Essay Writing 445

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Essay Writing 

Leerdoelen Essay Writing

Aan het eind van deze periode kun je:

• een gestructureerd essay schrijven waarbij je inhoud en vorm afstemt op het doel (expository of argumentative essay) en publiek (onbekend, formeel).
• kritisch informatie verwerven en verwerken a.d.h.v. (wetenschappelijke) bronnen om de lezer een mening te laten vormen op basis van feiten of een onderbouwde mening over te brengen.

Types of Writing

1. Personal Writing; e.g. diary entry

2. Public Writing; e.g. forum, blog

3. Creative Writing; e.g. poem, short story, rap

4. Social Writing; e.g. whatsapp, snapchat

5. Study Writing; e.g. taking notes, summary

6. Institutional Writing: e.g. expository or argumentative essay

An essay is defined as:

"a short piece of writing that expresses information (as well as the writer's opinion)."

Types of essays 

Narrative essay: telling a story;                                                     

Persuasive essay: to convince the reader; 

Expository essay: academic paper to investigate an idea;

Descriptive essay: to describe something;

Argumentative essay:facts/evidence to support the argument; Compare and contrast essay: analysis of two subjects;

Problem - solution essay: description of problem/solution.

Aim of Expository Essay

The aim is to present both sides of the same coin. Background information is given, as are the pros/advantages/positive points and cons/disadvantages/negative points of a certain topic.

Aim of Argumentative Essay

The aim is to give your opinion on a subject, give adequate support with specific arguments and examples, and counter any opposing views in a similar way. At the end of the essay your reader should understand your opinion on the subject and - if not already of the same mind before - set thinking.

To write an essay, you should generally:

1- Decide what type of essay to write                                                        2-  Brainstorm your topic

3- Research the topic.                                                                                        4- Develop a thesis statement

5- Outline your essay with topic sentences                                              6-  Write your essay

7- Edit your writing to check spelling and grammar

The structure of an essay:

• Introduction: attention-getter + thesis statement
• 1st paragraph with  1st reason (PEE): topic sentence (Point) + Evidence & Example/Explanation + wrap-up
• 2nd paragraph with 2nd reason (PEE): topic sentence (Point) + Evidence & Example/Explanation + wrap-up

• 3rd paragraph with 3rd reason (PEE): topic sentence + Evidence & Example/Explanation + wrap-up
• Conclusion: rephrased thesis statement + no new ideas + recommendations for future research

The order to write your essay

• Start writing your Essay Outline (see Magister)
• Write your thesis statement
• Write your topic sentences
• Write the body of your essay: PEE (Point - Evidence - Examples/Explanation)
• Write the introduction of your essay: thesis statement is final sentence of introduction
• Write the conclusion: Rephrase your thesis statement
• Choose a catchy title: not a question!

Tips for writing:

• Do not use 'I' or 'you' (neutral tone)
• Avoid contracting words (don't)
• Be sparing with punctuation marks like exclamation mark, question mark, series of dots
• Do not repeat the same word, use synonyms
• Remember everything from your grammar classes, e.g. irregular verbs, tenses, word order, adjectives, adverbs

• Use complete sentences, including a subject, verb, and complements (objects, adverbials, etc.)
• Do not use informal language
• Do not start sentences with for, and, but, or, yet, so, because , etc.

Develop a thesis statement

Your thesis statement is the main point of your essay. It is one sentence that states what the essay is about. For example, your thesis statement might be  "Homework should be banned, because.....(2/3 arguments)......".

1. it is boring
2. it takes too much time
3. it gives stress

* Use the thesis statement as the basic premise to write your entire essay about; 

* Remember that all of the different points lead back to this one main thesis; 

* State your thesis statement in your introductory paragraph;

* This is the last sentence of your Introduction

What is the topic of your essay?

Write your thesis statement for your essay.

