Lesson 3

Lesson Goals

Texts

Materials

Tools

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• Vocabulary Journal

Reference Guides

• Argument Reference Guide
• Claims Reference Guide
• Connecting Ideas Reference Guide
• Organization Reference Guide

Editable Google Docs

• Mentor Sentence Journal

• Vocabulary Journal

Activity 1: Read

We will begin the process of writing a paragraph to get our ideas flowing and will incorporate our preliminary thesis sentence at the end of the paragraph.

Step 1

We will review our previous notes and tools and ask the following questions as we begin drafting the first paragraph of the essay in completion of the unit’s Culminating Task:

1. How do I introduce my audience to the task at hand? What do they need to know in order to understand what I intend to say?

2. Is there any background information they may need? Definitions of terms? A bit of history? A meaningful quotation? Something else?

3. Who is my audience? Is it only my teacher? Is it a general audience? A specialized readership?

4. How will knowing my audience affect what I say in the first paragraph and the remainder of the essay?

5. How can I lead into and set the stage for my central claim about how photojournalism highlights and defines important moments in history and culture?

Step 2

Review your Vocabulary Journal. Identify a significant word or words that you would like to use in your response to the Culminating Task.

Review your Mentor Sentence Journal. Select at least one technique that you plan to use when writing your response to the Culminating Task.

Activity 2: Write

We will begin the introductory paragraph by writing a topic sentence.

Write a preliminary topic sentence for your first paragraph, also known as the hook. Hooks are usually—but not always—the first sentence of a paragraph and draw the reader in. They often answer a why, how, or where question.

Consider expressing a compelling idea or quotation about photojournalism (definition, description, claim, etc.) that builds toward your thesis statement as you introduce the topic.

Activity 3: Write

We will draft the introductory paragraph of the essay for the Culminating Task, bookending it with the topic sentence we wrote as a hook and the preliminary thesis statement, which will serve as our overall main idea for the essay.

Ensure your first paragraph does the following:

• begins with a lead hook to catch the reader’s interest

• explains your purpose and introduces the topic (You might choose to frame the prompt you are addressing here.)

• provides any necessary background information for your thesis statement or central claim

• presents your thesis statement or central claim (the rest of the paper will consistently relate back to this statement)

Activity 4: Discuss – Write

We will generate some peer and teacher feedback on the paragraph we wrote, including the topic sentence and thesis statement, as we work to improve our writing process.

First, share your paragraph with a partner. As you share, consider the following questions and make constructive notes for yourself and your partner about ways to improve your paragraphs:

1. Does the hook generate interest? How so? If not, what might the writer do to improve it?

2. Do the interior sentences of the introductory paragraph connect and build toward the thesis? Are they specific enough without being too technical or requiring citation?

3. Is the thesis statement specific? What makes it specific? In other words, how does it lend itself to interpretation, or how is it vague or simply a statement of fact? Does it answer the prompt? How so?

Make any revisions to your paragraph based on your partner’s feedback.