Happy 2010
Happy New Year and Happy Essay Writing to everyone. Wishing everyone success in all that you do and all that you write! I hope to see you here 'next year' for upcoming posts on the narrative essay and critical essay and for more helpful writing tips.
The Creative Writing Essay
One of the more challenging writing assignments we encounter is the creative essay writing assignment. The creative essay allows us to explore our creative side and let the readers know more about us as a person and our style of writing. It takes a lot of imagination and spontaneity to write a creative essay. This is when we allow our minds to just let ideas flow and our imagination to take over.
When we write the creative essay, we are not limited to a specific topic. Unlike writing assignments such as research papers, argumentative essays, book reviews etc., where the topic is already determined, with the creative essay we can write about anything. For example, we can write about an experience, a favorite thing, an influential person, hobbies, fictional ideas and more.
The creative essay is often included as part of an exam wherein the student is given a very limited amount of time to come up with a topic to write about. The pressure created from the time limit actually causes the writer to think ‘outside of the box’ and just write from the heart and mind and explore his/her imagination. Given this time constraint, you should be careful to choose a topic with which you are familiar and find interesting so that you can write in an engaging and entertaining style. While not as rigid as other essay types, the creative essay still must follow the basic essay structure: an introduction with thesis statement, several paragraphs discussing the subject of the essay, and a conclusion that perhaps describes what you have learned or conveys what your audience should take away from the essay. The reader should finish reading the essay thinking about the significance and meaning of what was written.
You can have fun writing the creative essay; it gives us a chance to share personal views and thoughts and creates an avenue for us to voice our opinions on a certain topic. In short, this type of essay presents a great opportunity for the reader to get to know more about the writer’s opinions, beliefs, and ethics. So, when you write, choose your subject wisely. Read some examples of creative essays too so you can get some idea of the imagination and style required to write the creative essay.
Book Review or a Book Report?
So have you been assigned to write a book review or a book report? Hopefully, you’re not one of them, but many new students have worked hard on their writing assignments about a book they read and turned in their paper only to find out that what they wrote was a book report and not a book review as the instructor had asked. So, I’ll ask again, have you been assigned a book review or a book report? If you don’t know the difference, then don’t leave this page just yet. Keep reading to find out.
So which should we talk about first - the book review or the book report? Let’s start with the simpler of the two; the book report. The book report is essentially a summary of the book that you have read for the paper. It also must include information about the book such as the author’s name and the date and place it was published. Sometimes biographical information about the author is also included.
The book review, on the other hand, requires analysis of the book. In the book review, the purpose is not to summarize the plot of the book but rather to analyze certain elements of the book such as its theme or use of symbolism or language. Often, the book’s setting is analyzed in relation to current times or the era in which it was written. The strengths and weaknesses of the book and criticisms of the book are usually included in the book review as well. In short, while the book review does briefly discuss the book’s plot and name its’ author, the emphasis is on evaluating the book whereas a book report’s emphasis is on summarizing the book.
If, in the unlikely situation that your professor asks which you prefer to write, the book review or the book report, then you must decide whether you want the simpler task of the book report or the more challenging task of the book review. Either assignment can be interesting if the book that is the topic of your paper is thought-provoking and a compelling read. If you have difficulty getting started, sometimes seeing samples of book reports or book reviews can be helpful as well as provide useful sources. There are also great sites specifically about writing book reviews or writing book reports that are definitely worth checking out before you start your assignment. Generally, though, both the book report and the book review are fun writing assignments, so try to have fun with it– whichever one you are writing! In fact, that's a good piece of advice whatever type of paper you are writing, argumentative essay, analytical paper, pro-con essay etc., - just try to enjoy what you are learning and the writing process!
How to Write a Case Study
At one time case study research was most strongly associated with the discipline of sociology, but now it is a common form of research in many other fields including education, medicine, psychology, and business. Consequently, it’s important to learn how to write a case study. As a college student, in addition to term papers, analytical papers, book reports and other more common writing assignments, you will most likely also be asked to write at least one case study.
In order to learn how to write a case study, you must first understand what it is. A very basic definition of the case study is that it is detailed research performed on a single subject or case rather than a whole population. Moreover, a case study is like an investigation wherein the writer has to solve the case and provide a solution. As you learn how to write a case study, keep this definition in mind so that you remember that the objective of the case study is to find a solution to a problem. This will help guide the writing process. It’s also important to keep in mind when you are learning how to write a case study that thorough research is the key to a good case study. The solution you arrive at will be based on your research, which may take the form of interviews, direct observation, questionnaires, or documents. As you learn how to write a case study, you will find that interviews, whether focused or structured, are one of the most important sources of information for case studies.
After you have completed the research phase of the case study, you will then have to analyze all of the data that you collected. This is where you will sort out data that you don’t need and organize the data you do need. It is also where you will decide what your readers will need to know and what you will tell them in order for them to understand the case. You specifically need to define the problems that you want your readers to consider. Often, it is helpful to break the problem down into different parts. The analysis of data is perhaps the most difficult part of learning how to write a case study. However, with proper research and analysis, you will be able to write an excellent case study. At this point you should be able to write what the problem is, describe the solution that was decided upon, and summarize the results of the solution implemented. If you think viewing examples of case studies will help you, consider looking at some of the essays offered on AcaDemon. If you think you just need some suggestions of topics, then I suggest you visit essay411 for help.
