Essay Writing Lessons ENG 4U

Essay Writing Lessons Essay Structure Essay Outline Moving from Topic to Essay Organizing the Essay Body Essay Format Hints & Tips

Essay Structure

Essay Outline

Moving from Topic to Essay

Organizing the Essay Body

Essay Format

Hints & Tips

Essay Structure The framework of your writing

Essay Structure

Structure Introductory Paragraph - introduce & ease reader into topic - move from general sentences to specific ones - end with your thesis statement Eg: life – literature – book – topic – thesis life – history – people – topic – book - thesis

Introductory Paragraph

- introduce & ease reader into topic

- move from general sentences to specific ones

- end with your thesis statement

Eg: life – literature – book – topic – thesis

life – history – people – topic – book - thesis

Structure Thesis - An arguable statement, making clear the position the author takes on a topic - Depends upon your purpose & audience (Topic = what the text is “about;” the subject addressed by a text Eg: greed, love, hope, jealousy, etc.)

Thesis

- An arguable statement, making clear the position the author takes on a topic

- Depends upon your purpose & audience

(Topic = what the text is “about;” the subject addressed by a text

Eg: greed, love, hope, jealousy, etc.)

Structure Body Paragraphs - where you prove your thesis Body Paragraph Structure: 1. Point (topic sentence: proves thesis) 2. Proofs (as many as are practical) 3. Comment (relates proofs to thesis)

Body Paragraphs

- where you prove your thesis

Body Paragraph Structure:

1. Point (topic sentence: proves thesis)

2. Proofs (as many as are practical)

3. Comment (relates proofs to thesis)

Structure Concluding Paragraph - re-state your thesis - move from specific sentences to general ones - ease reader away from essay, and back to real life again (theme statement)

Concluding Paragraph

- re-state your thesis

- move from specific sentences to general ones

- ease reader away from essay, and back to real life again (theme statement)

Structure The Rebuttal Paragraph - Acknowledge points of opposing argument - Minimize the validity of these points * Insert after your introductory paragraph!

The Rebuttal Paragraph

- Acknowledge points of opposing argument

- Minimize the validity of these points

* Insert after your introductory paragraph!

Essay Outline What’s required Marks for summative

What’s required

Marks for summative

Essay Outline Thesis (2) List of rebuttal points (3) For each body paragraph: (3X4) - Full topic sentence - Proofs in point form - Full comment sentence Thesis restatement in different words (1) Theme statement (2)

Thesis (2)

List of rebuttal points (3)

For each body paragraph: (3X4)

- Full topic sentence

- Proofs in point form

- Full comment sentence

Thesis restatement in different words (1)

Theme statement (2)

Moving from Topic to Essay …in 8 easy steps!

Moving from Topic to Essay Read & understand topic Dissect & brainstorm topic Pick argument & brainstorm thesis Form & test thesis Brainstorm & organize support List rebuttals Write, Revise, Edit Proofread & print good copy

Read & understand topic

Dissect & brainstorm topic

Pick argument & brainstorm thesis

Form & test thesis

Brainstorm & organize support

List rebuttals

Write, Revise, Edit

Proofread & print good copy

Organizing the Essay Body Principles & Development Methods

Organizing the Essay Body Organizing principle? - chronology - cause & effect - process - logic Development method? - define - classify - analyze - describe - compare - exemplify

Organizing principle?

- chronology - cause & effect

- process - logic

Development method?

- define - classify

- analyze - describe

- compare - exemplify

Essay Format MLA Style

Essay Format: Page 1

Essay Format: Subsequent Pages

Essay Format: Works Cited

Essay Format: In-Text Citation Author’s name in text -- page information in parentheses: eg: Murray claims that food is good for you (35-7). Author’s name in reference -- name and page information in parenthesis: eg: There are many reasons why food is good for you (Murray 35-7). Full reference in text -- no parentheses necessary: eg: Murray, in pages 35-7 of his book, explains why food is good for you.

Author’s name in text -- page information in parentheses:

eg: Murray claims that food is good for you (35-7).

Author’s name in reference -- name and page information in parenthesis:

eg: There are many reasons why food is good for you (Murray 35-7).

Full reference in text -- no parentheses necessary:

eg: Murray, in pages 35-7 of his book, explains why food is good for you.

Hints & Tips Advice for top marks

Hints & Tips Do not write in 1 st person (avoid “I”) Do not start a body / concluding paragraph with a quotation Move from your weakest point to your strongest Do not use contractions Do not use colloquial language Use the present tense Refer to author by last name Develop a creative title that relates to thesis

Do not write in 1 st person (avoid “I”)

Do not start a body / concluding paragraph with a quotation

Move from your weakest point to your strongest

Do not use contractions

Do not use colloquial language

Use the present tense

Refer to author by last name

Develop a creative title that relates to thesis

Essay Writing Ask questions at any time!