GUIDELINES ON HOW TO WRITE GOOD ESSAYS.

Effective Article Writing - How to Write an Article
Part 2
Copyright Herman Drost

In Part 1 we discussed the research you must do first before
writing your article.
Part 2 will provide the outline on how to to write the actual article.

1. Create an outline for your article

Your article should include a headline, introduction, body,
conclusion and resource box.

Headline - make this as catchy as possible because your
reader will read this first then decide if he or she will
continue reading the rest of the article. i.e.

"7 Highly Effective Ways to Gain Instant Traffic
to Your Web Site".

Introduction - introduce the problem you will be discussing
in your article or write a short story of your experience
with the problem.

Body - discuss all the solutions to the problem you
outlined in the introduction. Break up each point into
separate paragraphs and keep them to about 5 lines. You may
want to create a sub-heading for each point. This makes it
easier to read as most people will scan your article when
reading it online.

Conclusion - this should include a brief summary of your
article and a call for the reader to take action. i.e. "Be
sure to include article marketing as one of the top
strategies for promoting your web site. It's a self
generating marketing machine that produces a constant flow
of visitors".

Resources - I sometimes include this section if I haven't
included it already within the body of the article. I want
the reader to quickly access the resources without having
to re-read the article.

Resource box - this is the place you can safely include a
little about yourself and your business plus provide a link
to your web site or newsletter (see my resource box below).
This provides an opportunity for readers to visit your web
site, learn more about your product or services and/or
subscribe to your newsletter. The box should be a maximum
of 6 lines.

Write with style - write in an informal style, like you
would explain your topic to a friend. Don't worry too much
about correcting mistakes or how it sounds. This may
interrupt the flow of thoughts you want to write about. You
can always correct them later.

3. Take a break

After you have written the article, come back to it after
several hours, a day or several days. This will enable you
to take a fresh look at it, find new mistakes or even want
to rewrite a paragraph or two to make it flow better.

4. Check your article

After writing your article, run it through a spell checker
first, then read it through a few times to check for
spelling mistakes the spell checker may have missed and to
correct the grammar and punctuation. Make sure it flows
well by clearly identifying the problem, providing a
solution and concluding with an action step or steps. Get
someone else to read it over. Often they will find the
mistakes that you missed.

5. Format your article

You will need to format your sentence length at 60-65 words
per line before submitting it for publication. This will
enable people to read it in their email software. If the
sentence length is longer than this the article may break
up making it impossible to read.

I use Ezy Ezine Ad Formatter
(http://www.netpreneurnow.com/easy/ ) to effortlessly
format my articles before submitting it to online
publishers. If it's not the correct length it will be
rejected.

Conclusion

If you consistently write an article every week or 2 weeks
and submit it for publication you will soon generate a
steady stream of traffic to your web site for years to
come.

How to Write a Speech

Write a Speech

Writing a speech is in many ways like writing a paper, except that there is no penalty for spelling and punctuation errors. Try not to use words you are not comfortable pronouncing or don't know the meaning of because it can lead to a less fluently delivered speech.

Instructions

o 1

Assess how much time your speech should take. If you don't have a time limit, try to keep your speech brief yet informative.

o 2

Think about your audience and let your perception of the audience shape the tone of your speech as you write it.

o 3

Begin with an introduction that establishes who you are, what your purpose is, what you'll be talking about and how long you're going to take. You may want to include a joke, anecdote or interesting fact to grab the audience's attention.

o 4

Organize your information into three to seven main points and prioritize them according to importance and effectiveness.

o 5

Delete points that aren't crucial to your speech if you have too many for your time frame.

o 6

Start with your most important point, then go to your least important point and move slowly back toward the most important. For example, if you have five points with No. 5 being the most important and No. 1 being the least important, your presentation order would be 5-1-2-3-4.

o 7

Add support to each point using statistics, facts, examples, anecdotes, quotations or other supporting material.

o 8

Link your introduction, points and conclusions together with smooth transitions.

o 9

Write a conclusion that summarizes each of your points, restates your main purpose and leaves the audience with a lasting impression.

Tips & Warnings

· The introduction should make up about 10 to 15 percent of the total speech. The conclusion should make up 5 to 10 percent.

· When preparing your speech, make your notes easy to read by writing or printing them in large, clear letters.

· Rehearse and time your speech before delivering it. Prune it if necessary. If you'll be presenting a great deal of information, consider using handouts or visual aids to help your audience remember your points.

