Grade 10 Notes for Session 1.

Scrambled Words Answer Key:

1. Paragraph 6. Thesis Statement

2. Topic 7. Main Idea
3. Introduction 8. Supporting Details
4. Body 9. Coherent
5. Conclusion 10. Transitional Expression

What is an essay?
A written composition that usually has three or more paragraphs.
An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but
the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a
pamphlet, and a short story.
 Essays are used to assess your understanding of specific ideas and your ability
to explain these in your own words.
 Essays are usually written in a discursive style, bringing together ideas, evidence
and arguments to address a specific problem or question.
 They follow a particular structure: you will set out your argument in the
introduction, build and present your argument in the main body, and should end
with your overall key message or argument in the conclusion.

Essays take time to complete. You will need to set aside time for the following stages of
writing:

1. Thinking about the question.

2. Gathering information and ideas.
3. Organizing your ideas.
4. Getting something on paper.
5. Writing a first draft.
6. Reviewing in light of feedback or reflection.
7. Producing a final draft.
Parts of an Essay:

1. Introduction - contains the thesis statement or the sentence that states what
the whole essay will be about.

 The purpose of this section is to introduce the topic and why it matters, identify
the specific focus of the paper, and indicate how the paper will be organized.

1. Begin your introduction by telling readers what the general topic of the paper is.
o To keep from being too broad or vague, try to incorporate a keyword from
your title in the first sentence.
2. Explain why the topic matters. Why should we care?
o For example, you might tell readers that the issue is part of an important
debate or provide a statistic explaining how many people are affected.  
3. Introduce key terms, theories, or texts that will be discussed throughout the
paper.
o Defining your terms is particularly important if there are several possible
meanings or interpretations of the term.
4. State the main point of your paper, and tell us how you will support it.
o Try to frame this as a statement of your focus. This is also known as a
purpose statement, thesis argument, or hypothesis.

2. Body - one or more paragraphs that discuss each point in the thesis statement.
each paragraph should have one main idea followed by supporting details
- use transitional expressions to achieve coherence.

 The purpose of this section is to provide information and arguments that follow
logically from the main point you identified in your introduction. 

1. Identify the main ideas that support and develop your paper’s main point.
2. Place these ideas in a logical order (e.g., by chronology or importance)
o For longer essays, you may be required to use subheadings to label your
sections.
3. Develop each idea in a paragraph or series of paragraphs. Not sure how to
structure your paragraphs? Try this approach:
o Point: Provide a topic sentence that identifies the topic of the paragraph.
o Proof: Give evidence or examples that develop and explain the topic (e.g.,
these may come from your sources).
o Significance: Conclude the paragraph with sentence that tells the reader
how your paragraph supports the main point of your essay.
 Purpose Expressions to use
To signify space and location above, around, at the, from the, in front of, nearby, there, through the
To signify time afterward, at last, furthermore, immediately, meanwhile, next, now, subseque
To signal addition again, also, and, and then, besides, further, in addition, last, next
To give examples or to intensify points after all, as an example, certainly, for instance, in fact, of course, that is

Purpose Expressions to use

To show similarities alike, in the same way, like, likewise, similarly
To show contrast although, but, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, unlike, while this may be true
To indicate cause and effect as a result, because, consequently, hence, since, therefore, thus
To conclude or summarize finally, in brief, in conclusion, in other words, in short, in summary, to summarize

3. Conclusion - wraps up the whole essay by restating the thesis statement and
closing the argument made.

 The purpose of this section is to summarize the main points of the essay and
identify the broader significance of the topic or issue.

1. Remind the reader of the main point of your essay (without restating it word-for-
word).
2. Do one (or more) of the following:
o Summarize the key ideas that supported your main point. (Note: No new
information or evidence should be introduced in the conclusion.) 
o Suggest next steps, future research, or recommendations.
o Answer the question “Why should readers care?” (implications,
significance).

How do I create a reference list?

