Composing Essays(I)

What makes a good essay?

What is an essay?

What functions does an essay perform?

What features does a good essay have?

1. Criteria for a good essay Read the given example, and answer questions: What is topic of the essay? What is something important (interesting or new)

that the author wants to tell us? Is there a sentence that reveals the theme?

What’s the relationship between the two body paragraphs?

Do the paragraphs have their own central idea? Is there a conclusion that the author makes?

“the focus – the title”

“thesis statement”

“theme”

“parallel to explain the differences”

“conclusion”

YES

What makes a good essay? What is a essay?

A group of logically connected paragraphs. What function does a essay perform?

To narrate, to describe, to explain, to argue, to define, or to classify, etc.

What features does a good essay have? a title revealing the topic a theme to focus on; a thesis statement expressing the theme; closely and logically connected paragraphs with

its own central idea revolving around theme; a conclusion to re-declare the theme.

A Definition

a group of logically connected paragraphs, expressing one thought or one part of a thought that supports the theme of an essay

Elements necessary: title, thesis statement, paragraph topic sentences, supporting details, conclusion.

Procedures to achieve an effective essay.

2. Steps in Writing an essay

I. Planning an essay

II. Writing the first draft

III. Revising the first draft

IV. Making final copy

I. Planning an essay Put down all the relevant facts; listing as many relevant facts as you can by

brainstorming, drawing idea cluster, etc. Think of a proper theme and deciding on the purpose; working on the title, the theme, and thesis statement Re-examining the list of details and outlining. adding relevant details; cutting out irrelevant,

unnecessary, or unimportant details arranging the facts in a logical order by outlining

Outlining Two patterns: a sentence outline and a topic outline A sentence outline: made up of complete sentences;

providing a more detailed plan; needing more time, but almost got the essay half done; better for a long paper.

A topic outline: made up of gerund or infinitive phrases (never complete sentence); providing the focusing ideas briefly; needing less time, but more time in developing them into an essay; better for a short paper.

Elements of an outline

Topic/Title Thesis (statement) Outlined paragraphs

topic sentence (SO)/controlling idea (TO) for each paragraph

supporting details for each paragraph (in sentences or in phrases)

Conclusion

Rules for writing outlines

Thesis statement in a complete declarative sentence, usually affirmative

I, II, III ….; A, B, C, …; 1, 2, 3, … No mixture of outline patterns: a topic

outline with noun phrases; a sentence outline with complete sentences

Logical ordered headings of the same rank in parallel structures

II. Writing the first draft revising the outline if it is impracticable editing the outline by adding or cutting out

ideas

III. Revising the first draft Following the checklist to revise an outline on

content, organization, sentences, and diction, etc.

IV. Making the Final copy