“The cat lying on the remaining space of the desk eclipsed any visible place to work. Bills, documents, books, and crates littered the desk as if an eruption of lava from Mt. St. Helen’s changed the topography of forest where pristine land used to lie. On the answering machine, the red blinking light kept its insistent glare on the woman trying to find focused thought in a land of confusion. Unanswered calls. Misplaced papers. A to do list never done. Does this sound familiar? If so, you are one of thousands who do not have the skills to get organized. And, although a messy desk might not sound so detrimental, think of all of things one could get accomplished if papers were filed correctly, if phone calls were answered because there was no visible confusion on the desk, and all of the checkmarks one may be able to check because the to-do list was the only thing lying visible on the table. Organization is essential in being able to complete everyday tasks. Not losing things, having an area in which you can work, and being able to clearly see what needs to be accomplished through scheduling appointments properly are all things that are the promising effects of getting organization down.” What you see prior to this sentence is a well-developed introductory paragraph to a fictional essay. It includes an enticing opening, a clear thesis, and an organizational sentence. Most of the elements of what is listed are missing in a good majority of student papers. Here are some things to keep in mind when your student is writing an introductory paragraph:
· Starting an introductory paragraph should absolutely not start with the student’s thesis sentence. Think of the best conversation that you’ve had with a good friend: it starts out slowly and steadily, details from each friend are filled in, and then, it builds to a satisfying crescendo where the start, the middle, and the end have all been properly executed.
· There is no place for “wishy-washy” in the introductory paragraph, especially when writing the all-important thesis statement. Graders of essays – English teachers and SAT graders alike – don’t want any guess work in what the student is trying to express. It should be clear and concise. Points are deducted, if not.
· Organization really is key: Although essays are not like stories, where there is a seeming start, middle, and finish, there is an ordered structure to an essay, and it is a criteria for grading.
The best thing you can do for your child is to be aware of what teachers expect. Talk to your child’s teachers, and find out when papers are due, what the expectations are, and what you can do to help. If you do all of these things, the clutter of confusion that surround Mt. St. Academics will be cleared away, and you’ll have nothing but clear skies and sunshine.
Melissa Loukas
Excellence in Academics Tutoring, LLC.
"We work with parents, so their children excel."
480.882.8933
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