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Post by Sleazyness on Oct 4, 2015 14:59:30 GMT -5
What's going on, everyone?
I am a freshman in college and I'm struggling to figure out how to write up this essay. It has to only be 500 words and we had a list of topics to choose from. The topic I chose was "The best musicians treat social and political issues in their songs". The paper is about either disagreeing or agreeing with it and taking a firm stance by using examples.
Im struggling to figure out how to even start this paper.
I have already done more essays in my first month of college than I have in my entire years of high school.
Suggestions?
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Deleted
Joined on: May 4, 2024 0:55:01 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 15:09:35 GMT -5
Hello,
Here is the formula I use to write essays. The first paragraph is an introductory paragraph used to give the reader an idea of what it is you will be talking about. It should contain a three point thesis statement. Your thesis is good but it may help you to expand upon it by adding three points you plan on discussing in order to support your thesis.
The next three paragraphs should each be about one of the points you made in your thesis. It is important to ensure that each paragraph is about just one of each of the three points your trying to make.
The next and final paragraph is a closing paragraph summing up everything you've just written about. It should reference all of the previous points you've just made while closing up your essay.
Try to reference and outside source for each of the three points you make. It will help your essay flow if you can compose a closing sentence for each paragraph that helps the reader transition into the next.
I hope this helps. Good luck, and have fun!!!
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Post by Sleazyness on Oct 4, 2015 15:11:43 GMT -5
Hello, Here is the formula I use to write essays. The first paragraph is an introductory paragraph used to give the reader an idea of what it is you will be talking about. It should contain a three point thesis statement. Your thesis is good but it may help you to expand upon it by adding three points you plan on discussing in order to support your thesis. The next three paragraphs should each be about one of the points you made in your thesis. It is important to ensure that each paragraph is about just one of each of the three points your trying to make. The next and final paragraph is a closing paragraph summing up everything you've just written about. It should reference all of the previous points you've just made while closing up your essay. Try to reference and outside source for each of the three points you make. It will help your essay flow if you can compose a closing sentence for each paragraph that helps the reader transition into the next. I hope this helps. Good luck, and have fun!!! Like I said, the topic is "The best musicians treat social and political issues in their songs". Not sure what to do as a thesis statement.
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Post by Sizzle on Oct 4, 2015 15:15:26 GMT -5
I would say as a thesis write something along the lines of yes it is true that the best musicians treat blah blah, then pick musicians that treat political and social issues as support and elaborate on the examples and how successful or popular the musicians are.
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Post by bad guy™ on Oct 4, 2015 16:22:18 GMT -5
I'll tag Thunder in here so he can advise on the art of college paper bull-sh*ttery, an art I learned from him. I actually wrote a paper on a similar topic in my Sophomore year. I wrote an essay on Protest music from the 60's and how songs came around because of events in Vietnam (Knights in White Satin) or related to events because of Vietnam (name escapes me, but it was about the Kent State massacre by Buffalo Springfield). Advice for writing op-end essays is just figure out your opinion and find proof to back you up. If you disagree with political messages, maybe look at bands like Green Day who went from a normal rock band to a political agenda style band because that's what's cool right now, the fight the authority message...but is it really that strong? If you agree, find a song or two that you really believe in their message and what it portrays and state WHY. The best thing about these kind of papers is that they are more opinion based than research based. Research based essays are an absolute pain in the, well, you know. The key is a strong thesis. When you find your opinion, make sure you dictate how strongly you feel about it in your thesis. A great thesis can make a paper go over a ton better to especially freshman professors.
