MELCon Changing students writing one paragraph at a

MEL-Con: Changing students’ writing one paragraph at a time

Objectives – Explain the basic format of MEL-Con paragraphs. – View student-authored MEL-Con paragraphs. – Practice writing a MEL-Con paragraph

Introduction What the heck is MEL-Con? ■ Why should I care about MEL-Con? ■ What happens if I REFUSE to use MELCon? ■

The Building Blocks of MEL-Con M = Main Idea (topic sentence) ■ E = Evidence (support, example, proof) ■ L = Link (explains how support proves main idea) ■ ■ Con = Concluding Sentence (summarizes main idea and evidence)

Writing Main Ideas ■ What is a main idea? – The first sentence of a paragraph (topic sentence) – Answers the question or responds to the prompt.

Prompt: Should Beach Park Middle School students have to write MEL-Con paragraphs? Main Idea: –Beach Park Middle School students should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs. OR –Beach Park Middle School students should not have to write MEL-Con paragraphs.

Writing Transitions and Evidence ■ Transitions: – Each piece of evidence should begin with a transition. ▪ think Drake: they add flow ▪ something that connects one piece of information to another ▪ introduces new information

Writing Transitions and Evidence ■Evidence: –Something to support the main idea ▪evidence (Support/Examples/Proof/Direct Quote) ▪at least three pieces of evidence per paragraph

Beach Park Middle School students should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs. To begin, writing MEL-Con paragraphs helps students organize and focus their ideas.

Writing Links You must have a link for each piece of evidence. ■ Links must fully explain how evidence proves the main idea. ■ – One link is always at least 2 sentences. ▪ Sentence one should further explain the example or provide more specific details. ▪ Sentence two should explain how the evidence supports or proves the main idea. – How many links will you have in one paragraph if you must have 3 pieces of evidence? – How many sentences?

Beach Park Middle school students should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs. To begin, writing MEL-Con paragraphs helps students organize and focus their ideas. By using the MEL-Con format, students will use specific examples to support their argument and will be less likely to diverge from their main idea. By focusing their argument, students will effectively communicate their position, which is an important component of all writing.

TOGETHER AS A CLASS…. In your packet, fill in the outline with 2 more pieces of evidence and 4 more links.

Transition 2: In addition, Evidence 2: writing MEL-Con paragraphs can help students throughout their high school career. Link 2: In high school students will be required to write MEL-Con paragraphs in each of their classes. When students head to high school they’ll already have experience with MEL-Con writing and by the time they are done with their high school career they will not struggle with thinking logically and communicating.

Transition 3: Furthermore, Evidence 3: students who use the MEL-Con format will have a better vocabulary and become better writers. Link 3: Using MEL-Con format requires students to write using details and descriptive terms which increases their vocabulary. When students get older there will be a greater need for using detail and extended responses.

Writing Concluding Sentences The final part of your perfect body paragraph ■ Should restate the main idea in a different way and include a summary of the evidence ■ One sentence long ■

Beach Park Middle school students should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs. To begin, writing MEL-Con paragraphs helps students organize and focus their ideas. By using the MELCon format, students will use specific examples to support their argument and will be less likely to diverge from their main idea. By focusing their argument, students will effectively communicate their position, which is an important component of all writing. (ADD 2 MORE PIECES OF EVIDENCE AND 4 LINKS) In conclusion, Beach Park Middle School students should have to write MEL-Con paragraphs because it helps them organize their thoughts, improve their vocabulary, and helps them throughout their high school career.

At least how many sentences should be in a basic MEL-Con Paragraph?

Annotations for your MEL-Con Highlight the main idea. Place ( ) around the transitions. ■ Underline the evidence. ■ Place a box around the links. ■ Place a star next to the concluding sentence. ■ ■

Your Turn… Writing Prompt: Should Beach Park Middle School students be required to complete summer reading?