Today, in class, I asked you to "stop, drop, and write" an introductory paragraph. The bad news is that you were asked to do this in the frame of about 15 minutes... not much time at all to make sure a paragraph is properly proofread and revised for action. The good news, however, is that you had a seed of an intro paragraph, something you could work with and improve to make phenomenally attractive.
We also discussed how to get that attractive outside glow on your paragraph - something I like to call "the hook" (so does every other English teacher in the western world, but whatever...). The hook is designed to spark and hold your reader's interest in the essay. Yes, I do realize that you are all writing about The Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but if you can write an interesting paper that takes these two works and elevates them to a true conversation about human nature, you are doing better than most AP seniors are right now...I promise.
So, how do you do it? How do you ensure that your reader will be hooked? Here are some of the ways we discussed today?
1. THE QUOTE. I told you that your quote could come from three different places: The Odyssey (such as Odysseus' epithets), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (which means you'll have to go back and find direct quotes, but not a huge chore), and...everywhere else. The most important task in choosing an ideal quote for your hook is that your quote is thematically tied to the rest of your essay. Your quote should be well-chosen to reflect something you wish to echo about the personalities of Odysseus and Everett. Remember, BrainyQuote.com is an excellent place to start.
2. THE ANECDOTE. I told you that an anecdote is a 'short story'...as in 1-2 sentences short. If you want to use an anecdote, you can summarize a part of either The Odyssey or O Brother, Where Art Thou? in the beginning of your essay, and then tie the characteristics you wish to discuss to your anecdote. A well-written anecdote is like a good gateway into a story - you're giving us a decent glimpse, but not the entire picture.
3. THE WITTICISM. If I don't have the sarcasm student market cornered, I'm not sure who does... Witticisms are simply clever, smart, and witty remarks that are an off-beat reflection of any topic being discussed. What witticisms also do is expose the intelligence of a writer and their argument. Beginning with a witticism to encourage your reader may actually be the most effective way to kick off an essay, but it is most definitely the most difficult to write. (And, no, Joseph...you may not begin your essay with "I have a dream...").
4. THE RHETORICAL QUESTION. You guys know what rhetorical questions are because you started learning about their function in, oh...say...the third grade. This is simply a question with no specific answer, which forces the reader to think and process prior to a focused discussion. What has changed, however, is the analytical depth required by the question. You can no longer ask, "What do you think it would be like if you were an epic hero?" Unless your reader is interested in becoming Odysseus-like, nobody cares. Not. A. Soul. So, a more complex reflective question is required. For example, Sahiti (1st period) had an excellent question: "How can a common criminal ever be associated with the likes of a legendary ancient epic hero?" It's a good question, and it's a hell of a way to start of an essay, no matter what is being defended.
5. THE SIMPLE REFLECTION. Most people begin their essays this way. It's non-gimmicky, and you are giving it to your reader straight, no chaser - you are simply letting the reader know what you noticed and understood while reading The Odyssey and watching O Brother, Where Art Thou? You can make direct statements letting the reader know which themes are discussed, and how Everett and Odysseus portray these themes, similar or different - it doesn't matter.
Those are the "hooks". Now, for the don'ts of your intro. Please, do not do this in your intro (or throughout your entire essay, for that matter).
- Remember, "You" is dead. 2nd person forces the reader into an experience they may or may not have had. Don't assume your reader understands. Pretend that you're breaking it down for a seventh grader, like my kid. Make him understand both the book and the movie, and why the comparison/contrast needs to be made.
- There is no place for slang in formal writing. There might not be any quicker way to earn a lower grade than the over-use of colloquialisms (commonly spoken speech for those of you who refuse to use Dictionary.com). This includes modern slang, repeated use of idiomatic language, and any clichés. (And, Christian...if you're reading this, don't capitalize every word you wish to emphasize. I will know which words need to be emphasized. I promise. I can read like that.)
-3rd person and unified tense (past or present, doesn't matter) are what formal writing is all about. Don't say that "I believe" or "I will defend that" or "I think". It weakens your paper and makes you sound defensive. Just. Say. It. You will sound authoritative and controlled this way.
-Watch your use of qualifiers and contractions. If you have a phrase that you can replace with a single word and convey the exact same meaning, use it, by God. Contractions are the devil, straight up. They suck, and make your writing sound informal. You are only missing a few letters...write them out.
-When in doubt, check your thesis. If you read your body paragraphs and your thesis, and they are not discussing the same topics, something needs to change right away. It's easier to alter the thesis, especially after the body paragraph is written. It's less convenient to change around the body paragraphs.
