1.

ESSAY

A piece of writing that files your thoughts
(commentary) about a subject.  All essays you
will write this quarter will have at least 4 paragraphs:
an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a concluding 
paragraph.

2.

INTRODUCTION
(also called the 
introductory paragraph)

The first paragraph in an essay.  It includes the thesis,
most often at the end.

3.

BODY
PARAGRAPH

A middle paragraph in an essay.  It develops a point
you want to make that supports your thesis.

4.

CONCLUDING 
PARAGRAPH
(also called the conclusion)

The last paragraph in your essay.  It may sum up your
ideas, reflect on what you said in your essay, say more
commentary about your subject, or give a personal
statement about the subject.

Your conclusion is all commentary and does not include
concrete detail.  It does not repeat key words form 
your paper and especially not from your thesis and introductory
paragraph.  It gives a finished feeling to your whole essay.

5.

THESIS

A sentence with a subject and opinion (also called
commentary).  This comes somewhere in your introductory
paragraph and most often at the end.

6.

PRE - WRITING

The process of getting your concrete details down on paper
before you organize your essay into paragraphs.  You can use
any or all of the following: bubble cluster, spider diagrams,
outlines, line clustering, or columns.

7.

CONCRETE DETAILS
(CD)

Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body
paragraphs.  Synonyms for concrete detail include facts,
specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof,
evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot references.

8.

COMMENTARY
(CM)

Your opinion or comment about something; not concrete
detail.  Synonyms include opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation,
inference, personal response, feeling, evaluation, explication, and reflection. 

9.

TOPIC SENTENCE

The first sentence in a body paragraph.  This must have a
subject and opinion (commentary) for the paragraph.  It does
the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for
the whole essay.

10.

CONCLUDING 
SENTENCE

The last sentence in a body paragraph.  It is all 
commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives 
a finished feeling to the paragraph.

11.

SHAPING THE ESSAY

The step that is done after prewriting and 
before the first draft of and essay;  it is an outline 
of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, 
and commentary ideas.

12.

FIRST DRAFT

The first version of your essay 
(also called the rough draft).

13.

FINAL DRAFT

The final version of your essay.

14.

PEER RESPONSE

Written responses and reactions to a partner's paper.

15.

CHUNK

One sentence of concrete detail and 2 sentences of
commentary.  It is the smallest unified group of 
thoughts that you can write.

16.

WEAVING

Blending concrete details and commentary in a body
paragraph.  You can do this after you master the format.

17.

RATIO

The ration of 1 part concrete detail (CD) to 
2+ parts commentary (CM).

18.

WORD COUNTS

The minimum length per paragraph to earn a " C."