To prepare for our work on Thursday, I would like you to begin considering what makes for a good start in an essay. Please complete this exercise, and have it posted by noon.
In the comments section, please write:
1. Your name and class time.
2. Based on your experience writing--and reading--essays, what do you think are some good ways to start a paper? Be specific, and explain why you think this/these are a good idea.
3. Hop online and locate at least one web site that offers suggestions for introductions and/or conclusions in papers. The site should be credible (we'll go over this in class). Post the link in the comments.
4. What is one thing you found useful or interesting in the linked site? Explain.
The goal here is to create a clearinghouse of introduction/conclusion tips for everyone, while, at the same time, learning actively for ourselves. Please feel free to contact me with any questions at all!
1. Samantha Castillo 8am
ReplyDelete2. Some good ways to start a paper are with attention grabbing sentences. Not a sentence that is a question, but a sentence that is detailed yet straight to the point so the reader knows right off the bat what the essay is going to be about. The reader needs to be told early in the essay what they are about to read and within the first few sentences is the place for that. It is important for the reader to know the main idea of the essay so they are not confused later on. An introduction is exactly that: a way to introduce readers to the topic.
3. http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Begin.html
4. Something I found useful with this site was the examples and how they tell you what important information the introduction should include such as focus on the essay and orienting its readers.
1. Elizabeth Diaz, 8AM
ReplyDelete2. Some good ways to start a paper would be by talking about the overall idea of the essay, and some facts that would later be interconnected with the topic or other ideas of the topic. This is a good idea because if a person goes right into the specifics of the topic, it tends to be confusing for the reader.
3. http://www.alphastudent.com/start-an-essay-opening-sentence/
4. Something I found useful in this website was some of the different ways people can start their essays without sounding boring or dry. For example, one can use a bold statement that fits in with the ideas of the essay in order to attract the reader and to prepare them for what they are about to read.
1. Alicia Fajardo, 8am
ReplyDelete2.Based on my experience, I think a good way to start an essay is to have a powerful thesis that will state your argument. Also, providing a sentence that serves as an outline of the points you will be talking about (backing up with details)
3. http://www.usu.edu/markdamen/WritingGuide/24intro.htm
4. What I found useful in this link is that an introduction should not be vague because it does not let the reader know what the author will be discussing. Rather, it should be written in way that let's the reader know what topics will be discussed and what the argument he/she is siding with. As for the conclusion, I learned that it should be "forceful and focused," not just a repetition of the introduction.
1) Diana Espitia 8am
ReplyDelete2)I think that brainstorming is a good idea to beigin a paper with because it gets you thinking about what you are going to write about. Brainstorming allows you to get out ideas of what you might possibly write about. You do not have to explore every idea brainstormed, but it gives you options.
3)http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/introductions
4) What I found interesting about this site is that it used an example topic to help you see how to brainstorm an introduction. It also gave you useful tips, like how your introduction is what gives your reader his/her first impression of you as a writer. An other helpful tip was to try and write your introduction last. I thought this was useful because it can be difficult to try and write an introduction right at the begining. Overall this website helped me see diffrent approaches to writing an inroduction paragraph.
1. Vanessa Ramos
ReplyDelete8:00 Class
2. Starting your paper with a thesis, and a short background information segment will let the reader know what you are are going to talk about and how you are going to talk about it. I think this is a good method because it does not give too much information and it literally introduces your essay. I would also avoid wordiness and questions in my introductory paragraph.
3. Short and to the point:
http://www.library.spscc.ctc.edu/electronicreserve/eng9697/agar/11WaystoBeginanEssayand10WaystoEnd.pdf
4. I like the fact that my link was not too long. The format made it easy to read because the points were separated and there was not a lot of wordy, useless information.
1. Caressa Arias: 8 AM
ReplyDelete2. A good way to start a paper is to introduce what the purpose of the paper is and the topics that will be discussed. I think this is a good idea because you are introducing the reader to the basics of your paper without going into details.
3. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/724/1
4. I found the thesis section useful in the linked site because I always have a hard time forming a thesis.
1. Merylynn Valencia 8AM
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, I think a paper needs to start off with a really interesting and attention grabbing statement. I will not read something that I feel starts off boring or makes no sense at all. Also I think an introduction needs to be able to express what the paper is about and further grab the readers attention.
3.http://valenciacollege.edu/wp/cssc/documents/WritingEffectiveIntroductions.pdf
4. One thing I found useful in this site was the many different examples given on how to write an introduction. It gave the title and then provided a quote or excerpt on what it should look like.
