Begin instruction with a whole group discussion and note taking activity to review the following format for a five-paragraph essay: Introductory paragraph, with a thesis statement and three controlling ideas; the body, consisting of three paragraphs, each of which begin with a controlling idea from the introduction; the concluding paragraph, summarizing the main ideas.
Then proceed to the next stage, guiding a student-centered discussion to model and practice writing the introductory paragraph.
I remind students that a thesis statement and three controlling ideas will frame the introductory paragraph. Then I model writing the introduction, using their ideas from the discussion. First I ask students to suggest possible thesis statements that could be used for this essay. Students choose the thesis statement they will use for their essay. Next, I ask them to suggest three controlling ideas that could be used to direct the three paragraphs in the body of the essay. A finished model for this assignment might look like this:
In order for a short story or piece of literature to be considered good literature it must have several elements. First, it must have a conflict that is resolved in some way. Next, their should be character development, where at least one character changes in a significant way. Finally, the story should have a universal theme that applies to people in general. Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” has all of these elements.