ACEIT
A Writing Strategy
Helping Writers Get that “ A”
And Avoid Plagiarism
What ACEIT stands for…
A- Assertion
C- Citation
E- Explication
I- Interpretation
T- Transition/Termination
Purpose
All writers, whether in high school or in
college, are often frustrated with the lower
grades they receive for their academic essays.
If you’re finding that this happens “more
often, than not” for you, then the A-C-E-I-T
is the writing strategy you need to consider.
ESSAY’S STRUCTURE:
The Functional Paragraphs
Functional Paragraphs have important jobs to do.
*The Introduction—grabs reader’s attention
--includes background information, historical
context, defined terms, thesis.
--may include rhetorical question, related quotation,
illustrative anecdote, shocking or provoking
opening.
*The Conclusion—takes reader back to thesis
--restates main point; shows broader significance of
the argument; ends with recommendation; takes
reader back to the thesis.
ASSERTION
A is for ASSERTION.
Every essay needs to make a point, a statement to
prove. Remember the thesis?
(It may appear anywhere in your essay, but it usually comes in the beginning.)
What IS a Thesis?
A well written essay needs to have a controlling
thought, a clear and focused main idea.
This clearly focused main idea is the THESIS and
is always expressed in a complete sentence.
What does the Thesis do?
A Thesis….
*narrows the writer’s subject;
*claims something specific and
important about the subject;
*conveys the writer’s purpose: often
explanatory or argumentative;
*previews the arrangement of ideas;
*is debatable and/or arguable.
Do not confuse TOPIC with THESIS.
Topic: (Essay to Persuade) A “Greener” America
Thesis: Complete recycling participation is essential if
America is to become a “greener,” more responsible nation
environmentally.
Topic: (Essay of Literary Analysis)
Illusion vs. Reality in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Thesis: Living lives of illusion and existing in worlds filled
with false hopes creates the struggle of illusion vs. reality for
the Loman family in Miller’s drama Death of a Salesman.
CITATION
C
is for CITATION.
To support a thesis, a writer needs to use credible and
reliable sources to develop the essay.
These sources are used judiciously and sparingly
throughout the essay’s developmental paragraphs*.
All citations need correct documentation, giving credit for
their original publication.
*Paragraphs that support and “develop” the thesis.
Which form of Documentation?
BEFORE the writer decides upon any research format, he/she should
check with the instructor and/or institution policy.
_______________________________________________________________
Otherwise these formats are generally accepted:
MLA (Modern Language Association)
for classes in literature, language, art, music, humanities
APA (American Psychological Association)
for classes in the sciences, both laboratory and social
CHICAGO (a form of the old “Turabian” style)
for classes in history requiring document based research
Reliable vs. Non-reliable Sources
When evaluating sources for possible citation use, ask the following:
*Does it devote attention to the topic (relevance)?
*Is the source up-to-date?
*Where does the source come from?
*Is the author an expert in the field?
*Is there author bias?
*Is the source fair, reasonable, and well-written?
*Is the author’s claim well supported?
*Are the sources used judiciously, or as needed, throughout the
essay?
Adding “Muscle” to the Body of the Essay
The major flaw of most student academic writing
lies in OVER citation with UNDER development
of details in the paragraphs of the body.
This creates only a “skeletal” piece of writing.
Plagiarism: Pure and Simple
•
Taking and using reference material without correctly citing
it.
•
Illegally summarizing and/or paraphrasing without correctly
citing the material.
•
Inserting ideas, any ideas or thoughts, not originating in the
mind of the writer.
•
Erroneously assuming new material is already established
and known by the reader.
•
Using vocabulary and sentence structure not of the writer’s
original “voice” or “style.”
Consequences of Plagiarism
Any or all of the following:
*Zero on the assignment.
*Notification to Administration:
Department Chair, Dean of Academics, Principal
*Written report in student’s
permanent file.
*Potential failure for the semester.
*Dismissal from class and/or college.
EXPLICATION
E
is for EXPLICATION.
After any citation, the writer needs to “translate” what the
quote, summarized information, etc. actually says.
This establishes the writer’s credibility for the reader.
