I am quite capable of writing good essays but my openings are really bad. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
An idea of the essay topic and your subject would be helpful.
Failing that, "Yo, check dis junk out!" usually does wonders for getting someone's attention.
-Trevor
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Always start with a quote by Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Posted by DarkWizard (Member # 6186) on :
an argumentative philosophy essay on reality compared to a desert in some relation to the Matrix I think
Posted by Brian_Berlin (Member # 6900) on :
try opening with your last sentence.
Posted by DarkWizard (Member # 6186) on :
sadly i can't write closing paragraphs either
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
Write your essay backwards - then the opening would really be the conclusion, and you don't have any problems with those.
edit: maybe not.
[ September 27, 2004, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: kaioshin00 ]
Posted by DarkWizard (Member # 6186) on :
also how much information are you supposed to give in the listing of your subtopics. Sort of off to the side but also helpful.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
How about you ask your english teaher about this, since that's what they're there for.
Ni!
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Figure out a way to justify "Subject x" is the mark of a truly free society/educated person/cause of the decline of the Roman Empire. Make it sound important.
Example: The ability to open and close an essay should be the determining factor of whether a person is allowed into the gene pool.
Um, no. On second thought, relate your subject to the biggest issue that it can be integrated into without hyperbole.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
quote: an argumentative philosophy essay on reality compared to a desert in some relation to the Matrix I think
The movie "Matrix" shows us a dark future in which humans are stored and harvested as power sources for their Machine overlords. The Machines keep their batteries bound and docile by trapping the human mind in a virtual simulation referred to as "the matrix" which is ultimately a reflection of Man's need to struggle and suffer to truly feel alive.
This symbolism is most closely manifested by the image and perception of a desert. The vast emptiness of the desert expanse is the void of humanity which we struggle to fill with the human experience. As the humans involved, we determine what the desert is filled with, much like the Matrix was designed to interact with and respond to the imprisoned humans.
The bleakness of the desert landscape mirrors the emptiness we feel in ourselves and serves as a metaphor for the struggle to fill the void, growing both mentally and spiritually.
-Trevor
P.S. Sorry, I could polish that a little better with more details.
Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :
I'm preferential to "It was a dark and stormy night."
-Bok
Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :
If it is a 5 paragraph essay, write a working thesis. Then write the 3 body paragraphs . Then take the main ideas from the 3 para. and improve the thesis. Then you want to explain each idea with a sentence or maybe two in the introduction. This is at least my formula for introductions.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
If you're in grade elevn and younger the sentence "In so-and-so's movie/book <insert title here> the..." works pretty well.
Or, start with a snappy quote relating to your topic. That works for all ages.
EDIT: I can write... (la la la...)
[ September 27, 2004, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
Introductions and conclusions are notoriously hard to write. One thing you can do is first write your essay, complete with cheesy/standard intro and conclusion. Then, reread. What are you really trying to say?
Think of your introduction as your hard sell. You want someone to be interested in the body of your essay. How will you capture the reader? How will you convince them your paper is worth reading?
At the end, you want your reader to leave with a feeling of satisfaction that he or she understands your message. You want to wrap up your position and leave the reader convinced/informed/entertained.
More questions, ask me.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Yeah, I was taught to never ever EVER start an essay with "Websters defines X as blah blah blah". However, in today's world of computers, you could put that to get yourself rolling, then go back and fix it when something more intelligent is granted you by your essay Muse. I think her name is Frumpia.
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
Never open or close your essay with a quote. It shows that you're not in control of your work. Never quote a book more than three times or a journal more than twice. Otherwise I'm forced to ask why I'm reading your paper and not the oft-quoted one. Never have back to back quotes from the same source. Again, you lose control of your essay. For the love of Pete, make sure that the question asked in your thesis statement is the one you answer in the body which leads you to a natural conclusion in your last paragraph. If the words "in conclusion" appear in your last paragraph your teacher has permission to string you up by your toes. It's a rarely-enforced and oft-overlooked section of the US Constitution. Don't tempt fate.
Mostly though, like any kind of writing, the best advice is to read. Don't know how to write an essay? Read a few. It really helps.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: Never open or close your essay with a quote.
I disagree. If there is a quote that fits your essay brilliantly, why not use it? It should be a snappy quote though, one that is spoken as opposed to written, unless it's very famous:
"The answer to life the universe and everything is 42," says Deep Thought. The answer '42' is well-known and is ubiquitous, dismissed as a fun answer to give to an unanswerable question. But is Deep Thought on the right track? <insert thesis here>.
Why not start an essay with a quote? obviously it's not a rule, but it can be useful and effective.
Also, what if DarkWizard is writing a literature essay? In that case many quotes are essential and the text may be a single book or movie. More than three quotes per essay would be a necessity!
EDIT: I agree, however, about the "in conclusion" bit. It's okay for a while, then teachers start to dock a thousand marks for it.
[ September 27, 2004, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: Teshi ]
Posted by DarkWizard (Member # 6186) on :
quote: The “Matrix” has many philosophical elements to it but one seem to be most interesting to me is that as Morpheus says, “Welcome to the desert of the real”.
This is the part that I really hate and sadly it's how I start most essays because I can't think of anything better.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
The saddest thing is this: almost all the rules for "good" essay writing in high school are in fact completely useless in the real world, which uses an entirely different set of standards for its essays and articles.
There is nothing more sad and pathetic than being able to recognize the tattered remnants of a five-paragraph theme in someone's presentation on web design.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Ah! However the 5 paragraph essay works for a start. That's the point; it is the basic way, and once you've got that down you can stick the 5 paragraph essay down the toilet where it belongs and write a nice, well structured and thought-provoking essay.
Which may or may not begin with a quote.
Posted by vwiggin (Member # 926) on :
Start with a joke:
Descarte walked into a bar and the bartender asked him if he wanted a beer - Descarte replied "I think not" - and *poof* Descarte disappeared.
Don't stress too much over your opening sentence. As long as your thesis is thoughtful and well-argued, your opening sentence will not make that much of a difference in your grade.
Posted by DarkWizard (Member # 6186) on :
OH AH can i use that because we are just studying descarte now.
[ September 27, 2004, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: DarkWizard ]
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
The problems with using a quote as a leadoff are twofold, Teshi. One, it's excruciatingly difficult to find one that fits in and doesn't seem forced. It's a lot like the semicolon: when in doubt, don't. Second, the start of the essay is supposed to hook the reader by showing them that you have something new and interesting to offer them on the subject. If the first words they read are someone else's the immediate thought is, "Why don't I just go to that source?" I'm sure there are those that disagree but I think you'll find that vast majority of those marking your papers and publishing in journals agree with me.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
It depends on the subject, but packing as many racial slurs as possible is usually a pretty good way to warm up the crowd.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
Yes, but if the source is a spoken one, there is no other source.
When novelists and poets start their book with a quote from someone else, you don't think, I might as well read from whoever it's quoted from, you think ah, the novelist/poet has something to say with this quote.
I think it depends on the subject of the essay and the source of the quote.
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