IN-CLASS ESSAY: WRITING STRATEGIES

Part of the Gavilan Writing CenterIn-Class Essay Series

The In-Class Essay

You will receive the article one week before you write the in-class essay.

You are allowed to annotate the text and make one page of notes to use.

Practical Steps to Successfully Revising Your Essay

1. Reading

2. Annotation

3. Making Notes

4. Author’s Thesis

5. Observations/Evidence/Examples

6. Quotations

7. Time Management

8. Proofreading

Read, Read, and Re-Read

Skim and Predict.

Read Casually.• Then put the

article away for a few hours.

Read and Annotate.• Highlight

ONLY main points.

• Write important thoughts/opinions in the margins.

Annotation

Highlight/Underline ONLY the main ideas in each paragraph. the author’s thesis statement (if you can

find it). Write short notes in the margins

Focus on key ideas, questions you have, strong opinions and reactions to the article.

Make Notes

Find a Note-Taking strategy that works for you.

Make a Reading

Log

Use the T.I.P.S. + Workshe

et

Use the Group

Worksheet:

Preparing for In-

Class Exams

Use theT.I.P.S.+

Handout

Author’s Thesis Statement

1. Re-read the article and review your notes.

2. Looking at all the main points, write the author’s thesis statement.

3. If your teacher allows, gather with a study group and review the article—compare your notes.

Edit and Proofread

After you write your essay, take a few minutes to go back and check your grammar and spelling.

Look for sentence-level errors (comma splices, run-on sentences, fragments), spelling errors, verb tense errors, etc.

Preparing to Write Your Essay Review the elements of a summary Decide whether you agree or disagree

with the author’s overall main point. Brainstorm for evidence from both the

text and from your knowledge and life experience to support your thesis.

Create an outline.