Essay Tips for the Essay Tips for the Rest of Your Life! Rest of Your Life!

(Part II!)(Part II!)Mr. FeracoMr. Feraco

7 November 20077 November 2007

When We Left Off…When We Left Off… We had just covered a thesis from one We had just covered a thesis from one

of my brave and willing junior studentsof my brave and willing junior students While it’s strong in many ways, it can While it’s strong in many ways, it can

be streamlined and enhanced – be streamlined and enhanced – particularly since the main thrust of the particularly since the main thrust of the paper paper (homework should be banned (homework should be banned because it isn’t effective)because it isn’t effective) is so much is so much simpler than the actual thesissimpler than the actual thesis

There’s a Lesson to Be There’s a Lesson to Be LearnedLearned Applying this “streamlining” principle to the Applying this “streamlining” principle to the

rest of your writing can help you cut down on rest of your writing can help you cut down on fluff!fluff!

While fluff makes for excellent padding While fluff makes for excellent padding (hence down comforters, pillows, etc.), it’s (hence down comforters, pillows, etc.), it’s not nearly as useful when used to fill spacenot nearly as useful when used to fill space

Fluff is deadly to write and read; the act of Fluff is deadly to write and read; the act of writing it bores you and saps your creativity, writing it bores you and saps your creativity, while audiences reading your work will feel while audiences reading your work will feel alienated or ignoredalienated or ignored

StreamliningStreamlining This isn’t to suggest that the long, lyrical This isn’t to suggest that the long, lyrical

sentence be permanently laid to restsentence be permanently laid to rest• If this were the case, how could I continue writing my If this were the case, how could I continue writing my

massive blogposts?massive blogposts?• I I lovelove long sentences – provided they’re long for a long sentences – provided they’re long for a

reasonreason I’m merely pointing out that simplicity is not I’m merely pointing out that simplicity is not

(in and of itself) “bad”(in and of itself) “bad” In fact, some of you need to work on In fact, some of you need to work on

“simplifying” your diction!“simplifying” your diction!•While many of you spent a lot of time building up While many of you spent a lot of time building up

your vocabularies in preparation for the SATs, you’ll your vocabularies in preparation for the SATs, you’ll find that you won’t always use “SAT words” find that you won’t always use “SAT words” appropriatelyappropriately

The Careful BalanceThe Careful Balance Young writers have to walk something of Young writers have to walk something of

a tricky tightropea tricky tightrope•On the one hand, instructors often urge you to On the one hand, instructors often urge you to

expand your vocabulary, to diversify your word expand your vocabulary, to diversify your word choice, to avoid repetitionchoice, to avoid repetition

• You also won’t know how or when to use your You also won’t know how or when to use your new words without putting them in context – new words without putting them in context – and doing so takes practice, which isn’t always and doing so takes practice, which isn’t always prettypretty

•However, it’s important for you to grasp the However, it’s important for you to grasp the concept of synonyms as concept of synonyms as imperfectimperfect matches matches•Not every synonym is interchangeable!Not every synonym is interchangeable!

Here’s An ExampleHere’s An Example Let’s take a look at Jake Melton from Let’s take a look at Jake Melton from

P2P2 According to his “Rumors” bio, Jake According to his “Rumors” bio, Jake

is about 6’5” and 200 lbs.is about 6’5” and 200 lbs.•(Debate rages over whether his (Debate rages over whether his

biography is reliable)biography is reliable) How do we describe this person?How do we describe this person? Well, we want to say he’s “big.”Well, we want to say he’s “big.” Do we say he’s “tall” or “huge?”Do we say he’s “tall” or “huge?”

Big v. Huge v. TallBig v. Huge v. Tall, Case , Case No. 17No. 17 Technically speaking, “big,” “tall,” and “huge” all refer Technically speaking, “big,” “tall,” and “huge” all refer

to “great size.” to “great size.” However, the connotations of “tall” and “huge” are very However, the connotations of “tall” and “huge” are very

differentdifferent• ““Huge” seems to imply “massive”Huge” seems to imply “massive”

• ““Tall” implies nothing about the thickness or width of the Tall” implies nothing about the thickness or width of the object’s frame; it merely means said object has “great object’s frame; it merely means said object has “great height”height”

If you wanted to discuss Jake’s build, you’d use “huge”; If you wanted to discuss Jake’s build, you’d use “huge”; if you wanted to discuss his height, you’d use “tall.”if you wanted to discuss his height, you’d use “tall.”• As you can see, the two aren’t necessarily As you can see, the two aren’t necessarily

interchangeable!interchangeable! Always consider context and connotation while writing!Always consider context and connotation while writing!

