...Essay Writing 2: Planning & Structuring Your Essays Effective Learning Service Essay Writing 2: Planning & Structuring Your Essays University of Bradford, School of Management Essay Writing (2): Planning & Structuring Your Essays ESSAY WRITING (2): PLANNING & STRUCTURING YOUR ESSAYS WHY WRITE ESSAYS? Look for the word ‘essay’ in the dictionary and you will find one meaning listed is ‘to attempt’. An essay is an attempt by you to communicate your arguments or knowledge of a subject to the reader, usually your tutor. The mark awarded is a reflection, not on your intellect generally, but on your ability to communicate your ideas on the subject in question. Many tutors – and students – believe essays help in four ways: Ø They can be a good way to learn. The process of writing will help you clarify your thoughts on a subject or topic Ø They show your tutors that you understand key ideas on any particular subject Ø They are useful as a means of gaining feedback on your academic progress Ø Essays are usually an important part of overall assessment. Essay writing can therefore be viewed in a positive way. However, essays can cause be a source of anxiety to many students, particularly at the start of their academic careers. Many students feel vulnerable when they write and submit essays and feel their intellect generally is subject to official scrutiny. They have plenty of thoughts and ideas inside their heads – but how to get these out in a readable form? This is the challenge...
Words: 4891 - Pages: 20
...Exposition and argument, emphasizing critical thinking in response to electronic and print texts. Focus on exploring, developing, and communicating ideas in a voice appropriate to the audience. Students strengthen skills through pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing. In-class and out-of-class essays required. Prerequisite: A grade of "C" or better in ENGL 098 taken at 5 credits or recommending score on the writing skills placement test for ENGL 101. | Credits: 5Item #: 2806Class Hours/Locations: 9:00-9:50JSH 248 | ------------------------------------------------- Instructor Information: 0 1 Instructor: Sharla Yates, MA in Writing 2 Office Hours: by appointment only 3 Phone: 503-750-9552 (Last Resort) | 4 E-mail address: syates@clark.edu (Best) 5 Mailstop: FHL 222 6 Office Location: FHL 112 | * ------------------------------------------------- Text & Materials Needed: Required Text: * Hacker, Diana, Ed. Rules for Writers. Boston: Bedford, 2008. * Everything’s an Argument 5th edition. Boston: Bedford 2010. Required Supplies/Materials: You will need daily access to a computer and a printer, both must function properly. You will need access to the Internet. You will receive all assignments, announcements, grades, additional reading materials, videos, handouts and due dates on Moodle. You will also be expected to upload your assignments to our Moodle room: https://moodle.clark...
Words: 2036 - Pages: 9
... |3 | |Overview of the AS and A2 Course |4 | |Assessment Objectives |5 | |AS Marking Criteria |6 | |A2 Marking Criteria |7 | |Selecting and Studying Texts |8 | |Approaching Essays – coursework |9 | |Punctuation Guide |11 | |Glossary of Literary Terms |12 | |Reading List |13 | |Independent Learning Project (Year 11 into Year 12) |18 | AQA English Literature B Specification and other resources can be found at: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/english/eng_lit_b_materials...
Words: 4760 - Pages: 20
...Good Essay Need? • An academic essay aims to persuade readers of an idea based on evidence. • An academic essay should answer a question or task. • It should have an argument. • It should try to present or discuss something: develop a ‘thesis’ or a set of closely related points - by reasoning and evidence. • An academic essay should include relevant examples, supporting evidence and information from academic texts or credible sources. 1. Starting Your Essay Although there are some basic steps to writing an assignment, essay writing is not a linear process. You might work through the different stages a number of times in the course of writing an essay. For example, you may go back to the reading and notetaking stage if you find another useful text, or perhaps to reread to locate specific information. Start work early You can’t write a successful essay unless you give yourself enough time to read, research, think and write. Don’t procrastinate or leave it until the last minute; start as early as possible. Define the question and analyse the task Writing down everything you know about a topic is not enough to make a good academic essay. Analysing, then answering the essay’s question or task is central. • Be sure that you understand exactly what the question requires you to do. • Identify the key words (like discuss or analyse) and clarify the approach you are required to take. See The Learning Centre guide ‘Answering Assignment Questions’ 2. Researching Your Topic ...
