Post Description: Senior Charlotte Van Schaack provides insight on writing academic essays, whether they be for class, exams, or college applications.
When it comes to academic essays, the most important thing to do is answer the prompt. That can mean telling a story, making an argument, researching and explaining, and more.
But before answering a prompt, you first need to write a thesis. A thesis consists of at least one sentence that sets up the topic of the essay. Typically, you will present the idea being discussed and two or three points to support your claim. Further paragraphs will give evidence to support the points and circle back to the central claim. The thesis should be contained in the first and/or the last paragraph, and be well written so that your readers know where your essay is going (meaning revise, revise, revise until your point is crystal clear).
Now, I would like to break down and give notes on a few specific types of essays that you may need to write in your academic career.
Argumentative Essays
In an argumentative essay, the writer is trying to convince readers of a certain point. These essays often start with a thesis and two to three supportive claims, followed in the body paragraphs by evidence to support the claims. One of the most important parts when it comes to really sticking the point of the essay is for the writer to never let readers forget what is being argued. A writer will not just remind readers of their thesis, but also why it is a reasonable argument and something to be supported. Argumentative essays will often also use logos, pathos, and ethos (which are the three types of persuasion) to convince readers of their point. In revision, a writer will make sure they have clear transitions from point to point.
Research Essay
Research essays provide analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent research of a particular subject. They demonstrate an author’s knowledge of a topic, their ability to understand sources (primary or otherwise), and their writing ability. When planning a research paper, writers will lay out the points they plan to make in a reasonable order, including transitions from idea to idea. The thesis should be specific, as to narrow down what will be researched and discussed in the essay.
Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis is breaking down HOW an author of a literary text makes an argument or presents an idea. Sometimes, the essay writer will interpret what the text’s author means. This is the kind of essay students write for higher-level English classes or an SAT Essay. The essay writer is asked to focus on structural elements of the writing, word choice, tone, etc. to analyze and explain what a writer is doing in their piece of writing
When it comes to interpreting, analyzing, and thinking about literature you need to consider:
How the style and structure of the writing impacts the meaning. What is unique about this author’s presentation of this information?
How does the setting of the story (time and space) influence meaning?
What symbols (image to represent something else) or motifs (repeated image to carry a specific meaning in the text) can be seen in this text that might carry over from other literary works?
DBQ or LEQ (Document Based Question or Long Essay Question)
Students often write these essays for classes such as AP World or AP US History. They are a 4 or 5 paragraph essay (Opening, Point, Counterpoint [Or points 1, 2, 3], Conclusion)
For a DBQ, students are given documents to group as evidence for claims. They make the claim in the form of a thesis and decide what evidence supports what. It is advised that students don’t actually list the documents in groups, but reference them, and that their central idea supports the given argument. When writing an essay with limited time, students are advised not to quote the documents because it is a waste of words and time.
LEQs are similar in structure to DBQs, but without provided documents. Students need to draw relevant facts and details from memory to form a cohesive argument.
For both essays, students need to be able to draw relevant outside evidence and use it to support their argument.
Personal Essays (Such as College Application Essays)
A personal essay is used to help others get to know the writer, their ability to convey thoughts in writing, and to understand how the writer may fit into a larger group, such as a college community.
When writing a personal essay, the writer should dump all that they can think of onto the page, give lots of details, then revise, revise, revise! They should edit to present a concise display of their personality.
Here are some topics that people often use in college essays, and therefore you might want to stay away from:
Political views
Sports Injuries
Animals
Of course, if you think there is something really special about your story, something to make it stand out from the herd, you should tell it!
The writer should tell readers about themselves, something personal, not something that is easy to express your opinion on.
Lastly, it is important to cite your sources! Different classes and different essay types will require different types of citations so make sure to research the proper form. For help with citations, you can reference this Style Guide: Grimsley Style Guide.
Charlotte Van Schaack is a Senior at Grimsley High School with great ambitions to work in the literary world one day. She is an editor for Grimsley's literary magazine, blue, co-leader of the Young Adult Writers of Grimsley club, and a participant in two bookstore advisory groups.
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