1. Why you need to know how to do this!
Essay Writing
Why you need to know how to do this!

2. Questions to ask: What is the purpose of an essay?
What makes a strong essay?

3. Purposes of an essay
There are many different reasons for writing an essay:
To inform your reader about a topic
To persuade your reader into agreeing with your stance or opinion
To explain an object, process, or situation to your reader
To entertain your reader with an emotional experience

4. What Makes a Strong Essay?
Clear thesis and a roadmap introduction
Well organized and straightforward
Strong supporting evidence
Conclusion that pulls everything together
No unfinished thoughts or unanswered questions

5. Orally presented essays
Cats VS Dogs
Orally presented essays

6. Essay Structure Generally, basic essays follow the same structure
Introductory paragraph
Body paragraph #1
Body paragraph #2
Body paragraph #3
Concluding paragraph

7. Introductory Paragraph
Attention grabbing introductory sentence
Thesis – what is this essay going to be about? What stance do you take on this subject matter?
Supporting sentences – At least 3 statements as to how you will prove that your thesis is true
Transitional statement

8. Body Paragraphs
Topic sentence – What this paragraph will be about and how it will prove your thesis
Supporting evidence – Quotes from your source that support your thesis. Include context of quotation
Consolidating statement- Analysis of supporting evidence and how it supports thesis
Transitional statement – Wrap up your paragraph in order to move on to your next topic

9. Concluding Paragraph Restate your thesis
Restate supporting sentences and how they have supported/proved your thesis
Concluding statement

10. What is a Thesis?
A 1-2 sentence summary of what your essay is about or arguing
A proper thesis must have a topic and a claim (your attitude or opinion of the topic)
A thesis must include points or specifics that explain or prove your claim
Your thesis statement should matter! Is it argumentative? Does it answer the question “so what?”

11. Example
You have won the lottery and can choose to travel anywhere in the world. Write about one place you would like to visit and explain why you’d like to travel there.
Support 1: I would travel to France because I love French food.
Support 2: Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and I would like to see it.
Support 3: I would like to practice my French and become more fluent.
Thesis Statement: If I won the lottery and could travel anywhere in the world, I would travel to France because I love French food, I want to see Paris, and I would like to become more fluent in French.

12. Example Topic: Education is important to have.
Support 1: It could enable one to get a better paying job.
Support 2: It creates a more open-minded person.
Support 3: It makes a person a more informed citizen.
Thesis statement: Education is important to have because it enables one to get a better paying job, it creates a more open-minded person, and it creates a more informed citizen.

13. 5 Kinds of Essays:
Persuasive
Literary
Personal
Expository
Biography

14. Persuasive Essay AKA an argumentative essay
Uses logic and reason to prove one idea is more legitimate than another
Attempt to get reader to adopt your point of view
How to:
Chose your side, know your reader, and research
Provide counter argument
All ideas must be backed up with facts!

15. Personal Essay AKA Narrative essay
Usually about an important person, event, or time in your life
Get your reader to understand the impact it had on you and its importance
How to:
Focus more on detail and less on adjectives
Don’t: “The sunset was breathtaking”
Do: “The blazing sunset gave off a thousand brilliant colours across the twinkling lake…”

16. Literary Essay Insightful, critical interpretation of a literary work
Interpretation of plot, characters, conflict and themes to prove your understanding of topic
How to:
Do not summarize plot!
All supporting information come from text you are analyzing
Use quotes from the text as supporting evidence

17. Expository Essay Explain a topic in a straightforward way
Fair, balanced, unbiased with no reference to your own personal opinion
How to:
Explaining a definitiion
Classification- breaking things down into categories
Compare and contrast- similarities and differences between things
Cause and effect
“How to” directions

18. Biography Essay
Tell the story of a persons life and their impact on society
Can we a historical figure, actor, politician, artist, family member etc.
How to:
Do extensive research on background and impact of figure
Avoid overly biased resources so use many different sources