EAP Tips
Essay Portion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
You will need:
Your Rochester essay (or a sample essay if you did not complete an
essay)
your EAP rubric (this is inside your yellow course syllabus)
A pen or pencil
A highlighter
A dry erase marker
Optional: An extra sheet of paper
Tips will be in Red!
• Copy those down in the space provided.
Tip # 1
• The very first sentences you write should
show understanding of the author’s argument.
Let’s
review the
prompt.
“Two-thirds of adolescent and adult Americans drink alcohol, and of
those, 8 to 12 percent will become alcoholics or problem drinkers. To
combat this huge public-health crisis, we should begin a national system
of licensing, with appropriate penalties. Applicants for a drinking license
would first be required to study a manual containing basic information
about alcohol and the law, much like the driver’s manual we all
memorized in high school. Next they would have to pass a written test,
after which they would receive a drinking license. License holders, and
only license holders, would then be able to buy alcoholic beverages
(including beer). Most of the problem drinkers would, at some point,
probably face arrest on alcohol-related offenses. If convicted, they would
lose their license. A liquor store or bar caught selling to an unlicensed
drinker would lose its license as well.”
—Earl Rochester
Explain Rochester’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree
or disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and
examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
Sample student intro paragraph showing
understanding of the author’s argument.
Rochester states “8 to 12 percent of adolescent and adult American
drinkers may become alcoholics.” but drives the situation too far
by explaining the “national system of licensing.” Rochester is
insisting American citizens get a license to drink like we have to
drive. We would have to study the “drinkers handbook” to obtain
the license and if you don’t have it, you can’t drink, purchase, or
conceal alcoholic beverages. I think Rochester is mistaken because
he overlooks….
Brought to
you by # 11,
period 2.
Self Reflection for tip # 1
• Reread your essay-did you show
understanding of the prompt in your intro
paragraph? Cite your sentence #’s.
Tip 2
•Take a stance!
In your thesis state, whether you agree or
disagree.
It’s okay to use “I”
Sample thesis statements
• I disagree with his analysis of this crisis because if we start
having a license for drinking, then there might as well be a
license for smoking and other things that Americans get addicted
to or are already addicted to.
Brought to you by #5,
period 6
Self Reflection for tip # 2
• Reread your intro. Did you take a stance in
your thesis statement in your introductory
paragraph? Copy your thesis statement in the
space provided. If you don’t have a thesis
statement, write one now.
Tip # 3
•Join the National
conversation!
Insert your own
observations with those
of others.
•You can cite books,
celebrities, movies,
politicians, etc.
Sample essay showing how the writer
“ joined” the national conversation.
• An alcohol license may set back some alcohol-related issues, but
they would not cease. Officers would be focusing on finding and
arresting unlicensed drinkers and providers, instead of spending
time catching people who are committing far worse crimes such
as robbery, assault, vandalism, drug dealing, etc. Jails would
immediately become crowded with people who are fairly
innocent compared to actual criminals.
Brought to you by
#27, period 2
Self Reflection for tip # 3
• Reread your essay-Did you “join the national
conversation” by using examples from
personal experiences? Observations? And
readings? Highlight your examples.
Tip 4
• Spend at least 1 paragraph challenging the
author’s “wording”.
• Choose a loaded word or phrase and analyze
the fairness of using these words to support
his or her arguments and claims..
Let’s practice with the following
prompt. List words or phrases that you
might challenge.
“Two-thirds of adolescent and adult Americans drink alcohol, and of those, 8 to 12
percent will become alcoholics or problem drinkers. To combat this huge public-health
crisis, we should begin a national system of licensing, with appropriate penalties.
Applicants for a drinking license would first be required to study a manual containing
basic information about alcohol and the law, much like the driver’s manual we all
memorized in high school. Next they would have to pass a written test, after which
they would receive a drinking license. License holders, and only license holders, would
then be able to buy alcoholic beverages (including beer). Most of the problem drinkers
would, at some point, probably face arrest on alcohol-related offenses. If convicted,
they would lose their license. A liquor store or bar caught selling to an unlicensed
drinker would lose its license as well.”
—Earl Rochester
Explain Rochester’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree
with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and examples from your
own experience, observations, or reading.
Let’s practice with the following
prompt. List words or phrases that you
might challenge.
