Download Essay Skills


Conventions
o NO Passive voice
o NO contractions
o Clarify antecedents
o Commas/Periods INSIDE the quotation marks
o Avoid “of” if you can use apostrophes

Introduction
o Thesis: has to be argumentative, transition to body paragraph TS
o Reference to author: eg. if “Allison Bechdel” is introduced, then the author
would always be called Bechdel, her last name, in rest of the text

BP Analysis
o Split complex sentences into simple ones —> the subject and theme would
be unclear (deliver with more clarity)
o Makes smaller transitions (because, so, subsequently, since, etc) -> avoid
chronological ones
o Topic Sentence

Topic Sentence of body paragraphs should be more specific, as a
“mini-thesis” of the paragraph
o Introducing evidence

In S2 Notes
o Evidence Piece

Paraphrased or divided chunks of evidence

ONLY Keep the useful parts in analysis

o Explanation of Evidence

ALWAYS use tone/mood, analyze connotation of meanings

“x’s use of this word” can be used to emphasize on the
connotation and language the author is using

Nice closure is not enough, expanding on the significance and
purpose of quote is important —> ask so what? How does that reflect
the idea as a whole?

Try to use differentiation and contrasts to build on the significance

Word choice has to be relevant, examine repeatedly

Avoid “for” “in” etc if it’s unclear of the meaning portrayed

Exploitation of Mammachi’s wealth for his authoritative status

Instead: exploitation of Mammachi’s wealth to increase his …

o Linking

Use “similar to”/using information of last couple sentence ideas as a
head start introduction to an analysis, new quote, or further
explanation

Conclusion
o Ending needs to have a cohesive, summing up idea
o End the essay with a 5-7 sentence to pack up all ideas and leave impression