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Essay tips

Essay tips. Rule #1. READ THE QUESTION!!! Recognize what the question is asking. Cause & effect Compare & Contrast Evaluate & Analyze Every part of the question is important Pay attention to the verbs. Consider the nature of the question Should answer be chronological or topical?

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Essay tips

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  1. Essay tips

  2. Rule #1 • READ THE QUESTION!!! • Recognize what the question is asking. • Cause & effect • Compare & Contrast • Evaluate & Analyze • Every part of the question is important • Pay attention to the verbs. • Consider the nature of the question • Should answer be chronological or topical? • Should the answer be based on ‘what part of Sprite? (social, political, religious, intellectual, technological or economic history • Feudal society was said to be composed of “those who work, those who fight, and those who pray.” Determine how the political situation of medieval Europe led to the importance of any TWO of these groups.”

  3. Sooooo…… • The questions contains THREE groups, your focus is to discuss TWO of them. • You must use the situation of medieval Europe to discuss why they are important. • You talk about, say, the economic situation in medieval Europe (e.g., taxes on land), but IT WONT GET YOU ANY POINTS • ALWAYS ANSWER THE QUESTION, not as you wish it was asked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Think about the thesis… • Think of the magic words • Ex…. No Italian Renaissance art essay can be without some of the TMNT • ’Bing, Bang & Boom’ • THREE is the magic number generally • THREE topics that will be addressed in the essay, may be mentioned in the thesis

  5. Thesis statements • You MUST have one • It CANNOT merely a restatement of the question • Use specific information • Tell what you are going to prove • Put it at the beginning • If you know what you are trying to say from the beginning, it will make for a much better essay overall!!!!!!!!!

  6. Question: • Analyze the influence of humanism on the visual arts in the Italian Renaissance. Use at least THREE specific works to support your analysis. • Here’s an AWESOME thesis: “The influence of humanism on the visual arts in the Italian Renaissance is seen in the emphasis of the individual, the classics and secularism.”

  7. Why is that thesis good? • It provided some context for the answer, and displayed some background knowledge • It responded to the major focus of the question (how is humanism ideas found in the visual arts) • It provided an indicator of what kind of information was going to be included in the essay, and expressed the conclusion • It summarized the basic premise of the answer • It provided an easy starting point for the answer – “…Italian Renaissance had several aspects of humanism.”

  8. Use paragraphs • Structure and organization are part of your essay grade • You should always use more than one argument or example to support your thesis – multiple paragraphs will force you to do that • It keeps all of your ideas separate and easier to follow

  9. Like Sort of Kind of Really A little Very Things Lots Stuff Ways Many Any contractions!!! Never use the followingin your thesis Good Words to Include *While…. *Although… *Despite/ In Spite of…

  10. Things to AVOID • Wordiness….. . Say what you mean.. .quickly! • Don’t write: Doofus was able to burp • Write: Doofus burped • Use the ACTIVE voice. • Don’t write: The paper was written by Bubba • Write: Bubba wrote the paper • Cliches • Superlatives (most, best, all, worst, way, super, anything) • 1st and 2nd person (I agree) • Speculation (I think….)

  11. Things to AVOID • 2, 4, b/t, or any other short hand abbreviations • …Mixing verb tenses. Almost always, use past tense • Only use last names of people. Don’t include first names or titles. • “… ...this paper is about.…..I am going to write about…

  12. Finally… • Do not make broad unsupported statements: “peasants were all lazy…” • If you say it, you should have some information to back it up • In general, you should try to use an example or argument for EVERY statement of “fact” you make • Remember, this is an essay, not a note or a chat room. You are trying to prove something and you should try to sound like you know what you’re talking about all the time.

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