Blog 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please read the following and use this information to help shape your argument/persuasive essay due on the last day of class (at the beginning of class) in rich text format. For tonight's posting, please discuss your own personal history of writing arguments/persuasive essays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Academic Essay

Though there are many essays forms, we are going to discuss something called the five-paragraph essay.

The five-paragraph essay is also known, among other names, as the persuasive or argumentative essay.

This essay can be used in many academic situations, and with additions or subtractions, it can be extended to more than five paragraphs or reduced to fewer than five paragraphs. But we will stick to the standard five paragraphs here. Get this down, and you can base many of your longer or shorter essays on these concepts.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One Big Block

Each paragraph in the argumentative essay should be about a page long--one big-block paragraph. Why a page long? Why a difficult-to-read block of words? Because academe, like any other animal group, marks its territory. In daily life, the average reader will seldom encounter this form of writing, these page-long paragraphs, and academe knows this. Most people outside the ivory tower read paragraphs surrounded by lots of white space, paragraphs that breath. But the academic paper discourages white space; it requires concentration and focus, like this paragraph you're reading right now. In a way, this tradition cuts out the "civilian” population, says to the world outside of academe that this style of writing, this huge rectangle of black squiggles, takes focus and concentration and intelligence to read, and this brand of writing belongs to the studied. This style identifies who the scholarly are. Yet at times, faced with such ponderous paragraphs, we come to understand Mark Twain's quote: "Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." Right or wrong, we maintain the tradition.


Three Parts to Your Essay


The essay consists of three parts: one, the argument or thesis; two, that argument’s three points of support; and three, the summary, tying it all together, synthesizing the work and offering your opinion.

The Three Parts

1) Introduction: opener and the three points that you will use in the body of your paper (plan of development) and your thesis. Your thesis will be the last sentence of your first paragraph.

2) Body: analysis of the three points that promote your thesis mentioned in the opening. You will offer a one-page paragraph per point.

3) Conclusion: tying your thesis to your argument with an ending that includes your opinion (synthesis).

_________________________________

What Your Essay Will Look Like

Title

Short and sweet. No underline. No Quotes. Your title should summarize your essay in a few words.


Paragraph one: The Introductory Paragraph

This paragraph is the essay's introductory outline with your thesis as the last sentence.

In paragraph one, you will offer your opener, your three major points that support your thesis, listed in the order they will be presented, and your thesis. You want to grab and hold the reader’s attention in this paragraph. You want them to keep reading. To capture the reader’s attention, you can offer a story, a metaphor, a comparison, a straight statement, or even an overstatement. You need to write something unique. You want to persuade the reader that this essay is worth his or her time. (Scroll down for more in-depth tips on openers.)



Thesis statement: a one-sentence statement of the central idea of your paper. A good thesis statement does two things: First, it tells a reader the essay’s topic. Second, it presents the writer’s attitude about the topic.


Paragraphs two, three, and four: The Supporting Paragraphs

Here you put forth your three supporting points, which will be developed, point-by-point, in three separate paragraphs. You offered these three in your first paragraph, and you will discuss these in the order you offered them. Each of the paragraphs begins with the supporting point to be detailed in the paragraph, also called your "topic sentence." Just as the thesis sentence provides a theme for the entire essay, the topic sentence provides a theme for each supporting paragraph.

Each paragraph ends with a transitional sentence. You review what you wrote, and you look ahead to your discussion in the next paragraph. Make sure you stay focused and connected to your introduction and your thesis.


Paragraph five: Concluding Paragraph

Paragraph five--Conclusion/ synthesis: This is your summary, your synthesis, your fin where you will bring it all together. You will restate your thesis but not in the same words you used in your first paragraph, summarize your three supporting points, and finally offer your opinion. Stay on the thesis here, but never word your thesis the same way as in your first paragraph. Be creative. Offer your thesis in different words. This last paragraph will bring your paper full circle.

Creativity is most important here. You want your ending to sound graceful and natural, leaving the reader with the thought that he or she has read something unique.
________________________________________________

Introductory Paragraph

Introduction
Plan of development: points 1,2, and 3
Thesis Statement

The introduction must attract the reader.
The plan of development is a list of points that support the thesis. The points are offered in the order they are given.
Thesis: the main idea in two parts: topic and your opinion.

First Supporting Paragraph

Topic sentence (point 1)
Specific evidence (lots of it)


The topic sentence is the first supporting point for your thesis, and the specific evidence delves into you topic sentence.

Second Supporting Paragraph

Topic sentence (point 2)
Specific evidence (lots of it)


The topic sentence advances the second supporting point for your thesis, and the specific evidence develops that point.

Third Supporting Paragraph

Topic sentence (point 3)
Specific evidence (lots of it)


The topic sentence advances the third supporting point for your thesis, and the specific evidence develops that point.

Concluding Paragraph

Summary, conclusion or both

A summary is a restatement of the thesis and its main points. A conclusion is a final thought or two stemming from the subject of the paper.