1. Magali Sanchez, 8am
ReplyDelete2. A good way to start a paper is to write down the ideas that you already have so that you don’t forget them. Personally, it is easier to outline my essay into paragraphs like Bob did with intro, summary, critique, summary critique, and conclusion and then write those ideas under each paragraph, and write one at a time. It think this is a good idea, because it is hard to just write it all in one sitting, so it is easier to actually plan what you are going to say and then organize it under the paragraph categories that you already set up.
3. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/introductions
4. I found this website useful because not only does it explain how to write introductions and conclusions, but it explains why it is so important to write them and it gives great examples on how to write those two paragraphs.
1. Kevin Dam 8am
ReplyDelete2. When starting a paper, I like to be clear and direct. A good introduction should clearly state its thesis and the arguments the essay will consist of. It should not include filler words or phrases. The ideal introduction should be short and direct, cutting straight to the chase.
3.http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/introductions
4. One thing I found helpful from this article is the analogy between introductions and bridges. The introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transition our reader into the topic of our essay from the outside world.
1. Kaylen Clifford 8:00 a.m.
ReplyDelete2. In the past, I usually started my essays with an interesting fact or quotation. As many others have stated on this blog post, the introduction needs to grab the reader's attention. I think that if the quote, statistic, or fact appeals to the audience and relates to the thesis, then it is a great way to start the paper.
3. http://www.slideshare.net/habaaqel/how-to-write-an-introduction-and-closing-paragraph
4. I liked this website because it gives the reader concise instructions on what to do and what not to do in his/her essays.
1. Maria Cortez 8am
ReplyDelete2.When starting a paper I like to introduce the topic as clearly as I can and then provide points as to which I am going to prove throughout my essay. As to concluding my essays I usually wrap up my topic in a sentence or two and summarize it.
3. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
4.This link to me has been a key throughout my senior year in h.s. I was introduced to this site by my English teacher and ever since then any problem I have with writing I go to it, especially with punctuation.
1. Tony 8:00 am
ReplyDelete2.An effective way to begin an introductory paragraph should have a topic sentence, a thesis, and the authors point of view. It should be crisp so the reader will have a clear idea of what the essay is about. It should not have any words that just take up space. Simple and to the point as well as clear and concise.
3.http://www.writing-tipstoday.com/info/Essay-Writing-Tips/Essay-Introduction-and-Conclusion.html
4. I found this link very helpful because it was not confusing and it was straight to the point. It also shows how these paragraphs should be like and what one could do better one's self.
Artisha Thompson 8am
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, the hardest words to write in an essay are the opening ones, so I always choose to start off with a renown quote or one that pertains to my proceeding topic.
3.http://www.alphastudent.com/start-an-essay-opening-sentence/
4.I feel that this website is very straight forward, and directly complies with my attitude towards writing.
http://www.blinn.edu/brazos/humanities/writingcenter/Handouts/Introductions%20and%20Conclusions.pdf
ReplyDeleteSome good ways to begin a paper is by having a good thesis or topic sentence, because it gives the reader an idea of what the essay is about. I think it's one of the most important parts of the essay, because it forms the introduction and the rest of the essay.
An interesting thing I found in the link was that the conclusion which echoes the introduction will use a different strategy, and although I already new that, I think it's one of the most diffcult things to write in the essay, because when I'm writting the last paragraph I always feel like I'm being repetitive and there's really no point for the last paragraph.
Michael Morton, 10 AM
ReplyDeleteThe strongest way to begin a paper depends heavily on the type of paper being written. If it contains emotion, one may consider starting with an anecdote, but if it is a critique then a creative start may not be the best idea. The fashion in which you start the essay does not matter nearly as much as the strength that you give it.
http://www.alphastudent.com/start-an-essay-opening-sentence/
What I found interesting is that this web page told me to do a lot of the things that Bob despises -- it gives examples of "bold statements" which are the cheesy phrases that he imitates in his high pitched voice. It also gives examples of starting with questions and quotations, both of which he advised against. Quite helpful, I must say. However, as he said and as I have said above, all of these can definitely be used as long as they are appropriate.
1. Yuri Lee; 10am
ReplyDelete2. Good ways to start a paper are those that are intriguing to the reader, for example, a shocking fact or a very memorable quote that relates to the point of the essay. These are better than rhetorical questions that some people write in their essay. I was told in middle school that if you ask a question as an intro, someone can just answer, "no," and not feel like they need to keep reading the essay to find out the answer. If a question was, "Have you ever felt like disobedience is a good thing?" and the reader thought, "no," as his answer, he would not want to read the essay more to find out what the writer has to say.
3. http://www.byui.edu/writingcenter/webpages/good%20introductions.htm
4. This site's examples of good introductions encompassed what I had thought could be acceptable introductions, such as the quotation or a fact. I thought defining a term that would be used throughout the essay was an interesting one. Although that could be very boring, if worded carefully, it can grab the attention of the readers easily, if they are interested in the topic of the term.
