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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