How to Write a College Paper: The Basics

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How to Write a College Paper The Basics

• Writing is thinking on paper. --William Zinsser

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Introductory Paragraph

• Dont start out with terms that are too general
  narrow your topic sentence to your subject,
  rather than taking a worldly approach
• --Incorrect Example
• There are many books in the world
• --Correct Example
• Books that were written in the 19th Century were
  somewhat different than those written in the 18th
  Century.
• Gradually go from general to more specific, in
  sequence, working up to your thesis statement
  through effective transitions
• --Examples of transitions However,
  Consequently,
• General

?Thesis Statement
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Introductory Paragraph, cont.
Books that were written in the 18th Century were
somewhat different than those written in the
19th Century.
General
Books in the 18th Century were compiled on an
individual basis.
However, books written in the 19th Century were
determined by the whims of publishers.
Nonetheless, 18th and 19th Century books had some
similiaries.
Specific
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Thesis Statement

• Your thesis statement consists of your main idea
  and the three main aspects (main points A, B, and
  C) that make it important
• 1. Look at the essay prompt, and determine which
  three aspects of the topic will best express your
  main point to your reader
• 2. Be sure to order your three aspects (A, B,
  and C) in the same sequence that they will occur
  in your essay
• The thesis always occurs at the end of the
  introductory paragraph

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Thesis Statement, cont.

• Books that were written in the 18th Century were
  somewhat
• different than those written in the 19th Century.

General
Books in the 18th Century were compiled on an
individual basis.
However, books written in the 19th Century were
determined by the whims of publishers.
Nonetheless, 18th and 19th Century books had
some similarities.
Specific
Thesis Statement Books written in the 18th
Century differ from those written in the 19th
Century because of (A) and (B), but are similar
because of (C).
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Topic Sentences for Paragraphs

• Use points A, B, and C from your thesis to
  formulate the topic sentences in your essay
• Paragraphs 1 2 Point A______________
• ______________
• ______________
• Paragraphs 2 3 Point B______________
• 
  ______________
• 
  ______________
• Paragraphs 4 5 Point C______________
• ______________
• ______________

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Useful Transitions Between Paragraphs

• Transition words help bridge between paragraphs,
  thus providing a logical sequence within the
  essay that will make sense to your reader
• --Incorrect Example
• (ending sentence of previous paragraph)
• Thus, books in the 18th Century were usually
  manufactured on an individual basis.
• (beginning sentence of next paragraph)
• Books written in the 19th Century were meant to
  appeal to the masses.
• --Correct Example
• (ending sentence of previous paragraph)
• Thus. books written in the 18th Century were
  usually manufactured on an individual basis.
• (beginning sentence of next paragraph)
• However, books written in the 19th Century were
  meant to appeal to the masses.
• However acts as a transition word that means
  in contrast or opposing

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Common Transitions and Their Meanings

• However, Nevertheless
• in contrast, in opposition
• Moreover, Furthermore plus, in addition
• Therefore, Consequently as a result

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Conclusion

• Never begin with In conclusion
• Restate your three main points, but dont be
  repetitive
• --Remind your reader of your thesis by restating
  it
• --Beware of saying the same thing twice try to
  find new ways to present your main points
• Finally, incorporate the intent of your paper
• --Who is your audience?
• --What do you want your readers to get out of
  the information you have given them in your
  thesis?
• --What ideas do you want your readers to
  take away?

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Useful Tips Overall

• Eliminate Unnecessary Words
• --Example
• The reason I think that
• Chaucer is full of himself is because
• Stick to Your Thesis Like Glue
• --Make sure that your body paragraphs match your
  thesis check back to the thesis regularly to
  ensure that you dont stray too far off topic
• Make sure the sentences within each paragraph go
  in order, and follow a sequence that your reader
  can understand

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Useful Tips (cont.)

• Dont repeat your idea over and over. Prove it.
• Do not summarize a plot. (Rule Do no use more
  than two consecutive sentences of plot summary
  per paragraph)
• Avoid the impersonal you unless you are
  speaking directly to your reader
• --Impersonal you occurs when one speaks about
  people in general using the term you
• Example You shouldnt smoke in hospitals.
• Correction People shouldnt smoke in
  hospitals.
• Avoid first person (use of I) unless assigned
• And, most importantly...Answer the Question

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Quiz Question 1

• 1. Pick the best opening sentence to go with the
  following essay prompt
• Transcendentalism in American Literature
  celebrated the power of the human imagination.
  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Edgar Allen Poe were
  writers during this era. Compare and contrast
  both writers.
• Opening Sentences
• A) American Literature had a lot of important
  movements and eras.
• B) The Transcendentalism movement produced a
  wide variety of American authors.
• C) Edgar Allen Poe was orphaned by his parents.

