Transcript Essay Writing Strategies

Essay Writing
Strategies
Essay Formula
Color-Coding
B.Lee 2003
Words of Advice
“Being able to write an essay is the
result of a long-term, step-by-step
process of learning what an essay
consists of, how to complete each
step, and how to combine the steps
into a finished product.”
~Hollis Elkins, 2002
Essay
Formula
A Step-by-Step Process!
Color-Coding
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Identify Paragraph Functions
Introductory
Paragraph
Body Paragraphs
Concluding
Paragraph
Color-Coding
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Introductory Paragraph
1. Opening
Sentence-Hook
2. Overview
Thesis Statement
Color-Coding
Paragraph Functions
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Body Paragraphs
Remember the ABCs!
3
1. Topic Sentence
2
1
A. Intro. To Evidence
B. Evidence
C. Commentary
2. REPEAT ABC as needed (or mix & match)
3. Closing Sentence (Paragraph-ending
explanation)
Color-Coding
Paragraph Functions
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Concluding Paragraph
Thesis Statement
-Reworded -
Big Picture Statement
(Advanced Writers: Précis)
Paragraph Functions
Color-Coding
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Color-Coding Essays
A sample student paragraph for color-coding
Blue = Topic Sentence
Red = Introductions to Evidence
Green = Evidence
Black = Commentary
Purple = Closing Sentence (Paragraph-ending
explanation)
Sample Paragraph #1 Essay Formula
Sample Paragraph #2
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Sample Paragraph #1
Orwell also provides for his own ideas with logical and illogical
techniques. He states at different times in the passage, “through loyalty
a friend can be led into a wrongdoing.” This he uses to establish a
criterion for humanity. He then links the idea of sainthood by saying,
“the essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.” By
using this clever logic, Orwell can justify human actions of sin and
mistake. Since all humans make mistakes, Orwell states, one who does
not is inhuman. Simple linear logic is used well by Orwell. However, he
still uses logical fallacies to bolster his own stance. Orwell invites a false
analogy by saying, “alcohol, tobacco, and so forth, are things that a saint
must avoid, but sainthood is also a thing that human being must avoid.”
Orwell takes two situations (humanity and sainthood) and treats them
the same way with a blanket statement. This is a false analogy because
sainthood cannot be compared to material vices such as alcohol, but is
rather a human condition. Furthermore, Orwell uses an opinion as
evidence and begs the question when he says, “To an ordinary human
being, love means nothing if it does not mean loving some people more
than others.” Orwell offers no proof as to why people feel this way; he
does not tell us what “ordinary” is; and he can’t prove that people feel
this way at all. Orwell assumes in order to prove, and in doing so, is
fallacious.
Color Key Essay Formula Main Menu
Sample Paragraph #2
Sample Color-Coded #1
Orwell also provides for his own ideas with logical and illogical
techniques. He states at different times in the passage, “through loyalty
a friend can be led into a wrongdoing.” This he uses to establish a
criterion for humanity. He then links the idea of sainthood by saying,
“the essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.” By
using this clever logic, Orwell can justify human actions of sin and
mistake. Since all humans make mistakes, Orwell states, one who does
not is inhuman. Simple linear logic is used well by Orwell. However, he
still uses logical fallacies to bolster his own stance. Orwell invites a false
analogy by saying, “alcohol, tobacco, and so forth, are things that a saint
must avoid, but sainthood is also a thing that human being must avoid.”
Orwell takes two situations (humanity and sainthood) and treats them
the same way with a blanket statement. This is a false analogy because
sainthood cannot be compared to material vices such as alcohol, but is
rather a human condition. Furthermore, Orwell uses an opinion as
evidence and begs the question when he says, “To an ordinary human
being, love means nothing if it does not mean loving some people more
than others.” Orwell offers no proof as to why people feel this way; he
does not tell us what “ordinary” is; and he can’t prove that people feel
this way at all. Orwell assumes in order to prove, and in doing so, is
fallacious.
Color Key Essay Formula Main Menu
Sample Paragraph #2
Although Soto is looking back at his childhood from an adult
perspective, one way he recreates the pie-stealing incident is by
using the type and length of sentences which a six-year-old might.
Many of his sentences are brief and to-the-point. These statements
continue a simple subject, a simple verb, and a brief sentence
ending. Each stage of his “crime” is described in this simple way.
He recalls, “I sat on the curb.” Later he says, “My face was sticky
with guilt.” When the empty pie tin rolled away from him, he
remembers, “I retrieved it, jogging slowly.” And finally, when the
experience was at an end, he says, “I flung it again until I was
bored and thirsty.” Each of these sentences is written in a way
that a child would speak: uncomplicated, concise, and brief. This
style creates the effect of a boy telling the story. Sometimes Soto
uses this pattern in compound sentences comprised of very short
independent clauses: “He looked at me, and I got up and headed
for home.” “A car honked, and the driver knew.” These sentences
have the same effect of the simple sentences and follow the same
pattern. They convey the sense that a child is telling the story.
Sample Paragraph #1
Color Key
Essay Formula
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Sample Color-Coded #2
Although Soto is looking back at his childhood from an adult
perspective, one way he recreates the pie-stealing incident is by
using the type and length of sentences which a six-year-old might.
Many of his sentences are brief and to-the-point. These
statements continue a simple subject, a simple verb, and a brief
sentence ending. Each stage of his “crime” is described in this
simple way. He recalls, “I sat on the curb.” Later he says, “My
face was sticky with guilt.” When the empty pie tin rolled away
from him, he remembers, “I retrieved it, jogging slowly.” And
finally, when the experience was at an end, he says, “I flung it
again until I was bored and thirsty.” Each of these sentences is
written in a way that a child would speak: uncomplicated,
concise, and brief. This style creates the effect of a boy telling the
story. Sometimes Soto uses this pattern in compound sentences
comprised of very short independent clauses: “He looked at me,
and I got up and headed for home.” “A car honked, and the
driver knew.” These sentences have the same effect of the simple
sentences and follow the same pattern. They convey the sense
that a child is telling the story. Color Key Essay Formula
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