Critical/Analytical Essay Writing

Question 1

What are the ten essential steps of essay writing?

Answer 1

The ten essential steps of essay writing are:

1. Understand the topic
2. Brainstorm ideas
3. Organize the best ideas into an outline
4. Introduction paragraph - hook, explanation, and thesis
5. Body paragraph - topic sentences
6. Body paragraph - explanation, examples and transitions
7. Conclusion - restatement of thesis and exiting sentences
8. Check the parts - Are they all there?
9. Check the ideas - Do they stick to the topic?
10. Check the text - Is it accurate? Is it effective?

Question 2

What does an outline contain?

Answer 2

An outline contains:

THESIS STATEMENT

FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH - Introduction

• Main Idea (Thesis statement)
  1. Supporting example
  2. Supporting example
  3. Supporting example
• Concluding sentence (relate it back to the thesis statement)

SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH

• Main idea (topic sentence comes from supporting example in introduction)
  1. Supporting example
  2. Supporting example
  3. Supporting example
• Concluding sentence (relate topic sentence back to thesis)

WRITE A PARAGRAPH LIKE THE SECOND ONE FOR EACH SUPPORTING EXAMPLE USED IN THE INTRODUCTION.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

• Restate thesis statement
• Exiting sentences