1. Essay Writing
What to do

2. Writing Steps Understand the Topic Research Note Taking
Organizing Notes
Organizer
Write the Essay
Finishing Touches

3. “Neither man nor God is going to tell me what to write. ” James T
“Neither man nor God is going to tell me what to write.” James T. Farrell

4. Step 1 – Understand the Topic
Once you get the assignment, make sure you go over it carefully and fully understand what it is you are to do and how you will be marked.
Also check to see if you are banned from using certain resources or must use certain resources.
Ask your teacher about any questions you have BEFORE you start so you do not have to redo work.
Choose your topic
Your essay should be focused enough to be interesting and informative but not so focused that you can not find sources for it.

5. “Being a good writer is 3% talent, 97% not being distracted by the Internet.” Anonymous

6. Step 2 - Research
Now that you have your topic settled you need to find some sources of information.
You might used some of the following:
Books – information will be reliable but may be out of date
Journals – very detailed information, may be hard to find in high school
Newspapers – recent information, may lack details
Encyclopaedias – recent information, easy to read, will lack details – good to use to get to know your topic NOT as a primary source – check to see if you can use Wikipedia
Web pages – potential very good information but also risk getting biased or even completely false information

7. “Quantity produces quality
“Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed.” Ray Bradbury

8. Step 3 – Note Taking
Once you have a source that is both relevant and reliable it is time to take notes:
Record the source information. This will vary depending on the source but is the information you will need to do an entry for a Reference Page
Write your notes, you should have several types:
Direct quotations
Stats or other tables copied completely and accurately
Summarized information
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as to many notes! However if you do not have enough notes it is very hard to write an essay. So if in doubt write it down!

9. “Writing energy is like anything else
“Writing energy is like anything else. The more you put in, the more you get out.” Richard Reeves

10. Step 4 – Organizing Notes
Once you have all the notes you think you need then it is time to organize.
Consider the various subtopics that your essay will have – introduction, background, arguments for both sides, conclusion, etc.
Read over your notes and using several different coloured highlighters (or a letter system if you prefer) place your notes into the various subtopics by colour

11. “If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

12. Step 5 – The Organizer
Now it is time to start planning your essay, some teachers might call this power notes, or a concept web. What ever it is called it is more detailed then an outline, think of it as a point form version of your essay.
This step can be done in a number of different ways – only one of which will be discussed here. Talk to your teacher about other ways of doing an organizer.
It is suggested but not required that you type all of this on a computer.

13. Part 1
As you move through all of these parts always consider the reader and what this will look like to them when they read it.
Start by putting down your subtopics in a logical order
Next consider what categories of information will go in this topic and in what order
Now it is time to add your notes. This will be easy as you have already decided where they are going.
Do NOT worry about order yet, particularly if you are typing this.
Do make sure to include either the source of the notes or something that will lead you back to the source. I suggest numbering each source you use and then just putting that number at the end of each note from that source.

14. Part 2
Now that all of your notes are in the proper subtopics put them in the order that you will use them
Next add your thesis statement and if appropriate sub thesis statements
Then look over your essay does any section of it seem to be lacking in information? If so go back and research some more
Finally read over what you have and ask your self, does this make sense? Is there a good flow to this information?
If something in your organizer does not seem to fit then feel free to cut it out.

15. Example Title – Cats vs. Dogs Which is the Superior Pet? Introduction
Attention grabber
Thesis Statement
Background
Define topic and any relevant terms or issues
Definition 1
Definition 2
Where do things currently stand?
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3

16. Example Pro Cat Sub thesis statement Major argument 1 Major argument 2
Fact 1
Fact 2
Fact 3
Major argument 2
Repeat above
Major argument 3
Pro Dog

17. Example Analysis Strengths of side you oppose
Weaknesses of side you favour
Weaknesses of side you oppose
Strengths of side you favour
Conclusion
Restating thesis
Opinion on topic
Support for opinion 1
Support for opinion 2
Support for opinion 3

18. “Write something to suit yourself and many people will like it; write something to suit everybody and scarcely anyone will care for it.“ Jesse Stuart

19. Step 6 – Writing the Essay
With your research and organizer done the majority of the hard work is now over. All that is left is turning your organizer into a properly formatted and well written essay.
The majority of your time in this step is going to be spent in your segues and your analysis.
Keep in mind that HOW you say something is often at least as important as WHAT you say. You can have the best ideas ever but if you write them like you were in grade 3 no one will take you seriously.

20. Part 1 – General Notes
This is an essay spelling and grammar are VITAL make sure to check this over carefully do NOT just trust your word processer.
The following excerpt by Mark Eckman and Jerrold H. Zar should hopefully make this point clear
I have a spelling checker, It came with my PC. It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot sea. Eye ran this poem threw it, Your sure reel glad two no. Its vary polished in it's weigh. My checker tolled me sew. A checker is a bless sing, It freeze yew lodes of thyme. It helps me right awl stiles two reed, And aides me when eye rime. Each frays come posed up on my screen Eye trussed too bee a joule. The checker pours o'er every word To cheque sum spelling rule.

