First, this:
There are many forms of peace, right? Peace within ourselves, peace among neighbors, classmates, siblings, co-workers, gangs, ethnic groups, political opponents, haves and have-nots, newcomers and old-timers, nations, alliances, and so on to infinity….
And there are many flavors of peace. Can a single encounter with a person on the bus be a step toward peace? Can an online reply create more peace, just as--on a different level--a treaty can?
For your essay, choose a specific type of peace and your specific experience learning about it. Choose a topic you’re passionate about.
In this essay you should write with integrity and empathy. You should show your real self, but also use facts and logic. You should appeal to emotion and reason. Your own story will probably be an important part of the essay.
So, on to some tips about writing:
YOUR TOPIC
Choose a moment or happening that changed you in some way. It should be specific. It should have had a strong impact on you. It should be relevant to other people. See if you can feel the urgency that this story needs to be told, and that you’re the one to tell it!
YOUR PREPARATION
Write a few sentences about what you understand of the issue right now. What do you know? What do you need to know?
Research both sides of the issue. Decide what points you want to make. Let your own goals, purposes, dreams, and even what makes you mad drive what you write.
Create a simple outline. What will be in the intro paragraph, the body paragraphs and the conclusion? (see below)*
YOUR WRITING--THE GOOD PART!
Once you have the outline, write your essay quickly, without worrying if it’s perfect. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation yet!!
Use your own voice; talk to the reader like you’re talking to a friend. You can use “you” if it seems appropriate.
AFTER THAT EXCITING FIRST DRAFT
After it’s written, put it away for a day. Then read it.
Ask: Did this do what I intended to do? Will these sentences impact the reader? Will they be wondering why I wrote this, or will it seem important or interesting to them? Does this writing sound like me? Do I need to add more details, or facts, or move things around?
Mark up your copy with changes you want to make, then create a clean revised copy.
This would be a good time to show it to someone for suggestions. Don't forget, the SLCC Student Writing Center or SLCC Community Writing Center would be happy to help!
Some tips on organizing your essay
THE INTRO
Start with a “hook” to catch the reader’s attention. This could be an intriguing first sentence or scene, a brief story, or a description.
Flesh out the background a little more.
State clearly or concisely what you are writing about, so the reader understands what you are writing about. Your story may also strongly imply this.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Use specific details and details that evoke the senses if you are telling a story. A specific moment is much more powerful than a general overview. Provide details about real-life characters and feelings.
Give examples and evidence of your main point.
Let the story and/or the evidence lead the reader to the main point.
CONCLUSION
Depending on what is needed, you can
PROOFREAD
Wow, you've done so much! Now give it another once-over. Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and/or ask someone to help you with this. Do your best, but don’t overstress on this. For this contest, the writing itself is the main thing!
Wait, so isn't this a lot of work?
Hopefully not too much! For some people it will be a more work, and for others, it will come more easily.
But for everybody, the payoff is huge. Thinking through and writing your OWN ideas, your OWN experiences, and your OWN feelings is like nothing else in the world! You can communicate. You can share something no one else in the world can share. You can let that amazing viewpoint that is yours alone out into the world and connect with other people.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your experiences, and your heart with us!
There are many forms of peace, right? Peace within ourselves, peace among neighbors, classmates, siblings, co-workers, gangs, ethnic groups, political opponents, haves and have-nots, newcomers and old-timers, nations, alliances, and so on to infinity….
And there are many flavors of peace. Can a single encounter with a person on the bus be a step toward peace? Can an online reply create more peace, just as--on a different level--a treaty can?
For your essay, choose a specific type of peace and your specific experience learning about it. Choose a topic you’re passionate about.
In this essay you should write with integrity and empathy. You should show your real self, but also use facts and logic. You should appeal to emotion and reason. Your own story will probably be an important part of the essay.
So, on to some tips about writing:
YOUR TOPIC
Choose a moment or happening that changed you in some way. It should be specific. It should have had a strong impact on you. It should be relevant to other people. See if you can feel the urgency that this story needs to be told, and that you’re the one to tell it!
YOUR PREPARATION
Write a few sentences about what you understand of the issue right now. What do you know? What do you need to know?
Research both sides of the issue. Decide what points you want to make. Let your own goals, purposes, dreams, and even what makes you mad drive what you write.
Create a simple outline. What will be in the intro paragraph, the body paragraphs and the conclusion? (see below)*
YOUR WRITING--THE GOOD PART!
Once you have the outline, write your essay quickly, without worrying if it’s perfect. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation yet!!
Use your own voice; talk to the reader like you’re talking to a friend. You can use “you” if it seems appropriate.
AFTER THAT EXCITING FIRST DRAFT
After it’s written, put it away for a day. Then read it.
Ask: Did this do what I intended to do? Will these sentences impact the reader? Will they be wondering why I wrote this, or will it seem important or interesting to them? Does this writing sound like me? Do I need to add more details, or facts, or move things around?
Mark up your copy with changes you want to make, then create a clean revised copy.
This would be a good time to show it to someone for suggestions. Don't forget, the SLCC Student Writing Center or SLCC Community Writing Center would be happy to help!
Some tips on organizing your essay
THE INTRO
Start with a “hook” to catch the reader’s attention. This could be an intriguing first sentence or scene, a brief story, or a description.
Flesh out the background a little more.
State clearly or concisely what you are writing about, so the reader understands what you are writing about. Your story may also strongly imply this.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Use specific details and details that evoke the senses if you are telling a story. A specific moment is much more powerful than a general overview. Provide details about real-life characters and feelings.
Give examples and evidence of your main point.
Let the story and/or the evidence lead the reader to the main point.
CONCLUSION
Depending on what is needed, you can
- summarize,
- list main points of the essay briefly,
- connect your experience to a broader context,
- restate the main idea,
- make a call to action, or
- imply your message so that the reader draws their own conclusion.
PROOFREAD
Wow, you've done so much! Now give it another once-over. Correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and/or ask someone to help you with this. Do your best, but don’t overstress on this. For this contest, the writing itself is the main thing!
Wait, so isn't this a lot of work?
Hopefully not too much! For some people it will be a more work, and for others, it will come more easily.
But for everybody, the payoff is huge. Thinking through and writing your OWN ideas, your OWN experiences, and your OWN feelings is like nothing else in the world! You can communicate. You can share something no one else in the world can share. You can let that amazing viewpoint that is yours alone out into the world and connect with other people.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your experiences, and your heart with us!