essay writing

by abdo Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:03 pm

Choose a Topic for Your Essay

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Topic Has Been Assigned

You may have no choice as to your topic. If this is the case, you
still may not be ready to jump to the next step.

Think about the type of paper you are expected to produce. Should it
be a general overview, or a specific analysis of the topic? If it should be an
overview, then you are probably ready to move to the next step. If it should
be a specific analysis, make sure your topic is fairly specific. If it is too
general, you must choose a narrower subtopic to discuss.

For example, the topic "KENYA" is a general one. If
your objective is to write an overview, this topic is suitable. If your
objective is to write a specific analysis, this topic is too general. You
must narrow it to something like "Politics in Kenya"
or "Kenya's
Culture."

Once you have determined that your topic will be suitable, you can
move on.

Topic Has Not Been Assigned

If you have not been assigned a topic, then the whole world lies
before you. Sometimes that seems to make the task of starting even more
intimidating. Actually, this means that you are free to choose a topic of
interest to you, which will often make your essay a stronger one.

Define Your Purpose

The first thing you must do is think about the purpose of the essay
you must write. Is your purpose to persuade people to believe as you do, to
explain to people how to complete a particular task, to educate people about
some person, place, thing or idea, or something else entirely? Whatever topic
you choose must fit that purpose.

Brainstorm Subjects of Interest

Once you have determined the purpose of your essay, write down some
subjects that interest you. No matter what the purpose of your essay is, an
endless number of topics will be suitable.

If you have trouble thinking of subjects, start by looking around
you. Is there anything in your surroundings that interests you? Think about
your life. What occupies most of your time? That might make for a good topic.
Don't evaluate the subjects yet; just write down anything that springs to
mind.

Evaluate Each Potential Topic

If you can think of at least a few topics that would be appropriate,
you must simply consider each one individually. Think about how you feel
about that topic. If you must educate, be sure it is a subject about which
you are particularly well-informed. If you must persuade, be sure it is a
subject about which you are at least moderately passionate. Of course, the
most important factor in choosing a topic is the number of ideas you have
about that topic.

Even if none of the subjects you thought of seem particularly
appealing, try just choosing one to work with. It may turn out to be a better
topic than you at first thought.

Before you are ready to move on in the essay-writing process, look
one more time at the topic you have selected. Think about the type of paper
you are expected to produce. Should it be a general overview, or a specific
analysis of the topic? If it should be an overview, then you are probably ready
to move to the next step. If it should be a specific analysis, make sure your
topic is fairly specific. If it is too general, you must choose a narrower
subtopic to discuss.

For example, the topic "KENYA" is a general one. If
your objective is to write an overview, this topic is suitable. If your
objective is to write a specific analysis, this topic is too general. You
must narrow it to something like "Politics in Kenya"
or "Kenya's
Culture."

Once you have determined that your topic will be suitable, you can
move on.

Organize Your Ideas

The
purpose of an outline or diagram is to put your ideas about the topic on paper,
in a moderately organized format. The structure you create here may still
change before the essay is complete, so don't agonize over this.

Decide
whether you prefer the cut-and-dried structure of an outline or a more flowing
structure. If you start one or the other and decide it isn't working for you,
you can always switch later.

Diagram

1. Begin your diagram with a circle or a
horizontal line or whatever shape you prefer in the middle of the page.

2. Inside the shape or on the line, write
your topic.

3. From your center shape or line, draw
three or four lines out into the page. Be sure to spread them out.

4. At the end of each of these lines, draw
another circle or horizontal line or whatever you drew in the center of the
page.

5. In each shape or on each line, write the
main ideas that you have about your topic, or the main points that you want to
make.

o
If
you are trying to persuade, you want to write your best arguments.

o
If
you are trying to explain a process, you want to write the steps that should be
followed.
You will probably need to group these into categories.
If you have trouble grouping the steps into categories, try using Beginning, Middle,
and End.

o
If
you are trying to inform, you want to write the major categories into which
your information can be divided.

6. From each of your main ideas, draw three
or four lines out into the page.

7. At the end of each of these lines, draw
another circle or horizontal line or whatever you drew in the center of the
page.

8. In each shape or on each line, write the
facts or information that support that main idea.

When
you have finished, you have the basic structure for your essay and are ready to
continue.

Compose a Thesis Statement

Now
that you have decided, at least tentatively, what information you plan to
present in your essay, you are ready to write your thesis statement.

The
thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will be about, and what point
you, the author, will be making. You know what the essay will be about. That
was your topic. Now you must look at your outline or diagram and decide what
point you will be making. What do the main ideas and supporting ideas that you
listed say about your topic?

Your thesis statement will have two parts.

The first part states the topic.

