Writing an In-Class ESSAY

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Writing an In-Class ESSAY
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Step 1 FIGURE OUT THE QUESTION

• (this is the hardest step)
• Example
• Discuss the role of water in the stabilization of
  the structure of macromolecules (proteins and
  nucleic acids) and membranes.

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Step 2 BRAINSTORMING

• This can be done with a concept map

Water in stabilization
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Step 3 Starting the Essay

• Begin with a thesis statement (answer the
  question in one or two brief sentences).
• This has TWO main purposes
• it requires that you have to figure out where
  your essay is going before you start writing.
  This is important to keep you on topic.
• use to decide what material is appropriate for
  the question and what is not. It provides a road
  map that tells you where you are going. 

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Example

• Discuss the role of water in the stabilization of
  the structure of macromolecules (proteins and
  nucleic acids) and membranes.
• Good thesis statement
• "Water is important for the stabilization of the
  three dimensional structure of macromolecules and
  membrane because of its ability to form hydrogen
  bonds that are important for both hydrophilic and
  hydrophobic interactions"

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Common mistakes

• Restating the question without formulating a
  thesis.
• Causes people to wander off topic and include
  material that is not relevant to the question.
• Repeating the same information throughout your
  essay
• Makes the essay long and boring for the markera
  LOWER GRADE!

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The DOs and DONTs

• DONT
• Dont use abbreviations
• Dont simply restate the question
• Dont substitute pictures for wordsuse them as
  supplementary material if time permits

• DO
• Read the entire question
• Brainstorm some key points to answer the problem
• Structure the essay in an easy to understand
  way
• MAKE SURE YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!