IMRD essay

I have done some research and made a couple of charts for my paper, but still need to talk to someone who knows about organic farming. When I make the revisions, I have been hand writing the section and then transfering it to the computer. This way, I dont overwhelm myself with a lot of writing or typing. Plus, when i'm copying my writing to the computer I can double check that my words make sense.
Overall, my paper still needs work and revisions but it is coming along better than I thought!

IMRD format

I feel like having a very specific outline of what the format is, really helps me to write a better paper. With the book we use, it makes it very clear of what to do for this essay. I like having a guide line to follow, as long as I have an example or step-by-step instructions for the format.
I remember learning poetry schemes in 2nd grade, and some were easier to learn than others. Once I remembered the name for each pattern, it was very easy for me to write a poem. Since I havent used poem formats in a long time, I dont really remember what the rules are.

how I prepare for an essay exam

Last year in High School, we had to write essays for almost all of our tests in English class. This was to get us ready for the AP exam at the end of the year. At first it was hard to grasp the idea of writing an entire essay in one class period, and it counted for a grade. After a few essay exams, I started to see myself get into a little routine. First, I would read the prompt (or article) and figure out what it is really asking. Then I make a few notes, and sometimes a short outline. After that, I just start writing until i'm finished with what I need to say.
Now that we are doing this is college, i'm starting to see that its important to add in some of the techniques we learned in class. For example, today when we had our essay in class, I used summary and response to write my paper. Its not too difficult to write in one class period, as long as you understand what is being asked.

MLA citation

In high school I had to use MLA citation several times, for English class. I learned how to create a list of sources before, but MLA citation confused me at first. To be honest, I dont think I got it down until recently. All of the special rules, italics, and double spacing made it hard to understand. It was much easier to just list the book and auther at the end page of my writing, and call it a day.
Now I understand why we use it, and with more practice I should get it down. Using MLA stlye citation helps to avoid plajorism, and allows the reader to find where your information came from.

hardest part of a summary

Writing a summary is pretty difficult for me. I get into describing what the author is saying, then somehow I start to talk about my own opinions. A summary has to focus on what the message is from the author, not what I think about the writing. I also have a hard time picking out the main points to make a summary. I never feel like I have the right idea, and want to add more to make up for me feeling unsure.
Once I get started on a summary, I can usually look over it several times and add/change my ideas. In the end, my final paper should be to the point and an overall good summary.