Essay Format-

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Essay Format-

• Concrete Details and Commentary Statements

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Concrete Detail (CD) stuff from the story the
what it can be quotation or paraphrase facts
examples illustrations evidence support plot
references citations What really happened in
the story? play-by-play announcer
TERMS TO KNOW-
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Commentary (CM) stuff from your head-
the so what? - words with feelings
behind them that you can describe to someone
else analysis interpretation a characters
feelings opinion inference insight reasons
color commentator
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Ratio the amount of CDCM in a
body paragraphIn Standard English, the
essay ratio is 12
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Specific details that form the backbone or
skeleton of your body paragraphsSynonyms for
concrete details include facts, examples,
quotations, specifics, descriptions,
illustrations, support, proof
What ARE concrete details?
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WHEN should concrete details be written?
-Concrete details must be included in every
essay -Include enough concrete details to
support each point (in general, three separate
details will be the minimum needed to support
one point)
WHY should concrete details be written?
-To support your thesis -To give reasons for
your audience to agree with your
position
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HOW should concrete details be written?
For beginners, include a minimum of two concrete
details to support each point you are trying
to make. Introduce your concrete detail with
transition words (workbook p.7), such as -
For example - Furthermore - Finally For
intermediate writers, include a minimum of three
concrete details for every point
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Young children are difficult to teach, but
they still like learning. Their minds have not
yet developed the necessary skills to solve
complex or even simple problems. Even so, they
live surrounded by unbounded mysteries and
wonder. We could learn about life from
children. - http//www.uoflife.com/wc/creative
/concrete.htm
Sample paragraph WITHOUT concrete details-
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Same piece WITH concrete details
Young children are difficult to teach, but
they still love learning. For example, when a
toddler will experiment with a model tool bench,
he cannot grasp that the square peg will not
fit into the round hole. He must try to fit
the peg himself, which results hours of fun. This
means that while he may not grasp a concept
quickly, he wants to understand it. Even when
they are frustrated by what they dont
understand, toddlers live surrounded by wonder.
A young child will reach out his arms to grab
everything within reach at a store, and those
objects are immediately placed in the mouth.
This shows that toddlers have incredible
curiosity. Even when they dont understand the
use for something, their instinct is to learn as
much about it as possible. These examples show a
love of knowledge that comes through
experimentation rather than formal learning.
Thesis point Concrete detail(s) Commentary
statement(s)
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Why can writing concrete details be SO HARD?
You have to have a purpose know
your thesis and understand it. Each detail you
choose should help
support that thesis You have to do some
research. If youre writing a
research paper, this is obvious.
If youre writing a literary analysis, this
means you go back to the text and look for
your specific examples.
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What concrete details ARE NOT-

• Abstract you can find them, see them, touch
  them on a page or take a photograph of them, etc.
• General you should be as specific as possible
  in your writing

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Sentence 1 -Topic Sentence TSSentence 2 CD
starts with For
exampleSentence 3 CM - (This shows
that)Sentence 4 CM (This also show
that This is because This is important
because)Sentence5 Concluding Sentence CS
Sums it up and ties back to the thesis (As a
result)
One-Chunk Body Paragraph
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Chunk Paragraph with 3 details

• Sentence 1 -Topic Sentence TS
• Sentence 2 CD 1Sentence 3 CM Sentence
  4 CM
• Sentence5 CD 2Sentence 6 CM Sentence
  7 CM
• Sentence 8- CD 3
• Sentence 9 CM Sentence 10 CM
• Sentence 11- Concluding Sentence

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• Without homework on weekends, students would
  be able to spend quality time alone. For example,
  someone could use the time to read what she likes
  to read. This could broaden her knowledge of a
  specific subject or just provide a relaxing
  activity. She could also spend time alone
  pursuing a hobby, like crafting. Personal hobbies
  enrich life and provide opportunities to do for
  others, such as creating crafted gifts for
  friends and family. In addition, time alone could
  provide a chance to catch up on much needed
  sleep- to rejuvenate mind and body. As a result
  of having time alone, a student could feel more
  positive about and be better prepared for the
  next week of school responsibilities