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Jane Schaffer Writing Process
Jane Schaffer Writing Process
Students will use the Jane Schaffer Writing Process as a model for their academic writing throughout their years at Auburn High.
Step #1:
Step #1:
Introduction Paragraph
Introduction Paragraph
The introduction paragraph is the 1st paragraph of an essay, written to inform your reader of your topic and always includes a thesis statement
Hook
Hook
Grab your reader's attention
Grab your reader's attention
Just a few of the many ways to hook your audience:
Just a few of the many ways to hook your audience:
- Question: Almost nothing can attract interest better than a well-constructed question. Readers will want to continue reading your essay in order to discover the answer. Be sure to avoid simple “Yes” or “No” questions and try to pose questions that ask reader to consider the other side or engage in some critical thinking.
- Startling Statement: Start with a startling statement, fact, or statistic which will arrest the readers' attention to surprise, horrify, anger, or amuse them into reading more
- Anecdote: Don’t be afraid to employ this type of hook. Remember, even if you start with a humorous anecdote, it doesn’t mean that your entire essay has to be funny. A bit of humor can help you grab readers’ attention and spark their interest in the topic.
- Quotation From a Famous Person: Including a quote from an authoritative and influential person can help support your argument and create an intriguing hook. The key is to make sure that you clearly show how the quote is relevant to your essay.
- Picture this...: Start with a verbal picture that relates to the topic. Do not begin "Picture this.." or "Imagine this.."
Expand on Theme
Expand on Theme
Once you have hooked your reader, you can now tell them a little bit more about the theme or subject that you will be writing about. Pretend that your reader has not heard of the topic of your essay-- give 1-2 sentences of explanation so they can better understand your topic.
Once you have hooked your reader, you can now tell them a little bit more about the theme or subject that you will be writing about. Pretend that your reader has not heard of the topic of your essay-- give 1-2 sentences of explanation so they can better understand your topic.
Introduce Author and Text
Introduce Author and Text
In John Steinbeck's Novel Of Mice And Men, George and Lennie’s dreams motivate them to work harder. With their dream in jeopardy, dedication to reach it keep them inspired to be better men. A dream is something that you always work towards to achieve, for George and Lennie, their dream keeps them motivated to work and better themselves even though they can not reach it.
Introduce the text you're writing about in the beginning of your essay by mentioning the author's full name and the complete title of the work. Titles of books should be underlined or put in italics . (Titles of stories, essays and poems are in "quotation marks.") Refer to the text specifically as a novel, story, essay, memoir, or poem, depending on what it is.
In later references to the author, use his or her last name.
If the title is very long and you are making numerous references to it, you can refer to it by a shortened version. i.e., "A Perfect Day For Banana Fish" can become "Banana Fish."
Short Summary
Short Summary
In John Steinbeck's Novel Of Mice And Men, George and Lennie’s dreams motivate them to work harder. With their dream in jeopardy, dedication to reach it keep them inspired to be better men. A dream is something that you always work towards to achieve, for George and Lennie, their dream keeps them motivated to work and better themselves even though they can not reach it.
Thesis Statement
Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is the big idea of your whole paper! The rest of the paper is facts about how your thesis statement is true.
The thesis statement is the big idea of your whole paper! The rest of the paper is facts about how your thesis statement is true.
The Thesis:
The Thesis:
- Focuses on the major idea of the paper
- Is an opinion that you prove using (CDs) concrete details/evidence and (CMs) commentary
- Provides a map showing your reader the direction of the body paragraphs
- Identifies the subject you are writing about and take a firm stance
- Is the last sentence of your introduction paragraph
- Is usually revised several times throughout the writing process
Examples:
Examples:
- The bias of Juror Three and the prejudice of Juror Ten almost convict a man to the death sentence because they are unwilling to look at the evidence and facts, rather than their own personal opinion.
- As for George and Lennie, chasing after the American Dream which is living on their own with lots of acres, turns out it is crumbling into pieces with the obstacles most American citizens face making their goal harder to accomplish.
