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Designing Your Essay
(Dr. W. Tarzia, 2/2004)
CHOOSING THE ESSAY TOPIC
- 1 Tell the reader something new and interesting. If you tell us what we already know or guess, why would we want to read it? If you use a topic discussed in class, be sure that you can develop that topic in you OWN way, in a different direction. Don’t repeat class lectures!
- Ask the question, “Would anybody care about my topic?” Would you? If not, choose another topic. Avoid the obvious.
GENERAL RULES FOR INTRODUCTIONS
Hook the Reader -- Make us want to read the essay! Ask a question, make an unusual or surprising statement, begin with an interesting fact, or anything that will attract the reader.
Present the Thesis Statement -- The introduction usually presents the thesis statement (see below).
WHAT IS A THESIS? THREE DEFINITIONS:
- The thesis is an attitude toward the topic, a claim that you want to argue, a statement you want to prove.
HINT: Write 2 or 3 thesis statements, then pick the best one before starting the essay! The best will be the most interesting, informative, and specific statement.
- A thesis is the central idea of your essay. It is the statement that you will support or prove to be true. The thesis is your goal.
- The thesis does not merely name a topic. The thesis asserts something about the topic. Here are some examples:
- (a) Not a thesis (this is a topic but it says nothing about the topic): “Strip mining is used to obtain coal.”
- (b) Weak thesis (could be more specific): “Strip mining damages the environment.”
- (c) Great Thesis for an Analysis Essay (it is very specific; it promises a lively topic and specific details): “Strip mining creates pollution, permanent destruction of the land, and devastating effects on people’s lives.”
ORGANIZING THE ESSAY
Introduction
- attracts the reader
- presents thesis.
Background Information -- definition of terms, explanation of ideas needed to understand the topic of the essay, situations to be discussed, history behind the topic, basic facts, etc.
Discussion Section -- This is the largest part of the essay. Present your analysis in logical parts so that part A must come before part B, etc. Use transitions (‘bridges’) between paragraphs. Check out the organizing methods below. Test: If you can switch the positions of your paragraphs without affecting your essay, then the essay has a weak organization.
Conclusion -- Conclusions make sense of your discussion. End with interesting ideas; do not just repeat things already said!
GENERAL RULES FOR CONCLUSIONS
- Avoidances: conclusions must not repeat old information, must not start a new topic, and must not pretend that you have proved more than you really have (be honest).
- Conclusions can contain an important final idea to send the reader off thinking; they can pose a thoughtful question to do the same thing. You might end with a powerful quotation or statement about your topic. You can also tie together your main points: think of the conclusion as the last paragraph in which you say something that relates all of your topics.
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
Unity -- A paragraph must develop only one main idea. Usually the first sentence (topic sentence) should mention that idea..
Development -- Write between 5 and 10 well-developed sentences per paragraph (teacher opinions will vary, but this is a good way to start). Longer paragraphs are possible depending on the skill of the writer, the topic of the paragraph, and the length of the essay itself.
Topic sentence
It is just like a thesis statement. It is a powerful statement about what is to be said about the topic of the paragraph. Usually the topic sentence is the first or second sentence. It should promise important, interesting, specific information about the topic. As with a thesis, sometimes you ought to try out a couple and then choose the strongest one.
Supporting ideas
Now you need to prove or support the topic sentence. These next sentences are called “supporting details.” The supporting details can be:
- definitions of terms or ideas (these often come first);
- background information (this often comes soon in a para.; inform about history behind an event, etc.);
- descriptions (include vivid detail, use the 5 senses of sight, sound, touch, smell, taste);
- facts and statistics (do research; cite information);
- explanations (expand, explain how something happened),
- examples (analogies, illustrations),
- comparisons-contrasts.
TRANSITIONS
A transition is any method that you use to bridge gaps in your argument, or to lead gracefully from sentence the sentence, paragraph to paragraph, section to section in a written document or oral speech. Within a paragraph, the reader must see a logical movement or “flow” between sentences. That order can arise from simply making sure one thought leads logically to another. Sometimes, however, you can use transitional words to lead from one sentence to the next.
Two methods are
- using words and phrases and
- complete sentences (usually at the end of one paragraph or the beginning of the next).
Warning! Do not overuse transitional words within a paragraph, because you might create a series of monotonous sentence structures. That is, if every sentence begins with “however” or “furthermore,” your reader will fall asleep with boredom.
| Type of Relationship to Show |
Specific Phrase to Use to Show That Relationship Between Ideas |
| to add or show sequence |
again, also, finally, furthermore, next |
| to contrast |
although, and yet, despite, however, in contrast, on the contrary
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| to compare |
also, likewise, similarly |
| to give examples or intensify |
after all, for example, for instance, indeed, in fact, of course, to illustrate |
| to indicate place |
above, near, here, opposite to, below, farther on, on the other side, elsewhere |
| to indicate time |
after a while, afterward, as soon as, immediately, in the meantime, later, simultaneously, soon, earlier, so far |
| to repeat or summarize or conclude |
altogether, as has been said, in brief, to summarize, to conclude, in summary, in other words, in particular |
| to show cause and effect |
as a result, accordingly, because, otherwise, since, then, therefore, thus. |
SEQUENCE/ORGANIZING METHODS -- Organize the sequence of ideas (sentences in a paragraph, or paragraphs in an essay). Readers can more easily understand your ideas when they follow a clear plan. Here are the main methods:
- spatial (used when describing a setting or physical object)
- chronological/narrative (for telling a story or describing a process: changing a tire or development of a disease, etc.)
- specific-to-general (events/ideas build to a climax)
- general-to-specific (present a theory, then its details)
- most-familiar idea to least-familiar idea (helps the reader understand a difficult topic)
- simplest idea to most complex idea (helps the reader understand a difficult topic).
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