 Find out what style guide you are required to follow (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago)
and follow the guidelines to create a reference list (may be called a bibliography
or works cited).
 Be sure to include citations in the text when you refer to sources within your
essay.

How do I improve my essay?

 Read assignment instructions carefully and refer to them throughout the writing
process.
 Pay close attention to “action” words used in the assignment description
 o e.g., describe, evaluate, analyze, explain, argue, trace, outline,
synthesize, compare, contrast, critique.
 Make an outline of your main sections before you write.
o For longer essays, you may find it helpful to work on a section at a time,
approaching each section as a “mini-essay.”
 Make sure every paragraph, example, and sentence directly supports your main
point.
 Avoid very short or very long paragraphs
o Aim for 5-8 sentences or ¾ page.
 Visit your instructor or TA during office hours to talk about your approach to the
assignment.
 Leave yourself time to revise your essay before submitting.

While reading a student’s essay, markers will ask themselves questions such as:

 Does this essay directly address the set task?

 Does it present a strong, supported position?
 Does it use relevant sources appropriately?
 Is the expression clear, and the style appropriate?
 Is the essay organized coherently? Is there a clear introduction, body and conclusion?

You can use these questions to reflect on your own writing. Here are six top tips to help
you address these criteria.

1. Analyze the question

Student essays are responses to specific questions. As an essay must address the
question directly, your first step should be to analyze the question. Make sure you know
exactly what is being asked of you.
Generally, essay questions contain three component parts:

 Content terms: Key concepts that are specific to the task

 Limiting terms: The scope that the topic focuses on
 Directive terms: What you need to do in relation to the content, e.g. discuss, analyze,
define, compare, evaluate.

2. Define your argument

 As you plan and prepare to write the essay, you must consider what your
argument is going to be. This means taking an informed position or point of view
on the topic presented in the question, then defining and presenting a specific
argument.
 Consider these two argument statements:
 The architectural use of light in Gothic cathedrals physically embodied the
significance of light in medieval theology.
Or:
 In the Gothic cathedral of Cologne, light served to accentuate the authority
and ritual centrality of the priest.

Statements like these define an essay’s argument. They give coherence by providing an
overarching theme and position towards which the entire essay is directed.

3. Use evidence, reasoning and scholarship

To convince your audience of your argument, you must use evidence and reasoning,
which involves referring to and evaluating relevant scholarship.

 Evidence provides concrete information to support your claim. It typically consists of

specific examples, facts, quotations, statistics and illustrations.
 Reasoning connects the evidence to your argument. Rather than citing evidence like a
shopping list, you need to evaluate the evidence and show how it supports your
argument.
 Scholarship is used to show how your argument relates to what has been written on
the topic (citing specific works). Scholarship can be used as part of your evidence and
reasoning to support your argument.

4. Organize a coherent essay

An essay has three basic components - introduction, body and conclusion.

5. Write clearly
An essay that makes good, evidence-supported points will only receive a high grade if it
is written clearly. Clarity is produced through careful revision and editing, which can turn
a good essay into an excellent one.
When you edit your essay, try to view it with fresh eyes – almost as if someone else had
written it.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Overall structure

 Have you clearly stated your argument in your introduction?

 Does the actual structure correspond to the ‘road map’ set out in your introduction?
 Have you clearly indicated how your main points support your argument?
 Have you clearly signposted the transitions between each of your main points for your reader?
 Paragraphs

 Does each paragraph introduce one main idea?

 Does every sentence in the paragraph support that main idea?
 Does each paragraph display relevant evidence and reasoning?
 Does each paragraph logically follow on from the one before it?

Sentences

 Is each sentence grammatically complete?

 Is the spelling correct?
 Is the link between sentences clear to your readers?
 Have you avoided redundancy and repetition?

5. Cite sources and evidence

Finally, check your citations to make sure that they are accurate and complete. Some
faculties require you to use a specific citation style (e.g. APA) while others may allow
you to choose a preferred one. Whatever style you use, you must follow its guidelines
correctly and consistently. You can use Recite, the University of Melbourne style guide,
to check your citations.