Essay FormatEssay Format

Some essays may be four Some essays may be four paragraphs; some may be paragraphs; some may be five; some may be six etc.five; some may be six etc.

Introductory Paragraph:Introductory Paragraph:

The objective of the The objective of the introductory introductory

paragraph is to set up paragraph is to set up the thesis statement.the thesis statement.

Strategies for Intro. Strategies for Intro. ParagraphParagraph

1. First sentence should get to the 1. First sentence should get to the point.point.– Example-Ray Bradbury’s Example-Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451

is a science-fiction novel that predicts a is a science-fiction novel that predicts a chillingly self-destructive society that chillingly self-destructive society that accurately parallels present day society.accurately parallels present day society.

– The first sentence is more general in The first sentence is more general in scope and builds to a much more scope and builds to a much more specific thesis statement.specific thesis statement.

More possible strategies for an More possible strategies for an effective intro. paragrapheffective intro. paragraph

Give some brief summary of story that Give some brief summary of story that will refresh reader’s mind of plot but will refresh reader’s mind of plot but be certain that all commentary relates be certain that all commentary relates to the upcoming thesis statement.to the upcoming thesis statement.

Remember the main objective of all Remember the main objective of all commentary of intro. is to set up the commentary of intro. is to set up the thesis statement, all aspects of it.thesis statement, all aspects of it.

A smooth transition to thesis is A smooth transition to thesis is imperative.imperative.

Various Ways to Build a Bridge Various Ways to Build a Bridge to Thesisto Thesis

You might ask a few questions that You might ask a few questions that will be answered in the body of the will be answered in the body of the paper.paper.

You might generalize on each prong You might generalize on each prong before stating the thesis.before stating the thesis.

You might insert a quotation or two.You might insert a quotation or two. You might write an open thesis You might write an open thesis

before you state your closed thesis.before you state your closed thesis.

Example of Open and Closed Example of Open and Closed Thesis Used TogetherThesis Used Together

The novelThe novel explores and predicts the explores and predicts the downfall and destruction of society. downfall and destruction of society. Ray Bradbury in his classic novel Ray Bradbury in his classic novel Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451 portrays a doomed portrays a doomed society preoccupied with selfish society preoccupied with selfish pleasure, violent entertainment, and pleasure, violent entertainment, and foolish indifference.foolish indifference.

The Thesis StatementThe Thesis Statement

The LAST SENTENCE of the introductory The LAST SENTENCE of the introductory paragraph should be the THESIS.paragraph should be the THESIS.

The thesis statement is a sentence that The thesis statement is a sentence that specifically states the purpose of your specifically states the purpose of your paper.paper.

Thesis should be stated in parallel Thesis should be stated in parallel structure.structure.

When related ideas have same When related ideas have same grammatical form, you have parallelism. grammatical form, you have parallelism.

First Topic Paragraph (same as First Topic Paragraph (same as second paragraph of essay)second paragraph of essay)

1. THE FIRST SENTENCE of this 1. THE FIRST SENTENCE of this paragraph WILL BE A TOPIC SENTENCE.paragraph WILL BE A TOPIC SENTENCE.

2. After identifying topic, proceed to 2. After identifying topic, proceed to give examples and illustrations that give examples and illustrations that support this topic. Quotes, explanations, support this topic. Quotes, explanations, and some plot summary are necessary and some plot summary are necessary here.here.

3. Support topic with multiple examples.3. Support topic with multiple examples. 4. Make transitions from each example.4. Make transitions from each example. 5. CONCLUDE PARAGRAPH CLEARLY!5. CONCLUDE PARAGRAPH CLEARLY!

Strategies for Writing Topic Strategies for Writing Topic ParagraphsParagraphs

Make transition from previous Make transition from previous paragraph (First topic paragraph has paragraph (First topic paragraph has this already built in because it follows this already built in because it follows thesis.) smooth by incorporating the thesis.) smooth by incorporating the topic from previous paragraph with topic from previous paragraph with the upcoming topic. Thus, the topic the upcoming topic. Thus, the topic sentences for all topic paragraphs sentences for all topic paragraphs (excluding the first) will be a (excluding the first) will be a transitional topic sentence.transitional topic sentence.

Example for transitional topic Example for transitional topic sentence:sentence:

Not only does Bradbury warn that Not only does Bradbury warn that conformity leads to complacency, but conformity leads to complacency, but he clearly prophesizes that a self-he clearly prophesizes that a self-indulgent, pleasure-seeking society indulgent, pleasure-seeking society breeds violence.breeds violence.

Give any information leading up to Give any information leading up to example or illustration that might be example or illustration that might be necessary for clarity.necessary for clarity.

Example: Through a conversation with Example: Through a conversation with Montag, Bradbury portrays violence Montag, Bradbury portrays violence through Clarisse. “’I’m afraid of through Clarisse. “’I’m afraid of children my own age. They kill each children my own age. They kill each other’” (30).other’” (30).

