Basic essay writing English 801 B

“Prose is architecture, not interior decoration”—Ernest Hemingway

Word cloud

paragraphs Paragraphs usually contain between 8-10 sentences Basic essays usually contain between 4-6 paragraphs

The introduction The introductory paragraph is like a movie preview or trailer, since it explains the basic parts of the essay that is to follow

Body paragraphs Body paragraphs are like a burger or sandwich, because they have the meat of the essay

conclusions Conclusions are like The Talking Dead or a reality T.V. reunion show, where they reflect on the show

Essay 5 What kind of writer are you? What is your writing process? Read “The Transaction” by William Zinsser. Organize your essay thematically around concepts presented in the Zinsser essay Sandra Cisneros

Tips for Essay 5 Give precautions—what to be aware of, or avoid Use transitions that clarify major steps: first, second, third, fourth, and fifth Use transitions that indicate sub-steps: next, after that, while, meanwhile, during, then, later, when, as soon as, after one hour

Essay 6 Compare and contrast online and traditional education. Read Marc Williams’ “The Online Alternative” (592-594). You may also address the following questions in your essays: Thinking about the Reading 1, 2, 3, and 4. Writing Practice 2 and 3.

Tips for Essay 6: organization There are two methods by which you can organize compare and contrast essays 1. Point-by-Point Method: each body paragraph examines a factor 2. Block Method: paragraphs are divided into two paragraphs, one for each topic

Tips for Essay 6: Point-by-point method Introduction Body Factor #1: Face-to-face interaction Factor #2: Immediacy Factor #3: Convenience Factor #4: Presentation of information Conclusion

Tips for Essay 6: Block Method Introduction Body Online Classes Traditional Classes Conclusion

Tips for Essay 6: Transitions to indicate similarity also and again likewise besides too both similarly in addition then too

Tips for Essay 6: Transitions to indicate Dissimilarity but in contrast however still conversely yet on the other hand on the contrary although nevertheless

Revision 101 Does your essay have an interesting hook? Do the coherence test. Do your thesis, topic sentences, and concluding sentences connect? Do your topic sentences make arguments? Do you use the burger metaphor for your body paragraphs? Do you have evidence and analysis? Does your conclusion reflect on a related topic?