ESSAY WRITING GUIDELINES

Introduction An introduction consists of three parts: Opener  Body Paragraph Topics Thesis Statement

Method 1 QUESTION: Ask a question about your topic. Topic: “What ideas does the author develop about the need to be prepared to respond to changing circumstances?” Example: How do we react when our world is turned upside down?

Method 1 cont’d Benefits easiest and one of the most effective methods of opening an essay engages reader’s interest and encourages a response effective connection with conclusion is possible Drawbacks: none

METHOD 2 GENERALIZATION: Make a general observation or statement about your topic. Example: Whether or not a person has an open mind when encountering new challenges and changing circumstances can influence the outcome. Benefits: - simple and easy - allows a connection between topic and other world issues or circumstance - connects topic to many people’s experiences.

METHOD 2 cont’d Drawbacks: may be too vague or too general to capture reader’s interests does not necessarily attract reader’s attention.

METHOD 3 QUOTATION: begin with quoting what someone famous has said about your topic. Example: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us” – Marianne Williamson “When we face a new day with fear in our heart, we are not prepared to do our best and we often find ourselves frustrated by changing circumstances. When we look to new challenges and believe in the light we have within ourselves we will be able to make the best out of new circumstances.”

METHOD 3 cont’d Benefits: provides a clear focus and reference point you can use throughout your discussion offers another person’s thought which may serve as a basis for your own thinking.   Drawbacks: you have to know the quotation ahead of time you may use ineffective clichés if you do not choose your quotation carefully.

Body Paragraphs list the topics of your different body paragraphs in the ORDER they appear in your essay may be listed in one, two, or three sentences if you CHANGE the order of the topics as you write your essay, you MUST CHANGE their order in your introduction and conclusion.

THESIS provides the MAIN IDEA of your essay must be proven and supported with DETAILS from literature (and from personal experiences if you are in ELA 10-2, 20-2, 30-2) must be DISCUSSED in every paragraph of your essay should be ORIGINAL, SPECIFIC, MANAGEABLE, and RELEVENT must use TOPIC KEY WORDS must use stem: It is important for the reader to learn that…

HOW TO WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT! 1. Identify the topic and key words. “What ideas does the author develop about the need to be prepared to respond to changing circumstances?” After you identify the key words define them and create a list of synonyms for them. This allows you to reward the question using words you are more comfortable with.

2. Pick your author and work, and consider what the author and work teach about the topic. Tip: If you are given a choice of texts, pick a text you truly enjoy, thoroughly understand, and clearly remember. Tip: When you are writing your thesis, ensure that you state what the work you have selected teaches about the topic.

3. Write the stem. It is important for the reader to learn that… 4. Add a basic statement using the topic key words. Tip: A simple basic statement can be created by agreeing/disagreeing with the topic or by saying that some part of the topic is good/bad. Tip: As you are writing your thesis, think about the ideas you can support with specific details from the literature (and your own experience if you are in ELA 10-2, 20-2, 30-2). Don’t include an idea in your thesis if you can’t think of support for it. Basic Statement: An individual needs to be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances…

THIS IS NOT YET A THESIS STATEMENT! 5. Add a “because” statement explaining why your basic statement is accurate. Because Statement: because if they don’t they will not learn from new experiences… 6. Identify consequences of both the “basic statement” and the “because statement”. Consequence: and will not benefit from the alternate perspective a new experience provides. Final Thesis: It is important for the reader to learn that an individual needs to be prepared to adapt to change circumstances because if they don’t they will not benefit from the alternate perspective a new experience provides.

