Essay Writing Essay Writing Lessons n n n

Essay Writing

Essay Writing Lessons n n n Essay Structure Essay Outline Moving from Topic to Essay Organizing the Essay Body Essay Format Hints & Tips

Essay Structure The framework of your writing

Essay Structure

Structure n Introductory Paragraph - introduce & ease reader into topic - move from general sentences to specific ones - end with your thesis statement Eg: life – literature – book – topic – thesis life – history – people – topic – book - thesis

Structure n Thesis - An arguable statement, making clear the position the author takes on a topic - Depends upon your purpose & audience (Topic = what the text is “about; ” the subject addressed by a text Eg: greed, love, hope, jealousy, etc. )

Structure n Body Paragraphs - where you prove your thesis n Body Paragraph Structure: 1. Point (topic sentence: proves thesis) 2. Proofs (as many as are practical) 3. Comment (relates proofs to thesis)

Structure n Concluding Paragraph - re-state your thesis - move from specific sentences to general ones - ease reader away from essay, and back to real life again (theme statement)

Structure n The Rebuttal Paragraph - Acknowledge points of opposing argument - Minimize the validity of these points * Insert after your introductory paragraph!

Essay Outline -What’s required -Marks for summative

Essay Outline n n n Thesis (2) List of rebuttal points (3) For each body paragraph: (3 X 4) - Full topic sentence - Proofs in point form - Full comment sentence Thesis restatement in different words (1) Theme statement (2)

Moving from Topic to Essay …in 8 easy steps!

Moving from Topic to Essay 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Read & understand topic Dissect & brainstorm topic Pick argument & brainstorm thesis Form & test thesis Brainstorm & organize support List rebuttals Write, Revise, Edit Proofread & print good copy

Organizing the Essay Body Principles & Development Methods

Organizing the Essay Body n Organizing principle? - chronology - cause & effect - process - logic n Development method? - define - classify - analyze - describe - compare - exemplify

Essay Format MLA Style

Essay Format: Page 1

Essay Format: Subsequent Pages

Essay Format: Works Cited

Essay Format: In-Text Citation 1. Author’s name in text -- page information in parentheses: eg: Murray claims that food is good for you (35 -7). 2. Author’s name in reference -- name and page information in parenthesis: eg: There are many reasons why food is good for you (Murray 35 -7). 3. Full reference in text -- no parentheses necessary: eg: Murray, in pages 35 -7 of his book, explains why food is good for you.

Hints & Tips Advice for top marks

Hints & Tips n n n n Do not write in 1 st person (avoid “I”) Do not start a body / concluding paragraph with a quotation Move from your weakest point to your strongest Do not use contractions Do not use colloquial language Use the present tense Refer to author by last name Develop a creative title that relates to thesis

Essay Writing Ask questions at any time!