HOW TO WRITE AN ESSAY (REVISITING PARAGRAPH WRITING) English Language learners: This is a step-by-step 24-slide presentation to help you revisit necessary information about paragraph writing, so you can assemble an essay in a few easy steps. (Created by Rita Zuba Prokopetz / G&R Languages – October, 2013)

1. Essay Writing
Essay
How do we start?
Paragraph
Sentences
START WITH:
REVISITING PARAGRAPH WRITING
Words
Topic:
Essay writing (Revisiting Paragraph Writing) Open Educational Resources (OER)
Audience:
English language learners
Published by: G&R Languages – October, 2013
Images courtesy of ClipArt
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2. Essay Writing
REVISITING PARAGRAPH WRITING
Words become a sentence
Sentences become a paragraph
Paragraphs become an essay
An effective paragraph needs:
Simple, compound and complex sentences
An effective essay needs:
Several strong paragraphs with good transitions
How do we start?
Identify an issue *
Propose questions to brainstorm**
Research to find answers to your questions
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3. Essay Writing
START WITH: REVISITING PARAGRAPH WRITING
How do we start?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Identify an issue*
Propose questions**
Research for possible answers
Assemble a paragraph
Use proper text structure
Format accordingly
Cite all possible sources
Collaborate, revisit and revise
Images courtesy of ClipArt
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4. Essay Writing
REVISITING PARAGRAPH WRITING
1. Brainstorming
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Synthesis
5. Topic sentence
6. Outline
7. Introduction
8. Conclusion
9. Citation
10.Revision/Editing
4

5. Essay Writing
First things first!
Demonstrate understanding of:
• Process
• Deadlines
• Checklist
• Rubric
1. Brainstorming
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Synthesis
5. Topic sentence/thesis statement
6. Outline
7. Introduction
8. Conclusion
9. Citation
10.Editing/Revision
5

6. Essay Writing
First things first!
Demonstrate understanding of:
• Process 
• Deadlines
• Checklist
• Rubric
PROCESS: Steps to follow
1. Brainstorming
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Synthesis
5. Topic sentence/thesis statement
6. Outline
7. Introduction
8. Conclusion
9. Citation
10.Revision/Editing
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7. Essay Writing
First things first!
Demonstrate understanding of:
• Process
• Deadlines 
• Checklist
• Rubric
DEADLINES: When to do each part
1. Brainstorming Week 1
2. Research
Week 2
3. Analysis
Week 3
4. Synthesis
Week 4
5. Topic sentence Week 5
6. Outline
Week 6
7. Introduction Week 7
8. Conclusion
Week 8
9. Citation
Week 9
10.Revision
Week 10
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8. Essay Writing
First things first!
Demonstrate understanding of:
• Process
• Deadlines
• Checklist 
• Rubric
CHECKLIST: Write down all tasks
1. Brainstorming
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Synthesis
5. Topic sentence/thesis statement
6. Outline
7. Introduction
8. Conclusion
9. Citation
10.Revision/Editing
8

9. Essay Writing
First things first!
RUBRIC: Be cognizant of the criteria
Demonstrate understanding of:
• Process
• Deadlines
• Rubric and checklist 
Week
Need
help
1
Did
well
V
Brainstorming
2 Research
Able
to do
V
1. Brainstorming Week 1
2. Research
Week 2
3. Analysis
Week 3
4. Synthesis
Week 4
5. Topic sentence Week 5
6. Outline
Week 6
7. Introduction Week 7
8. Conclusion
Week 8
9. Citation
Week 9
10.Revision
Week 10
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10. Essay Writing
BRAINSTORMING
Goals:
•
•
•
•
•
Apply brainstorming techniques
Start thinking about the essay process
Think of possible topics
Learn how to refine the topic
Choose partners for the research
Computer lab: start Webliography
with URL name, link and annotation
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11. Essay Writing
RESEARCH
Goals:
•
•
•
•
Massage and refine topics
Collaborate and work in groups
Discuss possible research methods
Publish information to share
Computer lab: update Webliography
Upcoming SlideShare: Research
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12. Essay Writing
ANALYSIS
Goals:
•
•
•
•
•
Format reference page
Examine various sources
Collaborate and work in groups
Discuss sources of information
Publish information to share
Computer lab: format references
Upcoming SlideShare: Citation style
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13. Essay Writing
SYNTHESIS
Goals:
•
•
•
•
•
What
I read
Combine elements to express ideas
Collaborate and work in groups
Analyze research to improve ideas
Update Webliography
Publish information to share
•
•
•
Abdec
Cdde
Cdde
What
I think
•
•
•
Synthesis
Computer lab: synthesize articles
Upcoming SlideShare: Synthesis
xAbdec
zCdde
yCdde

