ESSAY BASICS 2 GOOD ADVICE 1 Write What

ESSAY BASICS

2 GOOD ADVICE (1) Write What You Know: o Write what you are passionate about n what matters to you n what concerns you & other people

3 GOOD ADVICE (2) Avoid the Obvious: o Say something n New n Fresh n Different n n a new look (see Courtney p. 7)

4 GOOD ADVICE (3) Say Something of Value: o Reveal some Truth o Remind readers of an important truth o Remind readers of a significant value n see Wu

5 GOOD ADVICE (4) Utilize Evidence: o The more the better n Reasons n Facts n Details n Examples n BE SPECIFIC

6 I. OUTLINE

7 I. OUTLINE (1) Topic: Stays within the limits of the assignment o Is narrow enough that it needn’t be fully explored in a book o Is appropriate for the given essay length o Is focused o

8 I. OUTLINE (2) Preliminary Outline: o o o Focuses writer’s attention on paper’s logic Allows writer feedback from the instructor & classmates Allows writer to see if ideas are arranged coherently, in a logical sequence Changes by the end of the writing process Lists main points

9 I. OUTLINE (3) Formal Outline: o Goes beyond listing main points n (major and minor points of paper) o Illustrates the structure of the paper o Gives readers a clear understanding of the subject o Includes thesis statement o Each part of the paper with subdivisions & details (*see page 619) o Handed in with final paper

10 II. ABSTRACT

11 II. ABSTRACT o Concise summary of the paper o Written last o Quick preview of the paper o Gives quality & significance of the research and thesis o 1 -1½ pages (250 words) o 4 -5 important concepts, findings, implications (start w/most important)

12 III. TITLE

13 III. TITLE o Topic + Main Idea n part of the Thesis Statement n without the Support What is your topic or issue? n What are you arguing? n What is your point? n

14 III. TITLE o DO: n be concise, clear, specific n be informative n suggest or state the point of the essay n catch readers’ attention n stir thoughts/curiosity n “Freedom from Choice” perhaps mention BOTH sides of the issue n can be subjective or objective (see essay requirements) n

15 III. TITLE o DON’T: n rename the assignment n use boring or simple titles n n “School and Work” strain for an effect n “Suppose You Were a Toe” be amusing n be ambiguous n be too cute n

16 III. TITLE o MECHANICS: n Capitalize the first & last word n Capitalize every major word n Do not capitalize articles, small prepositions n except when they’re first or last Do not boldface n Do not underline n Center beneath the header & above the text n

17 IV. INTRODUCTION

18 IV. INTRODUCTION o 1 st paragraph o single paragraph n don’t unnecessarily delay the paper’s start o grab the readers’ attention o get them to read on

19 IV. INTRODUCTION o relate to them, empathize, 1 st person POV o appropriately use Logos, Pathos, Ethos o be honest, have honest intentions n this is not about you o *proofread! n good grammar & punctuation throughout o create a sense of your audience n usually your classmates & teachers

20 IV. INTRODUCTION o Funnel Effect: (inverted pyramid) n deduction: G S n start out “wide” n n introduce the subject, category grab their attention with a § generalization § question § quote § quip § stat

21 IV. INTRODUCTION o Funnel Effect: n then narrow the subject to your topic § relevant anecdote § explanation § history n to your Thesis Statement n the last sentence

22 IV. INTRODUCTION *THESIS STATEMENT* o Topic + Main Idea + Support What is your topic? n What are you saying about that topic? n How are you going to prove that stance? n

23 IV. INTRODUCTION *THESIS STATEMENT* o Single sentence o Last sentence of the Introduction o And is restated throughout the paper Topic Sentences of each Body paragraph echo the Thesis Statement n Topic + Main Idea + Reason/Point # n

24 IV. INTRODUCTION *THESIS STATEMENT* o Write after research o Announces at the start what the paper will illustrate o Serves as a guide for readers o Thesis = Argumentative n right/wrong, for/against n an opinion supported by evidence n an arguable proposition/position that can be supported with evidence

