How to Make a Coherent Essay Plan How do specific aspects of your character or invasion relate or compare to the modern world? Step 1: Research research research! Find two secondary sources to substantiate the discussion of your modern-day parallel. You must incorporate a direct quotation (textual evidence) from each of your secondary sources. Citation for The Odyssey (Book #. Line #) (13.245-247) Citation for your secondary sources (Author’s last name and, if available, page #) (Smith 22) Consider William Yao’s notion that James Bond constitutes a modern-day version of Odysseus. If William chooses to use this great idea for his essay, he will use the film Skyfall and a review of Skyfall as his two secondary sources. Since he will need to provide a direct quotation the actual film (as well as the film review), he can easily find the entire script at this website: http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=skyfall Step 2: Make a provisional outline or graphic organizer. Note that the organizer below details a four-paragraph essay. Feel free to organize your essay in a fashion that works best for you. Odysseus / James Bond Similar Characteristic #1 (Body Paragraph #1) Possible Topic Sentence: Textual Evidence from The Odyssey: An analysis of the evidence: Textual Evidence from the actual film and/or film review: An analysis of the evidence: Similar Characteristic #2 (Body Paragraph #2) Possible Topic Sentence: Textual Evidence from The Odyssey: An analysis of the evidence: Textual Evidence from the actual film and/or film review: An analysis of the evidence: Working Thesis Statement Your thesis statement should address what each figure reveals about the culture that created him. Since William has moreso highlighted the similarities between Odysseus and James Bond, his thesis will most likely present what aspects of masculinity both cultures elevate. Remember, your thesis statement must be specific and convey an interpretation of your sources. It must pass the “so what?” test and answer a how or why question. Refer to the handout “The Evolution of the Thesis Statement” at our class website. N.B. Some of you may choose highlight the differences between your character or invasion and the modern world. That is fine. Remember, you are conducting a comparative study. Step 3: Write a draft! Use my comments on your Macbeth essay and the below guidelines to when writing your draft: The Introduction Introductions are important. They arouse a reader's interest and introduce the subject. In short, they are your paper's “first impression.” But you do not have to write them first. In fact, many students prefer to launch right into the body of the essay before they tackle introductions and conclusions. Whatever your style, you should use each sentence in your introduction to push the reader toward your thesis. You must include the title, author, and translator of your primary document in your introduction. • Begin with a quotation. Just make sure you explain its relevance. • Begin with an explanation of a term or concept that is relevant to your discussion. • Begin with a very short narrative or anecdote that is thematically connected to your thesis. • Begin with an analogy. Make sure it's original and thematically connected to your thesis. If introductions give you trouble no matter when you do them or how you begin, sometimes it helps to construct several mini-outlines just for that paragraph and try each out to see which works best. The Body Paragraphs Your body paragraphs are perhaps the most important part of your paper; without them your thesis is unsupported and meaningless. The number of paragraphs you have will entirely depend on the length of your paper and the complexity of each subtopic. However, after you have begun to double-space your prose, there should be a new paragraph somewhere on each page; a page without an indent is usually a signal that a paragraph somewhere is running too long. When drafting your body paragraphs, focus on the following: 1) Paragraph unity is achieved through the development of a single controlling idea presented in the topic sentence. Note that your topic sentence should present the overall argument of the body paragraph, and each sentence that follows must serve to develop and substantiate this specific argument. 2) Coherence is achieved through the logical progression of your sentences. Your reader cannot intuit what you mean to say; they can only go by what you actually write. Do not think to yourself, “I don’t need to elaborate here because my point should be obvious to my reader.” Elaborate! Make your point as obvious as possible. • Establish some logical order to the sentences in your paragraph such as cause to effect, or general to particular. • Use transitional words. Transitional words like “therefore,” “moreover,” and “however” signal the relationship between your sentences. These words also help to transition between your paragraphs. 3) Adequate development is what it sounds like: support what you state in your topic sentence. You do this by presenting textual evidence from your primary and secondary sources and thoroughly analyzing how each piece of evidence substantiates the claim in your topic sentence. Two Basic Frameworks for a Body Paragraph: Topic Sentence Context for Textual Evidence #1 Textual Evidence #1 Analysis #1 Transitional Sentence Context for Textual Evidence #2 Textual Evidence #2 Analysis #2 Concluding Sentence OR Topic Sentence Context for Textual Evidence Textual Evidence Analysis Concluding Sentence Writing your Conclusion A conclusion should • synthesize the analytic aspects of the body paragraphs by demonstrating how your arguments work together, • give the essay a sense of completeness, and • leave a final impression on the reader. Here are some tips: • If your introduction went from general to specific, make your conclusion go from specific to general. Think globally. • Do not depend on your conclusion to sum up the body paragraphs. Your paragraphs should flow naturally into one another and connections should be made among them. Summary can be an important function of conclusions but keep this part brief; readers know what they have just read. • Do not simply regurgitate your introduction. Try to talk about your topic in a new way now that you've presented all that you have about it. • Point out the importance or the implications of what you've just argued in your paper. Address the “so what” factor – why is this important, what does this research reveal, etc.? This handout provides an example of a Works Cited page in MLA 2009 format. Works Cited "Blueprint Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009. Clinton, Bill. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” New York Times. New York Times, May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009. Dean, Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York Times, 22 May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009. Ebert, Roger. "An Inconvenient Truth." Rev. of An Inconvenient Truth, dir. Davis Guggenheim. rogerebert.com. Sun-Times News Group, 2 June 2006. Web. 24 May 2009. GlobalWarming.org. Cooler Heads Coalition, 2007. Web. 24 May 2009. Gowdy, John. "Avoiding Self-organized Extinction: Toward a Co-evolutionary Economics of Sustainability." International Journal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology 14.1 (2007): 27-36. Print. An Inconvenient Truth. Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Perf. Al Gore, Billy West. Paramount, 2006. DVD. Leroux, Marcel. Global Warming: Myth Or Reality?: The Erring Ways of Climatology. New York: Springer, 2005. Print. Milken, Michael, Gary Becker, Myron Scholes, and Daniel Kahneman. "On Global Warming and Financial Imbalances." New Perspectives Quarterly 23.4 (2006): 63. Print. Nordhaus, William D. "After Kyoto: Alternative Mechanisms to Control Global Warming." American Economic Review 96.2 (2006): 31-34. Print. "Global Warming Economics." Science 9 Nov. 2001: 1283-84. Science Online. Web. 24 May 2009. Shulte, Bret. "Putting a Price on Pollution." Usnews.com. US News & World Rept., 6 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009. Uzawa, Hirofumi. Economic Theory and Global Warming. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003. Print.

