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High quality essay's are written backwards. You need a [b]tree map[/b] to organize your thoughts before you start your rough draft. [b]The thesis statement you have is like an essay seed.[/b] It grows an essay. It is the main idea your entire essay will be about. {http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4001213889781767/seed_to_a_plant.jpg} To make your essay grow, make a [b]tree map[/b]. It is like the roots of your essay. Grow them! {http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4001465678841666/tree_roots.jpg} Here's an example of a [b]tree map[/b]: {http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4092709251446751/thesis_statement_tree_map.jpg}

What's A Tree Map?

[h1]How to make your tree map: [/h1] 1st Step: Add Thesis to Tree Map 2nd Step: Add Topics to Tree Map 3rd Step: Add Details to Tree Map

How do I make a Tree Map?

[h1]1st Step: Add Thesis to Tree Map[/h1] Let's use a thesis statement from the last section: [b]Abe Lincoln is a special person to study.[/b] Now let's put it in the tree map: {http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4049532933520672/treemapabethesis.jpg}

1st Step: Add Thesis to Tree Map

[h1]2nd Step: Add Topics to Tree Map[/h1] Next I create three [b]topics[/b] that support my thesis. Just use anything you know! [b]Topic 1: He made slavery illegal. Topic 2: He helped end the civil war. Topic 3: He was a great American President.[/b][/b] I made these up just from what I remember about Abe Lincoln. Here's some more examples: Topic idea: He was remembered for his speeches.[/b][/b] Topic idea: He fought for the freedom of America.[/b][/b] Here's some[b] bad examples for topic sentences:[/b] Bad Topic 1: Abe Lincoln is special. Bad Topic 2: He is the best. Bad Topic 3: He is good to study. They aren't specific enough. [h1]Topic Sentence Ideas for Different Essay Topics:[/h1] For essays about a moment in history: Topic 1: The world before the moment Topic 2: The world during the moment Topic 3: The world after the moment Your topics go here on the tree map: {http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4031390711329347/treemapabetopics.jpg}

2nd Step: Add Topics to Tree Map

[h1]3rd Step: Add Details to Tree Map[/h1] Great! Now I just have to add 3 details to each topic. Just use what you remember! Lets see, for [b]Topic #1, He made slavery illegal: Detail #1: Black slaves were kept on plantations in the South. Detail #2: Abraham Lincoln signed a law which declared slavery to be illegal. Detail #3: Ever since that day, the black slaves in the South have been set free.[/b] Here's some [b]bad examples for Topic #1, He made slavery illegal: [/b] Bad Detail #1: He made slaves illegal. (Don't repeat the topic). Bad Detail #2: He changed the world. (Too vague, tell me exactly how!) Bad Detail #3: Abraham Lincoln set the slaves free. (This contains no new information!). When you fill in your details they go here: {http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4049393212463111/treemapabetopic1.jpg} Wow, we are on our way to a clear and effective essay! Now just create more details for the remaining two topics yourself. Did you fill out your entire [b]tree map[/b]? Go to step 3 when you are done with [b]all[/b] your details. If you finished your [b]tree map[/b], congratulation. Proceed to [http://lessons.engrade.com/essayintro step 4: introduction paragraph], or else go back to the [http://lessons.engrade.com/fiveparagraphessay 5-paragraph essay overview].

3rd Step: Add Details to Tree Map

{http://s3.amazonaws.com/engrade-myfiles/4091970282083530/essaytreemap.jpg}

Tree Map Exemplar