Words: 2008 - Pages: 9
...Year Nine English AEP Frankenstein/Science Fiction Essay (Reading and Writing Task) Topic: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the Science Fiction text that allowed all other examples of the sub-genre to follow. Discuss this proposition with specific reference to the Drama Script and Film versions of the novel, along with any other relevant Science Fiction texts you have read or viewed. * Your essay should especially consider Shelley’s context and that of other writers you refer to, as well as your own context as a reader. * You should make specific reference to the texts you are discussing via both direct (quotations) and indirect (explanations) evidence. * Be sure to plan your response so that each paragraph has its own unified idea. A sample paragraph structure might look like the following: 1. Introduction – Thesis: e.g.: “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the first text which uses scientific experimentation as the basis of its plot. In doing this, it paved the way for all Science Fiction which followed…” 2. Body P1 – Author context + sub-genre features – what changes have occurred over time as a result of context? Consider Mary Shelley, H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury 3. Body P2 – Discussion of Frankenstein 4. Body P3 – Discussion of other text e.g.: War of the Worlds (make some reference to Frankenstein as well) 5. Body P4 - Discussion of other text e.g.: There Will Come Soft Rains (make some reference to Frankenstein as well) ...
Words: 1268 - Pages: 6
...Everywhere © 2013 All Rights Reserved Advantages of Learning Online q q Student-centered learning - draws individual learning styles Collaborative learning – active participants and coherent thinking Easy access to global resources - access online materials and resources (weblinks, e-libs) Experiential learning through multimedia presentations new technologies for engaging students Draws on students’ interest in online learning - recent studies show increased student interest in e-learning q q q ....Linking Learners Everywhere © 2013 All Rights Reserved Advantages of Teaching Online q Offer the opportunity to think about teaching in new ways learn new techniques (threaded discussions and webliographies) Provide ideas and techniques to implement in traditional courses – using emails and posted (group) reports, etc. Expand the reach of the curriculum - expand existing curriculum to regional, national and international levels Professional satisfaction – teaching diversity of...
Words: 1998 - Pages: 8
...Essay #1 – “I Search” Exploratory Essay 1500-2500 words (15% of your Final Grade) This paper is designed to teach the writer and the reader something valuable about a chosen topic and about the nature of searching and discovery. As opposed to the standard research paper where a writer usually assumes a detached and objective stance, the “I Search” paper allows you to relate your personal experience engaged with some aspect of a topic, to hunt for facts and opinions firsthand, and to provide a step-by-step record of the search process. It’s part research paper, part personal narrative, part reflection. • First step: choose a controversial topic broadly pertaining to digital technology, digital media, “the internet,” television, or modern computing technology that truly interests you—specifically some problem or concern you want to be more informed about (use Homework #1 as a launching point). The topic, however, has to be argumentatively rich, meaning that there have to be many different viewpoints on the issue. • Second step: rather than starting with a thesis or claim, you’re going to begin with a question or problem spurred by some personal experience or exploration. Think of yourself like an investigative journalist or social scientist: if you’re writing about online communities, immerse yourself in one; if you’re writing about internet/television/cell phone addiction, deprive yourself for a few days; if you’re investigating some activity, try engaging in that...
Words: 1783 - Pages: 8
...literature How to Write an A* GCSE English Literature Poetry Response Copyright © 2008 www.englishteaching.co.uk + www.english-teaching.co.uk How to Write an A* GCSE English Literature Poetry Response 2 The Poetry Component of the GCSE Literature Paper The poetry task is the second question on the GCSE English Literature exam paper. It is perhaps the more demanding of the tasks on the paper, because unlike the question on the prose, in this section you are being asked to compare four poems simultaneously throughout your answer. In the exam you should spend one hour on this section of the paper. Given the greater demand of the task, your response to the poetry is worth more marks than the response to the prose. In order to perform at the highest level on this paper, it is important that you develop a nuanced and sophisticated comparative written style. However, this is achievable if you adopt a systematic approach to ordering and writing your responses. It does, however, demand considerable practice prior to the final examination. What is the Examiner looking for in a response to the Poetry? The exam is designed to test your ability to do the following things: Can you respond to the poems critically, in detail, and sensitively using textual evidence? Can Can you explore language, structure and form contribute to the meaning of texts? Can Can you compare the ways that ideas, themes and relationships are presented in the poems by selecting ...
