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Essay Writing

Essay Writing. What to do. Writing Steps. Understand the Topic Research Note Taking Organizing Notes Organizer Write the Essay Finishing Touches. “Neither man nor God is going to tell me what to write.” James T. Farrell . Understand the Topic.

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Essay Writing

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  1. Essay Writing What to do

  2. Writing Steps • Understand the Topic • Research • Note Taking • Organizing Notes • Organizer • Write the Essay • Finishing Touches

  3. “Neither man nor God is going to tell me what to write.” James T. Farrell

  4. Understand the Topic • Once you get the assignment, make sure you go over it carefully and fully understand what it is you are to do and how you will be marked. • Also check to see if you are banned from using certain resources or must use certain resources. • Ask your teacher about any questions you have BEFORE you start so you do not have to redo work. • Choose your topic • Your essay should be focused enough to be interesting and informative but not so focused that you can not find sources for it.

  5. “Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the Internet.”Anonymous

  6. Research • Now that you have your topic settled you need to find some sources of information. • You might used some of the following: • Encyclopaedias – recent information, easy to read, will lack details – good to use to get to know your topic NOT as a primary source – check to see if you can use Wikipedia • Books – information will be reliable but may be out of date • Database – very specific information, often restricted access – try using the library portal to gain access • Web pages – potential very good information but also risk getting biased or even completely false information

  7. “Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed.” Ray Bradbury

  8. Note Taking • Once you have a source that is both relevant and reliable it is time to take notes: • Record the source information. This will vary depending on the source but is the information you will need to do an entry for a Reference Page • Write your notes, you should have several types: • Direct quotations • Stats or other tables copied completely and accurately • Summarized information • Keep in mind that there is no such thing as to many notes! However if you do not have enough notes it is very hard to write an essay. So if in doubt write it down!

  9. “If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

  10. Organizing Notes • Once you have all the notes you think you need then it is time to organize. • Consider the various subtopics that your essay will have – introduction, how they entered political / military life, what they did as leader, how and why they left politics / military, conclusion • Read over your notes and using several different coloured highlighters (or a letter system if you prefer) place your notes into the various subtopics by colour

  11. The Organizer • Now it is time to start planning your essay, some teachers might call this power notes, or a concept web. What ever it is called it is more detailed then an outline, think of it as a point form version of your essay. • This step can be done in a number of different ways – only one of which will be discussed here. Talk to your teacher about other ways of doing an organizer. • It is suggested but not required that you type all of this on a computer.

  12. The Organizer • As you move through all of this ALWAYS consider the reader and what this will look like to them when they read it. • Now put your notes in the proper subtopics and put them in the order that you will use them. • Do make sure to include either the source of the notes or something that will lead you back to the source. I suggest numbering each source you use and then just putting that number at the end of each note from that source.

  13. The Organizer • Next add your thesis statement • Now you can develop your conclusion • Then look over your organizer does any section of it seem to be lacking in information? If so go back and research some more • Finally read over what you have and ask your self, does this make sense? Is there a good flow to this information? • If something in your organizer does not seem to fit then feel free to cut it out.

  14. Example Title Introduction • Attention grabber / Hook • Thesis Statement How they entered politics / military • Fact 1 • Fact 2 • Fact 3

  15. Example What they did as leader • Major decision 1 • How it influenced the course of the war • Fact 1 • Fact 2 • Major decision 2 • How it influenced the course of the war • Fact 1 • Fact 2

  16. Example How they left politics / military • Fact 1 • Fact 2 Conclusion • Restating thesis • Opinion on if they were a good leader or not • Support for opinion 1 • Support for opinion 2 • Support for opinion 3

  17. “Write something to suit yourself and many people will like it; write something to suit everybody and scarcely anyone will care for it.“Jesse Stuart

  18. Writing the Essay • With your research and organizer done the majority of the hard work is now over. All that is left is turning your organizer into a properly formatted and well written essay. • Keep in mind that HOW you say something is often at least as important as WHAT you say. You can have the best ideas ever but if you write them like you were in grade 3 no one will take you seriously.

