Think Before You Write

The above Thematic Essay Question is taken straight from an old Regents Exam. Read the whole entire page carefully before beginning to write out your essay.

Think before you write!!!!

You must hand in an outline of your thinking process before you started writing. It doesn’t matter what it looks like; I want to see your thinking process.

Your essay must be typed, double-spaced. Make sure you write in complete essay format (introduction, body and conclusion.) Do not use questions in your essay. Write in complete sentences, be absolutely clear, and be sure to ask questions before the due date.

Remember, I will be collecting your “thinking process” and your essay

Some tips and recommendations:

Before you start writing

THINK!!!! Think about what the task is asking you to do.

-Underline key words in your task.

-Write down your main ideas.

-Decide how you are going to organize your essay. What is going in every paragraph?

Introduction

What is your essay about??? Tell exactly what you are going to write about.

-If the question is asking you to choose a side or a position, state it in the introduction; but do not use the first person (I, me, my, etc.). You should state it as a statement; a fact.

-If the question asks you to pick something or name something, state this in your introduction.

-Do not give all of your information in the introduction, just a “sneak preview.”

-Your reader should know what you are going to write in the whole essay. Do not say “In the first paragraph I will…”

-Sometimes it is easier to write the introduction last.

Body

This is the “meat” of your essay. This is where you are going to explain why you have chosen a side or position; why you are using something in particular as an example. This is where you answer the task.

- Use your “outline” or “thinking on paper” as a guide to write your essay.

-Use specific information.

-Give examples.

-Your paragraphs should leave me knowing everything there is to know about what you are writing about.

-If you are doing research at home for your paper, you must tell me where you got the information from. Try using the “Citing Sources” link on my webpage and then refer to the Works Cited part of the page. This should show up at the end of your paper.

Conclusion

This sums up your whole entire essay. This wraps everything up.

-Restate your main points, but do not rewrite your whole essay.

-You are to connect everything together to wrap it up.

REMEMBER TO START EARLY AND THINK. YOU WILL ONLY BE SUCCESSFUL IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU WRITE!!!!