Cornell Notes : O.E.A. Writing Strategy

1. Cornell Notes: O.E.A. Writing Strategy Observation-Evidence-Analysis

2. What is O.E.A.? • O.E.A is a writing strategy that will help you to become a better writer. • O = Observation • E= Evidence • A= Analysis

3. Why is O.E.A. important? • When students apply this strategy, they improve their in-depth analytical writing skills. • The skills involved in O.E.A., or analytical writing, help students develop as critical thinkers and as learners. This type of writing helps students solve problems, extend their understanding of a subject, and make changes that benefit society. • Good writers apply the O.E.A. writing strategy to all subjects, not just English, to demonstrate what they learned on an assigned topic.

4. O = Observation • An observation is a clearly stated interpretation you make about a story, poem, novel, play, etc. • An observation is NOT a definitive truth or plot detail. Rather, it is a logical conclusion you have made about the text that you will prove using direct evidence. • The observation should make some sort of claim about your topic. • The only difference between an observation and a topic sentence is that it is possible to have more than one observation per paragraph.

5. Observation Continued • An observation is: • The bones of the catacombs symbolize the oncoming death of Fortunato. • An observation is NOT: • The character of Fortunato is a connoisseur of wine. • The non-observation is so widely accepted that your essay would not say anything new or interesting!

6. E = Evidence • Evidence is what you use to prove the claim you made in your observation. • Evidence must relate directly to the claim. • Evidence requires you to be familiar with the text, so you can quickly find the most appropriate evidence for the job.

7. Evidence Continued • You CANNOT just add a quotation from the text and expect it to prove anything—especially while standing alone. • You need to consider the context of the main text: • Though your reader will be familiar with the text you are writing about, it is necessary to give a little background information to help the reader better understand where the quotation comes from. This can be done briefly, as a lead-in to your quotation, or in its own sentence prior to the quotation.

8. Evidence Continued • NO  “I think therefore I am.” --This example lacks context. Your reader will become confused. • YES Philosopher Rene Descartes once proclaimed, “I think therefore I am” changing the way human kind thinks about logic and existence. --This example properly integrates the quotation. Its brief explanation helps readers to understand the connection and purpose of the quotation in relation to your analysis as a whole.

9. A = Analysis • The hardest part of any paper but also the most important!  • Analysis is showing how the evidence proves the claim you made in your observation. • Analysis should imply why your analysis is worth mentioning at all • Sum up your analysis by relating it back to your observation