The Comparison Essay
While I sincerely hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday season and the break from the school/work routine that typically comes with this time of year, I am still aware that there are exams to prepare for, homework assignments to be completed, and term papers, research papers, book reports etc., to write. Thus, I am writing a new post today, and it will focus on the comparison essay. The comparison essay is both a challenging and interesting paper to write because, of course, you must write about more than one subject.
In the comparison essay, the writer must discuss how certain things, events, ideas, etc., are different from one another as well as similar to one another. If you need assistance on deciding exactly what subjects you would like to compare, Essay411 can be a great resourse, as it provides useful information on a ton of essay topics. Another great resource is the Purdue Online Writing Lab. They have great general writing tips that are available for non-Purdue college students as well.
There are essentially two formats for the comparison essay, but both essays must follow the basic essay structure that all essays follow whether comparison essay, analytical essay, pro-con essay etc. The difference in the two formats is in the structure of the essay body and I have described this difference below.
In the first format, the writer begins by discussing only one of the subjects of the essay. Often several paragraphs are required. This is then followed by a discussion on the second subject being and this discussion may also require several paragraphs. The next discussion focuses on analyzing both subjects together, pointing out where they are alike and where they differ. Again, this discussion may also extend to several paragraphs.
The second comparison essay format begins with a discussion and analysis of how the two subjects are similar. This is then followed by a discussion and analysis of how the two subjects differ. Again, both the discussion on the similarities and the discussion on the differences usually require several paragraphs each.
Whichever format you choose to use, don’t forget to include a thought-provoking thesis statement in the introduction of the paper and a thorough summarization of the similarities and differences in the conclusion. And, most importantly, don’t forget to continue to enjoy the holiday season!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year
No academic postings today. Just want to wish everyone a very joyous holiday spirit that continues on into the next year as well as great health, happiness, and success.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Basic Essay Structure
In my last post I discussed what makes good writing habits. In this post I will focus on basic essay structure, as you will need to know this for writing any college level essay. In fact, you will be expected to follow basic essay structure for all university writing assignments since it applies to all formal essays including term papers, analytical essays, research papers etc. Thus, it’s vital that you learn and understand basic essay structure. Plus, keeping the basic essay structure in mind when you write has the added benefit of aiding the organization and focus of your paper.
First, basic essay structure requires an introduction. In the introduction you must include a thesis statement, which reveals the opinion or fact that you intend to prove in your paper. Thesis statements are usually controversial and should not be vague; they should be specific and to the point. The thesis statement also briefly states the points that you intend to make in your paper that support your thesis.
Next is the body of the paper and this is where you will prove your thesis. Each of the supporting points mentioned in your thesis statement have to be elaborated upon in the body of your paper. Supporting evidence, sources, details and examples are provided for each point and none of the points stated in the thesis can be left out. The points made in the body should also be presented in the same order that they were presented in the thesis statement. The body of the paper is where you can best demonstrate your writing style, which means, good use of transitions, creative and original thought, and logical flow.
Lastly, you must finish your paper with a concluding paragraph. This is where you summarize what you have presented in your paper as well as state why you have successfully proven your thesis and what you think your audience should conclude.
If you still feel that you need assistance, you might want to visit one of the many helpful Internet sites about basic essay structure such as the Guide to Writing a Basic Essay. Once you've got a sufficient understanding of the basic essay structure, Essay411 is another great site to visit if you think you also need help gathering information on essay topics.
Good Writing Habits
My previous posts have focused on how to write a particular type of essay such as an analytical essay, history essay, admissions essay etc. In this post, I would like to focus instead on what good habits you should develop so that you always write quality essays (for information on different essay topics, consider checking out the Essay411 site). Developing good writing habits now will help you with all your future writing efforts, whether you want to learn how to write a term paper, creative essay, critical essay or any other of the myriad papers you will be expected to write.
Let’s assume that you have been given a term paper assignment so now you need to learn how to write a term paper. As with all papers, you should begin by researching your topic. By researching your topic, you will gain other ideas, perspectives, or even inspiration about the topic. Of course, you should carefully record your resources so that you can properly cite them in your paper. Using the example of learning how to write a term paper, you will find that documenting your sources in an organized fashion will not only make the task of citing your sources easier, but it will also help you weed out irrelevant sources as well as provide insight into other perspectives that you might want to pursue in your essay. This is also a good time to take down notes about what you want to discuss in your essay. You will also find, as you learn how to write a term paper, how vital it is to really know your topic. This is why research is so important for any paper.
