Essay Writing

1
Essay Writing

• Writing Process
• Modes of Writing

2
Writing Process

• Budget your time.
• Understand the prompt.
• Plan your essay.
• Write a beginning, middle, and end.
• Revise and proofread.
• Rewrite clearly.

3
Budget your time

• Decide how much time you will spend on planning
  your essay, writing your rough draft, revising
  and proofreading your rough draft, and writing
  your final draft.
• All four of these areas deserve equal time
  because each step is important.

4
Understand your prompt

• Read the prompt carefully and make sure you
  understand what it is asking you to do.
• Make sure you write the essay to answer your
  prompt.
• Narrative write a story that tells about an
  event or a series of events.
• Expository write an explanation of something
  giving specific details.
• Persuasive write persuasively giving convincing
  reasons for your belief.

5
Plan your essay

• Before you begin writing, plan your essay.
• First write down ideas about your topic.
• Make a list of all the information you know by
  brainstorming.
• Organize the ideas.
• Second narrow and organize your ideas before
  you begin to write your essay.
• Select the idea you know the most about.
• Create a web to organize your essay.
• Third begin writing your essay according to
  your plan.

6
Write a beginning, middle, and end

• Your essay should have three distinct parts
  beginning, middle, and end.
• Your first paragraph should be the beginning of
  your essay.
• Narrative setting and characters
• Expository thesis statement including all parts
  of the essay.
• Persuasive thesis statement including all
  points of the essay.
• The last paragraph should sum up or close the
  essay.
• Narrative conclude the story.
• Expository explain all points.
• Persuasive give all convincing reasons.
• The paragraphs in between should give the meat
  of your essay.

7
Revise and Proofread

• Once you finish your rough draft, DO NOT STOP!
• Make sure your transitions flow, sentences are
  clear and varied, and sentences contain precise
  language.
• Ask yourself these questions
• How can I make this essay better?
• Will the reader understand what I am trying to
  say?
• Does this essay flow from one idea to another?
• Have I included unnecessary or off topic
  sentences?
• Have I used correct English?

8
Rewrite Clearly

• After revising and proofreading, rewrite your
  final essay.
• Be sure to include all the corrections you made
  on the rough draft.
• Write the final draft clearly so that it can be
  easily read.

9
Modes of Writing
10
Understanding the Prompt Narrative

• Narrative writing tells about an event or a story
  with the person telling the story being the
  narrator.
• A narrative prompt will ask you to tell about an
  event or time.
• You should always include setting (time and
  place), sequence of events, and chronological
  order.
• Key words TELL ABOUT A TIME or WRITE A STORY
  ABOUT

11
Think of a time from your early childhood that
made a lasting impression on you and write a
story about what happened. Be sure to include
precise details.

• When my sister and I were growing up, my
  grandmother always had chickens, turkeys, and
  guineas in her backyard. She usually kept them
  penned up, but sometimes she let them out to peck
  in the dirt. One day my sister discovered they
  were not as harmless as they looked. She was
  reading on the back steps and not paying
  attention to the yard birds. Suddenly she felt
  something land on her head. As she began
  screaming

• I remember making peanut butter and jelly
  sandwiches every day after school when I was
  younger. I loved peanut butter and jelly
  sandwiches because they were tasty and easy to
  make. I made my sandwich when I came home from
  school every day.
• The first thing I did to make my peanut butter
  and jelly sandwich was to get out all the
  ingredients and utensils that I would need. I
  pulled out the peanut butter

12
Understanding the PromptExpository

• Expository writing explains or informs by giving
  reasons, information, explanations, or steps in a
  process.
• Expository writing should clearly explain the
  topic.
• Expository should always include a main idea,
  sufficient supporting details, and a conclusion.
• Key words EXPLAIN or HOW TO

13
Think about things you like or dislike about your
school rules. Explain how you feel about some
of these rules. Be sure to give specific
examples and/or reasons to explain your opinion.

• We need school rules because they are important.
  Rules help to keep us safe and promote
  responsibility. They should be designed to
  benefit all students and to help the school be a
  better place to learn. However, some of the
  rules we have do not fit into either category,
  and they need to be changed. If I could change
  some of the school rules, I would change the
  tardy rule, the book bag rule, and the fifteen
  minute rule.

