ESSAY WRITING : ESSAY WRITING Some helpful tips
Characteristics of a good essay: : Characteristics of a good essay: Logically developed
Clear
Well structured
Provides illustrative evidence
Gives credits to sources
The type of essay you’ll write : The type of essay you’ll write PERSONAL, i.e., about your personal history. Related to feelings, family, study, work.
FIRST STEP : FIRST STEP PURPOSE: explain, educate, inform
AUDIENCE: who are you writing for?
SECOND STEP: IDEAS : SECOND STEP: IDEAS Brainstorming
Free writing
Listing
Organisation : Organisation Organise the ideas: group the similar ones, they will probably become a paragraph.
Essay outline almost ready
Essay parts : Essay parts Paragraphs arrangement:
BASIC ESSAY EXAMPLE:1st par. Introduction : BASIC ESSAY EXAMPLE:1st par. Introduction "A dog is man's best friend." That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent housepets.
2nd par. BODY : 2nd par. BODY In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. Who can resist a purring cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch!
3rd par. BODY : 3rd par. BODY In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have "accidents." Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed.
4th par. BODY : 4th par. BODY Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.
Conclusion: restatement : Conclusion: restatement Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However, many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal housepet.
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH : CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH 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.
EDITING YOUR WORK : EDITING YOUR WORK 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?
EDITING (continued) : EDITING (continued) 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
EDITING (Continued) : EDITING (Continued) • 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.
READING : READING Give it to a classmate to read.
Leave it for a while, or if possible, for a day or two, and then go back to it.
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW : THAT’S ALL FOR NOW THANK YOU!