picSt. Vincent Pallotti                         
High School      -Laurel Md.-
 
Essay Writing Page                     
 Mr. Marchand                      



 
  AP US History        AP Psychology                       BLANK                              BLANK                          Expectations and Rules          Assessment Calendar  

How to Write an Intelligent, Brilliant, Educational Essay

Step One - Read the prompt carefully

Example: In the United States, many people are moving to large urban areas. Explain two reasons why people move to cities and large towns. Also, explain two reasons why people might not move to cities. In your conclusion, explain why you would or would not prefer to live in a n urban area.


Step Two - Diagram the Sentence and Include Your Basic Responses

Example:

DEFINE: The United States has a large number of urban areas [classify them, such as cities have more than 100,000 people. Define a city, give the reader an approximate number, and examples].

EXPLAIN: Then, Explain two reasons why people move to cities. [examples such as jobs, access  to the arts and museums, access to recreation,] Make sure you explain TWO!

ANSWER THE WHOLE PROMPT: Explain two reasons why people might not move to cities. [examples such as crime, small houses, small yards, crowding, traffic] Make sure you explain at least TWO!!

CLINCH IT IN THE CONCLUSION: In your conclusion, explain whether or not you would choose to live in an urban area. [develop your own point of view in three or four sentences and make sure you explain how your choices fit with the reasons you have explained earlier].

Step Three - Plan the paragraphs
Use your diagram to plan how you will present your response. Paragraphs should have only one main idea. You can include examples and clarifications to make the main idea clear.

Example:

Main Idea for paragraph 4: People are sometimes reluctant to move to cities because  they are afraid of crime.

Supporting Idea 1:  Use two or three surveys. The surveys should not be from the same year. For instance, you shouldn't use New York and the United States from 2009. You CAN use the United States 2009 and the United States 2011.

Supporting Idea 2: Give an example from an interview. Makje sure you cite the person, time and place of the interview.

Another  Option: If it's relevant to your main point, you might  use crime statistics to show a  lowering crime rate in a specific place, which would seem to counter the perceptin reflected in the polls. Or, you might use statistics to support the perception you've described.

This would be a strong paragraph for a Social Studies essay because the writer would have made a point and provided a variety of supports.

Step Four - The Clincher

Your last paragraph should bring the points together into a sigle concluding thought.
Step Five - Write the Essay

Follow your plan!
Additional Tips -

1. Whenever possible, type and double space. Always use a 12 font, the standard is 12 font Times New Roman.

2. If test essay MAKE SURE YOUR WRITING is LEGIBLE!!

3. Use Speel Chck to chck yr splling

4. NEVER use text message or Facebook abbreviations, such as "ppl" for "people".

5. Don't be redundant. Don't say the same thing by rephrasing. Don't be redundant.

6. Never end a sentence with a form of "be" such as "is".

7. Maek sure you proofraed!
Updated 8/14
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