tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69115010934430615142024-02-19T00:47:41.261-05:00Papers, Prose And PoetryMichelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-58520848282841189082014-10-05T17:45:00.000-04:002014-10-11T14:56:36.368-04:00It's Here!At some point, every student must not only learn about different poetic forms, but try their hand at penning a few. It can be daunting, even for those who enjoy poetry.<br />
<br />
Following the same plain language, straight forward vein of <i>Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Have-Write-Poem-Non-Poetic/dp/0692304908/ref=la_B0041OFZSS_1_2_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412544134&sr=1-2" target="_blank">So You Have to Write a Poem</a></i> gives novices an easy-to-read guide with step-by-step processes and fun examples while giving more advanced poets a technical guide to the rules behind all their favorite poetic forms.<br />
<br />
This volume includes:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Nine forms of poetry, including chapters on ballads, blank verse, haiku, heroic couplets, limericks, the pantoum, sestinas, sonnets, and the villanelle. </li>
<li>Overviews on poetry basics like meter and rhyme scheme. </li>
<li>Detailed, easy-to-understand instructions and “cheat sheets” that outline the rules for each form of poetry. </li>
<li>And a section with a detailed explanation of how to analyze a poem.</li>
</ul>
<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Have-Write-Poem-Non-Poetic/dp/0692304908/ref=la_B0041OFZSS_1_2_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412544134&sr=1-2" target="_blank">So You Have to Write a Poem</a> </i>is designed to not only help students get through their poetry assignments, but also shows poetic skeptics how to enjoy the act of writing poetry, and gives poetry lovers a chance to learn some classic styles.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbDecsIgvxXCUE70KU4K21Xi4VwnW2xQErTMlXWiOIXjd4-gZZ-o875geSydkvwLlWzYnV8gMa4csbX7fBMEeHUoyVtXftqmN0g05eqmBvwfxg0KR5YXGFmwJMMv1yZtX3v4KB75PnTE/s1600/SoYouHaveToWriteAPoem_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdbDecsIgvxXCUE70KU4K21Xi4VwnW2xQErTMlXWiOIXjd4-gZZ-o875geSydkvwLlWzYnV8gMa4csbX7fBMEeHUoyVtXftqmN0g05eqmBvwfxg0KR5YXGFmwJMMv1yZtX3v4KB75PnTE/s1600/SoYouHaveToWriteAPoem_FINAL.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Find it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/You-Have-Write-Poem-Non-Poetic/dp/0692304908/ref=la_B0041OFZSS_1_2_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412544134&sr=1-2" target="_blank">AMAZON</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-88492834117869345172012-01-29T15:58:00.001-05:002014-08-08T10:01:48.677-04:00Coming Soon!My new book, So You Have to Write a Poem: A Poetry Guide for the Non-Poetic - Coming Oct 6th!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUbMy6QYhCZTjqEoFWBMWpaS3mSB0jhtFSleEwbxHiurbIerG4vl9_9za0GTZ2_abHdYgDAXC17JN8Am9IY2AefjMpZVv8xcBADSnhigtmBXD4Bny4-_MisyXetAj8kZ_nYaXxVFJYV4/s1600/SoYouHaveToWriteAPoem_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUbMy6QYhCZTjqEoFWBMWpaS3mSB0jhtFSleEwbxHiurbIerG4vl9_9za0GTZ2_abHdYgDAXC17JN8Am9IY2AefjMpZVv8xcBADSnhigtmBXD4Bny4-_MisyXetAj8kZ_nYaXxVFJYV4/s1600/SoYouHaveToWriteAPoem_FINAL.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At some point, every student must not only learn about
different poetic forms, but try their hand at penning a few. It can be
daunting, even for those who enjoy poetry.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Following the same plain language,
straight forward vein of Ms. McLean’s <i>Homework
Helpers: Essays and Term Papers</i>, <b><i>So You Have to Write a Poem</i></b> gives
novices an easy-to-read guide with simple step-by-step processes and fun
examples while giving more advanced poets a technical guide to the rules behind
all their favorite poetic forms. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This volume includes nine forms of
poetry, along with overviews on poetry basics like meter and rhyme scheme, detailed,
easy-to-understand instructions and “cheat sheets” that outline the rules for
each form of poetry, and a section with a detailed explanation of how to
analyze a poem.</div>
Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-46733373136563058282011-10-23T10:05:00.002-04:002011-10-23T10:05:53.694-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3iwaK91bH4iyz7LXP57TDf5CVueUgAP3da3oaxNiIqVeH_ei2pO_yimMWimfrI-buiuf_NIirCtdzxliyT1qsZo4bgP61U1mguX_b0Rz5jzCgOl_oSrgGpgoqadxd75s9WD5gDwD3kk/s1600/HHEATP+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3iwaK91bH4iyz7LXP57TDf5CVueUgAP3da3oaxNiIqVeH_ei2pO_yimMWimfrI-buiuf_NIirCtdzxliyT1qsZo4bgP61U1mguX_b0Rz5jzCgOl_oSrgGpgoqadxd75s9WD5gDwD3kk/s400/HHEATP+Cover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Available at your favorite bookstore or online retailer!</b></div>Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-8321234628423419902010-06-28T09:22:00.000-04:002010-06-28T09:22:43.660-04:00AnnouncementIn an effort to simplify things a bit, I've decided to keep everything in one place and will be moving all past and future posts to my main blog, <a href="http://www.michellemclean.blogspot.com/">Author Michelle McLean</a>. There is now a tab on <a href="http://www.michellemclean.blogspot.com/">my main blog</a> where you can find information on writing essays. As always, please email me if there are any questions you may have.<br />
