How to write an essay with referencing.

Writing an essay - all you need to know

Open Ended

What to you find the most difficult about writing an essay

Open Ended

What have you done about improving your writing?

Learn about the different kinds of essays

​Show an understanding of all the parts of writing an argumentative essay.
Learn how to set your essay out
Learn how to write a strong thesis statement

​By the end of this activity you will be able to...

Activity objectives

The Thesis statement - tell your reader what you are going to write about.

​A thesis statement is an essay or argument's overall point and purpose. Usually appearing in the introduction, it gives the reader precise information about the content of the essay, which will help them to understand the points more clearly. The thesis statement should indicate the specific topic and may list the main ideas discussed in the essay's body paragraphs. The thesis statement should be somewhat debatable (needing to be proven), show the writer’s thoughts and ideas, and be well-written.

​THESIS STATEMENT

Fill in the Blank

What compound adjective is used to describe the tone and structure of the thesis statement?

-

Dropdown

A thesis statement must include a​

Select answer

Multiple Choice

Which words are the most important to remember when it comes to the function of the thesis statement?

'It gives the reader precise information about the content of the essay, which will help them to understand the points more clearly.'

• precise information, understand, essay

• reader

  precise, essay, clearly

• precise information, content, understand, clearly

• information, content, points, clearly

Fill in the Blank

A thesis statement is an essay or argument's... and purpose.

Multiple Choice

Complete the sentence.

The thesis statement appears typically in the...

• thesis statement

• body

• conclusion

• introduction

Planning for a well-structured essay involves several key steps to ensure coherence, clarity, and effectiveness in expressing your ideas. Here's a structured approach to planning:

​PLANNING YOUR ESSAY

​Understand the Prompt: Carefully read and understand the essay prompt or question. Identify the main topic, key instructions, and any specific requirements.

​Brainstorm Ideas: Take some time to brainstorm ideas related to the topic. Consider various angles, perspectives, and arguments that you could explore in your essay. You can use techniques like mind mapping or listing to generate ideas.

​Develop a Thesis Statement: Based on your brainstorming, formulate a clear and concise thesis statement that presents the main argument or point of your essay. Your thesis statement should be specific, debatable, and relevant to the essay prompt.

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​Outline the Essay Structure: Create an outline outlining your essay's structure. Divide your essay into an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each section should serve a specific purpose:

​Organise Supporting Evidence: Within each body paragraph, organize your supporting evidence in a logical and coherent manner.(P.E.E.L.) Use transitions to smoothly connect ideas between paragraphs and ensure a seamless flow of information

​Introduction: Introduce the topic, provide background information, and present your thesis statement.

​Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should focus on a single main idea or argument that supports your thesis. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence, followed by supporting evidence, examples, and analysis.

​Conclusion: Summarize the main points of your essay, restate the thesis statement, and offer final insights or implications.

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Multiple Choice

Which words are NOT used to describe the function of the Organising step of essay writing?

• organize

• logical and coherent manner.

• use transitions

• disconnected ideas

Match

Match the following terms to the descriptions

• provide background information

• focus on a single main idea or argument

• present your thesis statement.

• restate the thesis statement

• supporting evidence, examples, and analysis.

Introduction

Body

Introduction

Conclusion

Body

• Introduction

• Body

• Introduction

• Conclusion

• Body

​POINT - What is your main point in this paragraph? This is where you make your overall claim. The rest of the paragraph will back up and explain/prove this point.

​EVIDENCE - You need to back up your point with evidence: statistics, facts, opinions. Or, in the case of a RESEARCH essay, this is where you quote from the text.

​EXPLAIN - Now you want to explain more and expand on your point. This is where you comment on the more profound significance of your point, and analyze it in light of the evidence.

LINK - ​Now link back to the overall essay topic/title. This can just be in one sentence, but is crucial as it helps the flow of your essay and makes sure you are staying close to the overall topic at hand.

Categorize

Options (12)

main idea

overall claim

explain

proof

fact

quote

expand

analyse

significant

topic

flow

close

Organize these options into the right categories

Point

Evidence

Example

Link

​Consider Counterarguments: Anticipate potential counterarguments to your thesis and address them within your essay. Acknowledging opposing viewpoints demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens your argument.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer;

What are counter-arguments in an essay?

• Acknowledging opposing viewpoints

• Critical thinking that strengthens your argument

• Opposing viewpoints

• Your argument

Multiple Choice

Why is it essential to include counter-arguments in an essay?

• It shows how smart you are.

• It shows that you can thing critically about the topic you are writing about.

• It presents plagiarims

• It is the best way to end off an essay.

​Revise and Refine: Once you have drafted your essay, take time to revise and refine your work. Review the content for clarity, coherence, and consistency. Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Consider seeking feedback from peers, instructors, or writing tutors to identify areas for improvement.

Reorder

Reorder the following

• Write the draft of your essay.

• Take the time to read it critically. Where are the areas of weakness?

• Ask someone else to look at it and suggest changes.

• Make the changes needed. Check spelling and punctuation

• Write your final draft.

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• 5

Gather and Evaluate Sources: If your essay requires research, gather relevant sources from credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. Evaluate each source's credibility, reliability, and relevance before incorporating it into your essay.

USING MLA REFERENCING IN AN ESSAY

​The in-text citation is a brief reference within your text that indicates the source you consulted. It should properly attribute any ideas, paraphrases, or direct quotations to your source, and should direct readers to the entry in the Works Cited list. For the most part, an in-text citation is the author’s name and the page number (or just the page number, if the author is named in the sentence) in parentheses: Imperialism is “the practice, the theory, and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan center ruling a distant territory” (Said 9).

​According to Edward W. Said, imperialism is defined by “the practice, the theory, and the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan center ruling a distant territory” (9).
Works Cited
Said, Edward W. Culture and Imperialism. Knopf, 1994.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to reference your work by using in-text citations?

• It adds credibility to your research question

• It shows that you are thinking and reading beyond the question.

• It prevents you from accidentally plagiarising your work.

• All of the suggestions made here.

Multiple Choice

What is the primary purpose of an in-text citation?

• To provide a brief summary of the source consulted

• To acknowledge the author's contribution to the field

• To guide readers to the relevant entry in the Works Cited list

• To introduce new ideas in the text

Multiple Choice

When is it appropriate to use only the page number in an in-text citation?

• When directly quoting a source

• When paraphrasing an idea from a source

• When referring to a general concept

• When the author's name is mentioned in the text

​Summary

• ​In this lesson, you have learned about essay writing.
  It starts with a mindmap of all the possible ideas you could write about followed by your thesis statement or argument.

• In the introduction, you are going to explain what your essay is about and what you want to prove.

• The body of the essay follows the introduction. You will write your different ideas using P.E.E.L. to guide you. You will use transition words to signpost and link your ideas together.

• The conclusion will restate your argument and summarise what you have shown to the reader during the course of your essay.

• Remember to cite your sources and include additional readings.

​You have completed this activity. You must work through the activity again if you did not score 80% on the questions. Please report to your teacher to get your essay question or to retake the lesson.