• On Monday morning last week, I got to school as
  usual and was listening to the end of my favorite
  song on my CD player in my car. I had only been
  there a few minutes when an assistant principal
  opened my door to my car and told me that I could
  not sit in the car once I got to school. I tried
  to explain to him that I was just listening to a
  CD, but he got all huffy and told me to get out
  of my car and go to the office.

14
Understanding the Prompt Persuasive

• Persuasive writing is designed to persuade.
• The goal for this type of writing is to influence
  the actions or thoughts of others by giving
  examples, reasons, or opinions.
• To be effective, persuasive writing must provide
  a clear position on an issue and then include
  logical reasons and/or examples that fully
  support that position.
• Key words CONVINCE or PERSUADE

15
You have been dreaming of a car of your own for
several years and have saved most of the money to
make your dream come true. Since you will be a
junior in the fall, you would like to start the
school year by driving to school in your new car.
Write a letter persuading your parents to help
you buy a car of your own. Be sure to include
convincing reasons and specific examples in the
writing.

• Dear Mom and Dad, I need your help. I want
  to buy a car, but I dont have enough money of my
  own to buy the one I want. I realize that owning
  a car would be a big responsibility for me, but
  it is one that I readily accept. Having more
  responsibility will make me a better person and
  allow me to prove that I can handle important
  obligations. If you will help me to buy the car,
  I will take full responsibility for servicing and
  maintaining it, buying gas, and paying required
  fees involved in owning a car.

• Dear Mom and Dad, My friend Johnny
  just got a new car, and it is really cool. The
  car is a red Mustang with a new paint job and new
  leather upholstery. The car is not new, but it
  is new to Johnny. He took me for a ride, and it
  was fun. The car is also a convertible. We had
  the top down until it started raining, and we had
  to stop to put the top up. One of the snaps that
  is supposed to hold the top came off, and Johnny
  got really wet driving home. I would love to
  have a car like this.

16
Define each as Narrative, Expository, or
Persuasive

• ____Think of an incident when you were proud of
  yourself. Tell the story of what happened and
  include the details and results.
• ____ Some friends are going to the beach for a
  week this summer and have invited you. There
  will be no adults going, so you need to convince
  your parents to allow you to go. Write an essay
  giving your reasons to persuade them.
• ____ Think about a time when you did something
  that you knew was wrong. Explain the reasons you
  did it anyway.

N
P
E
17
Define each as Narrative, Expository, or
Persuasive

• _____ My first day of high school was awful for
  several reasons. I kept getting lost because I
  did not know the buildings. I was late to
  classes and was embarrassed to enter late. I
  spilled my food on my new top and had to walk
  around all day with that spot. I did not know
  what to expect, and everything seemed wrong.
• _____ I heard the sound when I woke that morning.
  I lay in the bed and tried to decide what it
  was. I had never heard it before, so I decided
  to get out of bed and investigate. I went into
  the bathroom to take a shower, but when I turned
  on the water, the sound got even louder.
• _____ Smoking should be illegal in restaurants
  and other enclosed areas. Because second-hand
  smoke is more harmful to those who inhale it than
  the actual act of smoking is to the smoker, it
  should not be allowed, especially in buildings.
  Allowing smoking in enclosed areas is the
  equivalent to signing the death warrants for
  those who are forced to inhale the toxic fumes of
  others.

E
N
P
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Writing On Topic

• It is very important to understand what mode you
  are writing in, but it is just as important to
  stay on task or topic.
• First, ask yourself what the prompt wants you to
  write about.
• Second, keep that the focus of your brainstorming
  and planning.
• Third, write your essay making sure you are doing
  what the prompt ask of you.
• Finally, revise to make sure you have taken out
  any sentences that get off task or topic.

19
Think of a time from your early childhood that
made a lasting impression on you and write a
story about what happened. Be sure to include
precise details.

• I will never forget the Christmas of 1994 when I
  was only eight years old. My older sister,
  younger brother, and I had been wanting bicycles
  for months. We made our wishes for Christmas
  clear often. I even remember our discussing it
  during Thanksgiving dinner however, the day
  after Thanksgiving something happened to make us
  forget about our material desires for Christmas.