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Thanks for following me - I hope to see everyone over on <a href="http://www.michellemclean.blogspot.com/">the main blog</a>! :)Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-14094618732558571942010-04-01T07:00:00.006-04:002010-04-01T07:00:06.547-04:00Poetry GameTime for another poetry game! Head over to the Magnetic Poetry Online site (<a href="http://www.magneticpoetry.com/poetgame/create.cfm?k=1">HERE</a>), and choose up to 20 tiles to create your poem. Post them in the comments section. Here is mine:<br />
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Yesterday the universe slowed<br />
My present lingers<br />
Time is free<br />
To haunt me.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-89430880064319772852010-03-30T07:00:00.033-04:002014-02-27T10:49:31.047-05:00How to Write an Essay or Term Paper - CharactersSorry for the long absence - life has been crazy with a capital "C". But, on with our elements.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvQp6EwkydxgovF9gtgaz1xWF52fPieoWsQvkDPNXgj2AhQhWVyw02YRFWsRe1T-hRhdKyfl07R8x18dpFHofG61ZmBoHpsXdRlaZRPY5G7g_bXHngSsdJQcgvjqb4YKChaT-pfDOlkg/s1600/a-novel-character-1176484-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvQp6EwkydxgovF9gtgaz1xWF52fPieoWsQvkDPNXgj2AhQhWVyw02YRFWsRe1T-hRhdKyfl07R8x18dpFHofG61ZmBoHpsXdRlaZRPY5G7g_bXHngSsdJQcgvjqb4YKChaT-pfDOlkg/s1600/a-novel-character-1176484-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1176484" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Characters are one of the most important, if not THE most important, element in any work of literature. Without a character, there is no story. Even if the story is about a frog...that frog is your main character. So, characters are a great element to look at when analyzing a work of literature for a paper or essay. Here are some questions you could ask about the characters in the story:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Who are the characters?</li>
<li>Who is the main character?</li>
<li>Who is the main villain?</li>
<li>What qualities/vices/characteristics/quirks/mannerisms do these characters have?</li>
<li>What do these characteristics do for a particular character?</li>
<li>What is the author trying to show with a certain character? For example, is the extreme evilness of the main villain supposed to symbolize the evil side of mankind? Does it work? Why or why not? </li>
<li>Do the characters personify anything? Qualities/characteristics/feelings? For example, if you were analyzing a story about a girl named Hope who went up against a villain named Dr. Evil, do these characters exhibit the qualities of hope and evil? Is Hope an optimistic person, etc?</li>
<li>What flaws do the characters have? Or are they too perfect?</li>
<li>Are the characters believable? Can you relate to them? Are they likable, intriguing, mysterious? How do these qualities affect the story?</li>
</ul>
Look at the characters from every possible angle and analyze what each character brings to the story. Think about why they are a part of the story, what their presence does, or does not, do for the story.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-33875410320214826982010-02-26T16:40:00.000-05:002010-02-26T16:40:47.291-05:00Contest!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8b-XENr7QNE/S4g_jOUFEtI/AAAAAAAABAk/KMZsZ3p7naQ/s1600-h/1067843_old_books___.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8b-XENr7QNE/S4g_jOUFEtI/AAAAAAAABAk/KMZsZ3p7naQ/s320/1067843_old_books___.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Head over to my main blog (address on the sidebar) for the details on the awesome contest I've got going! The grand prize is a query critique by my wonderful agent, Krista Goering, Elana Johnson's awesome book, From the Query to the Call, and a $20 gift card to Barnes and Noble.<br />
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Entries will be accepted until midnight on Monday, March 1st!!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-56934022159886928202010-02-11T13:17:00.000-05:002014-02-27T10:30:54.787-05:00How to Write a Paper or Essay - ImageryAll stories have some kind of imagery. Imagery is the descriptive or figurative language that authors use to create a mental image or picture in the readers' minds. (Figurative language includes literary tools such as similes and metaphors - we'll discuss them more next week).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WG0XZ1dLGusgdVX9mjLXJ9efhJLyPb3u-4EBAip8oxEPplIOXBAN5TvSVnT4OulOzAW7NICvZjG6JiNfV2CD8A0Skedb7ZF_pIO9vGCXDgobCwbEutyD2o9s8N23QU8WRN6Ir38NZ-I/s1600/cascade-1431509-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WG0XZ1dLGusgdVX9mjLXJ9efhJLyPb3u-4EBAip8oxEPplIOXBAN5TvSVnT4OulOzAW7NICvZjG6JiNfV2CD8A0Skedb7ZF_pIO9vGCXDgobCwbEutyD2o9s8N23QU8WRN6Ir38NZ-I/s1600/cascade-1431509-m.jpg" /></a></div>