How to Make a Coherent Essay Plan

How do specific aspects of your character or invasion relate or compare to the modern world?

Step 1: Research research research! Find two secondary sources to substantiate the discussion of your modern-day parallel. You must incorporate a direct quotation (textual evidence) from each of your secondary sources.

Citation for The Odyssey (Book #. Line #) (13.245-247)

Citation for your secondary sources (Author’s last name and, if available, page #) (Smith 22)

Consider William Yao’s notion that James Bond constitutes a modern-day version of Odysseus. If William chooses to use this great idea for his essay, he will use the film Skyfall and a review of Skyfall as his two secondary sources. Since he will need to provide a direct quotation the actual film (as well as the film review), he can easily find the entire script at this website:

http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=skyfall

Step 2: Make a provisional outline or graphic organizer. Note that the organizer below details a four-paragraph essay. Feel free to organize your essay in a fashion that works best for you.

Odysseus / James Bond

Similar Characteristic #1 (Body Paragraph #1)

Possible Topic Sentence:

Textual Evidence from The Odyssey:

An analysis of the evidence:

Textual Evidence from the actual film and/or film review:

An analysis of the evidence:

Similar Characteristic #2 (Body Paragraph #2)

Possible Topic Sentence:

Textual Evidence from The Odyssey:

An analysis of the evidence:

Textual Evidence from the actual film and/or film review:

An analysis of the evidence:

Working Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should address what each figure reveals about the culture that created him. Since William has moreso highlighted the similarities between Odysseus and James Bond, his thesis will most likely present what aspects of masculinity both cultures elevate. Remember, your thesis statement must be specific and convey an interpretation of your sources. It must pass the “so what?” test and answer a how or why question. Refer to the handout “The Evolution of the Thesis Statement” at our class website.

N.B. Some of you may choose highlight the differences between your character or invasion and the modern world. That is fine. Remember, you are conducting a comparative study.

Step 3: Write a draft! Use my comments on your Macbeth essay and the below guidelines to when writing your draft:

The Introduction

Introductions are important. They arouse a reader's interest and introduce the subject. In short, they are your paper's “first impression.” But you do not have to write them first. In fact, many students prefer to launch right into the body of the essay before they tackle introductions and conclusions.

Whatever your style, you should use each sentence in your introduction to push the reader toward your thesis. You must include the title, author, and translator of your primary document in your introduction.

•Begin with a quotation. Just make sure you explain its relevance.

•Begin with an explanation of a term or concept that is relevant to your discussion.

•Begin with a very short narrative or anecdote that is thematically connected to your thesis.