• Growing up was fun for me because I came from a
  large family with many sisters and brothers. As
  the third of eight children, I was very proud of
  my family. A family as large as ours was unusual
  in our fairly small town. Our unusual last name
  added to our being well-known in our town.

20
Think about things you like or dislike about your
school rules. Explain how you feel about some
of these rules. Be sure to give specific
examples and/or reasons to explain your opinion.

• At my school, we have many rules for students to
  follow. We have rules telling us what we can and
  cannot do in the classroom. We have rules
  telling us what we can and cannot do in the
  halls. We even have rules telling us what we can
  and cannot do outside the school building on the
  school grounds. Of all these rules, I do not
  agree with the rules that tell us what we can and
  cannot do in the halls and on school grounds.

• Out of all the rules at our school, the ones that
  I dislike the most concern the dress code. We
  should be allowed to dress any way that we like.
  The dress code does not allow us to dress
  individually and express our creativity. I think
  most teachers would agree that creativity is
  important and should not be suppressed. Just
  think about what would happen if students could
  no longer be creative.

21
You have been dreaming of a car of your own for
several years and have saved most of the money to
make your dream come true. Since you will be a
junior in the fall, you would like to start the
school year by driving to school in your new car.
Write a letter persuading your parents to help
you buy a car of your own. Be sure to include
convincing reasons and specific examples in the
writing.

• Dear Mom and Dad, Since I have been saving
  my money for so long to buy a car, I hope you
  will agree to help me. I dont have quite enough
  saved yet, and I would be forever in your debt if
  you will help me buy the car I wantI have worked
  very hard to save the money, and I will continue
  to work to be able to pay for the upkeep on my
  car. I will be very responsible and buy my own
  gas and oil

• Dear Mom and Dad, I really want a
  car. I have saved my money, but I dont have
  enough. My friend Susie got her parents to help
  her buy a car. Susie has proven to be a really
  careful driver. She obeys all the traffic
  signals and is careful to look both ways before
  pulling out into traffic. She got a job, and I
  want to get a job too. A job would help me buy
  the things I want and need so I want have to be
  dependent on you

22
Select the correct essay that stays on topic
23
Think of good friends and qualities they have.
What are the important characteristics you look
for in a friend? Explain the most important
qualities a friend should have. Remember that
you need to give clear reasons for you choices
and use specific details in your response.

• Friends are important to everyone. A friend is
  someone who keeps my confidences. She would not
  repeat things I have told her to others. When I
  am talking to a friend, I do not worry about what
  I am saying. I should be able to say what I
  think and how I feel. I do not tell others what
  my friends tell me, and I do not want them to
  share my feelings to others

• Friends are special people, and I pick mine
  carefully. A friend does not have to be perfect,
  but there are some important qualities they
  should have. A friend should be someone who can
  listen, someone who is positive, and someone who
  is loyal

24
Much has been discussed and written about whether
wearing seatbelts should or should not be
required in private vehicles. Write and essay to
persuade occupants of private vehicles that
wearing seatbelts should be mandatory. Remember
to give convincing reasons and specific details
to support your opinion.

• Wearing seatbelts should be required in all
  private vehicles because they keep all the
  occupants much safer during an accident. Wearing
  seatbelts keeps the occupants from being thrown
  from the car and being killed by something
  outside the car

• Wearing seatbelts should be required, but I
  cannot stand them. They do not fit properly, so
  they are grossly uncomfortable. Seatbelts are
  constructed so that they fit too close to my
  neck, and they have rubbed me raw by the time I
  get to my destination.

25
Understanding the prompt Purpose, Audience, and
Language

• Purpose Writing always has a purpose to
  entertain, to inform, to persuade.
• Audience Who is reading what you are writing.
• Appropriate Language Formal language is the
  type of language you use in writing.
  Conversational English is not acceptable in
  written English.

26
Appropriate Language

• Uses complete sentences
• Uses complex sentence structure and proper
  punctuation.
• Uses correct spelling and standard words.
• Does not usually contain contractions.
• Uses clear, precise words.

