Gattaca written responses

As you are revising your written responses (Essay and paragraph responses), please use the PEC paragraph formatting... at a basic level of writing for grade 9, each paragraph should have an identifiable POINT, a section of EVIDENCE with EXPLANATIONS and EXAMPLES provided to support, and CONCLUSION statement and possibly a transitional COMMENT if needed.

Point

- What's your point?
- Re-write the question as a statement.
Evidence, Example and Explanation
- Explain reasons for your point.
- What evidence do you have?
Conclusion and Comment
- Restate your point sentence.
- Comment on your topic.

Please take a look at the editing checklist below. This is in-depth and gives you a good idea of how we will revise our essay writing (question 1) tomorrow.

Persuasive Essay -  Editing

Introductory paragraph

·        Attention grabber

·        Background information on issue and current situation

·        Summary of issue’s controversy – parties involved, their views, and why they are debating issue

·        Position / THESIS statement – clearly asserts strong position and gives general, overarching reason(s)

Body paragraph 1

·        Topic sentence – reasserts position and develops central argument/appeal for paragraph

·        Appeals/sub-appeals – arguments/reasons to support the paragraph

·        Specific evidence – specific details to back up and support the appeals

·        Commentary – explanation of evidence and explanation of how and why the evidence and appeals together are convincing that the essay’s position is the correct and strongest position

·        Opposing argument – identify opposition and what their main argument is in response to the argument(s) of this paragraph

·        Rebuttal/ or refutation (proving something is wrong) of opposing argument 

·        Concluding sentence

·        As an editor, can you identify:

- What TYPE of appeal is this body paragraph focused upon?

- Is it obvious? Why or why not?

- Are there ways the writer can make the appeal stand out more?

Are there appeals, and is there evidence, that could be added for a stronger argument?

Body paragraph 2

·        Topic sentence – reasserts position and develops central argument/appeal for paragraph

·        Appeals/sub-appeals – arguments/reasons to support the paragraph

·        Specific evidence – specific details to back up and support the appeals

·        Commentary – explanation of evidence and explanation of how and why the evidence and appeals together are convincing that the essay’s position is the correct and strongest position

·        Opposing argument – identify opposition and what their main argument is in response to the argument(s) of this paragraph

·        Rebuttal/refutation of opposing argument

·        Concluding sentence

·        As an editor, can you identify:

- What TYPE of appeal is this body paragraph focused upon?

- Is it obvious? Why or why not?

- Are there ways the writer can make the appeal stand out more?

Are there appeals, and is there evidence, that could be added for a stronger argument?

Body paragraph 3

·        Topic sentence – reasserts position and develops central argument/appeal for paragraph

·        Appeals/sub-appeals – arguments/reasons to support the paragraph

·        Specific evidence – specific details to back up and support the appeals

·        Commentary – explanation of evidence and explanation of how and why the evidence and appeals together are convincing that the essay’s position is the correct and strongest position

·        Opposing argument – identify opposition and what their main argument is in response to the argument(s) of this paragraph

·        Rebuttal/refutation of opposing argument

·        Concluding sentence

·        As an editor, can you identify:

- What TYPE of appeal is this body paragraph focused upon?

- Is it obvious? Why or why not?

- Are there ways the writer can make the appeal stand out more?

Are there appeals, and is there evidence, that could be added for a stronger argument?

Concluding paragraph

·        Restatement (creatively) of the position statement

·        Concluding summary and concluding commentary – summarize the most important arguments reader should consider and remember, and comment upon why and how all the pieces put together in the body paragraphs add up to a strong, convincing, important argument that the reader should go along with

·         Call to action – tells reader what to do to help the cause and/or get involved and offer support