Ch 16: AP English: Beginning the Writing Process
About This Chapter
AP English: Beginning the Writing Process - Chapter Summary and Learning Objectives
Getting started on that essay assignment can be the hardest part of the process. In this chapter, our instructors will provide you with tools, tips, and tricks to help you in the initial essay stages. You'll learn how to respond to a topic, brainstorm ideas, and write a thesis statement. The lessons offer plenty of examples to help you understand the concepts. After completing this chapter, you should be able to:
- Write an effective thesis statement
- Outline your essay before starting to write
- Understand essay prompts
- Brainstorm ideas for your essays
| Video | Objective |
|---|---|
| Developing the Essay Topic | Learn how to develop an essay prompt into a topic you can write about. |
| Tone, Audience, and Purpose in Essays | Understand how to create an appropriate tone for your audience and purpose in an essay. |
| What is Brainstorming? | Explore the brainstorming process and how it can help you in your essay writing. |
| Techniques for Brainstorming Great Ideas | Learn five techniques for brainstorming, both when you have plenty of time and are taking a timed test. |
| What is a Thesis Statement? | Understand what a thesis is, when you need one, and what they look like. |
| How to Write a Thesis Statement | Explore the essential components of thesis statements and how to write them well. |
| How to Write an Outline | Learn about outlining as an effective essay-writing tool. |
| Basic Essay Structure: The Five-Paragraph Essay | Understand the traditional essay structure and why it is so effective. |
1. Developing the Essay Topic
The backbone of any essay is a strong and engaging main idea. Learn how to turn an essay prompt into a well-developed topic by watching this video lesson.
2. Tone, Audience & Purpose in Essays
What is tone? How do you create a tone within an essay? Watch this video lesson to learn how writing with a specific audience and purpose in mind will help you to achieve an appropriate tone.
3. What Is Brainstorming?
You may have been told that it's important to brainstorm before writing an essay. This video explains why it's well worth your time to make brainstorming part of your writing routine.
4. Techniques for Brainstorming Great Ideas
Great essays are made up of great ideas. Finding those great ideas is the first critical step on the road to writing a terrific essay. Learn some popular and effective brainstorming techniques that will work whether you have an hour or two weeks to write your paper.
5. What is a Thesis Statement?
Before we can talk about how to write a great thesis statement, you need to be able to identify a great thesis when you see one. Contrary to what you may have been taught, a thesis is so much more than just the last sentence of the opening paragraph of an essay.
6. How to Write a Thesis Statement
Find yourself confounded by thesis statements? Writing an excellent thesis statement doesn't require magic or luck, but it does require a few key elements we'll lay out for you in the lesson that follows.
7. How to Write an Outline
Whether it's a doctoral thesis or high school essay, outlining is crucial to writing success. This lesson emphasizes the importance of outlines and specifically addresses the three most common outlines for writers to utilize.
8. Basic Essay Structure: The Five-Paragraph Essay
Working with an established essay structure provides writers with the necessary elements of a successful essay. In this lesson, we'll work through the drafting process for the five-paragraph essay and make note of important dos and don'ts.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the AP English Literature: Exam Prep course
- AP English: Literary Analysis Intro
- AP English: Interpreting Literature
- AP English: Literary Devices
- AP English: Poetry
- AP English: Types of Poetry
- AP English: Prose
- AP English: Prose Fiction
- AP English: American Literary Periods and Movements
- AP English: Examples of American Literary Analysis
- AP English: English Literary Periods and Movements
- AP English: Examples of English Literary Analysis
- AP English: Grammar Review
- AP English: Sentence Basics
- AP English: Essay Basics: Types of Essay
- AP English - Essay Basics: Conventions in Essay Writing
- AP English: Writing & Structuring an Essay
- AP English: Writing Revision and Skill Development
- About the AP English Literature Test
- AP English Literature Flashcards