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Writing an academic essay

University of Johannesburg
University of Johannesburg

The document provides guidance on writing an academic essay. It explains that an essay is generally a short written piece that develops a main idea or theme. The main parts of an essay are the introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction engages the reader and includes a thesis statement, while the body paragraphs provide supporting points for the thesis and the conclusion ties everything together. The writing process involves researching, brainstorming ideas, outlining, drafting, and revising. Academic essays should use formal language, cite sources, address counterarguments, and avoid personal opinions or plagiarism.

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Writing an Academic Essay The Purpose and Process of Academic Writing 1
What is an Essay ? Usually a short piece of writing that has a main theme or idea. In academic writing, there are types of essays such as expository and persuasive 2
Essay - Defined An essay is a written collection of prose, organized and divided neatly into paragraphs Always remember that an essay is a written form of communication and therefore, must be clear, organized and easily understandable to those reading 3
Essay Parts The three main parts of an essay are: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The essay is centered around a main idea and should make a clear point to the reader. While individual paragraphs should explain points and give details, the essay should be conveying a clear and organized thought. The reader should not finish and say huh? 4
Essay Parts In Details Introduction explains what the essay is about and gets the readers attention. It usually contains a thesis. Body explains in details the main points of the essay. Each paragraph should clearly connect. Conclusion makes a clear point that connects the idea from the beginning to the end. Try not to bore your reader. 5
Writing a Step by Step Process Read and Research Brainstorm Ideas Develop Working Thesis and Outline Write Rough Draft Review for Content Revise Rough Draft Review for Grammar and Mechanics Revise Second Draft Continue Reviewing and Revising as Needed 6
Where Do I Get Ideas To Write About? Read texts related to your topic Use brainstorming techniques like: Listing ideas Clustering or mind mapping Free writing Discuss the issue with others Research the topic 7
Purposes of why you should write an Essay Discover knowledge Make a point Persuade the reader Share information Synthesis Information Analyze a topic Document your observations 8
Points to Support Your Topic Sentence Supporting points are examples or pieces of evidence that support the claim you have made in your topic sentence. They can be: Facts Examples Stories Expert Testimony Quotes Observations Statistics 9
Make Sure to Elaborate with Concrete Details Once you have listed your supporting points, you can now elaborate on them by adding details or explaining what you mean further. 10
Academic Conventions: Things to Do Do address both sides of an argument Do cite your sources Do use a formal tone Do take a stand Do use concrete details Do give yourself time to develop your paper 11
Academic Conventions: Things to Avoid Avoid use personal pronouns like I ,We and You. Avoid not use contractions like isnt, theyre, wasnt Avoid slang Avoid a personal tone Avoid vague ideas Avoid plagiarism 12
Remember, Writing is a Process Every writing assignment is practice for the next one Writing takes time Go through every step of the process Focus on your ideas first Focus on grammar and spelling last Get feedback from a peer, instructor, or tutor 13
the writing stage The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences. Five Writing Steps: 1. For the introduction, write the thesis statement and give some background information. 2. Develop each supporting paragraph and make sure to follow the correct paragraph format. 3. Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning. 4. Focus on the main idea of your essay. 5. Use a dictionary to help you find additional words to express your meaning 14
editing stage The editing stage is when you check your essay for mistakes and correct them. Editing Steps: 1. Grammar and Spelling. 2. Check your spelling. 3. Check your grammar. 4. Read your essay again. 5. Make sure each sentence has a subject. 6. Make sure your subjects and verbs agree with each other. 7. Check the verb tenses of each sentence. 15
Kinds of Essays 1. Definition Classification 2. Description 3. Compare and Contrast 4. Sequence Choice 5. Explanation 6. Evaluation 16
Questions : True Or False 1. an essay is a written form of communication ? (True ) 2. essay is centered around a main idea ? (True) 3. the essay should not be clear ? (False) 4. Writing a Step by Step Process ? ( true ) 5. the essay is about and gets the readers attention ? ( True ) 6. You should not Review your Content ? (False) 17
Questions : Options 18 oBrainstormng techniques oEssay Parts oThings to Avoid oSupport oKinds of Essays oThings to Do oWriting a Step by Step oRead and Research oExpert Testimony oEvaluation oconcrete details oThe body o isnt oFree writing
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Writing an academic essay

