By: Kristina Yegoryan

Workshop: IN-CLASS ESSAY How To Structure Analysis Essay?

WHAT IS AN ESSAY?

An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view.

The Main Essay Types are: Narrative ( to tell a story/incident) Expository (to explain or acquaint with something ) Cause and Effect Descriptive Compare and Contrast Persuasive Argumentative (prove a point)

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF IN-CLASS ESSAY?

At times it is difficult to test a student’s knowledge with multiple-choice tests.

Essay writing shows: Student’s interpretation Critical thinking Projection/expression of ideas Writing skills

SAMPLE In-Class Essay PromptPage 1 Instructions

The TextPage 2

Online access:http://english28lavcsp15.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/5/7/16570508/ky.pdf

HOW TO DO WELL

First read the instructionsRead and understand the questionsBreak each question down to grasp what they

are expecting as a responseAll the 3 questions have several small questions

within them; make sure you address them allUnderline or circle the main ideas in each

questionTurn the page and NOW ONLY read the text

What To Do First?

As You read the text Annotate

Mark (underline or highlight) the answers and the most important information in the story

Think about the Main Idea of the text proposed by the author. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Summarize the story in 2-3 sentences. Start with the Summary Triangle that states: the author, the title, the main idea

Now, you are ready to structure YOUR 5 paragraph essay/analysis based on the text/story you have read.

1. Start with a “catchy” sentence: Attention Getter / Hook

Use any of these hook strategies: Rhetorical question General statement Very specific statement

2. Summary of the text 2-4 sentences: The Triangle ( The author , title, and main idea of the reading) 1-3 sentence brief summary of the essay

3. Thesis Statement ( your argument should state if you agree or disagree with the main idea of the text)

INTRODUCTION

THESIS STATEMEMT

It is the main idea of the whole essay / your argument that indicates if you agree with the author of the text or not.

It is the last sentence of Introduction ( 1 sentence)

You may also acknowledge the counter argument before stating your argument:

Thesis sample: Although many prefer careers with well paid jobs even if not the best for them, I agree with Fidel Sanches that we should choose a career that makes our job enjoyable and rewarding.

It should show if you agree with the author’s main argument ( so it shows your argument) and introduces the support (s) that are later developed in the Body paragraph.

BODY A BODY B BODY C

BODY PARAGRAPHS

BODY PARAGRAPHS

Each Body Paragraph has:A topic Sentence ( a statement referring to/

paraphrasing the question)

Supporting sentences united with transitional words

( Answers to the questions: your response and brief quotes from the text as a support. Also, personal and genera examples are important.

Closure sentence ( summarizing the idea of the paragraph)

1. Summary sentence (General statement –going back to Introduction)

2. Restating the Triangle

3. Restatement of Thesis (re-saying your argument

(Ex. Since A, B, and C + your argument)

4. “Call for action” ( a suggestion/advice what to do) Hence, we should do…. (shouldn’t)….

CONCLUSION