Now for the Little ThingsNow for the Little Things We’ve spent time going over stuff We’ve spent time going over stuff

that really stands out in an essay – that really stands out in an essay – theses, formatting issues, diction, theses, formatting issues, diction, etc.etc.

How about some aspects of writing How about some aspects of writing that you may not have thought that you may not have thought about lately?about lately?

Tensioning TroubleTensioning Trouble Some papers featured a great deal of Some papers featured a great deal of

tense scramblingtense scrambling•This isn’t necessarily a huge problem from This isn’t necessarily a huge problem from

paragraph to paragraph, although it paragraph to paragraph, although it certainly isn’t a habit you’ll want to developcertainly isn’t a habit you’ll want to develop

•However, tense changes within a sentence However, tense changes within a sentence can throw your readerscan throw your readers•It’s the equivalent of putting on a left-turn signal It’s the equivalent of putting on a left-turn signal

before making a hard right – if you give readers before making a hard right – if you give readers the opposite of what they expect, they may the opposite of what they expect, they may swerve off!swerve off!

Navigating the Winding Navigating the Winding PassagesPassages While paragraph structure forms the While paragraph structure forms the

backbone of essay-writing, most writers backbone of essay-writing, most writers don’t think about a “maximum” length for don’t think about a “maximum” length for their paragraphstheir paragraphs• In fact, most young writers are far more concerned In fact, most young writers are far more concerned

with meeting a minimum length requirement for with meeting a minimum length requirement for each passage!each passage!

However, you should try to have at least two However, you should try to have at least two paragraphs per page (as something of a paragraphs per page (as something of a general, informal rule)general, informal rule)• If you’re paying attention to this rule, you probably If you’re paying attention to this rule, you probably

won’t end up writing repetitive paragraphs; most won’t end up writing repetitive paragraphs; most page-length paragraphs simply move in circles, or page-length paragraphs simply move in circles, or inflate their length with unnecessary block quotes.inflate their length with unnecessary block quotes.

The Brightest Bulb The Brightest Bulb Has Burned OutHas Burned Out At its core, paragraph structure is about At its core, paragraph structure is about

keeping your ideas in the proper “order”keeping your ideas in the proper “order”•While all of your ancillary ideas will be linked While all of your ancillary ideas will be linked

by the central concept of the paper (the by the central concept of the paper (the thesis), you’ll probably want to follow a thesis), you’ll probably want to follow a specific/linear “path” while writing them downspecific/linear “path” while writing them down

•Remember to include one big idea per Remember to include one big idea per paragraph (and a four-page paper gives you paragraph (and a four-page paper gives you space for several body passages)space for several body passages)

We All Have Someone We All Have Someone That Digs At UsThat Digs At Us Once you’ve established your ideas, it’s Once you’ve established your ideas, it’s

time to really dig in, really sink your time to really dig in, really sink your teeth into them, and explore!teeth into them, and explore!

Remember to explore one idea at a Remember to explore one idea at a time; if you jump from concept to time; if you jump from concept to concept too quickly, your audience may concept too quickly, your audience may feel disorientedfeel disoriented•Think about how jarring it’s felt when I’ve Think about how jarring it’s felt when I’ve

been switching topics between slides without been switching topics between slides without including transitions – or transition including transitions – or transition statements!statements!

Even Diamonds Start Out As Even Diamonds Start Out As CoalCoal Don’t be satisfied with a sentence after Don’t be satisfied with a sentence after

writing it for the first time!writing it for the first time!• You’ll want to keep some of them, of course – but You’ll want to keep some of them, of course – but

many great sentences began their existences as many great sentences began their existences as inferior, messier statementsinferior, messier statements

Be willing to revisit your work multiple times – Be willing to revisit your work multiple times – not so often that the words start bleeding not so often that the words start bleeding together (or, alternately, so many times that together (or, alternately, so many times that everything you write suddenly seems everything you write suddenly seems terrible), but often enough to reassure terrible), but often enough to reassure yourself that the essay you’re turning in yourself that the essay you’re turning in represents your finest effort.represents your finest effort.•Break away from the rough/final model – multiple Break away from the rough/final model – multiple

drafts!drafts!

Learn to BreatheLearn to Breathe However, don’t do all of this the However, don’t do all of this the first first time you write time you write

something down!something down! You have to be willing to get the words down on the You have to be willing to get the words down on the

page before you can start worrying about how they page before you can start worrying about how they look as part of the whole.look as part of the whole.• If you don’t, you might forget something that you If you don’t, you might forget something that you

really want to say!really want to say! Don’t sacrifice your original thoughts because Don’t sacrifice your original thoughts because

you’re trying to be a perfectionist on your first passyou’re trying to be a perfectionist on your first pass Once the words are on the page, you can edit Once the words are on the page, you can edit

them, rearrange them, etc. – but you have to get a them, rearrange them, etc. – but you have to get a rough draft out first!rough draft out first!• It’s hard for many young writers to feel comfortable It’s hard for many young writers to feel comfortable

with simply writing what they’re thinkingwith simply writing what they’re thinking• It takes practice!It takes practice!

