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    CAUSE/EFFECT ESSAY

    Memory Clusters

     

    In a cause/effect essay

    you present

    a thoughtful analysis

    of a timely subject.

     

    First decide

    what you know

    about the subject.

     

    Identify the

    most important points

    related to the subject

     

    Make clear

    cause/effect connections

    between these two points.

     

    Plan by establishing

    a thesis

    as well as

    an effective order

    for presenting ideas.

     

    The beginning

    should get

    the reader’s interest.

     

    You can give some

    background or history

    about the subject

    in the first paragraph.

     

    Specific statistics

    add authority to the essay.

     

    ‘Why’ is an important question

    in this essay.

     

    The conclusion

    should tie everything

    together.

    MEMORY TRIGGERS

     

     

    Analysis  ______________________

     

    _______________________________

     

     

    Identify _______________________

     

    ______________________________

     

     

    Decide ________________________

     

    ______________________________

     

     

    Make clear ____________________

     

    ______________________________

     

     

    Thesis ________________________

     

     

    First paragraph _________________

     

    ______________________________

     

     

    Specific _______________________

     

    ______________________________

     

     

    Important question _______________

     

     

    Conclusion _____________________

     

    _______________________________

     

    Copyright 2005 by Carl Peterson

     

    DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY

    Memory Clusters

     

    Use vivid

    sensory and memory details

    to bring your subject

    to life.

     

    Gather details before starting.

     

    Jot down every detail

    you can think about

    by imagining a painting.

     

    Write down characteristics

    as well as appearance.

     

    Think of experiences

    that illustrate your subject.

     

    Think about hearing

    seeing

    smelling

    touching

    tasting.

     

     

    Review your collection

    and decide on a focus.

     

    Now organize your ideas

    into a plan.

     

    After writing you should

    re-read and make

    a mental tour

    of your description.

     

    Always save time to revise

    and improve.

     

     

    MEMORY TRIGGERS

     

     

    Sensory and memory details ______

    _______________________________


    Before starting _________________

    _______________________________


    Jot down _______________________

    _______________________________


    Five senses: _____________________

    ________________________________


    Focus __________________________

    _______________________________


    Plan ___________________________

    _______________________________


    Re-read ________________________

    ________________________________


    Save time _______________________

    ________________________________

     

    Copyright 2005 by Carl Peterson

     

    ESSAY OF OPPOSING IDEAS

    Memory Clusters

     

    In an essay of opposing ideas

    you present two or more

    points of view

    related to the issue.

     

    First collect information.

     

    List facts and details

    in a column

    for each viewpoint.

     

    Think what message

    you want to get across.

     

    What will you say first

    second, third?

     

    Write your first draft.

     

    Have you addressed

    all the ideas

    fairly and completely?

     

    Revise your writing

    as necessary.

     

    Remember

    a short essay must have:

    an introduction

    a body of one to three paragraphs

    a conclusion

     

    Save 25%

    of your time

    to revise

    and improve

    your essay.

    MEMORY TRIGGERS

     

     

    Opposing ideas ____________________

    __________________________________


    First _____________________________

    __________________________________


    Columns __________________________

    __________________________________

     

     

    Message __________________________

    __________________________________


    Fairly and completely _______________

    __________________________________


    Three parts _______________________

    __________________________________

     

     

    Revision __________________________

    __________________________________

     

     

    Copyright 2005 by Carl Peterson

     

    EXPOSITORY ESSAY

    Memory Clusters

     

    You write expository essays

    about important concepts.

     

    Anytime you are asked to:

     

     inform

    explain

    examine

    discuss

    illustrate

    in writing

     

    You are developing

    and expository essay.

     

    You are not arguing

    for or against an idea.

     

    Follow the

    thesis-statement plus-support

    structure.

     

    Start and stop

    with your best information.

     

    Use examples

    to show your reader

    your ideas.

     

    You should start

    with a sentence

    that identifies

    the focus

    for your writing.

     

    Save time to revise.

     

    MEMORY TRIGGERS

     

     

    Important concepts ____________

    _____________________________


    Key words: ____________________

    ______________________________


    Structure: _____________________

    _____________________________

     

    Examples _____________________

    _____________________________

     

     

    For or against? _________________

    _____________________________


    Expository essays ________________

    _______________________________


    Identify focus ____________________

    _______________________________

     

     

    Revise _________________________

    Copyright 2005 by Carl Peterson

     

    PERSUASIVE ESSAY

    Memory Clusters

     

     

    The primary purpose

    of this type of essay

    is to convince the reader

    to think the way you do.

     

    Your subject

    will be controversial.

     

    There will be

    two or more viewpoints

    on the subject.

     

    You need to write a reasonable

    and thoughtful argument

    supporting one point of view.

     

    Plan your argument

    before you start writing.

     

    You may lead off

    with your most

    significant argument.

     

    You may want

    to save it for last

    to solidify your opinion.

     

    If you plan to counter

    opposing opinions

    do it early in your essay.

     

    Your essay needs

    an introduction,

    supporting paragraphs

    and a conclusion.

     

    Review your writing

    and revise.

     

    Always save about 20%
    of your time to revise.

    MEMORY TRIGGERS

     

     

     

    Primary purpose _________________

    _______________________________


    Controversial ___________________

    _______________________________


    Viewpoints _____________________

    _______________________________


    Reasonable _____________________

    _______________________________


    Plan ___________________________

    _______________________________


    First or last _____________________

    _______________________________


    Opposing opinions _______________

    _______________________________


    20% __________________________

    ______________________________

     

    Copyright 2005 by Carl Peterson