Writing an Essay Comm Arts I Mr. Wreford

Writing an Essay Express an opinion. Analyze a poem. Compare two methods of government. Answer a question on an essay test. Complete an employment application.

Writing an Essay Parts of an Essay: Introduction: Catches the reader’s attention. Provides background. Introduces the subject. States the thesis.

Writing an Essay Parts of an Essay: Body Paragraphs: Each one discusses one aspect of your thesis. The topic sentence of each paragraph tells which thesis point the paragraph will develop.

Writing an Essay Parts of an Essay: Conclusion: Sums up the points you have made. Lets your reader know that you have ended the essay. Review Essay Diagram on page 166 of the text.

Writing an Essay Meeting the Challenge of Essay Writing: Characteristics of an Effective Essay: Direction: means that the essay has a strong thesis sentence that states the main idea and sets the course that the essay will follow.

Writing an Essay Meeting the Challenge of Essay Writing: Characteristics of an Effective Essay: Unity: means that the essay makes one main point and sticks to that point. Each body paragraph may discuss a different thesis point, but the essay never strays from the idea expressed in the thesis.

Writing an Essay Meeting the Challenge of Essay Writing: Characteristics of an Effective Essay: Coherence: means that the essay is logically connected and easy to follow.

Writing an Essay Meeting the Challenge of Essay Writing: Characteristics of an Effective Essay: Support: means that the essay contains specific and detailed discussion of the idea stated in the topic sentence.

Writing an Essay Providing Direction: Writing the Thesis Statement: The most important sentence in your essay. States the main idea. Often states or implies your attitude or opinion. Gives your essay direction.

Writing an Essay Types of Thesis Statements: Thesis with Points: Presents the main point and the points of development, listed in order. Examples on page 170. Thesis without Points Listed: Presents the central idea of the essay without enumerating the points of development. Examples on page 171.

Writing an Essay Purposes of an Introduction: An introduction draws your reader into the essay. An introduction presents the general topic of your essay. An introduction provides necessary background. The introduction presents your essay’s thesis.

Writing an Essay Three Types of Introductions: The Broad-to-Narrow Introduction: Classic style. Sometimes called the inverted triangle introduction. It funnels your reader from a statement of your topic to the narrowest point in your introduction: your thesis. Example on page 173.

Writing an Essay Three Types of Introductions: The Narrow-to-Broad Introduction: Begins at a point that is smaller than your thesis. Expands toward the thesis. Creates an unusual and intriguing opening. Example on page 173.

Writing an Essay Three Types of Introductions: The Contrast Introduction: Your ideas can shine through the drama of contrast. An easy and effective technique. Make sure you include a change-of-direction signal such as but or however so that the two contrasting elements are clearly set apart. Example on page 173.

Writing an Essay The Body Paragraphs: Unity: Directly related to the thesis statement. Each body paragraph discusses one aspect of the thesis. Exercise 3 on page 174.

Writing an Essay The Body Paragraphs: Support: Flesh out the body paragraphs with strong, vivid, detailed support. Exercise 4 on page 176.

Writing an Essay The Body Paragraphs: Coherence: An essay requires not only coherence within paragraphs, but coherence between paragraphs. Movement from one to the next should seem graceful, natural, and seamless. Provided by transitional words, use of pronouns, and use of repetition. See the Tips for Smooth Transitions on page 178.

Writing an Essay A Graceful Exit: The Conclusion: Keep it short and don’t introduce any new information. The first sentence or two takes the reader back to a broad, thesis-level view of the topic. The closing statement should sound like a closing statement. See samples on page 179.

Writing an Essay Use the Checklist for Revision on page 185. Okay, start writing those essays!