1. ASManager2_6.zip Driver
2. E_CMPLX2.txt File Contents

E_CMPLX2.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2_6.zip)

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

Complex Essay Questions, Part 2

As you learned in the preceding file, writing good, clear answering topic sentences is the first step toward successfully answering an essay question. To complete the essay as successfully as possible, you also want to try to do the following:

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

For example, let's say the question is, "Tell about how you like your favorite food prepared and how you eat your favorite food." Here are some possible answering topic sentences:

1. I like my favorite food, pizza, made with a thick crust, gobs of cheese, and tons of pepperoni, meatballs, and mushrooms...

2. It is not easy to explain how I eat my favorite food, but I will try. (Now you must stick to your subject. Don't write about your three favorite foods or what used to be your favorite food. You need to stay to the topic of this paragraph.

Note that you have two different subjects and therefore you will have at least two different paragraphs.

Here is another example: The question is, "Tell about three things you wonder about." You will probably need three paragraphs in your answer. Below are the topic sentences for each of these three paragraphs.

1. Three things I wonder about are love, death, and "why." What I wonder about love is...

2. Death makes me ask one important question...

3. The third thing I wonder about is "why."

Choose one of the following essay questions and answer it as completely as you can.

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

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

My Complex Essay Answer

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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. Are all the details related to the main topic?

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

Now retype or copy your essay in the space below. Then improve your answer by considering the five questions above.

My Complex Essay Answer, Draft 2

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

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

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 main topic?

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


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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