February 21, 2003.
Ready for a Quiz?
We've discussed the essay form a lot in class lately, but there are a few more points that you need to think about. How are the paragraphs connected to one another?
You may remember the term coherence. It refers to the technique of linking information within the essay and within each paragraph. A writer can use several methods of coherence, but one of the most common and easiest to learn is the use of transitional expressions (Kaleidoscope, pages 246-249).
You have to be careful though and make sure that the expression you choose relates to the idea in the paragraph. For example, you don't want to use "next" when you are telling the reader some extra information. "In addition" would be a better choice. "Next" is used when you are counting something or telling a story.
Another point to remember is to discuss only one idea. We've discussed this point several times lately. A common mistake in your first composition was to talk about someone else's name or other names that were important in your culture when you were supposed to discuss your name only.
More about the Essay.
You've already read (notice the present perfect tense) that an essay is divided into three parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion. However, an essay is more than just three paragraphs.
First, you must consider the topic. What are you writing about and what are you trying to say? Are you explaining something to your reader? Are you describing something? Are you telling a story or telling how to do something? Your topic and point of view determine the content and organization of the essay.
For example,if you are going to tell story, the introduction will have a thesis statement that tells the reader you are going to tell a story. Each body paragraph will have a topic sentence that focuses on time. The concluding paragraph will be the end of the story, a moral, or a lesson.
The Introduction.
The introduction is the most important part of the essay because this is your chance to capture your reader's attention. There are several techniques that a writer uses to do this: a question, a funny story, a surprising statement. These techniques are called collectively a hook because you are the fisherman and are trying to "hook" or catch a fish, the reader.
After you have caught your reader, you give them some background information or general information about the topic. If you are telling a story, you tell your reader where the story takes place and who the characters are.
The last part of the introduction is the thesis statement. This is one or more sentences that tell the reader the topic of the essay and your point of view. It is usually the last sentence in the introduction, but this is not always true. Sometimes a writer will omit the thesis statement so that the reader has to infer, or guess, what the thesis is.
The Body.
The body of the essay develops your point of view about the topic. For example, you may be discussing the advantages of studying in the library. Each advantage would be explained in a separate paragraph. Each paragraph would begin with a topic sentence that tells the reader about each advantage such as The first advantage..., The next advantage..., and so on.
The Conclusion.
The last paragraph of the essay is the conclusion. It begins with a summary of the points that you made in the body paragraphs, or it restates (says again) the thesis statement. After that, you give your opinion about the topic. In most academic essays, you don't give your opinion until the conclusion.
Your First Essay.
Your first essay will be about the eating customs in your family. This essay will explain and describe a typical meal at your family's house. You may choose breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Before you begin to write, we will do a prewriting activity to help you get started with this topic.
Bonus Point Challenge
Week Six Answers
Present Perfect Tense.
1. True False: You can use a contraction with a short yes answer.
Answer: False. You cannot contract the short answer "Yes, I have."
2. True False: How long is used to ask about the amount of time from the past to the present.
Answer: True.
3. True False: Yet is used in questions and negatives in the present perfect.
Answer: True.