A B ASIC G UIDE TO THE PROCESS OF E SSAY W RITING

"I T IS GOOD TO HAVE AN END TO JOURNEY TOWARDS ; BUT IT IS THE JOURNEY THAT MATTERS IN THE END." -U RSULA L E G UIN In other words, focus on the journey and not the destination. When applied to essay-writing, the above quote means that the most important part of writing an essay is the process itself, and the final product is the result of that process. The planning of your essay should be at least 70% of the work, and writing your final draft should be the easiest part. The following is your basic how to write an essay guide. It will give you the bare bones for the steps needed in academic writing.

T HESE SIMPLE STEPS WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE ESSAY WRITING PROCESS : Brainstorm different ideas for your essay Decide on your topic Prepare a diagram or concept map of your ideas Decide on your thesis statement Create an outline Write the body paragraphs Write the introduction Write the conclusion Fine tune- peer and self editing Cite references Print up final copy with title page

**Your final mark on the essay will be inclusive of the PROCESS. You must therefore submit: Evidence of Brainstorming Diagram/Concept Map Outline Rough Copy Peer/Self Editing Rubric Final Copy (approx words)

There are four main categories that you must consider when writing an essay: Ideas Organization Mechanics Style ***The above components are how you will be evaluated on your essay. ***

I DEAS The ideas are the heart of the essay and the content of the piece. They are the arguments that the writer is trying to put forth to his/her reader in a convincing way. In a good essay, arguments are always supported by evidence and examples.

O RGANIZATION Includes numerous concrete aspects of the essay such as: an obvious introduction, three body paragraphs, a conclusion, the use of transitions within and between paragraphs, indentations on paragraphs Organization is also inclusive of the way the essay is physically presented. It should be pleasing to the eye, neatly arranged with a title page and page numbers. In a research essay, there should also be a “References” page to list any sources cited throughout the essay.

M ECHANICS Proper mechanics in an essay are essential, as they help to convey the writer’s argument with clarity and concision. Grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and sentence structure are the bare bones of an essay and the building blocks of language.

S TYLE Involves the usage of elevated diction and vocabulary to enhance the voice that should be coming through the essay. The writer’s voice is conveyed through word choice and the use of rich, colourful, precise language that should enlighten the reader. The author should be clearly aware of his/her AUDIENCE (in most cases, your teacher) through the use of his/her language.

P ROCESS Part 1: Decide on your Topic In most cases your teachers will assign a selection of topics to choose from, but every now and then you will have the freedom to choose your own topic with the permission of your teacher. Either way, you need to make sure that you are choosing a topic you are comfortable with. When presented with a few options, consider each one and decide which one you feel you know the most about. Brainstorm a list of different ideas that you could discuss in your essay

P ROCESS Part 2: Prepare a Diagram of your Ideas Once you have decided on your topic, you need to see what you really know. One of the best ways to do this is to make a graphic organizer such as a mind map. A standard essay will have three main points, so a mind map can help you to narrow down what points you really would like to focus on. The diagram should also help you to select a THESIS.

P ROCESS Part 3: Decide on your Thesis Statement The thesis statement is a sentence that explains to the reader the specific topic or argument of your essay. Your thesis is the MAIN IDEA that runs throughout the essay. One easy way to write a thesis statement is the following: Finish the sentence “In this essay I will prove that…..” Then you just need to get rid of the “In this essay I will prove that” part. E.G: IN THIS ESSAY I WILL PROVE THAT poor eating habits, unhealthy lifestyles and overall physical health are a result of junk foods such as chips and fries that should not be sold on school property. By omitting the first part of the sentence, your thesis is a stronger and more persuasive statement. By reading this statement, the reader then knows that your essay will be arguing reasons for why junk food should not be sold on school property.

