Basic Essay RulesBasic Essay Rules

Writing Excellent Essays Writing Excellent Essays

Rule OneRule One

Do not use “The” Do not use “The” to begin more than to begin more than one sentence per one sentence per paragraph.paragraph.

No two paragraphs No two paragraphs may begin with the may begin with the same word.same word.

Rule TwoRule Two

Rule Rule ThreeThree

No two sentences No two sentences may begin with the may begin with the same word in the same word in the same paragraph.same paragraph.

DO NOT USE the DO NOT USE the words:words:– thingthing– likelike– veryvery– great great – a lota lot

*The only exception is *The only exception is if you are quoting. if you are quoting.

Rule FourRule Four

Rule FiveRule Five

Words such as “big,” Words such as “big,” “small,” “huge,” etc., “small,” “huge,” etc., should ONLY be used should ONLY be used in regards to in regards to concrete objects, not concrete objects, not ideas. ideas.

Instead for ideas use Instead for ideas use words like:words like:– ““significant”significant”– ““unimportant”unimportant”– ““essential”essential”

Do not use Do not use contractions or contractions or other shortened other shortened word forms or word forms or symbols:symbols:– Examples:Examples:

can’t can’t && lil’lil’

Rule SixRule Six

Rule Rule SevenSeven

Do NOT begin Do NOT begin sentences with sentences with conjunctions:conjunctions:– after, although, after, although,

because, since, because, since, even though, even though, whenever, whilewhenever, while

Do not refer to the Do not refer to the writing process of writing process of your essays:your essays:

Don’t say:Don’t say:– In conclusion…In conclusion…– As mentioned As mentioned

earlier…earlier…

Rule EightRule Eight

Rule NineRule Nine

Vary your sentence Vary your sentence structure.structure.

Do not repeat your Do not repeat your own key own key words/phrases.words/phrases.

Do not repeat key Do not repeat key words or phrases words or phrases from the prompt.from the prompt.

Rule TenRule Ten

EssayEssay A piece of writing that gives your A piece of writing that gives your

thoughts (commentary) about a subject. thoughts (commentary) about a subject. All essays you will write in this unit will All essays you will write in this unit will have at least 4 paragraphs: an have at least 4 paragraphs: an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph.concluding paragraph.

IntroductionIntroduction

The first paragraph in an essay. It The first paragraph in an essay. It includes the thesis, most often at the end.includes the thesis, most often at the end.

Body ParagraphBody Paragraph

A middle paragraph in an essay. It A middle paragraph in an essay. It develops a point you want to make that develops a point you want to make that supports your thesis.supports your thesis.

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

The last paragraph in your essay. It may The last paragraph in your essay. It may sum up your ideas, reflect on what you sum up your ideas, reflect on what you said in your essay, say more commentary said in your essay, say more commentary about your subject, or give a personal about your subject, or give a personal statement about the subjectstatement about the subject

ThesisThesis

A sentence with a subject and opinion A sentence with a subject and opinion (also called commentary). This comes (also called commentary). This comes somewhere in your introductory somewhere in your introductory paragraph and most often at the end.paragraph and most often at the end.

Pre-writingPre-writing

The process of getting your concrete The process of getting your concrete details down on paper before you details down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs. You organize your essay into paragraphs. You can use any or all of the following: bubble can use any or all of the following: bubble clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clusters, spider diagrams, outlines, line clustering, or columns.clustering, or columns.

Concrete DetailsConcrete Details

Specific details that form the backbone Specific details that form the backbone or core of your body paragraphs. or core of your body paragraphs. Synonyms for concrete detail include Synonyms for concrete detail include facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, facts, specifics, examples, descriptions, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, illustrations, support, proof, evidence, quotations, paraphrasing, or plot quotations, paraphrasing, or plot referencesreferences

CommentaryCommentary

Your opinion or comment about Your opinion or comment about something; not concrete detail. Synonyms something; not concrete detail. Synonyms include opinion, insight, analysis, include opinion, insight, analysis, interpretation, inference, personal interpretation, inference, personal response, feelings, evaluation, response, feelings, evaluation, explication, and reflection.explication, and reflection.

Topic SentenceTopic Sentence

The first sentence in a body paragraph. The first sentence in a body paragraph. This must have a subject and opinion This must have a subject and opinion (commentary) for the paragraph. It does (commentary) for the paragraph. It does the same thing for a body paragraph the same thing for a body paragraph that the thesis does for the whole essay.that the thesis does for the whole essay.

Concluding SentenceConcluding Sentence

The last sentence in a body paragraph. It The last sentence in a body paragraph. It is all commentary, does not repeat key is all commentary, does not repeat key words, and gives a finished feeling to the words, and gives a finished feeling to the paragraph.paragraph.

Shaping the EssayShaping the Essay

The step that is done after prewriting The step that is done after prewriting and before the first draft of an essay; it and before the first draft of an essay; it is an outline of your thesis, topic is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, concrete details, and sentences, concrete details, and commentary ideas.commentary ideas.

First DraftFirst Draft

The first version of The first version of your essay (also your essay (also called the rough called the rough draft).draft).

Final DraftFinal Draft

The final version of The final version of your essay.your essay.

Peer ResponsePeer Response

Written responses Written responses and reactions to a and reactions to a partner’s paper.partner’s paper.

ChunkChunk

One sentence of concrete detail and 2 One sentence of concrete detail and 2 sentences of commentary. It is the sentences of commentary. It is the smallest unified group of thoughts that you smallest unified group of thoughts that you can write.can write.

WeavingWeaving

Blending concrete details and Blending concrete details and commentary in a body paragraph. You commentary in a body paragraph. You can do this after you master the format.can do this after you master the format.

RatioRatio

The ratio of 1 part concrete detail to 2+ The ratio of 1 part concrete detail to 2+ parts commentary.parts commentary.