Writing Basics
To be a strong writer, there are certain skills that a person must acquire and then hone. The writing program adopted at ArTES is intended to facilitate this process, ensuring that students have a balance of both facts (CDs) and opinions (CMs) included in the paragraphs and essays they draft.
A basic English class paragraph will the following types of sentences:
One body paragraph will look like this:
TS CD CM CM CD CM CM CS
Reviewing this PowerPoint might also help clarify the requirements for a basic body paragraph.
Use the following handouts and resources to assist you in the writing process:
A basic English class paragraph will the following types of sentences:
- Topic Sentence (TS) - this sentence is located at the beginning of your paragraph , and should introduce what your paragraph will be about
- Concrete Detail (CD) - this is a fact from whatever text you are referring to (a play, poem, short story, painting, etc...) that somehow supports your topic sentence
- Commentary (CM) - this is analysis, explaining the connection between your original topic sentence, and the fact that you are using to support the topic sentence. You will have TWO commentary sentences for every ONE concrete detail
- Conclusion Sentence (CS) - this will be located at the end of your paragraph and will summarize the main point you were attempting to make in your paragraph.
One body paragraph will look like this:
TS CD CM CM CD CM CM CS
Reviewing this PowerPoint might also help clarify the requirements for a basic body paragraph.
Use the following handouts and resources to assist you in the writing process:
- Introduction Paragraph - this is a blank template with fill in the blank lines for each required part of an introduction paragraph
- Body Paragraph Shaper - this is a blank template with fill in the blank lines for each required part necessary in a body paragraph
- Reflection Paragraph - for use with a Humanitas essay, this template provides the structure for the opinion body paragraph that is located almost at the end of the essay
- Conclusion Paragraph - this is a blank template with fill in the blank lines for each required part of a conclusion paragraph
- Essay Structure How To - an overview of what needs to go where in your essay
- Essay Template - an outline of the format for a basic MLA essay
- Essay Fill-in Template - an outline that may be filled in for your essay
- Essay Prewriting - a way to gather your ideas before you begin your essay
- 6 Step CD - this provides you with the organization of a basic concrete detail sentence
- Transition Words - a list of transition words that you may chose from when completing step 1 of the 6 step CD
- Essay Outline - a basic skeleton for constructing an essay
- Priscilla and the Wimps and chunk practice - a quick reading selection and basic writing task to practice your paragraph writing skills
- Peer Editing Checklist - this form will be used to edit classmate's rough drafts
More Resources...
Below, you will find basic templates for assignments that are typically given in class. Rather than having to recreate the chart / assignment each time, you may instead use these blanks to complete the assignment instead.
- Annotation Guide - a overview and outline of what information would / could be included in marginal annotations
- Characterization Chart - a template that focuses on specific character development in texts read in class
- Dialectic Journal Entry Sample - a sample of what information must be included and how a proper entry should be formatted
- Dialectic Journal Template - a template to properly format a dialectic journal
- Extended Poetry Analysis - thorough analysis of selected poetry pieces studied in class
- SOAPSTone - a more abbreviated analysis of selected poetry studied in class