Writing Your PaperWriting Your Paper

An OverviewChapter 5

Writing a Strong Writing a Strong IntroductionIntroduction

• Stating the thesis• The strongest introduction indentifies the

subject and states the thesis• Build to your thesis• Present the idea of the thesis in the most

interesting way possible

Forecasting the PaperForecasting the Paper

• Sometimes, in addition to identifying subject and stating the thesis, lists the divisions of the rest of the paper. (See example page 95)

I believe college is an ideal place for an intelligent man or woman to look for a mate. For one thing, it/s easy to meet eligible members of the opposite sex in college. Also, college provides a setting in which friendships can grow freely and naturally to love. Besides, an educated person surely wants a mate who shares his or her interests and tastes.

Using Different Intro Using Different Intro StrategiesStrategies

• You are not limited to one paragraph• You can dramatize a situation• You can use an anecdote to illustrate the

subject• You can use striking statistics, thought

provoking questions and or quotes

Tips for Writing the IntroTips for Writing the Intro

• Build to your thesis• Identify the papers divisions• Seek variety with more than one

paragraph• Tell an anecdote• Deal with the opposition• Ask a challenging question• Inject humor• Use a quote• Provide dramatic data or statistics

• At three major universities, Harvard, Stanford, and Columbia, more than 80 percent of the dollars in 2008 presidential campaign donations went to Democratic candidates. But these figures mask a strong conservative Republican base on college campuses.

Writing the BodyWriting the Body

• The body of the paper provides support for the thesis presented in the intro. Body paragraphs develop the writing plan or outline and should lead readers logically from one section to another without causing confusion.

Topic SentencesTopic Sentences

• Write a clear topic sentence for each paragraph

• A topic sentence is to a paragraph what a thesis statement is to a paper: It expresses the central idea of the paragraph.

• The rest gives support for the topic sentence• Can appear at the beginning, middle or end• Can also be implied rather than stated (but

this is tricky)

TransitionsTransitions

• Help readers follow your thoughts• They say to a reader

– “Here’s another point”– “A contrast is coming up”– “Now, I’m drawing a conclusion”

• Awkward: My nephew is a brat. I love him.• Better: My nephew is a brat, but I love him.• See page 104 for a list of common transitions• BEWARE: Too many transition can distract

readers

Using Sentences & Paragraphs Using Sentences & Paragraphs as Transitionsas Transitions

• Topic sentences can serve as transitions between ideas and paragraphs

• The transitional paragraph points back to what has gone before and points forward to what is yet to come.

UnityUnity

• All sentences in a paragraph must develop one idea

• Any sentence that does not relate tot h at idea should be eliminated

Tips for unityTips for unity

• Give each paragraph a controlling idea by means of a topic sentence

• Check each sentence in a paragraph to see that it supports the main idea.

• Revise or eliminate any sentences that distract from the main idea

CoherenceCoherence

• You can use chronological order for coherence

• You can use space order• You can enumerate reasons by listing

them in regard to action or belief• You can use cause and effect• You can compare one thing to another• You can achieve it with parallel structure• With repetition• Pronouns can also help

Strong ConclusionStrong Conclusion

• Gives a sense of finality• Mention major ideas• Interpret the importance of the material

presented• Tell a lively anecdote• Present a quotation• Raise a question

THE ENDTHE END