... the topics. Tips on writing to your audience and striking a balance between for- mality and informality are also explained. Chapter 7 shows you how to prepare for timed essays. Learn how to research ... to mind about your topic. If you have not selected a topic, write in answers to the questions, “What do I have to say to my audience?” or “What do I want my audience to...
... understanding
the topics. Tips on writing to your audience and striking a balance between for-
mality and informality are also explained.
Chapter 7 shows you how to prepare for timed essays. Learn how to research ... and how to prevent and cor-
rect these errors. Every chapter is designed to relate directly to your essay, giving you the
knowledge and the know -how you ne...
... comes to mind about your topic. If you have not
selected a topic, write in answers to the questions, “What do I have to say to
my audience?” or “What do I want my audience to know about me?”
HOW TO ... words
and actions
to show others
who you really are
Not afraid to
assign tough
material
Learned life
lessons from
assigned reading
5 minutes
of writing
a day
HOW TO WRIT...
... The five guidelines in
this chapter show you how to clarify your writing.
CHAPTER
Clarity
2
2
Clarity CHAPTER 2
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 2 Clarity
12
E
LIMINATE
A
MBIGUITY
Ambiguous ...
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
9
SAMPLE PYRAMID CHART
Here is an example of a prewriting list and a corresponding pyramid chart.
Local school board...
... Clarity CHAPTER 2
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
19
The pronoun that is too far away from its antecedent to be clear. It could refer to the paper,
or to the meeting. A better sentence ... calm
quit (verb): to stop; to discontinue
quite (adv.): very; fairly; positively
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 3 Word Choice
26
stationary (adj.): not moving
stationery (noun): writ...
... CHAPTER 3
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
31
INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE
Biased language, which includes negative stereotypes, has no place in your writing. Your goal
is to include rather than to exclude. ... inappropriate and in poor taste to use slang terms for racial or religious
groups.
32
Word Choice CHAPTER 3
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
33
S
PELLING
College admissions essays a...
... and Nancy, and we took her
laptop.
(Whose laptop?)
Correct:
I went on the trip with Emily and Nancy, and we took Nancy’s
laptop.
40
Mechanics CHAPTER 4
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
41
ADJECTIVES
Adjectives ... lessons,
practice exercises, and quizzes to reinforce the material.
CHAPTER
Mechanics
4
4
Mechanics CHAPTER 4
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
...
... in class today: he had to fly to Houston to present a paper.
My teacher wasn’t in class today. He had to fly to Houston to present a paper.
The first example, with the colon, has the tone that ... CHAPTER 5
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 5 Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
56
Also included in this chapter are professional writers’ and...
... maintain consistency, and to conform to
formatting standards. These guides explain everything from how to write a bibliogra-
phy to how to indent paragraphs and when to use commas. The three most ... important thing to remember is that,
regardless of the topic, college admissions essays must be personal. The goal of the essay is
not simply to show off your writing skil...
... customer of the day, your brilliant but
disorganized teacher’s lecture on Emerson. Admissions officers will have to
keep reading to discover what you are writing about.
78
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER ... are stuck,
or want some direction for your writing.
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
CHAPTER 6 Untimed Essay Writing Strategies
78
◆ Resist any temptation to brag. D...