Preparing to Write an Essay Activity
Note that you WILL NOT write the essay with this activity. You are finding information to include in your essay and then outlining your essay. You will receive feedback in the form of yet/partially there/not yet on this worksheet. You may resubmit if you receive a partially there or not yet on your worksheet to raise your grade and get additional feedback to write an outstanding essay.
There is also a workbook separate from this worksheet worth five points toward your total Preparing to Write grade. The grading scale is:
- Yet = 95 +5 for completed workbook by initial due date
- Partially There = 80 +5 for completed workbook by initial due date
- Not Yet = 70 +5 for completed workbook by initial due date
WHERE IS THE PROMPT? – Your prompt is posted in the general information for the Preparing to Write assignment in Canvas and is also found in the Signature Essay assignment page in Canvas.
*******A Note on Required Sources for the Essay and this Worksheet: You are required to use materials assigned in the course (this includes American Yawp and the Primary Source documents at the end of each chapter of Yawp) – no outside sources permitted. You should plan on using several pieces of evidence from Delving Deeper sources.
You will need a total of 3 different secondary sources and 3 primary sources for the essay and in this worksheet. A Yawp chapter is one secondary source *******
Step 1: Brainstorming the Essay
Sit back and think about the prompt. Then, in whatever way works for you (see booklet for some ideas) brainstorm the prompt – then choose the best three key points/ideas that address the prompt – these will be your points for the rule of three essay you will write.
List your three key points/ideas that will become part of your thesis statement below:
Step 2: Finding Evidence for Point 1
Provide three pieces of evidence you will use to support your first point. Be sure to provide a cite with the location you found the information (you may only use assigned course materials) using simplified course citation style for each piece of evidence.
Step 3: Finding Evidence for Point 2
Provide three pieces of evidence you will use to support your first point. Be sure to provide a cite with the location you found the information (you may only use assigned course materials) using simplified course citation style for each piece of evidence.
Step 4: Finding Evidence for Point 3
Provide three pieces of evidence you will use to support your first point. Be sure to provide a cite with the location you found the information (you may only use assigned course materials) using simplified course citation style for each piece of evidence.
Step 5: Outline Your Essay Using the Points and Evidence Above
Complete this chart by typing in the boxes. You will use the information above to craft complete sentences in the chart. If you spend time thinking about this phase, you will get better feedback and have an easier time writing the essay.
| 1st Paragraph: Introduction Paragraph | |
| Historical Context/Background | |
| Thesis Statement (One sentence located at the very end of this paragraph) | 1. 2. 3. |
>>>>>>>>Continued on Next Page>>>>>>>>
| 2nd Paragraph: Paragraph of the body about Key Point 1 | |
| Thesis Statement for Key Point 1 (first sentence of the paragraph) | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 1 | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 2 | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 3 | |
3rd Paragraph: Paragraph of the body about Key Point 2 | |
| Thesis Statement for Key Point 2 (first sentence of the paragraph) | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 1 | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 2 | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 3 | |
>>>>>>>>Continued on Next Page>>>>>>>>
| 4th Paragraph: Paragraph of the body about Key Point 3 | |
| Thesis Statement for Key Point 3 (first sentence of the paragraph) | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 1 | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 2 | |
| Piece of Evidence/Analysis 3 | |
| 5th Paragraph: Conclusion | |
| Major points of Analysis to sum up | |