Responding Effectively to Essay Assignments
| Learning Objectives: - Select an appropriate essay structure and format to effectively respond to college-level writing assignments.
- Develop a thesis statement in response to an essay question to show understanding of a reading or class lecture.
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LESSON
It is possible to develop a well-written essayA short piece of writing that focuses on at least one main idea. Some essays are also focused on the author's unique point of view, making them personal or autobiographical, while others are focused on a particular literary, scientific, or political subject. for a college class and still make a poor grade if the essay does not properly respond to the promptInstructions for a writing assignment given by an instructor. that you were given. To make sure that you do not waste time and effort, you need to be able to translate the essay questions that you will encounter in any college writing assignments.
In this lesson, you will learn the four steps to properly respond to college writing assignments and how to develop effective thesis statementsA brief statement that identifies a writer's thoughts, opinions, or conclusions about a topic. Thesis statements bring unity to a piece of writing, giving it a focus and a purpose. You can use three questions to help form a thesis statement: What is my topic? What am I trying to say about that topic? Why is this important to me or my reader? in response to those assignments.
Step 1: Understand the question type.
It is important to recognize what an essay question is asking. It is helpful to recognize the four major categories of essay questions: summarizingTo give a short version of the main points of a text., explaining relationships, applying previously learned principlesA fundamental belief that guides a person's behavior, or a law that describes the occurrence of natural phenomena., and expressing your opinionPoint of view that shows a personal belief or bias and cannot be proven to be completely true..
Here are examples of each major category of essay questions.
Summarizing essay question:
In your own words, summarize the plot of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Explaining relationships essay question:
What is/are the relationship(s) between human personalities and their choice of pet? For example, what are the commonalities among people who adopt dogs versus cats or birds?
Applying learned principles essay question:
Applying the previously learned principles of bioethics—beneficence (of benefit to the patient), nonmaleficence (doing no harm), justice (fairness), and autonomy (the right to make one's own decisions)—is it ethical for people to refuse vaccinations?
Expressing your opinion essay question:
In your opinion, should all cities provide varied forms of public transportation systems? Why or why not?
Step 2: Identify the keywords.
If you can look closely at the language used in the essay question, you will know what your instructor is asking of you. KeywordsWords that are important to understanding the meaning of a passage or reading. like state and list indicate that you should summarize material while criticize or thoughts suggest that you should express your opinion.
Step 3: Identify the essay structure.
Once you have identified the question type and keywords, you will understand how to identify the type of essay you need to write. For example, if you are asked to discuss the consequences of a situation, you should write an essay that looks into the effects of that situation, so you might choose to write a cause and effect essayAn examination of the relationship between why and/or how something happened. Causes, which are usually events or actions, lead to effects, or the consequences of those causes.. Other types of essay structures include definitionA writing that explains a term or concept using a variety of techniques such as research, statistics, historical and popular references, comparisons, abstractions, and other ideas., compare and contrastA written discussion of both the similarities and differences between people, objects, or ideas. This type of essay shows how things are alike in some ways (compare) as well as how they are different in other ways (contrast)., analysisTo analyze is to make a thoughtful and detailed study of something. An analysis is the end result of analyzing., and argument/persuasionA writing that takes a position for or against something and tries to convince the reader to accept the same view. Also called a persuasion essay..
Step 4: Develop your thesis statement.
Finally, develop your thesis statement. Consider using wording from the question in your thesis. For example, if the essay question reads, "Outline the stages of mitosis," your thesis might begin, "There are six stages in mitosis..."
Below is a chart that outlines the four major question types, the possible keywords used in the prompts, the corresponding organizational structure, and sample prompts and thesis statements.
| Question Type | Keywords | Essay structure | Sample Prompt | Sample thesis statement |
| Summarize | trace, state, review, outline, list, enumerate | Summarize/ restate the material Definition and example | List the major steps in the rock cycle. | There are three major steps in the rock cycle—metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary. |
| Explain relationships | compare, contrast, relate, explain, discuss | Compare/ contrast Cause/effect | Discuss the relationship between the Senate and the House of Representatives. | The Senate and the House of Representatives have a symbiotic relationship—one could not exist without the other as evidenced in four particular situations. |
| Apply previously learned principles. Transfer principles learned in the course to another situation. | explain, prove, illustrate, justify, show, analyze, evaluate | Analysis | In 2011, a Cezanne painting, The Card Players, sold for more than $250 million. Explain why the painting sold for more than any other painting, even accounting for inflation. | The age, complexity, and provenance of Cezanne's The Card Players justifies the high price it fetched in 2011. |
| Express your opinion | criticize, opinion, think, feel | Persuasion | What time do you think the school day should begin? | There are three reasons why the school day should not start before nine o'clock in the morning. |
+ PRACTICAL APPLICATIONOne of the most necessary and vital skills learned in college courses is how to decipherTo figure out something confusing or complicated. writing assignments. Unless you understand what the assignment is asking of you, it is difficult to know where to begin, how to organize your thoughts and materials, and how to come up with a thoughtful, conciseDescribes writing that only uses words that are necessary for clarity, meaning, and interest., and accurate thesis statement.
