Essay writing

ESSAY WRITING ... refer to your notes, think about our class discussions and uses the resources available to you!

When writing any essay, you must keep certain things in mind.
1.  Make a claim, statement, thesis statement
2.  Defend the statement with evidence - lift directly from the text or paraphrase.  Include a quote, page number, column, author name...
3.  Analyze the evidence - explain what the statement makes you think...
4.  Make an inference, draw a conclusion
5.  Paraphrase, reinforce the claim
     use transition words to shift from one idea to the next - (see the TDAC chart below)

Each paragraph should be no less than 5-7 sentences.   Please include a brief summary of events to offering the reader background information.

Lifting/quoting the text sentence starters



Possible analyzing the text sentence starters...
I can conclude...
Based on the text the author means...
I think...
It is obvious that...

SIX TRAITS OF WRITING
                

IDEAS

 

~ Narrow the topic to something specific

~ Relate all events to the plot

~ Write from experience

~ Use interesting details

 

ORGANIZATION

 

~ Hook the reader right away

~ Use logical order and sequence

~ Have a clear beginning, middle, and end

 

 WORD CHOICE

 

~ Use words that tell a clear story

~ Use words that create a mental picture for the reader

~ Use powerful action verbs (vivid verbs)

~ Use specific nouns and adjectives

~ Use language that is natural and not overdone

~ Be concise (tighten sentences)

~ Use words correctly 

 SENTENCE FLUENCY

 ~ Use complete sentences

~ Vary sentence beginning, structure, and length (simple, compound, complex)

~ Use transitions (internal & external) to make it flow and easy to read aloud

  VOICE

 ~ Write honestly and from the heart

~ Use language that brings the topic to life

~ Care about the topic so reader can react to the story

~ Use expression to voice personality

 CONVENTIONS

 ~ Read the story aloud to catch errors

~ Turn in a clean, edited, and polished final draft

~ Reinforce the organization with good paragraphing

~ Use correct punctuation, spelling, and grammar

 

 

 

TDAC

Topic, Detail, Analysis, Conclusion

 

Topic Sentence (This will most likely come from the question)
Text Evidence - Detail (quote or paraphrase)	Analysis – My Thinking
(Transitions - additionally, likewise, furthermore, however, yet, for example, to illustrate, this can be seen, specifically etc.)
Text Evidence - Detail (quote or paraphrase)	Analysis – My Thinking
Conclusion (Begin your last sentence with a definitive word or phrase)

Definitive word or phrase: without a doubt, clearly, surely, definitely, for sure, of course, certainly, absolutely etc.