EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN WRITING AN ESSAY

WHAT IS AN ESSAY?

An organized piece of writing that focuses on a single topic

ORGANIZATION

Organized around a thesis

Begins with an introduction

Ends with a concluding paragraph

REASONS FOR WRITING AN ESSAY

Helps you to express ideas more clearly and effectively

It is a required part of almost all colleges courses

DIFFERENT ELEMENTS:PARAGRAPH VS ESSAY

Organized around a main idea

Introductory sentence Developed by

supporting details

Concluding sentence

Organized around a thesis

Introductory paragraph Developed by

supporting body paragraphs

Concluding paragraph

THESIS It has to do with what you are writing about

THESIS STATEMENT

Sentence in the essay that states the thesis

Expressed in the first paragraph

Key step in developing an effective essay

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

First part of an essay which has a major influence on the reader´s desire to keep reading.

Includes different strategies to get the readers´attention that should be connected with the thesis statement

It should conclude with the most important idea of the essay.

BODY OF AN ESSAY Set of paragraphs that develop the idea

expressed in the thesis statement

BODY PARAGRAPHS Provide the content of the essay

Each one should be unique, be unified around a main idea and arranged coherently

CONCLUSION OF AN ESSAY

Purpose: To leave the reader with a positive impression, a sense of completeness and the inclination to think about the topic

Should not give more information about the topic

Restates your thesis statement in other words

THE REVISION AND EDITING PROCESS

Process of reviewing and rewriting to make your ideas more logical

Aspects:

I. revision through reading

II. revision through collaboration

TYPES OF ESSAYS Descriptive

Narrative

Cause and effect

Comparison and contrast

Classification

Problem solution

Persuasive

Mixed pattern

Argumentative

Analysis

Definition

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Types of papers & students samples by the Roane State Community College. Retrieved from http://www.roanestate.edu/owl/Types.html Accessed on: September 5, 2013