ESSAY BASICS

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

3 GOOD ADVICE (2) Avoid the Obvious: o Say something New Fresh Different 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 see Wu

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

6 I. OUTLINE

7 (1) Topic: o 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

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

9 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

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 part of the Thesis Statement without the Support What is your topic or issue? What are you arguing? What is your point?

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

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

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

17 IV. INTRODUCTION

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

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

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

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

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 Topic + Main Idea + Reason/Point #

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 right/wrong, for/against an opinion supported by evidence an arguable proposition/position that can be supported with evidence

25 IV. INTRODUCTION *THESIS STATEMENT* * DON’T: o Announce, hedge, or apologize “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

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

27 V. BODY

28 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 Rogerian Method Makes you appear reasonable, well-informed, unbiased  Good Ethos

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

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

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

32 V. BODY (2) PARAGRAPHS: o C) Transitions transitional expressions & conjunctive adverbs between sentences show relationship between ideas between paragraphs 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 3 rd person general POV 1st person POV (“I”) 2 nd person POV (the “Polite You”)

34 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)

35 VI. CONCLUSION

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

37 VI. CONCLUSION o *For the subjective evaluation of the evidence 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

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

40 VI. CONCLUSION  End with a “SIDE #3”: a compromise a moving forward of the issue the best of both sides This is the goal of argument: 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