How to Write an Essay!! Important things to know

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How to Write an Essay!!Important things to know
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What is a thesis statement?

• An effective thesis statement tells readers
  specifically what you plan to write about in your
  paper.
• It also serves as a personal guide to keep you
  on track as you brainstorm ideas and compose your
  essay.

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How to form a thesis statement

• A thesis statement usually takes a stand or
  expresses a specific feature or feeling of your
  subject. The following formula can be used to
  form your thesis statement
• A specific subject (Friendship)
• a particular stand (is just as much a burden
  as it is a
• blessing)
• __________________________________________________
  _______________
• an effective thesis statement (T.S.)
• Friendship is just as much a burden as it is a
  blessing.

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Thesis Statement Checklist

• ___ identifies a limited, specific subject
• ___ focuses on a particular feeling about the
  subject
• ___ is stated in a clear, direct sentence
• ___ can be supported with convincing facts and
  details
• ___ meets the requirements of the assignment

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How to form a paragraph

• Most paragraphs begin with a topic sentence,
  identifying the subject of the writing.
• The sentences in the body of the paragraph
  support or explain the subject, while the closing
  sentence brings the paragraph to a logical
  stopping point.

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Parts of the paragraph

• The Topic Sentence
• The Body
• The Closing

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What is a topic sentence?

• Your topic sentence tells your readers what your
  paragraph is about. Here is a formula for writing
  a good topic sentence
• An interesting subject (Lennies dependence
  on George)
• a specific feeling about (is burdensome and
  keeps George
• the subject from finding
  happiness.)
• __________________________________________________
  _______________
• an effective topic sentence (t.s.)
• Lennies dependence on George is burdensome and
  keeps George from finding happiness.

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What is the body of a paragraph?

• The body is the main part of a paragraph. This is
  where you place all of the information readers
  need to understand the subject. The sentences of
  the body should contain details that clearly
  support the topic sentence. Arrange these details
  in the best possible order!

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What is the closing of a paragraph?

• The closing (clincher) sentence comes after all
  the details have been included in the body of the
  paragraph. This sentence may (1) remind readers
  of the subject, (2) keep them thinking about it,
  or (3) link the paragraph to the next one if it
  is part of a longer composition.

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What is sentence fluency?

• SF is finely crafted construction combined with a
  sense of rhythm and grace. It is achieved
  through logic, creative phrasing, parallel
  construction, etc. It is easy to read aloud.
• Writer E. B. White advises young writers to
  approach sentence style by way of simplicity,
  plainness, orderliness, and sincerity.
• Its also important to know what to look for when
  reviewing your sentences.

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Sentence Fluency problems to avoid

• Short, choppy sentences combine any short,
  choppy sentences into one longer, compound
  sentence
• Incorrect sentences check carefully for
  fragments, run-ons, and rambling sentences and
  correct them accordingly
• Unclear sentences rewrite any sentences that
  contain unclear wording, misplaced modifiers, or
  incomplete comparisons
• Unacceptable sentences change any sentences that
  include nonstandard language, double negatives,
  etc.
• Unnatural, flowery sentences simplify any
  sentences that contain flowery language or clichés

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What are transitions ?

• Transitions are words or phrases that connect
  or tie ideas together.

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Transition Words and Phrases

• Words used to SHOW LOCATION
• above away from beyond into
• across below down near
• against beside inside throughout
• Words used to SHOW TIME
• about first then now
• before immediately later until
• during meanwhile finally as soon as

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Transition Words and Phrases

• Words used to SHOW SIMILARITIES
• also likewise in the same way
• as similarly like
• Words used to SHOW DIFFERENCES
• although even though still on the other hand
• but however yet otherwise
• Words used to EMPHASIZE A POINT
• in fact truly to emphasize
• especially to repeat for this reason

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Transition Words and Phrases

• Words used to CONCLUDE/SUMMARIZE
• finally therefore
• as a result lastly hence
• Words used to ADD INFORMATION
• additionally for example also as
  well likewise
• again for instance and besides moreover
• along with in addition another finally next
• Words used to CLARIFY
• for instance in other words that is to
  put another way

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Using quotations and support

• Without adequate support or evidence, you
  cannot effectively develop an essay. Here are 3
  ways to support your thesis
• Include Facts Facts are statements and
  statistics that add support and validity to your
  essays they help provide you with main points.
• Give Examples Examples are a way of showing
  your ideas to readers.
• Add Quotations Quotations from the text add
  authority to your writing.

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When selecting quotations, ask yourself the
following

• Which point of mine does the quotation
  illustrate?
• Why am I considering quoting this particular
  passage?
• Why should this particular passage be quoted
  rather than paraphrased?

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Using Quotations

• Quotations should be integrated into your own
  sentences. Dont drop quotations into your text
  without warning, and avoid standing quotations
  alone as sentences instead, provide clear signal
  phrases, which include the author's name, to
  prepare readers for the quotation

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Short Quotations

• If a quotation is four typed lines or fewer, work
  it into the body of your paper and put quotation
  marks around it.

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Long Quotations

• Quotations of more than four typed lines should
  be set off from the rest of the writing by
  indenting each line 10 spaces (2 tabs) and
  double-spacing the material. Do not use quotation
  marks.
• After the final punctuation mark of the
  quotation, leave two spaces before you cite the
  parenthetical reference. Generally, a colon is
  used to introduce quotations set off from the
  text.

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Using quotations and support

• Partial Quotations If you want to leave out part
  of the quotation, use an ellipsis to signify the
  omission. An ellipsis () is three periods with a
  space before and after each one.
• Anything you take out of a quote should not
  change the authors original meaning.

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4 ways to integrate quotations

• Introduce the quotation with a complete sentence
  and a colon.
• Use an introductory or explanatory phrase, but
  not a complete sentence, separated from the
  quotation with a comma.
• Make the quotation a part of your own sentence
  without any punctuation between your own words
  and the words you are quoting.
• Use short quotations--only a few words--as part
  of your own sentence.

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Introduce the quotation with a complete
sentence and a colon.

• In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," Thoreau
  states directly his purpose for going into the
  woods "I went to the woods because I wished to
  live deliberately, to front only the essential
  facts of life, and see if I could not learn what
  it had to teach, and not, when I came to die,
  discover that I had not lived" (1).

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Use an introductory or explanatory phrase, but
not a complete sentence, separated from the
quotation with a comma.

• In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," Thoreau
  states directly his purpose for going into the
  woods when he says, "I went to the woods because
  I wished to live deliberately, to front only the
  essential facts of life, and see if I could not
  learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came
  to die, discover that I had not lived (1).

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Make the quotation a part of your own sentence
without any punctuation between your own words
and the words you are quoting.

• In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," Thoreau
  states directly his purpose for going into the
  woods when he says that "I went to the woods
  because I wished to live deliberately, to front
  only the essential facts of life, and see if I
  could not learn what it had to teach, and not,
  when I came to die, discover that I had not
  lived (1).

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Use short quotations--only a few words--as part
of your own sentence.

• In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," Thoreau
  states that his retreat to the woods around
  Walden Pond was motivated by his desire to live
  deliberately and to face only the essential
  facts of life (1).