1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. C_SIMPL2.txt File Contents

C_SIMPL2.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

Name: <  >
Class: <  >
Date: <  >

Simplest Essay Questions, Part 2

In the preceding file, you learned the first step toward answering essay questions successfully. This is to begin your essay answer with a good, clear topic sentence which repeats the essay question -- an answering topic sentence. Below are some more tips on writing answers to essay questions.

1. Stick to the topic all the way through your answer.

2. Organize your ideas logically.

3. Give as many details as you can.

4. Make sure the details you give relate to the topic.

5. Summarize or otherwise bring your answer to a conclusion.

Essay Question

Tell about how you eat your favorite food.

Possible Answering Topic Sentence

It is not easy to explain how I eat my favorite food, but I will try.

Now you must stick to the subject. You shouldn't write about your three favorite foods or what used to be your favorite food. You need to stay to the topic -- how you eat your favorite food.

Complete Essay Answer

It is not easy to explain how I eat my favorite food, but I will try. My favorite food is pizza. It is served at Tony's Pizza and Billiards Parlor. Sometimes I play billiards with Chris. Chris is very good. When the pizza is cool I eat it. When I don't wait until it cools, I burn my mouth.

What is wrong with this answer? Is it well-organized? Do I understand why the writer plays billiards? Does Chris's billiard-playing skill have anything to do with how the writer eats pizza? Does the ending provide a conclusion to the main topic?

Complete Essay Answer, Revised

It is not easy to explain how I eat my favorite food, but I will try. My favorite food is pizza. I like to order two medium pizzas rather than one large pizza because large pizzas are too drippy and soggy in the middle. I look at the pizzas for a minute or two so they have time to cool. Then I can't wait any longer so I pick off a pepperoni or a meatball. I do this very carefully so I don't get any sauce or cheese on my fingers.

I eat this first bite as slowly as I can because I'm still waiting for the pizza to cool. After about three minutes, I take a slice and hold it and fold it so the sharp end of the slice is aiming at my mouth. Then I eat pretty fast. I usually leave a lot of crust but then if I'm still hungry I eat parts of the crust later. I almost always burn my mouth a little, but I don't mind. Hot pizza is worth a little pain.

Scroll back through the essay and answer these questions in your mind:

1. Does the essay stick to the topic all the way through the answer?

2. Is the essay logically organized?

3. Are enough details given?

4. Do all of the details relate to the topic sentence?

5. Is the answer summarized or otherwise brought to a conclusion?

Choose one of the following essay questions and answer it as completely as you can. Follow the suggestions you have just learned for writing a good essay answer.

1. Tell about a time when you were very frightened.

My Answer <  >

2. Tell about a time when you were very happy.

My Answer <  >

Reread your essay and consider the following:

1. Does the essay stick to the topic all the way through the answer?

2. Is the essay logically organized?

3. Are enough details given?

4. Do all of the details relate to the topic?

5. Is the answer summarized or otherwise brought to a conclusion?


Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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Now retype or copy your essay below. Then improve it by considering the five questions listed above.

My Answer Draft 2

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Now have a friend read your essay and see if that person has any suggestions based on the five criteria for evaluation we are using.


If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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end of activity
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