1. Shea Shoemaker 10 a.m.
ReplyDelete2. A good way to start an intro paragraph is by using a short sentence that is straight to the point but still interesting enough to hook the reader. It should get the main idea of the essay across, simply. This way the reader knows what your opinion is in a clear, concise way.
3. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm
4. This website is useful because it gives five different ideas for starting an introductory paragraph. This is a good way to get varying essay intros from students.
1.Lilian Kim
ReplyDelete10:00 section
2.I think some great ways to write a good paper is to start the introduction with a great hook that will capture the attention of the reader. For example, the first sentence should make the reader curious and want to read more of the essay.
3.http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/documents/Begin.html
4.The intro must introduce the topic but it should also talk about the central issue as well. By the end of the beginning of the essay, the reader needs to be fully aware of what topic will be discussed and what viewpoint the writer has on the subject.
Mikayla Molinaro 10 am
ReplyDelete1. I have always thought that a good way to open up my paper is to give a general statement about the topic I am writing about. I like to include a quote from the reading with a short background on the topic, as well as a thesis explaining the points I will address in my critique.
2.http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/intros-and-conclusions
3. I found this website helpful because it listed tips for improving introductions and conclusions, but more importantly it listed common mistakes that students tend to make in academic writing. It suggested finding a statistic that supports your point, or a quotation. It also mentioned staying away from dictionary definitions of words that the academic community should already be aware of.
Hong Kim 10am
ReplyDelete2. The best way to start an essay is to start off broad, and slowly lead into the main point. This can be done by having background information that is connected to the material.
3. http://www.ehow.com/how_2192068_write-introduction-essay.html
4."It shouldn't contain facts or lots of description as you should save this for the main body."
I agree with this statement because an introduction should never have specific facts because it becomes too direct. If it becomes too direct, the reader might become uninterested from the start, and it will be hard writing about other material because the introduction was so specific.
1. Alex Bule 10am
ReplyDelete2. One way to start my paper that I have found to be effective is to use the strong man argument. With this introduction, one takes a counterargument, and exaggerates on the points that it makes, then presents their own ideas, making their ideas look far more credible. Another way is to present the reader with an anecdote. Not a long, drawn out one, but one that clearly relates to the topic, the authors point of view, and your own thesis. This allows for the reader to become intrigued and want to read more into the introduction.
3. http://www.gradschools.com/article-detail/essay-intro-123
4. On this site, it says that many people find it helpful to write their essay before they write their introduction, as it gives their intro more direction and purpose, and allows it to be more connected to the ideas in the essay itself.
1. Breanna Jow, 10 am.
ReplyDelete2. A good introduction needs to include a "hook", an interesting first sentence that is related to the entire essay, in order to catch the reader's attention. After the hook, there also needs to be a clear thesis of what the essay is about, a road map of what is to come. This allows the reader to know what content or subject to expect throughout the essay.
3. http://www.usu.edu/history/faculty/conover/WritingGuide/24intro.htm
4. One thing that I found useful was that the conclusion is where the writer convinces the readers that the writer's thesis has merit.
1. Sammy Xian 10 AM
ReplyDelete2.A introduction should always include some sort of thesis that explains what is being accomplished in the essay. The first sentence should bring up interesting ideas that should hook the reader. If the reader is not interested in the work, he/she will not really get what's being said. A thesis helps with giving the reader a good idea to what he/she is about to read.
3.http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/introductions
4.The idea of writing the introduction last sounds like a good idea because of how we don't completely know what our ideas are yet. We might have a good idea, but it could be better to just write it all out before trying.
1.Steven Tarkington, 10 a.m.
ReplyDelete2.The introduction paragraph should allow for a easy transition into the body of essay. The intro should consist of a preview of all the things that will be discussed in the essay. It is what makes readers want to read your paper. Usually in my intros I start with a sentence that hints at the overall message of the essay, but also addresses a bigger problem that makes the reader think and gets them involved in the reading. After that I usually present the ideas that I will address in my essay. After that I write my thesis statement which should transition smoothly into my next paragraph. By doing it this way I can get the reader engaged while also giving them a heads up as to what they are about to read about.
3.http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/introductions
4.What I found useful was how the site explained strategies to make a good introduction, and it also showed less effective introductions, so I can compare and contrast.
1. Emma Manley 10AM
ReplyDelete2. There are multiple ways to start an interesting paper. Essays that begin with an analogy or a dramatic statement that relate to the topic can immediately grab readers attention. The papers I have written that have successful introductions tend to begin with a hook and then clearly introduce the rest of the ideas in the writing.
3. http://www.hamilton.edu/documents//writing-center/Intros.PDF
4. This webpage has an organized layout and directly states important ways to write an engaging introduction paragraph. The page has bolded steps to a good intro paragraph along with a few example introductions. There is also a section to help write thorough thesis statements.
