Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Notes on the Example Essay

Writing an essay is direct, straight-forward, and, in this case, informative. It does not have to be boring, though. A good writer keeps his/her audience in mind and seeks to make the essay more than simply 1-2-3.
It takes more effort, but the result is far greater.

Introduction:
In three or more sentences, get the reader's attention and provide necessary background for the reader
leading him/her to the topic.
The thesis statement can come any place in the opening paragraph, but is often placed at the end of the paragraph in order to more easily transition into the second, body paragraph. The thesis statement WILL NOT have a sentence that basically says "In this essay I will be providing examples to illustrate ..."

In body paragraphs, provide many CONCRETE examples to illustrate your generalization stated in your thesis. Use details, illustrations, and situations that reveal and be sure to explain how each one relates as an example. Spell it out. Be exact.

The conclusion should give closure to the paper; it may be a graceful ending, an amusing conclusion, or leave the reader with something to think about. The final paragraph  WILL NOT begin with "In conclusion..."

DO NOT USE SECOND PERSON
AVOID using extreme adverbs: "So," "very," "just"
AVOID using absolute terms: "All," "never," "everyone,"

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