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Imagery is a very powerful tool in an author's arsenal, and as such, it's a great tool to discuss when writing a literary analysis. Here are some things to think about when discussing the imagery in a literary work:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What are some examples of imagery in the work?</li>
<li>Are there recurring images? What do they mean?</li>
<ul>
<li>for instance, say there are images of water throughout a book; streams, lakes, rivers, rain falling, waterfalls, a cup of water being tipped over and trickling off a table, spilling drip by drip onto the floor, echoing the drip, drip of the MC's blood as it flows from his body - what might be the purpose of these images? What does the water represent? (this is getting a bit into symbolism, which often goes hand in hand with imagery). Why are there so many watery images in the story?</li>
</ul>
<li>Does the descriptive and figurative language used by the author work well in creating the intended image? Is it too overdone, creating something more amusing than powerful? Would another description or image have worked better or worse?</li>
<li> What are the most important examples of imagery in the story?</li>
<li>How do these images relate to the main theme of the book? Do they help enhance the point the author is trying to make? Why or why not?</li>
</ul>
You could focus on one main image (like our water example) or discuss several instances of imagery in the work you are analyzing. But in each case, discuss the importance of the imagery. Don't just point it out, giving the reader the WHAT...give us the WHY. Why are these images important? Why are they in the book? Why did the author use that particular image? What sort of picture does the imagery paint and does it work better or worse than another might? Why or why not?Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-54887751147470095502010-02-02T09:01:00.000-05:002014-02-27T10:54:03.910-05:00How to Write Papers and Essays - PlotOne of the most basic components of a story is its plot. A story with a bad plot is...well, really boring. A plot can make or break a story, so it is a really good thing to look at when doing a literary analysis.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnKJlE21bGqceTn96OV6iPfwS9zR9mkrzg-Td-LkFXBooviCNiY40hkhHsvdSKXGumQePxIBdpAq_NOsR93AFb0uyCcL6ipK8_M6k5Tj-br_X84-xN9MX4GVH1M47dYOlj2u4qAh_FmY/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnKJlE21bGqceTn96OV6iPfwS9zR9mkrzg-Td-LkFXBooviCNiY40hkhHsvdSKXGumQePxIBdpAq_NOsR93AFb0uyCcL6ipK8_M6k5Tj-br_X84-xN9MX4GVH1M47dYOlj2u4qAh_FmY/s1600/book.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1428308" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The plot of a work is it's basic storyline, what the story is about, the reason why the events in the story happen. Say you are analyzing <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>. What is the plot? In a nutshell, boy and girl meet, fall in love, are forbidden to see each other because of family rivalries, and commit suicide because of a horrible misunderstanding. Now, if the story was just "boy commits suicide, girl commits suicide," there is no real plot. Who cares? But if you have a Why, a reason behind what goes on, a story that builds to that conclusion, then you have a plot.<br />
<br />
So what are some things you can question or discuss?<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Does this plot work?</li>
<ul>
<li>Would it have been better if R and J were killed by the rival family instead of killing themselves? Would the story have worked better if they didn't kill themselves at all but instead ran off and lived happily ever after? What elements of the story work well and which don't?</li>
</ul>
<li>What are the main elements or events of the plot? </li>
<ul>
<li>The background info or exposition (the info you need to understand what's going on)</li>
<ul>
<li> Is this element present? Should there be more or less? In Romeo and Juliet, if the plot didn't contain the information that their families were bitter rivals, we never would have understood why they couldn't be together</li>
</ul>
<li>The complication that leads to the main conflict and the main conflict</li>
<ul>
<li>Is this present? Should there be more or less or more explanation? What is the spark that lights the fire on the main conflict in the book? Does it make sense? Does it work? Would the events that unfolded in Romeo and Juliet have worked better if Romeo hadn't killed her cousin? If their families hadn't been locked in a bitter rivalry that resulted in the deaths of their friends and family members?</li>
</ul>
<li>The climax</li>
<ul>
<li>What is it? Does it work? Is there sufficient build up to it to make the climax, well, climactic? Would something else have worked better? Do you agree with the widely accepted climax or do you think the climax occurs elsewhere in the story? Why or why not?</li>
</ul>
<li>The resolution</li>
<ul>
