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Writing Strategies
•Basic Argument
•Organization Exercise
•Editing Strategies
Student academic skills centerStudent academic skills centerDr. Marsha UrbanDr. Marsha Urban
Rusty WalkerRusty WalkerNanci Fowler MorganNanci Fowler Morgan
Student academic skills center
Writing Essays for Tests
Student academic skills center
The Basic Argument
SUPPORTING FACTS
CITATION
THESISSTATEMENT
Student academic skills center
If you forget one piece, the argument fails.
SUPPORTING FACTS
THESISSTATEMENT
Student academic skills center
Organization Exercise
Student academic skills center
Essay Organization Exercise
1. When the first draft of your essay is complete, summarize each of your paragraphs on a separate piece of paper.
• For each paragraph there should be a one-sentence summary.
• Be sure to mark the paragraph number in the left margin, i.e. ¶ 1.
¶ 1 Summary of paragraph 1.
¶ 2 Summary of paragraph 2.
¶ 3 Summary of paragraph 3.
¶ 4 Summary of paragraph 4.
¶ 5 Summary of paragraph 5.
¶ 6 Summary of paragraph 6.
¶ 7 Summary of paragraph 7.
¶ 8 Summary of paragraph 8.
Student academic skills center
Step 2: Cut the paper so each summary is on one slip of paper
¶ 1 Summary of paragraph 1.
¶ 2 Summary of paragraph 2.
¶ 3 Summary of paragraph 3.
¶ 4 Summary of paragraph 4.
¶ 5 Summary of paragraph 5.
¶ 6 Summary of paragraph 6.
¶ 7 Summary of paragraph 7.
¶ 8 Summary of paragraph 8.
¶ 1 Summary of paragraph
¶ 2 Summary of paragraph
¶ 3 Summary of paragraph
¶ 4 Summary of paragraph
¶ 5 Summary of paragraph
¶ 6 Summary of paragraph
¶ 7 Summary of paragraph
¶ 8 Summary of paragraph
Student academic skills center
Step 3: Fold each slip so you cannot see which paragraph each summary belongs to.
¶ 1 Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Student academic skills center
Step 4: Mix up the slips of paper.
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Student academic skills center
Step 5: Read each sentence and put them in an order in which they flow from one to another.
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Summary of paragraph
Student academic skills center
Step 6: Unfold the slips so you can see the paragraph numbers
¶ 1 Summary of paragraph
¶ 2 Summary of paragraph
¶ 3 Summary of paragraph
¶ 4 Summary of paragraph
¶ 5 Summary of paragraph
¶ 6 Summary of paragraph
¶ 7 Summary of paragraph
¶ 8 Summary of paragraph
If the numbers are in the correct order then, CONGRATULATIONS, your essay is already organized.
Student academic skills center
¶ 1 Summary of paragraph
¶ 6 Summary of paragraph
¶ 4 Summary of paragraph
¶ 7 Summary of paragraph
¶ 3 Summary of paragraph
¶ 2 Summary of paragraph
¶ 5 Summary of paragraph
¶ 8 Summary of paragraph
If the numbers are in a different order, move the paragraphs in your original draft into that order. Doing so will ensure that your essay is well-organized.
Student academic skills center
Editing Tips
Student academic skills center
Editing Tips
Note:
The best editing is done some time after writing the essay. Two hours away from your essay will give you a clarity that you cannot achieve immediately after writing it.
Student academic skills center
Read the essay looking for and marking:
Subject/verb agreement,She are here.
She is here.
Awkward sentences,The vampire scratched his head thoughtfully. As he bent over his conundrum.
The vampire scratched his head thoughtfully as he bent over his conundrum.
Commas that don’t belong,The judge listened attentively, but ruled against the motion.
The judge listened attentively but ruled against the motion.
Commas that need to be added,This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.
This morning, in my pajamas, I shot an elephant.
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Comma splices,Talk is cheap, action is what counts.
Talk is cheap; action is what counts.Talk is cheap. Action is what counts.
Typos,There is on water.
There is no water.
Points in need of more explanation, and parts that are difficult to understand.
Student academic skills center
Please note:
Sometimes small grammatical mistakes can disrupt an essay’s flow.
Student academic skills center
Finally, ask yourself:
Does one paragraph flow into the next?
Does one idea flow into the next?
Does the essay answer the question, “So what?”
Do you have supporting evidence that pertains to your topic or idea?
Avoid potential plagiarism by providing citations when you quote other people and when you paraphrase their ideas.
Student academic skills center
After searching for and marking errors…
Correct your paper according to these markings!
