Essay Writing: An Overview

What is an Essay?

According to The American Heritage Dictionary:

Essay:

n. 1. A short literary composition on a single subject, usu. Presenting the point of view of the author. V. To make an attempt at; try.

The Building Blocks

• An essay is made up of paragraphs.• Each paragraph contains one topic

sentence, or one main idea. • Each paragraph contains evidence to help

prove the writer’s point• Paragraphs are organized logically

by transitions.

Essays must contain a thesis

sentence!

A thesis statement is your answer to the question posed in the topic.

Sample Topic: Should students be required to give 40 hours of community service to receive their AA or AS degrees?

YES NO

Students will learn the benefits of service to others

Students may gain experience in a future career

Students may be exposed to people ofdifferent lifestyles and beliefs

Community service teaches us about sacrifice and compassion

Students should do community service because they want to, not because theythey have to.

Students are already very busy. This would add another burden that not all students could handle.

Students who are required to do so may not do the best job.

Students are adults and should not betreated like children.

Rate these statements:

Yes, community college students should have to do service to graduate.

No, community college students should not have to do service to graduate.

C-

Rate these statements:

Community college students should be required to do volunteer work because they will gain valuable life experience while they learn skills that may someday lead to a career or long term interest.

AStudents should not be required to do service work becauseIf we force students to do volunteer workfor a degree, we are treating them likechildren and assuming that most studentswould not do so otherwise.

Essays must contain a thesis

sentence!

A thesis should state the topic

A thesis should state your position on the topic

A thesis should state your main reasoning for yourposition

A thesis statement in usually (not always) ONE sentence

Essay Structure

An essay must contain the following:

*Introduction

*Body Paragraphs

*A Conclusion

*Citations, if needed

• Identifies the subject, additional texts, relevant authors

• Often states the thesis (though not always)• Aims to catch the reader’s attention• May begin with an anecdote (story)• May begin with a fact• May begin with a question• May be more than one paragraph

The Introduction

The Body

• Contains paragraphs that support for the thesis

• Contains paragraphs with clear topic sentences

• Support of the thesis can include

1. Description

2. Examples from texts

3. Factual Evidence

Conclusion

• Provides a sense of finality• May restate the major ideas—without

being too repetitive!• May interpret the significance of material

presented in the paper• May make predictions• May end with a quotation

Flow

• Each paragraph should connect logically to the next

• Organize them according to time sequence, subject, or ideas.

• Connect paragraphs with transitions

Transitions include: First, Next, Last, In addition, Moreover, Finally, In contrast, Of course, Obviously, Again…

USE TRANSITIONS

An Essay’s Purpose:

• To argue and/or persuade• To teach • To tell a story• To investigate a subject• To entertain• To learn• To interpret/analyze

(or a combination of the above!)

Writers use various strategies to most effectively convey their ideas: • Compare/contrast• Show Cause and effect• Describe a Process• Defining terms• Classify and Divide• Illustrate through example• Analyze facts, data, theories, or literature

The Five Paragraph Formula

• Many high school teachers say that an essay must contain 5 paragraphs

• The 5 paragraph essay is a good way to begin learning about essay structure.

• In college, however, you will also write longer essays.

• Your essays may be anywhere from 2-20 pages in length.

Revisions

• Allow sufficient time for revisions• Read instructor’s suggestions• Read peer suggestions• Review the assignment• Reorder ideas, if needed• Add crucial detail• Proofread for clarity and coherence• Check punctuation

Most Common Errors!

--Lacks Clear Thesis

--Does not have 2 or 3 reasons to explain thesis

--Lacks specific examples/support

--Sentence Fragments

--Run-On Sentences

--Verb Errors

--Spelling and punctuation errors

Tips:

• Develop your own unique style: Don’t try to sound like everyone else!

• Study grammar! • Improve your vocabulary. Learn a few new

words a week and use them in conversation. • Use the tools. Consult your books often. • Give yourself plenty of time to revise. Writing is a

process.• Read, Read, Read. Study the examples of good

writers.

Formatting your paper

• Use standard 8.5X 11 paper• Double Space• Use one inch margins on all sides• Use a standard font (nothing fancy, please)• Include Name, Instructor, Class, and Date in the

left hand corner• Center Title• Include header in upper right hand corner with

last name and page #

Jane Doe

Professor Morales

English 120

2 March 2005

A Beginning and an End

Doe 1

The last time I saw my grandmother, I still remember the

sound of her laughter and how it filled the room with happiness. My

brothers and sisters would gather around her and wait for her to begin

her stories about what life was like when she was a little girl. She’d

begin to speak, and we’d sit up tall, eager for her voice to soothe us