NÚCLEO RAFAEL RANGEL DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES
VENEZUELA
Last updated July 23, 2015 by Freddy Vanegas
Introduction
The reading and writing workshop requires all students to pass
the writing prompt prior to start the course. This WebQuest was designed to guide
you as you write a five paragraph essay.
Your teacher will provide you with the writing prompt and any articles
related to the topic.
Published for the first time on April, 2014, Last updated July 23, 2015 by Freddy Vanegas
Task
Your mission is to write a well written 5 paragraph persuasive essay. Follow the step by step directions and be sure to utilize the graphic organizers and writing tools. Begin by reviewing the prompt given to you by your instructor.
Last updated July 23, 2015 by Freddy Vanegas
Process
PRE-WRITING
Step 1. Review the writing prompt.
Step 2. Read the information given to you and highlight key points.
Step 3. Complete a comparison chart to compare two points of view of the topic.
Step 4. Decide on your point of view.
Step 5. Select 3-4 main points in your arguement.
Step 6. Complete a graphic organizer before you begin to write.
Step 7. Develop your thesis sentence.
WRITING
Step 9. Write your opening paragraph, mention your 3 points you will be
expanding on in your following paragraphs.
Step 10. Write your 2nd paragraph using your first main point. Include
details to support your point.
Step 11. Write your 3rd paragraph using your next main point. Include
details to support your point.
Step 12. Write your 4th paragraph using your third main poing. Include
details to support your point.
Step 13. Write your conclusion paragraph restating your thesis and your
three main points. Be sure to end with a power statement or final
thought for the reader to consider.
Step 14. Type your essay
POST-WRITING
Step 15. Proofread your work for spelling and grammar errors.
Step 16. Review your paper to ensure you used effective vocabulary and
transitions.
Step 17. Print out a final copy of your essay.
Step 18. Using the rubric, assess your writing and give yourself a score.
Step 19. Complete the writing reflection.
Step 20. Paperclip your final copy to your writing reflection and hand in.
Persuasive Writing Strategies and Tips
The goal of persuasive writing is to convince readers to share your view or opinion of an issue by appealing to their reason and emotions. Effective persuasive writing is a blend of both opinion and fact. The facts ideally support your opinion, demonstrating its legitimacy to the reader.
Strategies and Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay:
- Take a clear position that agrees or disagrees with the issue discussed in readings
- Support your position with accurate information from the readings.
- Use evidence or information from all three of the readings
- Organize your ideas logically and effectively
- Keep your intended audience in mind and use the language that is appropriate to them
Strategies and Tips for Taking a Position:
- What is the main issue causing the debate?
- What arguments are presented in the articles support or oppose the main issues?
- Make two columns of notes to separate the issues
- Which side of the issue includes the strongest and most believable evidence to back up each argument?
Strategies and Tips for Supporting your Position:
- Which side of the issue includes the most arguments that make sense to you?
- Do you have any strong opinions on this issue outside of the articles you’ve read?
- What additional prior knowledge or experience with the issue can you bring to the debate?
Strategies and Tips for Assessing your Persuasive Writing:
- Take a Position: Did you take a clear position, one that agrees or disagrees with the issue discussed in the readings?
- Support: Did you support your position with accurate information from the readings?
- Comprehensiveness: Did you use evidence or information from all three readings?
- Organization: Did you organize your ideas logically and effectively?
- Fluency: Did you express your ideas clearly, using appropriate language?
Two Sides to Every Story
Write the topic in your own words in the space below:
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List all the reasons to support the topic: |
List all the arguments against the topic: |
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Five Paragraph Essay Outline
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Opening sentence (Introduction to topic) |
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1st Main idea
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2nd Main idea
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3rd Main idea
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1st Main idea
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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2nd Main idea
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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3rd Main idea
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Supporting detail
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Conclusion (Final thoughts) |
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Restate main idea
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Restate main idea
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Restate main idea
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Restate main idea
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Transitions
- Transitions keep thoughts flowing smoothly from sentence to sentence and from paragraph to paragraph.
- A new paragraph should begin with a sentence that suggests the new element and connects the new element to that in the preceding paragraph.
- Try to begin every paragraph with a transition word or phrase.