This skill also applies to the professional work environment. Regardless of what type of work you may choose to pursue, it is likely that at some point a future boss will provide you with a written assignment. Perhaps the task will be to summarize the pros and cons of the current workplace policy on cell phone usage. Or maybe you will be asked to write a persuasion essay regarding the selection of one or more different project proposals. No matter what form the assignment takes, being able to utilize and transfer the analysis and writing skills you develop in college is very useful in the workplace.
Below are examples of a number of prompts for essay assignments. Note the question type, which essay structure is most appropriate for each prompt, and a possible thesis statement for each prompt.
- What are patents? How do they differ from trademarks and copyrights? Briefly explain and compare the concepts, citing examples of each.
This is an example of an explaining relationships essay question. The words that signal this structure are explain and compare. Further, when a question asks you to look at two or more concepts and compare them, it indicates some kind of relationship you are expected to explore. In this case, it is the relationship between patents, trademarks, and copyrights and more specifically, how they are different. A compare/contrast essay would be the appropriate essay structure for this prompt.
A suitable thesis for this prompt could be: Patents, trademarks, and copyrights all serve to protect the property of inventors; however, the concepts differ in terms of what kind of property they protect and the duration of that protection.
- Applying the principles learned over the course of the semester, define corporate social responsibility and explain how it plays out in today's business world.
This is an example of an applying learned principles essay question. The phrase applying the principles learned over the course of the semester signals that you are being asked to take previously studied material and apply it to a specific issue or environment. An analysis essay would be the appropriate essay structure for this prompt.
A suitable thesis for this prompt could be: Corporations have an obligation to go beyond turning a profit and boosting the economy. Corporations are encouraged to be socially responsible by taking into account how decisions impact human beings, communities, and the environment.
- Do pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to provide consumers with a list of every single possible side effect of each manufactured drug and/or device? Why or why not?
This is an example of an expressing your opinion essay question. It is the kind of question that may or may not require you to refer to citationsA reference within a text to an outside source of ideas, quotes, or information. Citations can be placed within sentences or in a separate works cited or reference section, as specified by the style guide in use., learned materials, or texts. It also concludes with the question, "Why or why not?" indicating that this is an issue for you to explore based on your own thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Also, there is likely no "correct answer" to the question. A persuasion essay would be the appropriate essay structure for this prompt.
A suitable thesis for this prompt could be: Pharmaceutical companies should be required to disclose every single possible side effect of every drug and device they manufacture. Consumers have the right to know all risks and dangers associated with a medication or procedure so they can make informed decisions about their own health care.
- Briefly summarize the plot of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams.
This is an example of a summarizing essay question. You can recognize this because the question directly asks you to summarize the plot of the author's play. A summary essay would be the appropriate essay structure for this prompt.
A suitable thesis for this prompt could be: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is the tale of two sisters and their troubled relationships with the men in their lives.
Below are a number of prompts for essay assignments. Identify the question type and the essay structure that is most appropriate for each prompt. Then, develop a suitable thesis for each prompt.
- Should free healthcare be provided for all Americans? Why or why not?
What is the question type?
What are the keywords and what do they indicate?
The use of the word should and the question, Why or why not?, signal a debatable issue, i.e., one that is based on your own thoughts, ideas, and opinions.
What is the essay structure?
Develop a possible thesis statement for this prompt.
Although the cost of healthcare in this country is astounding, leaving many people without the coverage and treatments they so desperately need, I do not think healthcare should be provided for free for all Americans because there is also a percentage of the population that can more than afford to cover their own healthcare costs.
- What is whistleblowing? Summarize the issue, providing an example from today's popular media.
What is the question type?
What are the keywords and what do they indicate?
The word summarize signals this categorization.
What is the essay structure?
Develop a possible thesis statement for this prompt.
Whistleblowing, or the practice of an employee exposing unethical or illegal corporate conduct, has received much media attention with the case of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange.
- Compare and contrast the benefits of working as a salaried employee versus an hourly employee.
What is the question type?
What are the keywords and what do they indicate?
The phrase compare and contrast and the setting forth of two concepts in relationship to one another signal this.
What is the essay structure?
Develop a possible thesis statement for this prompt.
While salaried employees typically enjoy medical and dental benefits, a greater degree of job security, and mobility within an organization, hourly employees are offered increased schedule flexibility, the ability to work more than one job, and the potential for earning overtime pay.
- Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a love story and a tragedy. Explain these categorizations, using examples from the text.
What is the question type?
Applying learned principles
What are the keywords and what do they indicate?
The word explain indicates the need to analyze the subject. The phrasing of the question implies that you have read the play. It is prompting you to use your knowledge of and actual language from Romeo and Juliet to explore the idea that the story can be both tragic and romantic.
What is the essay structure?
Develop a possible thesis statement for this prompt.
Although most film productions of Romeo and Juliet lean toward romance genre, it is actually a tragedy of epic proportions. Certainly there is love—requited and unrequited—but it all ends in heartache and death.
How should you approach any new writing assignment?
Before digging into the outlining and writing of any assignment, I will make sure that I understand the question I am being prompted to answer. Examining the keywords will help me with this. After considering the four types of essay questions and determining which is most suitable, I will then decide the best way to organize my writing, and then write my thesis statement.
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