Writing an Essay
Steps:
1. Unpack the prompt and do a quick jot
2. Create evidence table with controlling question
3. Begin reading and collect evidence that answers your controlling question
4. Group evidence that is alike in some way and create a main idea statement for each grouped evidences
5. Choose 2 main idea statements that you want to use in your essay - these will direct your body paragraphs
6. Create your plan
7. Fill in your plan with main ideas you chose and elaboration for those pieces of evidences and the main ideas
8. Begin writing your 4 paragraph essay
a. Introduction
b. 2 Body Paragraphs
c. Conclusion
9. Edit
2. Create evidence table with controlling question
3. Begin reading and collect evidence that answers your controlling question
4. Group evidence that is alike in some way and create a main idea statement for each grouped evidences
5. Choose 2 main idea statements that you want to use in your essay - these will direct your body paragraphs
6. Create your plan
7. Fill in your plan with main ideas you chose and elaboration for those pieces of evidences and the main ideas
8. Begin writing your 4 paragraph essay
a. Introduction
b. 2 Body Paragraphs
c. Conclusion
9. Edit
1. Unpacking the Prompt
- Do you see the word opinion? If so, this means you have to pick a side or choose something when reading the texts. - Repeating words? Circle them! This might be the topic you need to focus on when writing your essay
- Determine the topic (who or what the piece is about) & point (what they want you to know about the who or what)
- Create main idea sentence or controlling question using your topic and point. (Usually the question in the prompt
or direction helps you with creating a main idea sentence)
- Jot down YOUR ideas about the prompt (things that came to mind when you read the prompt; these will help you
with elaboration)
- Do you see the word opinion? If so, this means you have to pick a side or choose something when reading the texts. - Repeating words? Circle them! This might be the topic you need to focus on when writing your essay
- Determine the topic (who or what the piece is about) & point (what they want you to know about the who or what)
- Create main idea sentence or controlling question using your topic and point. (Usually the question in the prompt
or direction helps you with creating a main idea sentence)
- Jot down YOUR ideas about the prompt (things that came to mind when you read the prompt; these will help you
with elaboration)
2. Create Evidence Table
- This is where you collect evidence from the texts/sources that answers your controlling question
- Columns = total amount of sources (3 sources = 3 columns, 2 sources = 2 columns)
- The bottom section is where your main ideas will go
- Write your controlling question at the top of the table
- Write your sources titles at the top of each column
- This is where you collect evidence from the texts/sources that answers your controlling question
- Columns = total amount of sources (3 sources = 3 columns, 2 sources = 2 columns)
- The bottom section is where your main ideas will go
- Write your controlling question at the top of the table
- Write your sources titles at the top of each column
3. Collect Evidence
- Read the sources
- As you read, underline evidence that answers the controlling question and then write it on the evidence table
under the correct source. This evidence must be written in your own words and not copied word for word from the
sources.
- Your goal is to get at least 3 pieces of evidences from each source; it's possible to have more than 3
- Read the sources
- As you read, underline evidence that answers the controlling question and then write it on the evidence table
under the correct source. This evidence must be written in your own words and not copied word for word from the
sources.
- Your goal is to get at least 3 pieces of evidences from each source; it's possible to have more than 3
4. Group Like Evidence
- Look at the different pieces of evidence between all the sources to see what pieces of evidence you can group
together to create one main idea.
a. For example: Maybe in source #1 it states that birds migrate to survive the cold and in source #2 it states
that whales migrate to warmer waters. These two pieces of evidence are alike because they discuss animals who migrate to survive the cold.
b. Now, use a symbol to note that these pieces of evidence are alike. You will use different symbols for grouped pieces of evidence.
c. Create a main idea for each separately grouped pieces of evidence. Using the example above, you could
create a main idea like so: One way animals survive the harsh coldness, is to migrate to warmer temperatures.
- Create at least 2-3 main ideas with at least 2 pieces of evidence.
- Notice that not all the pieces of evidence were used in creating groups and main ideas. That's OK as long as you
use at least one piece of evidence from all of the sources.
- Look at the different pieces of evidence between all the sources to see what pieces of evidence you can group
together to create one main idea.
a. For example: Maybe in source #1 it states that birds migrate to survive the cold and in source #2 it states
that whales migrate to warmer waters. These two pieces of evidence are alike because they discuss animals who migrate to survive the cold.
b. Now, use a symbol to note that these pieces of evidence are alike. You will use different symbols for grouped pieces of evidence.
c. Create a main idea for each separately grouped pieces of evidence. Using the example above, you could
create a main idea like so: One way animals survive the harsh coldness, is to migrate to warmer temperatures.
