10 or so steps designed to improve essay writing skills at all levels designed by a National Hall of Fame teacher whose students have done exceptional well.
1. Golden Rules of Essays: Writing Between
the Lines
By National Hall of Fame Teacher Alan Haskvitz
and inservice presenter
(reacheverychild@yahoo.com)
Reader's Digest Hero in Education
USA Today First Team Educator
Cherry International Award for Great Teachers
2. My Students' Essay Results
Their research and writing earned them free
trips to Sea World, Disneyland, Busch Gardens,
CNN, Washington DC, New York and Rome
All told they have earned about $100,000 in
awards for their work that was featured in Time,
Newsweek, NPR, USA Today, the LA Times,
and national, state and local media.
3. Ten or So Golden Rules
Rule One: Think about what you are writing.
Between the lines is where the reader learns to
care about you and your message
That is the Craft of Writing
5. If You Have Something to Say Don't Say it
FEEL IT
Hook your reader. Let the words draw them into
the story. Choose them carefully.
“Don't tell me the moon is shining, show me the
glint of light on broken glass.”
― Bernard Cornwell
7. Next Rule: Read the Rules
Rules are designed to make the competition fair
and to provide a framework to help structure your
entry. It is not only important in this competition,
but in life.
8. Brainstorm and Research
Spend time thinking about possible story ideas.
Write them down. Bounce them off of others and
ask for their thoughts before starting to write.
“My mom or dad or family is best because they
buy me things” may be true, but perhaps
spending more time researching might reveal how
that became possible and better craft the essay.
9. Outline, Outline, Outline
The biggest weakness of an entry was to find that
it wandered. Spend time on the outline knowing
that you can change it. The outline is a map to
help you reach your goal. It also helps keep your
writing on track.
Remember that each sentence should add
depth to your work.
10. What is Your Audience
You are not writing an essay for a friend. You are
writing it for strangers. Picky strangers.
Remember that an essay isn't a journal or diary
entry. The essay exists to communicate your
feelings on a topic. Relevance is important to the
reader.
Drawing them in and having them care is your
goal.
11. Proofread: The Brown Leaf
Syndrome
Don't depend on a spelling checker.
Read it as soon as you are finished.
Let the essay sit a day or two and read it again.
Read it two ways. First, word by word. Secondly,
read it for context; sentence by sentence.
The Brown Leaf Syndrome
Regardless of how nice the plant is the buyer can
pass it by because it has one brown leaf.
12. Avoid Pronouns and Repetitions
Use purposeful dialog by rethinking each word to
give more understanding to the reader.
Try to make each pronoun adds life to the
characters, setting, and plot.
“He came into the store.” OR
“Young, scared, and wearing torn jeans, the
blond haired youngster cautiously entered...”
Remember that each word should be like adding
sprinkles to ice cream.
14. Stay focused using your voice
Don't get sidetracked.
Set a reasonable goal.
Keep the end in mind.
Remember to keep the “voice” consistent
The essay should reflect your style and be in the
writer's own words?
15. Tie it Together: Closure
Bring your writing craft essay to a close by
rewording your hypothesis.
Don't try to be flashy, but show a command of
language.
Try and make every word move the essay
forward.
Thus, this is the last of the Golden Rules of
essay writing.
