Essay Writing Lessons

ENG 4U
Essay Writing Lessons

Essay Structure
Essay Outline
Moving from Topic to Essay
Organizing the Essay Body
Essay Format
Hints & Tips
Essay Structure

The framework of your writing

Essay
Structure
 Structure

Introductory Paragraph
- introduce & ease reader into topic
- move from general sentences to specific ones
- end with your thesis statement

Eg: life literature book topic thesis

life history people topic book - thesis
Structure

Thesis
- An arguable statement, making clear the
position the author takes on a topic
- Depends upon your purpose & audience

(Topic = what the text is about; the subject

addressed by a text
Eg: greed, love, hope, jealousy, etc.)
Structure

Body Paragraphs
- where you prove your thesis

Body Paragraph Structure:

1. Point (topic sentence: proves thesis)
2. Proofs (as many as are practical)
3. Comment (relates proofs to thesis)
Structure

Concluding Paragraph
- re-state your thesis
- move from specific sentences to
general ones
- ease reader away from essay, and
back to real life again (theme
statement)
Structure

The Rebuttal Paragraph

- Acknowledge points of opposing

argument
- Minimize the validity of these points

* Insert after your introductory paragraph!

Essay Outline

Whats required
Marks for summative
Essay Outline
Thesis (2)
List of rebuttal points (3)
For each body paragraph: (3X4)
- Full topic sentence
- Proofs in point form
- Full comment sentence
Thesis restatement in different words (1)
Theme statement (2)
Moving from Topic to Essay

in 8 easy steps!
Moving from Topic to Essay

1. Read & understand topic

2. Dissect & brainstorm topic
3. Pick argument & brainstorm thesis
4. Form & test thesis
5. Brainstorm & organize support
6. List rebuttals
7. Write, Revise, Edit
8. Proofread & print good copy
Organizing the Essay Body

Principles & Development Methods

Organizing the Essay Body

Organizing principle?
- chronology - cause & effect
- process - logic

Development method?
- define - classify
- analyze - describe
- compare - exemplify
Essay Format

MLA Style Presentation

Hints & Tips

Advice for top marks

Hints & Tips
Do not write in 1st person (avoid I)
Do not start a body / concluding paragraph
with a quotation
Move from your weakest point to your
strongest
Do not use contractions
Do not use colloquial language
Use the present tense
Refer to author by last name
Develop a creative title that relates to thesis
 Essay
Writing

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at any time!