Unit 4: Writing the Essay
In the final unit of this course, we'll think about how to use a rubric and write the actual essay. Essay writing doesn't need to be a daunting and intimidating task. Using tools like rubrics and being prepared for the kinds of essays you may see can help you be successful on this exam.
This unit will explain rubrics and how to use them to help you write, how to write a support-based essay, and how to write an argument essay. Finally, we'll finish by thinking about the exam preparation material that may be available that explains how your essay will be scored and how you can best prepare by using those materials.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- use a rubric;
- write a source-based essay;
- write an argument essay; and
- revise an essay.
4.1: Using a Rubric
Depending on your exam, you may receive a rubric to help you prepare. A writing rubric lays out the criteria that are expected of your essays. Rubrics often provide a scale to show how an essay may be more or less successful. Rubrics are great tools for assessment, but they are also critical when writing as they tell you exactly what you need to do to achieve a high score on your essay. The following resource compiles common rubric criteria from writing exams. Review this rubric and consider how you can use it to strengthen your essay writing. If you don't have a rubric, use this one to assist you.
Knowing how to use a rubric can set you up to succeed on an essay before you start writing. As you prepare for your exam, see if the exam materials include a scoring rubric that you can use to assess your writing. This resource explains how you can use a rubric to write effective essays.
4.2: The Source-Based Essay
If your exam asks you to write a source-based essay, you need to use outside evidence to support your ideas and support your thesis. To do this, you need to introduce the source with a signal phrase, use the source appropriately, cite the source, and then explain how and why this source supports your idea. That seems like a lot, but this resource explains the steps and offers examples to show you quick and easy ways to integrate your source material effectively.
4.3: The Argument Essay
An argument or persuasive essay is one where you make a claim and then explain or argue why you are correct. An argument is not a fight or disagreement; it's a clearly-stated opinion that you back up with supporting ideas. Your goal is to convince the reader of your answer with the support and links you provide in your essay. This resource explains how to state an argument and use your evidence to back it up.
4.4: The Parts of an Essay
Now that we've examined the different kinds of essays, it's important to understand how all the pieces operate. Each part of an essay plays a particular role in conveying the writer's ideas to the reader. The following resource will show you how each part pulls together to create a unified essay.
Unit 4 Assessment
- Receive a grade
This unit discussed different essay styles and how to assess your writing. In this ungraded activity, you'll read a complete argument-based essay. Think about how you can use a rubric to practice writing stronger essays and the strategies you can use to develop your ideas in the exam.
- Receive a grade
In Units 1 through 3, you had the opportunity to practice writing short essays to test out the skills you developed. In Unit 4, we'll bring those skills together in a full 4-5 paragraph essay like what you'll encounter in the exam. As with the earlier practice exams, don't worry about timing yourself. Think about the strategies you've learned and practiced and how you might approach the argument or the source-based essay.