Issues to Keep in Mind When Writing Essays:

Consistent Verb Tense One of the most important issues to keep in mind when writing essays is to keep a consistent verb tense throughout. You don’t want to shift back and forth between past and present tense. As a rule, when writing about literature, you should always use present tense! One of the most important issues to keep in mind when writing essays is to keep a consistent verb tense throughout. You don’t want to shift back and forth between past and present tense. As a rule, when writing about literature, you should always use present tense!

Examples: King Arthur is a movie based on one of the multiple interpretations of Arthurian legend. In the movie, Arthur was based on a leader that lived in the Anglo-Saxon time period. His name was Lucius Artorius Castus. INCORRECT King Arthur is a movie based on one of the multiple interpretations of Arthurian legend. In the movie, Arthur was based on a leader that lived in the Anglo-Saxon time period. His name was Lucius Artorius Castus. INCORRECT King Arthur is a movie based on one of the multiple interpretations of Arthurian legend. In the movie, Arthur is based on an Anglo-Saxon leader named Lucius Artorius Castus. CORRECT King Arthur is a movie based on one of the multiple interpretations of Arthurian legend. In the movie, Arthur is based on an Anglo-Saxon leader named Lucius Artorius Castus. CORRECT

Shifts in person/number Writers should not shift between first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (she, he, it, one, they). Writers should not shift between first person (I, we), second person (you), and third person (she, he, it, one, they). Consider this: One ought to be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if you plan to drive. (The sentence begins with the third person “one” but ends with the second person “you”) One ought to be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if you plan to drive. (The sentence begins with the third person “one” but ends with the second person “you”)Revisions: One ought to be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if one plans to drive. (consistently third person) One ought to be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if one plans to drive. (consistently third person) You should be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if you plan to drive. (consistently second person) You should be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if you plan to drive. (consistently second person)

Shifts in person/number con’d BUT, remember that “you” should not be used in an indefinite way, which means it is okay to use in conversation, but not in formal academic writing. The best solution is to replace the problematic pronoun with a noun: BUT, remember that “you” should not be used in an indefinite way, which means it is okay to use in conversation, but not in formal academic writing. The best solution is to replace the problematic pronoun with a noun: People ought to be careful about alcohol consumption, especially if they plan to drive.

Using 3rd person When writing formal, academic essays, you should use 3rd person. When writing formal, academic essays, you should use 3rd person. Because you are writing the essay, it is already implied that the opinions expressed are your own. Therefore, there is no need to say, “In my opinion” or “I believe.” Because you are writing the essay, it is already implied that the opinions expressed are your own. Therefore, there is no need to say, “In my opinion” or “I believe.”

Examples: I believe the film King Arthur is the most accurate representation of the legend of King Arthur. WRONG I believe the film King Arthur is the most accurate representation of the legend of King Arthur. WRONG The film King Arthur is the most accurate representation of the legend of King Arthur. CORRECT The film King Arthur is the most accurate representation of the legend of King Arthur. CORRECT

More Examples: If you review the film King Arthur, you will see it is a quality piece of work. WRONG If you review the film King Arthur, you will see it is a quality piece of work. WRONG Reviewing the film King Arthur proves it is a quality piece of work. CORRECT Reviewing the film King Arthur proves it is a quality piece of work. CORRECT

Avoid being formulaic Because you are seniors, and are planning to head to college, teachers/professors will expect your writing to be more advanced. Therefore, using formulaic phrases (i.e. “In this paper, I will…”) is not acceptable. Because you are seniors, and are planning to head to college, teachers/professors will expect your writing to be more advanced. Therefore, using formulaic phrases (i.e. “In this paper, I will…”) is not acceptable.

Comma Splices A comma splice is incorrectly using a comma to join two independent clauses. There are multiple ways to correct a comma splice. You can: A comma splice is incorrectly using a comma to join two independent clauses. There are multiple ways to correct a comma splice. You can:  Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, or, so yet, nor, but).  Use a semicolon, instead of a comma, to separate the independent clauses.  Make the two clauses separate sentences by using a period instead of a comma.  Restructure the sentence.

Sentence Fragments A sentence fragment is a sentence that does not have both a subject and a verb. You can fix sentence fragments in two ways: A sentence fragment is a sentence that does not have both a subject and a verb. You can fix sentence fragments in two ways: –Add the fragment to a nearby sentence. –Turn the fragment into a sentence.

Underlining, Italicizing, and Quotation Marks Quotation marks should be used for: songs, short stories, television episodes, essays, poems, and chapters. Quotation marks should be used for: songs, short stories, television episodes, essays, poems, and chapters. Underline or Italicize: books, magazines, journals, newspaper titles, plays, titles of television series or programs, and paintings. Underline or Italicize: books, magazines, journals, newspaper titles, plays, titles of television series or programs, and paintings.

Tips for writing a Comparison-Contrast Essay:

Formulate a strong thesis. Your thesis is the backbone of your essay. With comparison-contrast, your thesis should do the following: Your thesis is the backbone of your essay. With comparison-contrast, your thesis should do the following: * Name the subjects being compared and contrasted * Indicate whether the essay focuses on the subjects’ similarities, differences, or both. * State the essay’s main point of comparison-contrast.

Be Organized! You can choose from two different methods of organization: the Block method or the Point-by-Point Method: You can choose from two different methods of organization: the Block method or the Point-by-Point Method: * Block method: discuss everything that is relevant about one source before discussing other sources. Be careful with this type of organization as your analysis of the sources would most likely come after you provide the source information. Don’t forget the analysis! * Point-by-Point Method: with this type of organization, the points rather than the sources would be the driving force of your organization.

Block Method Point-by-Point Method Subject 1: King Arthur in “First Knight” Feature 1: physical Feature 1: physical characteristics characteristics Feature 2: personality Feature 2: personality traits traits Subject 2: King Arthur in “King Arthur” Feature 1: physical Feature 1: physical characteristics characteristics Feature 2: personality Feature 2: personality traits traits Feature 1: Physical Characteristics Subject 1: King Arthur in Subject 1: King Arthur in “First Knight” “First Knight” Subject 2: King Arthur in Subject 2: King Arthur in “King Arthur” “King Arthur” Feature 2: Personality Traits Subject 1: King Arthur in Subject 1: King Arthur in “First Knight” “First Knight” Subject 2: King Arthur in Subject 2: King Arthur in “King Arthur” “King Arthur”

Supply the reader with clear transitions. Transitions are very important to these essays as you need to remind readers of where they have been, and show them where they are going. Transitions provide even more clarity for your reader as to when you are shifting focus, and they add cohesiveness to the essay as a whole. Some examples: Transitions are very important to these essays as you need to remind readers of where they have been, and show them where they are going. Transitions provide even more clarity for your reader as to when you are shifting focus, and they add cohesiveness to the essay as a whole. Some examples: AlsoHowever In the same wayBut LikewiseMore so SimilarlyAlong those lines By way of contrastIn comparison On the other hand