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Structure,
Sound & Sense:
Essay Writing:
Personal Essay
Task 4: Outline
With your thesis
statement and objective in place, it’s time to organize your
ideas—that is, to outline your essay.
1. Put your thesis
statement at the top of a sheet of paper and list the points
you intend to make. A strong essay needs at least three
supporting points. Example:
My experience as a vegetarian taught me that a
vegetarian diet isn’t the right choice for me.
·
It was a pain! I had to
cook my own meals because the food mom prepared for my
family almost always included animal products.
·
There was too much
homework! I had to research daily protein requirements, find
alternate sources of protein, and then figure out how much
of each source to eat to ensure I stayed healthy.
·
I just love meat! I
especially love bacon—the way it tastes, the way it smells,
and the sizzling sound it makes in the frying pan.
2. Read through your
points and consider the order in which they appear. Does the
sequence of your points work? Could your essay be stronger
if you presented your points in a different order? If
necessary, rearrange your points.
Task 5: Body
Writing the body of your
essay can be a formidable task, but it doesn’t have to be if
you let the tools you’ve amassed—your thesis statement, your
objective, and your outline—do the heavy lifting for you.
1. With your outline as a
guide, turn each of your points into a paragraph using facts
and personal experiences to support that point.
2. Once you’ve fleshed
out the bones of your essay, go back and connect the
paragraphs into a cohesive narrative. Be sure to use strong
topic sentences as transitions between the paragraphs. Your
goal is to make clear to the reader why you presented the
information in the order you did.
3. Read through your
essay with a critical eye. Does each topic sentence clearly
summarize the point of the paragraph? Does the sequence of
your paragraphs work?
4. If time permits, take
a break. Put your essay out of sight for a day or two and
forget about it. This way your eye and your perspective will
be fresh when you next review the essay.
Task 6: Final thesis
statement
It’s common to get
sidetracked while writing. Occasionally, you’ll discover
that what you’ve written deviates from your original
premise. This is OK. It’s why your original thesis statement
is called a working thesis statement.
1. Reread the body of
your essay. As you do so, ask yourself: “Did I make my
point?”
2. If the points you’ve
made don’t support your working thesis statement, refine it.
You can broaden your thesis statement, narrow it, or restate
it altogether. Just be sure that your final opinion-based
statement is supported by the facts and arguments in your
essay.
Task 7: Introduction
and conclusion
The introduction and
conclusion reinforce the key points you make in your paper.
1. Use your introduction
to state your main point—that is, your thesis statement—and
briefly describe what your essay is about and the points you
intend to make. Your introduction should also grab the
reader’s attention and make them want to read on. Including
a surprising fact or anecdote about your topic can help grab
attention.
2. Use your conclusion to
summarize the points you made in your essay and the
arguments that supported them. Don’t restate your points
exactly—your goal is provide a sense of closure and to leave
the reader with a final perspective on your topic.
Task 8: Final draft
Put the final touches on
your essay. Don’t be tempted to skip these steps—nothing
detracts from a good essay more than grammar or spelling
errors.
1. Run a spell check on
your essay and fix any problems.
2. Read your essay from
start to finish, the same way your teacher will. Fix any
grammar mistakes or other errors you find.
3. Once you’re satisfied
that your essay represents your best effort, get a second
opinion. Ask a parent or other trusted person to read your
essay critically and to give you feedback. Make any changes
you think necessary.
4. Read the essay one
last time to make sure you didn’t introduce any new errors.
5. Finally … hand in your
essay. Congratulations!
Send your questions
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