Persuasion/Synthesis Essay Prompt
Few Rules to Remember:
- Topic sentences are always arguments in these kinds of essays.
- The persuasion and synthesis essays can be addressed in exactly the same way.
- The three paragraph models here are just for illustration. Your essay can certainly be 2-5 paragraphs.
- Topic sentences should show relationships/transitions between paragraphs: your goal is an essay that feels like a cohesive whole.
- There are five basic approaches you can take on these essays.
- Straight Refutation (2-4 reasons why the idea is a bad one)
- Straight Support (2-4 reasons why the idea is a good one)
- Concession/Qualifier (strongly take one side, but concede one point to other side)
- Boomer (not only present your argument, but attack the other side)
- Caveat (strongly take a position, but concede that there is an issue to consider)
Straight Refutation/Straight Support Essay
You probably want to avoid these. If you can’t write these topic sentences by now, you’re DOOMED. Keep them arguments.
Concession/Qualifier Essay
Thesis:While modern media discourse is often base and even occasionally pointless, such democratic discussion is essential for good governance and to undermine corporate dominance of the debate.
Body Paragraph 1: It would be hard to argue that American discourse has suffered as access to publishing has increased. [CONCESSION]
Body Paragraph 2:Despite the crudeness of much of contemporary discussion free expression of even the most trivial idea is crucial to democracy. [YOUR FIRST ARGUMENT]
Body Paragraph 3:Even more significantly, democratization of discourse offers perhaps the only tool to undermine corporate dominance of the media. [YOUR SECOND ARGUMENT]
Boomer Essay
Thesis:The democratic discussion generated by new media is essential for good governance and to undermine corporate dominance of the debate.
Body Paragraph 1: Free expression of even the most trivial idea is crucial to democracy. [YOUR FIRST ARGUMENT]
Body Paragraph 2: Even more significantly, democratization of discourse offers perhaps the only tool to undermine corporate dominance of the media. [YOUR SECOND ARGUMENT]
Body Paragraph 3: Critics of new media wrongly assert that it debases our national discussion. [CRUSH THIS ARGUMENT]
Caveat Essay
Thesis:The democratic discussion generated by new media is essential for good governance and to undermine corporate dominance of the debate.
Body Paragraph 1: Free expression of even the most trivial idea is crucial to democracy. [YOUR FIRST ARGUMENT]
Body Paragraph 2: Even more significantly, democratization of discourse offers perhaps the only tool to undermine corporate dominance of the media. [YOUR SECOND ARGUMENT]
Body Paragraph 3: Despite all of the benefits of participation in new media, it’s imperative that society be watchful lest hateful speech spread unchecked. [YOUR CAVEAT—NOT A FULLY DEVELOPED CONCESSION, BUT AN ISSUE TO CONSIDER}
Analysis Essay Prompt
Few Rules to Remember:
- When you read the piece, look for logical places to make your divisions. In order, subject, tone, and chronology are the best places to look for division.
- You DO NOT need to include specific devices in the topic sentences. In fact, unless they are dominant devices that you intend to discuss exclusively, don’t list them.
- You want to make the author of the piece the subject of the sentence. This will make your sentence stay in the active voice.
- Note (parenthetically) the structural division you have chosen.
- Keep it simple and clear. The body of the paragraph is where the intricate analysis takes place.
- In analysis essays, the argument is simply your assertion about what the author is saying.
Sample Topic Sentence (Basic and Effective)
Updike opens his argument (paragraphs 1-2) by describing the conflicted emotions of fans on Opening Day.
Sample Topic Sentence (Bit More Artful)
In his breathless open, Updike depicts (paragraphs 1-2) the crowd at a baseball game on Opening Day, who are both nostalgic about the season past and nervously optimistic about the one to come.