27
Acceptable Standard English

• Another vicious fowl was my grandmothers bantam
  rooster. He was a tiny rooster, but he had big,
  sharp spurs on his legs, and part of his legs
  were covered with feathers. He did not like
  anyone buy my grandmother. He would try to flog
  anyone who got separated from Grandmother while
  he was loose in the yard. My sister was
  terrified of the rooster. When she went into the
  yard, she would hang onto the pocket of my
  grandmothers apron. However, she loved to
  collect feathers

28
Informal Language

• Another bird mean as a snake was my grandmaws
  bantie rooster. He has big old spurs on his
  legs. Part of his legs was covered with
  feathers. He didnt like noboby but Grandmaw.
  Hed try to get everybody while he be loose. My
  sister were scared to death of him. When she had
  went in the yard she would hang on grandmaw. One
  day she was fixin to pick up a feather

29
Correct the following sentences.

• I wont go to the bask your homeboy is throwing.
• I didnt expect to lay eyes on you when I got
  back.
• Hes no dummy hes got lots of smarts.
• What up?
• When he run in front on the car, we had thought
  that dog was a goner.
• Yall come to see us.
• If I come by McDonalds, will you hook me up with
  chow?
• I aint going nowhere with you.

30
Planning an Essay

• Brainstorming using a web.
• Brainstorming using a list.
• Narrowing the details.
• The magic number is three.
• Expository Three good details or examples that
  explain your topic.
• Narrative Three main events to form your story.
• Persuasive Three good reasons supported with
  examples or data.

31
Think of a time from your early childhood that
made a lasting impression on you and write a
story about what happened. Be sure to include
precise details.
32
Think about things you like or dislike about your
school rules. Explain how you feel about some
of these rules. Be sure to give specific
examples and/or reasons to explain your opinion.
33
You have been dreaming of a car of your own for
several years and have saved most of the money to
make your dream come true. Since you will be a
junior in the fall, you would like to start the
school year by driving to school in your new car.
Write a letter persuading your parents to help
you buy a car of your own. Be sure to include
convincing reasons and specific examples in the
writing.
34
Writing a Narrative Introductory Paragraph

• For a narrative essay, you want to give general
  information that leads into your story, or you
  may choose to use the introductory paragraph to
  begin your story.
• Leading I have many pleasant memories of
  growing up.
• Beginning One autumn day, I got the idea to
  play cops and robbers when I found two really
  long sticks in the woods behind my grandparents
  house.
• The next sentences should tell more about the
  students memory.
• I have many pleasant memories of growing up.
  Most center around playing at home with my
  brother and sister.

35
Writing a thesis for your narrative introductory
paragraph.

• The last sentence of your introductory paragraph
  should be your thesis statement.
• A thesis statement is the controlling idea for
  the entire essay.
• To write a thesis statement, you must first
  determine the focus of your essay.
• For a narrative, the thesis should introduce the
  story that will follow in the remainder of the
  essay.
• I have many pleasant memories of growing up.
  Most center around playing at home with my
  brother and my sister. My favorite memory is the
  time we used the sofa and chair cushions to build
  pretend houses.

36
Read each prompt and decide which is an
appropriate thesis statement.

• Think about things you regret what you did or
  did not do and how you wish you could redo them.
  Pick one incident and write a story about what
  happened. Be sure to narrate an event or series
  of events and include specific details in your
  response.
• I broke an important promise to my best friend
  when I did not get up early to go help him.
• I wish I had not said what I did and hurt her
  feelings.
• Most people do things that they wish that they
  had not done.

37

• Think about a time someone helped you in some
  way. Write a story about what happened. Be sure
  to include specific details in your response.
• My sister helped me many times when I was in
  need.
• They all came together in a van to my house.
• My mother helped me make the dress even though
  she was sick.

38
Writing the Body Paragraphs for a Narrative Essay

• For your narrative essay, it is important that
  you narrate an event or a series of events by
  telling what happened with a time frame.
• First body paragraph will tell what happened
  first.
• Second body paragraph will tell what happened
  second.
• Third body paragraph will tell what happened
  third.
• You may have as many body paragraphs as you need
  to tell the story. Just make sure you are on
  topic.
• Use specific examples and details of the story.

