1. English 10 Provincial Exam ESSAY WRITING REVIEW

2.  Once you have your essay topic, take 5-10 minutes to plan your essay.  Here are some examples of mind-mapping your essay… MAKE A PLAN

4.  Your essay will make more sense to the reader if you use the “Signposts” which tell your reader which way your argument is going  Make sure that you include at least 5 transition words Examples:  Contrast: on the other hand, in contrast, however, nevertheless, while, whereas…  Similarity: in the same way, in this way, similarly…  Adding info: in addition, furthermore, another example of…  Cause: due to, since, for this reason, this is why…  Give example: for instance, thus, to illustrate, in particular…  NOTE: Do not begin a sentence with and or because INCLUDE TRANSITION WORDS

5.  Your expository essay functions to expose or demonstrate a point  A persuasive essay is the most common form of expository essay, where the writer persuades the reader by using arguments that support a thesis  Necessary elements: 1- Grabber 2- Thesis 3- Argument #1 – with example / evidence 4- Argument #2 – with example / evidence 5- Argument #3 – with example / evidence 6- Conclusion (remember to extend your argument by adding something new to think about – food for thought) OPTION #1: EXPOSITORY ESSAY

6.  Involve the reader in the essay (show don’t tell) – recreate how it happened  Appeal to the senses – use sensory description to create images (taste, sight, touch, hearing, smell)  Make a point – your essay should have one culminating moment where a discovery was made or something profound happened  The conclusion should reflect on this, what was learned?  The narrative essay is usually told from the first-person perspective  The narrative essay has the following plot elements: setting, intro, rising action, climax, resolution, (reflection) OPTION #2: NARRATIVE ESSAY

7.  Read over your writing at least two times before you leave the exam room especially if you have extra time  Look for the following:  -avoid casual, colloquial English  -avoid generalizations or cliches  -include sophisticated, interesting language  -use imagery and metaphors for additional style marks  -check for spelling  -make sure you have double-spaced, included a title, indented the first line, etc. PROOFREAD

8.  Make sure that each sentence is correctly punctuated  If you have two ideas, they need to be separated by a transition word or a period  If you do not have a subject and verb, this is a fragment (ex: the unusual incident of the strange man)  Transition words: Thus, education can come from many sources. Most people think that education can only be achieved by going to school; however, there are many ways one can get an education. CHECK FOR PUNCTUATION

9.  Sometimes, reading your essay quietly to yourself gives you an idea of how to improve on it.  Remember not to read too loudly in the exam, however. READ YOUR ESSAY TO YOURSELF