Writing and Presenting

Get your point across clearly and effectively.

All Good Essays, Documentaries and Presentations Contain:

• An introduction that draws the reader’s/viewer’s attention

• A thesis statement that addresses the question

• A body that provides evidence to support the thesis.

• A conclusion that summarizes the essay.

Introduction• Creates interest for the reader• Gives a general idea of what the issues

to be discussed are• Defines the terms of the question*• Contains the thesis statement

Thesis statement• The answer to the question• It states an interpretation of evidence• It is specific - essentially it is the one

sentence answer to the question while the rest of the essay is support

“Mr. Rud is a teacher at Heritage Woods Secondary” is not a thesis statement. Why not?

“The iPod has had a negative impact on schools” is a thesis statement. Why?

The Body• Is organized into paragraphs• Each paragraph offers evidence to

support the thesis• Each paragraph has a single focus, a

topic sentence, supporting detail and logical organization

It’s generally a good idea to start with the weakest argument first and end with the strongest.

Conclusion• Contains a re-working of the thesis

statement.• Summarizes the arguments made• Leaves the reader “convinced” of the

argument made in the essay.