4 square holiday

Four-Square Four-Square

OrganizationOrganization

Mack Gipson, Jr.Tutorial and Enrichment Center

Gayla S. Keesee, Education Specialist

What is your favorite holiday?

Describe what you like to do on this holiday, who you like to be with at that time, and why you

enjoy this holiday so much.

Structure of an Structure of an EssayEssay

Introduction Must contain a thesis

statement Must catch the reader’s

attention

Body Paragraphs Provide evidence

3 levels supporting details

Conclusion Provides closure

Summarizes main points Makes connections

Thesis StatementThesis Statement

Thesis sentence 1. Topic

What the essay is about

2. Controlling idea Must be provable

Hawaii is the best vacation spot.Dress codes should be banned.My favorite food is shrimp.

3. May also reference the three supporting details

Body ParagraphsBody Paragraphs

Supporting Details Level 1: Topic Sentence

Controlling sentences name and control the topic

Level 2: Clarifying Sentences

Help make the topic clearer—explain

Level 3: Completing sentences

Add specific details that explain or describe the topic

From Broad to From Broad to SpecificSpecific

Animals (essay level)

Dogs (paragraph level)

Poodles (clarifying)

Fifi (completing)

List holidays

Circle top three choices

Choose one

Brainstorm memories

Fold your paper into four squares.

Darken in the lines.

To To begin…begin…

Write your basic thesis statement above the line in the middle to remind you of what you will be proving.

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

Now we have to answer the question—Why?

Provide reasons, examples, incidents, facts/statistics to support our thesis.

Feeling of Gratitude

Friends and Family

Food

Basic Thesis Statement (because) + the three reasons, examples, facts, or incidents in Box 1 of each section

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because I enjoy visiting with family and friends, devouring the delicious food, and expressing a feeling of gratitude.


Alternative wordsAlternative words Favorite

Prefer Nothing better Crazy about Enjoy Partial to Desire

Food Meal Repast Cuisine Menu Dishes

Gratitude Thanks Thankfulness Appreciation Gratefulness

Family Relatives Cousins Aunts, uncles Brothers, sisters

Delicious Tasty Mouth-watering Yummy Appetizing

Thesis statement:Thesis statement:My favorite holiday is My favorite holiday is

Thanksgiving.Thanksgiving.

Topic Sentence:Topic Sentence:My favorite holiday is My favorite holiday is


First, Thanksgiving affords me the gift of gathering with friends and family members.

Thanksgiving is not only an excellent time to enjoy friends and family members, but it is also a wonderful time to eat.

Most importantly, I love Thanksgiving because I take time to reflect on my life and express gratitude for my abundance.

In summary, I cannot think of a better holiday than Thanksgiving.


-relatives

-gifts I have—others lack

-nature

-celebrate on Friday

-visiting

-activities

-traditional foods

-guests’ foods

-late night feast


Family & friends

Delicious food

Now we need to clarify what we mean by each reason.

In other words, why/how are the family/friends, food, and feeling of gratitude special?

Paint a picture with Paint a picture with wordswords

Paint a picture with Paint a picture with wordswords


-relativesMother—salt & pepper

shakersGrandmother—pitcher Sister—blue serving dish

-gifts I have—others lack Joyful workAbundant food Shelter of a houseWarm clothing

-natureFloral arrangementsBeauty

-celebrate on Friday 25-30 peopleSister & familyFriends across country

-visitingConversations GossipExchange photos

-activitiesTelling storiesPlay guitar/pianoSing songs/hymnsGamesStroll around neighborhood

-traditional foodsTurkey, dressing, cranberry

sauce, and giblet gravyVegetables--green bean

casserole, turnip greens, lima beans

-guests’ foodsPiesCakesCookies

-late night feastBread and gravyTear into pieces, cover

w/gravy, heat in microwave


Family & friends

Delicious food

Be Specific! Paint a Picture with Words

Names, dates, numbers, colors, sensory details, comparisons, vivid verbs


-relativesMother—salt & pepper

shakersGrandmother—pitcher Sister—blue serving dish

-gifts I have—others lack Joyful workAbundant food Shelter of a houseWarm clothing

-natureFloral arrangementsBeauty

-celebrate on Friday 25-30 peopleSister & familyFriends across country

-visitingConversations GossipExchange photos

-activitiesTelling storiesPlay guitar/pianoSing songs/hymnsGamesStroll around neighborhood

-traditional foodsTurkey, dressing, cranberry

sauce, and giblet gravyVegetables--green bean

casserole, turnip greens, lima beans

-guests’ foodsPiesCakesCookies

-late night feastBread and gravyTear into pieces, cover

w/gravy, heat in microwave


Family & friends

Delicious food

Connect Paragraphs

• First

• Not only…but also

• Most importantly

• In summary

Connect Ideas Within the Paragraphs

• Also

• For example

• After, late at night, as, final

Topic Sentence:Topic Sentence:My favorite holiday is My favorite holiday is


First, Thanksgiving affords me the gift of gathering with friends and family members. For example, we always gather on the Friday

after Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is not only an excellent time to enjoy friends and family members, but it is also a wonderful time to eat. In other words, I can devour many traditional

foods and desserts that are only served at Thanksgiving.

Most importantly, I love Thanksgiving because I take time to reflect on my life and express gratitude for my abundance. Specifically, I am grateful for my relatives,

special gifts I have received, and the beauty of nature.

In summary, I cannot think of a better holiday than Thanksgiving.