Upload
yolanda-ashworth
View
219
Download
1
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
EssayEssayEssayEssay
Part 1: Part 1: Writing the ThesisWriting the Thesis
Objectives:What You Should Know After Writing
an Essay
• How to write a thesis sentence that organizes the essay’s main points;
• How to write a title and introduction that will engage the reader’s interest;
• How to construct body paragraphs that are focused and well developed;
• How to write a conclusion that emphasizes the essay’s main point.
Thesis Sentence• Definition: a single sentence that states
the essay’s main point;– It tells the subject of the essay;– It expresses the writer’s opinion about the subject;– It previews the main points of the essay.
If your essay topic was “What is wisdom”?.....
Writing the Thesis Sentence: Do it first, before you begin
the essay• Determine what the prompt is
asking you to do—– Define wisdom
• To define something, you will– List its characteristics (function)– Give examples– Tell what it’s not
List Characteristics/Functio
n
A wise person is. . .
Intellectuallycurious
Compassionate
Empathetic
humble
Open-minded
Joyful
honestFor more brainstorming techniques, see http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/brainstorming.html
Give Examples• A wise person is…
– Albert Einstein– A professor/teacher– A parent– Yoda, (Star Wars)– Aslan (Lion, Witch & Wardrobe)– Ghandi– Abraham Lincoln– Quotes that show someone is wise– Anecdotes about a time someone was wise
Tell what it’s not• A wise person is not
– Necessarily book-smart– One who knows everything– Arrogant or condescending– Someone who imposes his will on others– Necessarily the smartest person in the room– Necessarily the richest or most successful
person in the room
Sample Theses• One you have a few, choose three or
four and write a sentence, listing them in order of importance
• A wise person isn’t a know-it-all, but rather someone who is curious about and receptive to new ideas and experiences.
• Wisdom is the willingness to admit ignorance and the determination to acquire knowledge and use it well.
• A wise person is good humored, compassionate, and kind.
Each of these thesis sentences previews the main points of the
essay (each main point is a different color)
• A wise person isn’t a know-it-all, but rather someone who is curious about and receptive to new ideas and experiences.
• Wisdom is the willingness to admit ignorance and the determination to acquire knowledge and use it well.
• A wise person is good humored, compassionate, and kind.
The thesis should be• A clear, simple sentence• that clearly states the three points
you’re planning to develop in the paragraphs of your essay;
• Once you have a working thesis, you’re ready to begin writing.
EssayEssayEssayEssayPart 2:Part 2:
Title and Introductions Title and Introductions
Once you have a thesis, then
• You can draft the title and• The introduction;• Please Note: Titles and intros are
the most rewritten parts of most essays. Don’t be afraid to revise.
The Title of the Essay• All essays need a title;• The title should…
– Indicate the essay’s subject;– And it should attempt to capture the
reader’s interest.
Writing the Introduction
• An introduction should have three parts:– A lead-in or HOOK, whose purpose is
to capture the reader’s attention;– A transition section, which logically
links the lead-in to the thesis;– And a thesis sentence that previews
the main points of the essay.
Let’s go through the parts of the intro
• The Lead-In/Hook– Its purpose is to capture the attention
of the reader;– It should be one of the strongest,
most polished (most rewritten and tweaked) parts of your entire essay;
– Remember. . .
Here are some lead-in/hook techniques
you can use:• Anecdote
– Tell a relevant story• Quotation
– You can quote from someone famous or someone you know
• Description– Describe a scene, event,
person or thing• Contradiction
– Start off with some variation of the following sentence: “Most people believe A, but actually. . .”
• Question– Just make sure it’s a
question your reader would really ask
• Analogy– Compare the point you’re
going to make with something the reader can relate to
• Allusion– Make a reference to
something in literature, history or popular culture—something your reader will know about and relate to
Transition• If the purpose of the lead-in is to gain
the reader’s attention,• The purpose of the transition is to
prepare the reader for the point the writer makes in the thesis.
• The connection between the two must be logical
Thesis• The last sentence of the
introduction is the thesis sentence– The thesis should preview the main
points of the essay;– It provides a logical roadmap to guide
the reader through the essay.
Thesis: To get from El Paso to
Dallas, a travelermust go throughOdessa, MidlandAnd Fort Worth.
Body Paragraph 2:
Midland
Body Paragraph 1:
Odessa
Body Paragraph 3:Fort Worth
Conclusion:Dallas
Think of the thesis as a road map and each point of the thesis as means of getting to the destination.
EssayEssayEssayEssay
Part 3:Part 3:The Body ParagraphThe Body Paragraph
All body paragraphs have four parts:
• Topic sentence• Explanation of topic sentence• Example• Conclusion/transition to next
paragraph
Topic Sentence• The topic sentence is usually the first
sentence of the paragraph;• It tells the subject of that paragraph;• It expresses the writer’s opinion about
the subject;• It restates a point already made in the
thesis sentence.
For example,• If we use the thesis sentence, Wise people are
even-handed, open-minded and ultimately compassionate
• Then the topic sentence for the first body paragraph is Wise people are generally even-handed.
• The topic sentence for the second body paragraph would be In addition, they tend to be open-minded.
• The topic sentence for the third body paragraph might be These two qualities contribute to the third characteristic—a general compassion for other people.
Explanation of Topic Sentence
• Since every topic sentence expresses an opinion,
• it’s up to you, the writer, to clarify what you mean by your opinion;
• So, following the topic sentence, you should use several sentences to explain what you mean.
Example• Up until now, you’ve only expressed
opinion—you have to prove your point with an EXAMPLE;
• An example is something from the real world (a story, a description, a fact, a quote) that illustrates the truth of your topic sentence;
• Use quotes from a variety of text as examples.
Conclusion• It explains your point.• To write the conclusion, imagine
that someone has asked you, “So what?” and then answer that question.
You’ll repeat the same pattern with the next two
body paragraphs• Topic sentence• Explain the topic sentence• Example• Conclusion
EssayEssayEssayEssayPart 4Part 4
Writing the ConclusionWriting the Conclusion
A conclusion paragraph does three things:
• It loops back to the lead-in:– Whatever you did in the introduction to capture your
reader’s attention,– mention it at the beginning of the conclusion to
signal that the paper is ending
• It briefly summarizes your main points – – One sentence or less!
• It wraps up your thesis– Most important part-it’s where you draw your
conclusion.