THE ESSAYTHE ESSAY

History of the ESSAYHistory of the ESSAY

The rise of the essay in European The rise of the essay in European culture in the late 16culture in the late 16thth Century was Century was coincidental with the evolution of coincidental with the evolution of

the notion of individual freedom and the notion of individual freedom and the increased recognition of the the increased recognition of the

value of the self.value of the self.

The essay thus began as the simplest The essay thus began as the simplest and most naturally reflective, self-and most naturally reflective, self-generating and self-sustaining kind generating and self-sustaining kind of proseof prose..

The finest modern essayists, while The finest modern essayists, while managing to sustain a respectfully managing to sustain a respectfully objective distance from the topic, have objective distance from the topic, have recognizable voicesrecognizable voices..

Essay writing is the art of channeling a Essay writing is the art of channeling a private inner conversation between the private inner conversation between the and its subject into a public outer form.and its subject into a public outer form.

Why do you have to suffer the burden of Why do you have to suffer the burden of essay writing like those of career essay writing like those of career academics?academics?

TO TEACH YOU TO THINK!!!!TO TEACH YOU TO THINK!!!!

You will be evaluated NOT on You will be evaluated NOT on what you know, but on how what you know, but on how well you can think about what well you can think about what you know and on how well you know and on how well your writing elucidates that your writing elucidates that thought.thought.

Remember that writing is often messy, Remember that writing is often messy, usually difficult, and more difficult some usually difficult, and more difficult some days than others.days than others.

Work hard, but be as patient with yourself Work hard, but be as patient with yourself as if you were learning to play golf.as if you were learning to play golf.

The ThesisThe Thesis

The thesis is the purpose you aim to fulfill The thesis is the purpose you aim to fulfill when you reach your destination…and when you reach your destination…and every essay MUST have a purpose.every essay MUST have a purpose.

Original meaning: Original meaning:

Topic = Topic = topos, topos, “place”“place” Thesis = “something set down”Thesis = “something set down”

A thesis is something A thesis is something declared, a decision declared, a decision made, a direction made, a direction found.found.

Remember:Remember:

A good thesis answers the question or A good thesis answers the question or fulfills the assignment set by the instructor.fulfills the assignment set by the instructor.

A good thesis presents the argument that A good thesis presents the argument that seems most significant and most seems most significant and most interesting to you.interesting to you.

JuryJury

Think of yourself as a member of a jury, Think of yourself as a member of a jury, listening to a lawyer who is presenting an listening to a lawyer who is presenting an opening argument. opening argument.

You'll want to know very soon whether the You'll want to know very soon whether the lawyer believes the accused to be guilty or lawyer believes the accused to be guilty or not guilty, and how the lawyer plans to not guilty, and how the lawyer plans to convince you. convince you.

Readers of academic essays are like jury Readers of academic essays are like jury members: before they have read too far, members: before they have read too far, they want to know what the essay argues they want to know what the essay argues as well as how the writer plans to make the as well as how the writer plans to make the argument. argument.

Developing a thesisDeveloping a thesis

After reading your thesis statement, the After reading your thesis statement, the reader should think, "This essay is going reader should think, "This essay is going to try to convince me of something. I'm not to try to convince me of something. I'm not convinced yet, but I'm interested to see convinced yet, but I'm interested to see how I might be."how I might be."

Rules of the thesisRules of the thesis

A thesis is never a question.A thesis is never a question. Readers of academic essays expect to Readers of academic essays expect to

have questions discussed, explored, or have questions discussed, explored, or even answered. A question ("Why did even answered. A question ("Why did communism collapse in Eastern Europe?") communism collapse in Eastern Europe?") is not an argument, and without an is not an argument, and without an argument, a thesis is dead in the water.argument, a thesis is dead in the water.

Thesis rules cont’dThesis rules cont’d A thesis is never a list.A thesis is never a list.

A thesis should never be vague, A thesis should never be vague, combative or confrontational.combative or confrontational.

ThesisThesis

An effective thesis has a definable, An effective thesis has a definable, arguable claim.arguable claim.

A thesis should be as clear and specific A thesis should be as clear and specific as possible.as possible.

