Reading, Writing and Revising
help with your essays
Choose a Topic :
- Read any handouts from your teacher to know what is expected, including the purpose of the essay, its length, due date, and limits.
- If you are not assigned a topic, choose one that you find very interesting.
- If you can, visit the library or use online resources to see how much information is available before you decide on your topic.
- Consider how much time you have and how long the paper will be; don't choose too broad or too narrow a topic.
- Choosing a Topic
- http://www.ithaca.edu/library/course/topic.html
- Term Paper Research: Getting Started
- http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/about/instruct/tp-res.html
- Use these tips from OWL to help you get started:
- Planning (Invention)
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan1.html
- Planning (Invention): When You Start To Write
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan2.html
- Planning (Invention): Thought Starters (Asking the Right Questions)
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan3.html
- Still having trouble choosing a topic? See the web sites Help Choosing a Topic.
Find background information :
- Visit your school or public library to find books or place holds or requests for books or other information sources.
- Do some preliminary reading: start with an encyclopedia such as World Book or Encyclopedia Britannica to get a brief introduction to your topic. Ask staff for help in using the library catalogue.
- See if there are any electronic resources such as magazine databases, online encyclopedias or Internet sites that may be useful.
- Make notes of what you already know about the topic. Compare this with your research or use it to suggest areas of research.
- From your preliminary reading, find some questions about your topic that you must answer in your essay.
- Prepare a working bibliography, a list of sources of information that you think will be useful.
Write a thesis statement :
- An essay requires a thesis statement. The thesis statement describes what you will be trying to prove and how you plan to do it.
- It should be a statement that can be proved by reasoning and/or evidence.
- The statement should not contain facts, but argument; it should say what you are going to prove.
- A thesis statement usually becomes part of the introduction.
- Your thesis should need proving, and should not be a statement with which most people would agree immediately. Start by asking yourself questions about the topic.
- Consider the different types of essays: cause and effect, compare and contrast, persuasion, and others. See these web sites for more information:
- Types of Essays
- http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/EssaysToc.html
- Kinds of Essays
- http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/essay/index.htm
- Common Types of Papers
- http://www.ipl.org/div/aplus/linkscommon.htm
- Writing Argumentative Essays
- http://www.eslplanet.com/teachertools/argueweb/frntpage.htm
- What are the key words relating to your topic?
- The thesis statement should be short.
- If you are planning to write about several topics, select topics that have some connection such as importance, theme, or time. For example, compare birth, marriage, and death customs in two societies instead of marriage, sports, and jewelry.
- Test your thesis to see if you will be able to prove it, then try to prove that it is wrong. This will show you what arguments you must defeat. You may change your thesis as your research progresses.
- For more help with writing a thesis statement, see:
- How to Write a Thesis Statement
- http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/thesis.html
- Tutorial on the Thesis Statement
- http://daphne.palomar.edu/tutor/thesis.htm#Thesis
Develop an outline :
- The outline helps you to know what information you need: what to look for when you are researching.
- Your information should be organized as simply as possible but should present your argument clearly and persuasively.
- The outline tells you what proofs, facts, or examples you will need to support your thesis.
- You should look at the counter-arguments that you developed earlier.
- The introductory paragraph outlines your thesis, provides any definitions necessary to understand the idea, and may include information about the history or origin of the idea.
- This is the first draft of the introduction to your essay. Other paragraphs should outline the other main points you wish to make.
- You can alter your outline later as your writing progresses.
- Too long? Look at your outline and see if there are sections that are not necessary.
- Too short? Don't just add more words. Think about your topic and see if you can expand it. See if there is another part of the subject that could be included.
For more about organizing your essay, check the following sites:
- Developing an Outline
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_outlin.html- Outline: Adjusting the Direction and Mapping It Out
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResearchW/outline.html- Methods of Organizing Your Essay
http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/EssayOrgMethods.html
Read and make notes :
- Gather notes and questions about the topics.
- Remember to keep track of the sources of information.
- Put notes in your own words but remember that even if you don't use an author's words, you must give him or her credit for the idea, so keep track of the source.
- Plagiarism is a serious offence. Good note-taking and paraphrasing will help you avoid it. See these web sites for tips:
- Plagiarism and Note Taking
- http://www.cdc.net/~stifler/cstcc/note-plg.html
- Avoiding Plagiarism
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_plagiar.html
- Paraphrase: Write It in Your Own Words
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_paraphr.html
- Plagiarism: What It Is and How to Recognize and Avoid It
- http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html
- If you will need to request library books, do it early enough.
- Remember the overall purpose and organization of the essay: revisit your thesis statement often.
- Evaluate the information you find - consider its source, date of publication, bias, etc. You may want to start writing sections as soon as you are ready.
- For more information about note-taking, go to the following sites:
- Taking Notes from Research Reading
- http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/notes.html
Write your first draft :Order in a logical way, based on your outline.
