When writing your expository essay, follow these eight basic steps: Select a topic: Be sure the topic is narrow enough to make it manageable within the space of an essay Write a thesis sentence: Be sure the thesis statement(or sentence) expresses a controlling idea that is neither too broad nor too specific to be developed effectively Select a method of development: Check through all the methods before you finally settle on the one which will best serve your thesis: definition | example | compare and contrast | cause and effect | classification | process analysis Organize the essay: Begin by listing the major divisions which the body paragraphs in your essay will discuss; then fill in the primary supports that each body paragraph of the essay will contain Write topic sentences for the body paragraphs of the essay: For each body paragraph, furnish a topic sentence that directly relates to the thesis sentence Write the body paragraphs of the essay: Each body paragraph should develop the primary support covered in that paragraphs topic sentence Furnish a paragraph of introduction: An introductory paragraph should state the thesis of the essay, introduce the divisions in the body paragraphs of the essay, and gain the interest of the reader Write a paragraph of conclusion: • Restate the thesis and divisions of the essay • Bring the essay to an appropriate and effective close • Avoid digressing into new issues Tips on Writing a Narrative Essay In a narrative essay, the writer tells a story about a real-life experience. Everyone enjoys a good story—especially one that captures the imagination. However, the narrative essay goes further. In it, the writer places a personal experience within the context of a larger theme, such as a lesson learned. When writing a narrative essay, the writer wants not only to tell a good story, but also convey why the story has meaning. The Five-Step Writing Process for Narrative Essays At Time4Learning, we are great believers in the writing process. The writing process empowers students to write with better results by giving them proven steps to follow. Here, we examine how to write a narrative essay using the five-step writing process. Students should find these suggestions helpful: 1. Prewriting for the Narrative Essay The prewriting phase in narrative essay writing is particularly important. In the prewriting phase, students think about their life experiences in the context of the assignment’s theme, for example ‘write about achieving a goal.’ When selecting an experience to write about, keep in mind that even a small incident (or goal, in this case) can make a good essay topic if it has significance for the writer. If writers feel an emotional connection to their topic, their narrative essay will be more effective. Once a topic is chosen, students should spend time sorting through their memories, and recalling details, including the year, season, setting, people, and objects involved. Think about the sequence of events and remember, no detail is too small. Often it’s the small details that communicate big ideas. Creating an outline of the story’s narrative flow is very helpful. 2. Drafting a Narrative Essay When creating the initial draft of a narrative essay, follow the outline, but focus on making the story come alive, using the following techniques: • Personal narrative essays are most naturally written in the first person, and using “I” gives the story an immediacy that engages the reader. • In telling the story, don’t gloss over the details. Readers have no prior knowledge of the story, and many times a skipped detail will skew their understanding. • Use vivid descriptions and words that illustrate. In narrative writing, the writer’s job is to involve the reader, rather than simply inform. Take a look at this sentence: “Losing the game felt like the bottom of my world dropped out.” It conveys so much more about the significance of the writer’s experience than simply saying, “I was disappointed that we lost the game.” • While narrative essays are non-fiction, elements of fiction should not be ignored. True stories also benefit from the writer’s ability to use plot-building techniques. 3. Revising a Narrative Essay In the revision phase, students review, modify, and reorganize their work with the goal of making it the best it can be. In revising a narrative essay, students should reread their work with these considerations in mind: • Does the essay unfold in an easy-to-understand progression of events? Do the transitions make sense or confuse the reader? • Does the essay involve the reader in the experience? Could there be more detail, or is there extraneous detail that distracts the reader’s attention? • Is the word choice descriptive, or merely informative? • Has the larger message of the essay been conveyed effectively? Has a connection been made between the experience and its meaning to the writer? Will the reader be able to identify with the conclusion made? In structuring a narrative essay, it’s the writer’s choice when to reveal the significance of the experience. Some writers make this connection to theme in the opening paragraph. Others like to focus on the experience and reveal its significance at the end. Writers should experiment which way works best for the essay. Clueing in the reader upfront helps their understanding, but saving the revelation to the end can leave the reader with more to think about. 4. Editing a Narrative Essay At this point in the writing process, writers proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics, and edit to improve style and clarity. Having a friend read the essay is a good idea at this point, and allows the writer to see their work from a fresh perspective. 