Essay Writing

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Essay WritingThe Formula

• Essay writing is simply a process of writing
  where you organize information.
• It is an easy format of writing because it
  follows a specific formula.

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Essay Writing

• The purpose of an essay is to effectively argue
  a particular thesis. In this sense, a thesis is a
  proposition put forward for the purposes of the
  essay that is then supported through argument.
  The combination of putting this thesis forward
  and effectively supporting it is the art of essay
  writing.
• A good essay has a clear thesis from which the
  rest of the essay flows.

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Organizing Information

• In an essay you are using the best information
  that you have to prove that a thesis is true.
• Organize your information into coherent
  paragraphs.

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A Method

• Gather your best information.
• Put similar ideas together.
• These chunks of information become your main
  body.

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The Introductory Paragraph

• Funnel Analogy
• Broad to narrow
• Introduce the general topic and move toward your
  thesis.

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The Introductory Paragraph

• Your first sentence will introduce the broadest
  aspect of your topic. You may start with a quote
  or a profound observation related to your topic.
• You must name the text you are writing about and
  the author, and provide context.
• Each sentence moves you closer to your most
  narrow topic your thesis.
• The thesis statement is usually near the end of
  your introductory paragraph

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The Introductory Paragraph

• In the novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest,
  written by Ken Kesey, a group of troubled men in
  a mental health facility are given their
  individuality and manhood back, when an unlikely
  hero is admitted to the hospital
• Then you would provide specific information to
  lead to your thesis.
• Sample 1 2

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The Main Body

• This is where you use your best evidence to prove
  that your thesis is true.
• You refer to events and incidents to support your
  thesis.
• You should use direct quotations to support your
  thesis.
• Everything you write should be clearly connected
  to the thesis of your essay. CTT

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The Main BodyYour First Main Point

• Generally speaking, it is a good idea to use your
  strongest point (argument) in the second
  paragraph of your essay.
• Usually at the end of the paragraph you write a
  sentence that connect this argument to your
  thesis. CTT

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The Main Body

• The first sentence of all of the rest of your
  main body paragraphs provide a transition from
  the previous point to your next point.
• Then follow the same formula make a point that
  support your thesis. Use your text to support
  your argument. Be sure to make a clear CTT.
• Move to your next point.

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Using Quotes

• 1. Introduce your quotations. A quotation should
  never suddenly appear out of nowhere. Some kind
  of information about the quotation is needed.
  Name the author, give his or her credentials,
  name the source, give a summary. You won't do all
  of these each time, but you should usually name
  the author. For example a. But John Jones
  disagrees with this point, saying, "Such a
  product would not sell." b. In an article in
  Time Fred Jackson writes that frogs vary in the
  degree of shyness they exhibit "The arboreal
  tree frogs seem to be especially. . . ."
• 2. Discuss your quotations. Do not quote someone
  and then leave the words hanging as if they were
  self explanatory. What does the quotation mean
  and how does it help establish the point you are
  making? What is your interpretation or opinion of
  it? Quotations are like examples discuss them to
  show how they fit in with your thesis and with
  the ideas you are presenting. Remember
  quotations support or illustrate your own points.
  They are not substitutes for your ideas and they
  do not stand by themselves.
• It is often useful to apply some interpretive
  phrasing after a quotation, to show the reader
  that the you are explaining the quotation and
  that it supports your argument
• Here we see that , This statement shows Clearly,
  then, We can conclude from this that ,This tells
  us that ,From this we can understand that
• 3. Use some variety in introducing quotations.
  A. Pick the quotation verb which seems in each
  case to fit your purpose most exactly. For
  example In this essay Green tells us, "Hope
  increases courage." Note that the particular verb
  you choose helps orient your reader toward your
  opinion of the statement. "Jones says" is
  neutral "Jones informs us" is positive, "Jones
  alleges" is somewhat negative. Other verbs to
  choose from include say, writes, observe,
  notes ,remarks ,adds ,declares , informs us ,
  alleges ,claims ,states ,comments ,thinks
  ,affirms asserts ,explains, argues

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THE CONCLUSION

• Make the end of your essay count. End with a
  profound bang Do not fizzle out!

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The Concluding Paragraph

• You have worked hard to write a great essay.
• Dont leave your reader with a bad last
  impression.
• Draw your final conclusionsmake sure you CTT as
  you conclude.

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The Concluding Paragraph

• COMMON MISTAKES
• Starting a new topic.
• Making a main body argument.
• NOT concluding the actual topic you have just
  written about.