The Essay
and the Writing Process
By Ms. Shack
Communicating Outside of
School
You
communicate on a daily basis by:
Writing
letters, text messaging, calling
each other on the phone
Talking to friends, family, etc.
Communicating in School
By
using the Essay Format, students
can:
Communicate
your ideas
Show understanding
Demonstrate learning
Improve writing skills
Just like the road below,
an unorganized essay can be
confusing and hard to follow.
Just like the road below, an
organized essay can run
smoothly and can be
easily followed.
The BIG 3
There
are 3 common types of essays used
in school.
Expository
Essays
Narrative Essays
Persuasive Essays
Expository Essays
Informational
Writing:
Writing
to share
with others what
you know or learned
about a topic
Examples:
Research
Papers
Book Reports
Analyzing a reading
Responding to
questions posed
Narrative Essays
Used
to entertain
Telling
someone
about something
that happened
Usually about YOU
Some
Examples:
Writing
about a
childhood memory
Writing about your
experiences
Reflective writing
Persuasive Essay
 Proving
to other’s about
your point of view or
belief on a situation that
you may think is:
 Unfair
 Needs
improving/reconsideration
 Something that everyone
must do or see
Examples:
Writing about:
 Abortion
A political issue
Trying to get a
scholarship
The Essential Parts
There
The
are 3 basic parts to any essay:
Introduction
Body Paragraphs
The Conclusion
The Setup
Paragraph 1:
The Introduction and thesis statement
Paragraphs #2, 3, and 4…and so on:
Body Paragraphs
Last Paragraph:
Conclusion
Paragraph 1:
The Introduction
First
It
Impressions Matter!!
will give the reader an overall impression of
your essay.
It’s
main purpose is to tell the reader what you
are going to talk about in your paper (Thesis).
The Effective Introduction
1.
2.
3.
Catch the reader’s attention!
Gives the reader some background
information about your topic.
Tell the reader what you are going to write
about.
Catching Your Reader’s Attention
 1.
Begin with a short anecdote (personal short story)
 2.
Ask a question
 3.
State a fact
 Ex.
I remember my first day in class. I was so nervous but excited
to be in college.
 Ex.
 Ex.
Have you ever received a bad grade for a class?
Receiving failing grades is no laughing matter.
Providing Background
Information
Introduce your reader to your topic.
In 1-3 sentences, provide a brief
explanation about what has prompted
you to write your essay
Proving Background Info:
Example:
“Recent studies showed that on average, 3
out of 5 students will not pass one of the
classes they enrolled to take. For many
students like me, college is a brand new
experience. We don’t realize the amount
of time and commitment it takes to
successfully complete a class.
The Thesis Statement
In
a single sentence, you:
Identify
at least (3) main points to be
discussed in your essay
In
a persuasive essay, you also express your
views/opinions
The Thesis Staement
Develop
a question that you are
trying to answer in your essay. In one
or two sentences, answer your
question.
This
often produces a TENTATIVE
thesis.
An Example
 Question:
What kind of skills are necessary to be
a successful college student?
 Answer: To be a successful college student, it is
important to be prepared for college. (HOW??)
 REFINED:
To be a successful college student, it
is important to attend class regularly, pay
attention in class, and complete all of my
assignments.
Thesis Statement
Another
effective strategy is to begin
by writing “What I want to say is that…”
Later,
delete the formulaic opening and
you’ll be left with a thesis statement.
An Example
“What
I want to say is that the LA
Lakers have become a dominating
team in the NBA because of their
team ethic, the standout players, and
their note-worthy coach.
The Thesis Statement
Where
Some
to put a thesis statement?
kinds do not need thesis statements
Descriptions,
As
As
narratives, personal writing
the first sentence. (pg. 74)
the last sentences of the first paragraph
Writers
prepare readers for the thesis statement
with several sentences that establish a context
The Thesis Statement:
Example:
Being a college student can be difficult, but if
I attend class regularly, pay attention in
class, and complete all of my assignments, I
should be a successful student.
Our example pieced together:
I
remember my first day in class. I was so nervous but
excited to be in college. Recent studies showed that on
average, 3 out of 5 students will not one of the classes
they enrolled to take. For many students like me, college
is a brand new experience. We don’t realize the amount
of time and commitment it takes to successfully complete
a class. Being a college student can be difficult, but if I
attend class regularly, pay attention in class, and
complete all of my assignments, I should be a successful
student.
Paragraphs 2-4:
Body Paragraphs
The
body paragraphs of an essay
Provide
support to the points you made in your
thesis statement
Uses examples and proof
Explains your points in further
detail
This is your chance to really EXPLAIN what you
mean.
Body Paragraphs
Begin
your body paragraphs with a topic
sentence.
State
Provide
your first reason
supporting details through the use of
examples
Expand your answer, prove your reason
Body Paragraphs
The order of your paragraphs follows the order of
your thesis statement.
In our example, our thesis said our main points would
be:
1.
I need to attend all my classes
2. I need to pay attention
3. I need to complete all of my work
Your body paragraphs should follow that order.
Body Paragraphs
 Example
Body Paragraph:
“”The first piece of advice I have to remind myself of is to attend all
of my classes. It is very easy to fall behind in a class, even with
only one absence. I need to attend class to stay on top of the
lectures, notes, and assignments. I also need to attend classes
because not all professors allow student’s to do make-up work.
Attending classes is the easiest thing to do, and it’s one piece of
advice that will help me pass a class.
Remember to Use Transitional Words
 Transitional
words allow ideas from one paragraph
to the next to flow smoothly. They are like a
bridge between paragraphs.
Paragraph
Paragraph
Transitional Words
Nevertheless,
In
addition,
In respect to,
Similarly,
Furthermore,
Therefore,
On
the other hand,
First of all,
Thus,
After all,
In conclusion,
Making a Concession
(Persuasive Writing)
Making
a
Concession:
Considering
reasons for the
opposing viewpoint
about your topic
Why
do it?
Considering the
other side shows
that you have
thought about both
sides.
Makes your argument
stronger
Paragraph 5
The Conclusion:
The conclusion is where you find a way to end your
essay. Be sure to:
 Restate your thesis statement
 Summarize your main points/reasons
 Conclude with a closing thought or rhetorical
question related to what you said in your essay.
DO NOT INCLUDE ANY NEW INFORMATION!
The Conclusion
A
few words used to hint at closure:
In closing, In conclusion, As discussed
EXAMPLE CONCLUSION:In closing, in order to
successfully pass my classes in college, I need to follow three
simple bits of advice. First, I need to attend class. Second, I
need to pay attention while in class. Thirdly, I need to
complete all of my work. These three simple things will help
my succeed in my courses. Most importantly, they will help me
pass my courses. If I don’t push myself to pass my classes,
who will?
The Writing Process
The
END product of the writing process is
the essay.
There are 4 STEPS you need to cover in
order to write an EFFECTIVE essay.
Pre-writing
Drafting
Revising
Final Draft