Reflection Paper #2 - Parallels Across Periods

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WRITING WORKSHOP

General essay structure

  • Refer to this for your next two papers
  • Title
  • Hook
  • Thesis statement
  • Supporting paragraphs
  • Conclusion
  • Works Cited*

Writing a hook

  • Be topical. Shouldn’t be hard since most topics are a current issue today.
  • Pose a question.
  • Be provocative.
  • Provide an anecdote if you have a personal connection/experience with your topic.
  • Famous quote. Just make sure it’s not overused and really relates to your topic and argument.
  • Shock or startle your reader with a staggering, sobering statistic.

Examples of hooks

  • Gender stereotypes do not exist.
  • Here are some numbers. 19th amendment. Title IX. 1972.
  • I became a feminist in college...
  • When will women learn the hard lessons of equality?

Thesis

  • What is a thesis statement?
  • Why is it important?
  • Where does it appear in the paper?

Thesis

  • Announces the topic to the reader
  • Reflects a judgment about the topic
  • Can provide the reader with a blueprint for what is to come in the paper

Thesis

  • An incisive thesis is : (1) Specific, (2) Complex, (3) Relevant, and (4) Arguable
  • Don’t be vague.
  • “Gender perceptions have changed in the past few decades.”
  • “Technology has changed. I’m going to show you what I think of this.”

**Avoid “I believe/I think/I feel”**

A thesis is…NOT A TITLE

  • NOT: Home and Schools
  • YES: Parents should be involved in the education of their children.

A thesis is…NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT

  • NO: I want to share some thoughts with you about our space program.
  • YES: Our space program is a waste of money.
  • NO: This paper will attempt to tell you something about the emotions I felt on viewing the Grand Canyon.
  • YES: The Grand Canyon is a magnificent experience that everyone should enjoy.

A thesis is…NOT A STATEMENT OF OBVIOUS FACT

  • NO: The capital of Missouri is Jefferson City.
  • NO: Abraham was President Lincoln’s first name.

A thesis IS…SPECIFIC

  • NO: Ernest Hemingway’s stories are very good.
  • Better: Ernest Hemingway’s stories helped create a new literary form.
  • NO: Drug addiction is a big problem.
  • Better: Drug addiction has caused a dramatic increase in violent crimes.

Which statement is stronger?

  • The Hunger Games is a science fiction adventure film based on the novel by Suzanne Collins.
  • The Hunger Games is a cautionary tale about the dangers of a political system that is dominated by the wealthy.

Which statement is stronger?

  • There is no question that cell phones have changed our lives in a very big way.
  • While cell phones provide freedom and mobility, they can also become a leash by compelling users to answer them anywhere and at any time.

Your thesis statement

  • Review your working thesis statement
  • Does it follow all of the rules?
  • If not, how could you improve it?

Ways to Use Sources

  • Summarizing
  • Short and sweet; leaving yourself out of it
  • Paraphrasing
  • When you’re better at conveying the main point
  • Quoting
  • When the original source is better; memorable or compelling
  • Synthesizing
  • Combining sources with your input interjected

Integration of Textual Sources

  • Must include at least textual citations from assigned readings (and outside research for the final paper)
  • Set up.
  • Summarize.
  • Apply. How are you utilizing it in your thesis statement – agree or disagree?

Proper Integration & Citation

  • Summary: In The Awakening, Kate Chopin presents a scathing critique of gender norms and one woman’s tragic consequences of not conforming.
  • Direct quotation: Florence Nightingale writes in Cassandra that, “it is a thing so accepted among women that they have nothing to do” (840).

Integrating quotes

  • MLA format: author name and page number*
  • A Bad Integration: Today, many governments slash art funding when they face a budget crisis. “The arts are a highly visible target, and cutting them is a symbol of political resolve to solve a difficult problem” (McLennan 11).

  • A Good Integration: Today, many governments slash art funding when they face a budget crisis. One supporter of the arts, Douglas McLennan, suggests, “The arts are a highly visible target, and cutting them is a symbol of political resolve to solve a difficult problem” (11).

Sources: Tips for your paper

  • Be smart about how you are embedding your sources. It’s still YOUR paper and should reflect your voice
  • MLA: Identify sources on first reference; last name afterwards is fine

Transitions between paragraphs

  • Words that help bridge between the preceding paragraph and the next:
  • Moreover/In addition to…
  • Therefore
  • Undoubtedly
  • Thus
  • Finally
  • Besides
  • However

Conclusions: What to Avoid

  • Ending with a rephrased thesis statement that contains no substantive changes.
  • Introducing a new idea or subtopic.
  • Focusing on a minor point in the essay.
  • Apologizing for your view by saying such things as "I may not be an expert" or "At least this is my opinion.“
  • Avoid “In conclusion,” and “In closing”

Conclusions: What to do

  • Include a brief summary of the paper's main points.
  • Bookend your paper by circling back to your hook
  • Ask a provocative question.
  • Use a quotation.
  • Evoke a vivid image.
  • Call for some sort of action.
  • Implications/End with a warning.