(“What this passage—quote, research, data, etc.—says
is….”)
INTERPRETATION
I
is for INTERPRETATION.
Once the writer has effectively “translated” or explicated the cited
information, it is essential that it be brought back to the essay’s
THESIS. In essence, the writer is relating what the citation means
by bringing its importance and relevance back to the essay’s thesis.
This provides further “muscle” to the developmental paragraphs of
the essay’s body.
Examples of
EXPLICATION
From a student’s literary analysis of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
According to one source, “Willy tried
desperately to deny that his sons were failures,
and that he was failing as a salesman”
(Shockley 80).
CITATION:
Shockley clearly suggests that Willy is
determined to avoid the truth regarding not only
the failures of his sons, but his own failures as
well. (What this says is……)
EXPLICATION:
Examples of INTERPRETATION
From a student’s literary analysis of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.
EXPLICATION: Shockley clearly suggests that Willy is determined to avoid the
truth regarding not only the failures of his sons, but his own failures as well.
(“What this says is…”)
INTERPRETATION: These failures to recognize the truth, the realities of his life,
continue to cause Willy, along with others in the Loman family, to delve deeper
into the world of illusion. (“What this means is…”)
This will continue to add “muscle” to your developmental paragraphs.
TRANSITION
T
is for TRANSITION
If the writer has successfully developed his/her first major detail
supporting the essay’s thesis, the next step is to gracefully TRANSITION to
the next developmental detail supporting the thesis.
Effective use of TRANSITION, both within the paragraphs and between
the paragraphs, enhances the essay’s coherence, or flow of ideas. Without
TRANSITION, the essay becomes choppy and randomly developed.
Methods of TRANSITION
Transition can be achieved in many ways:
1) using transitional expressions and phrases;
2) repeating keywords or key ideas;
3) using pronouns with clear antecedents;
4) using enumeration (1, 2, or first, second, etc.);
5) summarizing a previous paragraph;
6) asking a question; and
7) using a transitional paragraph.
Methods of TRANSITION
Certain words and phrases are inherently transitional:
FUNCTION
TERMS
Result
therefore, as a result, consequently, thus,
hence
Example
for example, for instance, specifically, as an
illustration
Comparison
similarly, likewise, in comparison
Contrast
but, yet, still, however, nevertheless, on the
other hand, by contrast
Time
now, presently, later, meanwhile, since then,
after that, before that time
Sequence
first, second, third, initially, then, next, finally
This list is only a representative one; there are many more. Check your style manual.
TERMINATION
T
is (also) for TERMINATION
Once the developmental sections of the essay are complete, it then becomes
necessary to provide an effective ending to it.
This functional paragraph, or section, is the essay’s conclusion or
TERMINATION.
This part of the essay, functional in nature, is just as important as the
essay’s introduction, in that it provides closure for the reader.
This section is the essay’s “Terminator.”
Strategies for TERMINATION
Some strategies for writing effective conclusions include:
*recommending a course of action;
*summarizing the essay;
*echoing major ideas from the introduction;
*restating thesis and reflecting on its implications;
*striking a note of hope or despair;
*giving a symbolic or powerful fact or other related detail;
*suggesting an especially compelling related example;
*creating an image that represents the subject; and
*using a meaningful, but related, quotation.
Strategies for TERMINATION
Strategies to avoid when writing an effective conclusion:
*Repeating the introduction.
The conclusion should capture what the paragraphs of the body have
added to the introduction.
*Using a “sweeping” generalization.
The conclusion should not bring in more than what the evidence
contained can support.
*Offering an apology.
If there is doubt cast within the essay, the reader will not have the
necessary confidence in what has been presented.
References
Aaron, Jane E. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook with
Exercises. 7th ed. New York: Longman, 2010. Print.
Alred, Gerald J. et. al. The Business Writer’s Handbook.
11 ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2006.
Crowley, Alan. Instruction on using the ACEIT. Alvirne
High School. 1996-2001. Lecture.
Miller, Leonard M. Using the ACEIT in Academic Writing.
Lake Sumter Community College. 2010-. Lecture.