- Rank your points from most important to least important.
- Invent a title that is interesting, clear, and brief; it may help you focus. You can change your title later, if you wish.
- Choose a pattern of argument, such as definition, comparison, or cause/effect.
- There are three main parts of your essay: introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction is based on your thesis statement.
For more information take a look at the following site: An Essay is Like a Journey http://www.calstatela.edu/centers/write_cn/journey.htm- Don't just copy your notes - put the information in your own words unless you think that the author is worth quoting. If so, then put quotation marks around the sentence and note the source.
- Every paragraph should have a key or topic sentence. These are sometimes just rewordings of the opening paragraph.
- Include persuasive examples, not opinions: your thesis statement is your opinion. Now you have to prove it.
- Too long? Look at your outline and see if there are sections that are not necessary. Too short? Don't just add more words. Think about your topic and see if you can expand it. See if there is another part of the subject that could be included. For more information, see : What To Do If Your Essay Is Too Long or Too Short http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/essays1.htm#LongShort
Revision is essential :
- Writers can become blind to their creation's faults. Reading the paper aloud can help you spot errors or weak spots. You could ask someone else to critique it for you.
- Does your essay make sense? Check transitions between paragraphs and their order. If needed, add linking words or sentences or change the order.
- Insert other quotations or examples, if necessary.
- Make sure that your language is appropriate for this school assignment.
- Check your grammar, especially agreement between nouns and verbs.
- Eliminate run-on sentences. For help, see
- Run-ons - Comma Splices - FusedSentences
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_sentpr.html
- Check for incomplete sentences. For help, see
- Sentence Fragments
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_frag.html
- Check for dangling modifiers. For help, see
- Dangling Modifiers
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_dangmod.html
- Use correct footnote or endnote style, if they are required, and use correct format for your bibliography.
- Check your spelling. If you use a spell checker, be sure to check manually to find homonyms such as their and there. For information on common sound-alike words, see
- Spelling: Common Words that Sound Alike
- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/g_spelhomo.html
- Check your punctuation. For punctuation help, see
- Punctuation Points
- http://www.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex.nsf/wholeshortlinks2/Punctuation+Points+Menu
- For more help with grammar, see
- Guide to Grammar and Style
- http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/
- Bottom-Line, Low-Anxiety Grammar & Sentence Structure
- http://www.esc.edu/esconline/across_esc/writerscomplex.nsf/wholeshortlinks2/Grammar+Workout+Menu?opendocument
Present your work :
- Make sure that your assignment is complete, neatly done, and reflects the time you have put into it.
- Have you got a title page and a bibliography? Do you need footnotes or endnotes?
- If you must present your paper to your class, think of an interesting way to present your ideas.
- Decide if you need visual aids (object, costume, video, audio clip, photos, charts, overhead). Remember that ink jet and laser printers can print on plastic for overhead projection.
- Arrange with your teacher for any equipment you need.
- Prepare cards with your main points for help during the presentation.
- Be ready for questions from your classmates or teacher.
- Practise your presentation.
Tools for the writer - books :
- Check your local library for copies of these suggestions or try the subject headings and call numbers which follow to find similar items.
- Allen, R. E. Punctuation. Oxford: New York: Oxford University Press, c2002. SERIES: One step ahead
- Buckley, Joanne. Fit to print: the Canadian student's guide to essay writing. 5th ed. Toronto: Harcourt Canada, c2001.
- Davies, Richard and Kirkland, Glen. Gage Canadian writer's handbook. Vancouver: Gage Educational Pub., c2000.
- Ehrenhaft, George. Writing a successful college application essay: the key to college admission. 3rd ed. Hauppauge, NY : Barron's, 2000.
- Elliott, Rebecca and Elliott, James. Painless research projects. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron's, c1998.
- Fry, Ronald W. Last minute term papers. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 2002.
- Gaidosch, Bernie. The Professor's secrets: breaking the silence : how to write essays and term papers. Richmond Hill, ON: Daimon Corp., 2002.
- Gibaldi, Joseph and Modern Language Association of America. MLA handbook for writers of research papers. 5th ed. New York : Modern Language Association of America, c1999.
- Giltrow, Janet Lesley. Academic writing: writing and reading in the disciplines. 3rd ed. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2002.
- Good, C. Edward. A grammar book for you and I--oops, me!: all that grammar you (and your kids) never learned in high school and now need to succeed in life. 1st ed. Sterling, VA: Capital Books, 2002.
- Hancock, Paul. Common errors in English. London: Penguin English, 2001. SERIES: Penguin quick guides
- How to write book reports. 4th. ed. [Lawrenceville, NJ]: Thomson Arco, c2002. SERIES: Stepbystep
- Markman, Roberta H., Markman, Peter T. and Waddell, Marie L. 10 steps in writing the research paper. 6th ed. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's, c2001.