  19. General Notes • This is an essay spelling and grammar are VITAL make sure to check this over carefully do NOT just trust your word processer. • The following excerpt by Mark Eckman and Jerrold H. Zar should hopefully make this point clear I have a spelling checker,It came with my PC.It plane lee marks four my revueMiss steaks aye can knot sea. Eye ran this poem threw it,Your sure reel glad two no.Its vary polished in it's weigh.My checker tolled me sew. A checker is a bless sing,It freeze yew lodes of thyme.It helps me right awl stiles two reed,And aides me when eye rime. Each frays come posed up on my screenEye trussed too bee a joule.The checker pours o'er every wordTo cheque sum spelling rule.

  20. General Notes • This is a formal essay, that means you should be using proper FORMAL English! Do NOT use: • Slang • Text or Web speak • Contractions (ex. Don’t for do not, it’s for it is) • Use with caution abbreviations and make sure that you use the full form the first time you abbreviate. Example: The Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) says that ... • When using people’s names use either their full name or their last name do NOT use just their first name. • Do NOT use first person (I, we, etc.) outside of your conclusion!

  21. General Notes • Do NOT use big words or complicated sentences to impress the reader. This just tends to confuse you and cause problems. Good rule of thumb if you can not define the word do not use it! • Having said that do NOT dumb down your language. • Make every attempt to make every statement in your essay clear and to the point. • What ever you do, do NOT be like Calvin.

  22. “If you start with a bang, you won't end with a whimper.” T. S. Eliot

  23. Introduction • Do NOT just go right into your essay you need to get the reader’s attention – you do not want them thinking “Do I have to read this?” • You could get there attention by: • Telling a brief but interesting story related to the topic • Giving an interesting quote related to the topic • Using some interesting statistics related to the topic • Ask some thought provoking question(s) related to the topic • What ever you do, do NOT be cheesy or try to kiss up to the reader

  24. Next you need to work your way from what ever you used to get the reader’s attention to your thesis statement. This will take some time and require one or more transition sentences. • At the end of your paragraph will be your thesis sentence(s) – it might be more than one but try to avoid it and do not be more than two. • Make sure that you are specific, one of the most common mistakes people make is to be to vague. • Avoid at all costs statements like: • This essay will ... • I will be talking about ...

  25. “Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret.” Matthew Arnold

  26. Body • This is obviously the major portion of your essay and contains all of your relevant facts. • It is vital that the paragraphs in your essay be tied together, otherwise your essay will lack flow and be hard to read and understand. • To achieve this the last sentence and first sentence in every paragraph should be transition or segue sentences tying the paragraphs together.

  27. “Certainly the plagiarism, and dealing with the fallout of it, was the most difficult thing I've ever faced since I started writing.” Nora Roberts

  28. Part 3a – In Text Citations • This is a research essay, that means you looked up information that other people collected. • You MUST give them credit for their work otherwise it is plagiarism and you get ZERO. • The next few slides will go over some general rules but make sure that you refer to the style guideline you received in class.

  29. Part 3a – In Text Citations • Use in-text citations whenever you: • Use a direct quotation. • Use statistics or a specific date. • Restate, summarize, or paraphrase an idea, theory, or opinion given by another author. • Incorporate facts that are not common knowledge. A general rule of thumb is, if you can find the fact in at least three sources, it is common knowledge.

  30. Part 3a – In Text Citations • In general terms the in text citation goes at the end of the sentence(s) that come from a particular source. • You may however put an in text citation at the end of a paragraph if ALL of the information came from the same source. • You may NOT use one in text citation for several paragraphs even if their information comes from the same source. • You MUST place an in text citation at the end of every direct quotation used.

  31. Part 3a – In Text Citations • Short Quotations: • If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the author, year of publication, and the page number for the reference (preceded by "p."). Page number is NOT required for electronic sources. • According to Jones (1998), "Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time" (p. 199). • Jones (1998) found "students often had difficulty using APA style" (p. 199); what implications does this have for teachers? • She stated, "Students often had difficulty using APA style" (Jones, 1998, p. 199), but she did not offer an explanation as to why.

