Building Better Essays

by Hogan, Gina

• ISBN13: 9780495905172
• ISBN10: 0495905178
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-01
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Learn to write clear and concise essays with this easy, step by step text. Your writing skills and confidence will build from chapter to chapter as you become a better writer. The book is inexpensive and has everything you need to know!

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Building the Foundation The Writing Process
Why Write?	p. 1
The Writing Process	p. 2
Prewriting and Planning Ideas	p. 4
Understanding Your Assignment, Purpose, and Audience	p. 5
Focusing on Point of View	p. 8
What Is Prewriting?	p. 9
Exploring and Generating Ideas	p. 10
Free Writing	p. 10
Questioning ("Big Six" Questions)	p. 13
Visual Mapping: Lists, Outlines, and Cluster Maps	p. 14
Reading, Journaling, and Discussing	p. 19
Narrowing the Subject and Planning the Ideas	p. 20
Writing Essays	p. 25
Drafting an Essay	p. 25
Introduction Paragraph	p. 29
The Hook	p. 39
Thesis Statement	p. 31
Body: Supporting Paragraphs	p. 39
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 44
Title	p. 46
Example of an Essay	p. 47
Rewriting Essays	p. 53
Why Rewrite?	p. 53
Revising	p. 54
Unity in Essays	p. 55
Coherence in Essays	p. 56
Editing	p. 59
Preparing Your Final Essay for Submission	p. 62
Building Tightly Structured Essays
Illustration Building Essays with Examples	p. 66
Writing an Illustration Essay	p. 66
Introduction Paragraph	p. 68
Thesis Statement	p. 68
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 69
Development Sentences	p. 71
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 72
Example of an Illustration Essay	p. 72
Cause or Effect Building Essays with Reasons or Results	p. 79
Writing a Cause or Effect Essay	p. 80
Introduction Paragraph	p. 83
Thesis Statement	p. 83
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 84
Development Sentences	p. 85
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 85
Example of a Cause or Effect Essay	p. 86
Analysis by Division Building Essays with Parts	p. 92
Writing an Analysis by Division Essay	p. 92
Introduction Paragraph	p. 93
Thesis Statement	p. 94
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 95
Development Sentences	p. 96
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 96
Example of an Analysis by Division Essay	p. 97
Comparison or Contrast Building Essays with Similarities or Differences	p. 103
Writing a Comparison or Contrast Essay	p. 103
Introduction Paragraph	p. 106
Thesis Statement	p. 106
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 108
Development Sentences	p. 109
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 109
Example of a Comparison or Contrast Essay	p. 110
Building Loosely Structured Essays
Description Building Essays with Imagery	p. 118
Writing a Description Essay	p. 118
Introduction Paragraph	p. 121
Thesis Statement	p. 121
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 122
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 125
Example of a Description Essay	p. 126
Narration Building Essays with Stories	p. 133
Writing a Narration Essay	p. 134
Introduction Paragraph	p. 137
Thesis Statement	p. 137
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 139
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 142
Example of a Narration Essay	p. 143
Definition Building Essays with Clarifications	p. 150
Writing a Definition Essay	p. 151
Introduction Paragraph	p. 153
Thesis Statement	p. 153
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 156
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 157
Example of a Definition Essay	p. 157
Literary Analysis Building Essays about Literature	p. 164
Writing a Literary Analysis Essay	p. 164
Introduction Paragraph	p. 166
Thesis Statement	p. 167
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 168
Development Sentences	p. 169
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 171
Title	p. 172
Example of a Literary Analysis Essay	p. 172
Building Essays with Research
Argumentation Building Essays with Research	p. 178
Understanding the Research Process	p. 179
Step 1: Find Your Topic and Position	p. 179
Step 2: Document Your Sources	p. 181
Evaluating Sources	p. 181
Taking Notes	p. 184
Bibliography and Works Cited Page	p. 189
Writing an Argumentation Essay	p. 190
Using Persuasive Appeals	p. 191
Introduction Paragraph	p. 193
Thesis Statement	p. 194
Supporting Paragraphs	p. 195
Development Sentences	p. 195
Refutation Paragraph	p. 196
Conclusion Paragraph	p. 197
Title	p. 198
Bibliography and Works Cited	p. 198
Rules for In-Text Citations or Parenthetical Notations	p. 199
Rules for the Works Cited List	p. 199
Example of an Argumentation Essay	p. 204
Appendices
Basic Grammar	p. 220
Commonly Used Transitions	p. 248
Quotations Protocol	p. 251
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