The document is an essay organizer that provides prompts and questions to help structure an essay about the Serengeti. It includes sections to brainstorm a thesis, outline three topics, write introductory and concluding paragraphs, and create a bibliography. The organizer asks the writer to focus their thesis, choose their most important topics, and use high-level language throughout. It provides checks to ensure each paragraph supports the thesis and leaves the reader satisfied.

1. ESSAY ORGANIZER Submit by Email Print Form
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Your Name Austin Shettler
Your Topic Serengeti
Type of Essay
Persuasive / Argumentative Compare / Contrast Cause / Effect Literary Analysis
Informational Interview Descriptive Evaluation Research Other
Division and Classification Narrative Definition Personal
BRAINSTORMING
Link to your Mindmap http://www.mindmeister.com/30117413/serengeti
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Thesis Statement
Need help?
I believe that... the Serengeti is the best place in the world to go and explore.
* READ - Quick Note Is your thesis narrowly focused?
You should test whether or not it is a thesis
statement by imagining the words, "I believe that" Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
before the thesis statement.
Those three words are not actually part of the
thesis statement.
Your Subtopics
Topic The geography of the Topic The wildlife in the Topic
The great migrations.
1 Serengeti. 2 Serengeti. 3
Most Important Topic / Strongest 2nd Most Important Topic 3rd Most Important Topic / Weakest
Are your topics completely different?
Are your topics interesting?

2. Topic 1 The geography of the Serengeti.
What is one good sentence
to introduce this topic to The Serengeti is a plain with high grass and is about the size of Connecticut.
your reader?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #1
The Serengeti is in Africa and is the home of the "Big Five" these are the lions,
1-5 sentences
leopards, buffalos, rhinos and the elephants.
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #2
The Serengeti is also considered one of the biggest national parks in the world there are
1-5 sentences
about 150 different kinds of animals that travel through the Serengeti.
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #3
Going to the Serengeti is probably an experience of a life time. Getting to see all the
1-5 sentences
different animals and seeing there behaviors.
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
What is one good sentence to
Everyone should go to the Serengeti also because it is one of the biggest
transition into the next paragraph?
national parks in the world.
Need a transition word?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?

3. Topic 2 The wildlife in the Serengeti.
What is one good sentence
to introduce this topic to What is the wildlife like in the Serengeti?
your reader?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #1
In the Serengeti they have said that the most commonly seen animals are the Zebras,
1-5 sentences
Lions, Giraffes, Cheetahs and Hyenas.
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #2 Other animals that you can see at different times of the year are the crested porcupine, the
1-5 sentences crocodile, crowned crane, elephants and different kinds of monkeys. This is the small
Need a transition word? portion of the how many animals move through the area each day.
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #3 As far as we can tell as of right now there are about 150 different species of animals that
1-5 sentences migrate through the Serengeti at different times of the year. For people that like animals
Need a transition word? would love this area to see how graceful the animal is and you can also visit different
areas at different times.
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
What is one good sentence to
Now if you don't think that visiting the Serengeti would be fun then you
transition into the next paragraph?
are crazy.
Need a transition word?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?

4. Topic 3 The great migrations.
What is one good sentence
to introduce this topic to Another thing that would be sweet to see would be the different migrations.
your reader?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #1
It has been said that 1.5million wildebeests migrate through the Serengeti all at one
1-5 sentences
time. They have also said it is to be known as the "Greatest Show On Earth".
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #2
1-5 sentences At different times of the year different animals migrate through the Serengeti.
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Support #3
1-5 sentences Another interesting fact of the Serengeti is that there are hippo and crocodile pools
Need a transition word?
Source
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Is the information arranged from less important to most important?
Does every sentence help support your topic?
Does this information get you a step closer to proving your thesis?
Do you provide sentences of different lengths and complexities in this paragraph?

5. Introduction Paragraph
Need help?
Ask yourself
1) How can I get my reader's attention?
2) Imagine your reader knows nothing about your topic. What background information could I give my reader about
my topic?
3) Why should the reader care to know this information?
4) What is it you are trying to prove?
Attention Getter
1 Sentence Did you know that the Serengeti has 3,000 lions and 7,000 hyenas alone?
Need help?
What was your attention getter? A Question A Quick Story An Interesting Fact A Quote
A Shocking Statistic An Unusual Statement Other
Background Information
2-5 Sentences
- Introduce your topic, but not
The Serengeti has one of the oldest ecosystems on earth. Over two million
your thesis
species migrate to the Serengeti along with animals that you can find there all
- Provide insider details that
year. This place is 5,700 square miles of the worlds most famous wildlife.
would help your reader better
Which is another reason to visit and explore.
understand your topic, without
providing information you are
discussing in your support.
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Why should your reader care?
Complete this sentence..
It is important that you read this The Serengeti is a beautiful place to explore and learn about wildlife. If your
essay because... interested in animals and how they act in their environment you should visit
*Read - Quick Note
"It is important that you read this essay because" the Serengeti.
is a way to help you word this sentence and those
9 words should not be copied and pasted into
your essay.
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Thesis Statement
(paste the one you already The Serengeti is the best place in the world to go and explore.
wrote on page 1)
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Did you avoid referring to yourself or your reader directly?
Would you want to read your paper after reading your introduction?

6. Conclusion Paragraph
Need help?
A conclusion should...
1) Include a brief summary of the paper's main points.
2) Suggest results or consequences
3) Leave a lasting impression
Restate your thesis in
a fresh, new way
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Summarize / Reflect / Give
Final thoughts on Topic 1
1-3 Sentences
Need a transition word?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Summarize / Reflect / Give
Final thoughts on Topic 2
1-3 Sentences
Need a transition word?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Summarize / Reflect / Give
Final thoughts on Topic 3
1-3 Sentences
Need a transition word?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
Final Thought
1 Sentence
-Contains vivid language
-Compound or Complex sentence
-Leave a lasting impression
-Sums up your essay in one
incredible sentence
Need a transition word?
Is your language at a high-level? What does high-level language mean?
QUICK PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST
Did you avoid referring to yourself or your reader directly?
Did you feel your conclusion leaves the reader satisfied and impressed?

7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Copy and Paste your citations you created using Easybib
You will be able to copy and paste this onto your Bibliography page.
Citations
in
Alphabetical
Order
Paragraph Organization- Copy and Paste your sentences in the correct order
Paragraph 1- Introduction Paragraph 3 - Body Paragraph 2 Paragraph 5 - Conclusion
- Attention Getter - Topic Introduction - Thesis Restatement
- Background Information - Support 1 - Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 1
- Why should we care sentence - Support 2 - Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 2
- Thesis Statement - Support 3 - Summarize/Reflect/Final - Topic 3
- Transition - Strong Final Thought
Paragraph 2 - Body Paragraph 1
Paragraph 4 - Body Paragraph 3 Final page - Bibliography
- Topic Introduction - On a new page
- Support 1 - Topic Introduction - Titled - Bibliography
- Support 2 - Support 1 - Use citations created from Easybib
- Support 3 - Support 2 - MLA Format
- Transition - Support 3 - Alphabetized
Before you submit checklist
Is your paper in Time New Roman font? Do you proofread at least 3 times?
Do you use 12 pt font and double space? Has someone other than you read this paper?
Do I spell everything correctly? Did I put everything in my own words to avoid plagiarism?
Did I check all punctuation and capitalization? Have I done my best?
Did I rid my essay of unnecessary qualifiers like "Really" "Just" "Sort of" "Like" and "So"
Do you get rid of BABY WORDS and use a thesaurus to enhance your language?
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