How to Write an A Essay

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How to Write an A Essay

• English 1102
• Patricia Burgey

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Read Critically

• The first step toward successful writing is good
  reading.
• Annotate text
• Ask critical questions
• You cannot successfully write about what you do
  not understand.

3
Understand Writing Prompts

• Read carefully before, during, and after the
  writing process
• Fulfill all obligations
• Page length
• Format
• Quotes
• Workshops
• Specific requirements

4
Write your thesis

• Dont regurgitate the writing prompt
• Must be argumentative
• Must be based on text
• Must have a so what (your stance)

5
Develop an organizational strategy

• Outline
• Write topic sentences
• Graphic organizer

6
Write your introduction

• Must be about the world of the text
• Must build to your thesis statement which will be
  near the end of the introduction
• Name of text
• Full name of author

7
Write your body paragraphs

• Each paragraph must have
• An argumentative topic sentence
• Connects back to the thesis statement
• Covers everything in the paragraph
• Support from the text
• Examples
• Quotes
• Analysisthe bulk of your paragraph
• Transition sentence

8
Arrange your paragraphs

• Clear and logical progression
• Save best evidence for last
• Must lead to a conclusion

9
Write your conclusion

• Do not restate your introduction
• Tie up your argument
• Go beyond your argument

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Works Cited Page

• MLA Format

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Give your paper a title

• Must be about subject
• Must be clear and narrowed
• Create interest

12
Revise

• Refine or develop your thesis or focus
• Use key words from thesis throughout
• Eliminate unnecessary or contradictory
  information
• Reorganize
• Clarify argument
• Use a consistent tone

13
Edit

• Check for grammatical and spelling errors
• Use literary present tense
• Clear transitions within and between paragraphs
• Integrate and analyze quotes correctly

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DO NOT

• Retell the plot
• Assume your reader will know what you mean
• Plagiarize