•Begin with an analogy. Make sure it's original and thematically connected to your thesis.

If introductions give you trouble no matter when you do them or how you begin, sometimes it helps to construct several mini-outlines just for that paragraph and try each out to see which works best.

The Body Paragraphs

Your body paragraphs are perhaps the most important part of your paper; without them your thesis is unsupported and meaningless.

The number of paragraphs you have will entirely depend on the length of your paper and the complexity of each subtopic. However, after you have begun to double-space your prose, there should be a new paragraph somewhere on each page; a page without an indent is usually a signal that a paragraph somewhere is running too long.

When drafting your body paragraphs, focus on the following:

1) Paragraph unity is achieved through the development of a single controlling idea presented in the topic sentence. Note that your topic sentence should present the overall argument of the body paragraph, and each sentence that follows must serve to develop and substantiate this specific argument.

2) Coherence is achieved through the logical progression of your sentences. Your reader cannot intuit what you mean to say; they can only go by what you actually write. Do not think to yourself, “I don’t need to elaborate here because my point should be obvious to my reader.” Elaborate! Make your point as obvious as possible.

•Establish some logical order to the sentences in your paragraph such as cause to effect, or general to particular.

•Use transitional words. Transitional words like “therefore,” “moreover,” and “however” signal the relationship between your sentences. These words also help to transition between your paragraphs.

3) Adequate development is what it sounds like: support what you state in your topic sentence. You do this by presenting textual evidence from your primary and secondary sources and thoroughly analyzing how each piece of evidence substantiates the claim in your topic sentence.

Two Basic Frameworks for a Body Paragraph:

Topic Sentence

Context for Textual Evidence #1

Textual Evidence #1

Analysis #1

Transitional Sentence

Context for Textual Evidence #2

Textual Evidence #2

Analysis #2

Concluding Sentence

Topic Sentence

Context for Textual Evidence

Textual Evidence

Analysis

Concluding Sentence

Writing your Conclusion

A conclusion should

•synthesize the analytic aspects of the body paragraphs by demonstrating how your arguments work together,

•give the essay a sense of completeness, and

•leave a final impression on the reader.

Here are some tips:

•If your introduction went from general to specific, make your conclusion go from specific to general. Think globally.

•Do not depend on your conclusion to sum up the body paragraphs. Your paragraphs should flow naturally into one another and connections should be made among them. Summary can be an important function of conclusions but keep this part brief; readers know what they have just read.

•Do not simply regurgitate your introduction. Try to talk about your topic in a new way now that you've presented all that you have about it.

•Point out the importance or the implications of what you've just argued in your paper. Address the “so what” factor – why is this important, what does this research reveal, etc.?

This handout provides an example of a Works Cited page in MLA 2009 format.

Works Cited

"Blueprint Lays Out Clear Path for Climate Action." Environmental Defense Fund. Environmental Defense Fund, 8 May 2007. Web. 24

May 2009.

Clinton, Bill. Interview by Andrew C. Revkin. “Clinton on Climate Change.” New York Times. New York Times, May 2007. Web. 25

May 2009.

Dean, Cornelia. "Executive on a Mission: Saving the Planet." New York Times. New York Times, 22 May 2007. Web. 25 May 2009.

Ebert, Roger. "An Inconvenient Truth." Rev. of An Inconvenient Truth, dir. Davis Guggenheim. rogerebert.com. Sun-Times News Group, 2

June 2006. Web. 24 May 2009.

GlobalWarming.org. Cooler Heads Coalition, 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.

Gowdy, John. "Avoiding Self-organized Extinction: Toward a Co-evolutionary Economics of Sustainability." International Journal of

Sustainable Development and World Ecology 14.1 (2007): 27-36. Print.

An Inconvenient Truth. Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Perf. Al Gore, Billy West. Paramount, 2006. DVD.

Leroux, Marcel. Global Warming: Myth Or Reality?: The Erring Ways of Climatology. New York: Springer, 2005. Print.

Milken, Michael, Gary Becker, Myron Scholes, and Daniel Kahneman. "On Global Warming and Financial Imbalances." New Perspectives

Quarterly 23.4 (2006): 63. Print.

Nordhaus, William D. "After Kyoto: Alternative Mechanisms to Control Global Warming." American Economic Review 96.2 (2006): 31-34.

Print.

"Global Warming Economics." Science 9 Nov. 2001: 1283-84. Science Online. Web. 24 May 2009.

Shulte, Bret. "Putting a Price on Pollution." Usnews.com. US News & World Rept., 6 May 2007. Web. 24 May 2009.

Uzawa, Hirofumi. Economic Theory and Global Warming. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003. Print.