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CLICK THESE LINKS FOR INFORMATION ON INTROS, BODY PARAGRAPHS, AND CONCLUSIONS!
Don't miss the bottom of this page! It has a practical formula for writing an essay!
DISCLAIMER
This course focuses on expository writing, which is the format most often used in general academic compositions.
DO NOT try to apply this format exclusively for more specialize or creative forms. Try one of the following links for these assignments: Descriptive Essays, Narrative Essays, Process Analysis Essays, Comparison and Contrast Essays, or Exemplification/Illustration Essays)
VIEW THE SAMPLE ESSAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE!
(OR click this link to request to view this as a google document!)
Basics
Effective essay writing can basically be broken into four categories: organization/structure, evidence/content, conventions/grammar, and creativity/...creativity. Though I consider creativity of vast personal importance, it is of no use until the first three have been mastered. Therefore, this page will focus exclusively on them. Likewise, every essay you write for me will be graded based on these categories.
That being said, let's break those down.
1. Organization and Structure
This category basically translates over to two things: logic and formatting.
Logic
If your paper doesn't make sense, it won't effectively communicate anything. This "making sense" means having a clear introduction, body, and conclusion (see the linked pages below). Within these sections, you will have unity. This means each paragraph will clearly state and follow one point/direction. Likewise, the entirety of your essay will work as one unit. This means each paragraph will smoothly transition from the preceding.
For example, if the concluding sentence of your introduction (your thesis) states "Spider-man has been established as a quintessential American hero because he is humorous, flawed, and triumphant", then your paper will follow this order (humorous, flawed, and triumphant) and use transitions to move between those points. (Note: Your thesis might not be this direct, but you still need to follow a clear organization approach, which I'll outline at the end of this section.
To know how to best transition, think about how your paragraphs are connected. Are you illustrating a point that was made in the previous paragraph? If so, use transitions like For example, or As an illustration. Are you just moving from one point to the next? Then considering using a transition like First, or Next. Are these points similar (i.e. both positive attributes)? Then consider using a transition like Additionally or Furthermore. Are they opposites? Then utilize something like On the contrary, or However. Transitions are vital. Without them, your paper will feel choppy and disjointed. [These two documents might be helpful: Michigan State List of Transitional Phrases, University of California Santa Barbara on Direct and Implied Transitions (<--Good Insights)]
When thinking about how best to structure these points, consider the following organizational approaches as outlined in The Longman Reader:
Chronological
Time (Research based on events)
Spatial
Based on location (Descriptive/Narrative)
Emphatic
Saving the best for last (Expository...good choice...building)
Simple-to-Complex
Exemplification/Teaching move from rudimentary to advanced concepts
Formatting
For this class, I am talking MLA formatting. Click here for a little break down of that.
2. Evidence/Supporting Details
This is the content of your essay. You've made claims. You've established a direction. BUT, does it work? Do you have enough information to support your claims? The amount of content needed will directly correlate to the length expectations of the assignment. In general, look at my page on body paragraphs for some guidance. However, this will always tie in with citation (see above MLA guidelines). If you use evidence which originated outside of your head (which is nearly always the case), it must be cited. Oh, and while we're on the topic of plagiarism (not citing your work...stealing), enjoy this admonition in song! :D
(Note: I make a grammatical error in the song. I will give extra credit to the first person per class, per semester that can correctly identify and correct it with reasoning.)
Here are a couple points to keep in mind when developing evidence for your writing. (These points are taken from The Longman Reader 8th Edition).
1. It must be relevant & unified.
-These two are connected. Everything has to be linked to your thesis. Every paragraph needs to be tightly linked to you main idea. Do not chase rabbits. Do not contradict yourself.
2. It must be specific.
-Avoid "stuff and thing language". Use vivid and precise language to best express what you're trying to say.
3. It must be adequate.
-You need to have enough evidence to support your claims.
4. It must be accurate.
-Truth. Even if you feel strongly about something, you have to support it with balanced evidence.
5. It must be representative.
-Make sure you evidence actually represents the whole issue. One isolated example is not necessarily representative of the issue.
6. It must be cited.
-See above. Plagiarism is bad.
3. Conventions
Grammar, grammar, grammar. In my class, we will be talking grammar pretty frequently, but here are 10 Usage Keys I've compiled (see Work Cited page) that should work as a fairly good starting point.
OK, BUT HOW DO I DO THIS?
Writing is hard. So often we find ourselves with an assignment to complete and a blank screen in front of us. I want to try and help solve that problem. If we can break essay writing into a formula (do this, then this, then this), it should alleviate some of this pressure. Instead of trying to figure out what to say, you'll just be figuring out how to say it.
Click on the following links to explore each section of an essay.
A SIDE NOTE ON PREWRITING AND OUTLINING:
Do it
Master pieces are works of process
Brainstorm
This is an informal time to just get your thoughts going. I highly recommend hand writing at this stage. I feel like it helps the writing process. Don't try and keep this too structure. New and disconnect ideas can redirect the entire essay, which is perfectly fine at this point.
Outline
Formal-esque. Some people require structured, MLA-formatted outlines before you submit your papers. I am not one of these people. I don't care what your outline looks like, as long as it has Main Points and Sub-Points. AND, I won't be collecting these. You should write them for yourself...not me.
Before beginning. I know some people write outlines after they write their essays...but this doesn't make any sense from a practical standpoint. Why outline what you've already done. The only time I have ever had students do this in the past was to help them realize how disorganized their pieces already were. However, if you write the outline before writing the paper, this issue resolved itself. It's like drawing up the plans before you beginning constructing the building. Blueprints made after the building is already there don't really help. In the long run, writing effective outlines will save you time and effort because they help ensure you have all your organization and evidence secured...before you begin writing.
*Most of these examples and suggestions are my own, or some commonly used writing advice. If you stumbled upon this website by chance, please feel free to use this at your own discretion, or contact me if it's helping at rupchurch@farmington.k12.mo.us!
** This page will likely be in constant revision as new ideas come to me, or as I realize old examples were less than helpful.
Work Cited
Nadell, Judith, John Langan, and Eliza A. Comodromos. The Longman Reader. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. Print.
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