...argue something. Even on an in-class essay, you should not be thinking about this essay in terms of only describing a bunch of historical data. You should find something compelling to argue. I hate to call it a thesis, but it is basically a thesis, the controlling idea of your essay.
...use direct examples from the sources you used. If you do, be sure to put any quotes in quotes. Identify the source in the text so that it is obvious from whence it comes. For example, say something like this: As former slave Charley Williams wrote, "you can smell de sow belly frying down at the cabins." You may also say something like the following: According to source #8 in our packet, the price of slaves was increasing in the last ten years of the 17th century.
...organize your thoughts. Have an introduction, body, and conclusion. This is first draft writing, so these will not be perfect, but in general it will help you organize your thinking, something that you have plenty of time to do before the essay.
...revise. Leave a few minutes at the end to re-read your essay and write in double-space so that you can easily make corrections. It is an in-class essay, so that standards for grammar, punctuation, and spelling are not as stringent. Nevertheless, as a university student, someone devoted to clarity of thought, you should be able to express your thoughts in standard English even on a first draft.
...ask questions. Come on up and ask.
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