Pre-WritingPre-Writing

The daunting first page…The daunting first page…

Thinking and Writing StylesThinking and Writing Styles

Mind Maps Mind Maps draw branches that allow you free yourself draw branches that allow you free yourself

from the constraints of sentences or from the constraints of sentences or paragraphs.paragraphs.

No order, however, thoughts are No order, however, thoughts are suggested as well as connections of suggested as well as connections of ideas.ideas.

Thinking & Writing StylesThinking & Writing Styles

Free-WritingFree-Writing Provides a temporary reprieve from the Provides a temporary reprieve from the

anxiety of trying to obey the rules and anxiety of trying to obey the rules and regulations of correct writing.regulations of correct writing.

Used as a warm-up exercise to bring what Used as a warm-up exercise to bring what you have in mind to the surfaceyou have in mind to the surface

Write on your specific topic for the whole Write on your specific topic for the whole time…say 20 minutes.time…say 20 minutes.

Free-Writing ExerciseFree-Writing Exercise

Who, in this class, would Who, in this class, would you pick for the next Prime you pick for the next Prime Minister?Minister?

Take a moment to write down the name of your Take a moment to write down the name of your candidate and the reasons for your choice.candidate and the reasons for your choice.

Thinking & Writing StylesThinking & Writing Styles

OutliningOutlining Like good paintings, good essays are Like good paintings, good essays are

structured so well that they appear to have structured so well that they appear to have no structure at all.no structure at all.

However, you will discover a framework…However, you will discover a framework…an arrangement of ideas & details that is an arrangement of ideas & details that is essential to a lucid & persuasive paper.essential to a lucid & persuasive paper.

OutlinesOutlines

By having the whole essay condensed on By having the whole essay condensed on one page, you can see the purpose, the one page, you can see the purpose, the relationships between the main points and relationships between the main points and the supporting details.the supporting details.

INTRODUCTIONSINTRODUCTIONS More paper gets thrown in the recycling More paper gets thrown in the recycling

bin when writers are attempting bin when writers are attempting introductions than at any other time.introductions than at any other time.

Eventually, your introduction will become Eventually, your introduction will become the key to your essay: I will be thoroughly the key to your essay: I will be thoroughly prepared for the maze of intellectual and prepared for the maze of intellectual and creative thought about to be experienced.creative thought about to be experienced.

Don’t fight with yourself!Don’t fight with yourself!

There is little point in trying to achieve a There is little point in trying to achieve a creative introduction in the first draft if one creative introduction in the first draft if one doesn’t occur to your easily.doesn’t occur to your easily.

What you want at this stage is a working What you want at this stage is a working introduction, one that keeps your draft introduction, one that keeps your draft intact but does not drain all your creative intact but does not drain all your creative energy.energy.

Transitional ParagraphsTransitional Paragraphs

T.P’s can begin by:T.P’s can begin by: Summing up the section you have just writtenSumming up the section you have just written Elaborate on its significanceElaborate on its significance Explain how it connects to what will followExplain how it connects to what will follow

T.P’s can end by:T.P’s can end by: Introducing the next section; name what is to Introducing the next section; name what is to

follow. follow.

ConclusionsConclusions Serves to unify the entire paperServes to unify the entire paper

Pulls together the ideas Pulls together the ideas containedcontained

Points out the ideas implicationsPoints out the ideas implications

The ParagraphThe Paragraph A little essay in itselfA little essay in itself

A visual representation of the thinking A visual representation of the thinking process by which the writer demonstrates process by which the writer demonstrates his or her thesis.his or her thesis.

Each paragraph must be about only one Each paragraph must be about only one main idea that is developed through main idea that is developed through details, examples and explanations.details, examples and explanations.

The Controlling IdeaThe Controlling Idea

The paragraph develops one small idea The paragraph develops one small idea just as the essay develops one large idea.just as the essay develops one large idea.

Each new paragraph signals a shift in Each new paragraph signals a shift in focus, therefore it needs a controlling ideafocus, therefore it needs a controlling idea

YOU & IYOU & I

THE WHOLE ESSAY IS YOURS!!!THE WHOLE ESSAY IS YOURS!!!

NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS!NO PERSONAL PRONOUNS!

Active/Passive VoiceActive/Passive Voice

Which one sounds better to you?Which one sounds better to you? A) The cow jumped over the moonA) The cow jumped over the moon

B) The moon was jumped over by the cow.B) The moon was jumped over by the cow.

