### Class Summary Report
#### Title: Evaluating Essays and Strengthening Thesis Statements
In this class, we dissected student essays from a recent mock exam, focusing on thesis statements and topic sentences. The goal was to refine students’ writing skills in preparation for their upcoming real exam, emphasizing clarity and structure in essay writing.
#### Attendance:
– Number of students absent: Not specified in the transcript.
#### Topics Covered:
1. **Mock Exam Review:**
– Discussion of the mock exam results, highlighting improvements in multiple-choice scores.
– Critical evaluation of essay performance, noting areas of concern.
2. **Essay Analysis:**
– Typing and anonymizing student essays for review.
– Evaluating thesis statements and topic sentences.
– Providing feedback to students on their essay structure.
3. **Thesis Statement Workshop:**
– Reviewing the purpose and structure of a thesis statement.
– Identifying the topic and controlling ideas within thesis statements.
4. **Topic Sentence Workshop:**
– Discussing the importance and placement of topic sentences.
– Practicing the creation of clear and concise topic sentences.
5. **Feedback and Clarification:**
– Offering specific feedback on individual thesis statements from essays.
– Clarifying how to improve thesis statements and topic sentences.
#### Actionable Items:
1. **Essay Writing Strategy:**
– Students should write thesis statements and topic sentences first to guide their essays.
– Draft body paragraphs before introductions and conclusions for better essay balance.
2. **Clarity and Structure:**
– Emphasize the importance of clarity and structure in writing.
– Avoid overcomplicating thesis statements and topic sentences.
3. **Preparation for Exam:**
– Encourage students to practice writing under exam conditions.
– Remind students to review feedback on their mock exams before the real exam.
#### Homework:
– Students are to revise their essays based on the feedback provided.
– Practice writing clear and concise thesis statements and topic sentences for various prompts.
– Prepare for the real exam by writing practice essays and focusing on the structure and clarity of their arguments.