So, to SummarizeSo, to Summarize So far, we’ve gone over:So far, we’ve gone over:

• Clarity/StreamliningClarity/Streamlining

• Connotation/Word Choice/TenseConnotation/Word Choice/Tense

• Theses (Structure and Intent)Theses (Structure and Intent)

• MLA Formatting/Paragraph StructureMLA Formatting/Paragraph Structure

• Necessity of a Necessity of a RoughRough Draft/Multiple Drafts Draft/Multiple Drafts

• Exploration/Research/Fluff EliminationExploration/Research/Fluff Elimination Not a bad way to start!Not a bad way to start!

• These are the elements you should concentrate on These are the elements you should concentrate on during your first draft – honing your purpose, getting the during your first draft – honing your purpose, getting the words out, and moving forward to the end of the paperwords out, and moving forward to the end of the paper

• This gives your paper a sense of momentum – always This gives your paper a sense of momentum – always helpful!helpful!

I’m On the Brink of Disaster, I’m On the Brink of Disaster, Staring Down the Staring Down the ConsequencesConsequences After you’ve done all of this – established a After you’ve done all of this – established a

thesis, mapped your ideas out, written out thesis, mapped your ideas out, written out some rough sentences, streamlined your some rough sentences, streamlined your writing a bit, explored some concepts at a writing a bit, explored some concepts at a deeper level, revised your rough draft – you deeper level, revised your rough draft – you should be on your way.should be on your way.

However…what happens if the revision However…what happens if the revision reveals disaster? What if your paper is too reveals disaster? What if your paper is too short now? What if it’s uninteresting? What if short now? What if it’s uninteresting? What if your statements feel flimsy and unsupported?your statements feel flimsy and unsupported?•Hint: Revision usually reveals these things!Hint: Revision usually reveals these things!

Not to Worry!Not to Worry! Again, at the end of this draft – maybe Again, at the end of this draft – maybe

your first, maybe your second – you’ve your first, maybe your second – you’ve fulfilled your length requirement (more fulfilled your length requirement (more or less), you’ve written out your main or less), you’ve written out your main ideas, and you know why you’re writing ideas, and you know why you’re writing (as well as where you’re taking the (as well as where you’re taking the paper)paper)

Now it’s time for a different sort of editNow it’s time for a different sort of edit•We call this the “blow-up” editWe call this the “blow-up” edit

Didn’t You Rant Didn’t You Rant About Padding Already?About Padding Already? Yes, but this is different.Yes, but this is different. It’s not uncommon to fall short of the length It’s not uncommon to fall short of the length

requirement after a good, rigorous edit – requirement after a good, rigorous edit – you’ve tightened up your language, you’ve tightened up your language, emphasized important points, and emphasized important points, and eliminated your fluff. That’ll knock out a eliminated your fluff. That’ll knock out a great deal of any rough draft!great deal of any rough draft!

Fortunately, this is where you can start Fortunately, this is where you can start adding evidence, and continue digging adding evidence, and continue digging deeper from there!deeper from there!

A Little TipA Little Tip I write my essays in a variety of ways.I write my essays in a variety of ways. Sometimes I begin by typing every quote I could Sometimes I begin by typing every quote I could

possibly use for my paper; this leaves me with a few possibly use for my paper; this leaves me with a few pages of quoted material in an “evidence bank” pages of quoted material in an “evidence bank” before a single original word escapes my brain, and before a single original word escapes my brain, and helps me remember what I want to write about as I go.helps me remember what I want to write about as I go.

This makes it easier to insert quotes seamlessly into This makes it easier to insert quotes seamlessly into my writing as well; if I’m reviewing a paragraph, I’ll my writing as well; if I’m reviewing a paragraph, I’ll refer back to the “bank” and look for quotes that refer back to the “bank” and look for quotes that support my wordssupport my words• I’ll often delete some of my own words and replace them I’ll often delete some of my own words and replace them

with a quote – but that “replacement” ensures that the with a quote – but that “replacement” ensures that the quote will mesh well with the pre-existing sentencequote will mesh well with the pre-existing sentence

Take It to the BankTake It to the Bank The Evidence Bank may sound like a lot of extra The Evidence Bank may sound like a lot of extra

work to you, and it isn’t something everyone will work to you, and it isn’t something everyone will want to use.want to use.

