abut which yu are at least mderately passinate. Of curse, the mst imprtant factr in chsing a tpic is the number f ideas yu have abut that tpic. Even i

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1 Dwnladed frm: Chse a Tpic fr Yur Essay Tpic Has Nt Been Assigned If yu have nt been assigned a tpic, then the whle wrld lies befre yu. Smetimes that seems t make the task f starting even mre intimidating. Actually, this means that yu are free t chse a tpic f interest t yu, which will ften make yur essay a strnger ne. Define Yur Purpse The first thing yu must d is think abut the purpse f the essay yu must write. Is yur purpse t persuade peple t believe as yu d, t explain t peple hw t cmplete a particular task, t educate peple abut sme persn, place, thing r idea, r smething else entirely? Whatever tpic yu chse must fit that purpse. Brainstrm Subjects f Interest Once yu have determined the purpse f yur essay, write dwn sme subjects that interest yu. N matter what the purpse f yur essay is, an endless number f tpics will be suitable. If yu have truble thinking f subjects, start by lking arund yu. Is there anything in yur surrundings that interests yu? Think abut yur life. What ccupies mst f yur time? That might make fr a gd tpic. Dn't evaluate the subjects yet; just write dwn anything that springs t mind. Evaluate Each Ptential Tpic If yu can think f at least a few tpics that wuld be apprpriate, yu must simply cnsider each ne individually. Think abut hw yu feel abut that tpic. If yu must educate, be sure it is a subject abut which yu are particularly well-infrmed. If yu must persuade, be sure it is a subject

2 abut which yu are at least mderately passinate. Of curse, the mst imprtant factr in chsing a tpic is the number f ideas yu have abut that tpic. Even if nne f the subjects yu thught f seem particularly appealing, try just chsing ne t wrk with. It may turn ut t be a better tpic than yu at first thught. Befre yu are ready t mve n in the essay-writing prcess, lk ne mre time at the tpic yu have selected. Think abut the type f paper yu are expected t prduce. Shuld it be a general verview, r a specific analysis f the tpic? If it shuld be an verview, then yu are prbably ready t mve t the next step. If it shuld be a specific analysis, make sure yur tpic is fairly specific. If it is t general, yu must chse a narrwer subtpic t discuss. Fr example, the tpic "KENYA" is a general ne. If yur bjective is t write an verview, this tpic is suitable. If yur bjective is t write a specific analysis, this tpic is t general. Yu must narrw it t smething like "Plitics in Kenya" r "Kenya's Culture." Once yu have determined that yur tpic will be suitable, yu can mve n.

3 Organize Yur Ideas The purpse f an utline r diagram is t put yur ideas abut the tpic n paper, in a mderately rganized frmat. The structure yu create here may still change befre the essay is cmplete, s dn't agnize ver this. Decide whether yu prefer the cut-and-dried structure f an utline r a mre flwing structure. If yu start ne r the ther and decide it isn't wrking fr yu, yu can always switch later. Diagram 1. Begin yur diagram with a circle r a hrizntal line r whatever shape yu prefer in the middle f the page. 2. Inside the shape r n the line, write yur tpic. 3. Frm yur center shape r line, draw three r fur lines ut int the page. Be sure t spread them ut. 4. At the end f each f these lines, draw anther circle r hrizntal line r whatever yu drew in the center f the page. 5. In each shape r n each line, write the main ideas that yu have abut yur tpic, r the main pints that yu want t make. If yu are trying t persuade, yu want t write yur best arguments. If yu are trying t explain a prcess, yu want t write the steps that shuld be fllwed. Yu will prbably need t grup these int categries. If yu have truble gruping the steps int categries, try using Beginning, Middle, and End. If yu are trying t infrm, yu want t write the majr categries int which yur infrmatin can be divided. 6. Frm each f yur main ideas, draw three r fur lines ut int the page. 7. At the end f each f these lines, draw anther circle r hrizntal line r whatever yu drew in the center f the page. 8. In each shape r n each line, write the facts r infrmatin that supprt that main idea.

4 When yu have finished, yu have the basic structure fr yur essay and are ready t cntinue. Outline 1. Begin yur utline by writing yur tpic at the tp f the page. 2. Next, write the Rman numerals I, II, and III, spread apart dwn the left side f the page. 3. Next t each Rman numeral, write the main ideas that yu have abut yur tpic, r the main pints that yu want t make. If yu are trying t persuade, yu want t write yur best arguments. If yu are trying t explain a prcess, yu want t write the steps that shuld be fllwed. Yu will prbably need t grup these int categries. If yu have truble gruping the steps int categries, try using Beginning, Middle, and End. If yu are trying t infrm, yu want t write the majr categries int which yur infrmatin can be divided. 4. Under each Rman numeral, write A, B, and C dwn the left side f the page. 5. Next t each letter, write the facts r infrmatin that supprt that main idea. When yu have finished, yu have the basic structure fr yur essay and are ready t cntinue. Cmpse a Thesis Statement Nw that yu have decided, at least tentatively, what infrmatin yu plan t present in yur essay, yu are ready t write yur thesis statement. The thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will be abut, and what pint yu, the authr, will be making. Yu knw what the essay will be abut. That was yur tpic. Nw yu must lk at yur utline r diagram and decide what pint yu will be making. What d the main ideas and supprting ideas that yu listed say abut yur tpic?

