Writing+an+Essay+Guide

=Essay Writing Guide=


 * Writing an essay**
 * Points to remember as you write**.


 * 1) There are three main components to an essay: **The introduction** – a separate paragraph that states what your essay is about. **The Body**- several paragraphs each outlining a different main idea. **The Conclusion** – the final paragraph that sums up the essay and brings it to a close.
 * 2) **The introduction** should address the focus of your analysis – you should use such words as: //describe, discuss, explain, compare, contrast and analyse//. These words will direct the type of information that is required. **Note**: For NCEA -**Describe** is a basic level response. **Explain** is a merit level response when written in conjunction with description. **Analyse** is an excellence level response when combined with Describe & Explain. You should expect that a //Compare and contrast// essay will expect a Merit – Excellence level response if you are to do justice to the essay.
 * 3) **The Introduction** is the statement of your main point to be argued in your essay as well as an indication of other minor points you consider necessary to support your argument.
 * 4) **The Body** is a series of paragraphs that expand on the points you wish to make as part of your argument. Each paragraph should discuss one idea or point, have a topic sentence and include additional sentences offering evidence in support of the topic sentence.
 * 5) **How do you link one paragraph to the next in an essay?** The last sentence of a paragraph should lead smoothly and logically into the idea or point being discussed in the next paragraph.
 * 6) **Guidelines for writing a draft:** Start by listing the main ideas – write the introduction and conclusion then slot the body paragraphs in between.