- Create at least 2-3 main ideas with at least 2 pieces of evidence.
- Notice that not all the pieces of evidence were used in creating groups and main ideas. That's OK as long as you
use at least one piece of evidence from all of the sources.
5. Choose TWO main idea sentences
- Using your main ideas from the bottom of your evidence table, choose two you would like to write about. You can use one of three ways to choose the main ideas:
1. Choose main ideas that have the most evidence
2. Or choose the a main ideas that you could easily elaborate on
3. Or last, choose one of each
- These main ideas will be your two body paragraphs in your essay. They will include the evidence you wrote on your evidence tables to match that main idea.
- Using your main ideas from the bottom of your evidence table, choose two you would like to write about. You can use one of three ways to choose the main ideas:
1. Choose main ideas that have the most evidence
2. Or choose the a main ideas that you could easily elaborate on
3. Or last, choose one of each
- These main ideas will be your two body paragraphs in your essay. They will include the evidence you wrote on your evidence tables to match that main idea.
6. Create your Plan
- On the back of your evidence table, draw your plan.
-The outline will always look like the plan below.
- On the back of your evidence table, draw your plan.
-The outline will always look like the plan below.
7. Create your Plan
- This is where the two main ideas and the connected evidence goes. Elaboration will also go on the plan that YOU COME UP WITH.
- This is where the two main ideas and the connected evidence goes. Elaboration will also go on the plan that YOU COME UP WITH.
8. Write Your Essay
- Using your plan and your evidence table, write a 4-paragraph essay that includes the following:
1. Introduction - no set amount of sentences; use one of the introduction strategies you've learned. Be sure to state your main idea of the entire essay.
2. Body Paragraph #1 - at least 6 sentences, but no more than 12 sentences. Use the 1st main idea, evidence, and elaboration that goes with main idea #1. Remember, put the evidence in your own words and do not forget to elaborate.
3. Body Paragraph #2 - at least 6 sentences, but no more than 12 sentences. Use the 2nd main idea, evidence, and elaboration that goes with main idea #2. Remember, put the evidence in your own words and do not forget to elaborate.
4. Conclusion - no set amount of sentences; use one of the conclusion strategies you've learned. Be sure to restate your main idea of the entire essay IN A DIFFERENT WAY than in your introduction.
- Be sure to CITE your evidence in one of these three ways: (You have to cite each of the sources.)
1. Use the title of the source to state the evidence that matches
2. Use the author's name to state the evidence that matches
3. In the conclusion, you could write, "According to (and the sources names) , restate your main idea."
- Using your plan and your evidence table, write a 4-paragraph essay that includes the following:
1. Introduction - no set amount of sentences; use one of the introduction strategies you've learned. Be sure to state your main idea of the entire essay.
2. Body Paragraph #1 - at least 6 sentences, but no more than 12 sentences. Use the 1st main idea, evidence, and elaboration that goes with main idea #1. Remember, put the evidence in your own words and do not forget to elaborate.
3. Body Paragraph #2 - at least 6 sentences, but no more than 12 sentences. Use the 2nd main idea, evidence, and elaboration that goes with main idea #2. Remember, put the evidence in your own words and do not forget to elaborate.
4. Conclusion - no set amount of sentences; use one of the conclusion strategies you've learned. Be sure to restate your main idea of the entire essay IN A DIFFERENT WAY than in your introduction.
- Be sure to CITE your evidence in one of these three ways: (You have to cite each of the sources.)
1. Use the title of the source to state the evidence that matches
2. Use the author's name to state the evidence that matches
3. In the conclusion, you could write, "According to (and the sources names) , restate your main idea."
9. Edit Your Essay
- Reread your entire essay and check for
a. Errors in: spelling, the way your sentence is written, punctuation, and capital letters.
b. All sources are cited.
c. You have 4 paragraphs with a strong introduction and conclusion.
d. All of your evidence is in your OWN words.
e. You have at least 1-2 pieces of elaboration in each body paragraph.
- Reread your entire essay and check for
a. Errors in: spelling, the way your sentence is written, punctuation, and capital letters.
b. All sources are cited.
c. You have 4 paragraphs with a strong introduction and conclusion.
d. All of your evidence is in your OWN words.
e. You have at least 1-2 pieces of elaboration in each body paragraph.