How to answer short answer, essay, and paragraph questions

We have gone through the blink guess strategy to answer multiple-choice correctly so now it's time to conquer the big meanie:  writing.  Yes, we need to come in prepared to a test so that we can really shine and kill our writing.  Here is how we handle writing on tests, assignments, essays, or paragraphs:

Create a graphic organizer.

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Who do you think is the most amazing competitive eater?                    |
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Sonya Thomas is the most amazing competitive eater because...          |
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• she is able to maintain her weight at a steady 100 lbs. even though she eats so much.

• she holds so many records such as chicken wing eating.

• she is tiny, but is still able to keep up and even beat bigger people.
• she has a great attitude and never gives up.
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I picked my favorite two.  After that, I began to turn it into a paragraph.  Here's my example from Period 6:

Of all the people who stuff their faces for a living as competitive eaters, Sonya Thomas is clearly the best.  First of all, she is able to stay thing.  Even though she eats hundreds of pounds of food each month, she stays at an even 100 pounds.  Second of all, she holds many world records.  For example, she has eaten countless chicken wings, an amazing array of oysters, and a plethora of lobsters.
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How did I get this paragraph completed?
1) I rewrote the question in the box.
2) I took my two favorite bullets and expanded them in my writing.
3) I used phrases such as:  first of all, firstly, second of all, secondly, this is true because, I know this because, and another reason.
4) I wrote out my bullets, linking the points with the phrases that we learned in class.

That's it! :)