1. HOW TO WRITE A FORMAL ACADEMIC ESSAY ESSAY WORKSHOP

2. PLANNING AND PREPARATION Type of essay Research / Expository / Persuasive / Narrative / Reflection Format Starrett = MLA (Honors Literature 11) Rotella = APA (AP 12) Length requirement You can not write a successful formal academic essay in under 5 paragraphs Font / Size Times New Roman / 12 pt. Title / Title Page Always title your essay creatively and appropriately Not… 1 st Semester Essay MLA does not require a specific title page, nor do I; APA does. Spacing Typically double-spaced, unless instructed otherwise

3. ORGANIZATION Organization Header (located on first page only – top left corner) Name Class Teacher Name Date Submitted Title (underneath header, and centered above essay) Introduction – 1 st paragraph Body – 2 nd -4 th paragraph (or more) Conclusion – 5 th paragraph (at least) Works Cited (start on a new page)

4. INTRODUCTION Intro Material Hook (1 st one or two sentences = 1 st impression) Begin with an attention-grabbing anecdote, quote or surprising statement. Try to draw your reader in immediately, before you set up your thesis statement. Background information – lead up to thesis Thesis Statement This sentence will identify the purpose and direction of the paper for the reader Think of your thesis as a mini-summary of your paper. If you only had time to explain your paper in one sentence, the thesis statement would be it. Often answers why and/or how? Must be debatable Should be contained in one sentence that is concise, to the point, and written clearly This should be the next to last or very last sentence of your introduction

5. INTRODUCTION Thesis Statements Examples: A BAD Thesis Mountain climbing is a great experience. Umm…. Why? An OK Thesis Mountain climbing can have a significant impact on one’s life. The question remains… why? This thesis is less general than the first one, but still has yet to answer why it’s impactful. An EXCELLENT Thesis Mountain climbing can have a significant impact on one’s life due to the lesson one learns regarding overcoming any obstacle as long as the effort is put forth. This thesis is specific, interesting, and leaves room for the writer to go into detail about the experience in their body paragraphs. Three-Part Thesis Statement Mountain climbing can have a significant impact on one’s life because it can reveal courage, teach teamwork, and provide an appreciation for nature.

6. BODY PARAGRAPHS Two Parts: each body paragraph should have the following: Main Ideas and Details You can have as many body paragraphs as you need points to argue – you should typically have no fewer than 3, though. Main Ideas Each body paragraph should begin with a one sentence main idea. Each main idea should support the thesis statement clearly and obviously. Each main idea should be different. Even though the main ideas are all different, they should all be slightly related (through their support of the thesis). Details Following each main idea, you should have examples and support that proves both your main idea and thesis to fill up each body paragraph. You can have as many details as you feel necessary, as long as you cover the topic thoroughly. This is where your in-text citations come in. If you are using someone else’s words or thoughts – even if paraphrasing or summarizing – you must cite it!

7. CONCLUSION Wrap-up material Your last paragraph should be a concluding paragraph. Again, do not state anything similar to “In conclusion…” Just wrap up the essay without mentioning you are wrapping it up! You should include the following information in the wrap-up: Summary of main points Restatement of thesis statement Answer any questions you think the reader might have at this point.

8. CITING In-text citations Goes inside the text of your essay For MLA, in-text citations have the author's last name and page number in parenthesis before the ending punctuation of a sentence. Life on the Mississippi was a time filled with rivalry (Twain 45). This is a shortened version of what is listed on the works cited page. If it is cited within the text of your essay, a full citation must be included on the works cited page. Works Cited Page and/or Bibliography Attached at the end of your essay This list should go in alpha order by author’s last name General Rule: General Rule: If something is listed on the Works Cited page, it MUST be cited within the text of the essay somewhere AND if something is cited within the text of the essay, it must be listed on the works cited page – they overlap and contain the same information. One is just a brief version of the loner citation.

9. WHAT TO CITE? General rule: Common knowledge does NOT need to be cited! Common knowledge is truly common – it can be found in a wide variety of sources due to its commonality. Ex. George Washington was the first president of The United States. Ex. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and oldest body of water in the world. If it is NOT common knowledge, cite it! If it is someone’s opinion (criticism), cite it! Just because you are summarizing (shortening) and/or paraphrasing (putting in your words) someone’s information, you still have to cite it! *It wasn’t your information to begin with.

10. WORKS CITED If required to do so, works cited pages are attached to the end of an essay. The format of the works cited depends on the format of the paper MLA and APA have different requirements. The works cited always starts on a new page. Entries are listed in alpha order by author’s last name. The information included for each depends on the source being used (book, magazine, website, etc.) – you will have to look it up in an MLA handout or on Purdue OWL! Purdue OWL: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

11. GENERAL ESSAY RULES In a research or expository essay, never refer to yourself or address the reader directly. Do not use 1 st person (I, me, myself, we, us) or 2 nd (you) You may only use 1 st person if the topic is a reflection or narrative, or maybe a persuasive. Always use third-person pronouns (he, she, they, it) Never NEVER NEVER say… In this essay I will discuss In conclusion Use formal language Do not use contractions Do not use slang (“dough” for money) or idioms (“hit the road”) Write in a respectful and serious tone Use vocabulary you know Do not just right click on a word, and choose a random synonym that you don’t know. It doesn’t always work! Why…? Part of speech for one!

12. GENERAL ESSAY RULES Choose vocabulary wisely Words such as: stuff, things, like, good, great, etc. should NEVER be used! Choose words carefully – they can change the meaning of an entire sentence. However, choose words that are specific enough for the sentence to be as clear as possible. You may be encouraged or required to include quoted material. Direct quotations (someone’s quote word for word) Indirect quotations (summarizing, paraphrasing, etc) EITHER WAY, YOU MUST CITE IT! Learn how to punctuate quotes correctly before using them. (ex. Commas and periods always go on the inside of the quotation marks.)

13. THESIS PRACTICE Fix these thesis statements: 1.Summer camp is beneficial. 2.Mountain biking is a good form of exercise. 3.Flagstaff is a nice city. 4.Fishing is a fun and exciting sport. 5.Michael Moore makes horrible movies. 6.Fall is the best season of the year. 7.Edgar Allen Poe is an important author.

14. THESIS PRACTICE Thesis statements: 1.Summer camp is beneficial. 1.Due to the valuable lessons one learns, summer camp is a beneficial experience for all children and teens. 2.Flagstaff is a nice city. 1.With several historical sights and markers, Flagstaff is a chosen destination for tourists alike. 3.Michael Moore makes horrible movies. 1.Michael Moore’s movies are filled with controversy regarding today’s cultural values, resulting in negative reviews. 4.Edgar Allen Poe is an important author. 1.Edgar Allen Poe, a classic American author, explores several dark issues including sin and evil, making him an interesting read for many.