Transcript Essay

Essay Writing
Guidelines for Revision
Focus:
The Single Controlling Point;
Awareness of Task
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Evident tone; clear intent; significant
subject; immediate specificity; stylish
opening; clear thesis and/or direction
appropriate to topic
Characteristics of an Introduction
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Title and author are identified.
Title of a published work- ITALACIZED
Introduces ideas, characters, to be
discussed.
Uses plot to set up focus for reader
Characteristics of a Thesis
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It is a sentence. It
usually answers the
question asked and the
why or how.
It names the topic of
your paper and contains
an interpretive assertion
about your topic
It is debatable—it is not
merely factual or
obvious but requires
convincing proof of its
validity
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It is specific—it is
expressed in language
that focuses on one or
more particular aspects
of the topic rather than
a generality.
It controls everything
that goes into your
paper (the assertion is
also known as the
“controlling idea.”
Focus
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Revise and rewrite your thesis sentence.
Make sure the body supports the thesisdelete all paragraphs that do not pertain to
thesis.
Delete all sentences that have nothing to
do with thesis or topic sentence.
Content: The presence of ideas developed
through details, examples, etc.
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Interesting; clear, provocative; reasoned
sophisticated; insightful, accurate;
cogent; rich in detail; comprehensive,
convincing; specific
Characteristics of Content
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Specific and/or or
illustrative content
demonstrating
strong development
Demonstrates
writer’s ability to
discuss and clearly
provide examples to
support ideas
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Thoughtfully chosen,
apt, and specific
concrete details to
support ideas
Clear well chosen
quotes for support
Relates to thesis
Content
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Do you have the best examples to
support your thesis?
Do you have enough content to show
development of thought?
Are the details of your essay relevant
and specific?
Organization: The order, developed and
sustained within and across paragraphs
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Stylish transition between sentences
and paragraphs; Unified and coherent
paragraphs; Clear focus;Careful but
subtle organization, subordinate to
meaning and ideas
Characteristics of Organization
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Introduction:
Introduces subject to be discussed
One focused paragraph
Has a thesis sentence
Characteristics of Organization
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Body:
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Topic Sentence-introduces initial point to be
discussed that supports thesis provides transition
and links paragraphs.
Sentences within the paragraph support topic
sentence with specificity.
Conclusion sentence-summarizes points; connects
ideas to thesis.
When using quotes- introduce, explain and then
comment.
Characteristics of Organization
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Conclusion:
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Summarizes main points of essay.
Echoes thesis sentence.
Does not introduce new ideas.
Directs that the discussion has come to a
close.
Suggests a universal idea that connect
purpose of essay for reader.
Organization
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Identify the function and purpose of each
paragraph in relation to your thesis.
Underline every topic sentence. Does it
relate to the thesis? Does each it provide
transition?
Reread paragraphs. Does each sentence
logically build to the next sentence?
Style: the choice, use, and arrangement
of words and sentence structure to create
voice
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Sentence structures and beginnings
varied; Quotations stylishly
incorporated; Evident command of
rhetorical technique; style and grace
Characteristics of Style
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Active voice- limited use of to be verbs
Single tense –literary present
Concrete verbs/Concrete nouns
Sophisticated Language-use the thesaurus for
all elementary words
Vary sentence patterns; Simple, Compound,
Complex.
Check all pronouns, must have an antecedent
No contractions
No unnecessary qualifiers- really, very, almost
Characteristics of Style Cont.
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No I/ No I believe, I think, you can see, the topic of
my essay
Parallel Structure- magic threes- Jay Gatsby dreams,
loves, dies.
No slang, No &’s
Avoid Clichés
Write out numbers under 100.
NO “book”
Have you tried using figurative language (metaphor,
simile, imagery) to create meaning?
Correct MLA Documentation
Style
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Circle every predicate. (main verb)
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Underline every subject.
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Use active voice- NO “to be”.
Use present tense- no past tense.
Use concrete nouns-watch pronoun usage
Check sentence patterns/structures. Are
they varied?
Style
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Star all quotes.
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Are embedded quotes used? Are quotes
introduced? Are quotes documented?
Use correct MLA format: for reference
use the following sitethehttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/hando
uts/research/r_mla.html#General
CONVENTIONS:
The use of grammar,
mechanics, spelling, usage, and sentences
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Spelling- Have your used the spell check?
Capitalization- Proper nouns, first word of
the sentence
Fragments- Sentence without a verb.
Run-On- two sentences without a semicolon
or and
Punctuation- Periods, question marks,
commas
Read all sentences for convention.