Now let’s assume that you’ve learned how to write a term paper or whatever your paper assignment and you are ready to begin writing. You should start considering how you want your paper to flow and what your thesis and topic sentences will be. This is where the outline is so helpful, as it helps you get your ideas down on paper without requiring detail at the same time. The details are added as you write your first draft. And yes, part of writing well means writing several drafts before you write your actual paper. Outlines and drafts help you organize your thoughts and eliminate unnecessary or repetitive writing. Once you’ve written an outline and your first draft, you are well prepared to write a paper that includes all the necessary elements of a quality paper.
Finally, when you’ve finished writing your paper, whether we’re talking about learning how to write a term paper, research paper, book report etc, proofread it. You will be amazed at the number of different errors you will find and eliminate just by proofreading. If you can, ask a friend to proofread it as well. Proofreading may well mean the difference between a high or a low grade.
The Argumentative Essay and the Persuasive Essay
Most people mistakenly assume that the argumentative essay and the persuasive essay are the same. However, while they have similarities, there are also significant differences between the two that you should be aware of before you are tasked with writing an argumentative or a persuasive essay. The argumentative essay and the persuasive essay differ in three essential ways: objective, viewpoints presented, and organization.
The objective of the argumentative essay and the persuasive essay is where we see the most obvious difference between the two essay types. Whereas the objective of a persuasive essay is to persuade the reader to agree with writer’s point of view on a particular topic, the objective of the argumentative essay is to explain to the reader why the writer takes the position she does on a particular topic and to demonstrate why her opinions and arguments are valid.
Another significant difference between the argumentative essay and the persuasive essay is that, in contrast to the persuasive essay, which only present’s the writer’s opinion, the argumentative essay, presents the writer’s arguments as well as opposing arguments. In addition, the writer of an argumentative essay must also refute the opposing arguments.
It is because of this second difference between the argumentative essay and the persuasive essay that the organization of the two essays differs. Of course, like research papers, term papers, book reports and all papers, both the argumentative essay and the persuasive essay, must introduce the topic in an introduction, must elaborate on the topic and thesis statement in the body of the essay, and must summarize the points made in a conclusion. However, that is where the organizational similarity ends. In the persuasive essay, the writer introduces the topic and immediately states her position as well as what she plans to prove in the essay. In the body, the writer elaborates on her point of view and offers reasons and arguments that support that point of view. Evidence and examples are cited here as well. Basically, each point of the argument along with any supporting evidence is presented, while keeping in mind that the goal is to persuade the reader to agree with you. In the conclusion, the writer summarizes and reiterates points made. In contrast, the argumentative essay must not only acknowledge the opposing point of view, but must also critically examine and refute it. The body of an argumentative essay has two primary forms: 1) opposing arguments and refutation are presented first and then followed by the writer’s arguments; and 2) the writer’s arguments are presented first, followed by opposing arguments and the refutation of the opposing arguments.
As you can see, the difference between the argumentative essay and the persuasive essay is significant and it is important that you understand these differences before you try to write either type. If you’re still not completely sure of the differences, you might consider getting clarification from your professor or going to your local library for assistance. If you just think you need ideas on essay topics, then I suggest you visit the Essay411 site, which is a great resource on tons of essay topics. No doubt once you’ve written a few of each essay type, you’ll understand the difference very well!
The College Level Book Report
The college level book report is very different from the high school level book report. Requirements are different, standards are different, and competition is different. Keep this thought in mind when you’ve been told to write a college level book report. While not difficult, the college level book report, requires much more effort than the book reports required in high school. Today’s blog is aimed at university students about to get their feet wet with their first book report assignment.
First, let’s start with the obvious tips, tips that you should apply to all your writing assignments, whether you’re working on your term paper, research paper, case study, analytical essay, or history essay etc. For example, it is always wise to write an outline of your paper first. The outline should include your introduction, thesis, topic sentences, and conclusion. In addition, carefully organizing your sources to help you eliminate those that you won’t use or aren’t relevant to your paper. Most importantly, make sure that you properly cite the sources you do reference (and be sure to use the citation style requested by your instructor). Finally, proofread your book report. In fact, make proofreading an automatic habit for all your writing assignments, even the college level book report. If you can, get someone else to proofread your work too. The importance of proofreading cannot be overemphasized. Of course, for a book report, you also must actually read the book that you’re writing about; you must know and understand the book well enough so you can write with authority. If you want an A+, Cliff notes aren’t enough, neither is watching a movie made from the book, or notes from friends.
Second, get a clear understanding from your instructor about what the book report should focus upon. The focus of a college level book report is usually on the theme, character development, or symbolism in the book. However, sometimes the focus might be on the author’s writing style or how the story was affected by the author’s own life and times, or even how you might agree or disagree with a critic’s review of the book. Sometimes, the college level book report assignment is also an assignment for a comparison essay because you are asked to compare the work to another work. Usually, when you write a college level book report, you will also be expected to write your response to the book. However, avoid simple responses such as “the book was very interesting” or “I didn’t like it”. Rather, provide in-depth, analytical reasoning and original thinking.
Lastly, it’s always useful to see examples of similar papers, no matter what type of paper you are writing. There are a lot of good sites on the Internet available for this purpose. Essay411 is a good place to start if you just need information about essay topics. You'll find it to be a very useful resource for essay writing assignments.
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