Claim 1 sentence The claim clearly creates an

Claim (1 sentence) The claim clearly creates an argument about the best POSITIVE WORD that can be used to describe humans’ and nature’s relationship with each other. Use the same positive word from thesis. The claim connects to Harris’s experience on the Mississippi River in the memoir Mississippi Solo. Example: Harris’s experience on the Mississippi River proves that humans’ positive experiences with nature can best be described as peaceful.

Evidence (2 -3 sentences) The evidence is a strong quote from Mississippi Solo. The evidence clearly supports the positive word that you used in the claim to describe humans’ and nature’s complex relationship with one another. Harris claims, “The river was like that to me. A comfortable buddy sharing a lazy day” (Harris, 1988, p. 138). Type in evidence correctly to avoid a no pass!

Explanation (3 -4 sentences minimum) Step 1: Summarize the evidence in your own words (paraphrase). Step 2: Explain HOW the evidence shows a positive relationship between humans and nature based on the word you used in your claim. Example: Explain how Harris’s experience on the Mississippi River shows that nature can be a protective environment for humans. Remember that you are making an argument! Your goal is to persuade the reader that this is the BEST positive word to describe humans’ and nature’s relationship.

CEEL Paragraphs - Explanation Do • Stay on topic • Explain how the evidence supports the claim • Clarify pronoun use – he, she, they, it (Make sure the reader knows who or what the pronoun is referring to. ) • Use details from the text (evidence) to explain

CEEL Paragraphs - Explanation Do Not • Do not tell the story • Do not use “this shows”, “it shows”, “ it connects”, or “that shows” to explain • Do not use confusing pronouns (Who? What? ) • Do not use contractions (can’t, won’t, didn’t) • Do not use 1 st or 2 nd person (you, I, me, my, we, our, us) • Do not say things like “My main idea is…”, “The evidence connects to the claim because…”, “This quote means…”

Link (1 sentence) The link sums up the paragraph, connecting back to the main idea of the claim without simply repeating the claim itself. The link ends with an important final message about the topic of this paragraph.

Essay Writing Resources • Essay outline *You can also utilize any class assignments such as Say, Mean, Matter organizers that you have completed for your “nature at work” unit texts. • Essay prompt with RAFT • Mississippi Solo text • Informational research article • Power. Point on the digital agenda • Honors only = A Single Shard