How-To Essay Project

Write how-to essay based on something Sam did on his

adventures in our novel,
My Side of the Mountain.

By completing this project with a passage grade you will get

Composition Unit 6 marked complete by your Homeroom
Teacher

Due Wednesday, December 13th by 5:00 PM

No exceptions or extensions!
 What is A How-To Essay?
Have you ever read directions for assembling a toy,
operating equipment, or playing a game?

If so, you know how important it is that directions

be clear and easy to follow.

Directions form the major part of a kind of writing

called the how-to essay.

In this unit, you will learn how to give directions in a

way that others can easily understand.

You will find out about the elements that make an

essay about creating or doing something
appealing and useful to others.

In the how-to essay, someone who understands

well how to do something gives that information to
others.

The how-to essay is a way of sharing what you

know about and enjoy.

It is also a way of learning more about something

youre interested in and then sharing what you
learn with others.
 What is A How-To Essay?
A how-to essay is a form of informational writing in
which the writer explains how to do or make
something.

It contains directions and describes equipment

needed to carry out the directions.

A how-to essay might describe how to get from

your home to the supermarket, how to put a
bicycle together, or how to throw a football.

A good how-to essay is clear and easy to follow. It

begins with a hook to spark the readers interest.

The body of the essay contains the directions

themselves.

Usually the writer first describes any equipment that

is needed and then presents steps in chronological
order.

Sometimes the directions contain unfamiliar words.

In these cases, the writer explains what the words
mean.

The writer may conclude with a note of

encouragement or with a suggestion for other
things the reader may want to do in connection
with the project.
 How to Find a How-To Topic
Use this page and follow the steps to arrive at your essay topic.

Step 1: Complete each phrase below in two ways. Try to create topics that relate to our
novel.

How to make a ______________ How to cook a ______________

How to use a ________________ How to plan a _______________
How to fix a _________________ How to _____________________

Step 2: Answer this question.

Who is the audience for your essay? Do you want to write for experts?
Do you want to write for beginners?______________________________
___________________________________________________________

Step 3: Follow these directions.

Put a check next to the topics that most interest you.
Put a check next to the topics that would interest your audience.
Put a check next to the topics which would be easiest to write about.
Put an X next to the three topics that are hardest for you to explain.

Step 4: Circle the topics that have the most checks and no Xs. Choose your
final topic from this group. Write your topic below.

Final How-to Essay Topic: ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________
 Equipment, Steps, and notes
Make a list of equipment and steps below. Be careful to list your steps in order. When
you have finished, go back and double check your steps to make sure you have not
left anything out. You may want to list the major steps first and then go back and fill in
other steps. Include notes and information about words you may want to define and
details you may want to include. If you need more pages, just print off another page.

EQUIPMENT STEPS NOTES & OTHER INFO

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

6. 6.

7. 7.

8. 8.

9. 9.

10. 10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.
 Checklist for Revising
Your How-To Essay
Read the questions in the first column of the checklist. In the second column, make
notes about your book review.
Questions for Revising
Did I begin with a hook to draw the
reader into my review?
Did I clearly identify the title and
author of my book in the first
paragraph?
Did I describe the equipment
needed before I began giving
directions?
Are my steps presented in their
proper chronological order?
Did I leave out any steps?
Did I give enough information so that
each step is clear?
Did I use precise nouns and verbs
when I described the equipment
and gave directions?
Did I explain any words that might
be unfamiliar to my readers?
Do my sentences move logically
from one idea to the next?
Notes About My Essay
If not, how can I hook my readers?
______________________________
______________________________
If not, how can I be clearer?
______________________________
______________________________
If not, what equipment needs to be
included?
______________________________
______________________________
If not, what is out of order and where
should it go?
______________________________
______________________________
If so, what is missing?
______________________________
______________________________
If not, what should I add?
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
What words need explanation?
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
 Checklist for Proofreading
Your How-To Essay
Read the questions in the first column of the checklist. In the
second column, make notes about your book review.

Questions for Proofreading Notes About My Essay

Did I begin all sentences with a ______________________________

capital letter and end with a mark of ______________________________
punctuation?

Did I check the spelling of all words

______________________________
about which I was unsure of? ______________________________

Did I indent each new paragraph of ______________________________

my book review? Each paragraph is ______________________________
5 to 6 sentences each.

Are all of my sentences complete? ______________________________

Did I use run-on sentences or ______________________________
fragments?

______________________________
Have I used correct verb forms? ______________________________
 Example How-To Essay
Below is an example How-to essay taken from your Composition course.
 Example How-To Essay
Below is an example How-to essay taken from your Composition course.
 Writing your
How-to Essay

You can use the next several pages to

write out your how-to essay.

To submit either scan these documents

in or write them in a word document.

Remember to use your organization list,

summary sheet and checklists before
submitting your final copy to your
Homeroom Teacher.

Deadline is Wednesday, December 13th

by 5:00 PM!
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