Y ou can keep adding to this plan, crossing bits out and linking the different bubbles when you spot connections between them. Even though you won’t have time to make such a detailed plan under exam conditions, it can be helpful just to sketch a brief one, including a few key words, so that you don’t panic and go off topic when writing your essay. If you don’t like the mind map format, there are plenty of others to choose from: you could make a table, a flowchart, or simply a list of bullet points.
Think about this while you are planning. Your essay is like an argument or a speech – it needs to have a logical structure, with all your points coming together to answer the question. Start with the basics: it is best to choose a few major points which will become your main paragraphs. Three main paragraphs is a good number for an exam essay, since you will be under time pressure. Organise your points in a pattern of YES (agreement with the question) – AND (another ‘YES’ point) – BUT (disagreement or complication) if you agree with the question overall, or YES – BUT – AND if you disagree. This will ensure that you are always focused on your argument and don’t stray too far from the question.
For example, if I was answering the question, ‘To what extent is Curley’s wife portrayed as a victim in Of Mice and Men?’ I might begin a mind map which looks something like this:
- YES – descriptions of her appearance
- AND – other people’s attitudes towards her
- BUT – her position as the only woman on the ranch gives her power as she uses her femininity to advantage
1. Plan
Anyone can write an essay using the tips above, but the thing that really makes it ‘perfect’ is your own unique take on the topic you’re discussing. If you’ve noticed something intriguing or unusual in your reading, point it out: if you find it interesting, chances are the examiner will too.
If you wanted to write a longer essay, you could include additional paragraphs under the ‘YES/AND’ category, perhaps discussing the ways in which Curley’s wife reveals her vulnerability and insecurities and shares her dreams with the other characters
Overall, it is clear that Curley’s wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel, in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other people’s judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curley’s wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity – a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences.
Your opinion is fine, but it doesn’t count much if you don’t provide solid evidence to support your views. Use sources, and quotes as much as possible.
Instead of stating the thesis and giving arguments to support, you can write about anything and in any way you please. This is usually a descriptive or narrative essay.
All writing is about persuasion to some degree. Have you persuaded the reader to agree with you and to take action on the ideas you’ve outlined in the essay?
The social networking sites are robbing us of our privacy, selling human attention to the highest bidder, cause loneliness in society, and spread misinformation on a national scale.
8. Not presenting enough evidence
Has social networking improved the quality of relationships in society?
- Focused
- Debatable
- Picking a side
- Making a claim
Also, if you’re writing an essay for academic purposes or to apply to college, I recommend you read A Professor’s Guide To Writing Essays:
In your essay, just like in a presentation you should follow Aristotle’s rule of rhetoric:
One of the common mistakes that students who do not really understand how to write an essay make is discussing new points in this section. You must never attempt to include ideas that are not present in the body in the conclusion of your essay.
Normally, an acceptable essay must have an interesting and informative introduction, a logically flowing body and a sound conclusion. Despite the fact that the introduction comes before the body and conclusion in an essay, writing it should be saved for last.
One of the common mistakes that students make when working on an essay, is failing to include a thesis statement in the introduction or writing such a statement in the wrong format. As a rule of thumb, a conventional essay must have a thesis statement.
If you really know how to write an essay then. You already know the importance of carefully reading the issued instructions before you can begin the process of writing it. If you are finding it hard to come up with a topic or to understand the issued instructions then you might want to consult professional online essay writers as they can help you.
6. Write Body Paragraphs of an Essay
In case you are not sure about how you can handle this essay writing stage then you should be sure to consult professionals who offer reliable essay writing help. Such experts can easily guide you in using the outline to create the first draft of your essay.
In other words, you need to identify various points that can be included in your essay. One of the best ways of doing so is reading around your topic. This is what some students commonly refer to as researching an essay.
For more tips for writing an essay, feel free to contact experts who perfectly understand how to write an essay.
