Starting an essay is always the hardest part. It's so annoying.
I'm writing my critical essay on Araby and so far, all I have are bullets written down on paper. I've filled up about 3 sheets of paper with ideas. Now to get them into an essay....
My question is: How do you start an essay? Do you start with just a summary? Do you bring the author out and talk about him? Do you just plunge right into the symbolism? I usually start with a really short summary and speak about the author some, because I'll probably bring him up again when I talk about specific literary terms. Perhaps someone else has a better strategy.
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Carla,darling, essay writing is simple. (Read outloud with a British accent.) Ok, no it is not. It is all you mentioned and more. It's hard starting, but once you get that one really good idea that you can support for pages, the words just come naturally. Use all of those bullets that you have and start making coherent sentences. Or try starting your essay after the introduction. The introduction is the hardest, but once you get you supporting paragraphs, the thesis in your intro will just pop right out. See what all of your notes have in common and let that be your main focus. Araby has tons of great subtle details that you can bring to life by thinking about what they mean to you and what the author wanted them to mean to you. Write from your heart and don't worry if it sounds stupid at first. That's why you proofread your paper before turning it in. Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Aida! :D (Are we allowed to use smileys on here? I don't think my feeling are expressed to the fullest if I don't use smileys) That actually worked, starting the essay without that blasted introduction and then doing it later. It made my life a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem -- I can never figure out a good way to start. What usually helps me is skipping the introduction entirely. 9 out of 10 times, the introduction is the last thing I do -- it's so much easier to summarize and condense when the rest of the paper is already written.
ReplyDeleteThe introduction is usually the hardest part for me. I never know what information is important enough to include and what is pointless and should be left out. The introduction usually takes the longest because it takes a while for me to get focused when I start an essay. Maybe I'll try the idea of writing the introduction last. That might help me figure out what to include and help me focus on the rest of the paper so it doesn't take as long.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem I have is thinking of a good opening sentence. It's difficult for me to think of an opener that catches the reader's attention without sounding stupid. What kind of sentences/questions do you guys usually use for an opening sentence?
I wish I could start my sentances with a "HEY! I HAVE AN AWESOME PAPER!" But I don't. I always start with the bland, "This author wrote this on this date and now I'm going to tell you about it." It's terrible. Anyone do something different?
ReplyDeleteI usually do the same, Carla. I've been trying to back away from that, though.
ReplyDeleteWhen I start a paper, I usually work to get a really solid outline. If I do, then the paper flows naturally, but If I don't, then I spend much more time editing... =P
ReplyDeleteAlso, when I start the essay, I try to avoid the standard, "the author wrote this story about, blah, blah, blah..." (Sometimes that's all i can come up with, though...)