By: Kristina Yegoryan Workshop: IN-CLASS ESSAY How To Structure Analysis Essay?

WHAT IS AN ESSAY? An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view.point of view The Main Essay Types are: Narrative ( to tell a story/incident) Expository (to explain or acquaint with something ) Cause and Effect Descriptive Compare and Contrast Persuasive Argumentative (prove a point)

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF IN-CLASS ESSAY? At times it is difficult to test a student’s knowledge with multiple-choice tests. Essay writing shows: Student’s interpretation Critical thinking Projection/expression of ideas Writing skills

TEST TAKING TIPS! BEFORE THE TEST: Good sleep, Healthy food DURING THE TEST Positive outlook Self-confidence Divide the time wisely

HOW TO MANAGE THE LIMITED TIME? The in-class essay will take place during your class time period Do not be late! Have the big Green book and 2 blue/black pens on the desk Have your dictionary and scratch paper ready on the desk too ( if you think you need them) You have 85 min Plan the time to have 5 paragraph essay response

HOW TO USE 85 min? 1.Read the instructions understand – 5 min 2. Read the questions, break them down and underline the key words - 5 min 3.Read the text and annotate (use strategies)- 10 min 4.Plan and develop the essay Take ALL the Steps of The Writing Process Pre-Writing 5 min Draft/Revise min Edit/Review 5 min 5. Final proofreading /making last corrections- 5 min

TIPS on Taking Essay Exam

HOW TO DO WELL First read the instructions Read and understand the questions Break each question down to grasp what they are expecting as a response All the 3 questions have several small questions within them; make sure you address them all Underline or circle the main ideas in each question Turn the page and NOW ONLY read the text Manage your time wisely

SAMPLE In-Class Essay Prompt Page 1 Instructions

The Text Page 2 Online access: loads/1/6/5/7/ /ky.pdf

What To Do First? As You read the text Annotate Mark (underline or highlight) the answers and the most important information in the story Think about the Main Idea of the text proposed by the author. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Summarize the story in 2-3 sentences. Start with the Summary Triangle that states: the author, the title, the main idea Now, you are ready to structure YOUR 5 paragraph essay/analysis based on the text/story you have read.

1. Start with a “catchy” sentence: Attention Getter / Hook Use any of these hook strategies:  Rhetorical question  General statement  Very specific statement 2. Summary of the text 2-4 sentences:  The Triangle ( The author, title, and main idea of the reading)  1-3 sentence brief summary of the essay 3. Thesis Statement ( your argument should state if you agree or disagree with the main idea of the text) INTRODUCTION

THESIS STATEMEMT It is the main idea of the whole essay / your argument that indicates if you agree with the author of the text or not. It is the last sentence of Introduction ( 1 sentence) You may also acknowledge the counter argument before stating your argument: Thesis sample: Although many prefer careers with well paid jobs even if not the best for them, I agree with Fidel Sanches that we should choose a career that makes our job enjoyable and rewarding. It should show if you agree with the author’s main argument ( so it shows your argument) and introduces the support (s) that are later developed in the Body paragraph.

Question(s) 1 Question(s) 2 Question(s) 3 BODY A BODY B BODY C BODY PARAGRAPHS

Each Body Paragraph has: A topic Sentence ( a statement referring to/ paraphrasing the question) Supporting sentences united with transitional words ( Answers to the questions: your response and brief quotes from the text as a support. Also, personal and genera examples are important. Closure sentence ( summarizing the idea of the paragraph)

1. Summary sentence (General statement –going back to Introduction) 2. Restating the Triangle 3. Restatement of Thesis (re-saying your argument (Ex. Since A, B, and C + your argument) 4. “Call for action” ( a suggestion/advice what to do ) Hence, we should do…. (shouldn’t)…. CONCLUSION

A GUIDE for IN-class Essay QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN DRAFTING THE IN-CLASS ESSAY Do I Follow the instructions? Blue or black ink? Large Exam book (green-book) NO NAME of the instructor or student on the cover or anywhere on the exam book! Put the LETTER and the NUMBER assigned to you by your instructor in the TOP RIGHT CORNER of the exam book COVER Skip every other line?

A GUIDE for IN-class Essay QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN DRAFTING THE IN-CLASS ESSAY Does Your Essay Have? A title (your title/ come up with a title for YOUR essay instead of copying the title of the text your read) 5 paragraphs: Introduction, 3 Body paragraphs, and a Conclusion ? Appropriate length of paragraphs: (each paragraphs should be 5-7 sentences __________________ Introduction: Are you starting with an attention getter/ hook? Do you have a brief summary of the text/reading (2-3 sentences in the introduction)? Do you introduce the reading into your introduction properly? (with the Triangle: Title, author, and main idea) Does your Introduction have a thesis statement that shows if you agrees or disagrees with the author’s argument in the text?

A GUIDE for IN-class Essay QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER WHEN DRAFTING THE IN-CLASS ESSAY BODY Paragraphs: Do you have 3 body paragraphs that address each of the 3 questions? Some of the questions have sub-questions in them; make sure you address them all) Do you have any personal or general example that refers to the text’s main idea? Conclusion: Do you have a strong conclusion that restates the triangle and the Thesis? Do you end your essay with a “Call for action” sentence / suggestion as the last sentence of conclusion? ______________________ POROOFREAD! * Manage your time wisely to proofread!