BODY PARAGRAPHS 1. TOPIC SENTENCE introduces topic of paragraph may be the same as, or similar to, the sentence identifying the body paragraph topic in the intro

2. EVIDENCE details or examples taken from LITERATURE (and from your own EXPERIENCES if you are in ELA 10-2, 20-2, 30-2) details or examples which relate to your thesis are ACCURATE Use SPECIFIC details never refer to more than two EVENTS, as your essay will quickly become a PLOT summary describe the event and how it affects the CHARACTER and how it relates to your THESIS

3. EXPLANATION explain how your thesis provides an accurate DESCRIPTION of your evidence only discuss the EVIDENCE you have described DO NOT refer to other details from the story that you have not mentioned in your evidence for every sentence of EVIDENCE, you should have two sentences of explanation (1:2 RULE) discuss and explain your THESIS REMEMEBER THAT YOUR ESSAY IS WRITTEN ABOUT AN IDEA, AND YOU ARE ONLY USING LITERATURE TO PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE WHERE YOUR IDEA IS ACCURATE.

4. CONCLUDING SENTENCE re-state the topic of the paragraph you have just been writing mention the topic of the next paragraph use one or more TRANSITIONAL devices to indicate the connections between the two body paragraph topics simple concluding sentences can be created by using variations of either of these general forms: “One example of (topic key words) is (body paragraph topic); another example is (body paragraph topic).” “Not only is (body paragraph topic) an example of (topic key words), but so is (body paragraph topic).”

TRANSITIONAL DEVICES In order to organize your ideas more effectively, you can use words or phrases that link distinct ideas. These words or phrases are transitional devices, and should be used, when appropriate, in your writing. It is appropriate to use these words or phrases to: change tone change topics begin or end a paragraph express a connection of some type between different ideas

COMPARISON: likewise, in the same way, similarly, also, accordingly, such CONTRAST : although, unlike, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the contrary, instead, in spite of this, but, perhaps, besides  CAUSE AND EFFECT: since, because, for this reason, thus, therefore, these, as a result, hence, consequently   CONTINUATION: furthermore, in addition, also, for example, for instance, an example of this, even moreover, fortunately, unfortunately ORDER: first, second, third, etc.; next, finally, at the same time, soon, not long after, at length, meanwhile, then, later, to begin with, in conclusion.

CONCLUSIONS A conclusion consists of three parts: 1. THESIS STATEMENT 2. BODY PARAGRAPHS 3. CLOSER

1. THESIS RESTATE your thesis to remind your reader about the idea that you have been discussing if you feel you have been repeating your thesis too many times you can RE-WORD it, just ensure that you do not change the meaning of your thesis.

2. BODY PARAGRAPH TOPICS RESTATE your body paragraph topics to remind your reader of the different details and topics you have used to develop your thesis You may want to re-phrase your body paragraph topics in order to keep from sounding repetitive, but be sure not to change the order of the topics.

3. CLOSER - Concludes the essay METHOD 1: QUESTION AND ANSWER If you begin your essay with a question, re-state it, then provide the answer you have developed through your essay’s thesis statement. Example: “How do we react when our world is turned upside down? Some strive to return to the status quo, while others seize the opportunity. Those people who choose to see changing circumstances as an opportunity to learn something new about themselves and the world around them wind up going further in life.”   Benefits: offers a strong and clear connection between each part of your essay neatly reminds your reader of everything that has been discussed in your essay.   Drawbacks: - may be repetitive, depending in the length of your conclusion and if the “answer” is too similar to your thesis.

METHOD 2: GENERALIZATION Example: The only constant in life is change; once we learn to accept that our perspective of changing circumstances changes from one of resistance to one of acceptance. Benefits: - see notes for Introductions   Drawbacks: - see notes for Introductions

METHOD 3: PREDICTION/RECOMMENDATION Make a prediction/recommendation based on your thesis or essay Example: If we all choose to see challenges as an opportunity to overcome rather than an obstacle to avoid, like the main character in this story, we would all be that much close to true contentment. Benefits: encourages readers to learn from the ideas your essay has discussed encourages readers to evaluate their own lives in light of the information provided in your essay. Drawbacks: if your prediction is too obvious your reader may be insulted

Now…Let’s look at some examples ☺