Writing Wednesday

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Writing Wednesday

• Introductions, Conclusions, Thesis Statements

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Introductions

• Example
• Function of myth in society
• Heroes in myth society
• Heroes in Greek mythology
• Homers Odyssey
• Thesis Odysseus as a flawed hero in Homers
  Odyssey.

GENERAL society/broad
SPECIFIC thesis statement
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Introductions Cont.

• Roughly 5 - 7 sentences for healthy intro.
• Intro. Checklist
• Must include title author
• Essays purpose
• Thesis statement
• Avoid trite hooks (not no hooks at all, just
  not cliched hooks)
• Rhetorical questions
• Quotes
• Let your diction, voice, and purpose be the
  hook
• avoid is different than never

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Sample Intro. Paragraph

• Humans are undoubtedly social beings they
  depend on one another and thrive upon
  interaction. People are not meant to be alone,
  and isolation often leads to negative
  consequences, ranging from depression and anger,
  to desperation and even violence. Certain
  members of society are forced into isolation due
  to discrimination. This was particularly true
  during the Depression plagued 1930s, an era
  author John Steinbeck analyzes in his many
  novels. In his short but striking novella, Of
  Mice and Men, Steinbeck reveals the dreadful
  effects of loneliness on the human condition
  through the flawed and rejected characters of
  Crooks and Curleys Wife.

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Conclusions

• Akin to intro, healthy conclusions are roughly 5
  - 7 sentences
• Leaves readers with your voice purpose
• Finish strong!
• Never write, In conclusion or ANYTHING that
  sounds like it
• No quotes ALL OPINION

• Converse of Intro

Restatement of thesis (in different words)
Broad/reference to society gives essay PURPOSE
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Thesis Statements

• Sentence (or two) that tells the reader what the
  essay is about/what to expect
• Tip of triangle because it is specific!
• Should be last sentence(s) of intro.
• Theses need prewriting
• Start basic so you have a clear idea what your
  paper will be about
• Then re-word it and formalize it adding details
  if necessary
• Does more than tell what the paper will be about
  it reveals how well it will be written

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Elements of a Thesis

• 3 Main Components
• 1 Subject
• 2 Commentary
• Very important often left out
• Theses lacking commentary usually precede entire
  essays lacking commentary
• 3 Proof you plan to use to prove thesis
• Not always necessary, but helps you stay
  organized.
• Can include without essay mapping
• e.g.- no need to list paragraph topics

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Sample Theses

• In his novel, Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck
  reveals the dreadful effects of loneliness on the
  human condition through his socially rejected,
  flawed characters.
• In the enthralling epic, The Iliad, Homer exposes
  the struggles Achilles faces as the warrior
  battles his inner demons and raging emotions.
  When Achilles is devastated over the loss of
  Patroclus and finds empathy in Berseus, Achilles
  realizes that fame is not as important as he once
  believed.
• Note do not need to include title author in
  thesis, as the above theses do.

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Flawed Thesis

• Example
• In his novel, Of Mice and Men, Steinbecks
  characters are extremely lonely.
• Does not go beyond stating the obvious
• Lacks commentary thus, it lacks PURPOSE
• Will likely lead to a paper that lacks commentary
  and leans heavily on summary.