Words: 5638 - Pages: 23
...This is what most review tasks will require you to do – though you may find some variation on this theme. It’s important to always read the topic instructions carefully. Hint: When you are reading a text to be reviewed – keep the following two questions uppermost in your mind: • What is this text saying? (summary); • What do I think about what it’s saying? (evaluation) 2. The text being reviewed Notice how this review begins with the full bibliographical information about the text being reviewed – author, date, title publisher, place etc. Hint: Always commence your review with this information. 3. Introduction Rather than going straight into reviewing the text, notice how this student writer has begun by introducing the broad issue that the text is addressing. In this case it is the problems that international students can experience in Australian universities. Hint: Think about how you can relate the text you are reviewing to its broader context. 4. Summarising the text (see paragraphs 2-6) As we noted, one of the main components of a review is to summarise the original text. A good summary like this one will do the following: • accurately represent the ideas in the original text • focus on the more important ideas • be perfectly understandable to someone who has not read the original How long should a summary section be? It will depend on the required length of the review. Hint: In a well-constructed review the summary section will be no longer than the evaluation section that...
Words: 2857 - Pages: 12
...In addition to responding to a writer's choice of connotative language, observe the kinds of words that are chosen, the level of diction used. Are the writer's words primarily typical of conversational language (that is, colloquial) or of a more formal style? Does the writer use slang words or technical words? Is the word choice concrete and vivid or abstract and intellectual? These differences help to shape tone and affect our response to what we read. For example, [. . .] Lincoln's word choice in "The Gettysburg Address" is formal and abstract. Lincoln writes: "on this continent" rather than "in this land," "we take increased devotion" rather than "we become more committed." The technical style is inherent to disciplines and fields of study. For example, nonscientists might not understand words related to experimentation. Or in English, we discuss metacognition, biases, marginalized communities, etc. Oftentimes, words are used to separate members of a community from non-members. Consider: What kind of effect can word choice have on your audience? What are some other examples of “words…used to separate members of a community from non-members”? One way to produce an informal style is to choose simple words: "use" instead of "exercise." To create greater informality (a colloquial style), a writer can use contractions: "can't" for "cannot," "we're" for "we are." [. . .] There are no contractions in "The Gettysburg Address." Contractions are one of the chief marks...
Words: 1983 - Pages: 8
...|Analysing an Essay Question | 1. Introduction Common criteria of undergraduate essay writing focus on the following requirements: students need to be analytical and critical in their response students need to structure their writing logically students need to be persuasive writers | students need to answer the question | This booklet looks at, how to analyse your essay question. Other Learning Centre booklets in this series deal with the other aspects: • Analytical Writing deals with the difference between analytical and descriptive writing • Planning and Structuring an Essay deals with logical structures • Developing and Supporting an Argument deals with persuasion Expectations of student assignments One of the difficulties experienced by students, particularly in first year, is understanding what standard is expected in essays at tertiary level. As well as this, each subject discipline has its own ways of doing things and its own conventions about essay structure and writing style. For instance, in some subjects it is acceptable to write very personally and put forward your own opinions and feelings on a topic and in others such a personal response would not be appropriate. You need to find out the expectations and conventions...
