SLAYING THE FIVE PARAGRAPH MONSTER: How to teach and grade the five- paragraph theme
SLAYING THE FIVE PARAGRAPH MONSTER:
How to teach and grade the five-
paragraph theme
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
Following the workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Identify the components of the five paragraph essay format
2. Devise appropriate rubrics to assess students’ writings
3. Implement writing within specific subject areas
4. Identify and implement the domains established by the PSSA Rubric
TODAY’S AGENDA
1. Background2. The Five
Paragraph Essay Format
3. RUBRICS4. SAMPLES AND
SCORING
WHY IS WRITING IMPORTANT?
Organizing the five-paragraph essay
The Introduction
The introduction should contain a:• Lead-in sentence / attention getter
– Should grab the reader’s attention and generally hint at or introduce the topic to be discussed in rest of paper
• Central Idea (Purpose) – Should state the main point of your paper / what
you’re attempting to prove in your paper
• Thesis Statement (Plan)– Should provide a series of “proofs” (evidence) that
will support your central idea (C.I.)• Ask: What will I use to prove my C.I.?
The Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph should contain:• Topic Sentence (T.S.)
– Relates item from paper’s thesis to its C.I.
• Supporting Sentences– At LEAST three– Expand / Develop the topic established in your topic
sentence
• Clincher Sentence– Wraps up the topic of the body paragraph– Establishes how the paragraph supports the paper’s
C.I. / thesis
The Conclusion
Conclusion should:• Restate the C.I. In
different words (generally)
• Summarize the info. presented
• Find deeper meaning in the info. presented in the paper (relevance / significance)
• Show reader that the paper has reached end
Transitions
Transitions should:• Help thoughts flow
smoothly from intro. to conclusion
• Show connections between paragraph just ended and paragraph being read
Common transitional expressions
– Therefore– Accordingly– In spite of this– An example of this– Lastly– Also– Furthermore
– Similarly– However– Consequently– Finally– In addition– Nevertheless– On the contrary
THE PSSA SCORING RUBRIC
1. THE VARIOUS DOMAINS OF THE SCORING RUBRIC
2. HOW TO INCORPORATE THE RUBRIC INTO YOUR CLASSROOM
FOCUS
• There is one clear Central idea to the essay
• All of the points within the essay serve to support that central idea
• No unrelated ideas are contained
CONTENT
• Details strengthen and support the central idea of the essay
• Ideas are explained sufficiently
• Concrete examples, facts, and explanations provided
ORGANIZATION
• The essay contains a clear introduction & Conclusion
• Each paragraph has a clear topic sentence
• The sentences are in a logical order
• The sentences are clearly related to one another
• Clincher back to CI at end of body paragraphs
STYLE• A variety of sentence
structures are used• An appropriate
vocabulary level is used• All sentences are clearly
written • Addressing the audience
appropriately• Formal (no contractions,
no 1st or 2nd person)• Don’t allude to your
“essay” and “writing”
CONVENTIONS
• Words are spelled correctly
• Correct punctuation is used
• Sentences are grammatically correct
SAMPLE SCORING RUBRICS
• The Basics• 5 paragraph
essay• Research paper• Analytic Rubric
(for the future)
WRITING HELP/HINTS
Sample of set-up
Citing quotes/passages
Citing shakespeare
SAMPLE STUDENT WORK
COME WITH SAMPLE ESSAYS FOR OUR NEXT SESSION!