How to Build an Essay

For several years, I've been developing a protocol for students as they approach the task of essay writing. My experience with the task of writing an essay is that it's much easier to produce something meaningful (and to have a nice time doing it) if you take it in stages. I'll probably discuss this protocol in class on Thursday, but if you're looking for some help right now, here are my two cents.

How to Build an Essay
1. Before you begin:
· choose a topic you like, applied to a work you enjoy or are interested in/challenged by
· read or re-read the text, jot down some first thoughts
· consider what the topic means to you
· let it ferment

2. Gathering evidence, preliminary thoughts, outlining:
· return to the text
This means skimming through it / rereading, and making notes (on paper or in a computer file) on passages that will help to formulate your opinion on the topic you've chosen. This means you don't begin with a thesis and then search for evidence to back it up. You let the text dictate the formation of your thesis.
· organize your findings
· build your essay outline from the evidence up
· let the text speak for itself
· tentative thesis statement
· let it ferment
Fermentation requires taking time in between stages so your mind can grind away at it. Go do something else instead: laundry, go for a hike, cook something. Repetitive tasks that don't engage your logical circuits are wonderful ways to give your brain room do what it needs to do to in order to formulate a good essay.

3. Writing
· compose a first draft, following your outline if possible, deviating from it where your developing ideas or discoveries dictate

· include the following components:
a) intro paragraph(s), with statement of topic, preliminary thesis, and brief outline of argument
b) as many body paragraphs as necessary to make your argument work. Each of these should include the following elements:
*a topic sentence telling your reader how the paragraph will fit into your overall argument *evidence from the text to support your point
*some discussion of why that evidence is significant
*and a mini-conclusion statement that wraps up the point of the paragraph
c) a conclusion

As you write, consider William G. Perry’s description of the writing process: “First you make a mess, then you clean it up.”

· LET IT FERMENT

4. Revision
· view revision as a distinct task from writing
· it’s better to remove items than to add during revision
· clean up loose ends—you can’t say everything in an essay
· make sure that each paragraph has what it needs
· focus on refining your thesis and making your introduction as strong as possible
· preserve forward momentum
· let it ferment
· re-read, revisit, and revise again

5. Notes on Style
· keep it simple: bigger is not better when it comes to vocabulary
· complex ideas can be explained simply
· explain yourself as clearly as possible