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Essay Format: High School vs College Essay Model

Academic College-level Writing Expectations . Essay Format: High School vs College Essay Model. Writing is writing, right? . Wrong! In college, instructors have certain expectations for student writing. What was acceptable in high school may not work for college-level essays. .

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Essay Format: High School vs College Essay Model

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  1. Academic College-level Writing Expectations Essay Format: High School vs College Essay Model

  2. Writing is writing, right? Wrong! In college, instructors have certain expectations for student writing. What was acceptable in high school may not work for college-level essays.

  3. High School vs. College Essays The High School Model:The 5-Paragraph Essay

  4. The High School Model • Many high school students learn a type of organization called the "five-paragraph essay.” Introduction: states what the essay will be about. Three-part thesis with point #1, point #2, and point #3. Paragraph about point #1 Paragraph about point #2 Paragraph about point #3 Conclusion: Repeats the introduction or summarizesthe entire essay.

  5. 5 Paragraphs = 5 Problems Although the five-paragraph essay format does provide a basic organizational structure, it has many potential problems. To list a few…

  6. Problem #1:It’s too restrictive • Most types of writing don't have only five paragraphs.

  7. Problem #2: Reader Un-friendly • The reader usually needs some idea of why he or she should be interested in reading about this now. The 5 paragraph essay model usually presents simple information.

  8. Problem #3: Dull Conclusion • 5 paragraph essays require a summary at the end. The summary merely repeats ideas that the reader has just read about and hasn't had time to forget. I understood her the first time…and the second…

  9. Problem #4: Redundancy • The 5 paragraph format encourages too much repetition--often the same three phrases are repeated in the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The reader is bored. This essay says the same thing over and over…

  10. Problem #5:Lack of Content • If you follow this format too strictly, you are putting far more emphasis on how you organizethe content than on the ideas themselves, the purpose you have in mind, and what your readers need. Well-organized, but empty…

  11. “But my teacher told me…” • Forget for a moment what your high school English teacher may have told you. • There has to be something better than the 5-paragraph high school model. • Let’s ask some English teachers….

  12. On the next few slides, you will findQuestionsabout essays for grumpy English teachers…and TRUTHFUL answers!

  13. Ask Ms. Hogwash

  14. Question for grumpy English teacher: • Is it true that a good essay should have 5 paragraphs? Isn’t that a rule? Oh no…I’m so busted!

  15. Contrary to what many students believe, there is no rule that says that a college essay, or any other kind of essay, must have five paragraphs and five paragraphs only. It’s true!!

  16. Ask Mrs. Barb Dwyer

  17. Question for grumpy English teacher: Why should writers create a new paragraph? Because I tell them to, that’s why!!

  18. A: Paragraphs help the reader understand by organizing writing into groups of ideasthat work together. And sometimes this requires more or less than 5 paragraphs, but don’t tell anyone I said that. It’s true!!

  19. A: Paragraphs help the eye return to the proper place in the text after looking away for a brief moment. It’s true!!

  20. Ask Ms. Dinah Sore

  21. Question for grumpy English teacher: • So…How many paragraphs should a good essay have? Get over here, you little menace!!

  22. A: The number of paragraphs really depends on the depth of ideas and how much you have to say.  It’s true!! I have the fastest ruler in the school!

  23. Don’t stay in high school forever! • In college, students move on to more challenging subjects and assignments. • It’s time for your writing to move on as well.

  24. High School vs. College Essays The College Model:The Multi-Paragraph Essay

  25. A General Overview A college essay has 3 basic sections: • The Introduction • A Multi-Paragraph Body • The Conclusion

  26. College Essay Model The Introduction

  27. Introduction • Your introduction is like a signpost at the beginning of a trail. • It attracts readers and makes them want to take the journey and informs readers where you are going to take them without spoiling the best parts.

  28. Introduction Questions • What is my main idea or thesis? • Who are my readers? • What can I do to make my reader want to read my ideas? • Why is my idea important here and now?

  29. Introduction • The THESIS STATEMENT is usually presented at the end of the introduction. Most professors will look for the thesis here. • However, college writers can present the thesis in other places, such as at the end or in the 2nd paragraph. • A college-level THESIS should not state 3 points!!! Thesis statement

  30. College Essay Model The Body

  31. Body of the Essay • The body of the essay is comprised of many paragraphs. (not just 3) • Your thesis statement/main idea must be supported in the body of the essay. • As a writer, you must decide how many supporting points you need to present your thesis/main idea.

  32. Body of the Essay • Each paragraph is related to one of the points you want to show the readers along the way. • Some points may take more than one paragraph to develop completely. • Transitions between the points you show the reader help connect them logically.

  33. Body of the Essay • You may have 3 body paragraphs or 20+ body paragraphs, depending upon how much you have to say!! • Some body paragraphs will be longerand some will be shorter.

  34. Questions about Body Paragraphs • What points do I want to make? • What examples can I use to help the reader understand each point? • What evidence do I have that each point is true? • How can I keep the reader interested in following my ideas?

  35. College Essay Model The Conclusion

  36. Conclusion • The conclusion is the logical end of the journey. • It looks back on the points you have shown the reader, and reinforces, but does not repeat, the main idea.

  37. Conclusion • It also should create a feeling of ending – one way to accomplish this is to make some connection to (but not repeating) the introduction. • Mentioning an idea from the introduction can help bring the essay full circle and close it logically.

  38. Questions about the Conclusion • How has the reader's mind been changed by following my points and examples? • If we continued this journey, where would we go next? • If the reader ignores the points you have made, what might happen?

  39. Review of College Essay Model

  40. Introduction: Catch the reader’s eye Body of Essay: Multi-Paragraph Conclusion: Reflect introduction; make a prediction

  41. Remember, it’s OK to write more than 5 paragraphs! End of presentation.

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