HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY

The very first thing you should do is to The very first thing you should do is to understand what an essay is?understand what an essay is?

Essay is an organized collection of Essay is an organized collection of YOUR IDEAS YOUR IDEAS about literary texts nicely about literary texts nicely written and professionally presented. written and professionally presented.

What do we mean by saying “nicely What do we mean by saying “nicely written”? written”?

Essay must be well organized and Essay must be well organized and presented in a way that the reader presented in a way that the reader

finds easy to follow.finds easy to follow.

What is the purpWhat is the purposose of an essay?e of an essay?

It shows your ability to talk, to think, It shows your ability to talk, to think, and to write. and to write.

This is where you learn to write This is where you learn to write professionallyprofessionally..

How to do it?How to do it?

Organize and make the structure Organize and make the structure clearly visible that reader can easily clearly visible that reader can easily

follow and understand the way of your follow and understand the way of your thoughtsthoughts

Make in the way that can be adduced Make in the way that can be adduced in the form of quotations to back up in the form of quotations to back up

your arguments.your arguments.

Make it look tidy!Make it look tidy!

Where to start?Where to start?

The very first task is collecting material The very first task is collecting material

How to collect material?How to collect material?

Firstly they are divided Firstly they are divided into two sources. into two sources.

Primary sources are literary Primary sources are literary texts:texts:

the actual material that you the actual material that you work on.work on.

Primary sources are literary Primary sources are literary texts:texts:

the actual material that you the actual material that you work on.work on.

Secondary sources Secondary sources are works of are works of

criticism. criticism.

Remember:Remember:It is always better to read an original It is always better to read an original text and refer to it than to read and text and refer to it than to read and

refer to a critic.refer to a critic.

Why to use critics then?Why to use critics then?

The answer is: to be disagreed withThe answer is: to be disagreed with

Do not re-invent the wheel. It was Do not re-invent the wheel. It was already done years ago.already done years ago.

Remember: never quote a critic just to Remember: never quote a critic just to agree with him or her! agree with him or her!

Develop your ideas relaying on Develop your ideas relaying on thoughts of critic. thoughts of critic.

Books are not usually much use.Books are not usually much use.You gain no special merit points for You gain no special merit points for having read them, because so has having read them, because so has

everyone else.everyone else.

Use articles!Use articles!They are full of interesting, original, They are full of interesting, original, and up-to-date ideas about literary and up-to-date ideas about literary texts, that, maybe, your examiner texts, that, maybe, your examiner

won't even have heard.won't even have heard.

Use the Web!Use the Web!It's easily available, full of material, It's easily available, full of material,

and answers to every question.and answers to every question.

When you have found all the When you have found all the materials and you are going materials and you are going

to read them, follow next to read them, follow next rules:rules:

Always make notes.Always make notes.

Write only one idea per page.Write only one idea per page.

File and rewrite the notes so you can File and rewrite the notes so you can find them againfind them again

Make a bibliography.Make a bibliography.

Every single book and Every single book and article you read should be article you read should be

in this list!in this list!

In a year or two you will say thanks to In a year or two you will say thanks to this booklist.this booklist.

Now you have done all the Now you have done all the preparations.preparations.

Great! Great! Grab a cookie!Grab a cookie!

What to do next?What to do next?

Write the essay.Write the essay.Easy and painlessly because you've Easy and painlessly because you've done most of the thinking already.done most of the thinking already.

How should an essay How should an essay look like?look like?

The plan you construct should be in The plan you construct should be in the form of an indented outline.the form of an indented outline.

Main heading

subheading 1

notes on subheading 1

The paragraph should:The paragraph should:

be at least a ⅓ to half a pagebe at least a ⅓ to half a page

have a topic sentence, near the have a topic sentence, near the beginningbeginning

An essay should be 1500-2000 words An essay should be 1500-2000 words long.long.

Now you are ready for presentation.Now you are ready for presentation.

And remember:And remember:

YOUR IDEASYOUR IDEAS about literary texts are what matters. about literary texts are what matters.

And…And…

Always put the reader first.Always put the reader first.

Or…Or…

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