How to Write Great Essays

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WRITE
GREAT
ESSAYS
HOW 
TO

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Lauren Starkey
N E W Y O R K
WRITE
GREAT
ESSAYS
®
HOW 
TO

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Copyright © 2004 LearningExpress
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by Learning Express, LLC, New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Starkey, Lauren B., 1962–
How to write great essays / Lauren Starkey. —1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 1-57685-521-X
1. English language—Rhetoric—Problems, exercises, etc.
2. Essay—Authorship—Problems, exercises, etc. 3. Report 
writing—Problems, exercises, etc.
I. Title.
PE1471.S83 2004
808'.042—dc22
2004003384
Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
ISBN 1-57685-521-X
For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at:
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Or visit us at:
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CONTENTS 
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
v
Introduction
vii
1
Organization
1
2
Clarity
11
3
Word Choice
21
4
Mechanics
39
5
Revising, Editing, and Proofreading
55
6
Untimed Essay Writing Strategies
67
7
Timed Essay Writing Strategies
85
8
Sample Essay Prompts and Essays
97
Resources
111
Contents

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Introduction
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
vii
I
I
n your preparations for college, you may find yourself facing a handful of high-stakes
essays. Your college application requires at least one, and the SAT requires another.
Depending upon the high school you attend, or the state you reside in, you may need
to write an exit essay, or take the Regents Exam. This book includes specific strategies to
help you write great essays, no matter which type you write.
In contrast to basic writing guides that contain plenty of information you don’t need,
How to Write Great Essays
focuses on the topics most important to you now. You won’t find
a comprehensive guide to mechanics, but instead you will get short but thorough lessons
on the most common errors made in grammar, spelling, usage, and how to prevent and cor-
rect these errors. Every chapter is designed to relate directly to your essay, giving you the
knowledge and the know-how you need to succeed.
The book is divided into seven chapters, with the first five covering different aspects of
the writing process:
Introduction

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HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
Introduction
viii
Chapter 1
shows you how to organize your thoughts and ideas before you begin writ-
ing, with techniques such as freewriting, brainstorming, and outlining. You will even
learn why it’s important to read good writing while preparing your essay.
Chapter 2
is about saying exactly what you mean by avoiding ambiguous language,
using modifiers, eliminating unnecessary words and phrases, and using the active
voice whenever possible.
Chapter 3
examines word choice and how it can accurately convey your ideas. It explains
the most common misused and confused words, denotation versus connotation,
and inclusive language. Important advice about the use of spell checking software
is also included.
Chapter 4
teaches the most common mechanical errors so you can eliminate them
from your writing. Troublesome parts of speech, issues such as noun-verb agree-
ment, and punctuation problems are explained.
Chapter 5
shows you how to revise, edit, and proofread your essay. You will find check-
lists to use during these processes, as well as tips from professional editors. The use
of word-processing programs to help with editing is also covered.
The last three chapters of
How to Write Great Essays
will arm you with specific strategies
for writing both timed (SAT, GED) and untimed (college application, exit) essays.
Chapter 6
covers issues such as long-range planning, prewriting, and understanding
the topics. Tips on writing to your audience and striking a balance between for-
mality and informality are also explained.
Chapter 7
shows you how to prepare for timed essays. Learn how to research your exam,
how to familiarize yourself with possible topic choices,and how to budget your time dur-
ing the writing process. The more you know before writing a timed essay, the less stress
you will feel during the exam, and the better the writing you will be able to produce.
Chapter 8
includes sample prompts and essays. Commentary at the end of each essay
explains its strengths and weaknesses. You will be able to see how a number of writ-
ers approached both timed and untimed essay topics, and learn even more about
how you can write a great essay.

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Introduction