Essay Warm-Up (and some John Green)

Monday, October 21, 2013

Learning Goals1. Review the key structure of an

essay

2. Begin preliminary work on your own essays by discussing possible connections and examples from the book and/or movie(s)

Today1. Please hand in your questions2. John Green – The Catcher in the Rye Part

23. Essay Structure and Tips4. Explanation of Essay Warm-Up/Timeline5. Brainstorming of Connections6. Getting Started

John Greenhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUnQ-wO

PGUE

Discuss a quote or comment from the video that resonated with you. Do you agree? Disagree?

Your introduction should…Introduce your topic and argument

an essay is not a novel in which there is a surprise ending

with an essay, state your position at the beginning

Be an example of a *spoiler alert!*Introduce the various points of your essay

without being too specific … save the “guts” of your essay for the body paragraphs

Structure of IntroductionHook (quote, interesting statement, or a

question that will be explored in your essay)

Introduction of texts/authors and/or topicThesis – specific argumentIntroduction of three main pointsFinal sentence to transition into the first

body paragraph

ThesisMake sure it is an argument

Not Arguable: "Computers are becoming an efficient mechanism for managing and transmitting information in large businesses“ (Johnson).

Arguable: "Heavy use of computers may disrupt family cohesion and increase divorce in society” (Johnson).

Be specificPoor Specificity: "We should not pass the microchip

bill” (Johnson).Good Specificity: "Because the microchip insert

causes serious health hazards such as cancer and brain tumors to those who use it, the microchip should not be passed“ (Johnson).

Make it simple – all of your points in your essay should relate back to this statement

A Strong Literary Thesis“In “A Worn Path,” Eudora Welty creates a fictional

character in Phoenix Jackson whose determination, faith, and cunning illustrate the indomitable human spirit.Note that the work, author, and character to be

analyzed are identified in this thesis statement. The thesis relies on a strong verb (creates). It also identifies the element of fiction that the writer will explore (character) and the characteristics the writer will analyze and discuss (determination, faith, cunning)” (Literary Analysis Thesis).

“In “The Masque of the Red Death,” Poe uses the symbolism of the stranger, the clock, and the seventh room to develop the theme of death” (Literary Analysis Thesis).

“In “Barn Burning,” William Faulkner shows the characters Sardie and Abner Snopes struggling for their identity” (Literary Analysis Thesis).

Body ParagraphsTopic sentence of main point!

Make sure the connection between the topic of your body paragraph and your thesis is clear

Sub points that support the main pointProof with analysisQuote and explanation of quote

Concluding/transition sentence

ConclusionRestate thesis and summarize main argumentsKeep it relatively shortEnd the conclusion with something thought-provoking“say something that will continue to simmer in the

reader's minds long after he or she has put down your essay. To leave this memorable impression, try . . .giving a thought-provoking quotationdescribing a powerful imagetalking about consequences or implicationsstating what action needs to be doneending on an interesting twist of thoughtexplaining why the topic is important” (Johnson).

VoiceJoyce Carol Oates says that “essay writing…

doesn't require a heightened and mediated voice, like prose fiction, but rather a calm, rational, even conversational voice ” (qtd. in “Essay Quotes”).

Avoid using “I” or “you”Be rational not emotional – let your explanations

and proof support your argumentAvoid generalizations like “everyone knows” or

“society believes…”Be assertive in your writing but do not make

unfounded claims (instead of saying “the author intends… “ use “this suggests that the author may be intending for…”

Be Convincing and Know Your TopicConstance Baker Motley once said “in high school,

I won a prize for an essay on tuberculosis. When I got through writing the essay, I was sure I had the disease” (qtd. in “Essay Quotes”).

Rather than saying “I think this statement demonstrates Holden’s self-imposed alienation” say “this statement is an example of Holden’s self-imposed alienation”

Rather than “this quote makes readers” use “this quote invites readers” (don’t overgeneralize the reader’s response)

The TitleJames Pay argues that “one would think that

in writing about literary men and matters there would be no difficulty in finding a title for one's essay…I find this, however, far from being the case” (qtd. in “Essay Quotes”).

Your title can includeThe title of the texts being studied and/or the

author’s nameThe topic or argument of your essay

The Finished ProductChris Abani states that “it takes me forever to

actually finish something like a ten-page essay. But, when I do, I usually love what they are. It's a complicated relationship” (qtd. in “Essay Quotes”).

Take time to edit your essayFix grammar and spellingDiversify word choice (if you are repeating a

word over and over look at that word’s synonyms and see if there is another word you could be using)

Vary sentence structure/length

Works Cited“Essay Quotes.” BrainyQuote. BookRags Media Network, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/essay.html>Johnson, Tom. Ten Steps to Writing an Essay. The American University in Cairo, August 2004. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://www1.aucegypt.edu/academic/writers/index.htm>Literary Analysis Thesis. Learning and Tutoring Center,

Summer 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2013. <http://depts.gpc.edu/~gpcltc/handouts/communications/literarythesis.pdf>