NASA Spin off Essay Directions
Step One: After reading the NASA 2019 Spin off material that is posted in Module One, choose only one of the 2019 spin offs as the topic for your essay.
Step Two: On your own, find out as much as you can about the one spin off you have chosen. You can use NASA.gov and/or Google.
Step Three: Create an outline for your essay so you can plan what you want to tell the reader about the spin off you have chosen. You will need to have three important details about the spin off to make the body of your essay. See the example below:
- Introductory paragraph: In this paragraph, you will introduce the topic of your essay to the reader and it will include your thesis statement.
- First body paragraph: In this paragraph, you will discuss one of the details about your topic.
- Second body paragraph: In this paragraph, you will discuss one of the details about your topic.
- Third body paragraph: In this paragraph, you will discuss one of the details about your topic.
- Conclusion: In this paragraph, you will add a final thought to your essay about the topic you chose.
Outline for a Five-Paragraph Essay
Paragraph 1: Introduction
The introductory paragraph should include the following elements: Background information: Enough information necessary for your reader to understand your topic Thesis statement: Indicates your paper’s topic, makes your paper’s purpose clear, and provides an overview of the three main supporting points that will unify the essay. The thesis statement is typically the last sentence. If you are writing in response to a text, the introduction should include the title,author, and genre of that piece.
Paragraph 2:Body Paragraph
Begins with a topic sentence that identifies one main idea that will be discussed as support or proof for the thesis statement
Supporting sentences use specific details, demonstrated through closely related examples or evidence, to expand and explain the main idea.
Generally, a well-developed paragraph has at least five to eight sentences. Paragraph unity means that all ideas in a paragraph are closely related to its topic sentence and further develop that topic sentence.
That is, all sentences in a single paragraph must be unified around a central point or idea.
Paragraph 3:Body Paragraph
This paragraph, and any subsequent body paragraph, should begin with a topic sentence that signals the reader that a new idea or point is being introduced.
As you organize your essay, keep in mind its coherence.
Coherence refers to connections among paragraphs and ideas—the logical sequence of your thoughts.
Use transition words or phrases at the outset of your body paragraphs and to move from one idea to another within your paragraphs.
Have you transitioned logically from the main idea in the previous paragraph to this one?
Are you making clear connections among the paragraphs and ideas? Be sure to think about coherence during the revision stage of the writing process.
Paragraph 4:Body Paragraph
This paragraph begins with the final topic sentence that relates back to the remaining point mentioned in the thesis statement.
Each paragraph should contain a new main idea.
Again, flesh out this main idea with specific examples, details, and relevant support. Be sure to maintain paragraph unity. That is, each sentence must relate to your topic sentence.
Paragraph 5:Conclusion
The conclusion revisits your overall purpose for writing and often invites your reader to consider the implications of why your ideas are significant.
The conclusion may restate the thesis, summarize the paper’s major points, or leave the reader with a final thought to ponder.
If you choose to restate the thesis or summarize the essay’s main ideas, do not repeat the same wording from the introduction or body paragraphs.
Remember not to introduce new, unrelated ideas in the conclusion.
