What is an essay? According to the dictionary, an essay is an attempt. When you attempt to write an essay, you are engaging in a creative process to bring your ideas to life. Thus, the essay s main purpose is to present a thesis that focuses your ideas and tells your reader that these ideas are worthwhile and valid. Whether it is formal or informal, the essay is a product of reasoning. The Introduction The introduction is composed of three main elements: the broad topic, the narrowed topic, and the thesis statement. The purpose of your introduction is of course to introduce the topic, but not to explain anything in detail. Broad topic Starts with a very vague sentence that generally relates to your topic (theme and its message). This sentence usually focuses the reader s attention on your subject and arouses his curiosity about what you have to say. In order to compose your broad topic, you must have understood the task. Narrowed topic Your second sentence should become a little more specific to the novel, the theme and its message. It should specify what your topic is and imply your attitude. (You should have a transitional sentence before the thesis statement to link your ideas together.) Defend your point of view as early as in your introduction. Thesis statement Write your thesis statement, which lists all of your arguments in the order that you will present them. The thesis statement is a sentence that tells your reader exactly what you will be writing about, and in the order that you will be presenting it. Your thesis should follow the arguments stated in your outline. 76
Make sure the three components of your instruction flow well into one another. Your ideas should not be choppy. To avoid choppiness, use transitional words and revise your sentence structure. For literary essays, integrate pertinent information about the author, literary context, historical context, etc Tips for writing introductions: If you are like me you never quite know what to write for your introduction. Here are a few ideas to help you (remember that not all suggestions are appropriate for all types of essays). Open with an intriguing statement Nobody dies like Stalin did. He didn t just die; he took the world with him. -Andrei Codrescu, Stalin Open with an anecdote Canada is pink. I knew from the map I owned when I was six. On it, New York was green and brown, which was true as far as I could see, so there was no reason to distrust the mapmaker s portrayal of Canada. When my parents took me across the border, and we entered the immigration booth, I looked excitedly for the pink earth. Slowly it dawned on me: this foreign, different place was not so different. I discovered that the world in my head and the world at my feet were not the same. - Robert Ornstein, Human Nature Open with a question your essay will answer Why are Americans terrified of using nuclear power as a source of energy? People are misinformed, or not informed at all, about its benefits and safety. If Americans would take the time to learn about what nuclear power offers, their apprehension and fear might be transformed into hope. Open with an example Libby Smith knows what it is like to be a victim of gay bashing. First, there was the harassing telephone call to her home. Then, one evening last March as she went to get her book bag out of a locker at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, she was attacked by two men. -Mary Crystal Cage, Gay Bashing on Campus 77 Open with a strong opinion Men need a men s movement about as much as women need chest hair. A brotherhood organized to counter feminists could be timely because let s be honest women are no more naturally inclined to equality and fairness than men are. They want power and dominion just as much as any group looking out for its own interests. Organizing to protect the welfare of males might make sense. Unfortunately, the current men s movement does not. -John Ruszkiewicz, The Presence of Others
Open with a quotation that leads to the thesis statement It is difficult to speak adequately or justly of London, wrote Henry James in 1881. It is not a pleasant place; it is not agreeable, or cheerful, or easy, or exempt from reproach. It is only magnificent. Were he alive today, James, a connoisseur of cities, might easily say the same thing about New York or Paris or Tokyo, for the great city is one of the paradoxes of history. In countless different ways, it has almost always been an unpleasant, disagreeable, cheerless, uneasy and reproachful place; in the end, it can only be described as magnificent. -Time Open with a general quote about your topic If you choose this kind of opening, however, you will need to offset the quote with quotation marks and write the source. CONTENT IN THE INTRODUCTION: The chosen subject (broad and narrowed topic) Mention the author(s) in question (broad and narrowed topic) The title of the work (narrowed topic) Information on the genre or information about literary context (broad and narrowed topic) The specific theme and message which will be addressed in the essay (narrowed topic) The major arguments in your essay (thesis statement) The point of view or the significance of the topic (the author s message.) (throughout the introduction) 78
Here are some approaches that are likely to lead to an ineffective introduction. These methods may bore readers or make them question your sincerity or control. A vague generality or truth. Don t extend your reach too wide with a line like Throughout human history or In today s world. Most readers don t need the warmup. A flat announcement. Don t start with The purpose of this essay is In this essay I will, or any similar presentation of your intention or topic. A reference to the essay s title. Don t refer to the title of the essay in the first sentence. According to Webster Don t start by citing a dictionary definition. A definition can be an effective springboard to an essay, but this kind of lead has become dull with overuse. An apology. Don t fault your opinion or your knowledge with I m not sure if I m right but ; I don t know much about this but ; or a similar line. Your readers need to trust you as a writer and believe what you have to say. Talk about the general form of the essay or try teaching an English lesson. For example: A theme is an author s message about life. Poetry is a form used by poets to express emotions. Symbols are often used in literature. Symbols are objects which represent.. 79