- For Lennie and George, the American dream is owning a little home, but because of the challenges they and many Americans face, their dream proves impossible.
Step #2: Topic and Conclusion Sentence
Step #2: Topic and Conclusion Sentence
Each body paragraph explains one part of your thesis statement more fully to your reader. Your body paragraph must begin with a clear topic sentence which introduces the paragraph's main idea.
Each body paragraph explains one part of your thesis statement more fully to your reader. Your body paragraph must begin with a clear topic sentence which introduces the paragraph's main idea.
Your topic sentence will then be supported with evidence (concrete details).
Reminder: The thesis statement is the big idea of your whole paper! The rest of the paper is facts about how your thesis statement is true.
For Topic Sentences (TS) to be effective, they must:
For Topic Sentences (TS) to be effective, they must:
- state a position (subject and opinion) to be proven in the paragraph
- be clearly linked to the thesis (if part of an essay)
- not repeat words from the thesis statement
For Conclusion Sentences (CS) to be effective, they must:
For Conclusion Sentences (CS) to be effective, they must:
- restate the same idea from the topic sentence
- do not repeat words used in the topic sentence
- change/restate the topic sentence.
Your topic sentence, in each body paragraph of your essay, needs to introduce a part of your thesis statement.
Your topic sentence, in each body paragraph of your essay, needs to introduce a part of your thesis statement.
Example:
Example:
- Thesis- There are several ways for high school students to improve their study habits.
- Topic Sentence #1- Studying in a quiet environment helps students improve their study habits .
- Topic Sentence #2- Paying attention in class helps students improve their study habits.
- Topic Sentence #3- Managing their time well helps students improve their study habits.
A good topic sentence does two important things.
A good topic sentence does two important things.
1. Helps you stay focused on the topic of your paragraph
1. Helps you stay focused on the topic of your paragraph
2. Helps readers to know what your paragraph will be about.
2. Helps readers to know what your paragraph will be about.
Step #3: Concrete Details and Commentary
Step #3: Concrete Details and Commentary
Facts About Facts
Facts About Facts
(Concrete Details- CD, Evidence, Support)
(Concrete Details- CD, Evidence, Support)
- Should be either facts, examples, illustrations, evidence, support, plot references, paraphrases, citations, quotations, plot summary, etc
- You must state them STRONGLY; if you are prefacing it with “maybe” or “perhaps” or “could,” then it is not specific or concrete enough.
- Think: “For example…”
What are the different ways to include evidence or support?
What are the different ways to include evidence or support?
There are many ways to include evidence or support in your essay, you can find out how to use these techniques by clicking on the sub-tabs on this page
- TLQ
- Paraphrasing
- Embedded Quote
Explanation of Facts
Explanation of Facts
(Commentary-CM, "This Shows...")
(Commentary-CM, "This Shows...")
Commentary is an important part of the writing process. Commentary sentences explain the significance of concrete details or evidence. Commentary sentences are your opinion without using "I, me, my". It is important to connect what you write about a concrete detail to the main point of that paragraph.
Commentary is an important part of the writing process. Commentary sentences explain the significance of concrete details or evidence. Commentary sentences are your opinion without using "I, me, my". It is important to connect what you write about a concrete detail to the main point of that paragraph.
In order to write good commentary:
In order to write good commentary:
- don't restate what has been said
- don't assume your concrete detail (CD) speaks for itself; it needs explaination
- make a connection between the words/actions in your concrete detail and the main point of your essay
- your second sentence of commentary should build on your first
You must have at least 2 sentences of commentary for each concrete detail or piece of evidence
You must have at least 2 sentences of commentary for each concrete detail or piece of evidence
No-No words/phrases in commentary
- I
- me
- my
- I think
- I feel
- In my opinion
The following questions may help you formulate ideas that will serve as commentary
The following questions may help you formulate ideas that will serve as commentary
- Why is this Concrete Detail (CD, evidence, support) important?
- What does this CD reveal about my topic?
- what exactly does this CD signify?
