Every High School Essay Literally: How To Write Essays

Summary

In this instructional video, Dan, a qualified teacher from Melbourne, outlines how to write a compelling text response essay. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the prompt's key terms and developing a clear contention. The essay structure is broken down into an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion, with specific tips on crafting each section. Dan highlights the necessity of using evidence to support arguments and the significance of proper planning to enhance clarity and coherence. This guide aims to empower students to articulate their insights effectively through structured writing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understand the distinction between ideas (content) and structure (organization) when writing a text response essay.
• 📚 Identify key terms in the essay prompt, which are essential for framing your arguments.
• ✍️ Develop a clear contention that reflects your stance on the prompt, usually positioned between total agreement and disagreement.
• 💡 Structure your essay with three body paragraphs, each containing a distinct argument that supports your contention.
• 🎬 Use relevant examples from the text being analyzed (e.g., characters, themes, events) to strengthen your arguments.
• 📖 Begin the introduction with a topic sentence that introduces the essay's focus and incorporate key terms.
• 🔍 Integrate quotations effectively, ensuring they support your claims and are seamlessly incorporated into your writing.
• 🔄 Each body paragraph should end with a closing sentence that relates back to the topic sentence for coherence.
• 📝 Conclude by restating the prompt, summarizing your contention, and briefly revisiting the main arguments discussed.
• 🔗 Remember that both the introduction and conclusion share similar structures but serve different purposes in the essay.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the text response essay as explained in the transcript?

The primary purpose of a text response essay is to analyze and respond to a specific text, using structured arguments to support one's viewpoint.

How does the speaker differentiate between ideas and structure in an essay?

The speaker explains that ideas refer to the content and arguments related to the essay prompt, while structure refers to the organization of those ideas into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

What is the significance of identifying key terms in the essay prompt?

Identifying key terms helps to clarify the focus of the essay and defines the boundaries of what should be discussed, ensuring that the essay remains relevant to the prompt.

What does the term 'contention' mean in the context of essay writing?

Contention refers to the writer's main argument or position regarding the essay prompt, essentially answering the question posed by the prompt.

How many body paragraphs are recommended in a typical Australian English essay, according to the speaker?

The speaker recommends including three body paragraphs in a typical Australian English essay.

What structure does the speaker suggest for writing body paragraphs?

Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence, followed by claims or ideas, supporting quotations or examples, and a closing sentence that ties back to the topic.

What should the conclusion of the essay accomplish?

The conclusion should summarize the main arguments presented in the essay and reassert the writer's contention, effectively answering the initial prompt.

How does the speaker recommend writing an introduction?

The introduction should start with a topic sentence that introduces the essay's main idea, followed by the contention and a preview of the three arguments, concluding with a closing sentence that summarizes the point.

What is a common mistake students make when writing body paragraphs?

A common mistake is to go off-topic or include irrelevant information, rather than consistently linking back to the topic sentence of the paragraph.

Why is it important to integrate quotations into the essay?

Integrating quotations is crucial because it provides evidence to support claims made in the essay and demonstrates how the text relates to the argument being presented.