Body of the paragraphs

Body paragraph: 

• (P) Topic sentence; 
• (E) Supporting sentence containing evidence; 
• (E) Supporting sentence containing example/explanation

DO – Tie Things Together

The first sentence – the topic sentence - of your body paragraphs needs to have a lot individual pieces to be truly effective. Not only should it open with a transition that signals the change from one idea to the next but also it should (ideally) also have a common thread which ties all of the body paragraphs together. For example, if you used "first" in the first body paragraph then you should use "secondly" in the second or "on the one hand" and "on the other hand" accordingly.

DO NOT – Be Too General

Examples should be relevant to the thesis and so should the explanatory details you provide for them. It can be hard to summarize the full richness of a given example in just a few lines, so make them count. If you are trying to explain why George Washington is a great example of a strong leader, for instance, his childhood adventure with the cherry tree (though interesting in another essay) should probably be skipped over.

What are your topic sentences?

Leerdoelen Essay Writing (Academic Writing)

Aan het eind van deze periode kun je:

• een gestructureerd essay schrijven waarbij je inhoud en vorm afstemt op het doel (expository of argumentative essay) en publiek (onbekend, formeel).
• kritisch informatie verwerven en verwerken a.d.h.v. (wetenschappelijke) bronnen om de lezer een mening te laten vormen op basis van feiten of een onderbouwde mening over te brengen.

Aan het eind van deze les:

• Heb je een goede Thesis Statement
• Heb je 3 Topic Sentences
• Heb je een begin gemaakt met het schrijven van de Body Paragraphs

Essay Outline (Word Document)

1. Introduction: Thesis Statement

2. Body paragraph: Topic Sentence 1

• Evidence (bronnen)
• Example/Explanation 

3. Body paragraph: Topic Sentence 2

• Evidence
• Example/Explanation

4. Body paragraph: Topic Sentence 3

• Evidence
• Example/Explanation

5. Conclusion: Rephrased Thesis Statement

Body of the paragraphs

Body paragraph: 

• (P) Topic sentence; 
• (E) Supporting sentence containing evidence; 
• (E) Supporting sentence containing example/explanation

What Topic Sentences fit the Thesis Statement?

Write down your Thesis Statement
and your 2/3 Topic Sentences.

5V: Write down your Topic Sentence 3 (counter argument)

Ben je tevreden met je Thesis Statement en je Topic Sentences?

1. Ja prima, ik kan verder met de Body Paragraphs!
2. Nee, ik ga opnieuw beginnen
3. Nog niet helemaal, moet nog worden bijgeschaafd

Conclusion

• Rephrase your thesis statement; use other words
• Do not repeat your thesis statement! 
• summary of the main points;
• a final comment (if appropriate).

DO – Be Powerful

The conclusion paragraph can be a difficult paragraph to write effectively, but as it is your last chance to convince or otherwise impress the reader, it is worth investing some time in. Take this opportunity to restate your thesis statement with confidence; if you present your argument as "obvious" then the reader might just do the same. 

Also, find synonyms for the words used in your thesis statement.

DO NOT – Copy the First Paragraph

Do not use the same key words in the conclusion as you did in the introduction, try not to copy whole phrases word for word. Instead, try to use this last paragraph to really show your skills as a writer by being as artful in your rephrasing as possible.

DO – Pay Attention to Your Introductory Paragraph 

Because this is the first paragraph of your essay it is your opportunity to give the reader the best first impression possible. The introductory paragraph not only gives the reader an idea of what you will talk about but also shows them how you will talk about it. 

Try to introduce by using a "HOOK"

(something a joke, a fact or anything that will grab the reader's attention)

DO NOT – I/My or you/yours

Unless it is a personal narrative, avoid personal pronouns like I, My, or Me. At the same time, try to avoid the use of second singular/plural person such as you and yours.

Try instead to be more general and you will have your reader hooked. 

Titles

1. Informative Title

2. Creative Title

3. Relevant and readable Title