Your essay should accomplish the following:

1). It should respond to the stated topic.
2). It should have a clearly stated thesis or controlling idea.
3). It should show clear and logical development of this thesis or controlling idea.
4). It should include supporting details drawn from experience, observation, and/or reading.
5). It should show that you can correct and edit your own writing according to the conventions of edited American English.
6). Essays written in excessively simple "primer style" prose are not acceptable.

Reminders:

Take a few minutes to think before you write.  Make notes or a working outline, or write down a scratch sheet of ideas you may otherwise forget as you compose your essay.

Do not recopy your essay.  Make a special effort to write legibly and allow time to proofread your essay before you turn it in.

You are writing an expository essay that will be judged on your ability to write a thoughtful response that gives evidence for your position and point of view.  It may be helpful to keep the following in mind while writing your essay:
        -What important general points do I wish to make?
        -What specific examples will support my generalizations and particulars related to the question asked?
        -Essays that are basically narrative (stories) or purely descriptive are not acceptable.
        -You may use short narrative examples or brief passages of description based on your personal experience or observation to support the major points of your essay.
        -Please remember that you are judged both on what you say and how well you say it in a publicly effective written form.

If you would like assistance in preparing for the O.T. essay, please contact the Reading and Writing Center in Mitchell Hall, Room 113.  Schedule an appointment with a tutor by calling 229-2260, use the walk-in service (hours may vary), or have questions answered via e-mail at tarc@uwm.edu.

Review textbooks for essay writing:

For composition, McCrimmon's Writing with a Purpose.  For writing skills, The Least You Should Know About English.  Copies of these books are on reserve in the UWM Library under the name of "Mika."  Another good source is Elements of Style by Strunk & White.