Week 5 Assignment

Sally Student

Model EXP 105 Essay

There are several important steps to a well written college paper. This includes properly formatting the paper prior to typing, choosing a focused essay topic, writing clear paragraphs, and editing the work before submitting. Prior to beginning your reflection, it is important to format the document you are using. It is required you use Microsoft Word to create your documents because you will need to save it as a .doc or .docx file type. First, set your font type to Times New Roman, 12-point size. The text of this model essay is written using these settings to provide you with an example of what this looks like. Then, set your paper so it is double spaced. Double spaced settings put a full line of blank space between each row of words. This will make the essay easier to read and conforms to proper spacing guidelines that will be required for future college papers. Next, type your name and title of the essay in the top left corner and skip a line before starting your first paragraph. Finally, be sure the first line of each paragraph is indented a half of an inch. Typically, you can click the “tab” button on your keyboard to create the indent. The first line of each paragraph in this model essay has been indented. Keep in mind that you should not skip lines between paragraphs. As you transition to the next paragraph, simply press “enter” or “return” on your keyboard, indent by pressing “tab”, and then start typing your next paragraph. Now that your paper is properly formatted, it is important to understand the key elements when crafting your essay. These elements include understanding the topic of your essay, writing in paragraph format, and editing your essay. For your assignment in EXP 105 the topic of the essay is chosen for you; it is a reflection of what you have learned in the course. Take another look at the instructions. You should notice that the prompt is broken down into five paragraphs with specific questions you will be addressing in each paragraph. This is intended to keep each of your paragraphs well focused. As you continue with future college courses, the prompt likely will not be broken down in this manner for you. As you reflect on the prompt for each paragraph, identify the main point or points that you will be addressing. This will be the focal point of your paragraph. A well written paragraph includes a clear topic sentence which signals to the reader what that paragraph will be about. The topic sentence should be general enough to express the paragraph’s overall subject, but also specific enough that the reader can understand the paragraph’s main subject and point. Considering the instructions for the Final Reflection assignment, the main idea to be covered in Paragraph 1 is the definition of learning and how your definition has evolved or changed throughout this course. Therefore, a potential topic sentence for this paragraph could be, “Learning means different things to different people.” Having a clear topic sentence and supporting your ideas by addressing the questions provided within each individual section of the prompt ensures that there is no need to paste the actual prompt instructions in your essay. Your reader should be able to know what the assignment instructions were without having to read them. You can read more information on how to write a well written paragraph in the Ashford Writing Center. The final step to a well written essay is the editing process. It is not uncommon that new college students are excited to submit their work immediately after they are done writing. The sense of relief at completing the work might be overwhelming, but taking time to edit the essay makes a big impact on the final product. Some of the most common errors that result in a reduction of points are: spelling mistakes, incomplete thoughts or ideas, insufficient background information, incorrect use of capitalization or punctuation, and disorganized flow of the essay. Avoid rambling and make sure that all of your supporting details connect back to the topic. The information in this article from Writing Center at the University of North Carolina provides student success tips and considerations to support the editing and proofreading process. Familiarizing oneself with how to write an essay for college is an important step in a successful transition to college. As you continue to practice your writing, developing essays and written assignments will become a less difficult and less daunting task. The Ashford University Writing Center has many resources designed to help you with your college writing, including but not limited to, live chat tutors and email paper review. You are encouraged to take advantage of these resources as needed. They can be accessed by clicking on the “Learning Resources” tab in the left-hand navigation pane of your classroom. If you have any questions or need clarification on the assignment expectations, don’t hesitate to reach out via email to your instructor. In conclusion, there are many resources at Ashford University that have been designed and are readily available to support academic success.