Post on 13-Dec-2015
OF AN EFFECTIVE ESSAY
PRESENTATION ADAPTED FROM UTPB WEST TEXAS LITERACY CENTER
ELEMENTS
What is an Essay?
An organized piece of writing that focuses on a single topic
Organized around a general idea (or, often, thesis) Paragraphs that develop the main idea comprise
the body of the essay Begins with an introduction Ends with a concluding paragraph
The Writing Process
Prewriting Begin by asking—and answering—these questions:
For what purpose am I writing? (Don’t say “Because my English teacher made me;” instead, try “to persuade” or “to inform”)
What is the scope of my topic? (Your scope is the depth or level of complexity you plan on exploring in your essay—it clarifies not only what you are writing about, but what you are not when it comes to a specific topic)
What point of view am I taking and how do I establish this through tone?
Who is my specific audience? Brainstorming (mind maps, point-form notes,
discussions, etc.) Free-writing: jump in and begin your first draft
Determining Scope
Wide Scope- General, big and inclusiveNarrow Scope- Specific, smaller and more
exact or precise
Example:General 1. Mammals General 1. Education to 2. Humans to 2. High School Specific 3. Female Specific 3. Westdale
4. Mary 4. Ms. Linton’s class
Introduction to an Essay:The Introductory Paragraph
The first part of an essay
The reader’s first contact with the topic from your perspective – makes a first impressions
Major influence on the reader’s desire to keep reading
Reader begins to evaluate the essay based on the introduction
Attention Getters for Introductory Paragraphs
Strategy
Provide some interesting background about the topic in the form of a general statement
Use a thought-provoking quotation
Ask a question about your topic
State a surprising fact or a puzzling statement
Share an anecdote
Use descriptive details and rhetorical devices
Examples
Today’s children become tomorrow’s leaders.
“Adolescence is not a stage of life, it is a disease!”
Dr. S. Rosner
Why don’t children want to be controlled by adults?
Teenagers join gangs because they need the support of a family.
When I was a teen, it took three arrests for me to straighten out.
Deafening gun shots ring out at least three times a week at the east-end neighborhood.
Attention Getters for Introductory Paragraphs
Strategy
State a common misconception
Describe a problem
Give an analogy
Show how the topic is related to the reader’s personal experience
Write an interesting and precise thesis statement
Examples
Despite popular misconceptions, children don’t learn bad habits from adults.
Everyone knows what a problem juvenile delinquency has become.
Children are just like domestic animals: they need someone to set rules and expectations in order to behave best.
Most people know how difficult it is to raise children.
To help curb youth gun violence, educators, parents, community groups, and the local police must work collaboratively and proactively.
Body of an Essay
Set of paragraphs that develop the idea expressed in the introduction
Like any paragraph, should be unified around a main idea and arranged coherently Make a list of specific ideas or sub-points that support your
main idea Each one should become the topic sentence and focus of a
body paragraph Arrange the main ideas in logical order (time, place, or
importance) Plan out each body paragraph by listing major details that
support each main idea Each body paragraph should end with a transitional or
concluding sentence
Supporting Paragraphs Methods of Development: Writing the Body
Allusion to help your reader relate Analogy to help the reader infer that because two events/ideas are alike
in one respect, they will be alike in other respects as well Anecdotes brief narration of a real-life event to connect to a larger issue Classification to organize information according to groups or categories Cause and Effect to make connections/trace patterns between events or
ideas Concession to admit that the opposition is correct on a specific point
(but then usually continues on to destroy the rest of the opposition’s argument)
Contrast and Comparison to illustrate the difference or to show similarities between
Descriptive Details to appeal to the reader’s senses and creates imagery
Examples facts, statistics, supporting reasons, charts, graphs, and survey results, that give evidence to support the author’s claim or give detail
Most to Least Important Details to capture the reader’s attention with the most compelling evidence and then gives a series of other supports to reinforce it
Problem and Solution to explore an issue with a realistic answer or resolution
Process Analysis to explain step-by-step how something is done or how to do something
Quotation to make one’s stance more credible by quoting a text or a person who is an authority or expert on the subject, thus making the writer’s position more credible
Rhetorical Question to encourage the reader to consider a key point
Series of Events According to Time to organize ideas chronologically
Summary to offer a succinct and clear overview of a text, philosophy, or concept that covers the main ideas but does not contain irrelevant and/or extraneous details
Transition Words
For examples: For example, for instance, to illustrate
For organization or chronological order: The six steps are…, next, finally first, secondly, third
For additional points: Furthermore, in addition, also, moreover
For opposing ideas: On the other hand, in contrast, although, however
For similar ideas: Likewise, similarly, in comparison
Transition Words
For exceptions: However, nevertheless, but, yet, still
For emphasis: Above all, finally, more importantly
For understanding: In other words, in essence, briefly
For summarizing: In conclusion, to sum up, for these reasons, ultimately
Conclusion of an Essay
Purpose: To leave the reader with a positive impression, a sense of completeness, and the inclination to think about the topic
Usually a short, single paragraph (but may be comprised of more paragraphs depending on length and scope of essay)
Should follow logically from the body of the essay
The Closing: Writing the Conclusion
Make reference to the opening Restate the thesis statement (if applicable) in different
words/sentence structure Reveal the significance—answer “so what?” Summarize the points made in your introduction and
body Make a bold statement or use a quotation to reinforce
your point or stance Make predictions—present a theory or idea for future
consideration (but one for which there is not enough room in the scope of this particular essay)
Make recommendations
The Revision and Editing Process
The process of reviewing and rewriting to make your ideas more logical, understandable, and interesting to your readers
Involves crossing out some material, adding other information, and rearranging material
Two main aspects of the Revision Process Revision through reading Revision through collaboration
Revising and Editing through Reading
A way of finding out what other readers think about your essay
May become aware of problems that you have not noticed
Can get suggestions for improving organization, clarity of ideas; including grammar, punctuation, spelling and usage
As you read to revise: Keep in mind your purpose for writing Remember your specific audience Read carefully and multiple times – with each rereading
you will probably find ways to improve your essay