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Essay Writing:

It is critical that you answer the prompt of a essay you are given.

Before you write your thesis, you need to know the topic you are going to write about.

Practice by coming up with a topic and a potential thesis statement for the following prompt.

Think about a time you were surprised. Surprises can be funny, scary, exciting, or any

combination of those and other feelings.

Thesis and Introduction

It is important that you give a little background information in the introduction of an essay so reader knows

what to expect.

The thesis should be your stance/argument/claim/etc. that your essay backs up.

It is also important to brain storm and come up with ideas that back up your thesis statement.

Practice by coming up with four different ideas for the following prompt:

Your state legislation is considering a bill that would require a person to earn a high school diploma before he or she could

receive a driver's license. What is your position on this issue?

MLA Citation...

Basic format for MLA citation.

Words words words "quote quote quote" (author page #)

Matt Sundeen of the National Conference of State Legislature says "it's definitely an issue that is gaining steam around

the country" (Layton 9).

The END punctuation goes outside the parentheses.

The parenthetical citation goes at the END of the sentence --- ALWAYS!

Titles are always italicized.

Romeo and Juliet

The Most Dangerous Game

Of Mice and Men

Grammar

What is the difference between a common noun and a proper noun?

A common noun is not the actually name of something: a canyon.

A proper noun is the name of a person, place, or thing; the Grand Canyon.

Tricks:

If you say: Yes, my dad went to the store. The word "dad" is lowercase because it is showing possession.

If you say; Yes, Dad went to the store. The word "dad" is now capitalized because it is his title.

If you say: I have an Australian shepherd. The word "Australian" is capitalized because it is a proper noun.

When do we use commas?

Before a coordinating conjunction.

After an introductory word group.

Between items in a series.

When do we use semicolons?

Between closely related independent clauses not joined with an coordinating conjunction.

Between independent clauses links with a transitional expression.

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