MASH UP SLIDE CREATED BY : DC KUNENE

ORIGINAL SOURCES : ANDY FISHER : FORD HAM

UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

The Art of assay writing

DO NOW: WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT ESSAY WRITING? HOW MANY PARAGRAPHS DO WE USUALLY INCLUDE IN AN

ESSAY? WHAT ARE THESE PARAGRAPHS?

Aim: How do we write a good Essay?

• AWAYS support all your arguments with facts (from the text, from outside sources, etc)… WHY do you say it?• Express yourself clearly, DELETE all the

words that do not make your essay strong. (such as, and so, etc)• Essays, like poetry are an extension of

who are you. This is your chance to present yourself, your thoughts, your ideas, your intelligence to someone else!!!

WRITING GOOD ESSAYS

TOPIC

STEP ONE

Answer the specific question set – relevance is essential!

STEP 2

Underline the key words to focus your planning and ensure you will answer the right question.

STEP THREE

Make a paragraph by paragraph plan which presents a developing argument to answer the question

THE JOY OF WRITING IS HAVING WRITTEN. !

Avoid waffling in your opening paragraph – focus immediately on the given issue or topic.

STEP 4

“This is a very important issue and there are many different approaches that can be taken in considering it. Many experts have pondered the matter, but there is no definitive position. There are arguments for and against and certainly people are provoked to strong feelings when regarding the topic.”

STEPFIVE

Spend the rest of the first paragraph outlining the ground you intend to cover in the essay

STEP 6Make one point in each subsequent paragraph using a topic sentence, developing it with close textual reference and end with a summary or link it to the next paragraph.

STEP SEVEN•Use linking words at the beginning

of paragraphs to help your readers follow the development of your essay.

Nevertheless,…We can see, then, that…Furthermore…Thus…With this in mind…Another means by which…However,…Consequently…Similarly…In contrast…

STEP 8

Your concluding paragraph must return to the topic or issue raised in the question and draw a conclusion.

STEPNINE

•Any sources used must be clearly identified either in the body of your essay or in the footnotes & bibliography.

STEP 10

EDITING!!!!!!!! Please read, re read, and READ again!!!

GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

• Creator of power point used for referencing

• University of Johannesburg

REFERENCE LIST

Ford, H. (2009) Essay writing. [online]America: Ham F Page. Available from : http://www.slideshare.net/alicenie/essay-writing-2160397?qid=f3c5adbd-6815-4b1b-ba4b-000e79fa908e&v=default&b=&from_search=37. [accessed : 09th March 2014]

Fisher, A.(2009)The ten golden rules.[online]America: Andy F Page. Available from : http://www.slideshare.net/andyfisher/essay-writing-10-golden-rules?qid=f3c5adbd-6815-4b1b-ba4b-000e79fa908e&v=qf1&b=&from_search=39. [accessed : 09th March 2014]