As you finish, make sure that a flow exists. Tomorrow, when you edit someone else's essay, think about this: Does this make sense? Is it clear? Is there evidence present to reinforce the argument being made?
We also discussed how to get that attractive outside glow on your paragraph - something I like to call "the hook" (so does every other English teacher in the western world, but whatever...). The hook is designed to spark and hold your reader's interest in the essay. Yes, I do realize that you are all writing about The Odyssey and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, but if you can write an interesting paper that takes these two works and elevates them to a true conversation about human nature, you are doing better than most AP seniors are right now...I promise.
So, how do you do it? How do you ensure that your reader will be hooked? Here are some of the ways we discussed today?
1. THE QUOTE. I told you that your quote could come from three different places: The Odyssey (such as Odysseus' epithets), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (which means you'll have to go back and find direct quotes, but not a huge chore), and...everywhere else. The most important task in choosing an ideal quote for your hook is that your quote is thematically tied to the rest of your essay. Your quote should be well-chosen to reflect something you wish to echo about the personalities of Odysseus and Everett. Remember, BrainyQuote.com is an excellent place to start.
2. THE ANECDOTE. I told you that an anecdote is a 'short story'...as in 1-2 sentences short. If you want to use an anecdote, you can summarize a part of either The Odyssey or O Brother, Where Art Thou? in the beginning of your essay, and then tie the characteristics you wish to discuss to your anecdote. A well-written anecdote is like a good gateway into a story - you're giving us a decent glimpse, but not the entire picture.
3. THE WITTICISM. If I don't have the sarcasm student market cornered, I'm not sure who does... Witticisms are simply clever, smart, and witty remarks that are an off-beat reflection of any topic being discussed. What witticisms also do is expose the intelligence of a writer and their argument. Beginning with a witticism to encourage your reader may actually be the most effective way to kick off an essay, but it is most definitely the most difficult to write. (And, no, Joseph...you may not begin your essay with "I have a dream...").
4. THE RHETORICAL QUESTION. You guys know what rhetorical questions are because you started learning about their function in, oh...say...the third grade. This is simply a question with no specific answer, which forces the reader to think and process prior to a focused discussion. What has changed, however, is the analytical depth required by the question. You can no longer ask, "What do you think it would be like if you were an epic hero?" Unless your reader is interested in becoming Odysseus-like, nobody cares. Not. A. Soul. So, a more complex reflective question is required. For example, Sahiti (1st period) had an excellent question: "How can a common criminal ever be associated with the likes of a legendary ancient epic hero?" It's a good question, and it's a hell of a way to start of an essay, no matter what is being defended.
5. THE SIMPLE REFLECTION. Most people begin their essays this way. It's non-gimmicky, and you are giving it to your reader straight, no chaser - you are simply letting the reader know what you noticed and understood while reading The Odyssey and watching O Brother, Where Art Thou? You can make direct statements letting the reader know which themes are discussed, and how Everett and Odysseus portray these themes, similar or different - it doesn't matter.
Those are the "hooks". Now, for the don'ts of your intro. Please, do not do this in your intro (or throughout your entire essay, for that matter).
- Remember, "You" is dead. 2nd person forces the reader into an experience they may or may not have had. Don't assume your reader understands. Pretend that you're breaking it down for a seventh grader, like my kid. Make him understand both the book and the movie, and why the comparison/contrast needs to be made.
- There is no place for slang in formal writing. There might not be any quicker way to earn a lower grade than the over-use of colloquialisms (commonly spoken speech for those of you who refuse to use Dictionary.com). This includes modern slang, repeated use of idiomatic language, and any clichés. (And, Christian...if you're reading this, don't capitalize every word you wish to emphasize. I will know which words need to be emphasized. I promise. I can read like that.)
-3rd person and unified tense (past or present, doesn't matter) are what formal writing is all about. Don't say that "I believe" or "I will defend that" or "I think". It weakens your paper and makes you sound defensive. Just. Say. It. You will sound authoritative and controlled this way.
-Watch your use of qualifiers and contractions. If you have a phrase that you can replace with a single word and convey the exact same meaning, use it, by God. Contractions are the devil, straight up. They suck, and make your writing sound informal. You are only missing a few letters...write them out.
-When in doubt, check your thesis. If you read your body paragraphs and your thesis, and they are not discussing the same topics, something needs to change right away. It's easier to alter the thesis, especially after the body paragraph is written. It's less convenient to change around the body paragraphs.
As you finish, make sure that a flow exists. Tomorrow, when you edit someone else's essay, think about this: Does this make sense? Is it clear? Is there evidence present to reinforce the argument being made?
Tomorrow: peer editing, self editing, and a partridge in a pear tree.
See you then,
Ms
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