Jennifer Rozines Roy - Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills

Taking the essay portion of the standardized test soon? Or are you facing a college application essay? With the recent emphasis on essay writing in many standardized tests and classroom assignments, Sharpen Your Essay Writing Skills aims to help young authors in this process. Authors Jennifer Rozines Roy and Johanna Haney offeran upbeat tone, helpful examples, and encouraging humor to the young essay writer.

About the Authors

JENNIFER ROZINES ROY is a freelance writer and former teacher. She is the author of over twenty books, including Difficult People: Dealing With Almost Anyone for Enslow Publishers, Inc. JOHANNA HANEY is an author and editor who has written several books for young people and has taught writing.

Write an essay

These are three words that you are likely to see over and overat school during an in-class assignment or standardized test, at home for a take-home assignment, on a college application, perhaps even at your job.

When you think of essays, what is your first reaction?

(a) Hurray! I get to write an essay!

or

(b) Oh no, I have to write an essay

or even

(c) What the heck is an essay, and how do I write one?

If you answered Hurray, good for you! Youve already learned that essays are an effective and interesting way to express yourself. This book will give you even more information and ideas about how to write good essays.

If your answer was (b) or (c), dont worry. Help is on the way. In this book, you will learn the steps of writing an essay and what makes a good essayand how to have fun doing it. So, when you get an assignment that says, Write an essay , instead of thinking No way, youll say Hurray!

An essay is a piece of writing that deals with one main subject. It can be as short as couple of paragraphs or as long as a few pages. An essay contains information about that subject and presents it in an organized, interesting way. An essay has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It contains a thesis statement, which is the idea that holds the whole essay together.

Essays can be answers to test questions. They can also be compositions in which the writer expresses his or her opinions or tries to make certain points. While their purposes may differ, all essays spotlight a central topic.

Effective essays contain solid facts that support the main subject. That means you cant just write a lot of stuff down to fill a page. A good essay requires research and planning, thinking and judging. When youre writing an essay, you need to show that you are crediblethat means you can be trusted and you know what youre talking about.

So, what are essays about? Almost anything in the world! From entertainment to science, current events to adventures, school to family well, you get the point. Here are some examples of essay questions, or prompts (statements that tell you what to write about):

Describe a funny event in your life. What was so funny about it? What do you remember most about that event?

Write a review of your favorite poem. Why do you think it is the best poem ever written? What would you tell your friends about it to convince them that they should read it?

Explain how to conduct a science experiment. Include details that will allow the reader to copy your experiment.

Compare the campaigns of two presidential candidates before an election. What makes them different?

Evaluate a rule at your school. Does the rule make school better? Worse? How so?

informshare knowledge about a subject

explainmake a concept or idea clearer

analyzeexamine a topic in depth, part by part

persuadeconvince or win over another person; make others take your side on an issue

inspireget people excited about something or cause people to feel strong emotions

One reason to know how to write an essay is obviousgood grades. A good essay shows your teacher that you have a good understanding of a subject. It proves that you were paying attention in class and that you studied and did your homework. An essay allows you to express yourself in a more thorough way than just answering a multiple choice or true-false question does, and it proves that you can put information together to support a viewpoint.

Youll also probably need to write at least one essay (often two or three) to get into college. Colleges want to know more about you than just the basic facts. Essays can give them a better sense of who you are and help them determine whether you would be a good fit for their school. They can also show how logically, creatively, and clearly you think and how well you express yourself in writing.

Even beyond school, essays are a popular way for writers to express themselves. You probably have seen essays in newspapers, magazines, or books. Columnists write essays on subjects they are curious about or interested in. Reviewers write essays to voice their opinions about places or events. Anyone can write an essay and try to get it published. You dont have to be a professional writer. You just need a subject, your knowledge of essay writing, and your own unique style of expressing your ideas.

When you write an effective essay, you have an audience that is waiting to learn about a subject from you. Writing an essay is a chance for you to express your unique thoughts and opinions. You have the power to teach others, change peoples minds, and inspire action. So, lets get started!

There are three main types of essays: narrative, persuasive, and expository. Narrative essays are about a personal experience you have had. Persuasive essays aim to convince your readers to believe the same thing you do about a subject. Expository essays explain something in detail.

Time to learn all about each type of essay.

A narrative essay tells a true story. In this type of essay, the writer shares an experience that happened in real life in the form of a story. This gives the writer a chance to write about something meaningful, unusual, or funny. You can write a narrative essay about your memory of a person, event, or moment.

Every narrative essay has a main point. The main point is the most important thought or lesson that you are writing about. For example, pretend you are writing an essay about saving money to buy the new game you wanted. You might describe why you wanted the game, how you earned and saved money to buy it, and the way you felt when you handed the cashier at the store your money and got your game in return. The main point of your essay might be that saving money is hard work, but it pays off when you reach your goal. You might state this point directly in your essay or let the outcome speak for itself.

A persuasive essay aims to convince your audience to agree with your opinions on a subject, or it aims to inspire action by presenting a well-developed argument that includes facts and opinions.