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1. A

• Nope, sorry!
• This opening sentence is too generalremember,
  dont think in worldly terms. Try to be more
  specific regarding your topic.

Go back
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1. B

• Correct!
• This sentence directly addresses the topic and
  alerts the reader that different writers from the
  Transcendentalist era will be compared and
  contrasted.

Next Question
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1. C

• Oops!
• Careful, this sentence is a little too specific.
  In fact, it doesnt even belong in the
  introductory paragraph, since we are not just
  talking about Poe.

Go back
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Quiz Question 2

• Now, choose which thesis best fits the same
  prompt
• Transcendentalism in American Literature
  celebrated the power of the human imagination.
  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Edgar Allen Poe were
  writers during this era. Compare and contrast
  both writers.
• A) Ralph Waldo Emerson valued the intellectuals
  duty to culture.
• B) In the Transcendentalist era, Edgar Allen Poe
  wrote about the mind in the act of
  disintegration.
• C) While Emerson wrote about beauty and culture
  in relation to the individual, Poes works
  portrayed humanity as being filled with death,
  madness, and violence.

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2. A

• Nope!
• Remember, were not just talking about Emerson in
  the essay. The thesis has to encompass all three
  of the essays main points

Go back
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2. B

• Guess again
• Yes, we are talking about the Transcendentalist
  era and Poe in our essaybut where is Emerson?

Go back
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2. C

• Correct!
• This thesis statement encompasses all of the main
  points that the essay is going to make.

Next Question
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Quiz Question 3

• Which of the following essay excerpts is in a
  logical sequence?
• A) Ralph Waldo Emerson represents the authors
  of his time that cherished the wonder and
  goodness of the human condition. He correlates
  the human mind with the sacred elements of
  nature, proving that he thinks highly of the
  integrity of mans intellect. This is best
  described in his work Nature.
• B) Poes concept of art enabled him to
  contribute the story of ratiocination, which
  embraced logic and reason, to American
  Literature. Emerson was a zealous advocate of
  optimism and progress. Poe, however, sees the
  human mind in a different perspective.

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3. A

• Correct!
• This paragraph is specifically talking about
  Emerson. It presents an idea, and then uses
  Emersons work Nature to prove it.

Next Question
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3. B

• Hmm, try again
• Notice that the sentence in the middle about
  Emerson comes out of nowhere. It is easy to go
  back and forth between the authors, since the
  essay is a comparison of the two. However, it is
  simplest to limit each author to his own
  paragraph.

Go back
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Quiz Question 4

• Which of the following transition words would
  best go between the two sentences?
• Poe was fired from numerous magazines and
  newspapers due to bitter arguments with his
  bosses.__________, he encountered many
  unsuccessful publishing ventures.
• A) However,
• B) Moreover,
• C) Consequently,

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4. A

• Careful!
• However means in contrast. The fact that Poe
  did not get published is not contrasting the
  instances of him getting fired.

Go back
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4. B

• Correct!
• Moreover means in addition to. So, in addition
  to Poe being fired, he had a lot of unsuccessful
  publishing ventures.

Next Question
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4. C

• Almost!
• Remember consequently means as a result of.
  Poes failed publishing ventures were not a
  direct result of him being fired.

Go back
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Quiz Question 5

• Which of the following, if placed in the
  conclusion, would best match with the thesis of
  the Poe and Emerson essay?
• A) The attitudes of the optimistic and
  pessimistic authors of the era may have been due
  to the personal lifestyles that they led.
• B) As a result, Emersons writing contained no
  structure or logic because he faithfully relied
  on the images of nature to create the thoughts
  that he wrote.
• C) Emersons high regard for mankind in his
  writing could have stemmed from his stable
  childhood, while Poes disdain of humanity might
  have derived from his negative life experiences.

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5. A

• Sorry!
• This applies, but it is way too general. It
  doesnt restate the thesis directly it could
  work, but there is a better answer.

Go back
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5. B

• Nope!
• This sentence, while well written, only talks
  about Emerson. In the conclusion, one has to
  encompass all main points when restating the
  thesis.

Go back
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5. C

• Correct!
• This sentence restates the thesis without
  sounding repetitive. And, it adds more depth to
  the main topic by incorporating a reason why
  Emerson and Poe wrote the ways that they did.
  Thus, the reader can connect the lifestyles of
  each author with their differing writing styles.