General Considerations of Essay Writing
Good essays follow four general principles:
Unity – Each paragraph supports the artistic purpose. (Stay on topic, write in order, return from examination of subsets to the main, artistic purpose).
Coherence – One issue or argument or description follows another. Use transitions and linkages to create an internal structure.
Completeness – “Am I finished? Not just done?” Stamina is required (and developed by practice) to follow each of the main points of the essay to its individual fruition. Develop each part as fully as possible.
Emphasis – Right emphasis brings forth the important, not the incidental no matter how interesting. Emphasis results from position, proportion, isolation and/or repetition.
Effective essays are concrete and specific.
Reduce generalities: CHESS : TATICS of chess : DEFENSIVE tactics of chess : INTERMEDIATE defensive tactics of chess : CASTLING as an intermediate, defensive tactic of chess.
Be specific: avoid the worst word in the world “IT” and the 2nd worst “to be*” in all writing. *Includes am, is, are, was, were.
Use VERBS – Verbs give control and show attitude.
Standard Verbs
Verbs used in strong essay writing
Shows
Convey
Emphasizes
Demonstrates
Flows
Is
Reveals
Accomplishes
Reflects
Illustrates
Uses
Connotes
Advocates
Asserts
Alludes
Describes
Denotes
Represents
Contributes
Displays
Makes
Implements
Presents
Creates
Manages
Applies
Enhances
Contrasts
Permeates
Applies
Expresses
Defines
Passive voice
Display the purpose – This relates to the rhetorical modes of definition, classification, comparison and contrast, argument, cause and effect, persuasion, narrative and description. Know which one is called for.
Write to the AUDIENCE - The audience of most essays is a college educated adult who is widely read in history, literature, current events and culture and who has substantial knowledge of the basic sciences both theoretical and applied. This audience cannot be addressed as “you” nor will it respond to a general, nonspecific “you.”
Effective essays develop a mature perspective.
Sentence length increases with maturity: 3rd grade – 10 words; 6th grade – 12 words; 10th grade 14-16 words. Goal for AP sentences – 20 and more. (Short sentences are used for emphasis and meaning).
Elevate the discussion to the level of the audience.
Follow the STATEMET + EXAMPLE + COMMENTARY form.
Represent DICTION, CONCRETE DETAIL (imagery), SYNTAX and TONE (attitude) carefully.
Write in the appropriate style: Rhetorical, formal, informal, colloquial or non-standard.
