Essay Writing Cheat Sheet

 

YOU MUST KEEP THIS SHEET IN YOUR BINDER AT ALL TIMES!

Seven Steps of Essay Writing

  1. Read and Analyze the question.
    • What is the question asking?
    • What is the question asking you to do?
    • What type of question is it?
  2. Collect and sort the data needed to answer the question.
    • Brainstorm a list of factual information.
    • Create categories for this information.
  3. Create your thesis statement.
    • The thesis is your answer to the question.  It is the guiding argument of the essay.
    • The thesis must fully address the question, take a position with regard to the question, and provide organizational categories for analysis.
  4. Write the introduction to your essay.
    • Begin with a broad statement on the topic.
    • Narrow the paragraph with 2-3 sentences that bring the question into focus.
    • Conclude with the thesis statement.
  5. Write the body of the essay.
    • Each paragraph must have a topic sentence.
    • Each paragraph must have evidence, or historical fact.
    • Each paragraph must have analysis, which may be presented as interpretation or commentary.
    • Each paragraph must contain a “clincher” sentence.
    • Each paragraph must contain a transition sentence that directs the reader to the next paragraph.
  6. Write the conclusion.
    • The conclusion must reinforce the thesis, not restate it.
    • The conclusion must summarize the main points of the body paragraphs.
    • The conclusion must synthesize the clincher sentences.
    • The conclusion must address “So what?” (historical significance).
  7. Proofread your essay.
    • Eliminate grammatical errors.
    • Eliminate contradictions between the thesis and the body.

 

Types of Essay Questions

  1. Change over time – Questions that ask you to look at a period of history and explain the evolution of a particular aspect within the time frame given.  For example, “Between 1790 and 1870 the economic growth of the US was significantly stimulated by government aid.”  Discuss this growth.
  1. Cause and effect – Questions that ask you to weigh factors and explain the resulting relationship between those factors and the end result.  For example, “Why did the US enter the First World War?”.
  1. Compare and contrast – Questions that ask you to show similarities and differences on the topic given.  For example, “Compare and contrast the Northern Renaissance with the Italian Renaissance.”
  1. Define and Identify – Questions that ask you to identify key factors by both definition and historical significance.  “Identify the social, political and economic factors that led to the Age of Exploration.”
  1. Statement/Reaction – Questions that ask you to form an opinion, on a given statement, based on historical evidence.  For example, “‘Slavery was the sole cause of the Civil War.’ Evaluate this statement.”
  1. Evaluation – Questions that ask you to form an opinion based on good or bad, right or wrong, based on historical evidence.  For example, “Select any three of the following and evaluate their effectiveness as political leaders.”
  1. Analyzing Viewpoints – Questions that ask you defend or refute a given historical viewpoint based on historical evidence.  For example, “Defend the economic policies of Hitler in the years 1921 – 1933 in Germany.”

 

Key Terms

  1. Analyze – to break into parts and explain the parts
  2. Cause/Effect – the beginning/ the result
  3. Chronological – events put in the order they happened
  4. Clarify – to make clear
  5. Compare – show how two things are alike
  6. Contrast – show how two things are different
  7. Describe – to tell how something looks or how it happened
  8. Discuss – to tell about the main points and important details
  9. Define – to give the meaning
  10. Diagram – to make a drawing of something and label its parts
  11. Enumerate – to make a list
  12. Evaluate – to give your opinion of what is important; discuss its good and bad points; discuss its strengths and weaknesses
  13. Explain - to give facts that elucidate
  14. Fact – something that can be proven to be true
  15. Illustrate – to give examples
  16. Infer – to make a conclusion based on fact
  17. Interpret – to offer an explanation
  18. Justify – to give good reasons
  19. Opinion – belief based on what a person thinks or feels
  20. Predict – to make a guess about the future
  21. Prove – to show something is true by giving facts
  22. Question – to ask
  23. Reflect – to think about
  24. Relate – to show how things are alike or connected
  25. Sequence – to put in the correct order
  26. State – to give the main points or reasons\
  27. Summarize – to briefly cover the main points
  28. Trace – to tell about the progress or growth

 

Transition and Signal Words for Essays

Sequence and Chronological

Order Stem

After

Afterwards

Ago

Already

At last

At the same time

As

Before

During

Eventually

Even now

Finally

(the) final

First, first of all

Following

For a time

Further, furthermore

Immediately

Initially

In the first place

In the meantime

Last, lastly

Later

Long after

Meanwhile

Next

Now

Not long after

Once

On (date)

Preceding

Presently

Second, secondly

Several

Sometimes

Soon, soon after

Some

Subsequently

Suddenly

Then

Thereafter

Third

To begin with

Today

Until

While

 

 

Compare and Contrast Stems

Although

Also

As opposed to

As well as

But

By comparison

Compared with

Conversely

Despite

Different from

Either…or

Even though

Equally important

However

In comparison

In contrast

In like manner

In the same way

In spite of

Instead of

Just as

Like

Likewise

Neither…nor

Nevertheless

Notwithstanding

On the contrary

Not only…but also

On the other hand

Rather then

Regardless

Same as

Similarly

Still

Unlike

Unless

Whereas

While

Yet

Stems for Examples

Another

For example

For instance

Furthermore

First, second, etc…

In addition

Most important

Namely

Specifically

Such as

To begin with

That is

To illustrate

Cause and Effect Stems

Accordingly

As a result

As if

As though

Because

Consequently

Hence

In order to

If…then

It follows that

May be due to

Nevertheless

Provided that

Since

So

So that

Then

Therefore

Thus

Emphasis Words

Besides

Certainly

Furthermore

Indeed

Moreover

Obviously

Of course

Conclusion Words

As a result

Consequently

For this reason

In brief

In other words

In short

It follows that

In fact

On the whole

Therefore

Thus

To summarize

To sum up