As we go forth perhaps not so placidly into the noise and haste of Christmas vacation, we would like to lay some groundwork for the start of our new year.
We will intensify study of art history and post assignments and essay questions along the way.
We plan to study the Vietnam War, not only in and of itself but as part of the change in national cultural awareness that led ultimately to the contest to build a memorial, culminating with the story of the remarkable Maya Lin.
And we will sharpen writing skills. Here is a good beginning: these sites deftly explore the best way to build an essay. All of these links have been vetted by us.
You must begin with a thesis and a clear thesis in your mind that is strongly expressed in a topic sentence. The writer must be very, very clear about the thesis of an essay. This can't be emphasized enough, because without a strong thesis, there can't be strong support, and doom, or at least lack of clarity, is inevitable.
Good advice from Purdue University on how to go about answering an essay question.
Grammar and Writing Handbook from Capital Community College Foundation.
Good writing is rewriting. What to check when you're editing.
Online Writing Lab for Elementary Students (Edina, MN).
Master the comma.
OR just skip everything else and go to this outstanding East Syracuse-Minoa Schools site on writing a listening essay.
