Collegiate Writing: Paragraphs to Essay

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Collegiate Writing Paragraphs to Essay

• According to the Bedford Handbook

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A Review

• According to the Bedford Handbook, paragraphs are
  clusters of information that support an essays
  main point.
• Student writers should focus on writing
  paragraphs that are clearly focused,
  well-developed, organized, coherent, and neither
  too long nor too short (76).

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(Traditional) Essay Writing
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The Writing Process
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(Traditional) Essay Writing

• Think of the essay as an extension of the
  paragraph.
• The traditional essay has at least five
  paragraphs, each serving its own purpose.

Introduction Body Paragraph 1 Body Paragraph
II Body Paragraph III Conclusion
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Essay Writing Introduction

• In this paragraph, it is the writers
  responsibility to introduce the topic with a lead
  in.
• This paragraph also contains the main idea which
  is called a thesis statement in essay writing
• It is the controlling idea of the entire essay,
  which all the other sentences and paragraphs must
  support.
• See Langan page 90 for Introduction Techniques.

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Introduction Topic Sentence Thesis Statement

• Similar to the topic sentence, the thesis
  statement must
• be a complete sentence
• although in more skillful papers it may be
  implied or appear in a paragraph other than the
  introduction
• address the topic
• suggest a pattern of development
• must NOT be an announcement
• should express the authors opinion
• (unless its an informative research paper)

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Essay Writing Body

• The body of an essay should contain several
  paragraphs that directly support the thesis.
• The number of paragraphs will depend on how much
  support is needed to fulfill the thesis
  statement.
• As with the simple paragraph, the body should
  contain both major and minor details.
• Each major detail will now become its own
  paragraph.
• Remember, every paragraph must have
• a topic sentence
• major and minor details.

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Essay Writing Back to Paragraph Basics

• Each paragraph must be
• Unified
• Coherent
• Well-developed

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Essay Writing Conclusion

• The conclusion is a place for summary.
• It is not a place for the introduction of new
  information.
• The writer is expected to re-state the thesis.
• Avoid repetition Do not use the same exact
  wording as in the introduction.
• See Langan page 93 for Concluding Techniques

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Essay Writing MLA Format

• For this class, as with most Humanity courses,
  students will be using the MLA (Modern Language
  Association) formatting for papers.
• The SLC has copies of the MLA Guidebook and
  Bedford Handbook which simplifies citation
  guidelines.
• I will place a photocopy in the lab if you would
  like to make a copy.
• dianahacker.com/bedhandbook

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Essay Writing Guidelines

• Papers should be stapled (and submitted in your
  folder).
• Your name, instructors name, course name and
  date should be placed in the top left corner.
• You will need a header in the top right corner,
  which should include your last name and the page
  number.
• Your paper should be typed in 12 font, black ink.
• All margins should be 1inch.
• If you need computer assistance, be sure to visit
  the Computer Lab in BT 216. No excuses accepted.

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Now that the guidelines have been stated, you are
expected to strictly adhere to them, and failure
to comply will adversely affect your grade.

• Your essays will be evaluated according to the
  following criteria
• Proper Essay format
• Thesis Statement
• Content
• Organization
• Unity
• Coherence
• Proper Development
• Grammar
• Proper MLA Style Citation (when required)