5 Yur thesis statement will have tw parts. The first part states the tpic. Kenya's Culture Building a Mdel Train Set Public Transprtatin The secnd part states the pint f the essay. has a rich and varied histry takes time and patience can slve sme f ur city's mst persistent and pressing prblems Write the Bdy Paragraphs In the bdy f the essay, all the preparatin up t this pint cmes t fruitin. The tpic yu have chsen must nw be explained, described, r argued. Each main idea that yu wrte dwn in yur diagram r utline will becme ne f the bdy paragraphs. If yu had three r fur main ideas, yu will have three r fur bdy paragraphs. Each bdy paragraph will have the same basic structure. 1. Start by writing dwn ne f yur main ideas, in sentence frm. If yur main idea is "reduces freeway cngestin," yu might say this: Public transprtatin reduces freeway cngestin. 2. Next, write dwn each f yur supprting pints fr that main idea, but leave fur r five lines in between each pint. 3. In the space under each pint, write dwn sme elabratin fr that pint. Elabratin can be further descriptin r explanatin r discussin. Supprting Pint Cmmuters appreciate the cst savings f taking public transprtatin rather than driving. Elabratin Less driving time means less maintenance expense, such as il changes. Of curse, less driving time means savings n gasline as well. In many cases, these savings amunt t mre than the cst f riding public transprtatin.

6 4. If yu wish, include a summary sentence fr each paragraph. This is nt generally needed, hwever, and such sentences have a tendency t sund stilted, s be cautius abut using them. Once yu have fleshed ut each f yur bdy paragraphs, ne fr each main pint, yu are ready t cntinue. Write the Intrductin and Cnclusin Yur essay lacks nly tw paragraphs nw: the intrductin and the cnclusin. These paragraphs will give the reader a pint f entry t and a pint f exit frm yur essay. Intrductin The intrductin shuld be designed t attract the reader's attentin and give her an idea f the essay's fcus. 1. Begin with an attentin grabber. The attentin grabber yu use is up t yu, but here are sme ideas: Startling infrmatin This infrmatin must be true and verifiable, and it desn't need t be ttally new t yur readers. It culd simply be a pertinent fact that explicitly illustrates the pint yu wish t make. If yu use a piece f startling infrmatin, fllw it with a sentence r tw f elabratin. Anecdte An anecdte is a stry that illustrates a pint. Be sure yur anecdte is shrt, t the pint, and relevant t yur tpic. This can be a very effective pener fr yur essay, but use it carefully. Dialgue An apprpriate dialgue des nt have t identify the speakers, but the reader must understand the pint yu are trying t cnvey. Use nly tw r three exchanges between speakers t make yur pint. Fllw dialgue with a sentence r tw f elabratin. Summary Infrmatin A few sentences explaining yur tpic in general terms can lead

7 the reader gently t yur thesis. Each sentence shuld becme gradually mre specific, until yu reach yur thesis. 2. If the attentin grabber was nly a sentence r tw, add ne r tw mre sentences that will lead the reader frm yur pening t yur thesis statement. 3. Finish the paragraph with yur thesis statement. Cnclusin The cnclusin brings clsure t the reader, summing up yur pints r prviding a final perspective n yur tpic. All the cnclusin needs is three r fur strng sentences which d nt need t fllw any set frmula. Simply review the main pints (being careful nt t restate them exactly) r briefly describe yur feelings abut the tpic. Even an anecdte can end yur essay in a useful way. The intrductin and cnclusin cmplete the paragraphs f yur essay. Dn't stp just yet! One mre step remains befre yur essay is truly finished. Add the Finishing Tuches Yu have nw cmpleted all f the paragraphs f yur essay. Befre yu can cnsider this a finished prduct, hwever, yu must give sme thught t the frmatting f yur paper. Check the rder f yur paragraphs. Lk at yur paragraphs. Which ne is the strngest? Yu might want t start with the strngest paragraph, end with the secnd strngest, and put the weakest in the middle. Whatever rder yu decide n, be sure it makes sense. If yur paper is describing a prcess, yu will prbably need t stick t the rder in which the steps must be cmpleted.

8 Check the instructins fr the assignment. When yu prepare a final draft, yu must be sure t fllw all f the instructins yu have been given. Are yur margins crrect? Have yu titled it as directed? What ther infrmatin (name, date, etc.) must yu include? Did yu duble-space yur lines? Check yur writing. Nthing can substitute fr revisin f yur wrk. By reviewing what yu have dne, yu can imprve weak pints that therwise wuld be missed. Read and reread yur paper. Des it make lgical sense? Leave it fr a few hurs and then read it again. Des it still make lgical sense? D the sentences flw smthly frm ne anther? If nt, try t add sme wrds and phrases t help cnnect them. Transitin wrds, such as "therefre" r "hwever," smetimes help. Als, yu might refer in ne sentence t a thught in the previus sentence. This is especially useful when yu mve frm ne paragraph t anther. Have yu run a spell checker r a grammar checker? These aids cannt catch every errr, but they might catch errrs that yu have missed. Once yu have checked yur wrk and perfected yur frmatting, yur essay is finished.