This is an excerpt from the class materials I've been working on today. Isn't it teacherly? Maybe not. I feel a bit funny saying anything about essay structure as some of the best essays do not follow, in the slightest, my vague guidelines. But I figure these kids may need a little guidance and if they disagree, well then they'll do their own thing and it may be better.
My feeling about essay structure:
Basically the first paragraph should tell me what your essay is going to be about and have a few general sentences about why you have that opinion or idea. The subsequent paragraphs should take each of the general sentences and expand them with details, insights and delight (okay you don't need the delight). In writing about fiction, no opinion can be wrong as long as it is properly backed up. If you want to tell me that a book is really all about the author's love of ketchup, fine, as long as you have examples and quotes from the work to make this a possibility.
1 comment:
Oooh. I have a new version of Strunk and White with a cool red cover and paintings on the inside...very chic.
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