Illustrate and/or explain Illustrate and/or explain example, and infer on topic for example, and infer on topic for

good focus.good focus. Clarisse says that her grandfather Clarisse says that her grandfather

explained that once young people explained that once young people were more responsible. Perhaps were more responsible. Perhaps Bradbury’s message warns that Bradbury’s message warns that society is headed in a downward society is headed in a downward trend. Violence seems to be a trend. Violence seems to be a symptom of an indulgent population.symptom of an indulgent population.

Make transition to next Make transition to next example.example.

Another instance of violent vulgarity Another instance of violent vulgarity is when Mildred suggests that is when Mildred suggests that Montag take the Beetle out, drive it Montag take the Beetle out, drive it fast, and hit some animals. She fast, and hit some animals. She prescribes this because she admits it prescribes this because she admits it makes her feel better. Once again, makes her feel better. Once again, F. F. 451451 society proves ugly in its violent society proves ugly in its violent nature.nature.

Make conclusions clear.Make conclusions clear.

Bradbury warns that an Bradbury warns that an uneducated, pleasure-uneducated, pleasure-seeking, consumer-seeking, consumer-oriented society will oriented society will certainly lead to violence certainly lead to violence and chaos.and chaos.

Short QuotationsShort Quotations Short quotations are four lines or less in the Short quotations are four lines or less in the

text. They are part of the paragraph.text. They are part of the paragraph.

Set up: Bradbury seems to imply that Set up: Bradbury seems to imply that Americans are oblivious to the rest of the Americans are oblivious to the rest of the world through Montag’s following comment. world through Montag’s following comment. “’ I’ve heard rumors; the world is starving, “’ I’ve heard rumors; the world is starving, but we’re well fed. Is it true the world works but we’re well fed. Is it true the world works hard, and we play?’” (73-74). The novel hard, and we play?’” (73-74). The novel strives to make society more introspective. strives to make society more introspective. Is Bradbury criticizing ignorance and Is Bradbury criticizing ignorance and hedonism? hedonism?

Interior and Regular Interior and Regular QuotationsQuotations

The previous slide used interior The previous slide used interior quotations along with regular quotations along with regular quotations. Use interior quotations (with quotations. Use interior quotations (with regular quotations) when you are regular quotations) when you are quoting dialogue. Use regular quotations quoting dialogue. Use regular quotations for narrations.for narrations.

Example: “…[T]he river was mild and Example: “…[T]he river was mild and leisurely, going away from the people leisurely, going away from the people who ate shadows for breakfast and who ate shadows for breakfast and steam for lunch and vapors for supper” steam for lunch and vapors for supper” (140).(140).

Long Quotations:Long Quotations: Long quotations are more than Long quotations are more than

four lines in the primary text. four lines in the primary text. Double-indent for all lines in left Double-indent for all lines in left margin. Use no quotations for margin. Use no quotations for narration and use quotations for narration and use quotations for dialogue. Use quotations when dialogue. Use quotations when you see them.you see them.

Examples for Long QuotationsExamples for Long QuotationsUsing EllipsesUsing Ellipses

Faber explains to Montag about books:Faber explains to Montag about books:““It’s not the books you need…. TheIt’s not the books you need…. Thesame things could be in the ‘parlor same things could be in the ‘parlor families’ today through the…televisors,families’ today through the…televisors,but are not…. Take it where you can but are not…. Take it where you can find it, in old phonograph records, oldfind it, in old phonograph records, oldmotion pictures….” (82)motion pictures….” (82)

Bradbury might be suggesting that we use our Bradbury might be suggesting that we use our mediamediawisely.wisely.

Long Quotation from Long Quotation from NarrationNarration

Clarisse represents revelation to Montag asClarisse represents revelation to Montag as

expressed in the following simile:expressed in the following simile:

She had a very thin face like the dialShe had a very thin face like the dial

of a small clock seen faintly in a darkof a small clock seen faintly in a dark

room in the middle of the night…with room in the middle of the night…with

a white silence and a glowing, all a white silence and a glowing, all

certainty and knowing what it had tocertainty and knowing what it had to

tell of…further darknesses[] but movingtell of…further darknesses[] but moving

also toward a new sun. (10)also toward a new sun. (10)

Concluding ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

The concluding paragraph is to the The concluding paragraph is to the essay what the clincher is to the essay what the clincher is to the paragraph. Save something profound paragraph. Save something profound for the end of essay; don’t just sound for the end of essay; don’t just sound like a parrot. Yes, you need to echo the like a parrot. Yes, you need to echo the thesis, but your conclusion reiterates thesis, but your conclusion reiterates the points you made through out the the points you made through out the essay but with finality. It is the last essay but with finality. It is the last impression you make on your reader. impression you make on your reader. Make it powerful.Make it powerful.