Visible Speech

a short course in the

fundamentalsof writing / lesson 3

By Joe Napora

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Symbols Used in This Program

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The Parts of the Essay

The Introduction

The Body

The Conclusion

Interest and

Information

Details

Unity and

a Lasting Image

Introduction

The Introduction has two functions. The first function is to get the readers’ attention. It is the writer’s job (the most important one) to get the reader interested. The second function is let the reader know what the essay is all about.

What are the two functions of the Introduction?

Interestand Information

Introductory Techniques

There are at least a dozen ways to begin an essay that have been proven to work well in getting the attention of the reader. Half this many are most common, and it is these six that we are most interested in.

•Ask a question or several questions.

• Make an outrageous statement.

• Give a detailed description.

• Present a dramatic scene.

• Use Dialogue.

• Use a famous quote or historical reference.

Introductory Technique:Asking Questions

Intro.

A question is like a ringing phone: it’s very hard not to answer it.

A question involves the reader automatically into your essay.

This is why asking a question or a series of questions is often a good way to begin your essay.

Of course it has to be a question that is appropriate to your thesis.

The thesis rules everything.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Introductory Technique:Outrageous Statement

Intro.

Writing is my worse subject!

I hate writing!

When I think of my writing teachers, I’m sure I believe in capital punishment.

My writing classes in grade school were nothing but a form of child abuse.

Writing! Who needs it?

An outrageous statement gets attention. After you have the readers’ attention, then you can alter your statement.

But it’s not as bad as getting beaten with barbed wire.

But I hate mean people worse.

Yet, I’m not so sure I want to see any of them hung.

But then, most classes in grade school were that way.

Unfortunately, now everyone needs it.

Introductory Technique:Detailed Description

Intro.

A detailed description acts like the pictures that accompany a story in the newspaper or in popular magazines: they get our attention and relate to the story.

That’s why they work.

We would expect the story with this picture to be about people at work in a white-collar job.

Introductory Technique:Dramatic Scene

Intro.

While the doctor listened for sounds that my only kidney is failing, I thought to myself, why had I given my other kidney to my worthless brother? The last time we saw each other he screamed at me, “I’d rather have a dog’s kidney than yours. Thanks for nothing!”

Conflict always gets the readers’ attention.

Introductory Technique:Dialogue

Intro.

Beginning with dialogue puts the reader in the position of an eavesdropper: you listen to people talk even if you are not interested in them or what they are saying.

You get drawn into their lives because of the power of the human voice.

Dialogue gets the human voice onto the lifeless page.

Introductory Technique:Quotes & Allusions

Intro.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Honor thy father and mother.

Thou shall not kill.

"To believe yourself to be brave is to be brave; it is the only essential thing.” --Mark Twain

“Don’t panic!” --Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

“ x ”The X stands for anything you have quoted. And the X must be exactly, word for word, as it was in the original source.

B o d y

The function of the Body of the essay is to provide the Details of what the essay is all about.

The Body of the essay is divided into paragraphs that are organized around topic sentences.

What is the function of the Body of the essay?

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

Details

C o n c l u s I o n

The function of the Conclusion of the essay is to unify the reading experience and to leave with the reader a lasting image that will recall to mind the essay after it has been read, perhaps years after it has been read.

What are the functions of the Conclusion?

Unity

and

ImageThis is the end of lesson 3