We live in a world which is bombarded with all kinds of prejudices and injustices. In the 1930 s, Alabama was exposed to a great injustice in the Scottsboro trials where nine African-American males where unfairly accused of raping a white woman. In spite of evidence which proved the men s innocence, the men were sentenced to death. This outraged many human rights activists. As a reaction to this incident, Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird wrote about a similar incident, while conveying a strong message to society. Her theme of prejudice is developed by the characters of Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and through the symbol of the mockingbird. Lee is obviously sending a strong message that this kind of bigoted attitude is unacceptable and must be stopped. The body The body is the place where you will be explaining what you have written in your outline. It consists of various paragraphs where you will develop your ideas and arguments with quotes, expert opinions, explanations, examples, facts, etc... Remember that it must also develop and follow the thesis statement. (See the outline package for more details on the outline) Point of view : The author s message about prejudice is that it is wrong and it must stop. Broad topic: The essay will focus on prejudice and injustice. The narrowed topic : Historical context relevant to the novel and arguments. The thesis statement The theme to be developed is the theme of prejudice. The arguments are : 1- Boo Radley 2- Tom Robinson 3- Symbol of the mockingbird Paragraph structure 1. Topic sentence (broad topic about the subject of that specific argument); 2. The argument of your paragraph (specific to the novel); 3. Proofs (The development of the argument expert opinions, facts, examples, explanations, quotes that are all linked to the theme and message of the entire essay); 4. Closing or transitional sentence (closing of the argument or transition into the next idea). 80
Don t forget your transitional words and expressions Remember to use transitions to help the flow of your ideas. This will help to avoid choppiness in your writing. Make sure that you use the appropriate transition. To add: To qualify: To enumerate: To illustrate: To change direction: To summarize: To indicate time: Cause and effect: Indicating purpose: Indicating place: Indicating concession: Indicating emphasis: And, also, in addition, furthermore, as well, moreover, again, besides, equally important, finally, first, second, further, in the first place, next, then, too. Often, generally, specifically, usually. First, second, next, last. For example, for instance, in other words, that is, especially, to enumerate, in particular, namely, specifically. But, however, conversely, although, whereas, instead, nevertheless, on the other hand, still, yet, in contrast, in spite of this, not withstanding, on the contrary. To conclude, in short, finally, in conclusion, on the whole, to summarize. First, second, before, until, soon, now, during, meanwhile, when, then, next, later, finally, last, afterward, earlier, at the same time, in the meantime, simultaneously, soon. As a result, because, consequently, in order that, since, so that, therefore, thus, hence, apparently, for this reason, accordingly. For this purpose, in order to do this, to this end, with this in mind, with this in view. Beyond, here, nearby, opposite, there, to the left (right). At any rate, at least. Above all, certainly, indeed, in fact, in short, in truth, really, obviously, of course. 81
The reverse funnel conclusion: Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of essays to write. While the body is often easier to write, it needs a coherent structure. An introduction and conclusion frame your thoughts and bridge your ideas for the reader. 1. Restate your thesis statement: Summarize the main points of your body. Return to the theme from the introduction. This strategy brings the reader full circle. For example, if you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay is helpful in creating a new understanding. You may also refer to the introductory paragraph by using key words or parallel concepts and images that you also used in the introduction. 2. Include a provocative insight from the theme and its message. 3. Propose a course of action, a solution to an issue, or questions for further study. This can redirect your reader's thought process and help her to apply your info and ideas to her own life or to see the broader implications (if it is appropriate to do so in your essay.) 4. So what? This section points out the broader implications that reinforce the message of your theme. For example, if your paper examines the Greensboro sit-ins or another event in the Civil Rights Movement, you could point out its impact on the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. Strategies for Writing an Effective Conclusion One or more of the following strategies may help you write an effective conclusion. Synthesize, don't summarize: Include a brief summary of the paper's main points, but don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. Instead, show your reader how the points you made and the support and examples you used fit together. Pull it all together for them. 82
Beginning with an unnecessary, overused phrase such as "in conclusion," "in summary," or "in closing." Although these phrases can work in speeches, they come across as wooden and trite in writing. Stating the thesis for the very first time in the conclusion. Introducing a new idea or subtopic in your conclusion. Ending with a rephrased thesis statement without any substantive changes. Making sentimental, emotional appeals (out of character with the rest of an analytical paper). Including evidence (quotations, statistics, etc.) that should be in the body of the paper. Ending your conclusion with a question. It is therefore obvious that Lee is expressing a strong message about the evils of prejudice. We can all relate to the characters of Boo Radley as well as Tom Robinson in the sense that we sometimes encounter injustices. When this happens, Lee teaches that actions, such as those exemplified by Atticus Finch, are important if we want to stop such injustices. Equally important is the symbol of innocence, brought forth by the mockingbird motif. From this we learn that judging a book by its cover is wrong and can lead to disastrous consequences. Lee was so disturbed by what happened to the young men involved in the Scottsboro trial that she decided to exemplify those injustices through fiction. Return to the point of view author s message about the theme. Summary of the main argument and the implications. Return to the introduction full circle. 83
Revising - Now that you ve written your first draft, it is time to revise your work. You will need to revise: the content of your essay, the organisation, the focus, the point of view, the paragraphs, and sentences. You will also revise the mechanics of your essay before submission; for example: your sentence structure, your word choice, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics (spelling). Final draft Look at your revision notes and at your self and peer evaluations to make the necessary changes to your essay. Doing this effectively will ensure a strong and well written essay. Don t forget to complete the self-evaluation and peer-evaluation sheets in order to properly revise your essay. 84
Think of the essay as being a house thus, the house metaphor. Think of the roof as your conclusion. The roof is what makes your house whole. Without it, it would rain on your carpet, or in this case, dampen your argument. The walls of your house are your essay s body. You need them to keep your essay (or house) together. The walls are your arguments. If your walls or arguments are weak, your house will fall down, and so will your essay. The foundation of your house is your thesis statement. Without it your house and essay will crumble. If you don t set out to have a solid foundation (thesis), it won t matter how great you think that your arguments (walls) are because they won t have a solid foundation. This handout was adapted from: The Little, Brown Handbook Instructor s Annotated 10th Edition, Pearson-Longman, 2007. The St. Martin s Handbook, 5th Edition, Bedford-St. Martin s, 2003. The Writer s Harbrace Handbook Instructor s Brief 2nd Edition, Thomson-Wadsworth, 2005. 85