The+Simple+Gift

=The Simple Gift=



Steven Herrick's Website: @http://www.stevenherrick.com.au/

With notes on The Simple Gift: @http://www.stevenherrick.com.au/notes.htm

=**Essay Writing Help** = = = Your essay should have
 * An introduction
 * 3 body paragraphs
 * A conclusion


 * In your introduction, you **must** do two things: State your contention and outline the structure of your essay.
 * State your contention: what you believe / will argue in the essay
 * Outline the structure of your essay
 * Before you write your introduction, you need to know how many body paragraphs you are going to have, and the key points that these will cover
 * In the introduction, list what you will argue and the order in which you will argue it.
 * In your introduction **you may also choose to include:**
 * An introductory sentence describing the book or its context
 * A definition of any key terms in the question
 * If the question contained a quote, you may need to explain who said it, to whom, when they said it and what they meant
 * ** Do not use “I”, “I think”, “I believe” or “in my opinion”. ** The reader will know that what you are writing is your opinion, what you think and what you believe.
 * If you find it hard to begin writing your essay without the words “I believe…” or “I think…” then think these words, but start writing after them.
 * ** Similarly, do not use "my contention is" The reader will know a statement is your contention. **
 * Do not use "this essay will" or "in this essay". Simply state your contention, followed by the key points you will make, possibly separated by firstly, secondly, thirdly.

// Each body paragraph should deal with a different idea //


 * Each body paragraph should deal with a different idea. For example, you may wish to have a different paragraph for:
 * The different characters you wish to write about
 * Different sections or time periods of the novel
 * Different points you wish to make

When writing your body paragraphs, remember //TEEL//
 * Topic Sentence
 * Evidence
 * Explanation / Elaboration
 * Linking Sentence

// Topic Sentence //


 * Each body paragraph should begin with a topic sentence.
 * Topic sentences **must**:
 * State what you are going to argue in that paragraph – in other words, make a claim, which you will then back up or explain in the paragraph
 * Link back to the essay question / contention
 * Your topic sentence can also tell the reader in what order you will discuss key points.
 * Everything that follows the topic sentence should relate to/explain/give evidence supporting that sentence. If you think of another point, that doesn’t fit that topic sentence:
 * Put it in another paragraph OR
 * Redraft your topic sentence so it includes the new point.

// Evidence //
 * After your topic sentence, provide evidence to support your argument or idea. Evidence can include quotes or examples from the text.

// Using Quotes //


 * Use quotes from the novel to support your ideas
 * There are two forms of quote:
 * Direct quotes: Quotes from the novel that appear in your essay exactly as they appear in the novel are direct quotes. and should be surrounded with quotation marks.
 * Paraphrased quotes: If you summarise the quote, rephrase it, or can't remember exactly how it was written in the novel, this is a paraphrased quote. You should still explain who said the quote and to whom, but do not surround the quote with quotation marks.
 * Make sure you include who said the quote, to whom, and what it means
 * Try to include the page number wherever possible

// Explanation / Elaboration //


 * After you have written your topic sentence and provided evidence to support it, make sure you have explained what your evidence shows the reader and how it supports the paragraph’s argument or idea

// Linking Sentence //
 * In the best essays, the final sentence in each paragraph shows how the paragraph supports the essay’s main contention and / or links the paragraph to the next paragraph.


 * Finally, your conclusion should summarise what you have argued and reassert or restate your contention.


 * A text response essay should be written in a formal, academic style
 * Avoid colloquialisms and informal language and, if possible, abbreviations such as “don’t” and “can’t.” Use “do not” and “cannot”.