How to Write a Discussion Essay

By Regan Hennessy, eHow Contributor

A discussion essay presents and discusses issues surrounding a particular topic--usually one that is debatable and open to argument. A good discussion essay must include a thorough discussion of both sides of the topic. It should provide a well-rounded understanding of the issues before the writer presents his personal opinions and conclusions. As with most persuasive essay formats, the discussion essay's quality relies primarily on the writer's ability to provide solid research and evidence to present different views of the topic.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

Research sources
Computer with word processing program/paper and pen

o 1

Choose your discussion essay topic. Make sure the topic is one that you're interested in personally since it will be easier for you to write. You'll need to discuss both sides of the issues surrounding the discussion essay topic, so ensure that you have access to good research that provides pertinent information.

o 2

Outline your discussion essay using paper and a pen. Your goal at this point is to get your thoughts on the discussion essay topic organized and in writing. You can write a detailed outline for your discussion essay, using traditional outline format--letters and numbers to separate key points--or you can simply jot down a list of the main discussion points you plan to cover in the body of your essay.

o 3

Write your introduction. According to the Open University, your goal in the introduction of your discussion essay is to introduce the issues relating to the topic and to provide your reader with important background information. Explain any important words or terms your reader may not understand that you'll need to use in the essay. Providing your reader with a simple overview of how your discussion essay is organized will ensure that she understands your flow of thought throughout the body of the essay.

o 4

Write the body of your discussion essay, using any research sources that you have collected. Typically, you should present each issue individually and impartially, discussing first one side and then the other side of each argument that relates to your topic. Progress through your body arguments in order, starting with your weakest argument or issue and progressing to the strongest. This structure allows your reader to follow your flow of thought easily without getting distracted.

o 5

Write your discussion essay conclusion. Your goal with your conclusion is to summarize the overall information from the discussion essay body, leading the reader to mentally review the pros and cons of the topic argument. Although you don't technically have to be in favor of one side of the discussion yourself, if you are, be sure to present your own conclusions in this paragraph rather than earlier in the essay.

How to Write an Outline for a Story

Brittany Goss has been writing professionally since 2004. Her creative work has appeared in the "Bellingham Review" and "Grasslimb Journal." Goss has completed graduate coursework in education, taught second grade and tutored students in writing. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in fiction while teaching college composition.

By Brittany Goss, eHow Contributor

If you are writing a creative nonfiction essay or a fiction story, writing an outline can be a good way to organize your ideas before beginning. An outline for a story, however, is different from an outline for a research paper. Take care as you write your outline not to make it overly detailed as too much rigidity can kill your creative impulse. Instead, loosely outline story-specific items, such as characters, setting, main conflict and plot.

Instructions

1. People, Place and Problem

o 1

Begin with a character sketch that includes the character's name, age, physical description, career, likes, dislikes, hobbies and idiosyncrasies. Write down any details you know about the person or can imagine about the character. Do this for every character involved, even those who play only a small part in the story.

o 2

Outline your setting. Write down where your story takes place; below the name of the city, town or country, describe what the place is like. Include a short description of weather, seasons, size, ambiance and any particularly important buildings or locations.

o 3

Decide what the major conflict in your story is, and describe it in five sentences or less. Write down who is involved in the conflict and how it manifests itself in his life.

2. Plot

o 1

Outline some of the main events of your story. If this is your first step in writing the story you may not know everything that is going to happen. Outlining your story helps you organize your thoughts so it is OK to begin writing with an incomplete or loose outline. Allow your story room to change in future drafts.

o 2

Begin at the scene or point of conflict that makes the most sense to you, and begin in the middle of the scene, with the action of a character. Even if you are writing a factual account, shaping it like a story in this way will hold the attention of the reader. Sketch out the basic events of your beginning and leave room to flesh it out later when you write your story.

o 3

Sketch out the basic events of your story's plot. If you are writing a mystery, this is especially important as you will need to know where you are headed. For other stories, you may not know exactly what your characters are going to do. Jot down some important events that you are planning to have happen.

o 4

Include relevant information about the characters' pasts in your outline. A backstory such as this is the story behind the main conflict. Even if you do not write the entire backstory of your characters into the story, it is important for you as the author to know it. This will help you deepen the conflict and, consequently the events of the story.

o 5

Keep the story's conflict in mind as you continue toward the end. Think about how the conflict will be resolved throughout the events of the story. Sketch out the event you believe you will end with, and see where your writing takes you.

Tips & Warnings

· Don't worry about the order in which you write your outline. You may choose to start with the main conflict of the story, then do a character sketch, or skip from the beginning to the end and fill in the middle later. The points of your outline are to create a foundation for your story and to organize your ideas. Do it in a way that makes the most sense to you.

Teacher Resume Sample

Teaching is a hard but rewarding job. It is the type of job in which one can deal with all kind of people and all ages. A teacher is responsible for all tasks that are pertinent to a class or course. Teachers design classes, present grade reports and talk with parents. A teacher also has to guide students in their personal growth.