<li>How does the story end? Does this ending work? Does it resolve everything that has been built up in the story? If not, why do you think this is? Is there a sequel that is being set up? Do you think another resolution would have worked better? Why or why not?</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li>What is the main theme or point of the story? Does the plot work well to develop that theme? </li>
<ul>
<li>If the point of the story is to show how stupid feuds are, does the plot serve this theme well? </li>
<li>If the point of the story is to illustrate how children should obey their parents and the horrible things that can happen if they don't, does the plot further that theme?</li>
</ul>
<li>Are there things the author could have done to develop the plot better? What and why?</li>
<ul>
<li>Are there elements or events that would have developed the story better if they had been presented earlier in the plot, or later, or left out altogether?</li>
<ul>
<li>For instance, in a mystery, does it work better knowing who the murderer is right up front? No. This element of the plot works much better left at the end of the story.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
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Which brings us to another point - the plot is a great element to analyze in conjunction with other aspects of the story. Characters, setting, point of view, themes...all these things are what make a plot what it is. So when analyzing the plot, it is a great idea to take a look at these elements as well and analyze whether or not they are working for the plot.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-23600289211683545242010-01-26T09:00:00.021-05:002014-02-27T11:00:01.861-05:00How To Write An Essay or Paper - The AuthorSorry for the long break. Had a bit of a fiasco with the move, but things are slowly getting back to normal.<br />
<br />
So! On to our essays!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdzv3Q8GI2s2LBi5GZg6E8lDOpZuxtrNs8raeEH5nCH0d_cXxfSq7gwicmRuz9WXHxlQ95voiKb9ZnZTa7ciUNUiAhR2Jznjs-YMPq1BEn2Yx7jTvYJnqjXHba3xVaZhXSl47wHRvPcw/s1600/new+hair+me+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdzv3Q8GI2s2LBi5GZg6E8lDOpZuxtrNs8raeEH5nCH0d_cXxfSq7gwicmRuz9WXHxlQ95voiKb9ZnZTa7ciUNUiAhR2Jznjs-YMPq1BEn2Yx7jTvYJnqjXHba3xVaZhXSl47wHRvPcw/s1600/new+hair+me+cropped.jpg" height="200" width="168" /></a></div>
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Another aspect to look at when analyzing a literary work is the author. As a writer, I can tell you that a lot of the author bleeds into their work, whether they intend it to or not. So by taking a look at the author, you can sometimes get a deeper glimpse into the story.<br />
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Some things you can question might be:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What is the author's background?</li>
<ul>
<li>Where did they grow up?</li>
<li>What were their experiences?</li>
<li>What did they study in college?</li>
<li>What are their beliefs?</li>
<li>Where is their favorite vacation spot? (and other personal tidbits)</li>
<li>What are their political views?<br />
</li>
<li>What is their education and career background?</li>
<li>What is their family like?</li>
</ul>
</ul>
For example, I once wrote an essay analyzing the poem <i>To Althea, from Prison</i>, by Richard Lovelace. I dissected it for evidence of his political leanings. Lovelace was a Cavalier, a Royalist - he spent a lot of time in prison because he was loyal to his king. The poem is full of Cavalier imagery; specifically the love of women, wine, and king. I went through and discussed the imagery and symbolism and all that fun stuff, but the main point of my paper was that the author's background was the reason behind everything he was saying in the poem.<br />
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Taking a look at the author can give you a much deeper insight into their work.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-56779302243964580662009-11-20T00:32:00.000-05:002009-11-20T00:32:01.484-05:00On Hiatus For A BitI am getting ready to move across the country so will be temporarily suspending posts here. Regular posting will resume in January for sure, hopefully sooner, but please feel free to send me any questions you may have. Use the question link on the sidebar, the contact button to email me, or leave a comment and I'll get back to you!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-85460754873908395542009-11-05T09:00:00.005-05:002009-11-05T09:00:08.169-05:00Poetry GameTime to play! Head to <a href="http://www.magneticpoetry.com/poetgame/create.cfm?k=1">Magnetic Poetry</a> and choose up to 20 word tiles to create your poem and leave it in the comments! :) Have fun!<br />
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Here is mine:<br />
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A vast universe of time<br />
devours me<br />
work<br />
think<br />
listen<br />
have heart<br />
change<br />
ask<br />
know<br />
wake<br />
dance<br />
laugh<br />
embrace<br />
DoMichelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-1929799199026035882009-11-03T09:00:00.037-05:002014-02-27T10:47:08.863-05:00How To Write an Essay or Paper - ToneMoving on with our literary tools for analysis - let's take a look at tone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8YUneSk7GzRW4qDcZ0M0cNIg3tvPeJZVvTQceu-s20Puj6ZPuZqeNPrLcI0k4qjmwRfBHnUb3PQjoGAfyOQCbrUxx5EXDpU9iVyY9PLOpHakGAIYEW8J-ot0Hql0UQ1PqAY6Q8gsIJ4/s1600/book-love-866352-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8YUneSk7GzRW4qDcZ0M0cNIg3tvPeJZVvTQceu-s20Puj6ZPuZqeNPrLcI0k4qjmwRfBHnUb3PQjoGAfyOQCbrUxx5EXDpU9iVyY9PLOpHakGAIYEW8J-ot0Hql0UQ1PqAY6Q8gsIJ4/s1600/book-love-866352-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/866352" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The relevant dictionary definition for tone is: <i>The sound of a person's voice, expressing a feeling or mood; (or) the general character of something.</i><br />
<br />
Now, obviously, when talking about literature, the tone isn't a literal, audible sound (unless read aloud). But the concept is the same. The tone of the piece expresses the mood of it and the meaning behind it. The tone of something can put quite a different spin on its meaning. For example, look at the sentence:<br />
<br />
<i>She's lame. </i><br />
<br />
Said (or read) with a serious or sad tone, this would mean that the person in question is disabled or injured. With a sarcastic, snide, or mean tone, it would be an insult.<br />
<br />
So, when analyzing a piece of literature, see if you can determine the tone of the story or a particular scene. Is it:<br />
<ul>
<li>serious?</li>
<li>saracastic or tongue-in-cheek?<br />
</li>
<li>sad?</li>
<li>excited or happy?<br />
</li>
<li>toneless? (a simple narration of facts with no clue as to the meaning behind the words)</li>
</ul>
Then analyze what the tone does for the piece:<br />
<ul>
<li>Does it lighten the mood?</li>
<li>Make the scene more serious?</li>
<li>Create drama or tension?</li>
<li>Create a sense of mystery or danger? <br />
</li>
<li>Does the tone affect or influence the reader?</li>
<li>Or maybe purposely, by lack of tone, not influence the reader in any way? <br />
</li>
<li>Would a different tone have worked better?</li>
<li>Why or why not?</li>
</ul>
Go through the piece in question and see what the tone does - try reading lines in different tones and see how it works. What does it do? How does it work? And be sure to back up your statements with outside sources :)Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-2146948545303619052009-10-29T21:00:00.007-04:002009-10-29T21:00:01.303-04:00Poetry Game - Word MagnetsTime for another game! Go to <a href="http://www.magneticpoetry.com/poetgame/create.cfm?k=1">Magnetic Poetry Online</a> and choose up to 20 word tiles to create a poem. Leave it in the comments!!<br />
<br />
Here is mine:<br />
<br />
My prisoner<br />
your sacred secret<br />
I remember<br />
squrim<br />
worry<br />
or voice it<br />
and embrace peaceMichelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-73724763991921817982009-10-27T09:00:00.047-04:002014-02-27T11:02:28.983-05:00How to Write an Essay or Paper - Point of ViewAnother literary tool that you could analyze for a literary anaylsis paper would be Point of View.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUZufYO_02hX1s7UqSqBJlSNofElBVJO5yt8xR1a5fJz8bZjhrfsKe281-aQt6eSgxCh1YK20YRAfsv-eatN9Z1uLjlxIa5hvlVW3wB4B627vGOP4vAunjqRONaqAQLtZz0a3wcwgobs/s1600/the-other-margin-166507-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUZufYO_02hX1s7UqSqBJlSNofElBVJO5yt8xR1a5fJz8bZjhrfsKe281-aQt6eSgxCh1YK20YRAfsv-eatN9Z1uLjlxIa5hvlVW3wB4B627vGOP4vAunjqRONaqAQLtZz0a3wcwgobs/s1600/the-other-margin-166507-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/166507" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Simply put, the point of view is the perspective from which the story is told. First, you need to determine what point of view is present in the literature you are analyzing. Here are the common choices:<br />
<br />
<b>First person</b> - the narrator is generally the main character in the book and tells the story as "I" (I did this, I said, I felt)<br />
<br />
<b>First person plural</b> - more rare, with the story told by "we" (we did this, we said that)<br />
<br />
<b>Second person</b> - very rare - the reader is treated as a character and is referred to as "you." This type of POV works well for some non-fiction works. For example, if I was writing a How-to article, I could use this to say "First, you take the paint brush and apply paint. Then you do this and this and this." For fiction though, this POV isn't used often.<br />
<br />
<b>Third person limited</b> - the narrator is outside the story but focuses on one character at a time. (He said, she said). While the POV may change between different characters, these changes would be separated by scene or chapter breaks.<br />
<br />
<b>Third person omniscient</b> - the narrator is outside the story but doesn't focus on one character. The narrator knows all, sees all, conveys all.<br />
<br />
Once you know which type of POV is being utilized in the piece of literature you are writing about, you can analyze how the use of the POV works in the story. Some questions you might ask could be:<br />
<ul>
<li>Does the POV work well?</li>
<li>Why or why not? <br />
</li>