5. Publishing a Narrative Essay Due to its personal nature, sharing a narrative essay with the rest of the class can be both exciting and a bit scary. Remember, there isn’t a writer on earth who isn’t sensitive about his or her own work. The important thing is to learn from the experience and use the feedback to make the next essay even better. Tips on Writing a Descriptive Essay Writers use the descriptive essay to create a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing. Unlike a narrative essay, which reveals meaning through a personal story, the purpose of a descriptive essay is to reveal the meaning of a subject through detailed, sensory observation. The descriptive essay employs the power of language and all the human senses to bring a subject to life for the reader. If readers come away from a descriptive essay with the feeling that they have really met a person, gone to a particular place, or held a certain object, the writer has done a good job. If readers also feel an emotional connection and deep appreciation for the subject’s significance, the writer has done a great job. The Five-Step Writing Process for Descriptive Essays Professional writers know one thing: Writing takes work. Understanding and following the proven steps of the writing process helps all writers, including students. Here are descriptive essay writing tips for each phase of the writing process: 1. Prewriting for the Descriptive Essay In the prewriting phase of descriptive essay writing, students should take time to think about who or what they want to describe and why. Do they want to write about a person of significance in their lives, or an object or place that holds meaning? The topic doesn’t have to be famous or unusual. The person could be a grandparent, the object, a favorite toy, and the place, a tree house. Once a topic is chosen, students should spend time thinking about the qualities they want to describe. Brainstorm about all the details associated with the topic. Even when not writing about a place, reflect on the surroundings. Where is the object located? Where does the person live? Consider not just physical characteristics, but also what memories, feelings, and ideas the subject evokes. Memory and emotion play an important role in conveying the subject’s significance. Plan the focus of each paragraph and create an outline that puts these details into a logical sequence. 2. Drafting a Descriptive Essay When creating the initial draft of a descriptive essay, follow the outline, but remember, the goal is to give the reader a rich experience of the subject. Keep in mind, the most important watchword of writing a descriptive essay is show,don’t tell. One of the best ways to show is to involve all of the senses—not just sight, but also hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Write so the reader will see the sunset, hear the song, smell the flowers, taste the pie, or feel the touch of a hand. Don’t Tell…Show! Use descriptive and figurative language, as well as concrete images to describe the subject. Similes and metaphors work well. Here are some examples: Telling The house was old. Showing The house frowned with a wrinkled brow, and inside it creaked with each step, releasing a scent of neglected laundry. He was smart. If you had to pick a study buddy, you would pick this guy. The clock had been in our family for years. The clock stood by our family, faithfully marking the minutes and hours of our lives. Enjoy the process of describing the subject—it can be a rewarding experience. A descriptive essay doesn’t rely on facts and examples, but on the writer’s ability to create a mental picture for the reader. 3. Revising a Descriptive Essay In the revision phase, students review, modify, and reorganize their work with the goal of making it the best it can be. In revising a descriptive essay, students should reread their work with these considerations in mind: • Does the essay unfold in a way that helps the reader fully appreciate the subject? Do any paragraphs confuse more than describe? • Does the word choice and figurative language involve the five senses and convey emotion and meaning? • Are there enough details to give the reader a complete picture? • Has a connection been made between the description and its meaning to the writer? Will the reader be able to identify with the conclusion made? Always keep the reader in mind from opening to concluding paragraph. A descriptive essay must be precise in its detail, yet not get ahead of itself. It’s better to go from the general to the specific. Otherwise, the reader will have trouble building the image in their mind’s eye. For example, don’t describe a glossy coat of fur before telling the reader the essay is about a dog! 4. Editing a Descriptive Essay At this point in the writing process, writers proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics. It’s also the time to improve style and clarity. Watch out for clichés and loading up on adjectives and adverbs. Having a friend read the essay helps writers see trouble spots and edit with a fresh perspective. 