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ENGL1301OnlineEssayStructureLecture.pptxThe Anatomy of an Essay
Process and Structure
The Writing Process
Writing is a series of individual steps that are impossible to skip
Whether you space the steps out and complete them individually or sit down to write in one sitting, you're still working through every step.
The EASY way is to complete them individually.
You MUST generate ideas in order to fill an essay with the right information
You MUST organize that information in order to present it successfully as a cohesive piece of writing
Which means…
The Writing Process
You should not write a single sentence until you know precisely:
What information is going to go in the essay
Why that information belongs in the essay
Where the information will go in the essay
Why the information is going to go where it goes
It is impossible to skip steps—either you break it down into manageable chunks or you do it all at once. But no matter what, you’re doing all the steps.
There is no shortcut to the process!
Every essay’s success is a direct result of the attention to and success of the individual steps.
Combine the steps into one giant task and writing becomes very, very difficult—and the end result suffers.
Thesis Statements
Major Claim
Minor Claims
Acknowledge Opposition
Thesis Statement—Major Claim
Major Claim:
Glitter should be banned.
Thanos’s solution was an effective way to address overpopulation and limited resources.
Pineapple belongs on pizza.
Minor Claims
Glitter makes a mess
Glitter is impossible to clean up
Glitter always appears at the most inopportune times—like on your face at a job interview.
Glitter should be banned because it makes a mess, is impossible to clean up, and as a result appears at the most inopportune times.
Major Claim + Minor Claim
Thesis Statements—Acknowledge Opposition
Last, Consider your Audience
People who disagree with you may need a careful approach.
Acknowledge your opposition by mentioning differing viewpoints in the thesis statement!
Though using it is an easy way to make any craft project sparkly, glitter should be banned because it makes a mess, is impossible to clean up, and as a result appears at the most inopportune times.
Putting it all together!
Acknowledge Opposition
Major Claim
Minor Claims (Forecast Organization)
Strategies Chapters
Generating Ideas and Text, Chapter 29
Guiding your Reader, Chapter 36
Beginning and Ending—Chapter 35
Hook
Opening Strategy
Thesis
Body Paragraphs: PIE—Strategies, Chap 37-45
Body Paragraph
Body Paragraph
Body Paragraph
Point
Point
Illustration(s)
Explanation(s)
Point
Minor Claim
Evidence
Minor Claim
Illustration(s)
Evidence
Explanation(s)
Minor Claim
Illustration(s)
Evidence
Explanation(s)
Beginning and Ending—Chapter 35
Restate Thesis
Closing Strategy
Mic Drop!
Organization and Guiding your Reader
This is a general outline that adheres to the same conventions we just discussed.
THIS is how you alleviate ESSAY ANXIETY and write successful essays:
Generate ideas and Gather Information
Organize your Ideas -
ONLY THEN can you DRAFT your essay.
