Essay Writing Method

What is your essay about?

1. Write a sentence that tells what your essay is about:

"My essay is about people texting and talking on cell phones while driving."

2. Read your sentence, and then start asking questions:

"What about being on a cell phone while driving concerns me?"

3. Write complete sentences that answer question #2:

"Danger exists when people are distracted while driving. They might hit pedestrians, miss lights and signs, have a slower reaction time, and swerve their car."

4. Ask questions that support the information in question #3:

"How do you know danger exists when people are distracted?"

5. Look up the questions somewhere such as Google or the library:

Using their cell phones, drivers' reaction times are delayed as much as having a blood alcohol level of .08 percent (illegal in some states).1
http://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd-facts-figures.jsp

18% of distraction related fatalities in america reported cell phone use.2
Texting takes your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. At 55mph, that's like driving blindfolded the length of a football field.2
http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/index.html

(Don't forget to credit these sources at the end of your paper.)

6. Go back to question #2, and choose another answer:

"What can people do to stop texting and using a cell phone while driving?

7. Write complete sentences that answer question #6:

"Send a text or call the person before you get into your car, to let them know you can't communicate then. Turn off your phone while in a vehicle, so you won't be tempted. Have a passenger text or call for you."

8. Write complete sentences what you learned or concluded from your paper:

"Prioritize the dangers of driving above cell phone communication. The consequences are important."

9. Summarize and generalize your points:

"Cell phones, that are convenient for socialization, have their proper time and place. The risks while driving are too important, since driving takes valuable attention."

10. Go back to your sentences and see where you may express your ideas better. Use a thesaurus to get the word that closely represents your thought. Run your text through a grammar and spellchecker.

11. Use transition words to tie ideas together.

12. Think of a title that gives the main idea in a few words.

Here's the essay I wrote:

--------------------------------

Driving Distracted from Cell Phone Use

Communication by cell phone is popular for its convenience. However, a concern exists whenever cell phones are used for texting and talking while driving.

Of primary concern is distracted driving, that spurs various dangers. Pedestrians' safety is jeopardized. Lights and signs are missed. Slower reaction times increase. Vehicles swerve from inattention.

This problem is real. Using their cell phones, drivers' reaction times are delayed as much as having a blood alcohol level of .08% (illegal in some states).1 Also, texting takes your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds. At 55mph, that's like driving blindfolded the length of a football field.2 Significantly, 18% of distraction related fatalities in america had reported cell phone use.2

To reduce these statistics, drivers (and pedestrians) could change their habits to stop texts and calls while driving.

For example, text or call the person before you get into your car, to let them know you can't communicate then. Also, turn off your phone while in a vehicle, so you won't be tempted to answer if you receive a text or call. Finally, have a passenger text or call for you.

Seeing the bigger picture, we may prioritize the dangers of driving, above cell phone usage. The consequences are serious, especially for pedestrians.

Indeed, cell phones, convenient for socialization, have their proper time and place. The risks while driving are substantial, and we all benefit from more attentive drivers.

For good information about writing a paper:
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/2801789

Footnotes:

This post is a response to the YouTube video:
How To write An Essay (HowToBasic response) .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFdqkkFw4lA


1.
http://www.nationwide.com/newsroom/dwd-facts-figures.jsp
2.
http://www.distraction.gov/content/get-the-facts/index.html