Handout
Curated OER

Thesis Statement + Projected Plan = Introduction

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Set up your writers for writing strong introductions with a formula for putting together supported thesis statements. This reference page breaks the process down and provides an example of how to compose a thesis statement, develop a...
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San José State University

Organizational Patterns for the Comparison/Contrast Essay

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Organization is key in essay writing. The two organizational charts included in this resource model the block approach and the point-by-point approach to organizing a compare and contrast style essay. After examining the...
Lesson Plan
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MENSA Education & Research Foundation

The Writer’s Toolbox: What You Need to Master the Craft

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Strengthen your high schoolers' writing with a series of steps for writing successfully. With sections on organizing an essay, choosing a topic, crafting a thesis statement, and revising a draft, the instructional activity encourages...
Handout
San José State University

Essay Outline Template

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Inspire essay organization with this handout and exercise about outlining. Writers read through a brief outline model and then practice writing their own outline by completing a second model. Scholars not only complete the outline, they...
Handout
Anchorage School District

“Dressing Up” an Introduction

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Are your pupils ready to move beyond a thesis statement by adding additional detail to their introductory paragraphs? Provide this handout to give your class some ideas for spiffing up their work. The page includes a sample paragraph...
Handout
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Waterford Union High School

Writing the Persuasive Essay

For Students 6th - 12th
An excellent, in-depth resource would be an asset to your unit on writing an argument essay. It provides an explanation to each part of the essay as well as examples of transition words to strengthen your kids' writing. Additionally, the...
Handout
Curated OER

Persuasive Essay

For Teachers 7th - 10th Standards
Next time you assign your young historians to write a persuasive essay, use this document as a starting point and support them with a rubric, tips for writing a successful persuasive piece, and a general essay outline.
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Odegaard Writing & Research Center

Strong Body Paragraphs

For Students 6th - 12th
Here's a handy, seven-step guide to crafting good paragraphs in support of a claim. The steps are clearly explained and examples provided.
Handout
Cambridge Rindge & Latin School

Cambridge Rindge & Latin School: Writing a Thesis Statement

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An excellent tip sheet for creating and perfecting a thesis statement. Also includes information about statement of purpose and examples.
Handout
Capital Community College Foundation

Guide to Grammar and Writing: The Thesis Statement

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of a thesis statement and how it is used in an essay.
Handout
University of Sydney (Australia)

The Write Site: Constructing a Working Thesis

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Students will find a thorough definition of a thesis. Non-examples of thesis statements are also provided.
Handout
Harvard University

Harvard College Writing Center: Developing a Thesis

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Superbly written explanation of thesis development. Use the links on the right to work through the writing process.
Handout
Harvard University

Harvard University: Strategies for Essay Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This website provides a series of links to detailed information about each segment of how to write an academic essay from how to read the assignment to the final edits. Use the links to the right. W.9-10.1a claims/intro/org, W.9-10.2a...
Handout
University of Wisconsin

Univ. Of Wisconsin Madison: Writing Center: Thesis and Purpose Statements

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Explains the thesis statement and distinguishes it from the purpose statement. Gives an example of a paragraph containing both. Be sure try the link at the bottom of the page, "Developing a Thesis Statement." This page goes into further...
Handout
University of Victoria (Canada)

The U Vic Writer's Guide: Writing Essays: The Statement of Your Thesis

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Brief explanation of the thesis statement, followed by examples of faulty and improved thesis statements.
Handout
W. W. Norton

W.w. Norton & Company: Elements of the Essay: Thesis

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An explanation and examples of interpretive claims and evaluative claims in a thesis statement. Click on list on the right for more information about elements of the essay.
Handout
Capital Community College Foundation

Guide to Grammar and Writing: The Five Paragraph Essay

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Explains what each paragraph of the five-paragraph essay, should do. Then gives a side-by-side analysis of a sample essay, pointing out aspects of the introduction and thesis statement, the paragraph-by-paragraph development, and the...
Handout
City University of New York

College of Staten Island Library: How to Write an Essay

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Resource defines what an essay is, the parts of an essay and their functions, and also discusses the editing process and how important it is to check a draft for completeness and high quality. Includes a link to an online guide to citing...
Handout
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University

Purdue University Owl: Expository Essays

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An explanation of an expository essay and its structure: thesis statement, logic transitions, introduction, body, conclusion, support, and creativity.
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Other

Livingston: Basic Guide to Essay Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This tutorial lists and discusses the steps to writing a good essay and provides a downloadable guide. It also allows you to view a sample essay. W.11-12.2a Intro/Format
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W. W. Norton

W. W. Norton: Writing Process: Using Research to Refine and Test a Thesis

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Information about using research to refine and test a thesis.
Handout
Capital Community College Foundation

Guide to Grammar and Writing: Principles of a Composition

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Writing a Paper? Here at the Capital Community College is everything you could ever ask for while preparing your essay. This site includes the writing process, structure, thesis statement, transitions, the computer as a writing...
Handout
University of Sydney (Australia)

University of Sydney: Planning the Overall Structure

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This resource discusses the steps in planning the structure of a student's argumentative essay. Page 4 of this article focuses on Thesis statement.
Handout
San Jose State University

San Jose State: Writing a Winning Statement of Purpose [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
How do you write a winning statement of purpose? This is a clear and comprehensive explanation of how to approach and write an essay from the San Jose State University. Practice exercises are given at the end.