1. Quick Hits! Avoid the following common essay errors:
Using 1st person, unless when expressly stated.
Referring to a quote you use as “quote”.
Weak verb alert: GOT
DO NOT REPEAT YOUR INTRODUCTION IN YOUR CONCLUSION: EXTEND SIGNIFICANCE
Creating long lists of examples rather than analyzing several good ones.
Repeating similar ideas in separate body paragraphs.
Quick Hits!

2. Context, Quote, Connection (CQC)
Using critical thinking techniques in writing.

3. Principles Behind Using CQC
A persuasive essay makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the persuasive paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided (Purdue OWL).
Principles Behind Using CQC

4. Summary-Analysis Iceberg
…therefore…
Your evidence MUST serve the purpose of supporting your claim or analysis
An essay is not your chance to show how much you remember about a text; it is your chance to show how well you understand the text in order to create an argument.
Your summary should take up less space than your analysis.
Summary-Analysis Iceberg

5. How to use CQC Context Quote Connection:
This lets the reader know under what circumstances the citation you are using appeared in the text.
Quote
Connection:
How this quote is relevant to your thesis. That is, how this quote helps you prove your argument.
How to use CQC

6. Focus Statement: Make the purpose of the paragraph clear.
Context
Quote
Connection
Transition: This might be a lead into your next paragraph or part of your connection back to the thesis. The best essays are able to connect their points together.
Paragraph Outline

7. Suppose you are writing an essay that attempts to prove “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” is an ineffective speech.
Your thesis might go something like this:
John Edwards failure to supply specific reasoning behind the eternal damnation of his audience and his mixed messages about salvation, ultimately obscure the effectiveness of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
Notice, this thesis makes a clear argument and refers to support for that argument.
Example

8. Here is an example of a good body paragraph using CQC.
It is Jonathan Edwards abrupt change in his message about God’s salvation that confuses the audience and unravels his logic. After spending most of his speech attempting to prove God’s lack of forgiveness, he relents, saying, “…Christ has flung the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners.” This must have been disorienting for Edwards’ audience. The fear mongering of the first portion of this speech suddenly disappears. It serves Edwards’ purpose because it gives the listeners motivation to change, but it calls his entire argument into question. This contradiction punctures Edwards’ message Edwards’ and allows doubt to creep into the mind of his audience.
Example, continued.