  32. Part 3a – In Text Citations • Long Quotations – 40+ words • Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin, i.e., in the same place you would begin a new paragraph. Type the entire quotation on the new margin, and indent the first line of any subsequent paragraph within the quotation 1/2 inch from the new margin. Maintain double-spacing throughout. • Jones's (1998) study found the following:     Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time citing sources. This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that many students failed to  purchase a style manual or to ask their teacher for help. (p. 199)

  33. Part 3a – In Text Citations • Paraphrasing, Statistics, or Specific Dates • If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference, but APA guidelines encourage you to also provide the page number (although it is not required.) • According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners. • APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners (Jones, 1998, p. 199).

  34. “Be yourself and think for yourself; and while your conclusions may not be infallible, they will be nearer right than the conclusions forced upon you.”Elbert Hubbard

  35. Conclusion • This is your opportunity to finally say what you believe about this topic. • Given everything that you have now learned about your person do you believe they are a good leader and more importantly WHY. • This needs to be much more than just a summary of the person. It is YOUR interpretation of how good a job your leader did after examining MANY sources.

  36. “When you take stuff from one writer, it's plagiarism. But when you take it from many writers, it's research.” William Mizner

  37. Part 5 – Reference Page • You will list any books / sources that you cited in your essay • You will list any books / sources that were significant in your research but not cited • You will NOT list books / sources just to flesh out your reference page

  38. Part 5 – Reference Page • This will be done in APA style • It is recommended but not required that you use the web resource Son of Citation Machine at http://citationmachine.net/ to help you create your reference page • Click on APA Style • Choose from the sources that are listed on the left • Fill in the blanks and click submit • Copy and paste to your reference page

  39. Part 5 – Reference Page • The title is References centered at the top of the page but done in normal font with no bolding or underlining • Your entries must be in alphabetical order • Entries should be double spaced • Entries should be done in a hanging indent style – much like this bullet • Entries should NOT be bulleted OR numbered • Entries should NOT be divided into groups based on type or any other way

  40. “I never really know the title of a book until it's finished.” Mary Wesley

  41. Part 6 – Title Page • A title page will contain the following: • Title of your essay – centred and in top 1/3 of paper (done in a large size) • The following goes under the title (in normal font and size): • Your name • Teacher’s name • Class • Due date • Running header – a shortened version of your title and the page number. The running header will be done all in capitals. Also on the title page only it will include the phrase Running head:

  42. “In a lot of formats, you can be really experimental and see what would happen.” Marguerite Moreau

  43. Step 7 - Finishing Remember that your paper should have the following: • Title repeated on the first page of the actual paper, centered but not bolded or underlined • Level 1 headings for each of the sections EXCEPT for the introduction – centered, bolded and in all upper case • Level 2 headings for each of your major arguments in both the pro and con – bolded and key words capitalized While it is allowed by APA do NOT include the following: • Author’s notes on the title page • An abstract of the paper • Level 3 headings

  44. Finishing Formatting your paper, it should be: • Typed • Double Spaced • 1” margins all around OR 1” margin top and bottom and 1.25” on left and right sides • Times New Roman or similar font • Size 12 font • Black ink on white paper Do NOT: • Put title on first page that is why you have a title page • Put a header or footer on first page – you may put on the rest of the pages

  45. “It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.” C. J. Cherryh

  46. Step 7 - Finishing • Now that you are done your first draft you need to get it ready to hand in. • Read the essay over yourself – feel free to repeat this step • Have a friend or family member read over your essay – feel free to repeat this step also • Just before you print out your good copy read over the essay one last time

  47. “We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Ronald Reagan

  48. HELP • The following web pages may be able to help you if you run into problems and can not ask your teacher. • How to Write an Essay http://kimberlychapman.com/essay/essay.html • Purdue OWL http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ • Evaluating Web Pages http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html • Son of Citation Machine http://citationmachine.net/

  49. The End Now go forth and write.

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