39
Writing a Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative
Essay

• The conclusion should give the reader a sense of
  completion.
• For a narrative, a simple conclusion finishes the
  story.
• We had so much fun playing in our houses and
  using our imagination that we did not want to
  quit. When it was time for dinner, our mother
  made us put the cushions back where they
  belonged. Reluctantly, we obeyed, but we all
  looked forward to the next time when we would be
  able to swipe the cushions from the sofa and
  chairs to build more pretend houses.

40
Characteristics for a Narrative Essay

• Must include a beginning, middle, and ending.
• Introduce your characters in the first paragraph.
• Use clear, specific details about one event or
  series of events.
• Second Hole Rule - Dont reveal the big moment
  until the second hole of your paper.
• Use transition words throughout to move smoothly
  between each scene.
• Use dialogue.
• Use SMILEY FACE TRICKS!!!!

41
Transition Words for Narrative Essays

• After, before, since, during, finally, later,
  when, until, next, immediately, suddenly, as soon
  as, at last, on Tuesday, last month, yesterday,
  by afternoon, meanwhile, afterward, while, at
  once, first, second, once.

42
Smiley Face Tricks

• Magic 3 Three examples in a series.
• Figurative Language Similes, metaphors,
  personification.
• Specific Details Sensory descriptions.
• Repetition Words chosen to make a point.
• Expanded Moment Expand the actions or details.
• Humor Funny details can add spice.
• Hyphenated Modifiers Different way to describe.
• Full Circle Ending Wrap up the paper using a
  phrase from the beginning of the paper.

43
Your Turn Write a narrative essay

• Think about a time when you were afraid. Using
  precise details, write a story about the incident.

44
Your turn Write a narrative essay

• Think about something you desperately wanted when
  you were younger. Write a story telling what you
  wanted, why you wanted it, and whether or not you
  were fortunate enough to receive it. Include
  precise details.

45
Your turn Write a narrative essay

• Think back to a time when you were younger.
  Write a story narrating a time when you were
  bad and were punished for it. Be sure to
  include specific details.

46
Final Draft

• You have written three narrative essays, and they
  have been peer reviewed.
• Select the best one to edit and revise to turn in
  for a test grade.
• Writing Checklist
• Did I stay on topic?
• Does my essay tell a story?
• Did I write a thesis statement?
• Did I include characters?

• Writing checklist
• Did I include specific details?
• Do I have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
• Did I write the story in order?
• Did I use transition words?
• Did I check for grammar problems?
• Did I use SMILEY FACE TRICKS?
• Did I write clearly?

47
Writing an Introductory Paragraph for an
Expository Essay

• The first sentence in an expository essay can be
  very general or very specific including a detail
  about the prompt.
• We need school rules because they are important.
  (General)
• Our school has too many rules for students to
  follow. (General)
• Rules are necessary in a school setting, and the
  dress code is an important part of the school
  rules. (specific to prompt)

• The next sentences should give more information
  the reader needs to know and transition into the
  thesis.
• We need school rules because they are important.
  Rules help to keep us safe and promote
  responsibility. They should be designed to
  benefit all students and to help the school be a
  better place to learn. However, some of the
  rules we have do not fit into either category,
  and they need to be changed.

48
Writing a thesis for your Expository Essay

• In your expository thesis statement, you should
  narrow your ideas to three. (one for each body
  paragraph)
• Make sure to list your three ideas in the thesis,
  which should be the last sentence in your
  introductory paragraph.
• We need school rules because they are important.
  Rules help to keep us safe and promote
  responsibility. They should be designed to
  benefit all students and to help the school be a
  better place to learn. However, some of the
  rules we have do not fit into either category,
  and they need to be changed. If I could change
  some of the rules, I would change the tardy rule,
  the book bag rule, and the fifteen-minute rule.

49
Read each prompt and decide which is an
appropriate thesis statement.

• Think of a favorite movie or television program.
  Explain which movie or program you liked and give
  specific reasons why you enjoyed it. Be sure to
  support your reasons with specific details.
• My favorite television program is Survivor
  because I like to watch different types of people
  interact with others.
• My favorite movie of all time is Crocodile
  Dundee.
• I did not like the movie Spirit because it was
  childish, slow, and animated.

