Part 1 (Practice Outline)

Using the format we discussed in our Lessons this week, please create a practice outline. Since we are only practicing organization here, let’s keep the topic choices simple: your favorite (or least favorite) TV show or movie, your favorite (or least favorite) holiday, or another similar topic. If you prefer to choose your own topic, please Message me your idea for approval. See my example below.

Essay Title: Ghost Adventures

PARAGRAPH ONE

Introduction Details:

Open with various TV genres that I enjoy (examples: vintage TV shows, news, movie channels).

My favorite genre is suspense, particularly the show Ghost Adventures.

Thesis Statement:

Ghost Adventures is my favorite TV shows because of the investigators, the paranormal theme, and the locations they visit.

PARAGRAPH TWO

Topic Sentence (with a transition word):

First, I tune in to Ghost Adventures because I enjoy watching the investigators.

Supporting Details:

Discuss Zac, Nick, and Aaron (original members)

Mention support staff and new members

PARAGRAPH THREE

Topic Sentence (with a transition word):

Additionally, the paranormal theme of Ghost Adventures is intriguing.

Supporting Details:

Purpose of show is to prove that ghosts exist

High-tech equipment (examples)

Ghost sightings and audio evidence

PARAGRAPH FOUR

Topic Sentence (with a transition word):

Finally, the crew of Ghost Adventures travels to many exciting locations.

Supporting Details:

Places: Hotels, old buildings, houses, etc.

Specific cities: Salem, Los Angeles, Gettysburg

PARAGRAPH FIVE

Thesis restated in a slightly different way:

For many reasons, Ghost Adventures is my favorite television show.

Concluding Thoughts:

Paranormal theme

Investigators

Locations

Looking forward to many more seasons

Part 2 (Practice Outline)

Now pick ONE paragraph from your outline and fully develop it. You may use first person, if you wish, but avoid second person (you). Do not use sources. Write five to eight well developed sentences and no less than 100 words. See below for an example.

Below is my completed fourth paragraph.

Finally, the crew of Ghost Adventures travels to many exciting locations. It is always so much fun to start an episode and find out what and where the crew will be investigating. For example, they investigate hotels, houses, prisons, hospitals, and basically any location that is rumored to be haunted. My personal favorite episode is when they investigate a house a few doors down from where some of the Manson murders occurred. Also, they are willing to travel all over the world and have been to cities such as Salem, Massachusetts; Los Angeles, California; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and to countries overseas, like England and Ireland. No matter where they go or what type of structure they investigate, every episode is sure to be exciting and full of ghostly adventures!

Part 3

Assignment Instructions

This week, you will write your first essay. Please develop the ideas you began in the forum area this week into a full essay. Use the three-part thesis and five-paragraph essay format you learned this week under Lessons.

(Example thesis: Ghost Adventures is my favorite TV shows because of the investigators, the paranormal theme, and the locations they visit.) Tip: TV or movie titles should be put in italics.

Do not use sources or include research for this essay. We are practicing organization this week, and this essay should be strictly your own writing.

Please do not let anyone else write or revise your writing. My job is to help you improve YOUR writing. I can only do that if you let me see your mistakes. I am not interested in how well someone else writes. I want to help YOU!

(Hint: if you are struggling, there are tutoring opportunities listed on our Syllabus. This is an appropriate route for acquiring help with your writing. You may contact me for help anytime too!)

Download the template and save it as your last name and Essay 1 (Example: Smith_Essay1). The MLA formatting is done for you (e.g., Times New Roman size 12, double-spaced, header, etc.). Update your name, your professor’s name, and date. Don’t forget to put your last name in the header. (Let me know if you don’t know how to get into the header section or type a question into your Word help section.)

Your essay should be between 500 and 750 words. Please do not go under the word count at all. Do not go over the word count by more than 50 words. Following instructions is an important part of any writing assignment, and often you will be asked to adhere to word count guidelines, so this is good practice!

Be sure that all paragraphs are well developed. I suggest 5-8 sentences per paragraph and no less than 100 words per paragraph, including your introduction and conclusion.

(Points saver: as you proof your essay in Word, hit the control [ctrl] key and the “F” key at the same time. This will bring up the search feature. Type in what you wish to find, such as the word you, to be sure you have avoided second person. This works in finding contractions too. Type in an apostrophe and hit enter!)