5. Publishing a Descriptive Essay Sharing a descriptive essay with the rest of the class can be both exciting and a bit scary. Remember, there isn’t a writer on earth who isn’t sensitive about his or her own work. The important thing is to learn from the experience and take whatever feedback is given to make the next essay even better. Tips on Writing a Persuasive Essay Writing a persuasive essay is like being a lawyer arguing a case before a jury. The writer takes a stand on an issue—either “for” or “against”—and builds the strongest possible argument to win over the reader. In a persuasive essay, it’s the writer’s job to convince the reader to accept a particular point of view or take a specific action. Persuasive essays require good research, awareness of the reader’s biases, and a solid understanding of both sides of the issue. A good persuasive essay demonstrates not only why the writer’s opinion is correct, but also why the opposing view is incorrect. Persuasive writing is a fixture of modern life—found in advertising, newspaper editorials, blogs, and political speeches. Often persuasive writing assignments and test prompts concern contemporary issues, for example: “The school board is debating on whether or not to ban cell phone use in school. Write an essay convincing the board to adopt your position.” As shown in this persuasive writing prompt, the main purpose is not to inform, but to “persuade” or “convince” an audience (the school board) to think or act a certain way. The Five-Step Writing Process for Persuasive Essays At Time4Writing, we believe the five-step writing process is the best approach to learning how to write a persuasive essay. Here are persuasive essay tips for each phase of the writing process. 1. Prewriting for the Persuasive Essay The prewriting phase of writing a persuasive essay is extremely important. During this phase, students should plan every aspect of the essay: • Choose a position. Students should think about the issue and pick the side they wish to advocate. • Understand the audience. In order to write an effective persuasive essay, the writer must understand the reader’s perspective. Is the reader undecided or inclined to favor one side or the other? • Do the research. A persuasive essay depends upon solid, convincing evidence. Don’t rely on a single source. Go to the library and enlist the help of the librarian. Speak with community experts and teachers. Read and take notes. There is no substitute for knowledge of both sides of the issue. • Identify the most convincing evidence, as well as the key points for the opposing view. Organizing the Persuasive Essay: Outline and Structure Next, create an outline. Organize the evidence to build the strongest possible argument. If the teacher has specified an essay structure, incorporate it into the outline. Typically, the persuasive essay comprises five or six paragraphs: Persuasive Essay Outline Introductory Paragraph • Grab the reader’s attention by using a “hook.” • Give an overview of the argument. • Close with a thesis statement that reveals the position to be argued. Body Paragraphs • Each body paragraph should focus on one piece of evidence. • Within each paragraph, provide sufficient supporting detail. Opposing View Paragraph • Describe and then refute the key points of the opposing view. Concluding Paragraph • Restate and reinforce the thesis and supporting evidence. 2. Drafting the Persuasive Essay When writing the initial draft of a persuasive essay, consider the following suggestions: • The introductory paragraph should have a strong “hook” that grabs the reader’s attention. Open with an unusual fact or statistic, a question or quotation, or an emphatic statement. For example: “Driving while talking on a cell phone, even hands-free, is the equivalent of driving drunk.” • The thesis statement should leave no doubts about the writer’s position. • Each body paragraph should cover a separate point, and the sentences of each paragraph should offer strong evidence in the form of facts, statistics, quotes from experts, and real-life examples. • Consider various ways to make the argument, including using an analogy, drawing comparisons, or illustrating with hypothetical situation (e.g., what if, suppose that…). • Don’t assume the audience has in-depth knowledge of the issue. Define terms and give background information. • The concluding paragraph should summarize the most important evidence and encourage the reader to adopt the position or take action. The closing sentence can be a dramatic plea, a prediction that implies urgent action is needed, a question that provokes readers to think seriously about the issue, or a recommendation that gives readers specific ideas on what they can do. 3. Revising the Persuasive Essay In the revision phase, students review, modify, and reorganize their work with the goal of making it the best it can be. Keep these considerations in mind: • Does the essay present a firm position on the issue, supported by relevant facts, statistics, quotes, and examples? • Does the essay open with an effective “hook” that intrigues readers and keeps them reading? • Does each paragraph offer compelling evidence focused on a single supporting point? • Is the opposing point of view presented and convincingly refuted? • Is the sentence structure varied? Is the word choice precise? Do the transitions between sentences and paragraphs help the reader’s understanding? • Does the concluding paragraph convey the value of the writer’s position and urge the reader to think and act? If the essay is still missing the mark, take another look the thesis. Does it present the strongest argument? Test it by writing a thesis statement for the opposing viewpoint. In comparison, does the original thesis need strengthening? Once the thesis presents a well-built argument with a clear adversarial viewpoint, the rest of the essay should fall into place more easily. 4. Editing the Persuasive Essay Next, proofread and correct errors in grammar and mechanics, and edit to improve style and clarity. Having a friend read the essay helps writers edit with a fresh perspective. 5. Publishing the Persuasive Essay Sharing a persuasive essay with the rest of the class can be both exciting and intimidating. Learn from the experience and use the feedback to make the next essay even better.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 09:59:45 +0000
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