Writing essays
- Two formal essays are due each quarter. Check
your calendar for due dates.
- Please chose from the three types given below.
- Essays are to be 500-700 words long, typed
according to the Falcon Skills and Style Handbook.
- Teacher conferences will be available before
essays are due.
- Peer review is strongly suggested.
- Revisions may be done if grades are not satisfactory
to writer.
- Revisions must be done if teacher deems the
work below expected standard.
- For example: too many conventions errors,
illogical organization, superficial development, etc. in the first two
paragraphs.
- One essay per semester will be put on student's
website and transformed into a hypertext essay.
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Essay Choices
A. Personal narrative
Use one of your quotation responses as the catalyst
for a personal narrative essay. This essay may be written in first person. However,
do not use phrases like "I think," "in my opinion," or others
like them. This is your work. It is obvious that the ideas are your own.
Developing ideas & Constructing your response:
- A thought provoking
quotation is only the beginning. As you consider the quotation, you need
to think about
- what it means. Define unfamiliar words
and ask for help in understanding abstract ideas)
- how it is true or in what ways is it true.
Give examples.
- Then, to really develop your essay fully,
you need to think about how your own experience relates to the ideas.
- These paragraphs will almost always be written
in first person. However, do not use phrases like "I think," "in
my opinion," or others like them. This is your work. It is obvious that
the ideas are your own.
- Do not use another familiar quotation to support
your thoughts about this one. That just makes your work too confusing.
- Do not begin your response in any of the following
ways: (more will be added later)
- This quote is about. . . (or any variation
of that).
- _______________________________
- When you refer to the person who said this
quotation, use his or her first and last name to begin with, and after that,
use only his or her last name. This is a standard way to write. You would
never refer to Albert Einstein as Albert. You just don't know him that well.
- A good way to begin is to put the idea presented
in your own words. Some ideas for beginnings follow: (more will be added later)
- When Abraham Lincoln says "quotation
goes here," he means that . . . .
- _______________________________
- Sample quotation response
B. Persuasive Essay
Choose a topic from a Friday seminar to explore
further, taking one side of the issue. Choose a specific audience and write
to persuade that audience that your point of view is worth accepting. Use third
person for this essay. If you use outside sources, cite them both in the body
of the essay and in a separate works cited page.
For help:
- p. 92
- p. 113-14
- p. 1149
- p. 1165
C. Literary Analysis
The Big Red book has some helpful guidelines
for this kind of essay also. Choose one aspect of the work to explore, such
as setting, character, or theme. See page 1148 for ways to focus your essay.
This essay should be written in third person.
Specific ideas from big red:
- p. 292, #2, Analyzing the romantic elements
of Rappaccini's Daughter
- p. 292, #5, Describing the Biblical references
in Rappaccini's Daughter
- p. 350, #2, Analyzing the ideas in Whitman's
poems
- p. 589, #2, Compare The Jilting of Granny
Wetherall (story) with Lucinda Matlock (poem)
- p. 600, #2, Analyze the character of Emily
Grierson, A Rose for Emily
- p. 703, Interpreting and Responding to a poem,
with sample essay
- p. 867, Evaluating a play
More advice from the Web
Peer Review
Peer review is strongly suggested.
- Work with your review partner on strengthening
your writing. Look at more than just spelling and punctuation. Use the grading
rubric to help you assess each other's essays.
- An expedient strategy is to exchange papers,
read your partner's work, write your comments on the page itself, and then
explain your comments when you're both done.
- Make your own comments on your draft to remind
you of revisions you should make.
- E-mail your essay to your partner and use
Word's reviewing tools to make edits and add comments. Files can be sent back
and forth. Be sure to remove all comments etc. before handing in.
Teacher Conference
Take advantage of the opportunity for a conference
with me prior to handing in your essay. Come to the conference with a draft
and specific questions. Do not simply say, "I'm stuck," or "I
just don't get it." Try to determine what you don't get. Bring evidence
that you have tried to find your own way first.
Schedule your conference during conference days
or before or after school. Do make an appointment first.
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Syllabus