Name________________________________Date____________Period___________

Exemplary Student Writing

OVERVIEW: Congratulations on submitting your essay! As exciting as it may feel to be
finished, the writing process is never over. The best writers treat their writing as
dynamic, changing entities that constantly evolve into something better. As such, today
we are going to continue looking at what good writing looks like. Below are three
paragraphs. These paragraphs were chosen from the essays you and your classmates
submitted. While writing is never perfect, these paragraphs are exemplary work.
SWBAT: Evaluate exemplary student writing in order to further understand the writing
process.

DIRECTIONS: Underline/highlight/bracket the following pieces of an introduction:

Hook, Context, Thesis. Then, complete the following sentences.
Exemplary Work: Introduction Paragraph
People are not always as they seem, that is why you have to take a closer look. In a
small town called Maycomb, located in Alabama, you have to grasp to the idea that the
closer you look the more truth you will find. Sometimes the truth is far different from
what you expected. In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee shows the theme of
appearance vs. reality through the characters of Boo Radley and Mr.Raymond, in order
to show how people can appear one way but are really different. In contrast, the author
uses Atticus Finch to show how some people strive to appear as they really are.
The hook is strong because_______________________________________________.
The context is strong because _____________________________________________.
The thesis is strong because______________________________________________.

DIRECTIONS: Underline/highlight/bracket the following pieces of a T.E.X.A.S.

body paragraph: Topic Sentence, Explanation of Topic Sentence, eXample
1

(quote), Analysis of Quote, and Summary Sentence.

Exemplary Work: Body Paragraph
One lesson Atticus teaches Jem and Scout, is that all men were created equal. He
especially expresses this at the trial, when he is defending a black man. He states, you
know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral,
some Negro men are not to be trusted around women-white or black. But this is a truth
that applies to the human race and to no particular race of men (p.273). Essentially this
quote says all men lie, all men are immoral and some are not to be trusted around
women. This shows all men are created equal because their race is not a factor in the
way they act and what they do. Jem and Scout realize that all men are created equal.
The topic sentence is strong because_______________________________________.
The explanation is strong because _________________________________________.
The example quote is strong because_______________________________________.
The analysis is strong because____________________________________________.
The summary sentence is strong because____________________________________.

DIRECTIONS: Underline/highlight/bracket the following pieces of an conclusion:

Restate Thesis, Connection to Modern Today.
Exemplary Work: Conclusion Paragraph
(Thesis from introduction: In the novel, Atticus teaches his children life lessons about
courage, empathy and tolerance.)
Courage, empathy, and tolerance are important lessons that Atticus teaches his
children. His lessons are relevant today because you need all three aspects in order to
be a police officer. You need tolerance and empathy to have the courage to stop the
wrongful doings in society. His lessons also relate to police brutality because in todays
society police brutality occurs because there is a lack of empathy which allows people
to be intolerant towards others. Police brutality can be stopped by other officers, but it
takes that one person to consider things from others point of view and climb into their
skin and walk around in it.
The restatement of the thesis is strong because_______________________________.
The connection to modern day is strong because ______________________________.