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