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Deleted
Joined on: May 4, 2024 0:55:01 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 19:10:17 GMT -5
Hello, Here is the formula I use to write essays. The first paragraph is an introductory paragraph used to give the reader an idea of what it is you will be talking about. It should contain a three point thesis statement. Your thesis is good but it may help you to expand upon it by adding three points you plan on discussing in order to support your thesis. The next three paragraphs should each be about one of the points you made in your thesis. It is important to ensure that each paragraph is about just one of each of the three points your trying to make. The next and final paragraph is a closing paragraph summing up everything you've just written about. It should reference all of the previous points you've just made while closing up your essay. Try to reference and outside source for each of the three points you make. It will help your essay flow if you can compose a closing sentence for each paragraph that helps the reader transition into the next. I hope this helps. Good luck, and have fun!!! Like I said, the topic is "The best musicians treat social and political issues in their songs". Not sure what to do as a thesis statement. How about "The best musicians treat social and political issues in their songs because addressing these issues through art is an important facet of our society, doing so helps bring these issues to the forefront of the youth of the time period during which the song was released, and music can be a powerful tool for change".
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HeelScum
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Dec 15, 2014 17:11:15 GMT -5
Posts: 140
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Post by HeelScum on Oct 4, 2015 19:32:13 GMT -5
If your final sentence sentence in the paper doesn't make you want to mic drop, re-write it.
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Post by jdfranchise on Oct 4, 2015 19:52:26 GMT -5
I'll tag Thunder in here so he can advise on the art of college paper bull-sh*ttery, an art I learned from him. I actually wrote a paper on a similar topic in my Sophomore year. I wrote an essay on Protest music from the 60's and how songs came around because of events in Vietnam (Knights in White Satin) or related to events because of Vietnam (name escapes me, but it was about the Kent State massacre by Buffalo Springfield). Advice for writing op-end essays is just figure out your opinion and find proof to back you up. If you disagree with political messages, maybe look at bands like Green Day who went from a normal rock band to a political agenda style band because that's what's cool right now, the fight the authority message...but is it really that strong? If you agree, find a song or two that you really believe in their message and what it portrays and state WHY. The best thing about these kind of papers is that they are more opinion based than research based. Research based essays are an absolute pain in the, well, you know. The key is a strong thesis. When you find your opinion, make sure you dictate how strongly you feel about it in your thesis. A great thesis can make a paper go over a ton better to especially freshman professors. Shawn's right about a strong thesis going over well with college professors. And it's actually a good thing I've been grading essays at work recently, because I have some tips that'll help you. Trust me, I'm an English teacher. Gee, thanks for not tagging me Shawn. First off, essentially your professor gave you a blanket thesis statement, which is the topic you've been given for said paper. Finding a way to manipulate the blanket statement into the direction you want to talk about is the real key here (example: "Throughout every era of music, artists have used their songs to speak to audiences about many social and political issues.") This manipulation, while obviously borrowing from the assignment, gives you a range of eras to cherry pick songs from. The 3X5 format is custom made for an assignment like this, because while you have a shorter assignment (500 words, correct) you are put in position to where you don't have to go into much detail. 100 words per paragraph should be child's play, considering you've been fedding for a couple years now and you know how long some of WFWF'S rp's get. Make your points clean with good use of grammar, and appeal to your professor's age with at least one song choice from their youth (if they are in the 50ish range, "Ball of Confusion" by the Temptations or "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel are excellent choices.) You don't want to pander too much though, because that can work against you. For more contemporary music, "Mosh" by Eminem is another strong choice.) The beauty of a 3X5 format is also the ability to provide your own commentary on what you believe the artist is trying to say in their songs (Ball of Confusion is talking about segregation and politicians doing anything to get a vote, ... The Fire is about major political figures over the years and massive social issues such as the AIDS epidemic, Belgium sending troops to the Congo and engaging in guerrilla Warfare, CCR'S "Run Through the Jungle" is about Vietnam, "Mosh" is about the government suppressing freedom of speech.) See how you have splinter topics to comment on? If you have to cite, make sure you are citing the artist so you don't get hit with plagarism. Then it's as simple as tying it up in a nice little bow at the end. Hopefully this helps a bit. Depending on when it's due, send me a copy and I'll proofread it for you and provide comments.
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Post by TurboEddie on Oct 4, 2015 23:09:16 GMT -5
I like to make notes before I begin to write so that I know whether or not I can come up with enough ideas to cover my topic.
It's better than starting, then figuring out half way through that you're out of ideas and have to B.S. the rest.
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