P ROCESS Part 4: Create your Outline From your diagram or mind map, you should be able to select the three main points you are going to discuss in your essay. Now it is time to go into greater detail and begin to think of some more specific points and examples you can use to support your thesis. Your essay structure is similar to that of a hamburger: the body of the essay is like the meat, and the introduction and conclusion are the two pieces of bread/bun:

P ROCESS Introduction: Attention Grabber, three main points to be argued in essay, thesis statement. ***The introduction tells the reader what your essay is about. Body Paragraph 1: Point 1 from intro (Topic Sentence)- Explanation, examples, concluding statement, transitions. Body Paragraph 2: Point 2 from intro (Topic Sentence)- Explanation, examples, concluding statements, transitions. Body Paragraph 3: Point 3 from intro (Topic Sentence)- Explanation, examples, concluding statements, transitions. Conclusion: Restate the thesis in a different way from intro, restate three main points, and write your final thought. ***The conclusion tells the reader again what you just told them. ***The body paragraphs explain and argue the points outlined in your introduction

P ROCESS Notice how the essay moves from the GENERAL to the SPECIFIC. The introduction begins with a very general explanation of what the essay will be about. The body paragraphs give the information with specific examples, and the conclusion restates what the essay was about with a specific re-cap of what was said. Your paragraphs should also follow the same pattern of moving from the general to the specific.

P ROCESS Part 5: Write your Body Paragraphs You have already done the hard part. You have already mapped out your topics and identified where each of those topics are going. All you have to do is write a rough draft of your body paragraphs. Each paragraph should be between 5 and 7 sentences.

P ROCESS Part 6: Write the Introduction Writing the introduction should always be done after you write the body paragraphs. Sometimes your ideas will change as you write the body of the essay, so you avoid making more work for yourself by doing it this way. The first sentence of your introduction should tell the reader what your general topic is. A hook or attention grabber that pertains to your topic is a good way to ease the reader into your essay. If your essay is discussing a novel, be sure to identify the title and author. The next few sentences should give the reader the necessary information they will need to understand the essay. Then, each body paragraph gets one sentence introducing the topic. Each paragraph gets its own sentence, not one sentence for all three topics. The final sentence is then your thesis statement.

P ROCESS Example In many schools across Canada, junk food is being sold at an alarming rate. Children and adolescents are constantly eating food that has an adverse effect on their health. Childhood obesity in Canada is steadily increasing, and junk food that is readily available contributes to this problem. Furthermore, unhealthy eating hinders learning and causes behavioural issues in children and adolescents. Finally, students may have health problems later in life as a direct result of eating these foods. Therefore, school divisions across Canada should ban all junk food from their schools and enforce a healthier menu for today’s youth. If written properly, an introduction could be given to anyone and that person could write the remainder of the essay.

P ROCESS Part 7: Write the Conclusion The last part of writing the essay is the conclusion. Remember, the conclusion is a recap of what the essay is about. The conclusion tells the reader “here is what I just told you.” The conclusion begins by restating your thesis in a FRESH, new way. Therefore, do not restate your thesis word for word from your introduction. Next, for each of your body paragraphs, rewrite the CONCLUDING SENTENCES with a little bit of your explanation. Finally, end your essay with a final thought. Be careful- this is not the time to introduce new ideas. Instead, you want to leave your reader with something to think about that is related to your topic.

S OME R ULES T O C ONSIDER NEVER refer to yourself in a formal essay (i.e. do not use “I”- “I think, I feel, my belief is” etc). The reader understands that you are the “expert” on the topic, and by eliminating references to the first person, your argument becomes a stronger statement. I.E.- “I think that childhood obesity is on the rise in Canada and schools are partly to blame.” Could be easily changed to “Childhood obesity is on the rise in Canada and schools are partly to blame.” Avoid using the words THIS, THAT, THESE, or THOSE if they do not refer to anything. Never talk about the physical essay, such as “The first paragraph will be about…” Never begin any of your sentences with “Because” or“And”. Do NOT use slang such as “like” or MSN type writing such as “LOL”. You are writing a formal essay and your audience is your teacher. Therefore, you must get into the habit of using language in a more formal manner.