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Essay Writing (1) Universidad Alberto Hurtado, English (EFL) Pedagogy MM /2010

Essay writing intro_lab

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this ppt presents you with key ingredients not to be missed in academic essay writing, some common flaws, references, and 2 exercises: (1) online group brainstorming (2) individual work : mapping your ideas, arguments and evidence / examples & details.

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Page 1: Essay writing intro_lab

Essay Writing (1)

Universidad Alberto Hurtado, English (EFL) Pedagogy MM /2010

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Don’t you sometimes want to

scream?

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An essay in simple words is

Your voice

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But we can also…

WRITE! (the scream becomes soother, more permanent, more

powerful… and it can have just as much energy as that

first scream:that’s up to you)

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The purpose of an essay Think of when & why we write essays.

l When applying for a grant or scholarship

l When applying for a university

l When posting to your personal website or blog

Why?

lTo communicate an idea we strongly believe in lTo persuade our intended audience / readers lTo weigh possible alternative solutions to a problem in our school, our city or our society at large.

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The essay “look” l Our reader expects to see clear paragraphs. Typically these are:

l Introduction (1 paragraph)

l Body (at least 2 paragraphs)

l Conclusion(1 paragraph)

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Essay Introduction

l Have a “hook”, that is, write a couple of lines on the topic in order to motivate the reader to read your work.

l Write the main (controlling) idea you wish to communicate = “ thesis” .

l Include arguments here without developing them at length.

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Essay body paragraphs Body paragraphs are the meat of your essay, and as such are the most important component of your essay.

l Expand upon and provide support for the thesis you introduced in the first paragraph

l Provide the details that move that theme forward.

Key ingredients

l A topic sentence per each paragraph; that is, each argument goes into ONE paragraph.

l Relevant examples & details

l Transitions denoting your line of thought

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Essay conclusion l Re­affirm your opinion here.

l Summarize your main arguments; however....

l Extend your essay parameters here, without resorting to ideas not discussed in your writing.

Completely new ideas are out might be “out of the scope”!

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Some Essay Flaws • Thesis is too broad (you might consider writing a book!) ;

• Thesis is too narrow; this will affect the essay importantly since your ideas will come across as “uninteresting” or trite;

• Supporting ideas are not relevant to your thesis;

• Supporting ideas contradict your predicament;

• Examples are not developed (or absent!);

• Examples are actually supporting ideas, not examples;

• The essay does not have a logical sequence;

• Transitions are absent (think of our city without traffic lights for a moment…you would be in complete chaos, right?

• Transitions are overused (think of a pizza with lots of onions, and nothing but onions… yuck!);

• The conclusion is a simple repetition of your thesis (boring);

• Your conclusion reveals an idea not discussed in the essay (unfinished essay)

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Tips (1) • Once you have a topic.. Ask yourself: what do you want to say;

• Brainstorm ideas, arguments and examples;

• You may have a great idea, if you cannot support it, you’d better drop it; or go all the way and do your research!

• Write an outline. Doctors take X­rays : Good writers make outlines;

• Only once you know what you will say, dive into your writing.

• (Sigh) you’re finished! … but WATCH: you want to proof­read. Check for spelling, grammar variety and word choices.

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Tips (2) • Use the school library and the Internet to investigate your topic more

carefully. You want to quote sources but you do not want to say what some other 1 million writers have already stated;

• Map your ideas: www.webspiration.com is free to try; • A good mapping tool will give you an automatic outline. Check that outline

and edit it if necessary; • As you write, consult dictionaries and language resources. Do not even

attempt an online translator! Check this and laugh; • Proof read for corrections and have a peer review your essay. • Deliver nicely and on time. (check essay title, format, spacing and

publish).

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Essay Writing References

• Pre –writing: general questions (ref) • Your thesis statement (ref) • Making outlines (ref) • Sampling outlines (ref) • Proof reading (ref)

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Essay Writing Exercises Group Brainstorming

Read the news below. Click on them to express your opinion.

• Chilean miners remain 700mts under & alive. Politicians taking advantage?

• Mapuches ignored again! Four political prisoners on a hunger strike for 45 days and little or no information in the media.

• The Swiss­owned coal power plant soon to be located in Punta de Choros will destroy part of our eco­system in Chile yet the Goverment approves the project.

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Essay Writing Exercises Mapping your ideas

Choose one of these three topics, research, think and map your ideas!

www.webspiration.com

• You need to upload your concept map later this evening (Friday, Aug 27th) Name your document with your first+last name: ex“bartsimpson_map.rft”

• Write your essay. Post it in our course website and print it for revision on Monday