14. Essay Writing
TOPIC SENTENCE
Goals:
• Write a topic statement
• Select supporting details
• Narrow the topic
• Identify a possible thesis statement
• Collaborate and work in groups
• Write a short paragraph
• Publish information to share
What is
the issue?
Computer lab: format a paragraph
Upcoming SlideShare: Topic sentences
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15. Essay Writing
Goals:
THESIS STATEMENT
• Consider the issue
• Narrow the topic
What is
• Organize your argument
the issue?
• Write a thesis statement
• Select three supporting details
• Use a graphic organizer to display information
• Write introductory paragraph that includes thesis statement
• Write three paragraphs for the body of your essay
• Write a conclusion
Upcoming SlideShare: Topic sentences
• Collaborate and work in groups
Computer lab: format essay
• Publish information to share
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16. Essay Writing
OUTLINE
Title
Topic sentence
Goals:
• Create an outline for each topic
• Collaborate and work in groups
• Publish information to share
Supporting detail
Supporting detail
Supporting detail
Conclusion
Computer lab: format an outline
16

17. Essay Writing
OUTLINE: Use a graphic organizer
Goals:
•
•
•
•
Select a graphic organizer
Display information
Collaborate and work in groups
Publish information to share
Reasons for…
Title
Topic sentence
Supporting detail
Supporting detail
Supporting detail
Conclusion
Reason one
Reason two
Another reason
Conclusion
Computer lab: format an outline
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18. Essay Writing
INTRODUCTION
Goals:
•
•
•
•
•
Write a statement to answer your question
Add details to support your opinion
Collaborate and work in groups
Topic
Write a short paragraph
Publish information to share
Question
Computer lab: format a paragraph
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19. Essay Writing
CONCLUSION
Sample (sequence, process, steps)
Introduction for a paragraph:
There are many ways to register for courses
at…
Sample (sequence, process, steps)
How to
register
for…
Conclusion for a paragraph:
In sum, these are some of the ways to
register …
Computer lab: format concluding statement
Sample text structure (sequence): http://www.slideshare.net/RitaProkopetz/paragraph-writing-v-sequence
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20. Essay Writing
CITATION
Goals:
•
•
•
•
•
Recognize importance of citing sources
Apply basic in-text citation rules
Collaborate and work in groups
Write a short paragraph and cite sources
Publish information to share
Computer lab: cite sources
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL): http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/2/
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21. Essay Writing
REVISION/EDITING
Goals:
•
•
•
•
•
Identify possible discrepancies
Polish final draft
Collaborate and work in groups
Finalize paragraph
Publish information to share
Computer lab: format both paragraph and references
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22. Essay Writing
RECAP
Synthesis
Analysis
Sources
Idea!
Issue
1. Brainstorming
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Synthesis
5. Topic sentence/thesis statement
6. Outline
7. Introduction
8. Conclusion
9. Citation
Well done!
10.Revision/Editing
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23. Essay Writing
Essay
Reminder
Paragraph
REVISIT PARAGRAPH WRITING
Sentences
Words
Topic:
Essay writing (Revisiting Paragraph Writing)
Audience:
English language learners
Published by: G&R Languages – October, 2013
Images courtesy of ClipArt
23

24. Essay Writing
How to Write an Essay - Steps to follow:
1. Brainstorming
2. Research
3. Analysis
4. Synthesis
5. Topic sentence / thesis statement
6. Outline
7. Introduction
8. Conclusion
9. Citation
10.Editing/Revision
Topic:
Essay writing (Revisiting Paragraph Writing) Open Educational Resources (OER)
Audience:
English language learners
Published by: G&R Languages – October, 2013
Images courtesy of ClipArt
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