21. Part 1 – General Notes
This is a formal essay, that means you should be using proper FORMAL English! Do NOT use:
Slang
Text or Web speak
Contractions (ex. Don’t for do not, it’s for it is)
Use with caution abbreviations and make sure that you use the full form the first time you abbreviate. Example: The Office of the Treaty Commissioner (OTC) says that ...
When using people’s names use either their full name or their last name do NOT use just their first name.

22. Part 1 – General Notes
Do NOT use first person (I, we, etc.) outside of your conclusion!
Do NOT use big words or complicated sentences to impress the reader. This just tends to confuse you and cause problems. Good rule of thumb if you can not define the word do not use it!
Having said that do NOT dumb down your language.
Make every attempt to make your every point in your essay clear and to the point.
Whatever you do, do NOT be like Calvin!

24. “If you start with a bang, you won't end with a whimper.” T. S. Eliot

25. Part 2 - Introduction
Do NOT just go right into your essay you need to get the reader’s attention – you do not want them thinking “Do I have to read this?”
You could get there attention by:
Telling a brief but interesting story related to the topic
Giving an interesting quote related to the topic
Using some interesting statistics related to the topic
Ask some thought provoking question(s) related to the topic
What ever you do, do NOT be cheesy or try to kiss up to the reader

26. Part 2 - Introduction
Next you need to work your way from what ever you used to get the reader’s attention to your thesis statement. This will take some time and require one or more transition sentences.
At the end of your paragraph will be your thesis sentence(s) – it might be more than one but try to avoid it and do not be more than two.

27. Part 2a - Thesis
This is where you will clearly and concisely tell the reader what your essay is about.
Make sure that you are specific, one of the most common mistakes people make is to be to vague.
Avoid at all costs statements like:
This essay will ...
I will be talking about ...
An example might be: An analysis of the college admission process reveals two principal problems facing counselors: accepting students with high test scores or students with strong extracurricular backgrounds.

28. “Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can
“Have something to say, and say it as clearly as you can. That is the only secret.” Matthew Arnold

29. Part 3 - Body This section of your essay contains 4 major parts:
Background – what is your issue and where do things currently stand
Pro Side – what the people in favour of the issue have to say
Con Side – what the people opposed to the issue have to say
Analysis – what are the strengths and weakness of both sides arguments

30. Part 3 - Body When looking at each side you must:
Remain impartial – the reader should not know your feelings until the end
Cover both sides equally well
Clearly state what the major arguments for both sides are and explain them

31. Part 3 - Body
This is obviously the major portion of your essay and contains all of your relevant facts.
It is vital that the paragraphs in your essay be tied together, otherwise your essay will lack flow and be hard to read and understand.
To achieve this the last sentence and first sentence in every paragraph should be transition or segue sentences tying the paragraphs together.

32. Part 3 - Body
It is also here that you will analyze the arguments of the two sides of your issue.
You should not be bringing new information into this paragraph(s) but instead looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments.

33. Part 3 - Body
Some things that you might want to consider when analyzing both sides:
Is the information accurate given what I know?
Do both sides arguments make sense?
Is it legal?
Will the public support it?
Does it treat people fairly?
How would I feel if this logic applied to me?
What would society be like if everyone acted like this?
Would this logic work if applied to a similar situation?

34. “Certainly the plagiarism, and dealing with the fallout of it, was the most difficult thing I've ever faced since I started writing.” Nora Roberts

35. Part 3a – In Text Citations
This is a research essay, that means you looked up information that other people collected.
You MUST give them credit for their work otherwise it is plagiarism and you get ZERO.
If you are not sure how to do an in text citation after this section please ask your teacher or go to one of the following sites:
Son of Citation Machine – this will format an in text citation for you for basic situations
Owl at Purdue – this site will not only tell you how to format the citation for any situation but tell you when to put an in text citation

36. Part 3a – In Text Citations
Use in-text citations whenever you:
Use a direct quotation.
Use statistics or a specific date.
Restate, summarize, or paraphrase an idea, theory, or opinion given by another author.
Incorporate facts that are not common knowledge. A general rule of thumb is, if you can find the fact in at least three sources, it is common knowledge.
If you are in doubt than use an in-text citation

37. Part 3a – In Text Citations
In general terms the in text citation goes at the end of the sentence(s) that come from a particular source.
You may however put an in text citation at the end of a paragraph if ALL of the information came from the same source.
You may NOT use one in text citation for several paragraphs even if their information comes from the same source.
You MUST place an in text citation at the end of every direct quotation used.