“Two-thirds of adolescent and adult Americans drink alcohol, and of those, 8
to 12 percent will become alcoholics or problem drinkers. To combat this
huge public-health crisis, we should begin a national system of licensing, with
appropriate penalties. Applicants for a drinking license would first be required
to study a manual containing basic information about alcohol and the law,
much like the driver’s manual we all memorized in high school. Next they
it really a “huge
wouldIshave
to pass a written test, after which they would receive a drinking
crisis”?
license. License holders, and only license holders, would then be able to buy
alcoholic beverages (including beer). Most of the problem drinkers would, at
some point, probably face arrest on alcohol-related offenses. If convicted,
they would lose their license. A liquor store or bar caught selling to an
unlicensed drinker would lose its license as well.”
—Earl Rochester
Explain Rochester’s argument and discuss the extent to which you agree or
disagree with his analysis. Support your position, providing reasons and
examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
Sample essay showing how the writer
“challenged” loaded words and
phrases.
The word or phrase from the prompt
The challenging of that word or phrase
8-12 percent
“Even though there is that 8-12 percent that have
problems, most people are still responsible enough to
know when to stop or bring a friend with them to
take care of them…For the 8-12 percent of alcoholics
and problem drinkers, there are rehabs and
companies that will help you to fix that problem”
Brought to
you by #202
Test
Brought to
you by #226
“How would a test make sure that person is a responsible
drinker? They may just lie on their answer to obtain a
license. It’s not like the test would detect you lying or not.
“
Self Reflection for tip # 4
• Reread your essay-Did you “challenge the
author’s use of loaded words and phrases”?
Circle your sentences where you did so. If you
did not, what word or phrase could you
challenge if you had to rewrite this essay?
Tip 5
• Refer to the author’s argument in each
paragraph!!!
• Quote or paraphrase a part of the prompt and
relate it to the rest of the body paragraph.
Sample sentences where the writer
referred to the author’s argument in
the body paragraph.
• First, Rochester thinks that there should be a license testing for
smokers as well. (BP # 1)
Brought to
you by #5-6
• Although Rochester makes a valid point of having a drinking
license to regulate how much you drink, he overlooks the
possibility of illegal selling of alcohol. (BP #2)
Brought to
you by #26-2
Self Reflection for tip # 5
• Reread your essay. Did you quote or
paraphrase the author’s argument in each
body paragraph? Underline the quotes and
paraphrases in your essay.
Tip 6
• Analysis over writing proficiency!!!
Tip 7 Sound smart-use a template
• TEMPLATES FOR ESTABLISHING WHY YOUR CLAIMS MATTER
•
X matters/ is important because ________________.
•
Although X may seem trivial, it is in fact crucial in terms of today`s
concern over ________________.
•
Ultimately, what is at stake here is ________________.
•
These findings have important consequences for the broader domain of
________________.
•
My discussion of X is in fact addressing the larger matter of
________________.
•
These conclusions/ This discovery will have significant applications in
________________ as well as in ________________.
•
Although X may seem of concern to only a small group of
Sample student essay using a
template.
• I`m of two minds about X`s claim that
________________. On the one hand, I agree
that ________________. On the other hand, I`m
not sure if ________________.
Brought to you by
#36, period 2
• I am of two minds about Rochester’s claim that a drinking license
could solve this “huge public-health crisis.” On the one hand, I
agree that it is a great idea that people that have proven to be
responsible with alcohol can own a drinking license. On the other
hand, it could be very easy for someone with a drinking license to
buy alcohol for someone without one.
Self Reflection for tip #7
• Reread your essay. Did you use a template?
Using the new list of templates on the back of
your handout, try using a template you have
not used before.
Want to finish in time? 45-55 minutes
• Dissect-2 minutes to read
and dissect the prompt
• Brainstorm-3-10 minutes
• Thesis-1 minute to create a
rough thesis
• Outline-5 minutes to outline
• Write-25-35
• Revise-2-5 minutes
On Monday, you will write another
essay . Please use the 7 tips to help
you write a better essay.
• TOPIC III: "Recently, major tobacco companies agreed to
pay a financial settlement to several states, including
California, for health problems caused by cigarette smoking
and other kinds of tobacco addiction. If this course of
action is right for tobacco companies, then manufacturers
of other legal but harmful products such as alcohol and
guns should also have to pay financial settlements in return
for the problems they cause." --Irving Coffman
• Explain Coffman's argument and discuss the extent to
which you agree or disagree with his analysis. Support
your position, providing reasons and examples from your
own experience, observations, or reading.