Many of my daily entries over the course of the summer are essays and reflections that I share with my summer blogging students. These entries are part of a compilation about writing that I am editing and revising for a future book length workbook for my work in the classroom. I apologize if you find yourself reading something that you may have seen in my blog before in some way shape or fashion. I included this reflection today because I had dinner with a friend last night who told me that she uses this formula with her third grade students to help introduce essay writing.
A Quick Essay & Reflection Formula
Snap you fingers in 4/4 time and repeat: "Set the scene and state the theme. Say what you mean, and finish it clean!"
One of the hardest parts of writing is finding a way to make sense of what you want to say, explain, or convey to your readers--especially when facing an empty page with a half an hour to kill and an entry to write (or a timed essay or exam writing prompt). Here is a quick formula that might help you when you need to create a writing piece "on the fly." At the very least, it should guide you as your write in your blog, and it will reinforce that any essay (introduction, body, and conclusion) needs to be at least three paragraphs long!
I've always told my students (who are probably tired of hearing me recite the same things over and over again): "If you know the rules, you can break them." But you better be a pretty solid writer before you start creating your own rules. The bottom line is that nobody really cares about what you write; they care about how your writing affects and transforms them intellectually and emotionally as individuals. In short, to satisfy, you must edify, and if you can get your intended audience to want to read your next sentence, you have succeeded as a writer. This formula is simply a way to help that happen!
There are four main reasons that someone will “want” to read what you write; otherwise,(crushing reality) they won’t!
- Your teacher or your boss (and perhaps your parents and friends) will read what you write because they either have to or they love you enough to care about what you write.
- A reader who is already interested in your topic will more than likely slog through anything that discusses what they are already in reading about. For example, I will read anything that has to do with building wooden boats or sailing across lonely oceans.
- People will read anything written by writers who have proven that he or she writes great stuff and who never seem to let you down (or let you put their writing down). Wendell Berry falls into this category for me! Dr. Seuss is another writer who developed an extremely loyal fan base. I’m sure you have some writers that do this for you!
- Finally, (and this is the best one) sometimes you start reading something and you just can’t put it down. Through practice, imitation, and experimentation, the best writers develop of way of writing that is interesting and rewarding to read--even when they break every rule of writing.
These guidelines are not rules, but they try to mimic the natural and logical way of an enlightened conversation. Believe me, it works. Really!
1. Set the scene and state the theme: Use your first paragraph to lead up to your theme. If the lead in to your essay is dull and uninspired, you will lose your readers before they get to the theme. If you simply state your theme right off the bat, you will only attract the readers who are "already" interested in your topic. Your theme is the main point, idea, thought, or experience you want your writing piece to convey to your audience. (Often it is called a "Thesis Statement.) I suggest making your theme be the last sentence of your opening paragraph because it makes sense to put it there, and it will guide your reader in a clear and, hopefully, compelling way. In fact, constantly remind yourself to make your theme be as clear, concise and memorable as possible. Consciously or unconsciously, your readers constantly refer back to your theme as mnemonic guide for "why" you are writing your essay in the first place! Every writing piece is a journey of discovery, but do everything you possibly can to make the journey worthwhile from the start.
A sentence is a thought fully expressed. A paragraph is a thought fully explored.
2. Say what you mean: Write about your theme. Use as many paragraphs as you "need." A paragraph should be as short as it can be and as long as it has to be. Make the first sentence(s) "be" what the whole paragraph is going to be about. Try and make those sentences be clear, concise and memorable (just like your theme) and make sure everything relates closely to the theme you so clearly expressed in your first paragraph. If your paragraph does not relate to your theme, it would be like opening up the directions for a fire extinguisher and finding directions for baking chocolate chip cookies instead! Finally, do your best to balance the size of your body paragraphs. If they are out of proportion to each other, then an astute reader will make the assumption that some of your points are way better than your other points, and so the seed of cynicism will be sown before your reader even begins the journey.
3. Finish it clean: Conclusions need to be as simple as possible. In conversations only boring or self important people drag out the end of a conversation. When you are finished saying what you wanted to say, exit confidently and cleanly. DON"T add any new information into the last paragraph; DON'T retell what you've already told, and DON'T preen before the mirror of your brilliance. Just "get out of Dodge" in an interesting and thoughtful (and quick) way. Use three sentences or less. It shows your audience that you appreciate their intelligence and literacy!
Set the scene; state the theme; say what you mean, and finish it clean is a simple rubric for writing to keep in your head as you read and comment, and to practice in your writing as you reflect and express yourself with words.
i use this app called screenflow. My mom bought it for herself and had an extra license so i downloaded it and have been using it.
Posted by: Julian | July 19, 2010 at 01:51 PM
oh and check out my entry on the movie Inception.
Posted by: Julian | July 19, 2010 at 01:52 PM