Chin Vong 10am
ReplyDelete2. I never had a specific way or format to start an introduction. My writing varies because I've experimented with different types of introductions before; making statements, quotes, questions, definitions, etc...
3. http://www.alphastudent.com/start-an-essay-opening-sentence/
4. This site is great because it is formatted in a way that readers can simply see a list of ideas and it also has examples to clarify if it's not understandable.
1. Mary Gao; 10 am
ReplyDelete2. Some ways that I think are good ways to begin a paper are to start introducing an idea or giving background information about it and then stating your thesis. Also, you should mention the points that you are using to support your thesis. I think this is a good idea because it is important to let the reader get a general idea about what is to come in the paper later on and about what will be your stance.
3. http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html
4. I find it interesting and useful that when writing a conclusion, you should challenge the readers so that they can apply the things they read to their lives and look to the future. The conclusion helps close the paper and at the same time influences the readers.
1. Marie Biaggi 10 am
ReplyDelete2. I;m actually not very good at writing introductions, they are the hardest thing for me to do but for the basics, i know you should introduce the topic, give some type of short description about it, somehow outline what you will be talking about in the essay and then state your thesis. through this, the reader will know what the essay is about, know what the writer plans on talking about. Also, by having a strong thesis statement at the end the reader will have something to think about during the essay and possibly try to refute it. Everything written after that will directly relate back to the thesis.
3.http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan/intro.html
4. I found this website helpful because although it says what I already knew about intro paragraphs, it gives more detail, possibly sentence by sentence, about how you should go about doing these basic elements, which is what I struggle to do.
1. Mindy Pham, 10 a.m.
ReplyDelete2. A good way to begin a paper is to have a clear thesis. The thesis states the main points of an essay and it should help the readers understand what the paper is going to be about.
3. http://essay-lab.com/basic/introduction.php
4. I found the website to be very straightforward about being clear and not giving too much background information that would cause the reader to become bored.
Laurie Ho 10 AM
ReplyDeleteA good way to start an essay is to have an interesting and strong hook to make the reader want to read. An arguable and concise thesis is also needed because the rest of the essay strongly relates to it. The introduction is always clear and focused.
http://rachael-scott.suite101.com/how-to-write-a-conclusion-a90539
This website gave tips on how to make a conclusion paragraph more meaningful to read and how to avoid having a simple summary of the essay.
1)Victoria Garcia 10 am
ReplyDelete2)A paper should start with an idea related to what a person is going to write about. For example, if you're going to write about a spreadable disease, start with some kind of scenario. By doing this the writer introduce what they are going to write about.
3)http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/intro.html
4)I found the Introduction section to be useful because starting an essay is very difficult for me. They way the website suggest to start it seem more interesting, like they would grab the reader's attention.
1. Christopher Harron 10am
ReplyDelete2. Some good ways to start a paper is to begin by writing about the broad concept and then focusing that idea into one clear and precise thesis sentence stating your position of that concept.
3. http://www.liberty.k12.mo.us/hs/WB/wh_iac.htm
4. I found this website useful because it describes the funnel down approach to writing an introduction in which you start broad and end with a narrow concise topic sentence which states the purpose of the essay. This is extremely similar to the writing strategy that my 12th grade English teacher taught me.
1. Andrew Farkas 10am
ReplyDelete2. A good introduction should have three parts: background, subject, and thesis. Staying to this formula will help keep the first paragraph precise yet interesting. The background should include interesting information leading into what the essay is really about. An example could be describing the setting and situations that occurred, in the story being reviewed, for the first sentence and then writing a second sentence including name of the book along with the author's name and main point. Once the background and subject has been written it would be advantageous for the essay writer to finish the introduction with their thesis. This should clearly relate how they feel about the subject while still leading into the next paragraph.
3. http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/medicine/psychology/2.1.xml
4. I found the numerous examples of different introductions to be useful.
1. Jon Skelton 10am
ReplyDelete2. A good introduction starts with a hook that interests the reader from the beginning of the essay. A writer should not wait to draw in the reader until the middle of the essay. The earlier the reader becomes interested, the better.
3. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm
4. The site had numerous tips for ways to draw in the reader and capture their attention.
1. Christine Nham 8am
ReplyDelete2. A good way to start the paper is with an attention grabber. It's a good way to start because there needs to be something to grab onto the reader's interest. It is also good to include a very brief summary of what the essay is about.
3. http://www.gallaudet.edu/clast/tutorial_and_instructional_programs/english_works/writing/prewriting_writing_and_revising/guide_to_writing_introductions_and_conclusions.html
4. I liked that the author offered many different ways to introduce and conclude an essay.
c
ReplyDelete