  • 1. Writing an Academic Essay The Purpose and Process of Academic Writing 1
  • 2. What is an Essay ? Usually a short piece of writing that has a main theme or idea. In academic writing, there are types of essays such as expository and persuasive 2
  • 3. Essay - Defined An essay is a written collection of prose, organized and divided neatly into paragraphs Always remember that an essay is a written form of communication and therefore, must be clear, organized and easily understandable to those reading 3
  • 4. Essay Parts The three main parts of an essay are: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. The essay is centered around a main idea and should make a clear point to the reader. While individual paragraphs should explain points and give details, the essay should be conveying a clear and organized thought. The reader should not finish and say huh? 4
  • 5. Essay Parts In Details Introduction explains what the essay is about and gets the readers attention. It usually contains a thesis. Body explains in details the main points of the essay. Each paragraph should clearly connect. Conclusion makes a clear point that connects the idea from the beginning to the end. Try not to bore your reader. 5
  • 6. Writing a Step by Step Process Read and Research Brainstorm Ideas Develop Working Thesis and Outline Write Rough Draft Review for Content Revise Rough Draft Review for Grammar and Mechanics Revise Second Draft Continue Reviewing and Revising as Needed 6
  • 7. Where Do I Get Ideas To Write About? Read texts related to your topic Use brainstorming techniques like: Listing ideas Clustering or mind mapping Free writing Discuss the issue with others Research the topic 7
  • 8. Purposes of why you should write an Essay Discover knowledge Make a point Persuade the reader Share information Synthesis Information Analyze a topic Document your observations 8
  • 9. Points to Support Your Topic Sentence Supporting points are examples or pieces of evidence that support the claim you have made in your topic sentence. They can be: Facts Examples Stories Expert Testimony Quotes Observations Statistics 9
  • 10. Make Sure to Elaborate with Concrete Details Once you have listed your supporting points, you can now elaborate on them by adding details or explaining what you mean further. 10
  • 11. Academic Conventions: Things to Do Do address both sides of an argument Do cite your sources Do use a formal tone Do take a stand Do use concrete details Do give yourself time to develop your paper 11
  • 12. Academic Conventions: Things to Avoid Avoid use personal pronouns like I ,We and You. Avoid not use contractions like isnt, theyre, wasnt Avoid slang Avoid a personal tone Avoid vague ideas Avoid plagiarism 12
  • 13. Remember, Writing is a Process Every writing assignment is practice for the next one Writing takes time Go through every step of the process Focus on your ideas first Focus on grammar and spelling last Get feedback from a peer, instructor, or tutor 13
  • 14. the writing stage The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences. Five Writing Steps: 1. For the introduction, write the thesis statement and give some background information. 2. Develop each supporting paragraph and make sure to follow the correct paragraph format. 3. Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning. 4. Focus on the main idea of your essay. 5. Use a dictionary to help you find additional words to express your meaning 14
  • 15. editing stage The editing stage is when you check your essay for mistakes and correct them. Editing Steps: 1. Grammar and Spelling. 2. Check your spelling. 3. Check your grammar. 4. Read your essay again. 5. Make sure each sentence has a subject. 6. Make sure your subjects and verbs agree with each other. 7. Check the verb tenses of each sentence. 15
  • 16. Kinds of Essays 1. Definition Classification 2. Description 3. Compare and Contrast 4. Sequence Choice 5. Explanation 6. Evaluation 16
  • 17. Questions : True Or False 1. an essay is a written form of communication ? (True ) 2. essay is centered around a main idea ? (True) 3. the essay should not be clear ? (False) 4. Writing a Step by Step Process ? ( true ) 5. the essay is about and gets the readers attention ? ( True ) 6. You should not Review your Content ? (False) 17
  • 18. Questions : Options 18 oBrainstormng techniques oEssay Parts oThings to Avoid oSupport oKinds of Essays oThings to Do oWriting a Step by Step oRead and Research oExpert Testimony oEvaluation oconcrete details oThe body o isnt oFree writing