making essays easy

8/2/2019 Making Essays Easy

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Making Essays Easy!

Planning & OrganizingEffective Papers

The Citadel Writing and Learning Center


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Where Do I Begin?

Before beginning your paper, ask yourselfseveral questions

o What is my topic?o What are the assignment requirements?

o Who is my audience?

o How much can I assume they know?o What tone should I use?



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Basic Essay Structure



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Basic Essay Structure

The introduction starts with a broad focus and quicklynarrows down to the thesis.

The thesis is the most important sentence in thepaper. It clearly states the argument, and all evidencein the paper should directly or indirectly support it.

Each paragraph in the body of the paper is about adifferent argument and each needs to start with a topicsentence that tells what the paragraph is about.

The conclusion can branch out from the narrow focus

of the paper to discuss the broader implications of thetopic.



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Introductions

Effective Introductions Should:

o Introduce the topic

o Explicitly state your thesiso Contain approximately 4-10 sentences

o Capture the readers attention



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Strategies for Introductions

Background: May include historical or chronologicalinformation.

Definition: If the paper focuses on an abstractsubject, such as honor, love, courage, freedom, etc.,define the term.

Question: Make the reader contemplate the topic.

The body of the paper must thoroughly answer thequestion.

Quotation: Discuss its significance immediately

afterward.



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Writing a Thesis Statement

An effective thesis should:

o Be a central idea that requires supporting

evidenceo Be of adequate scope for an essay of the

assigned length

o Be sharply focusedo Not have an immediately obvious answer



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Good and Bad Thesis Statements

o Bad: The first polygraph was developed by Dr. John A. Larson in1921. (Too factual)

o Good: Because the Polygraph has not been proven reliable, evenunder the most controlled conditions, its use by private employers

should be banned.

o Bad: Mapping the human genome has many implications forhealth and science. (Too broad)

o Bad: A person who carries a genetic mutation linked to a particulardisease might or might not develop that disease. (Too narrow)

o Good: Although scientists can now detect genetic predisposition tospecific diseases, not everyone should be tested for these

diseases.



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Suggestions for Writing ThesisStatements

To craft a complex thesis that contains several ideas,sentence paradigms can be helpful.

Examples:

o Although ________, ________.

o Because ________, ________.

o By [doing something], Carl Cadet does[something else].



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Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs develop the major points ofthe thesis.

Each paragraph is like a miniature paper witha thesis, facts to support the thesis, and aconclusion.



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Body Paragraphs Continued

Begin with a topic sentence (the thesis of theparagraph) that transitions smoothly from previousparagraph and states the point the paragraph will

develop. Offer examples, facts, expert opinions, quotations

and other evidence to support the main idea.

Make sure to analyze this information andshow clearly why it supports your thesis!

End with concluding sentence to wrap up theparagraph.



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Conclusions

A conclusion should remind readers whatyour thesis is without repeating exactly what

you already said. Drive home your point and perhaps leave

the reader with something broader to

consider. Leave readers with a sense of closure.



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Strategies for Conclusions

Summarize the essays key points.

Propose a course of action

Discuss the topics wider significance. Askyourself, So what?

Use an example, image, anecdote etc. thatrelates to the introduction, so readers comefull circle.



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Try to Avoid

Re-wording thesis

Incorporating language such as, in

conclusion, to summarize, or in closing Oversimplifying

Introducing new, unrelated ideas



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Writing an Outline

Outlines come in all forms, from simple and informal todetailed and formal.

One of the simplest kinds of outlines is the thesisfollowed by a list of ideas:

Thesis: Television advertising should be regulated to helpprevent childhood obesity.

Children watch more television than ever.

Snacks marketed to children are often unhealthy andfattening.

Childhood obesity can cause diabetes and other healthproblems.



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More Outlines

A more detailed outline can include the thesis, followed bytopic sentences and supporting evidence for eachparagraph.

Thesis: Although various methods for limiting or disposing of nuclearwastes have been proposed, each has serious drawbacks.

A. The process of limiting nuclear waste through partitioning and

transmutation has several negative aspects. The process is complex and costly. Workers exposure to radiation would increase.

B. Antarctic ice sheet disposal is a problem for scientific and legal

reasonsA. Understanding of ice sheet behavior is limited.B. International treaty prohibits it.



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Note on Outlines

Writing something in an outline does not set itin stone.

Actually, outlining can help highlightweaknesses in your argument that need tobe changed.

Happy Writing!



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Questions?

Contact the Writing and Learning Center

For an appointment,

Call (843) 953-5305Email [email protected]

For helpful handouts, visit

www.citadel.edu/wlcenter

mailto:[email protected]://www.citadel.edu/wlcenterhttp://www.citadel.edu/wlcentermailto:[email protected]


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Writing and Learning Center Hours

Monday Thursday: 8am to 9:30pm

Friday: 8am to 4:00pm

Saturdays: 2pm to 5pm, Study Sessions for ToursSundays: 2pm to 6pm, Study Sessions for Tours

6:30pm to 9:30pm, Regular Tutoring


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