Essay Writing
Essay Writing Lessons
Essay Structure Essay Outline Moving from Topic to Essay Organizing the Essay Body Essay Format Hints & Tips
Essay Structure
The framework of your writing
EssayStructure
Structure
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
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
Body Paragraphs
- where you prove your thesis
Body Paragraph Structure:
1. Point (topic sentence: proves thesis)
2. Proofs (as many as are practical)
3. Comment (relates proofs to thesis)
Structure
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
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 Thesis (2) List of rebuttal points (3) For each body paragraph: (3X4)
- 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. Read & understand topic
2. Dissect & brainstorm topic
3. Pick argument & brainstorm thesis
4. Form & test thesis
5. Brainstorm & organize support
6. List rebuttals
7. Write, Revise, Edit
8. Proofread & print good copy
Organizing the Essay Body
Principles & Development Methods
Organizing the Essay Body
Organizing principle?
- chronology - cause & effect
- process - logic
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
Do not write in 1st 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
EssayWriting
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