<li>Would it work better told from another POV?</li>
<li>Why or why not? <br />
</li>
<li>If the POV is third person limited, is the story told by one character or several?</li>
<li>If told by only one character, would the story have worked better told by more than one, or by a different character than the one chosen?</li>
<li>Why do you think the author chose the POV they did?</li>
<li>Does the POV limit the story? Intensify it? Create mystery? Create confusion?</li>
</ul>
Go through every aspect of the POV used in the story that you can think of, analyzing if it works well or not, using specific examples from the book and outside sources to back up your statements.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-12557151723577073982009-10-22T10:57:00.001-04:002009-10-22T10:57:16.416-04:00My ApologiesSorry for the absence of posts this week! I'm battling an allergic reaction to a new medication and the medicine to get rid of the reaction sort of knocks me out :D I'll be back next week!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-5319639159895794052009-10-15T09:00:00.013-04:002009-10-15T09:00:09.849-04:00Poetry - Magnet GameWell, I found out how to make the magnets for this game, theoritcally, however, had trouble when I actually attempted to do it :)<br />
<br />
But, I found another site where you can play this game. So! Everyone go to<a href="http://www.magneticpoetry.com/poetgame/create.cfm?k=1"> Poetry Game </a>and create a poem using the poetry tiles. Then post what you come up with in the comments.<br />
<br />
This is mine:<br />
<br />
Your velvet voice haunts<br />
A ghost of smoke<br />
Devouring my fire<br />
Listen<br />
Remember<br />
For eternity <br />
<br />
Remember - if anyone has a question on how to write a specific type of poetry, hit the Ask Me button!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-85116226705325849732009-10-13T09:00:00.064-04:002014-02-27T11:04:20.881-05:00How To Write an Essay or Paper - SettingsThe literary analysis is a type of essay or paper that every student will be asked to write at some point in their educational career. In fact, it is probably the most common type of assignment - at least in classes that involve literature.<br />
<br />
Simply put, a literary analysis analyzes a piece of literature. Well, I suppose that is pretty obvious :)<br />
<br />
<b>But what types of things should you look at when writing a literary analysis? </b><br />
<br />
You've got your piece of literature, you know you are supposed to analyze it, but what in the world do you talk about?<br />
<br />
While there are many ways of going about this, one of the best ways is to analyze different aspects of the book by looking at the literary tools the author has utilized.<br />
<br />
<b>What are these tools? </b><br />
<br />
They include things such as settings, characters, plot, imagery, symbolism and allegories, tone, point of view, and things like metaphors and similies (figurative language).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO0ou8tWH6gUJIYOdqnLf_xTuGp-lv43w77aRTShmXFeP-WMmQt7-Qrpiwp2OrH2jYxUUrsvi2gyUA7MYD3BqKj1y6bGrMx01NxKhbE5ndIG_dbSjhgMf_DtVvYTUUAuGGEOkVlJPEyI/s1600/fog+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO0ou8tWH6gUJIYOdqnLf_xTuGp-lv43w77aRTShmXFeP-WMmQt7-Qrpiwp2OrH2jYxUUrsvi2gyUA7MYD3BqKj1y6bGrMx01NxKhbE5ndIG_dbSjhgMf_DtVvYTUUAuGGEOkVlJPEyI/s1600/fog+trees.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
For today, we'll take a look at <b>Settings</b>. Now, some stories have more pronounced settings than others. In some books, the setting is more of a subtle background, the stage on which the actors play, while in others, the setting is almost a character in and of itself. Either way, the setting is a very important part of a story and as such, is a literary tool that is worthy of exploration.<br />
<br />
Say you are asked to write a literary analysis of <i>The Scarlet Letter</i> by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Some questions you may want to consider when analyzing the setting of this book are:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>What is the time period? Would this story have worked better set in a different time?</li>
<li>What is the location? Would the story have worked better elsewhere? Are several locations used in the story? Do they work? Would a specific scene have worked better in another setting? If all the scenes are set in the same location, would the story have worked better set in several different locations?<br />
</li>
<li>What season is the story set in? If it is set in winter, would it be better set in summer? Does the season echo what is happening in the story? (example: Do the love scenes occur in the summer while the trial occurs in the winter, or vice versa?)</li>
<li>What time of day is it when important events in the story take place? Do the sinister things happen at night while the happy things happen during the day? Why do you think this is? </li>
</ul>