To obtain a job as a teacher, you must attend college and obtain a bachelor's degree. It is advisable to obtain a master's degree to expand your possibilities of getting a better job. Employers are searching for teachers who are dynamic, patient, confident, and have an utter love for knowledge. In overall, teachers must have a strong personality.

A teacher resume sample must reflect not only the experience but your passion for teaching and leading young people in life.

Anne Brahnam
629 South Andover St.
Toledo, OH 43606
(612) 555 - 0275

Objective
Position as an English teacher.

Certifications

Ohio Secondary Certificate in English, December 2004

Experience

English Teacher, 2004 - Present
Oak Park High School, Toledo, OH

· Taught American Literature & Writing Composition to 9th - 12th graders.

· Organized cooperative learning activities.

· Implemented portfolio grading system in literature classes.

· Incorporated new texts into standard curriculum.

· Tutored students seeking additional guidance with course work.

· Assessed student performance throughout the term.

· Conducted individual student conferences.

· Chaperoned field trips and school dances.

Student Teacher, 2003 - 2004
Urbana High School, Athens, OH

· Taught American Literature to a diverse group of students.

· Implemented creative curricula utilizing outcome-based education & alternative assessments.

· Wrote and taught dynamic lesson plans.

· Tutored students after school and chaperoned field trips.

· Assisted with student government activities.

Relevant Interests

Speech & Debate, Theatre, Track & Field. I welcome the opportunity to coach extracurricular activities.

Education

B.A., English, 2003
Ohio University, Athens, OH

Rochelle D. Johnson
4236 Heron Way
Aloha, OR 97007
Home (503)8487170

OBJECTIVE :
A teaching position in an elementary school in Aloha, OR.

PROFILE :
An energetic person with great expectations on an education career specialized in English. Dedicated to provide the best care to children age 6 – 12 years old.

EXPERIENCE :
Klimpys Elementary School, Aloha, OR. 2009 – 2010

· Temporary Teaching Placement

· Temporary teacher for a class of 11 year old kids.

· Prepared English classes and assignments.

· Reviewed and corrected homework.

· Provided special attention to each student.

Roxxon Elementary School, Aloha, OR. 2008 – 2009

· Teaching Assistant.

· Assisted the teaching staff by preparing lessons.

· Corrected assignments.

· Assisted to many tutoring courses.

EDUCATION:
University of Boston, Boston MA 2003 - 2007
B.A. degree in Elementary Education, Graduated with Honors

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

· French - Basic level

· Norwegian - Advanced level

COMPUTER SKILLS:

· Windows Office 2007: Word, Excel, PowerPoint

· Knowledge of CMS, management of websites.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay

Instructions

1. How to Write an Argumentative Essay

o 1

When deciding on a topic for your argumentative essay, you should feel strongly about your opinion. Start by writing one sentence—not a question—which states your opinion. For example: “ The Star Spangled Banner should be replaced by a new national anthem for the United States.” (Not: Should the Star Spangled Banner be replaced?) This sentence is called your thesis statement.

o 2

Once you have decided on your thesis statement, you need to decide on several reasons (typically three to five) why you believe your thesis to be correct. For example, using the Star Spangled Banner example, your reasons might include the following: --The Star Spangled Banner should be replaced because it glorifies war. --The Star Spangled Banner should be replaced because it does not recognize the strength of the diversity in the United States. --The Star Spangled Banner should be replaced because almost no one except professional musicians can actually sing it. --The Star Spangled Banner should be replaced because many Americans do not understand the meaning of the lyrics.

o 3

Next, write one paragraph for each of the above reasons. Each of those paragraphs should start with one clearly stated reason. Then back up that reason in five to seven sentences. To back up that reason, you might do any of the following: --Explain your own reasoning on the subject. --Find something in a book or magazine article to back up your thinking. Note: Be sure to cite your source; that is, tell the reader exactly where you got the information. --Ask appropriate individuals for a quote. For example, ask a musician to explain why the song is difficult to sing. --Take a small survey among various individuals to get a group opinion. For example, “Fifteen out of twenty adults surveyed do not believe the national anthem should glorify war." Note: These paragraphs form what is called the body of your essay.

o 4

Now you are ready to write the introduction. Three to four sentences are usually adequate to accomplish the following: --Start with an attention-getting statement. --State your thesis. --Give the reader a preview of what your arguments will be.

o 5

Finally, in the conclusion, wrap up what you have said in a couple of sentences. Arrange your essay in the following order: --Introduction --Body, with reasons arranged from weakest to most compelling last. --Conclusion