Essay Structure Review: A Personal Writing WorkshopSlide 2In the world around us, most manmade structures and objects have a purpose or a function. If we analyze the structures, we realize that the design and parts support the purpose.Structure and Function (or Purpose) Questions for Thought and AnalysisStructure and Function (or Purpose)Essays need structure, too…The Structure or Parts of the Essay Support its Purpose…PURPOSETheme, Meaning or Purpose…Slide 10FORM & STRUCTUREAfter choosing the story (plot) an essay writer must…Let’s take a closer look at the STRUCTURE of an essay by examining the parts…The Introduction…Slide 15The Body…The Conclusion…Transition Sentences…Slide 19A Final Pointer…Sample EssayA Sample Essay… Source of Sample Essay: http://students.berkeley.edu/apa/personalstatement/sampleessay.htmlSlide 23Slide 24Slide 25Slide 26Activity… A Critical Reading WorkshopThe Final Steps…Workshop EvaluationEssay Structure Review: A Personal Writing WorkshopENG 131By Sue StindtHow to complete this workshop…Thank you for participating in “Essay Structure Review.” This workshop is intended to help you develop and improve organization and structure in your personal (and informative) essays and to apply those skills to academic writing across the curriculum. This workshop is a tutorial and requires your participation.To receive full credit for this two-hour workshop:•Scroll through the slides one by one •Read the information thoroughly, giving each point thought and consideration. Unlike other workshops, the workshop activity, here, comes at the end. The information on the discussion slides is crucial to successfully completing the assignment and will be used as evaluation criteria. At the very end is a final reflection for you to complete.•Complete all of the activity and the reflection. You do not have to complete this workshop in one sitting. You can work through it at your own pace as time allows.•Turn your work in to your instructor for credit when finishedIn the world around us, most manmade structures and objects have a purpose or a function. If we analyze the structures, we realize that the design and parts support the purpose.Structure and Function (or Purpose)Questions for Thought and Analysis What is the purpose of a windmill? What are the parts of a windmill? How do these parts support its purpose?Structure and Function (or Purpose) What is the purpose of a lighthouse? What are the parts of a lighthouse? How do these parts support its purpose?Essays need structure, too…Any coherent, meaningful piece of writing must have a clear purpose and solid organization and structure.The Structure or Parts of the Essay Support its Purpose…An essay writer must have a reason or purpose for telling a personal story or writing about an experience or character.A writer must make meaning of his or her life experience.Meaning is sometimes revealed as, or even after, the writer writes about a life experience. Using this strategy, the writer may jump right into the story, without a formal introduction. But, the writer must then focus on clearly weaving the theme or meaning into the essay, reinforcing it in the revision process.PURPOSE An essay must convey meaning or purpose by organizing the details of the essay around a theme, a universal experience, or an abstract idea. The theme is the “relevant” idea… what the story, event, or character mean to the writer and what readers can learn from the essay. The theme should be woven throughout the story or essay; it should be evident in each section of its structure– beginning, middle and end.The theme or meaning should emphasize the author’s view or interpretation of a lesson learned, an insight, an understanding, or an abstract idea connected to the event, experience or relationship of the character to the writer.Theme, Meaning or Purpose…A personal essay must have a theme or meaning, a purpose for sharing the story or personal experience.•Discuss an abstract idea (the beauty of love, the harshness of learning justice, the rewards of hard work, the disillusionment of love, the satisfaction of justice, coping with failure despite hard work) that is essential to (that “fits”) his or her story•Convey a lesson learned (I now know that…What this experience made me realize is…This experience gave me an understanding of…)•Share his or her perspective of a universal experience (peer pressure, first kiss, coping with stress, the loss of a loved one, learning the hard way)See the workshop “Writing with Meaning” for many more techniques and ideas for developing meaning.To convey meaning, a writer must…FORM & STRUCTUREThe process of constructing an essay includes defining the purpose for a piece (the central idea), crafting a structure for it, and creating the connections.An essay is made of three main sections and smaller parts. The form or design and structure of sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words support the essay’s meaning or purpose.An essay has three large sections--the introduction (beginning), body (middle), and conclusion (end)-- made of smaller parts--paragraphs, sentences, transitions, and details, for example.This is true of any academic essay, personal or expository, for English class or any other class.After choosing the story (plot) an essay writer must…Introduce the meaning, purpose or theme in the introduction Weave the theme or idea throughout the body of the essay. All the sub-stories and details contained in the story must support the main or “revelant idea.” A story generally builds to a peak or climax near the end of the body.Re-focus, re-assess, expand on, or discuss the theme or idea in the conclusionPhoto: http://www.chihuly.com/installations/early/weaving01.htmlLet’s take a closer look at the STRUCTURE of an essay by examining the parts…•Introduction•Body •Conclusion•Transition SentencesThe Introduction…The introduction is often called “the lead.”A good lead must have a “hook” or a “grabber” – a strong statement that “grabs” the readers’ attention or “pulls readers in.”Most importantly, an introductory paragraph must define the essay’s meaning or theme. The purpose of the essay must be clear.Source: http://web.anglia.ac.uk/stu_services/essex/learningsupport/OL-EssayWrting1.htm A lead may be one single paragraph or may extend to several paragraphs.A solid introduction
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