The answer is A…but why?The answer is A…but why?

The active voice (A) is the natural key for The active voice (A) is the natural key for coherence in composition.coherence in composition.

Active voice is less dependent upon Active voice is less dependent upon prepositions (by) and auxiliaries (was).prepositions (by) and auxiliaries (was).

Active voice employs fewer words, Active voice employs fewer words, therefore, less displacement of energy.therefore, less displacement of energy.

Historical PresentHistorical Present

The use of the present tense makes for The use of the present tense makes for immediate and lively writing.immediate and lively writing.

Writing in the present tense allow the Writing in the present tense allow the characters to continue living in the characters to continue living in the present.present.

Past tense makes for boring reading.Past tense makes for boring reading.

Redact & ReviseRedact & Revise

Pronouns Pronouns avoid “it” or “this”avoid “it” or “this”

RepetitionRepetition Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.Sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

Transitional words or phrasesTransitional words or phrases Signal logical relation b/w the ideas they linkSignal logical relation b/w the ideas they link

Transitional Words & PhrasesTransitional Words & Phrases

1. Adding Ideas1. Adding Ideas

Equally importantEqually important FurthermoreFurthermore LikewiseLikewise SimilarlySimilarly In additionIn addition

2. Emphasizing ideas2. Emphasizing ideas

IndeedIndeed In particularIn particular TrulyTruly Above allAbove all

3. Illustrating Ideas3. Illustrating Ideas

In other wordsIn other words In particularIn particular SpecificallySpecifically To illustrateTo illustrate

4. Comparing Ideas4. Comparing Ideas

In the same wayIn the same way LikewiseLikewise SimilarlySimilarly

5. Contrasting Ideas5. Contrasting Ideas

DespiteDespite ConverselyConversely NeverthelessNevertheless On the contraryOn the contrary

What is more difficult What is more difficult than the introduction?than the introduction?

ConclusionConclusion

An essay, like a life, may be concluded but An essay, like a life, may be concluded but it can never be complete: there will always it can never be complete: there will always be something left undone.be something left undone.

Say goodbye to the ‘reader’ in an Say goodbye to the ‘reader’ in an informative, witty manner.informative, witty manner.

The conclusion is NOTThe conclusion is NOT

Purely pointing out the fact Purely pointing out the fact that you have accomplished that you have accomplished what you said you would in what you said you would in your introduction.your introduction.

A good conclusion will…A good conclusion will…

Stimulate the reader to think more about Stimulate the reader to think more about the topic in a critically open-minded way.the topic in a critically open-minded way.

Return the reader to the larger view of the Return the reader to the larger view of the terrain you have covered.terrain you have covered.

Be creative Be creative

Essay TopicsEssay Topics

Should there still be colleges and Should there still be colleges and schools just for men/boys and some just schools just for men/boys and some just for women/girls?for women/girls?

We are becoming overwhelmingly We are becoming overwhelmingly dependent on computers. Is this dependent on computers. Is this dependence on computers a good thing or dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their should we be more suspicious of their benefits? benefits?

Argumentative EssayArgumentative Essay

Writing an argumentative essay requires Writing an argumentative essay requires you to be well armed with strong and you to be well armed with strong and convincing arguments. Your personal convincing arguments. Your personal position and insight should of course be position and insight should of course be the basis of your work, but the main point the basis of your work, but the main point is that your personal views have to be is that your personal views have to be supported by founded arguments, supported by founded arguments, reasons, proofs and evidences and reasons, proofs and evidences and proceed from the factual information.proceed from the factual information.

Argumentative EssayArgumentative Essay

Always be ready for the opposition to your Always be ready for the opposition to your opinion. Try to speculate on this in opinion. Try to speculate on this in advance and to develop the opposition advance and to develop the opposition views in your work.views in your work.

That is it…..let us begin That is it…..let us begin ..

Rules you may have forgottenRules you may have forgotten

Avoid personal pronouns (I, we, you, us)Avoid personal pronouns (I, we, you, us) Do not use contractionsDo not use contractions ““Speak” in a formal voiceSpeak” in a formal voice

Supporting evidence is mandatorySupporting evidence is mandatory

THE END