1. Essay Writing

2. Essay A piece of writing that gives your thoughts about a subject
All essays you will write will have at least 5 paragraphs
Introduction Paragraph
3 Body paragraphs
Concluding Paragraph

3. Introductory Paragraph
The first paragraph of an essay
It has a minimum of three sentences
Begin with a sentence that captures attention
Next sentences give any necessary background information
Last sentence is the thesis statement

4. Body Paragraph All middle paragraphs in an essay
It develops a point you want to make that supports the thesis.
Must being with a topic sentence that states the main point and related it to the thesis.
Include enough evidence and analysis to support your point
End with a sentence that transitions to the next paragraph

5. Concluding Paragraph The last paragraph in your essay
It sums up your ideas, reflects on what you said in your essay, or gives a personal statement about the subject
Echoes the thesis statement without repeating it
Should be all commentary
NO NEW INFORMATION!!!

6. Thesis A sentence with a subject and opinion
It is the point which your essay is trying to prove
It may mention the main point of each body paragraph
Goes in the introduction and most often at the end
NO EVIDENCE!
NO RHETORICAL QUESTIONS!

7. Topic Sentences
The first sentence in a body paragraph (must have a subject and an opinion)
It does the same thing for the body paragraph as the thesis does for the whole essay

8. Evidentiary Support
Specific details that form the backbone of the body paragraph
These are facts, examples, proof, evidence, or a quotation from a story that help make your point.

9. Analysis Your opinion or comment about the evidence
These are opinions, insights, analysis, interpretation, feelings or reflections
This is where you explain what the evidence says and why it matters.

10. Transition Sentence The last sentence in the body paragraph
Ties two body paragraphs together
Concludes one paragraph and introduces the next paragraph

11. Prewrite Creating a working thesis statement
The process of getting your evidence down on paper before you organize your essay into paragraphs

12. Organizing
The step that is done after prewriting to organize your essay.
It is an outline of your thesis, topic sentences, evidence, analysis, and closing sentences

13. First Draft The first full version of your essay
Also called the rough draft

14. Title Conveys the main point of the essay in 10 words or less
A creative way to attract attention and interest
Capitalize the first word and all the important words

15. Review Essays must have at least five paragraphs
The intro paragraph must have at least three sentences
Each body paragraph must contain at least 3 three pieces of evidence with analysis
The concluding paragraph must have at least three sentences

16. Why Use MLA Formatting
Allows readers to cross-reference your sources easily
Provides consistent format
Gives you credibility as a writer
Protects you from plagiarism

17. MLA Formatting
12 Point Font
Times New Roman
Double Space
Paginated

18. Left Header Left hand corner Only on the first page Your name
Instructor name
Class title
Due date

19. Right Header Right hand corner On each page Last name page number
Hancock 1
Hancock 365

20. Title Citations Centered between margins Less than 3 lines
Imbedded to text
Set off with quotation marks
Cite (author last name page number)
When the narrator says, “My mother said I could be anyone I wanted to be.” (Tan 12) This shows her hope in her mother’s dreams

21. Citations Less than 3 lines Imbedded to text
Set off with quotation marks
Cite (author last name page number)
When the narrator says, “My mother said I could be anyone I wanted to be.” (Tan 12) This shows her hope in her mother’s dreams. At this point, the narrator believes in what her mother tells her is possible.

22. Citations longer than 3 lines
Lead in:
Off set and new margin for quote only
Example
The Prologue says:
Two Households both alike in dignity
In fair Verona where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to mutiny
Where civil hands make civil blood unclean. (Shakespeare )
These are the opening lines to the play. They give the setting and background information so the reader can begin to understand the events to come.

23. John Smith Smith 1
Mrs. Hancock
English 101
23 May 2000
Title
Paragraph one begins like this Make sure you use a 12 point font because a 14 point font is obvious. Also the entire essay is double spaced. Each page needs to have your last name along with the page number on the right corner.

24. Works Cited Page
A complete list of every source that you make reference to in your essay
Provides the information necessary for a reader to locate and retrieve any sources cited in your essay.

25. Works Cited Page Right-hand header with page Works Cited is centered
Entire page is double spaced
Begin on a new page

26. Resources are alphabetical order by author last name
Hanging margins when entry is longer than one line
Indent the second line and every line afterward

27. Resource The On-line Writing Lab at Purdue University