Guide to Writing an Essay
1
Guide to Writing an Essay
General guideline for writing an essay:
1. Think about the assignment and the purpose
2. Prepare an outline
3. Write the rough draft
4. Know how to use your source materials and cite them
5. Have others read and critique the paper
6. Revise and proofread
1. Think about the assignment and purpose:
Review current knowledge and research on a particular topic. The point of an essay is demonstrate one's understanding of current knowledge, as well as one's ability integrate information from various sources.
2. Prepare an Outline:
A great way to start is to develop and outline of the topic.
For example, if the topic is “Pollution in the marine environment” your outline may look like the following:
I. Where does pollution come from?
A. Sources of pollution
i. point source
ii. nonpoint source
II. What effect does it have on the marine environment?
A. Biotic Factors
i. plankton bloom
ii. fish die off
B. Abiotic Factors
i. nitrogen
ii. visibility
iii. dissolved oxygen
iv. sediment
3. Writing the rough draft:
Your essay should consist of three main parts:
1. Introduction
2. Middle (literature review)
3. Conclusion (summary of findings)
Quantity & Style Issues: Please type 3 pages using size 12 font, Arial or Times New Roman, and double space. Reference all information from other sources in the body of the essay and at the end of the essay on a Reference page. Please use APA format. Examples are provided on the next page of this handout.
4. Cite your references within your text and provide references at the end of your document. Cite using the following examples:
Guide to referencing sources
Refer to Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed). (2001). Washington, D.C. At KCC & WCC Library, the call number is: BF76.7 .P83 2001
Quoting information:
If you quote, use proper citation, e.g., Colman (1996) stated that “Many pollutants have an impact on global warming …” (p. 63).
In addition, a paper should contain no more than 10% quotes.
Citing information within a essay:
Zooxanthellae are dinoflagellates found living in a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with its coral host (Gulko, 1998).
Journal:
Jenkins, C. (1999). Red tide and dinoflagellates. Ocean Research, 33(2), 22-25.
Book:
Price, P. (1996). Biological Oceanography. NY: Saunder’s Publishing Co.
Internet: try to avoid using because they tend to be unreliable, but if you do use the internet, try to get as much information about the cite as possible. For example,
Mitchel, R. (2002). Benthic invertebrate fauna. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI. Available URL at: www.deepsea.com. (fake site)
When quoting from an internet site that does not provide page numbers, use the paragraph number. (Myers, 2000, ¶ 5)
Class Lecture or Notes:
Smith, M. (2005). Oceanography 201 (personal communication). Honolulu, HI: Kapiolani Community College.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE - USE YOUR OWN WORDS AND THOUGHTS.
5. Have others read and critique the paper:
Take advantage of the Learning Center on campus. Make an appointment and have them critique your paper or ask a friend to look it over.
6. Revise and proofread:
Be sure to reread your paper before handing it in. Also, be sure to hand it in on time to avoid any penalties for tardiness.
Evaluation and Grading
The following criteria will be used for evaluation and grading of your essay
1) The introduction clearly identifies the topic.
2) You demonstrate an understanding of the concepts involved with the issue.
3) The organization of the essay is logical and easy to follow.
4) You've addressed the main content items requested for the essay.
5) Your conclusions are logical and well-supported.
6) Your grammar and spelling are correct.
7) Proper referencing