Writing an Essay

It’s always hard to start writing an essay and start organizing your ideas, but here is the way I usually approach essays:

1.     Read the Novel: I’ve found it really necessary lately, that in order to understand well a novel it is important to read it at least two times, and maybe even more if there is sufficient time.

a.    Reading the novel for the first time is always very confusing and one actually doesn’t know what’s going on. So, the first time reading the novel serves as a way to get an overall view of the novel: plot, characters, themes, etc. Annotations are always useful, and when finding more “important” things use post its! It’s easier to find them again.

b.    For the second time one already knows the novel therefore it is easier to make further annotations and connect any ideas within the novel together. Any recurring motif, symbol, theme, are more clear, so its easier to understand the novel.

2.     Deciding what type of essay to write:

a.    It’s always easier if I’ve been given prompts. If this is the case, start writing some ideas for each of them. Check any annotations I have and how they could be linked to the prompts.

b.    If no prompts are available, I would start by checking for important notes I’ve made, and end up narrowing it down to theme, symbol, motif, etc. also making notes for each.

c.     By doing this it is easier to see which one has more to discuss about, evidence, and of course to what I am more inclined to.

3.     Defining a topic and Thesis Statement: After writing down my ideas for each type of essay, it is of course necessary to choose only one and start writing the thesis statement. At this point I also start writing the introduction.

4.     Creating an outline: For this step I usually create two outlines.

a.    This first outline is much like a “rough draft”. Just to organize my ideas a little, find some quotes, start getting some ideas for topic sentences and how I will support my thesis statement. For this outline I always prefer to write everything down in paper, brainstorm, using colors to help me note any difference between paragraphs, topic sentences, etc.

b.    The second outline is a little more structured; with my ideas more clearly and with specific topic sentences, quotes and explanations of each quote (Point, Evidence Explanation format for each quote). This second outline is very specific. 

5.     Rough Draft: for this step I will start by writing the different body paragraphs but separately, and then joining them together. I don’t think that writing a complete essay is that necessary for this step, I use this step more as a way to see how the essay is looking and revise my outlines and make any modifications.

6.     Second Draft: Now I will join all of the body paragraphs together, revise the introduction and write a conclusion. I am usually not very good when writing introductions and conclusions, but I do understand that:

a.    The introduction should include context, the thesis statement and an overall idea of the course the essay will take.

b.    In the conclusion I would rephrase the thesis statement and a brief summary of the essay as a whole.

7.     Revision and editing of the drafts:

a.    The most important thing I try to achieve in this step is to make the body paragraphs “flow”.

b.    It is also important to check the syntax, diction, any redundant words, or awkward sentences and expressions. Sometimes I think that more complex words make the essays harder to understand, and although they might give the essay some sophistication they are not good every single time, so I usually tend to stick with simple, straightforward words.

c.     I will revise the essay several times and usually change a lot of sentences, take some out, etc.

8.     Peer Review: Since we usually use Turnitin.com, it is easier to have peers commenting and suggesting any ideas or ways to improve the essay. I also make my parents read the essay, who usually highlight anything they don’t understand or aren’t really clear about.

9.     Reread the essay and edit one more time.

a.    I like to read it out loud because it makes it easier for me to find any vague ideas or awkward words and sentences.

b.    I also focus a lot on the thesis statement and topic sentences, so that each paragraph makes sense with what I originally intended to discuss. It always comes in handy to have the original outlines beside me.

10.  Hand it in! Or post it in Turnitin.com. (This always feels nice J)