What to Do in this Unit:
1. Read Part A: Essay Essentials
2. Read Part B: Brainstorming
3. Read Part C: Review Writing Essays
4. Read Part D: Essay Marking Scale
5. Review Part E: Essay Example
6. Create an OUTLINE for your essay.
8. Create your essay.
You are encouraged to choose your own topic. Otherwise, here are some suggested topics:
1. Should animals be used for scientific research?
2. Is vegetarianism the best diet?
3. Should Canada execute criminals?
4. Should medical assistance in dying be allowed in Canada?
Part A: ESSAY ESSENTIALS
All essays contain three main parts: Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
Choose a topic that interests you and that you know about.
Organize your ideas:
- in order of time sequence
Order of importance - strongest details are presented last
General to specific - begin with a general, familiar definition and add more specific
details
Comparison and contrast - how things are alike, how things are different
The THESIS STATEMENT is the controlling idea or central insight in an essay involving
some value on human nature or conduct, which may be stated directly or indirectly.
WRITING A THESIS STATEMENT
Express your ideas about the subject in the form of a statement in the present
tense.
EXAMPLE:
The thesis is not loyalty.
Thesis: Loyalty to nation often inspires heroic self-sacrifice.
2. The thesis should be stated as a generalization about life, but it cannot be large
than
what is justified, can be supported by, details from the essay.
Avoid use of terms like “never,” “always,” and “every.”
Use terms such as “some,” “often,” “usually,” and “perhaps.”
3. The thesis should not be contradicted by any details of the essay and cannot rely
on facts not directly stated or clearly implied in the essay.
Avoid these pitfalls in writing a thesis statement:
a. You simply name a topic.
. You give advice, however important or well intended.
c. You give a warning.
d. You have over generalized by using words such as “never,” “always,” and
“every.”
e. You have passed judgment on the situation by using words such as “should” o
“must.”
f. You address your reader informally by using “you” or “your.”
g. You have used a cliché or overworked expression, such as
“Never judge a book by its cover.”
Create an outline
The purpose of an outline is organize your ideas.
Look over ideas and try to separate into main ideas and supporting details.
Support each main idea with at least three supporting details.
Draft
The purpose of a first draft is to experiment and to try out your ideas.
The writer has a chance to discover WHAT you want to say and HOW you want to say
it.
The introduction should capture the attention of the reader and state the THESIS.
The body develops the topic with points to prove the thesis.
Experiment with transition words and phrases to aid the flow of ideas.
The conclusion re-states the thesis and summarizes the main ideas.
Conclusion
The conclusion is a deliberate summation, which builds an essay to its climax.
The conclusion is the high point, the final effort to deliver your message.
1. Restate thesis in DIFFERENT words
2. Possible devices
a. repeat or restate idea from opening
. contrast or reversal
c. question
d. quotation
e. transition signals
f. reveal significance
g. summary
h. draw conclusions from discussion
i. prediction
3. Add final sentence, clincher.
Remember that an essay has structure. There are three basic components of an
essay:
• Introductory paragraph – includes a thesis statement which gives you
discussion direction and purpose. Remember - no thesis = no direction no
purpose
• Body – multiple paragraphs that support, develop, or illustrate your thesis
(minimum3 paragraphs).
• Concluding paragraph – concludes your essay by restating your thesis and one
sentence on each main idea.
3. The best original compositions are those in which the writer grounds his discussion
of the topic in something concrete. Personal anecdotes, childhood experiences,
fictional stories, world events, and literary examples can all be used to make you
discussion more interesting and effective.
4. High level responses make effective use of transitions.
Rather than jumping from idea to idea, a unified, coherent discussion leads the reade
from one point to another. This is best accomplished through the use of transitions, o
idging words, phrases, and sentences. The use of transitions demonstrates an
awareness of organizing techniques and is the sign of a mature, capable writer.
5. Finally, do not be afraid to disagree with the topic.
Part E: Essay Example - Developed following the instructions from this unit.
Exploring the Snowy Outdoors on a Snowmobile
Snowmobiling is a great way for individuals to explore the outdoors in the snowy
winter. The sport started in the mid-eighties and gained popularity in the nineties.
There are four main manufacturers that produce snowmobiles in North America: Polaris,
Skidoo, Yamaha and Arctic Cat. As the sport has gained popularity, the manufacturers
have had to come up with new features each year to help promote ongoing sales and
continue to grow their
and. With all the features that are available, choosing the right
snowmobile for an individual will depend on various factors, and make a difference in
how an individual is able to enjoy the sport. These factors include, but are not limited
to, the individual’s skill level, the individual’s budget, and the type of te
ain.
An individual’s skill level plays a big role in deciding which snowmobile is
appropriate for them. If the individual is a novice, choosing an entry-level snowmobile is
the best fit. An entry-level snowmobile is a machine that is easy to maneuver and has a
low horsepower rating. Choosing a machine with too much power could scare an
individual and cause serious injuries if the person loses control and crashes the
machine from inexperience. The same applies to an experienced rider, choosing an
entry-level snowmobile with a low power rating could make the sport boring. When
looking to purchase a snowmobile, considering rider skill level is important to ensuring
the sport is fun and keeps the person safe.
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Deciding which snowmobile to purchase can also be affected by an individual’s budget
for the sport. When picking a budget for a snowmobile, an individual should conside
the cost of the necessary safety equipment and gear needed. If an individual spends all
their money on a new snowmobile, it can affect the ability to purchase the other items
needed to snowmobile safely. Without the necessary equipment, which includes a good
helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and a shovel, an individual risks the possibility of getting
cold, or injured, if they run into a problem when out on the trails. The cost of the
snowmobile plays a role as well. An unreliable machine may have additional
maintenance costs. This could affect the way an individual is able to enjoy the sport if
the machine is
eaking down frequently. When picking a budget, an individual needs
to find a balance between the costs of buying a good, reliable machine and all the
proper gear so they can fully enjoy the sport of snowmobiling safely.
The type of te
ain an individual wants to use their snowmobile on regularly can have an
effect on which snowmobile model is most appropriate to consider. Snowmobile
manufacturers offer models designed to be used on lakes, trails, deep snow and
acetracks. Snowmobiles designed for lakes and trails are wider and shorter in length
and are stable at high speeds. Deep snow snowmobiles are na
ow and have longe
tracks to help with flotation in deeper snow. Race snowmobiles are short and wide, and
come with a stiff suspension to help with bumps and jumps on the race tracks. If an
individual tries to use a snowmobile made for a different te
ain than what it is used for,
the whole machine will perform poorly, and it could make an uncomfortable ride.
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Hence, it is important to choose the snowmobile made for the te
ain where it will be
egularly used.
It is important an individual selects a snowmobile that best suits their skill level, budget
and type of te
ain they want to use it on. The snowmobile can make a difference in
how someone enjoys the sport, and if they are able to enjoy it safely. A snowmobile
with too much or not enough horsepower can impact someone’s safety and enjoyment
of the sport. The budget is important to consider, and should include safety equipment
and gear to be properly prepared for any snowmobiling conditions. The type of te
ain
the snowmobile will be used on will impact how the machine operates and the overall
enjoyment of the ride. In the end, snowmobiling is a sport that can allow individuals to
enjoy the snowy winter, and it is important to consider various factors before choosing
to buy a snowmobile
CREATE AN OUTLINE AND WRITE ESSAY BELLOW, OR WRITE ON A SEPARATE FILE.