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How To Write An Essay
How To Write An Essay
You must PROVE your POINT by providing PROOFS (examples) to support your
topic sentence.
Proof: Comment:
Point: Uncle Axel says to Therefore, Uncle
Uncle Axel is the David, “There isn’t
Axel supports David
an easy way out.
advisor to David, you have to come
by showing him
guiding him and to terms with it. how to handle being
supporting him. You’ll have to face different from
it” (80). everyone else.
Formal Writing Rules
• Do not use the first or second person (I, my, we, us).
• Do not use contractions (can’t, won’t, doesn’t).
• Do not use clichés, metaphors or figures of speech.
• Avoid saying “The essay will discuss...” or “In my opinion...”
• Avoid using “a lot”. If you do use it, take care not to repeat it often.
• Avoid redundancy and repetition.
• Be specific. Do not use words such as “things” or “many examples”. Do not be
vague.
• Always follow MLA format (see below)
• Always type and double space.
• Use size 12 pt font, Times New Roman, and standard 1” margins
• EDIT, EDIT, EDIT!
• Save your rough work.
• When writing about literature, always write in the present tense.
• I.e. “The Chrysalids is a book about the future” not “The Chrysalids was a book
about the future”.
• Essays should be submitted with one staple in the top left hand corner. Do not put
them in folders or duotangs.
MLA Format
• Essay written in 12 pt font, 1” margins
• No separate title page. In the top left corner of the first page of your
essay, write:
Your Name
Teacher’s Name Double spaced
Course Code
Date Submitted
• Put your last name and page number in the top corner of each page after
the title page.
• Italicize the title of the novel
• When using quotes, reference the page number in the following way:
• First quote, use the author’s name in the reference.
• “I didn't even notice then that it had more than the usual number of toes”
(Wyndham 6).
MLA Continued
Second quote from the same source, no need for the author’s name.
• “I didn’t even notice then that it had more than the usual number of toes”
(6).
• Submit a Works Cited page to show the resources that you have quoted
from in your essay.