While the setting may seem like a simple part of the story, it can actually have a huge impact on what is going on. The events detailed in <i>The Scarlet Letter</i> either wouldn't have happened or would have happened in a very different way with a very different outcome if the story had been set someplace like the farthest frontier outpost or an indian village or in the southern states...even during the same time period.<br />
<br />
The setting of a story, not just the physical location but everything about it (time of day, season, outside (forest or beach) or inside (and what type of building if inside)) can greatly impact the success of a story. Thoroughly exploring this literary tool can be a great start to your literary analysis.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-10862623458156655172009-10-01T09:00:00.000-04:002009-10-01T09:00:11.014-04:00Thursdays HaikuHere is another one to tickle your inspiration :) Leave your beautiful haiku in the comments ;D<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8b-XENr7QNE/SsQVt0CyZAI/AAAAAAAAAyk/CxX9OTNu9BY/s1600-h/th_nature-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8b-XENr7QNE/SsQVt0CyZAI/AAAAAAAAAyk/CxX9OTNu9BY/s400/th_nature-1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-16530875154725705652009-09-28T09:00:00.034-04:002009-09-28T09:00:08.237-04:00How to Write Papers, Poetry and Essays - Schedule ChangeOkay, we are going to have a slight change in posting topics. I apologize for the change up...still trying to get everything organized :) For anyone who still wants to know how to write a paper in six weeks or less (as we began discussing last week), check out the sidebar for the cheat sheet. Basically, all the steps for writing a paper are broken into six steps, one for each week. Simple and easy :D<br />
<br />
For the next month or so, starting next week, Monday's will be reserved for paper and essay discussions. To start off, we'll focus on things like formatting, correct citations, types of things you'd examine in papers and essays like literary devices, symbolism, imagery, and how those things can help in analyzing literature - that type of stuff. Thursdays will be our poetry days. I like the games, I'll try and come up with more :) Poetry fun for all :D<br />
<br />
I am also interested in what everyone out there would like to know. Are there questions you have on a certain assignment? Something you've never understood about writing papers, poetry, essays or other prose? Something else you'd like to ask me? :D Just leave your question in the comments section or hit the Ask Me button on the sidebar and I'll do my best to answer your question. If it is okay to post your question and my response, please let me know as I'd like to share as much info with everyone as I can.<br />
<br />
In a few weeks, I'll also begin to take you through the anatomy of papers and essays by posting a few of my own assignments from my school days and dissecting them for you. Lots of fun :)<br />
<br />
In the meantime, please bear with me as I get all the bugs ironed out of my schedule. :) Thanks for stopping by!!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-76832626384362547222009-09-25T09:00:00.042-04:002009-09-25T09:00:07.324-04:00How to Write Poetry - Game TimeEvery Friday in our poetry corner, we'll either go over a particular form of poetry or play a poetry game. For today, as it is our first day, we'll play a game. One of my favorite poetry games (that I can no longer find), was when I was given a box full of word tiles but could only use up to 20 of them to make a poem.<br />
<br />
However, I haven't quite figured out how I can do this yet. So today will be Haiku day :)<br />
<br />
Basic haiku rules - 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables<br />
<br />
I'll post a picture to stir your inspiration and you can leave your haiku either in the comments or you can email me (contact button is on the sidebar). Enjoy! Mine is posted below the picture :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8b-XENr7QNE/Srf6m1uuncI/AAAAAAAAAx8/nhk9fX4DzSY/s1600-h/1225114_faro_mangiabarche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8b-XENr7QNE/Srf6m1uuncI/AAAAAAAAAx8/nhk9fX4DzSY/s400/1225114_faro_mangiabarche.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Against burning skies<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">alone among rolling waves -<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a silent witness<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-3387737567403134122009-09-23T09:00:00.063-04:002014-02-27T11:07:19.985-05:00How to Write an Essay Part IThere are more types of essays than you can shake a stick at. And we'll go through all of them, eventually. But let's start with the basics.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvomaTWpRkwfK0dxYOrb4M5StF7VwOn3bpeRHx3787HO8jQuqJRx7yOjoGvS21NlDVKdNOodtEtndem7Ee6kB_X95nKhHV6a338C18KoAxiPgiCVcKG6uCsajBeNqCyL9-RBI-wokQxA/s1600/pen-and-notebook-54686-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDvomaTWpRkwfK0dxYOrb4M5StF7VwOn3bpeRHx3787HO8jQuqJRx7yOjoGvS21NlDVKdNOodtEtndem7Ee6kB_X95nKhHV6a338C18KoAxiPgiCVcKG6uCsajBeNqCyL9-RBI-wokQxA/s1600/pen-and-notebook-54686-m.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/54686" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: red;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Is It?</b></span></div>
