Composing Essays (I)

What makes a good essay?  What is an essay?  What functions does an essay perform?  What features does a good essay have?

1. Criteria for a good essay  Read the given example, and answer questions:  What is topic of the essay?  What is something important (interesting or new) that the author wants to tell us?  Is there a sentence that reveals the theme?  What’s the relationship between the two body paragraphs?  Do the paragraphs have their own central idea?  Is there a conclusion that the author makes? “the focus – the title” “thesis statement” “theme” “parallel to explain the differences” “conclusion” YES

What makes a good essay?  What is a essay?  A group of logically connected paragraphs.  What function does a essay perform?  To narrate, to describe, to explain, to argue, to define, or to classify, etc.  What features does a good essay have?  a title revealing the topic  a theme to focus on;  a thesis statement expressing the theme;  closely and logically connected paragraphs with its own central idea revolving around theme;  a conclusion to re-declare the theme.

A Definition  a group of logically connected paragraphs, expressing one thought or one part of a thought that supports the theme of an essay  Elements necessary: title, thesis statement, paragraph topic sentences, supporting details, conclusion.  Procedures to achieve an effective essay.

2. Steps in Writing an essay I.Planning an essay II.Writing the first draft III.Revising the first draft IV.Making final copy

I. Planning an essay  Put down all the relevant facts;  listing as many relevant facts as you can by brainstorming, drawing idea cluster, etc.  Think of a proper theme and deciding on the purpose;  working on the title, the theme, and thesis statement  Re-examining the list of details and outlining.  adding relevant details; cutting out irrelevant, unnecessary, or unimportant details  arranging the facts in a logical order by outlining

Outlining  Two patterns: a sentence outline and a topic outline  A sentence outline: made up of complete sentences; providing a more detailed plan; needing more time, but almost got the essay half done; better for a long paper.  A topic outline: made up of gerund or infinitive phrases (never complete sentence); providing the focusing ideas briefly; needing less time, but more time in developing them into an essay; better for a short paper.

Elements of an outline  Topic/Title  Thesis (statement)  Outlined paragraphs  topic sentence (SO)/controlling idea (TO) for each paragraph  supporting details for each paragraph (in sentences or in phrases)  Conclusion

Rules for writing outlines  Thesis statement in a complete declarative sentence, usually affirmative  I, II, III ….; A, B, C, …; 1, 2, 3, …  No mixture of outline patterns: a topic outline with noun phrases; a sentence outline with complete sentences  Logical ordered headings of the same rank in parallel structures

II. Writing the first draft  revising the outline if it is impracticable  editing the outline by adding or cutting out ideas III. Revising the first draft  Following the checklist to revise an outline on content, organization, sentences, and diction, etc. IV. Making the Final copy