GUIDELINES ON WRITING A VERY SHORT ESSAY (2-page essay)
A typical essay contains many different kinds of information, often located in specialized parts or sections. Even short essays perform several different operations: introducing the argument, analyzing data, raising counterarguments, concluding. Introductions and conclusions have fixed places, but other parts don’t. Counterargument, for example, may appear within a paragraph, as a free-standing section, as part of the beginning, or before the ending. Background material (historical context or biographical information, a summary of relevant theory or criticism, the definition of a key term) often appears at the beginning of the essay, between the introduction and the first analytical section, but might also appear near the beginning of the specific section to which it’s relevant. (click here to read more about it)
The major parts that comprise a short essay are introduction, body, and conclusion. Click here to see a SAMPLE. Check the order bellow:
Introduction
Talking about a short essay format, we have to say that introduction is extremely important in terms of a paper organization since it has to provide the effective opening line for the whole essay defining the further path for writing. If it is possible, the topic of a short essay should be arguable and provocative in order to make the discussion engaging. You need to think of an effective thesis statement that will draw readers’ attention and keep them interested throughout the entire essay. The importance of a well-written introduction is emphasized by the fact that it influences readers’ understanding of the topic as well as provides a clear understanding of the structure of the writing and how the content is going to unfold. Although the major point of the essay has to be presented in the introduction, namely in the thesis statement, it should not be too detailed not to bore the readers from the very first paragraph. An effective way to make your introduction more appealing and engaging is to include some quotations that will provide some hint about the topic of your essay and how it can be developed.
Essay Body Paragraphs
Yet, the major part that the essay revolves around is the body, which should open all the facts, arguments, supporting evidence, and viewpoints on the subject. All information needs to be appropriately and coherently listed so that readers could enjoy smooth reading and actually understand your claims. If in the course of your research and preparation of your essay you found nice quotes, dates, names that could help you discuss the topic better, use them in the main body section to illustrate the facts and provide examples. However, keep in mind that all the paragraphs in the body of the short essay should be logically connected, thus use transitions for smooth flow of the text. In case you feel that your paragraphs do not follow the general flow of your thoughts, you may want to go back to the outline for your essay to get a better perspective on how you can fix some things.
Essay Body: Paragraph Structure
In order to be understood by the readers, you need to keep your arguments separate and develop each one of them in different paragraphs. In fact, such division will help you stay focused without losing the line of thought. Thus, you need to try making each argument objective, narrow, and specific. Although there are no strict guidelines on how to write each body paragraph, you may use some advice from the experienced writers:
- First things go first – you need to discuss the strongest points in the first paragraph of the essay body.
- Arguments with less strong supporting evidence should be presented in a descending order.
- The weakest arguments should be discussed and presented in the closing paragraphs of the essay body.
Such organization of arguments from the strongest to the weakest will help your readers better understand your point as well as it will convince them in to take your side on the issue/topic.
Conclusion
The main body is the largest part of your essay, but when you are done with that it doesn’t mean you are done writing. Now you need to provide a clear summary of all points and arguments in a concluding paragraph. The conclusion should contain the restatement of the thesis statement, the summary of the discussion, and the wrapping up point. A clear conclusion will make your readers think and analyze what they have learned from your essay.
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Research Paper (GELO Primary Outcome)
(Font: Times 12points)
20 Abstract + 60 Essay + 20 (Final Work is 100pts)
15% OUT OF TOTAL FINAL 100%
Your research paper (15%) is divided in three parts:
1) Abstract (20pts) Click here to see a SAMPLE. The abstract includes the topic and the bibliography (a 2-page abstract + a 1-page bibliography).
2) Essay (60pts) Click here to see a SAMPLE The essay is a careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about a specific topic (a 6-page essay + a 1-page bibliography).
3) Final Paper (20pts) The final paper is the essay after it has been proofread by the professor and corrected/improved by the student. It includes a 6-page essay + a 1-page bibliography.
1) ABSTRACT (20pts): Students will choose a topic, read about it in scholarly sources (books and academic articles) and write a summary of what they want to do for their research paper. Student will need to consult at least two printed sources (books) and one scholarly article (academic journals). Online sources can be used as well but they cannot be used exclusively.
Research will need to be directly associated with topics learned in class. Use this link as your primary source: http://dept.sfcollege.edu/HFL/hum2461/lectureslist.htm
Due dates for topic, bibliography and ABSTRACT:
At the end of January 2014 (Thursday, January 30th), students will submit through CANVAS their topic and scholarly sources (2 books and 1 academic article).
*If a student has chosen a topic before the due date, student can send me a message via CANVAS in order to discuss his/her topic before student starts writing his/her abstract.
BY the middle of February (Thursday, February 13th), student will submit his/her finished ABSTRACT (a 2-page abstract + a 1-page bibliography).
2) ESSAY (60pts): Students will submit a 6-page essay by Thursday, March 13th on CANVAS. Essay will follow the MLA format (double space). Essay needs to be well structured and properly written (Go to the Writing Lab [G-06], Reading Lab [G-36] or use Smart thinking [CANVAS] for help). Research will need to be directly associated with topics learned in class. Use this link as your primary source: http://dept.sfcollege.edu/HFL/hum2461/lectureslist.htm Relate the content and ideas discussed in class and the critical skills acquired during the course to your study (essay). Produce an academic piece of writing that shows good quality both in content and style. Bibliography will need to be attached to the essay. Include online resources if any.
Plagiarism will be punished. Read syllabus.
3) FINAL PAPER (20pts) Students will submit the final paper if he/she is has finished with all the corrections suggested by the professor. Submission will be done on CANVAS on Thursday, April 17th.
(Last Updated Dec. 25th, 2013)
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FALL 2013
Report paper on Brazil “Emergent Brazil”:Conference on Brazil at UF 2013
Report Papers (RP)
Student will present a report paper for every homework.
Student will read it in front of class, and discuss it.
Each report paper is 1% out of 30% (Class participation and HW.)
RP will follow the MLA format (600 words [2 pages]/double space.)
Essay (written paper=10%)
By the end of October, student will give me his/her topic. If student have chosen a topic before due date, can email me or talk to me about it after class. We can discuss the topic before student start working on it.
Student will present an essay at the end of the semester (Nov. 29th.)
Essay will follow the MLA format (4 pages/double space.)
Student will choose a topic, read about it in scholarly sources and produce an essay.
Essay needs to be well structured and properly written.
Research will need to be directly associated with topics learned in class.
Relate the content and ideas discussed in class and the critical skills acquired during the course to the study of a topic of your choice.
Produce an academic piece of writing that shows good quality both in content and style.
Student will need to consult at least two printed sources (books or scholarly articles). Online sources can be used as well but they can be used exclusively.
Bibliography will need to be attached to the essay. Include online resources if any.
Plagiarism will be punished. Read syllabus.
I have created a rubric for the blogs you will be assigned during the semester, click under RESPONSE PAPER RUBRIC to learn about instructions.
hum2461 