Words: 5948 - Pages: 24
...Page 1 of 8 How to Structure & Organize Your Paper Organizing Your Thoughts Making sense out of your observations about a text is a difficult task. Even once you've figured out what it is that you want to say, you are left with the problem of how to say it. With which idea should you begin? Should you address the opinions of other thinkers? As to that stubborn contradiction you've uncovered in your own thinking: what do you do with that? Writing papers in college requires that you come up with sophisticated, complex, and even creative ways of structuring your ideas. Accordingly, there are no simple formulae that we can offer you that will work for every paper, every time. We can, however, give you some things to think about that will help you as you consider how to structure your paper. Let Your Thesis Direct You Begin by listening to your thesis. If it is well-written, it will tell you which way to go with your paper. Suppose, for example, that in responding to Richard Pipes' book, The Russian Revolution, you have written a thesis that says: The purpose of the Russian Revolution was not only to revise Russia's class system, but to create a new world, and within that world, a new kind of human being. This thesis provides the writer (and the reader) with several clues about how best to structure the paper. First, the thesis promises the reader that it will argue that the Russian Revolution was not simply a matter of class. The paper will therefore begin by saying that...
Words: 4691 - Pages: 19
...career advancement. In this paper, students will be exposed to Four basic skills that will improve your technical writing. These include: flow and format, writing in complete thoughts, proper use of white space, and readability. This paper provides various tips to help you be successful in your college research writing and your follow-on professional life. Table of Contents Abstract 3 Introduction 6 General Concepts 6 Flow and Format 7 Flow 7 Flow Tips and Pointers 7 TIP 1: Body 8 TIP 2: Introduction 8 TIP 3: Conclusion 8 Format 9 Complete Thoughts 9 White Space 10 Readability 11 Conclusion 12 Sample References 13 Introduction No matter where you are at in your life-long educational or professional career you will benefit from honing your technical writing skills. Believe me when I say this; technical writing takes your normal writing skills in a different direction. Some of the things you received praise from in high school composition classes will draw scorn in a technical review. This single paper (and the accompanying writing exercise) is not going to make you an expert technical writer. But by applying these concepts (and practicing them throughout your various classes along the path to reaching for your educational goals), you will be provided two-fold benefits. First, your research papers will be easier to write and you’ll receive better...
Words: 2011 - Pages: 9
...SOAPSTONE (subject, occasion, audience, purpose, speaker, tone, organization, narrative style and evidence) strategy for use in analyzing prose and visual texts along with three of the five cannons of rhetoric: invention, arrangement and style. ▪ Students learn the format of the AP test, essay rubric and essay structure. ▪ Students take a full-length AP test for comparison purposes in the spring. Reading: The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne Writing: Answer the following question in one paragraph. Use quotes from the novel as evidence. Some readers believe that the elaborate decoration that Hester embroiders on the scarlet letter indicates her rejection of the community’s view of her act. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your position using evidence from the text. (test grade) Writing: Write a well-developed essay addressing the following prompt. Document all sources using MLA citation. Compare Hester to a modern day person who has been shunned. Provide at least two research sources for the other person. (project grade) Reading: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Jonathan Edwards Analyzing: SOAPSTONE and cannons of rhetoric Reading: Teacher Introduction Essay Writing: Students and teacher evaluate where each student’s writing is and where it needs to be by analyzing students’ introductory...
Words: 3064 - Pages: 13
...Section A extracts that we have studied in class. You will be asked to write an analytical essay about these extracts in exactly the same way that you would usually write an essay about your literature texts. As such it is really important that you remember to write PEE paragraphs and include quotations from the text to support your points. This question is testing your ability to read and so spelling and grammar are not awarded but they are still important in creating a good impression. This question is worth 10 marks and so you should spend about 20 minutes on it. May 2010 – Shopping for Romanian Babies In the passage, the writer is shocked by some of her experiences. What do we learn about the people she meets, and the places she visits, from her account? You should refer closely to this passage to support your answer. You may include brief quotations. November 2009 – Touching the Void Joe and Simon describe the same event, but react to and write about it in very different ways. How does each writer present his particular point of view? You may include brief quotations from the passage to support your answer. May 2009 – Chinese Cinderella Adeline Yen Mah experiences both fear and joy during the course of this passage. How does the writer enable the reader to appreciate both of these aspects of her experience? You should refer closely to this passage to support your answer. You may include brief quotations. November 2008 – Impact Alert How does the writer...
Words: 2470 - Pages: 10
