Essay Writing Guidelines Assignment
Must be 3-5 sentences minimum; one of the sentences must be a clearly stated thesis.
A thesis sentence is the main idea of the entire paper. If you are writing about a story, you must include the full name of the author and the full title of the story. Please note: titles of short stories are in quotation marks.
Must be 8-12 sentences minimum; the first sentence must be a topic sentence. The topic sentence introduces the main idea or point of that entire paragraph. The topic sentence must also include a transitional word or phrase. The next two sentences after the topic sentence should introduce the specific supporting example of your paragraph. Your extended example should explain in full detail the main point you present in your topic sentence. {Please Note: the next few sentences should be a direct quote if you are writing about a story (i.e. the specific example will be a direct quote). Once you type out the direct quote word for word and include the page number reference, the next sentences need to “fully” explain the quote in your own words using the 2:1 ratio. The 2:1 ratio is: “For every line of quotation, you must include at least two full sentences of explanation in your own words.”} The last sentence of the body paragraph should conclude the paragraph.
The number of body paragraphs you include in your essay will depend upon the thesis you present in the introduction paragraph – use as many body paragraphs as you need but be sure their topics are included in the thesis sentence at the beginning of your essay.
IMPORTANT RULES:
You must include a fully detailed supporting example in each body paragraph.
You must include one direct quote for each body paragraph to support your essay if you are writing about a short story. You are allowed to use more than one quote in a body paragraph, but you must fully introduce and then fully explain each quote prior to moving to your next quote (i.e. two quotes should never be next to each other). In addition, you should never begin or end a body paragraph with a direct quote – always begin and end with your own words.
Must be 3-5 sentences minimum; and you can only use two options.
Option 1: Write your personal opinion about the topic of the paper.
Option 2: Write about something you could not have written about until you wrote the paper.
Important Rule for conclusion paragraphs: DO NOT RESTATE THE THESIS!
*******************************************************************
Other General Writing Rules:
*Repetition Rule: Do not start a sentence with the same word more than twice in a single paragraph.
*FANBOY+ Rule: Do not start a sentence with the following words: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, it, so, because.
*Do not use any contractions in your academic writing – always write out words in full.
*Do not end a sentence with a preposition.
*Do not use slang or clichés.
*Do not use 2nd person (‘you’) in academic writing.
*Do not use ‘we’ or ‘us’.
*Do not writing about the writing process. For example, do not write: “I am going to discuss . . .” OR “In this paper I will describe . . .”.
*Do not use quotations in the introduction or the conclusion paragraphs.