How To Write Great Essays

127 Pages·2007·0.46 MB·english

by  LearningExpress Editors

WRITE
HOW
TO
G R E AT
E S S AY S

WRITE
HOW
TO
G R E AT
E S S AY S
Lauren Starkey
®
NEW YORK
Copyright © 2004 LearningExpress
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Learning Express,LLC,New York.
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Starkey,Lauren B.,1962–
How to write great essays / Lauren Starkey.—1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57685-521-X
1.English language—Rhetoric—Problems,exercises,etc.
2.Essay—Authorship—Problems,exercises,etc. 3.Report
writing—Problems,exercises,etc. I.Title.
PE1471.S83 2004
808'.042—dc22
2004003384
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
ISBN 1-57685-521-X
For more information or to place an order,contact LearningExpress at:
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Contents
Introduction vii
1
Organization 1
2
Clarity 11
3
Word Choice 21
4
Mechanics 39
5
Revising,Editing,and Proofreading 55
6
Untimed Essay Writing Strategies 67
7
Timed Essay Writing Strategies 85
8
Sample Essay Prompts and Essays 97
Resources 111
CONTENTS (cid:2) HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS v

Introduction
IIn your preparations for college,you may find yourself facing a handful of high-stakes
essays. Your college application requires at least one, and the SAT requires another.
Depending upon the high school you attend,or the state you reside in,you may need
to write an exit essay,or take the Regents Exam.This book includes specific strategies to
help you write great essays,no matter which type you write.
In contrast to basic writing guides that contain plenty of information you don’t need,
How to Write Great Essaysfocuses on the topics most important to you now.You won’t find
a comprehensive guide to mechanics,but instead you will get short but thorough lessons
on the most common errors made in grammar,spelling,usage,and how to prevent and cor-
rect these errors.Every chapter is designed to relate directly to your essay,giving you the
knowledge and the know-how you need to succeed.
The book is divided into seven chapters,with the first five covering different aspects of
the writing process:
Introduction (cid:2) HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS vii
viii HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS (cid:2) Introduction
Chapter 1shows you how to organize your thoughts and ideas before you begin writ-
ing,with techniques such as freewriting,brainstorming,and outlining.You will even
learn why it’s important to read good writing while preparing your essay.
Chapter 2is about saying exactly what you mean by avoiding ambiguous language,
using modifiers,eliminating unnecessary words and phrases,and using the active
voice whenever possible.
Chapter 3examines word choice and how it can accurately convey your ideas.It explains
the most common misused and confused words,denotation versus connotation,
and inclusive language.Important advice about the use ofspell checking software
is also included.
Chapter 4 teaches the most common mechanical errors so you can eliminate them
from your writing.Troublesome parts of speech,issues such as noun-verb agree-
ment,and punctuation problems are explained.
Chapter 5shows you how to revise,edit,and proofread your essay.You will find check-
lists to use during these processes,as well as tips from professional editors.The use
ofword-processing programs to help with editing is also covered.
The last three chapters ofHow to Write Great Essayswill arm you with specific strategies
for writing both timed (SAT,GED) and untimed (college application,exit) essays.
Chapter 6covers issues such as long-range planning,prewriting,and understanding
the topics.Tips on writing to your audience and striking a balance between for-
mality and informality are also explained.
Chapter 7shows you how to prepare for timed essays.Learn how to research your exam,
how to familiarize yourselfwith possible topic choices,and how to budget your time dur-
ing the writing process.The more you know before writing a timed essay,the less stress
you will feel during the exam,and the better the writing you will be able to produce.
Chapter 8includes sample prompts and essays.Commentary at the end ofeach essay
explains its strengths and weaknesses.You will be able to see how a number ofwrit-
ers approached both timed and untimed essay topics,and learn even more about
how you can write a great essay.
Introduction (cid:2) HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS ix
No other essay resource,either in print or online,gives you all ofthe information found
in this book.Everything from prewriting and grammar,to finding and taking practice essay
exams is here.We have done our homework.Now it’s time to do yours.Preparations begin
with reading How to Write Great Essays.