1. How to
write an
essay in
Mrs.
Koppers’
class

2. Step 1:
Planning
Step 1:
Revising
Step 2: Writing /
Drafting
Choose a topic
Generate ideas
Pre-writing
technique
Write the first draft
Edit and Revise
Proof read
(and revise again if needed)
Submit work

3. Step 1: Planning
Choose a topic that is suitable for your
audience.
If you are given a topic, decide what you will
write about.
Ex. Think of a particular situation from a piece
of literature and explain how it impacts your
own life.

4. Step 1: Planning
Generate ideas
This is where you need to start pre-writing. Choosing
a pre-writing technique will help you formulate your
ideas better. There are several different types of pre-
writing that you can choose.
1) Brainstorming
2) Outlining
3) Mapping / Clustering
4) Free writing
5) Questions

5. Types of pre-writing techniques
• Brainstorming (making a list)
Losing a home
Helping out family
Education
Getting a job
Helping others around me
Not listening to rumors
Respect for my elders

6. Types of pre-writing techniques
• Outlining
I. Introduction
A. Attention getter
B. Topic
C. Thesis
II. Main Point #1
A. Sub Main Point #1
1. Example
2. Example
B. Sub Main Point #2
1. Example
2. Example

7. Types of pre-writing techniques
• Mapping (Clustering)
– Spider map
Main idea

8. Types of pre-writing techniques
• Free writing – is when you just write without
punctuation, spelling, or grammar errors.
ex. while reading the short story by leslie evans I
realized that what she was going through was the
same thing I was going through at my age. her
experiences were relatable to my own situation

9. Types of pre-writing techniques
• Questions
–Who, What, Where, When, Why, and/or
How

10. Introductions
• Introductions are similar to those in speeches.
There are only three steps in an essay:
Attention – getter (2 – 3 sentences)
Topic Introduction
(2 – 3 sentences)
Thesis
(1 sentence)

11. Types of Attention getters
• Rhetorical Questions (2)
• Facts
• Statistics
• Quote
• Personal Incident
• Historical Reference
• Reference to Self

12. A thesis statement is a ONE sentence
statement about what your stand on the topic
is or what your whole essay will discuss
Choose which sentence is a correct way to
write a thesis:

13. I’m going to write about the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
The narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” exhibits unusual
characteristics towards her husband.
The girl in the story is depressed and shows it.
The narrator in the story is unable to show her emotions.
The narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” illustrates a manic state
while she is in her room.

14. Body
• Each body paragraph has ONE thought or ONE
idea. Too many ideas tend to lose the reader
• The first sentence in the essay should explain
what the paragraph is about.

15. Conclusions
• Conclusions are a little shorter than the
introductions.
• Conclusions state what you already said in the
paper and end the essay effectively.
• NO new information is given