1101: essay body
DESCRIPTION
A continuation of my freshmen essay lectures. Here, I discuss the body and conclusion of college-level essays.TRANSCRIPT
Essay BodyDr. Gerald Lucas
Body
Made up of paragraphs
Body
Made up of paragraphs
at least 6, including conclusion
Body
Made up of paragraphs
at least 6, including conclusion
Develop arguments logically
Body
Made up of paragraphs
at least 6, including conclusion
Develop arguments logically
Support assertions with evidence
Body ParagraphsOpen with topic sentence
Body ParagraphsOpen with topic sentence
Use a particular tone and point of view
Body ParagraphsOpen with topic sentence
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Body ParagraphsOpen with topic sentence
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Flow using transitions
Body ParagraphsOpen with topic sentence
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Flow using transitions
Keep reader’s interest with detail
Body ParagraphsOpen with topic sentence
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Flow using transitions
Keep reader’s interest with detail
Conclude by looking beyond
Topic Sentence
States focus or central idea of the paragraph
Topic Sentence
States focus or central idea of the paragraph
like a mini thesis
Topic Sentence
States focus or central idea of the paragraph
like a mini thesis
Provides a transition from previous paragraph
Topic Sentence
States focus or central idea of the paragraph
like a mini thesis
Provides a transition from previous paragraph
Refers to your thesis statement
Topic Sentence
Examples
Topic Sentence
Examples
Not only does a footlocker make a nice piece of furniture, it can also hold fond memories.
Topic Sentence
Examples
Not only does a footlocker make a nice piece of furniture, it can also hold fond memories.
In addition to emphasizing non-violent solutions, Star Trek offers solutions to current social problems.
Tone
Expresses emotion through word choice
anger
enthusiasm
outrage
disinterest
etc.
Tone
Examples
Tone
Examples
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delived a verdict that favored Microsoft’s position in the anti-trust case.
Tone
Examples
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly delived a verdict that favored Microsoft’s position in the anti-trust case.
Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s verdict amounts to little more than a slap on the wrist for the monopolist Microsoft
Tone
Be sure to choose your tone carefully
Tone
Be sure to choose your tone carefully
consider your audience
Tone
Be sure to choose your tone carefully
consider your audience
do not lecture or preach
Tone
Be sure to choose your tone carefully
consider your audience
do not lecture or preach
do not alienate
Point of View
Position of the authorial voice
Point of View
Position of the authorial voice
First Person — “I,” “Me”
Point of View
Position of the authorial voice
First Person — “I,” “Me”
Second Person — “You,” “We,” “Us”
Point of View
Position of the authorial voice
First Person — “I,” “Me”
Second Person — “You,” “We,” “Us”
Third Person — “She,” “He,” “They,” “One”
Point of View
Examples
Point of View
Examples
I was ten-years-old when Star Trek was cancelled.
Point of View
Examples
I was ten-years-old when Star Trek was cancelled.
Do you remember when Star Trek was cancelled?
Point of View
Examples
I was ten-years-old when Star Trek was cancelled.
Do you remember when Star Trek was cancelled?
Star Trek was cancelled in 1967.
Choose one point of view and use it consistently throughout the essay
Never use the second-person to mean everyone
in general
Transitions
Make writing flow logically
Transitions
Make writing flow logically
Signal words:
Transitions
Make writing flow logically
Signal words:
Time: first, second, then, next
Transitions
Make writing flow logically
Signal words:
Time: first, second, then, next
Space: beyond, above, beside, toward
Transitions
Make writing flow logically
Signal words:
Time: first, second, then, next
Space: beyond, above, beside, toward
Examples: for instance, to illustrate, for example, in fact
Transitions
Signal words (continued)
Transitions
Signal words (continued)
Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore, besides
Transitions
Signal words (continued)
Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore, besides
Summary: therefore, thus, in short
Transitions
Signal words (continued)
Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore, besides
Summary: therefore, thus, in short
Comparison: similarly, also, like
Transitions
Signal words (continued)
Addition: moreover, in addition, furthermore, besides
Summary: therefore, thus, in short
Comparison: similarly, also, like
Contrast: but, however, yet, although
TransitionsBetween paragraphs
TransitionsBetween paragraphs
links topic sentence to topic sentence
TransitionsBetween paragraphs
links topic sentence to topic sentence
Examples
TransitionsBetween paragraphs
links topic sentence to topic sentence
Examples
Star Trek emphasizes non-violent solutions to difficulties that face the crew each week.