- How does this CD serve to explain or illustrate my point?
- What does this CD imply? What might the reader not know about this that you can explain to them?
- What can we infer from the CD?
- What does the tone, mood, or diction of this CD tell us?
This...
This...
conveys
demonstrates
emphasizes
foreshadows
functions as
highlights
illuminates
implies
typifies
expresses the idea that...
portrays
questions
reflects
reinforces
represents
serves to
signifies
suggests
symbolizes
indicates
reveals
validates
the purpose of ____ is to ______
Step #4: Conclusion
Step #4: Conclusion
The conclusion paragraph wraps up the essay and leaves the reader with some final thoughts. It should relate back to ideas presented in the introduction. However, since your paper already has proved your thesis (with your concrete details and commentary), you should work to move beyond the thesis to reflect on the significance of the ideas you presented. It should answer why your ideas are important for the reader.
The conclusion paragraph wraps up the essay and leaves the reader with some final thoughts. It should relate back to ideas presented in the introduction. However, since your paper already has proved your thesis (with your concrete details and commentary), you should work to move beyond the thesis to reflect on the significance of the ideas you presented. It should answer why your ideas are important for the reader.
- Restate point of the essay (thesis) in different words. Avoid key words from the thesis.
- Relate this back to the general topic/quote/definition that you started with (a minimum of 2 sentences)
- Leave the reader with something to think about/consider. How does this apply to their life?
Do not use:
Do not use:
- one
- you
- I
- we
- us
Effective conclusions always consider the audience and purpose of the essay.
Effective conclusions always consider the audience and purpose of the essay.
Some ideas to consider:
Some ideas to consider:
- reflect on how the topic relates to a larger issue (in the story, novel, society, history)
- show how your topic affects the reader's life
- evaluate the concept you presented
- issue a call for action on the part of the reader (argument or persuasive writing)
- make predictions
- recommend solutions
- connect back to the introduction if you began with a metaphor, anecdote or vivid description/image
Conclusions should stress the importance of the thesis, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader. An effective conclusion might answer the question "So what?" It might synthesize (not summarize) the points.
Conclusions should stress the importance of the thesis, give the essay a sense of completeness, and leave a final impression on the reader. An effective conclusion might answer the question "So what?" It might synthesize (not summarize) the points.
Transitions
Transitions
Transitions are used to guide the reader smoothly from point to point, idea to idea. They are used within paragraphs from one chunk to the next and between paragraphs to reflect the new idea introduced. Be sure to include a variety of transitions, rather than overuse of a single transition word.
Transitions are used to guide the reader smoothly from point to point, idea to idea. They are used within paragraphs from one chunk to the next and between paragraphs to reflect the new idea introduced. Be sure to include a variety of transitions, rather than overuse of a single transition word.
Use with 1st CD in a paragraph
Use with 1st CD in a paragraph
- For instance,
- For example,
- In fact,
- First,
- Specifically,
- Initially,
When adding information
When adding information
use with CDs after the first one in a body paragraph or within the topc sentence after the 1st body paragraph.
- Further,
- Furthermore,
- Likewise,
- Also,
- In addition,
- Equally important,
- Next,
- Secondly,
- Finally,
- Lastly,
- Moreover,
- Additionally,
- Similarly,
When contrasting information
When contrasting information
- However,
- Nonetheless,
- On the other hand,
- At the same time,
- In contrast,
- On the contrary,
- Instead
When showing results (conclusion)
When showing results (conclusion)
- Hence
- Therefore,
- Accordingly,
- Consequently,
- To sum up,
- Finally,
- Lastly,
- In final analysis,
- As a result,
- In summary,
When defining time
When defining time
- Meanwhile,
- Immediately,
- Soon after,
- Afterwards,
- First,
- Later,
- Eventually,
- Finally,
- Earlier,
- Next,
- In the meantime,
- At first,
- In the first place,
To emphasize importance
To emphasize importance
- More importantly,
- Most importantly,
- Primarily,
MLA Formatting
MLA Formatting
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