50

• Think about winning a million dollars in a
  lottery and what you could do with all that
  money. Explain what you would do with a million
  dollars. Give one or more examples of what you
  would do and support with specific details.
• The second thing would be to buy a large new
  house.
• A million dollars would make me so happy.
• With a million dollars, I would build a new
  house, buy a new car, and donate to the animal
  shelter.

51
Writing Body Paragraphs for an Expository Essay

• For every point in your thesis, you should have a
  body paragraph.
• First paragraph tardy rule
• Second paragraph book bag rule
• Third paragraph fifteen minute rule
• Use specific examples and details.
• Stay on topic use your thesis as your guide.
• Keep a logical order.
• Least important to most important.
• Most important to least important.
• Make sure the order in your thesis is the order
  you follow in the body paragraphs.

52
Writing a Conclusion for an Expository Essay

• The conclusion ties together what you have
  already said.
• Summarize by restating your thesis and main
  points. (Do not repeat your thesis word for word)
• Explain why the points or events are significant.
• Schools must have rules to function properly, but
  the rules need to be fair and impartial to all
  involved. The rules for tardiness, book bags,
  and missing fifteen minutes of a class do not fit
  in the fair and impartial category. They need to
  be changed so that only the students who abuse
  the rules are the ones who are punished.
  Everyone should not be punished for the abuse of
  a few.

53
Characteristics for a Expository Essay

• Clearly identified subjects
• Use a specific organizing structure to provide
  logical flow.
• Least important to most important
• Most important to least important
• Use specific examples and details to explain your
  point.
• Integrate quotations, facts, and statistics into
  the text if relevant.
• Show connections among facts and ideas with
  transition words.
• Use smiley face tricks

54
Transition Words for Expository Essays

• First, second, third, finally, also, in the same
  way, likewise, on the other hand, in the
  meantime, although, even though, for this reason,
  in fact, to emphasize, as a result, therefore,
  due to, all in all, additionally, for example,
  for instance, next, in addition, another,
  besides, moreover, as well as.

55
Your Turn Write a Expository essay

• Think of good friends and the qualities they
  have. What are the important characteristics you
  would look for in a friend? Explain the most
  important qualities a friend should have.
  Remember that you need to give clear reasons for
  your choices and use specific details in your
  response.

56
Your Turn Write a Expository essay

• Think about the funniest person that you know.
  In your essay describe this person and explain
  what makes them you choice as the funniest. Be
  sure to support your examples with details

57
Your Turn Write a Expository essay

• Think about a job or chore that you hate to do.
  Explain the job or chore and why you hate it. Be
  sure to give specific details.

58
Final Draft

• You have written three expository essays, and
  they have been peer reviewed.
• Select the best one to edit and revise to turn in
  for a test grade.
• Writing checklist
• Did I stay on topic?
• Does my essay explain?
• Did I write a thesis statement?
• Did I write my ideas in order of the thesis?

• Writing Checklist
• Did I include specific details?
• Do I maintain my point of view?
• Did I use one clear controlling idea?
• Did I use transition words?
• Did I check for grammar problems?
• Did I use SMILEY FACE TRICKS?
• Did I write clearly?

59
Writing an Introductory Paragraph for an
Persuasive Essay
60
Writing a thesis for your Persuasive Essay
61
Read each prompt and decide which is an
appropriate thesis statement.
62
(No Transcript)
63
Writing Body Paragraphs for an Persuasive Essay
64
Writing a Conclusion for an Persuasive Essay
65
Characteristics for a Persuasive Essay
66
Transition Words for Persuasive Essays
67
Your Turn Write a Persuasive essay
68
Your Turn Write a Persuasive essay
69
Your Turn Write a Persuasive essay
70
Final Draft

• You have written three persuasive essays, and
  they have been peer reviewed.
• Select the best one to edit and revise to turn in
  for a test grade.
• Writing checklist
• Did I stay on topic?
• Does my essay explain?
• Did I write a thesis statement?
• Did I write my ideas in order of the thesis?

• Writing Checklist
• Did I include specific details?
• Do I maintain my point of view?
• Did I use one clear controlling idea?
• Did I use transition words?
• Did I check for grammar problems?
• Did I use SMILEY FACE TRICKS?
• Did I write clearly?