Writing Strategy

 

As shared in class, I have had tremendous success with Jane Schaffer’s writing strategy.  I have found that in providing my students with a formula to writing that they are able to become familiar with a defined process to writing.  From my personal experience, I become overwhelmed when I must begin writing a paper.  If I can shift my thinking to something more linear, like a math equation, then it is more approachable to me.  Therefore I devised a complex outline (based upon Jane Schaffer’s writing strategies), which allows my students to plug things in.  Below is an example of the outline that my students complete for all of their formal papers.

 

 

 

Title: theme you are focusing on, the author’s name & his book

I. Introduction

            A. general statement about life, that relates to the focus of your paper.

            B. the author’s implicit message.

                        1. include the author’s full name & the title of the novel.

            C. your thesis.

                        1. your thesis will be broken up into three different areas (hence, your body paragraphs).

II. Topic Sentence # 1           

A.   “Quote” (page #).

1.     Restate the quote in your own words.

2.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

B.    “Quote” (page #).

1.     Restate the quote in your own words.

2.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

C.    “Quote” (page #).

1.     Restate the quote in your own words.

2.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

D.   Conclude in one sentence, by restating the topic sentence.

III. Topic Sentence # 2           

E.    “Quote” (page #).

3.     Restate the quote in your own words.

4.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

F.    “Quote” (page #).

3.     Restate the quote in your own words.

4.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

G.   “Quote” (page #).

3.     Restate the quote in your own words.

4.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

D. Conclude in one sentence, by restating the topic sentence.

IV. Topic Sentence # 3

H.   “Quote” (page #).

5.     Restate the quote in your own words.

6.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

I.      “Quote” (page #).

5.     Restate the quote in your own words.

6.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

J.     “Quote” (page #).

5.     Restate the quote in your own words.

6.     Show how your quote proves the topic sentence and a portion of your thesis.

D. Conclude in one sentence, by restating the topic sentence.

V. Conclusion

            A. Reword your thesis

            B. Remind us of what your author’s implicit message is.

            C. Restate your general statement in a new way.