38. Part 3a – In Text Citations
Short Quotations:
If you are directly quoting from a work, you will need to include the author, year of publication, and the page number for the reference (preceded by "p."). Page number is NOT required for electronic sources.
According to Jones (1998), "Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time" (p. 199).
Jones (1998) found "students often had difficulty using APA style" (p. 199); what implications does this have for teachers?
She stated, "Students often had difficulty using APA style" (Jones, 1998, p. 199), but she did not offer an explanation as to why.

39. Part 3a – In Text Citations
Long Quotations – 40+ words
Start the quotation on a new line, indented 1/2 inch from the left margin, i.e., in the same place you would begin a new paragraph. Type the entire quotation on the new margin, and indent the first line of any subsequent paragraph within the quotation 1/2 inch from the new margin. Maintain double-spacing throughout.
Jones's (1998) study found the following:     Students often had difficulty using APA style, especially when it was their first time citing sources. This difficulty could be attributed to the fact that many students failed to  purchase a style manual or to ask their teacher for help. (p. 199)

40. Part 3a – In Text Citations
Paraphrasing, Statistics, or Specific Dates
If you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference, but APA guidelines encourage you to also provide the page number (although it is not required.)
According to Jones (1998), APA style is a difficult citation format for first-time learners.
APA style is a difficult citation format for first- time learners (Jones, 1998, p. 199).

41. “Be yourself and think for yourself; and while your conclusions may not be infallible, they will be nearer right than the conclusions forced upon you.” Elbert Hubbard

42. Part 4 - Conclusion
This is your opportunity to finally say what you believe about this topic.
Given everything that you have now learned about both sides of your issue what do you believe and more importantly WHY.
You need to be thorough, convincing and fit with the analysis you have just done.
This needs to be much more than just a summary of the issue. It is YOUR interpretation of the issue after looking at both sides and examining MANY sources.

43. “When you take stuff from one writer, it's plagiarism
“When you take stuff from one writer, it's plagiarism. But when you take it from many writers, it's research.” William Mizner

44. Part 5 – Reference Page
You will list any books / sources that you cited in your essay
You will list any books / sources that were significant in your research but not cited
You will NOT list books / sources just to flesh out your reference page

45. Part 5 – Reference Page This will be done in APA style
It is recommended but not required that you use the web resource Son of Citation Machine at to help you create your reference page
Click on APA Style
Choose from the sources that are listed on the left
Fill in the blanks and click submit
Copy and paste to your reference page
If you are not using Son of Citation Machine then it is strongly recommended you use Owl at Purdue APA style guide to assist you

46. Part 5 – Reference Page
The title is References centered at the top of the page but done in normal font with no bolding or underlining
Your entries must be in alphabetical order
Entries should be double spaced
Entries should be done in a hanging indent style – much like this bullet
Entries should NOT be bulleted OR numbered
Entries should NOT be divided into groups based on type or any other way

47. “I never really know the title of a book until it's finished
“I never really know the title of a book until it's finished.” Mary Wesley

48. Part 6 – Title Page A title page will contain the following:
Title of your essay – centred and in top 1/3 of paper done in normal font with no bolding or underlining
The following is centered under the title (in normal font and size):
Your name
Teacher’s name
Class
Due date
Running header – a shortened version of your title and the page number. The running header will be done all in capitals. Also on the title page only it will include the phrase Running head:

49. “In a lot of formats, you can be really experimental and see what would happen.” Marguerite Moreau

50. Step 7 - Finishing Remember that your paper should have the following:
Title repeated on the first page of the actual paper, centered but not bolded or underlined
Level 1 headings for each of the sections EXCEPT for the introduction – centered, bolded and in all upper case
Level 2 headings for each of your major arguments in both the pro and con – bolded and key words capitalized
While it is allowed by APA do NOT include the following:
Author’s notes on the title page
An abstract of the paper
Level 3 headings

51. Step 7 - Finishing Formatting your paper, it should be: Typed
Double Spaced
1” margins all around OR 1” margin top and bottom and 1.25” on left and right sides
Times New Roman or similar font
Size 12 font
Black ink on white paper

52. “It is perfectly okay to write garbage – as long as you edit brilliantly.” C. J. Cherryh

53. Step 7 - Finishing
Now that you are done your first draft you need to get it ready to hand in.
Read the essay over yourself – feel free to repeat this step
Have a friend or family member read over your essay – feel free to repeat this step also. Make sure that if you are asking a teacher to proof read your essay you allow several days. Do NOT ask them to proof read it the day before it is due!
Just before you print out your good copy read over the essay one last time

54. “We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Ronald Reagan

55. HELP
The following web pages may be able to help you if you run into problems and can not ask your teacher.
How to Write an Essay
Basic Steps in the Research Process
Purdue OWL
Evaluating Web Pages e.html
Son of Citation Machine
Research Sites /adviceengine.html

56. The End
Now go forth and write.