I am a pretty good student.. but when it comes to essays....I tremble.... i get really low grades... When i asked for teacher's help she is not very suppotive that i just should drop the honor english class... I can handle it.. but I really want to improve my essay ,, but i can't affod a tutor!! any suggestions?
2007-02-20 13:24:45 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
When you get your essay what type of 'red ink' do you see on your paper. Is it the word choice or are you not addresssing the prompt correctly. What students usually face in honors english is the haven't disciplined themselves to address the prompt instead they write the first thing that comes to mind, sure it sounds greaat and makes a cool impression, but if it doesnt address the prompt. it's a F.
The AP exams don't care which side you choose, as long as you address the prompt and provide evidence that supports your arguement. what you want to do is go beyond the 'normal' essay and make unique observations.
Good references are Macbeth, The Odyessy, History, current events in society... etc.
In other words, If i say "i think Romeo didn't like Juliet and he was using her to get back at the capulets" And if that's all i say, is that a good argument? I have to give reason why i think this and if i don't i deserve an F. The same thing applies to essays.
Always read your essays ALOUD, if you stumble over a sentence, you need to revise it. and have teacher's proof read it, or your friends.
and finally, make elevated observations and give examples to why you think this. That's an ESSAY.
p.s. Jane shaffer is crap in a bottle. NEVER use 'for example' and 'this is because' only if necessary, even that's a risk.
hope i helped.
2007-02-20 13:45:29 · answer #1 · answered by music.lover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try and seek avenues and reasons to write.
Notice out of the ordinary stuff....
take a normal incident and think of a twist as a what if... try and put pen to paper and give it to your teacher to correct..
blog it in PROPER english and have your friends comment.
or I could comment if you want.
Keep a journal to record your thoughts..
what you need is just to get into the habit of using english in writing. It's difficult because usually your english may be prone to colloquialisms.
So to break out of them and write properly is the challenge..
Take it... put pen to paper...
write like you've never written before..
For tips...watch "Finding Forrester" where a student receives writing advice from a one-novel marvel writer...
has a couple of good ideas...
Essays are all about lining up your thoughts properly...
When writing a novel you have to do a similar thing...
Every type of essay has a different theme and layout so learn these conventions from your teacher..
learn to listen, to observe and to imagine..
they help the most...
2007-02-20 13:33:26 · answer #2 · answered by s_d_sondhi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
like others have said, keep reading scholarly articles, newspaper articles esp. from college or the ny times/wall street journal, good books, not just adventurous ones.
also if possible, try to identify what's wrong with your essay and maybe you can work on improving that. like you i suffer from bad essays and i still do. i don't organize my ideas well and i dont make connections, but i give it my all. i asked my teacher what you asked yours, she said go get tutoring from tutors in my school which i haven't done. but i still read newspapers from local colleges to try to see what i'm missing so i replenish the missing parts of my essays.
good luck, its a long tough process i've asked all my english teachers to help me with, they all say its a skill that you develop over time. i guess practice makes perfect.
keep trying and don't give up.
http://essayinfo.com/
that's a reliable and informative source
http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays.htm
this is a selection of essays by renowned literary artist George Orwell
http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/politics-english-language1.htm
Politics and the English Language by George Orwell
This is a phenonmenal essay I read a few months ago, it may help you with your writing, it identifies the key factors augmenting the detrioration of proper English, maybe it could help you
2007-02-20 13:36:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you don't need a tutor for that. Just remember rules in writing a paragraph,write from your heart,write what you want. It will just come out of you as soon as you stop worrying about it. I've joined essay contests and I'm proud to say I won in most of them. It's not bad, as long as you know what you have to write. Good Luck!!
2007-02-20 13:30:30 · answer #4 · answered by lei 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of schools subscribe to www.smarthinking.com, which is a paid service, but schools pay to get a password. They have folks who will review the essay and email help--all online. Check with your school office to find out if it's a member.
2007-02-20 13:40:53 · answer #5 · answered by Tara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best way to learn to write is to read. You will learn what styles appeal to you and get a better feel for the way grammar, sentence structure, and spelling work together.
2007-02-20 13:33:38 · answer #6 · answered by Amanda M 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Find someone in your class who is good at writing and offer to help them with another subject if they will help you with writing. Even if they don't need any help, the fact that you offered may be enough for them to want to help you.
2007-02-20 14:57:55 · answer #7 · answered by Harbinger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
read novels and news papers. and some other english books
2007-02-20 13:27:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if your school has a tutorial center use it or use your friends as proofreaders
2007-02-20 13:28:27 · answer #9 · answered by katherinekimbrough 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