Transcript ESSAY BASICS - Luzerne County Community College

ESSAY BASICS
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GOOD ADVICE
(1) Write What You Know:
o Write what you are passionate about
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what matters to you
what concerns you & other people
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GOOD ADVICE
(2) Avoid the Obvious:
o Say something
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New
Fresh
Different
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a new look
(see Courtney p.7)
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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
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see Wu
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GOOD ADVICE
(4) Utilize Evidence:
o The more the better
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Reasons
Facts
Details
Examples
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BE SPECIFIC
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I. OUTLINE
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I. OUTLINE
(1) Topic:
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Stays within the limits of the assignment
Is narrow enough that it needn’t be fully
explored in a book
Is appropriate for the given essay length
Is focused
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I. OUTLINE
(2) Preliminary Outline:
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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
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I. OUTLINE
(3) Formal Outline:
o Goes beyond listing main points
 (major and minor points of paper)
o Illustrates the structure of the paper
o Gives readers a clear understanding of the
subject
o Includes the thesis statement
o Each part of the paper with subdivisions &
details (*see page 619)
o Handed in with final paper
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II. ABSTRACT
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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)
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III. TITLE
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III. TITLE
o Topic + Main Idea
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part of the Thesis Statement
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without the Support
What is your topic or issue?
What are you arguing?
What is your point?
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III. TITLE
o DO:
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be concise, clear, specific
be informative
suggest or state the point of the essay
catch readers’ attention
stir thoughts/curiosity
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“Freedom from Choice”
perhaps mention BOTH sides of the issue
can be subjective or objective (see essay
requirements)
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III. TITLE
o DON’T:
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rename the assignment
use boring or simple titles
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strain for an effect
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“School and Work”
“Suppose You Were a Toe”
be amusing
be ambiguous
be too cute
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III. TITLE
o MECHANICS:
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Capitalize the first & last word
Capitalize every major word
Do not capitalize articles, small prepositions
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except when they’re first or last
Do not boldface
Do not underline
Center beneath the header & above the text
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IV. INTRODUCTION
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IV. INTRODUCTION
o 1st paragraph
o single paragraph
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don’t unnecessarily delay the paper’s start
o grab the readers’ attention
o get them to read on
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IV. INTRODUCTION
o relate to them, empathize, 1st person POV
o appropriately use Logos, Pathos, Ethos
o be honest, have honest intentions
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this is not about you
o *proofread!
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good grammar & punctuation throughout
o create a sense of your audience
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usually your classmates & teachers
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IV. INTRODUCTION
o Funnel Effect: (inverted pyramid)
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deduction: G  S
start out “wide”
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introduce the subject, category
grab their attention with a
 generalization
 question
 quote
 quip
 stat
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IV. INTRODUCTION
o Funnel Effect:
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then narrow the subject to your topic
 relevant anecdote
 explanation
 history
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to your Thesis Statement
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the last sentence
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IV. INTRODUCTION
*THESIS STATEMENT*
o Topic + Main Idea + Support
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What is your topic?
What are you saying about that topic?
How are you going to prove that stance?
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IV. INTRODUCTION
*THESIS STATEMENT*
o Single sentence
o Last sentence of the Introduction
o And is restated throughout the paper
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Topic Sentences of each Body paragraph
echo the Thesis Statement
Topic + Main Idea + Reason/Point #
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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
 right/wrong, for/against
 an opinion supported by evidence
 an arguable proposition/position that can be
supported with evidence
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IV. INTRODUCTION
*THESIS STATEMENT*
* DON’T:
o Announce, hedge, or apologize
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“in this essay I will,”
“this essay will,”
no maybe’s, probably’s
o Use Loaded Language
o Rely upon obvious positions/arguments
 most rational people realize that ageism, sexism,
racism = wrong (of course!)
 approach from new angle/point of view, think about
your topic in a different way
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IV. INTRODUCTION
o NO rhetorical questions, no “you”
o NO single-sentence Introduction;
o NO wandering, empty Introduction
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assume the reader does NOT know the title or
the assignment
no references to “the assignment”
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V. BODY
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V. BODY
(1) ORDER:
o Emphatic Order
 save the “best” for last
o Select an appropriate Rhetorical Strategy
that works best with your material
o Other Side = first
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Rogerian Method
Makes you appear reasonable, well-informed,
unbiased
 Good Ethos
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V. BODY
(2) PARAGRAPHS:
o 1 idea per paragraph
o 1 idea = clearly presented
o Remain objective
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present data without evaluating it
wait for the Conclusion
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V. BODY
(2) PARAGRAPHS:
o A) Topic Sentences
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Topic + Main Idea + Reason/Point #
What is the paragraph about?
What’s here?
What’s its function in paper?
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V. BODY
(2) PARAGRAPHS:
o B) Support
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ample data that clearly illustrates your point
clearly, logically, & efficiently organized
relevant, unambiguous
examples, instances, statistics, facts
anecdotes, expert opinion, witness testimony
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V. BODY
(2) PARAGRAPHS:
o C) Transitions
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transitional expressions &
conjunctive adverbs
between sentences
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show relationship between ideas
between paragraphs
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link what came before to what is to come
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V. BODY
(3) VOICE/TONE:
o concise
o good grammar
o no slang
o POV
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3rd person general POV
1st person POV (“I”)
2nd person POV (the “Polite You”)
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V. BODY
(3) VOICE/TONE:
o Objective
o Unity
 stay on subject
o Support
 as many references as needed to establish thesis
 Logos, Pathos, Ethos
o Tone
 not condescending, indifferent, flippant
 but honest, sincere, concerned (ETHOS)
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VI. CONCLUSION
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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)
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o Avoid: 1-sentence conclusions; merely
summarizing points; “in conclusion”
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VI. CONCLUSION
o *For the subjective evaluation of the
evidence
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What does the evidence show/mean?
What is the outcome of the evidence/data?
What are the strengths/weaknesses of the evidence?
 in terms of Logos, Pathos, Ethos
o Based on the evidence, make or draw
 Inferences
 Deductions
 Conclusions
 Recommendations
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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”)
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VI. CONCLUSION
o Clincher Sentence
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end with something memorable
sense of closure
*call for further research, discussion
“Save something good for the conclusion”
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quote, striking fact/stat, relevant personal note
perhaps refers to something in your Intro.
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VI. CONCLUSION
 End with a “SIDE #3”:
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a compromise
a moving forward of the issue
the best of both sides
This is the goal of argument:
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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.
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VII. WORKS CITED
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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
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*ESSAY BASICS*
Prewriting:
o Brainstorming & Outline
o Abstract
Essay Parts:
o TITLE
o INTRODUCTION
o BODY
o CONCLUSION
o WORKS CITED