25 IV. INTRODUCTION *THESIS STATEMENT* * DON’T: o Announce, hedge, or apologize n n n “in this essay I will, ” “this essay will, ” no maybe’s, probably’s o Use Loaded Language o Rely upon obvious positions/arguments n most rational people realize that ageism, sexism, racism = wrong (of course!) n approach from new angle/point of view, think about your topic in a different way

26 IV. INTRODUCTION o NO rhetorical questions, no “you” o NO single-sentence Introduction; o NO wandering, empty Introduction n assume the reader does NOT know the title or the assignment n no references to “the assignment”

27 V. BODY

28 V. BODY (1) ORDER: o Emphatic Order n save the “best” for last o Select an appropriate Rhetorical Strategy that works best with your material o Other Side = first Rogerian Method n Makes you appear reasonable, well-informed, unbiased n Good Ethos n

29 V. BODY (2) PARAGRAPHS: o 1 idea per paragraph o 1 idea = clearly presented o Remain objective n present data without evaluating it n wait for the Conclusion

30 V. BODY (2) PARAGRAPHS: o A) Topic Sentences n Topic + Main Idea + Reason/Point # n What is the paragraph about? n What’s here? n What’s its function in paper?

31 V. BODY (2) PARAGRAPHS: o B) Support n ample data that clearly illustrates your point n clearly, logically, & efficiently organized n relevant, unambiguous n examples, instances, statistics, facts n anecdotes, expert opinion, witness testimony

32 V. BODY (2) PARAGRAPHS: o C) Transitions n transitional expressions & n conjunctive adverbs n between sentences n n show relationship between ideas between paragraphs n link what came before to what is to come

33 V. BODY (3) VOICE/TONE: o concise o good grammar o no slang o POV n 3 rd person general POV n 1 st person POV (“I”) n 2 nd person POV (the “Polite You”)

34 V. BODY (3) VOICE/TONE: o Objective o Unity n stay on subject o Support n as many references as needed to establish thesis n Logos, Pathos, Ethos o Tone n not condescending, indifferent, flippant n but honest, sincere, concerned (ETHOS)

35 VI. CONCLUSION

36 VI. CONCLUSION Repeat thesis Repeat main points Refer back to your Intro. (full-circle) Reflect on implications or importance of your thesis o Answer your research question o Evaluate the strengths & weaknesses in the arguments (Both Sides) o o o Avoid: 1 -sentence conclusions; merely summarizing points; “in conclusion”

37 VI. CONCLUSION o *For the subjective evaluation of the evidence n n n What does the evidence show/mean? What is the outcome of the evidence/data? What are the strengths/weaknesses of the evidence? n in terms of Logos, Pathos, Ethos o Based on the evidence, make or draw n n Inferences Deductions Conclusions Recommendations

38 VI. CONCLUSION o End with a call to action o End with a solution to the problem o End with a recommendation o End with a vivid image or picture o End with a quotation, with a question, with a prediction o End with a hook (“Clincher Sentence”)

39 VI. CONCLUSION o Clincher Sentence n end with something memorable n sense of closure n *call for further research, discussion n “Save something good for the conclusion” n n quote, striking fact/stat, relevant personal note perhaps refers to something in your Intro.

40 VI. CONCLUSION v End with a “SIDE #3”: n a compromise n a moving forward of the issue n the best of both sides n This is the goal of argument: n n To discuss an issue fully, fairly, and objectively from its 2 most prominent sides AND then to move the discussion forward through a spirit of compromise. The point of argument is not to win the debate BUT to resolve a problem or address a serious issue.

41 VII. WORKS CITED

42 VII. WORKS CITED o Only those sources actually used or “cited” in the paper o Never include anything that you haven’t read or used o Bibliography matches paper o MLA style

43 *ESSAY BASICS* Prewriting: o Brainstorming & Outline o Abstract Essay Parts: o TITLE o INTRODUCTION o BODY o CONCLUSION o WORKS CITED