Write an essay
In this unit, you have been writing informative material about topics that focus on the environment. After you finished your first draft, you reviewed your writing, keeping in mind your purpose. Your reason for writing has mostly been to inform or to explain. When writing informative or explanatory material, purposes might include:
to inform readers about a topic
to explain a process or issue
to persuade readers to agree with an opinion
to motivate readers to do something
to describe a person, place, or thing
to reflect on an experience or feeling
As you reviewed your writing, you also kept in mind your audience—people who will be reading your work. You may write for a single reader, such as your Learning Coach or a friend. You may write for a larger audience, such as newspaper readers or for members of a club or student group. Whatever your audience, keeping them in mind helps guide you by reminding you to consider what readers are likely to know about your topic and what they will find most interesting.
Environmental topics can be complex. They often link different subject areas and involve current events. For example, an examination into how warming oceans impact coral reefs includes science facts about coral polyps, ecosystems, and the exchange of CO2 between the ocean and the atmosphere. It also involves understanding how society and governments impact the natural world.
Still, writing about environmental topics doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Narrowing your topic to a specific focus helped you target your research and manage information. Keeping in mind your purpose and audience also helped you include appropriate details and convey them in a suitable tone.
Now, as you read over your finished draft, ask yourself how well it suits your purpose and audience. To determine whether you need to make any final revisions, consider these questions:
What is my purpose for writing? Does my essay fulfill this purpose?
Are there places where I departed from my purpose, and if so, how?
Did I include any elements that do not belong in informative or explanatory writing, such as opinions or personal reflections?
What is my audience? What are my readers likely to know about this topic? Do I need to define terms or explain things more clearly? Are my sentence structures and language appropriate?
Which of my points will interest my audience most? Did I emphasize those points, or highlight them in my introduction?
The rubric will help you to assess your writing. Read it carefully to see how well you have followed the rules for writing informative/explanatory texts.
Read over your finished writing product and think about these questions. Write your reflections in your journal.
How useful was the organizational plan you created in helping you with the writing process? How closely did you follow your plan? Would your essay have been more effective if you followed your plan more closely, or did your final organization make more sense?
How effective do you think your text was in achieving its purpose? Do you think your text is written in a way that appeals to your audience?
Did you include all the information you wanted? Was there anything additional that you wish you had included?
How heavily did you revise your text in the revising and editing process? In what ways did your changes improve your text?
The organizational plan I created was extremely useful in helping me with the writing process. It provided me with a clear structure and roadmap for my essay, ensuring that I included all the necessary information and stayed on track with my purpose. I followed my plan quite closely, making minor adjustments along the way to ensure that my ideas flowed smoothly and logically.
I believe that my text was effective in achieving its purpose of informing and explaining. I provided relevant and accurate information about the environmental topics I addressed, and I presented it in a clear and concise manner. I also made sure to use language and sentence structures that were appropriate for my audience, avoiding any complex jargon or technical terms that may have been confusing.
When reviewing my finished draft, I did include all the information I wanted to cover. However, there were some areas where I felt that I could have gone into more depth or provided additional examples to support my points. In future revisions, I would consider expanding on certain sections to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.
During the revising and editing process, I made several changes to improve my text. I focused on clarifying my explanations and ensuring that my ideas were presented in a logical and coherent manner. I also paid attention to the flow and coherence of my paragraphs, making sure that each one connected smoothly to the next. Additionally, I checked for any grammatical or spelling errors and made necessary corrections.
Overall, I am satisfied with the revisions I made and believe that they significantly improved the quality and effectiveness of my essay. I am confident that my text will appeal to my intended audience and provide them with valuable information on the environmental topics discussed.
Organizational Plan usefulness:
The organizational plan that I created was very helpful in guiding me through the writing process. It provided a clear structure for my essay and helped me stay organized and focused on my topic. I followed my plan quite closely, as I found that it helped me present my information in a logical and coherent manner. However, I did make some adjustments along the way to ensure that the flow of my essay was smooth and that the information was presented effectively. Overall, I believe that my essay would have been less effective if I had not followed my organizational plan closely.
Effectiveness in achieving purpose:
I believe that my text was quite effective in achieving its purpose, which was to inform and explain. I provided clear and concise information about my chosen environmental topic and presented it in a way that was easy for my audience to understand. I made sure to address the main points and provide relevant details to support my arguments. Additionally, I used a tone that was informative and unbiased, which I believe appeals to my audience. Overall, I am satisfied with how well my text achieved its purpose.
Inclusion of information:
I believe I included all the necessary information in my essay to effectively inform and explain my topic. I conducted thorough research and made sure to cover all the relevant aspects of my chosen environmental topic. However, upon reflection, there were a few additional details that I wish I had included to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the subject. In future revisions, I would consider adding these additional points to further enhance the information provided in my essay.
Revisions in the revising and editing process:
I heavily revised my text during the revising and editing process. I focused on refining my sentences and paragraphs for clarity and coherence. I also made sure to eliminate any unnecessary information or repetition. I found that these revisions significantly improved the overall flow and readability of my essay. Additionally, I paid close attention to grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors, ensuring that my text was polished and professional. Overall, the revisions I made greatly enhanced the quality of my essay.
When it comes to writing an essay, there are several key steps to follow in order to ensure a successful and effective piece of writing. Let's go through each step and explain its importance in the writing process:
1. Understand your purpose: Before starting your essay, it is crucial to determine the purpose of your writing. In this case, the purpose is to inform or explain. Identifying your purpose helps you stay focused and ensures that your content aligns with your intended goal. For example, if you are explaining a process, your essay should provide clear, step-by-step instructions.
2. Define your audience: Knowing your audience is essential because it helps you tailor your writing to their level of knowledge and interests. Consider who will be reading your essay and what they already know about the topic. This will guide your writing style, language choices, and level of detail. For instance, if your audience is well-informed about the environment, you can assume a higher level of knowledge and skip basic explanations.
3. Research and gather information: Environmental topics are often complex and multidisciplinary. Conduct thorough research to collect relevant and reliable information. Use a variety of sources such as books, scholarly articles, reputable websites, and reports. Take notes and keep track of your sources for proper referencing later on.
4. Develop an organizational plan: Creating an outline or organizational plan helps you structure your essay and ensure logical flow. Start with an introduction that captures the reader's attention and provides an overview of your topic. Then, organize your main points into paragraphs, using topic sentences to introduce each one. Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and leaving the reader with a final thought.
5. Write your first draft: With your research and organizational plan in hand, start writing your first draft. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper without worrying too much about perfect grammar or word choice at this stage. Just ensure that your writing remains informative and explanatory, sticking to the purpose and avoiding personal opinions or reflections.
6. Revise and edit: Once you have completed your first draft, take the time to carefully review and revise your essay. During this process, evaluate whether your essay fulfills its purpose, adheres to the informative/explanatory style, and meets the needs of your target audience. Look for any areas where you may have deviated from your purpose, and make necessary revisions to realign your content.
7. Polish your writing: After revising, focus on editing your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar. Check for any areas where you can improve sentence structures or replace vague language with specific terminology. Ensure that the essay flows smoothly from one idea to the next, and that there are no spelling or punctuation errors. Use the rubric provided to assess your writing and ensure it meets all the necessary criteria.
By following these steps and considerations, you can create an effective and well-written essay on environmental topics. Remember, practice makes perfect, so continue refining your writing skills by seeking feedback and revising accordingly.