START to FINISH, Essay Success:
ONE:
Read the task and underline key words. Use those key words in
your essay.
TWO:
Decide which thinking map is appropriate for your essay task
Brace Map (3-paragraph): explains, persuades, gives directions,
gives information
Double Bubble or Tree Map (4-paragraph): compare/contrast,
problem/solution, cause/effect (Basically, any topic with two distinct
parts falls in this category.)
(Remember, the thinking map choices are only a starting point. You can
add additional paragraphs as necessary when writing your essay.)
THREE: Complete your brainstorm! Make sure to come up with a good WADIWI
beginning and SQUARE ending.
FOUR: Choose one new vocabulary word or any other higher-Level word to
include in your essay. Write that word in the space provided on your
thinking map sheet.
FIVE: Transfer the information from your thinking map to your essay
skeleton. Use short phrases and simple sentences.
SIX:
Come up with a form of figurative language to include in your essay and
make note of it on your skeleton.
SEVEN:Transfer the information on your skeleton to your essay form.
Remember, you are working with a skeleton of an essay. Try to add more
information, details, and descriptions to make it more complete.
EIGHT: Review your essay. Read your essay backwards to find misspelled words.
Make any necessary corrections. Make sure no more than two sentences
start with the same word.
When
Action Verb
Dialogue
Start your essay with a
time, date, or any
general “when”
statement.
Begin by showing an action of some sort. It can be
a physical or mental
action.
Begin with a quote that
will draw the reader in.
Interesting Comment
Where
Introduce a
Character
Catch the reader’s
Start your essay by
attention with
mentioning a special loca- Draw in your reader by
introducing an important
something interesting or
tion that has to do with
person/character.
out of the ordinary.
your topic.
Simple Thought
End with a powerful,
short sentence that is six
words or less.
Quotation
Use a famous or maybe
not-so-famous quote to
drive your essay home.
Uncover the
Meaning
Wait until the end of the
essay to let the reader in
on your “secret” or
“point”.
Alter the Intro.
A more simple way to
end your essay is to restate your thesis
statement.
Rhetorical
Question
End with a thoughtprovoking question that is
not meant to be answered.
Emotion
Leave your reader truly
understanding how you
feel. Feel the feeling.
Simile– The comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”
example- Your writing is like a breath of fresh air!
Metaphor- The comparison of two unlike things NOT using the words “like” or “as”
example- Your writing is a sparkling treasure!
Personification– Giving human qualities to non-human things
example– The blank essay form stared back at me with complete boredom.
Idiom– A statement that cannot be taken literally
example– The writing is on the wall.