Step 1 Always address the prompt Prompt Write

Step 1 – Always address the prompt! Prompt: Write a 3 page essay in which you Challenge/Defend/Qualify the following statement: “Transcendentalism is alive and well in popular culture today”

So what’s wrong with this? “Transcendentalism is alive and well” is a statement with division in the world today.

Challenge/Defend/Qualify – Which position is this author taking? Many people have different beliefs regarding nature and in today's society transcendentalism is fading because more and more people are shifting away from nature and more towards trends such as fashion. I don't understand why people are shifting away but they are. But on the other hand there is always going to be artists who are going to paint nature and writers who are going to write about nature because society is always going to have those two kinds of people.

Popular Culture TODAY? ? ? “I’ve gotta be me” by Sammy Davis JR. it is said that, “Whether I'm right or -whether I'm wrong-Whether I find a place in this world or never belong-I gotta be me, I've gotta be me-What else can I be but what I am”

Step 2 – Support your thesis with details and tie all examples/details back to the prompt! And please never forget – anything you take word for word (or almost word for word) from the internet or any other source must be QUOTED and CITED!! PLAGIARIZED PAPERS EARNED A ZERO OUT OF 300 POINTS!

The performances in “Frasier”, while popularly appreciated, serve to degrade the public’s idea of intellect and selfachievement. In the world of graphic novels, he points to iconic DC Comics nemeses Lex Luthor and the Joker, who both fit the “evil genius” stereotype. Do those who actually make use of their talents have to do so in destructive, malignant ways? Of course not, and yet this notion, in popular media, prevails; and when we as a population are so constantly fed these sorts of stereotypes, those who are theoretically more susceptible to new ideas (children) start to carry these presumptions from the screen out into real life.

What is missing here? Like I mentioned before, Transcendentalist philosophy can still be noticed in music. And what best example than Michael Jackson who was known as the “King Of Pop” and whose songs still have an impact in today’s world. Although apparently Justin Bieber has replaced him, but that discussion is for another time. Generally Michael jackson’s songs have impacted people all over the world. One of his songs called “Earth Song”, specifically talks about the importance of nature and it’s importance in our lives. In one part of the song he sings, “ Did you ever stop to notice. All the blood we've shed before. Did you ever stop to notice. This crying Earth this weeping shores? ”

Step 3 – Add style/voice/sophistication 1. Add style/voice by using figurative language, parallel structure, rhetorical questions etc. Warning – too much of any strategy can actually detract from the overall impression. 2. Add voice/style through syntax – vary your sentence lengths to emphasize key ideas. Use common sense – why am I using a short sentence here or a long sentence here etc. 3. Add voice/style through diction – the words you use makes an impression on the reader. You must use words correctly and they must fit the rest of your style! 4. Use more sophisticated transition words/phrases!

ADDING VOICE – ADDS INTEREST AND STYLE! Can’t you just feel their words slithering around your ears? The insane irony of this situation is that if you buy their products and become “unique, ” eventually more people will as well. If I’m wearing Vera Bradley’s line, and you’re wearing Vera Bradley’s line, and your neighbor is wearing Vera Bradley’s line then who, honestly, is living up to the campaign’s true underlying

Varying your sentence lengths can add style and emphasize key ideas Most people would answer no to this question and maybe that’s because we try too hard to impress those that are around us and keep ourselves busy, forgetting to take it slow so that we are able to take a good look at what’s around us and appreciate it. Something like, Nature.

Consider your body paragraphs. Do you use any of these phrases? First Second Third Lastly To begin with, To conclude, My first, second, third/last reason… One reason is… Another example. . .

Let’s PUMP UP our Writing! These common transitional phrases do not add strength to our writing; they make our writing sound like we are listing off our ideas rather than explaining them. Good writers consider how the reader will progress through our writing by considering sturdy transitional words and phrases.

Purpose of Transitional Terms Transitional words and phrases are included in the work of successful writers to help bridge and connect: ◦ Paragraphs ◦ Supporting Ideas Transitional words help your reader to follow your writing ideas

Where Can I Place Transitional Words and Phrases in My Writing? Transitional words and phrases may be placed: ◦ At the beginning of paragraphs to help transition from paragraph to paragraph ◦ Inside paragraphs to help transition from one supporting detail to another ◦ Inside paragraphs to help elaborate upon supporting details

Watch Out for Transition Overload! Be specific in the placement and application of your transitional words and phrases. Not every idea or sentence needs to begin with one of these terms.

Can you tell how these two paragraphs go together? Therefore society and pop-culture can’t always follow the transcendental beliefs but Unitarianism is alive and well in our pop-culture. Air. Earth. Water. Fire. The basic elements that we need in order to survive but we go on without acknowledging their existence.

Here we at least have a transition but it is at the basic level Grylls has even said that “scouting gave me a confidence and camaraderie that is hard to find in everyday modern life. ” (Brainyquotes. com) Another transcendentalist theme found in pop culture is individuality.

More sophisticated - repeat key words but move on to the next idea/example Music, books, poems, movies, and art contains aspects of what we least expect, reforms towards man and nature, self-reliance, and unitarianism. The relationship between man and nature is slowly waning away.

the individual of today is portrayed as an egoistic, advantageous being, with piles of wealth shining around him, but encased in an empty shell that cannot be satisfied. An empty shell cannot hold much for a long time, as The Dark Knight, one of the most spectacular films of popular culture establishes.

You can also tie ideas together by using synonyms Emerson strongly believed, “Whoso should be a man must be a nonconformist” Lady Gaga definitely does not follow the crowd, she is the essence of a true individual.

Your Turn Take any copy of the New Yorker 1. Look at 3 different articles (not the short letters to the editor or the fiction pieces. ) 2. Pay attention to how the author transitions from one paragraph to the next –jot down the words/phrases etc. that tie everything to the main idea of the article 3. Now look at your piece of writing – Write the last sentence of each