TransitionsBetween paragraphs
links topic sentence to topic sentence
Examples
Star Trek emphasizes non-violent solutions to difficulties that face the crew each week.
While the crew of the Enterprise would rather solve their difficulties non-violently, violence is occasionally necessary.
Unity
Remain consistent and focused
Unity
Remain consistent and focused
Remain within the scope of the essay
Unity
Remain consistent and focused
Remain within the scope of the essay
Do not digress
Unity
Remain consistent and focused
Remain within the scope of the essay
Do not digress
Look to the subject and assertion
Unity
Does the evidence relate to the thesis?
Unity
Does the evidence relate to the thesis?
Is the development consistent with the topic sentence?
Unity
Does the evidence relate to the thesis?
Is the development consistent with the topic sentence?
Do the sentences flow, offering a logically developed argument?
Unity
Does the evidence relate to the thesis?
Is the development consistent with the topic sentence?
Do the sentences flow, offering a logically developed argument?
Is all the information relevant to the subject and assertion?
Development
Provides support through detail
Development
Provides support through detail
Emphasizes key points
Development
Provides support through detail
Emphasizes key points
Makes essay more interesting
Development
Provides support through detail
Emphasizes key points
Makes essay more interesting
Offers credibility
Any supposition made must be supported with evidence, illustrations,
and/or examples.
Detail
Creates images
Detail
Creates images
colorful adjectives
Detail
Creates images
colorful adjectives
metaphors and similes
Detail
Creates images
colorful adjectives
metaphors and similes
Supports or proves assertions
Detail
Creates images
colorful adjectives
metaphors and similes
Supports or proves assertions
anecdotes, facts, statistics
Detail
Compare:
Detail
Compare:
Most cats dislike baths.
Detail
Compare:
Most cats dislike baths.
Most cats avoid tepid water with open claws.
Show, Don’t Tell
Detail
Compare:
Detail
Compare:
I didn’t like the room.
Detail
Compare:
I didn’t like the room.
The place had the excitement of a first kiss.
Detail
Compare:
I didn’t like the room.
The place had the excitement of a first kiss.
Not only were the walls gray, the coffee was cold and bitter.
Conclusion
Ties essay together
Conclusion
Ties essay together
closure
Conclusion
Ties essay together
closure
summary
Conclusion
Ties essay together
closure
summary
Looks beyond
Conclusion
Ties essay together
closure
summary
Looks beyond
points beyond the limited scope of the essay
Conclusion
Never begin “In conclusion...”
Conclusion
Never begin “In conclusion...”
Be brief
Conclusion
Never begin “In conclusion...”
Be brief
Never repeat your introduction
Conclusion
Never begin “In conclusion...”
Be brief
Never repeat your introduction
Expand out — bottom of the hourglass
Conclusion
Star Trek offers a positive view of the future where racial diversity and a healthy reliance on productive technologies encourage today’s population to strive toward a similar vision. With a trust in a rational, scientific world view, Star Trek portrays a vision of humanity that relies less on violence and prejudice and more on how the human mind can overcome current social difficulties on its way to the stars. Hopefully, like humanity, Star Trek will have a long, healthy life in syndication and continue to offer alternatives to current human difficulties.
BodyOpen paragraphs with topic sentences
BodyOpen paragraphs with topic sentences
Use a particular tone and point of view
BodyOpen paragraphs with topic sentences
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
BodyOpen paragraphs with topic sentences
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Flow using transitions
BodyOpen paragraphs with topic sentences
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Flow using transitions
Keep reader’s interest with detail
BodyOpen paragraphs with topic sentences
Use a particular tone and point of view
Develop your subject logically
Flow using transitions
Keep reader’s interest with detail
Conclude by looking beyond
©2004 Gerald Lucas