Tips to Writing Essays

Beginning & Ending

Thesis Statements & Support

Revising & Editing

Ways to Begin an Essay

1. Explain the context of your topic: What are the positions that led you to write on the issue? What is the background of the topic?

2. State your thesis: Begin by bluntly stating your position; follow with arguments

3. Forecast your organization: Outline the different supporting points you will make in the body

Ways to begin an essay, cont.

4. Connect your topic to readers’ interests or values: Establish common ground by finding something that everyone can appeal to

5. Start with something that will interest the reader: Perhaps use a catchy quote that relates to your topic, a shocking statement, or a statement that makes the reader think

Ways to begin an essay, cont.

6. Start with an anecdote: Provide a brief story or narrative that brings a topic to life

7. Ask a rhetorical question: Open with a question that makes the reader think about the topic

Ways to end an essay1. Restate your main point: Summarize the

central idea and supporting points2. Discuss the implications of your argument:

What does everything you have written mean from this point on?

3. End with an anecdote: Perhaps relate the anecdote back to one you used in the introduction

Ways to end an essay, cont.

4. Refer back to the beginning: If you used something that connecting your topic to the readers’ interests, refer back to it – if you asked a question, answer it

5. Propose a call to action: Offer a solution by enticing readers to make some sort of change or actually doing something

Thesis Statements Thesis Statement – A thesis statement is

the central argument you are making in your essay. It introduces the topic and presents the writer’s attitude, opinion, idea, or point about that topic.

~ The Internet has led to new kinds of frustration in everyday life.

Examples of Thesis Statements, cont.

~ Living in the city has certain advantages over living in the suburbs.

~ A honeymoon is perhaps the worst way to begin a marriage.

~ TV evangelists use sales techniques to promote their messages.

~ My husband and I have several effective ways of disciplining our children.

Tips to Writing Thesis Statements

1. Write statements, NOT announcements

Announcements:

~ The subject of this paper is….

~ I will discuss….

~ __________ is the concern of the essay…

~ I am going to tell you….

Tips to Writing Thesis Statements2. Avoid statements that are too broad: ~ Disease has shaped human history. ~ Insects are fascinating creatures. ~ Men and women are very different.

INSTEAD: ~ In the mid-1980s, AIDS changed peoples’

attitudes about dating. ~ Men and women are often treated differently in

the workplace.

Tips to Writing Thesis Statements3. Avoid statements that are too narrow: ~ The speed limit near my home is sixty-five miles

per hour. ~ A person must be at least thirty-five years old to

be elected president.INSTEAD:

~ The speed limit near my home should be lowered to fifty-five miles per hour.

~ The requirement that a person must be at least thirty-five to be elected president is unfair.

Tips to Writing Thesis Statements4. Make sure statements develop only ONE idea:~ One of the most serious problems affecting young

people today is bullying, and it is time more kids learned the value of helping others.

~ Studying with others has several benefits, but it also has drawbacks and can be difficult to schedule.

INSTEAD:~ One of the most serious problems affecting youth is

bullying. ~ Studying with others has several benefits.

Supporting Points Support your central idea with specific arguments

that back up your main point:

THESIS: The neighborhood grocery store is poorly managed.

SUPPORT:

1. The checkout lines are always long.

2. The aisles are dirty and under stocked.

3. The employees are unhelpful and even rude.

Supporting Points, cont.

THESIS: Many companies use annoying practices to increase sales.

SUPPORT:

1. Junk mail

2. Spam email

3. Telemarketers/Rebates/Infomercials

Reasons to Revise

1. Sharpen your focus: Does your thesis make a clear point? Is there sufficient support for your thesis? Are there any parts that do not support it? Did your introduction provide background/context? Did your conclusion provide a sufficient summary?

Reasons to Revise, cont.2. Revise to strengthen the argument: Are your

claims unconvincing? Do you need more examples? Do you need more detail? Do you need more research?

3. Revise for organization: Is anything out of place? Do you have transitions?

4. Revise for clarity: Is your title clear and catchy? Is your thesis clear? Will your audience understand your main points?

Reasons to Edit

1. Edit your paragraphs:

a) Does your paragraph focus on one main point?

b) Do you have a topic sentence?

c) Does every sentence relate?

d) Is there enough detail?

e) Are there appropriate transitions?

Reasons to Edit, cont.2. Edit your sentences a) Is each sentence complete? - Capitalization/Punctuation b) Active voice or passive voice? - The choir sang “Amazing Grace.” – Correct - “Amazing Grace” was sung by the choir. – Incorrect c) Vary your sentences - Sentences should be different lengths - Sentences should have different forms – simple,

compound, compound-complex

Reasons to Edit, cont.3. Edit your words:

a) Make words specific.

“I went to class.” – Incorrect

“I went to A&P” – Correct

b) Do not use clichés: Overused phrases such as “like the plague,” “live and learn,” “go with the flow.”

c) Do not use stereotypical or sexist language