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March 5th, 2025.
Topic: Class Activity about the structure for an essay
Summary on the topic
Okay, so in class, we worked in groups to analyze an essay. The point was to see if the essay followed the rules of a good five-paragraph academic essay. We had to say what was good, what was bad, and how to make it better. We used a checklist to help us, and it even had a color code to spot possible mistakes.
What was understood from the class?
I think I got the main idea. We're supposed to look at the intro, body paragraphs, and conclusion to see if they do their jobs.
Introduction: It should grab your attention and clearly state what the essay is about (thesis statement).
Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph needs a topic sentence and then details that back it up. Also, we're supposed to look for transition words that connect the ideas.
Conclusion: It needs to restate the main point (thesis) and summarize everything. It's also cool if it has a suggestion or something to think about for the future.
I also understood that grammar and spelling count! And the title should be interesting.
What wasn't understood from the class?
Honestly, sometimes it was hard to tell if a transition word was really needed. And how many sentences exactly should be in a paragraph? The guide said 6-10 sentences/80-100 words overall. It was confusing because it felt a little subjective. Also, I'm not always sure how to make a title "appealing" – that seems tricky.
Class products or activities
Diagrams and pictures on the subject
Glossary New Terms learned in this class
Thesis Statement: The main argument or point of an essay, usually found in the introduction.
Topic Sentence: The first sentence of a body paragraph that introduces the main idea of that paragraph.
Transition Words: Words or phrases that connect ideas and sentences smoothly (e.g., "however," "therefore," "in addition").
Supporting Details: Evidence, examples, and explanations that support the topic sentence in a body paragraph.
Funnel Structure: A way to structure an introduction, starting with a general statement and then narrowing down to the specific topic and thesis.
Restatement/Paraphrase: To say something again in a different way, usually used to reiterate the thesis in the conclusion.
New Material
Here are some resources that might help to understand how to write a good essay:
Videos:
"How to Write a Thesis Statement" by Grammarly: Many videos explain thesis statements
"Essay Structure" by Harvard University: Search youtube for more content
Websites/Blogs:
Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab): Has tons of guides on essay writing, grammar, and research.
Books:
"The Elements of Style" by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White: A classic guide to clear and concise writing.
"They Say / I Say": The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing" by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein: It focuses on argumentation and responding to other people's ideas in academic writing.
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