- McClain, Molly and Roth, Jacqueline D. Schaum's quick guide to writing great essays. New York: McGraw-Hill, c1999.
- Meriwether, Nell. 12 easy steps to successful research papers. 2nd ed. Chicago: NTC Pub. Group, c2000.
- Northey, Margot and McKibbin, Joan. Making sense: a student's guide to research and writing. 4th ed. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press, 2002.
- Norton, Sarah and Green, Brian. Essay essentials with readings. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company, Canada, 1997.
- Princeton Review (Firm) Grammar smart: a guide to perfect usage. 2nd ed. New York: Random House, 2001.
- Random House (Firm) Random House Webster's pocket grammar, usage, and punctuation. 2nd ed. New York: Random House, 2001.
- Seely, John. Everyday grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
- Sorenson, Sharon. Webster's New World student writing handbook. 4th ed. Foster City, CA: IDG Books, 2000.
- Turabian, Kate L., Grossman, John, and Bennett, Alice. A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Van Laan, Krista and Julian, Catherine. The complete idiot's guide to technical writing. New York: Hemel Hempstead: Alpha; Prentice Hall, 2001.
- Woods, Geraldine. Research Papers for Dummies. New York: Hungry Minds, 2002.
- Subject Headings
- Use these words to search your library catalogue for other items:
- Academic writing
- Authorship
Note: use subjects with this heading, e.g. Geography -- Authorship, Environmental sciences – Authorship- Book reviewing.
- Business report writing
- College applications
- Communication in science, Communication in engineering, etc.
- Dissertations, Academic
- Editing
- English language -- Composition and exercises
- English language -- Grammar
- English language -- Punctuation
- English language -- Rhetoric
- English language -- Sentences
- English language -- Style
- English language -- Usage
- Essay -- Authorship
- Exposition (Rhetoric)
- Language arts (Elementary)
- Report writing
- Report writing -- Computer network resources -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
- Research
- Research -- Computer network resources -- Handbooks, manuals,
- Research -- Handbooks, manuals, etc.
- Research -- Methodology
- Technical writing
- Vocabulary
Call numbers:
If you visit your local library and wish to browse the shelves, look in the reference and circulating sections for the following Dewey Decimal call numbers:
421, 428
808.042, 808.02
423
398
808.8, 808.882
803
808.02
for grammar
for writing
for dictionaries, thesauri
for proverbs
for quotations
for literary terms
for footnote and bibliographical style
Online tools for the writer :and the Virtual Reference Library
- General
- Advice on Academic Writing
http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/advise.html- Creative Writing for Teens
http://teenwriting.about.com/teens/teenwriting/mbody.htm
An About guide with many web resources including grammar help, prose writing help.- Essay Punch
http://www.essaypunch.com/
This online tutorial takes you through the actual steps of writing a basic essay.- Guide to Writing a Basic Essay
http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/- Indispensable Writing Resources: A Complete Collection of Writing Essentials
http://www.quintcareers.com/writing/general_writing_resources.html- Internet Public Library. A+ Research and Writing
http://www.ipl.org/teen/aplus/
Step-by-step guide to writing research papers.- Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
http://www.powa.org/- The Purdue University On-line Writing Lab (OWL)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/- University of Victoria Writer's Guide
http://web.uvic.ca/wguide/Pages/StartHere.html- The Writer's Complex
http://www.esc.edu/writer
- Help Choosing a Topic
- Article Files and Indexes to Topics
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/article.htm- Google Issues
http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Issues/- Hot Paper Topics
http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/Hot/hotindex.htm- Idea Generator
http://www.lib.odu.edu/research/idea/ideagenerator.shtml- Info Zone
http://www.assd.winnipeg.mb.ca/infozone/index.htm- Internet Public Library Ready Reference
http://www.ipl.org/ref/RR/- Web subject directories such as Yahoo or Yahoo Canada
Toronto Public Library [TPL] subscribes to many electronic resources that are useful when finding an essay topic or developing a thesis.
For example, Opposing Viewpoints is an online library of current events topics that covers the facts, the arguments, proponents and detractors. Literature Resource Center has articles about authors' style and themes. Expanded Academic ASAP has magazine and newspaper articles about the arts, humanities, science and technology.
The electronic resources can be used in the library or from home or school. Use the All in One Search feature to access free and licensed resources selected by library staff.
In the library, choose All In One Search from the main library menu to search up to ten databases at once. Some databases are accessible from every branch; additional databases are available only at District libraries and Research and Reference Libraries. The databases available at a particular branch are listed on the search screen when you access All in One Search from that branch.
At home or school, you will need a valid TPL card to use all of the resources available remotely, including licensed databases like Opposing Viewpoints, Literature Resource Center and Expanded Academic ASAP. Choose All In One Search from the TPL homepage and login with your library card number.
Guests (or users without a TPL card) have access to a number of free resources, but do not have access to databases licensed for TPL cardholders.
