Writing an Essay

1. Writing an Essay A written composition that analyzes and/or interprets a subject from the writer’s point of view

2. Why write essays? • An essay requires you to really think about the material you have been studying. • An essay is often the best evaluation of how well you understand the material.

3. Rules for writing essays: • Answers to essay questions are always written in paragraph form. • You must give more than a one-word answer. • You must give more than a series of sentences that answer the questions.

4. Rules for writing essays: • Sometimes an essay question will ask for facts. • Other times it will ask for your interpretation of facts.

5. Rules for writing essays: • The key to knowing exactly what type of answer you should give is to look at the verb used in the question.

6. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Compare • Contrast • Discuss • Define • Explain • Describe • Trace • Prove

7. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Compare: Show how two things are alike.

8. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Contrast: Show how two things are different.

9. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Discuss: Give the facts and tell how they relate to one another.

10. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Define: Give the meaning of a term.

11. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Explain: Tell how or why something is done.

12. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Describe: Give a word picture of something.

13. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Trace: Give all the events in sequential order and tell how they are related.

14. Verbs commonly used in essay questions: • Prove: Give evidence to show that something is true.

15. Analyze • It is important to analyze each essay question that you are given in order to determine what kind of information is being asked of you.

16. Question: List three services performed by monasteries of the Middle Ages, and explain why these services were important to the people of that time. • Two key words: list; explain • List – a signal that factual information is being requested • Explain – indicates that a personal interpretation is also required • Facts: • Three services performed by monasteries of the Middle Ages. • Interpretation • How did those services help people of the Middle Ages?

17. Now you are ready to compose the answer by writing a well-constructed paragraph. • Provide a topic sentence so that the reader knows that you are addressing the question. • Three services performed by the monasteries of the Middle Ages were • caring for the sick • copying manuscripts • and providing lodging for travelers and pilgrims.

18. When answering the question, remember to: • Study the question to find out what it asks you to do. • Decide if the answer is factual, interpretive, or both. • Map or outline your answer, making sure all information is related to the question. • Restate what is asked in the question and make it the topic sentence, which is often the opening sentence. • Give your information in a well-constructed paragraph and using appropriate transition words. • Reread your paragraph to make sure you have given the information that the question requires

19. Steps in writing an essay:1. Interpret the essay question: • Read the question quickly to get its general idea. • Reread the question to find out what you are being asked to do. • Underline words that give directions, like explain or compare. • Reread the question to make sure you understand what it is asking you to do. • Circle key words like World War II or gravity.

20. Steps in writing an essay:2. Prewriting • You may need to gather information from notes you may have taken while preparing for the assignment. • Make a word map to record the ideas and facts from your notes and also any that you remember that you did not write down. • There are several ways to do this.

24. Steps in writing an essay:3. Drafting your answer: • An essay always begins with a topic sentence. • Always use the key words in your topic sentence. • Imagine that your reader has not seen the question.

25. Steps in writing an essay:3. Drafting your answer: • The details in the body of your essay are the most important part of your answer. • They prove that your topic sentence is true. • The number and quality of your details show that you understand what you learned. • Complete your essay answer with a sentence that restates the idea in your topic sentence and sums up your ideas.

26. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • Write the first draft quickly. • Write your draft while all your prewriting ideas are fresh in your mind. • Keep your notes in front of you.

27. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • Don’t worry about correct spelling or punctuation at this point. • Do not be afraid to add things to your draft that are not in your notes. You can always take them out later. • Remember: Your draft should not be perfect. The point of a first draft is to get your ideas down on paper quickly.

28. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • After writing your draft, put it away for several hours or a day. • Reread it and make edits. • You may also have someone else read it and give feedback. • You should make edits first, however, before seeking another opinion.

29. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • Write a second draft. • Reread it several hours or a day later. • If you are satisfied, then that will be your final copy. • Make sure it is in proper form for a final copy and that it is neatly written.

30. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • If you are not satisfied, revise the essay again until you are satisfied. • You may make as many revisions as you like, but don’t overdo it.

31. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • Do not hand in work that you have not put effort into. • It takes time to write a good essay. • As you write more essays, you will get better at it and essay-writing will become easier. • And maybe even………………………..

32. Steps in writing an essay:4. Guidelines for writing your draft: • Wait for it……….. • Wait for it……….. • Wait for it……….. You might have FUN!!!!!!!!!

33. FUN!!!!!!!!!

34. Practice essay • As a class we will write this practice essay. • List three services performed by monasteries of the Middle Ages, and explain why these services were important to the people of that time.