Structure & Spontaneity: Framing a Paper to Help the Reader SBTS Writing Center Workshop ————— Objectives: 1) Attendees will understand the structure of academic papers and the benefits for readers. 2) Attendees will acquire two editing/pre-writing skills to build structure. ————— I. Building Structure and Being Spontaneous A. Structure serves your reader. 1. Standard formats and procedures meet common expectations (ease of use). 2. Meeting common expectations allows readers to focus on your argument and information. B. Structure serves you, the writer. 1. Structure gives you a starting place and boundaries. (You need not reinvent the wheel!) 2. Boundaries keep you focused and make your arguments more precise. C. Structure doesn’t stifle spontaneity, it supports it. 1. Illustration #1: framing a house vs. decorating—structure creates space to show off your style. 2. Illustration #2: skeleton vs. flesh—structure is not meant to be seen, but its presence is apparent. II. Beginning, Middle, and End A. Approach #1: The Essay Level 1. “Give your essay the three-part feel of completion, of beginning, middle, and end. Many a beginner’s essay has no structure and leaves no impression. It is all chaotic middle. It has no beginning; it just starts. It has no end; it just stops, burned out at two in the morning.”1 2. The flow of an essay— •
Introduction: essential background & significance of topic, purpose of essay, THESIS
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Body: arguments or points of development, data from research, connections to THESIS
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Conclusion: THESIS restated, main points reiterated, closing comments
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Check for Coherence: repetition, natural development, transitions; the big picture2
B. Approach #2: The Paragraph Level 1. The flow of a paragraph— •
Topic: 1) connects to previous paragraph; 2) introduces idea of the next paragraph
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Thrust: 1) place to present your data; 2) place to let your style shine
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Transition: 1) summarizes the main point of the paragraph; 2) makes a conclusive inference
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Check for Cohesion: sentence connections, logical development; the links in the chain3
2. The Greek Column (see diagram on back)
OVERVIEW OF AN ESSAY
Beginning Paragraph [Capital] The capital narrows to the thesis. Introduce the topic and discussion; help the reader feel the “so what� of the issue. Make the THESIS the last sentence. Middle Paragraphs [Column] Use standard paragraphs, each with a topic sentence and transition to next paragraph. Place your data, illustrations, and arguments in the heart of the paragraph. Show off your style in the middle portion of these middle paragraphs. Relate major sections back to the THESIS before transitioning. End Paragraph [Base] The base widens from a reworded THESIS Reiterate the main points of the argument. Clinch the essay with a solid concluding line
Image Content: Sheridan Baker, The Longman Practical Stylist (New York: Pearson Education, 2006), 49. 1
Sheridan Baker, The Longman Practical Stylist (New York: Pearson Education, 2006), 27.
2
Baker, Longman, 45.
3
Joseph M. Williams, and Gregory G. Colomb, Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace (4th Edition; New York: Longman, 2012), 40.