" or "What resources are available to parents?" Finding the answer to either of these questions will help you choose supporting ideas to write about.

self-evaluation

One tool to use when writing is self-evaluation. This means that you look at your work and form an honest opinion on what you did well and what you can improve. It is a good first step in the revision process. You are the writer, and you know your thoughts, opinions, and style the best. In the end, you are the one who gets to decide what you will change in your essay to make it your best work. Some papers may take you only two or three drafts to complete. Others may take more drafts to get to be just the way you want them. Taking time to make changes and go through this drafting process hones your skills as a writer and thinker.

Open ended questions

Open-ended questions can be answered in any number of ways. They allow us to gather more information from the person we are interviewing.

Paraphrasing and using direct quotes

Paraphrase (put into your own words) information from the outside source. Review the basic rules for paraphrasing and see the example below. If you use the author's name in your paraphrase, include the page number after your paraphrase. If you don't use the author's name in you paraphrase, then include both the author's name and the page number after your paraphrase. Use the direct quote from an outside source in your paper. If you use the author's name to introduce the quote, include the page number after the quote. If you don't use the author's name to introduce your quote, then include both the author's name and the page number after the quote.

What is plagiarism and how can I avoid it?

Plagiarism is committing intellectual property theft. The best way to avoid plagiarism and respect others' work is to cite the sources you use. To cite means that you note when you use someone else's work and you give information to your readers about where they can find the original writing.

Primary sources

Primary Sources A primary source conveys its information very close to the original time period of the event or the issue. Examples of primary sources are interviews with the people involved, your own observation and participation, lectures and museum exhibits, diaries, journals, and letters, and surveys and forms. Often, information comes from direct observation or experience. This kind of information is called primary. The person who has this information—or the diary, manuscript, email, online post, etc., where it was first written down—is known as a primary source. Primary sources are considered the most reliable.

Conclusion

Remind readers where you started. Make a connection to the theme — main idea — of your essay. Analyze something larger. Ask, "How does this point connect with the larger world?" Bring your essay full circle — reference the title, for instance.

How can I use the prompt and rubric to meet the essay requirements?

Rubrics are designed to allow MK12 to communicate the specific expectations of our assignments to students. By examining a rubric before beginning an assignment, you can use rubrics to guide your work like you might use a checklist. As you complete the assignment, you can make sure to include each item that the rubric assesses. Tips for using rubrics: Always use rubrics when they work on their assignments for Mizzou K-12. Never turn in an assignment without first reviewing the rubric. Be proactive! ALWAYS read rubrics before beginning an assignment. Reading the rubric is the very first thing you should do -- before you brainstorm, prewrite, or draft. Pay attention to the expectations and requirements on the rubric. Ask questions about anything you do not understand on the rubric. As you complete an assignment, check your work against the rubric during their writing/work process and then again one last time before submitting an assignment. Practice scoring yourself on the rubric before turning in their work. This will show you in what ways you are doing well and where you would like to improve. After receiving back graded work, look at the feedback you receive from Mizzou K-12 to understand what you did well and what you can improve upon for the next assignment!

Secondary sources

Secondary Sources include information that has been collected, analyzed, and shared by someone who did not experience events first-hand. Secondary sources are based on primary sources. For example, if you gather statistics on people living in a certain area, you won't report information on each person. Instead, you will likely combine all of the data you have gathered and report the total numbers of each category. Examples of secondary sources are: scholarly articles textbooks biographies nonfiction literature

Essay Structure

Simple Beginning. If your material is interesting, then you don't have to get fancy. State your idea simply. Anecdote. Offer a simple story that fits the main point of your essay. Current Event. Connect a timely, current event to the main point of your essay. A hook is a creative way to open an essay to capture your readers' attention and make them want to hear what you have to say. First Body Paragraph Begin with a topic sentence that states a problem your community is facing. Use support to explain why this is a meaningful problem in the community. End with a clincher that restates the main idea of your paragraph. Second Body Paragraph Begin with a topic sentence that states a reasonable and realistic solution to the problem your community is facing. Use support to explain why this solution is valid and why it will work. Convince readers that the community will be better off if they use this solution. Third Body Paragraph Begin with a topic sentence that acknowledges others have a different viewpoint than yours. Use support to explain why others think the issue is not a problem in the community or why they think your solution will not work

tertiary sources

Tertiary sources contain information that has been collected again, analyzed, and published in a new form. It may use both primary and secondary sources. You'll have to look carefully to decide if the information is a secondary or tertiary source.

MLA format

Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Double-space the text of your paper and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast enough that they are each distinct from one another. The font size should be 12 pt. Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise prompted by your instructor). Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides. Indent the first line of each paragraph one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the "Tab" key as opposed to pushing the space bar five times. Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.) Use italics throughout your essay to indicate the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely necessary, provide emphasis. If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page. Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).

coherence

coherence describes how easy it is to read and understand something. If an essay is coherent, it moves smoothly from point to point and makes sense to readers. One way to develop coherence in your writing is to use transitions. Transitions are words and sentences that act as a bridge--a connection--from one idea to the next. You can find big transitions between paragraphs in an essay. And, you can find smaller transitions between sentences in each paragraph.

What are the steps in the writing process?

prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, publishing