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Culture Documents
~ The readers are grading to a common standard; that is, theyre all trained to know what a 6
looks like, and a 5, and a 4, etc. You need to learn what a 6 essay looks like, so you can write
one!
Elements of a 6 Essay
or
Try this: consider starting your introduction as if youre just thinking out loud about the
subject, as if youve thought of some ideas that are worth bouncing around in a discussion.
With that in mind, your opening sentences might look something like this:
For an essay about honesty: We grow up learning about how honesty is the best policy while
at the same time hearing that white lies arent so bad.
For an essay about conformity vs. individuality: People say that they want to be original in
the way that they speak and think and dress, but it seems that most people spend a lot of time
just trying to fit in.
For an essay about imagination vs. knowledge: From early childhood were told to use our
imaginations, but were also lectured not to color outside the lines.
Do you see how these are observationsalmost like thinking out loud, as if to get a
conversation rolling? If you start your introduction this way, you would follow the opening
sentence with another sentence or two to explain what you mean, then you could refer to the
examples that will come in your body paragraphs, and then state your thesis.
BODY: Probably two paragraphs. Maybe three.
Note: Its great if your second body paragraph starts by making reference to the first body
paragraphto show the relationship between the two. For example, The materialism that
dominated Jay Gatsbys life all those decades ago is even more evident today, as reality
television illustrates.
CONCLUSION: This can be short, and it serves to say, essentially, See what Ive told you here?
Take these thoughts with you. And you might end with a look to the future; you could
suggest to the reader what the impact might be if people followed the argument you made in
your essay. But dont bring up brand new ideas in the conclusion.
3. THE THESIS
Immediately after reading the essay question, quickly brainstorm for examples to support your
thesis. If you cant think of two solid examples fairly quickly, take the opposite position and see
how fast you can come up with examples to prove that thesis.
If youre stuck without any insightful thoughts for the beginning of the introduction, its
perfectly safe to make the first sentence of the essay your thesis statement. You simply state
your position relative to the questionmaking clear where you stand on the issue. This makes
things easy for the readers because theyll know immediately where you stand.
Copyright Jodi Fodor www.satwordslam.com
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What if you dont know how to write a thesis statement simply and quickly?
Remember this: Youre always safe using ALTHOUGH or BECAUSE thesis statements.
For example:
Although the opinions of others can hold merit, ultimately we need to make decisions
based on what we ourselves think and believe.
Its important to question authority because doing so creates progress and moves
society forward.