Essay Writing "Formula Sheet"
Introduction to Essay
1. Introduction to essay topic. Minimal background information. Limit this to a few sentences.
2. Thesis Statement: the controlling idea of the paper which is a statement of opinion vs. fact. A thesis establishes what you will prove
3. "Game plan" statement(s): introduce your arguments. It is often easiest and most logical to think about a three part body/ argument structure. We will call these Arguments I, II, III.
Body of Essay: Argument I
(i) Topic sentence which introduces Argument I and links it to your thesis
(ii) Introduce the first point (a) you are making, to support the Argument I, in your own words.
(iii) Introduce evidence to support your point (a) . Be sure to provide context for your evidence. If it is a quotation, note not only who is speaking, but with what authority that person speaks, when he/she made the statement if relevant.
(iv) Provide a second and subsequent pieces of evidence to support point (a). Be sure that the argument flows; in places, it will be necessary to integrate analysis between points of evidence.
v) Provide your own analysis for the evidence you have just presented to support point (a). Be sure to link your analysis to your argumentative point.
(vi) Conclude paragraph by summarizing argumentative point and linking it to Argument I.
(vii) Follow the same format for however many argumentative points you wish to make in this Argument I. Each major argument point you want to make should constitute one paragraph. Be sure to provide a transition from the previous point to the next one in the Topic Sentence of each argumentative point paragraph, (a),(b), (c), etc.
Conclusion to Argument I: In a separate paragraph, summarize the points you have presented, i.e. (a), (b), (c)..etc. Link Argument I to thesis.
The Transition from Argument I to Argument II should occur in the first paragraph of Argument II, not in the conclusion to Argument I.
Follow the same format for succeeding Arguments (II and III) in body of essay.
Conclusion to Essay:
Summarize your general arguments (I, II, III)
Restate thesis
Concluding statement(s)
DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION IN YOUR CONCLUSION
DO NOT INCLUDE HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS IN YOUR CONCLUSION
BE FORCEFUL
Some general rules for analytical essays
NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS
AVOID PARENTHETICAL STATEMENTS
AVOID HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS
AVOID CONVERSATIONAL STYLE
AVOID METAPHORICAL LANGUAGE
PROOFREAD CAREFULLY FOR SENTENCE STRUCTURE AND SPELLING ERRORS
WATCH PRONOUN USE AND AGREEMENT
Plagiarism is a serious offence and one that can lead to automatic failure or in the most serious cases, expulsion. You will receive an automatic “O” if you deliberately plagiarize.
Remember that for quotes more than 4 lines you need to indent.
Remember to introduce the context of the quote, i.e. the source or the speaker,
the authority of the source or the speaker, the place or/and time if appropriate.
Remember to frame your evidence with your words. Make your argument. Introduce your evidence and include it either by paraphrasing or quoting an authoritative source that supports your argument. Provide analysis of the evidence
1. Introduction to essay topic. Minimal background information. Limit this to a few sentences.
2. Thesis Statement: the controlling idea of the paper which is a statement of opinion vs. fact. A thesis establishes what you will prove
3. "Game plan" statement(s): introduce your arguments. It is often easiest and most logical to think about a three part body/ argument structure. We will call these Arguments I, II, III.
Body of Essay: Argument I
(i) Topic sentence which introduces Argument I and links it to your thesis
(ii) Introduce the first point (a) you are making, to support the Argument I, in your own words.
(iii) Introduce evidence to support your point (a) . Be sure to provide context for your evidence. If it is a quotation, note not only who is speaking, but with what authority that person speaks, when he/she made the statement if relevant.
(iv) Provide a second and subsequent pieces of evidence to support point (a). Be sure that the argument flows; in places, it will be necessary to integrate analysis between points of evidence.
v) Provide your own analysis for the evidence you have just presented to support point (a). Be sure to link your analysis to your argumentative point.
(vi) Conclude paragraph by summarizing argumentative point and linking it to Argument I.
(vii) Follow the same format for however many argumentative points you wish to make in this Argument I. Each major argument point you want to make should constitute one paragraph. Be sure to provide a transition from the previous point to the next one in the Topic Sentence of each argumentative point paragraph, (a),(b), (c), etc.
Conclusion to Argument I: In a separate paragraph, summarize the points you have presented, i.e. (a), (b), (c)..etc. Link Argument I to thesis.
The Transition from Argument I to Argument II should occur in the first paragraph of Argument II, not in the conclusion to Argument I.
Follow the same format for succeeding Arguments (II and III) in body of essay.
Conclusion to Essay:
Summarize your general arguments (I, II, III)
Restate thesis
Concluding statement(s)
DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION IN YOUR CONCLUSION
DO NOT INCLUDE HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS IN YOUR CONCLUSION
BE FORCEFUL
Some general rules for analytical essays
NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS
AVOID PARENTHETICAL STATEMENTS
AVOID HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS
AVOID CONVERSATIONAL STYLE
AVOID METAPHORICAL LANGUAGE
PROOFREAD CAREFULLY FOR SENTENCE STRUCTURE AND SPELLING ERRORS
WATCH PRONOUN USE AND AGREEMENT
Plagiarism is a serious offence and one that can lead to automatic failure or in the most serious cases, expulsion. You will receive an automatic “O” if you deliberately plagiarize.
Remember that for quotes more than 4 lines you need to indent.
Remember to introduce the context of the quote, i.e. the source or the speaker,
the authority of the source or the speaker, the place or/and time if appropriate.
Remember to frame your evidence with your words. Make your argument. Introduce your evidence and include it either by paraphrasing or quoting an authoritative source that supports your argument. Provide analysis of the evidence