Additionally Accordingly Another
As a result Assuming
At last At the same time Another (point)
Although Again As well as
Above all Also A second factor
Beyond Beginning with Continuing
Compared/comparing to Corresponding to Considering
Equally important Ever since Finally
First, second For one reason Following
Furthermore For that reason For example
For instance In short In connection
In other words In addition In conclusion
In fact In agreement/disagreement with However
Last, lastly Likewise Moreover
More importantly Needless to say Of major concern
Over and above On the other hand Otherwise
On the contrary Previously Prior to
Reinforcing Since Through out
To begin with To sum up Therefore
Last updated July 23, 2015 by Freddy Vanegas
Evaluation
Writing Short Essay Rubric
Place a check mark on the corresponding circle for each criterion in order to evaluate the short essay. Then, sum them up to obtain the final score.
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Needs Improvement |
Fair |
Good |
Excellent |
TOTAL |
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LITERARY ELEMENTS |
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Publication (illustration(s), font type and appearance) |
Needs ⃝ Improvement Structurally inferior. Illustrations and appearance do not relate to content, Writer does not follow directions as ordered. |
Fair ⃝ Illustration(s), font type and appearance are NOT very appealing. Writer does not follow directions in several of the publication aspects. |
Good ⃝ Illustration(s), font type and appearance are appealing and creative but writer does not follow directions in all the publication aspects. |
Excellent ⃝ Illustration(s), font type and appearance are very appealing and creative. Follow directions as ordered. |
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Creativity & Use of Literary Devices |
Needs ⃝ Improvement No creative language is used. It is evident that the writer did not put forth any feeling and emotion into the essay. The essay is not made personal. |
Fair ⃝ Very few creative terms are used. Potentially terms have been used out of context, but student makes valiant effort to place them in his/her writing. |
Good ⃝ Some creative language is used. Literary devices are used within context but do not allow for the flow of the essay to continue on point. |
Excellent ⃝ The essay is filled with creative and descriptive language. The writer engages the reader with an entertaining tale of an event that the audience can relate to. |
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Character Development |
Needs ⃝ Improvement Student fails to use descriptive details to develop the character. |
Fair ⃝ Character development needs improvement, but the reader gets a sense of the character and who s/he is. |
Good ⃝ Student uses some descriptive details to develop the character. |
Excellent ⃝ The main character is thoroughly developed through direct and indirect characterization in speech, actions, description, etc. |
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Plot Development |
Needs ⃝ Improvement Essay development does not exist and does not follow sequence. |
Fair ⃝ Essay development needs to be improved or revised. There are pieces missing. |
Good ⃝ Essay development follows essay sequence but some components could be better developed for the reader to follow. |
Excellent ⃝ Essay contains exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. |
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WRITING CONVENTIONS |
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Grammar |
Needs ⃝ Improvement More than 9 grammatical mistakes were made which interfere with the telling of the essay. |
Fair ⃝ 7-9 grammatical mistakes made which interfere with the telling of the essay. |
Good ⃝
3-6 grammatical mistakes made which interfere with the telling of the essay. |
Excellent ⃝ 1-2 grammatical mistakes made which interfere with the telling of the essay. |
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Coherence & Cohesion |
Needs ⃝ Improvement
Missing transitions make hard for the reader to follow the essay. |
Fair ⃝
Transitions only occasionally aid coherence; some are used inappropriately. |
Good ⃝
Transitions aid coherence in most sections of the essay, leaving few gaps for the reader to fill. |
Excellent ⃝
Well-chosen transitions aid coherence, creating a well-organized essay |
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Word & Language choice |
Needs ⃝ Improvement Lack of precise words to describe characters, setting and/or situation. |
Fair ⃝
Precise words are used only occasionally to describe characters, setting and/or situation. |
Good ⃝
Precise words usually describe characters, setting and/or situation. |
Excellent ⃝
Precise words vividly describe characters, setting and/or situation. |
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Spelling, Punctuation & Capitalization |
Needs ⃝ Improvement
The number of mistakes on spelling, punctuation, and capitalization interfere in the reading process. |
Fair ⃝
Inconsistent use of spelling, punctuation, and capitalization sometimes obstructs the reading process.
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Good ⃝
Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are used properly but with occasional problems. |
Excellent ⃝
Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are used correctly throughout the essay. |
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Final Score |
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Last updated July 23, 2015 by Freddy Vanegas
Conclusion
Writing Reflection
Directions: Write a thoughtful and reflective paragraph to answer the following questions.
- Reflect on why you consider this writing piece to be a representation of your quality work.
- Discuss how this assignment demonstrate your growth as a learner.
- Describe how this assignment provides evidence of your commitment to your academic program.
Last updated July 23, 2015 by Freddy Vanegas