It is, however, worth to note that if you are required to come up with your own topic. You should look for a topic that interests you and the one that has sufficient sources of information. The selected topic must also be focused well-enough to enable the student to write a coherent essay.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Student-Thinking-Echo-Cultura-Getty-Images-460704649-58958e2e3df78caebc911b5f.jpg)
- Women are the chief buyers in 80 percent of America's households. If you're not marketing to them, you should be.
- Take another look at that spot on your arm. Is the shape irregular? Is it multicolored? You could have melanoma. Know the signs.
- Those tiny wasps flying around the blossoms in your garden can't sting you. Their stingers have evolved into egg-laying devices. The wasps, busying finding a place to lay their eggs, are participating in the balance of nature.
Choose a title for your essay that expresses your primary idea. The strongest titles will include a verb. Take a look at any newspaper and you'll see that every title has a verb.
Your best essays will be about things that light your fire. What do you feel passionate about? What topics do you find yourself arguing for or against? Choose the side of the topic you are "for" rather than "against" and your essay will be stronger.
Echo / Cultura / Getty Images
Title
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Deb-Nov2015-5895870e3df78caebc88766f.jpg)
Your title should make someone want to read what you have to say. Make it provocative.
Before you can start writing, you must have an idea to write about. If you haven't been assigned a topic, it's easier than you might think to come up with one of your own.
In your introduction, you stated the reason for your paper. In your conclusion, you should summarize how your key points support your thesis. Here's an example:
- Purpose and Thesis
- Title
- Introduction
- Body of Information
- Conclusion
Creative writing and essay writing are more closely linked than you might imagine
Overall, it is clear that Curley’s wife is a victim and is portrayed as such throughout the novel, in the descriptions of her appearance, her dreams, other people’s judgemental attitudes, and her loneliness and insecurities. However, a character who was a victim and nothing else would be one-dimensional and Curley’s wife is not. Although she suffers in many ways, she is shown to assert herself through the manipulation of her femininity – a small rebellion against the victimisation she experiences.
It’s important to set out your line of argument in your introduction, introducing your main points and the general direction your essay will take, but don’t forget to keep something back for the conclusion, too. Yes, you need to summarise your main points, but if you’re just repeating the things you said in your introduction, the essay itself is rendered pointless.
In John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, Curley’s wife is portrayed as an ambiguous character. She could be viewed either as a cruel, seductive temptress or a lonely woman who is a victim of her society’s attitudes. Though she does seem to wield a form of sexual power, it is clear that Curley’s wife is largely a victim. This interpretation is supported by Steinbeck’s description of her appearance, other people’s attitudes, her dreams, and her evident loneliness and insecurity.
You wouldn’t write a scientific report without including evidence to support your findings, so why should it be any different with an essay? Even though you aren’t strictly required to substantiate every single point you make with a quotation, there’s no harm in trying. A close reading of your quotations can enrich your appreciation of the question and will be sure to impress examiners.
When selecting the best quotations to use in your essay, keep an eye out for specific literary techniques. For example, you could discuss Curley’s wife’s use of a rhetorical question when she says, ‘An’ what am I doin’? Standin’ here talking to a bunch of bindle stiffs’:
T his may sound time-consuming, but if you make a really good plan you will actually save yourself time when it comes to writing the essay, as you’ll know where your answer is headed and won’t write yourself into a corner. Don’t worry if you’re stuck at first – jot down a few ideas anyway and chances are the rest will follow. I find it easiest to make a mind map, with each new ‘bubble’ representing one of my main paragraphs. I then write quotations which will be useful for my analysis around the bubble.
Y ou can keep adding to this plan, crossing bits out and linking the different bubbles when you spot connections between them. Even though you won’t have time to make such a detailed plan under exam conditions, it can be helpful just to sketch a brief one, including a few key words, so that you don’t panic and go off topic when writing your essay. If you don’t like the mind map format, there are plenty of others to choose from: you could make a table, a flowchart, or simply a list of bullet points.
- Tricolon – a group of three words or phrases placed close together for emphasis
- Tautology – using different words that mean the same thing, eg ‘frightening’ and ‘terrifying’
- Parallelism – ABAB structure