However, if you’re the type of writer who struggles However, if you’re the type of writer who struggles to incorporate evidence, or who doesn’t to incorporate evidence, or who doesn’t likelike to to interrupt your own writing with someone else’s interrupt your own writing with someone else’s words, this is a nice trick.words, this is a nice trick.

It makes quote insertion It makes quote insertion easyeasy – and you’ll never – and you’ll never lack support for an argument.lack support for an argument.

In fact, you can write your entire rough draft In fact, you can write your entire rough draft without any evidence, then insert your quotes, without any evidence, then insert your quotes, piece by piece, during the intermediate drafting piece by piece, during the intermediate drafting stage.stage.

Noooooooooooooooooo!Noooooooooooooooooo! Will you end up deleting most of what you’ve typed? Will you end up deleting most of what you’ve typed?

Yes – lots of the quotes you just typed will Yes – lots of the quotes you just typed will eventually disappear, as will much of your own eventually disappear, as will much of your own earlier work.earlier work.

While this may initially strike you as a colossal While this may initially strike you as a colossal waste of time, you can’t get too attached to your waste of time, you can’t get too attached to your words during the drafting stage!words during the drafting stage!

You have to be willing to delete the words you’ve You have to be willing to delete the words you’ve worked so hard to write, even if you’re worried you worked so hard to write, even if you’re worried you won’t hit your minimum length requirementwon’t hit your minimum length requirement• After all, we’re in the business of writing effectively – After all, we’re in the business of writing effectively –

and no one writes perfectly the first timeand no one writes perfectly the first time• Again, if you have the chance to make a diamond, Again, if you have the chance to make a diamond,

you have to be willing to sacrifice some coal – even a you have to be willing to sacrifice some coal – even a lotlot of coal of coal

This is Goodbye…This is Goodbye… Don’t be surprised if your final drafts bear Don’t be surprised if your final drafts bear

little resemblance to your rough drafts from little resemblance to your rough drafts from now onnow on

This is the hallmark of a mature writer; I’m This is the hallmark of a mature writer; I’m hard-pressed to think of a single professional hard-pressed to think of a single professional writer whose initial drafts look writer whose initial drafts look anythinganything like like their finished productstheir finished products

I do realize that you’re students – but now is I do realize that you’re students – but now is as good a time as any to practice excellent as good a time as any to practice excellent writing habits. Challenge yourself!writing habits. Challenge yourself!

Some Final NotesSome Final Notes During your final revisions:During your final revisions:

• Make sure your sentences Make sure your sentences flow into one another flow into one another reasonably well – avoid reasonably well – avoid “forks in the road!”“forks in the road!”

• Avoid run-on sentencesAvoid run-on sentences

• Don’t drown your paper in Don’t drown your paper in block quotes – your writing block quotes – your writing is the most important part is the most important part of the essayof the essay

• Beware of hyperbole and Beware of hyperbole and qualifiersqualifiers

• Monitor sentence varietyMonitor sentence variety

• Monitor your focus; if Monitor your focus; if your focus differs from your focus differs from your thesis, edit the your thesis, edit the thesis!thesis!

• Let someone else look Let someone else look at your paper; we’re our at your paper; we’re our own worst editors, own worst editors, especially since most of especially since most of us are reluctant to read us are reluctant to read our own work aloud to our own work aloud to ourselvesourselves

• Avoid first-/second-Avoid first-/second-person perspectives in person perspectives in formal writingformal writing

• Polish, polish, polish!Polish, polish, polish!

The Very Last Piece of The Very Last Piece of Advice Advice I Can Give YouI Can Give You Love what you write. Love what you write. Seriously. Seriously. Take Take pridepride in the work you’re spending so much time in the work you’re spending so much time

creating, revising, and perfecting.creating, revising, and perfecting. At the end of the day, I know most of you care about At the end of the day, I know most of you care about

the grade you’ll earn on this paper; I know most of you the grade you’ll earn on this paper; I know most of you care about the grade you’ll earn in my class.care about the grade you’ll earn in my class.

I agree that both of these are important.I agree that both of these are important. However, you won’t necessarily remember whether you However, you won’t necessarily remember whether you

got a B or a B+ a few years from now; you might just got a B or a B+ a few years from now; you might just remember the rush you got when you finished a piece remember the rush you got when you finished a piece that made you proud, or the day something about the that made you proud, or the day something about the writing process finally “clicked” for you.writing process finally “clicked” for you.

If any of you – any one of you – feel like writing will be If any of you – any one of you – feel like writing will be easier for you from now on, this was worth it.easier for you from now on, this was worth it.

That’s All I Have to SayThat’s All I Have to Say Believe in yourselves.Believe in yourselves. Ask me for help.Ask me for help. Ask others for help.Ask others for help. Good luck!Good luck!