Kenya's Culture
Building a Model Train Set
Public Transportation

The second part states the point of the essay.

has a rich and varied history
takes time and patience
can solve some of our city's most persistent and
pressing problems

Or in the second part you could simply list the three
main ideas you will discuss.

has a long history, blends traditions from
several other cultures, and provides a rich heritage.
requires an investment in time, patience, and
materials.
helps with traffic congestion, resource
management, and the city budget.

Once
you have formulated a thesis statement that fits this pattern and with which
you are comfortable, you are ready to continue.

Write the Body Paragraphs

In
the body of the essay, all the preparation up to this point comes to fruition.
The topic you have chosen must now be explained, described, or argued.

Each
main idea that you wrote down in your diagram or outline will become one of the
body paragraphs. If you had three or four main ideas, you will have three or
four body paragraphs.

Each body paragraph will have the same basic
structure.

1. Start by writing down one of your main
ideas, in sentence form.
If your main idea is "reduces freeway congestion," you might say
this:
Public transportation reduces freeway congestion.

2. Next, write down each of your supporting
points for that main idea, but leave four or five lines in between each point.

3. In the space under each point, write
down some elaboration for that point.
Elaboration can be further description or explanation or
discussion.

Supporting Point

Commuters appreciate the
cost savings of taking public transportation rather than driving.

Elaboration

Less driving time means less
maintenance expense, such as oil changes.

Of course, less driving time
means savings on gasoline as well.

In many cases, these savings
amount to more than the cost of riding public transportation.

4. If you wish, include a summary sentence
for each paragraph.
This is not generally needed, however, and such sentences have a tendency to
sound stilted, so be cautious about using them.

Once
you have fleshed out each of your body paragraphs, one for each main point, you
are ready to continue.

Write the Introduction and
Conclusion

Your
essay lacks only two paragraphs now: the introduction and the conclusion. These
paragraphs will give the reader a point of entry to and a point of exit from
your essay.

Introduction

The
introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and give her
an idea of the essay's focus.

1. Begin with an attention grabber.

The attention grabber you use is up to you, but here
are some ideas:

o
Startling
information
This information must be true and verifiable, and it doesn't need to be totally
new to your readers. It could simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly
illustrates the point you wish to make.
If you use a piece of startling information, follow it with a sentence or two
of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

o
Anecdote
An anecdote is a story that illustrates a point.
Be sure your anecdote is short, to the point, and relevant to your topic. This
can be a very effective opener for your essay, but use it carefully.

o
Dialogue
An appropriate dialogue does not have to identify the speakers, but the reader
must understand the point you are trying to convey. Use only two or three
exchanges between speakers to make your point.
Follow dialogue with a sentence or two of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

o
Summary
Information
A few sentences explaining your topic in general terms can lead the reader
gently to your thesis. Each sentence should become gradually more specific,
until you reach your thesis.

2. If the attention grabber was only a
sentence or two, add one or two more sentences that will lead the reader from
your opening to your thesis statement.

3. Finish the paragraph with your thesis
statement.

Conclusion

The
conclusion brings closure to the reader, summing up your points or providing a
final perspective on your topic.

All
the conclusion needs is three or four strong sentences which do not need to
follow any set formula. Simply review the main points (being careful not to
restate them exactly) or briefly describe your feelings about the topic. Even
an [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] can end your essay in a
useful way.

Add the Finishing Touches

You
have now completed all of the paragraphs of your essay. Before you can consider
this a finished product, however, you must give some thought to the formatting
of your paper.

Check the order of your paragraphs.

Look
at your paragraphs. Which one is the strongest? You might want to start with
the strongest paragraph, end with the second strongest, and put the weakest in
the middle. Whatever order you decide on, be sure it makes sense. If your paper
is describing a process, you will probably need to stick to the order in which
the steps must be completed.

Check the instructions for the assignment.

When
you prepare a final draft, you must be sure to follow all of the instructions
you have been given.

Are your margins correct?
Have you titled it as directed?
What other information (name, date, etc.) must
you include?
Did you double-space your lines?

Check your writing.

Nothing
can substitute for revision of your work. By reviewing what you have done, you
can improve weak points that otherwise would be missed. Read and reread your
paper.

Does it make logical sense?
Leave it for a few hours and then read it again. Does it still make
logical sense?
Do the sentences flow smoothly from one another?
If not, try to add some words and phrases to help connect them. Transition
words, such as "therefore" or "however," sometimes
help. Also, you might refer in one sentence to a thought in the previous
sentence. This is especially useful when you move from one paragraph to
another.
Have you run a spell checker or a grammar
checker?
These aids cannot catch every error, but they might catch errors that you
have missed.