500 words short essay
MissyMissy
Intro w/ thesis (1)
* Thesis needs to say something; don't just say "what"—make sure you explain "why" as well.
* Thesis to directly answer the prompt/question being asked.
* Formulaic thesis repeats the prompt/question right back into the thesis. Massage the formula to be creative and lend your own voice.
* Thesis is NEVER a question; it is a STATEMENT.
* Thesis can be more than one sentence; all depends on situation and assignment.
* Thesis is backbone of your paper, the anchor of what you're saying. Think of your body with no spine; that is an argument with no thesis.
* Without a thesis, your paper will float adrift and be lost upon the audience. Give them the pathway to chart your argument clearly!
* Thesis must come early and be direct/clear—preferably end of first section/paragraph.
Conclusion (2)
* The conclusion restates thesis and expands upon it.
* After spending the essay supporting thesis, you now can go farther.
* It does not repeat the thesis verbatim.
* Challenge your audience. If you use rhetorical questions, answer them yourself—don't leave questions for your audience to guess at the answer, even if it seems obvious to you.
* Conclusion should ALWAYS be more fully developed (i.e. longer!) than introduction. Always.
* The conclusion is your last chance to make your point; don't waste it. Think of an attorney who makes a closing argument; do they want to waste that last chance to persuade the jury? Think of your audience as a jury you have to convince of an idea.
Topic Statements (3)
* Topic statements (TS) introduce each point of support in a way that relates directly BACK to thesis.
* Topic statements are argumentative introductions; they must be argumentative rather than summation.
* Topic statements are NEVER questions.
* Topic statements are NEVER quotes.
* Topic statements are NEVER summary statements.
* Topic statements are mini-thesis statements for each idea in your support structure.
* Remember to order your support logically—do NOT randomly throw your support in any random order.
* Always finish with your best support last; build momentum throughout your paper.
* Remember, Elements 3-4-5 must ALWAYS appear together, like a chemical bond.
Specific Support (4)
* The emphasis is on specific: quotes, facts, something tangible and real.
* Any time you are writing about something you read, you MUST use quotes from the reading to support your ideas.
* Do not rely on generic statements or generalized stereotypes.
* Avoid personal examples unless specifically asked for in the prompt/question.
* Make sure your support is DIRECTLY relevant to the thesis/argument you're promoting.
* Remember, Elements 3-4-5 must ALWAYS appear together, like a chemical bond.
Development of Specific Support (5)
* Explain CLEARLY why your specific support is relevant to your argument/thesis.
* Don't leave your audience to guess why your support is there.
* Audiences will not always think the same way you do, so explain it to them clearly.
* You must connect the dots and spell it out for them, even if it is obvious to you.
* Development is where your length comes from—short papers lack this element.
* Contextualize your support in relation to your thesis for your audience.
* Remember, Elements 3-4-5 must ALWAYS appear together, like a chemical bond.
Critical Thinking (6)
Critical thinking (CT) generally means "discussing X in terms of Y".
o Discussing a basement in terms of a hamburger! (see lecture notes)
Anticipate what concepts in your writing may cause a mental roadblock for your audience
o Create the intellectual detour around the mental roadblock!
* You take the basic idea and add context to it in a way that expands the concept beyond expectation.
* Relate your argument to something seemingly off-topic or abstract, i.e. the use of a metaphor.
* The ability to logically connect two seemingly disparate ideas for argument is critical thinking.
* CT can occur anywhere in your essay; conclusion is the easiest place to put it, so don't settle for that.