<br />
The basic essay is the foundation for all other essays and papers. Luckily, it is fairly easy to learn. It consists of an introduction that introduces your thesis and topic; the body, in which you will prove the point you are trying to make through well thought out ideas and well researched sources that back up your claims; and a conclusion that sums up your arguments.<br />
<br />
So, let's start with the beginning - The Introduction<br />
<br />
The most important thing in your introduction is your <b>thesis statement.</b> We went over those a bit in Monday's post (click <a href="http://papersproseandpoetry.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-write-paper-part-i.html">HERE </a>for a recap). But your introduction should be more than just a one line thesis. It should be at least one whole paragraph. When your essays get more in-depth and more involved, you could have an introduction that is a page or longer.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>So, what else would you include in an introduction?</b></span><br />
<br />
I like to introduce the thesis statement a bit by starting out with a general statement and then moving on to a slightly more focused statement, followed by an even more focused statement, all leading up to the thesis. If you are writing your essay on a literary work or film, a nice quote from the work in question is always nice, as is a quote from a poem or historical figure, etc, about the topic you will be discussing.<br />
<br />
I then follow the thesis with a line or two either briefly outlining the arguments I'll be presenting or elaborating on the thesis statement.<br />
<br />
Example:<br />
<br />
Your essay is about why cats were worshipped in Ancient Egypt. Your intro could look something like this...<br />
<br />
Ancient Egypt was a civilization rich in culture and muli-faceted beliefs (General statement). The Egyptians worshipped a variety of gods, each of whom represented a certain aspect of life or death (A little more focused). One of the more popular goddesses was Bastet, who was portrayed either as a woman with the head of a cat, or as an actual cat (More focused). For this reason, cats were revered in Ancient Egypt (thesis statement). Along with their association with Bastet, cats were also special to the Egyptians because Reason 1, Reason 2, and Reason 3 (brief outline of the points I'll be hitting in the essay).<br />
<br />
So! When writing your own introduction, come up with your thesis statement, what your essay will be about. Then preface that statement with a few general statements, and follow it with either a transition sentence or two leading into the body of the essay, or a brief outline of the arguments or info you'll be presenting in the essay.<br />
<br />
Take it one sentence at a time and you'll have a perfect intro in no time!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-81034762092278078542009-09-21T10:00:00.000-04:002014-02-27T11:09:15.401-05:00How to Write a Paper Part IFirst of all, for those of you who don't know me, I'm a writer. I like writing. I think it's fun :D And that includes writing things like research papers, essays for English class, and all forms of poetry. And I am aware that most of the literate world thinks I'm nuts. I'm okay with that.<br />
<br />
But I think two of the main problems with people who hate this kind of thing are that 1. they pick (or are assigned) topics in which they have no interest; and 2. they just don't know how to do it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE3GVgYdU-r6_3JiD8EW_qLjjDpHDi_f29dhxWSqIYq5h82wTR0VPsgIM85rQbWjGJJojX08m4gZ8G_PQnB-QbomKWV-ql15lkDD0aWSU5o5XBxCmb8K_BXdk9t_lXCJK4tYMTfT171g/s1600/notebook-38751-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE3GVgYdU-r6_3JiD8EW_qLjjDpHDi_f29dhxWSqIYq5h82wTR0VPsgIM85rQbWjGJJojX08m4gZ8G_PQnB-QbomKWV-ql15lkDD0aWSU5o5XBxCmb8K_BXdk9t_lXCJK4tYMTfT171g/s1600/notebook-38751-m.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
If you are assigned a particular topic you hate, well, there's not much you can do there. Though you <span style="font-style: italic;">can </span>try to focus the topic on an aspect of it that interests you. Writing a paper is going to be a lot less painful if you are actually interested in the subject matter.<br />
<br />
Do you have to write a paper on a historical figure? Find one that did something you think is cool. And believe me, most of those boring, old farts your teacher is making you learn about did at least one cool thing in their life...or you wouldn't be learning about them.<br />
<br />
Spend a few minutes with Google and find something, anything, that interests you about the topic at hand and write about that. Or better yet, if you are allowed to pick your own topic, pick something you love or always wanted to know more about. Now writing the paper will only be mildly uncomfortable instead of pure torture ;-D<br />
<br />
Problem 2 - not knowing how to do it....well, we'll fix that problem here. I have a fail-proof 6 week program that will get your paper written neatly, efficiently, and mostly painlessly. And if you were given more than 6 weeks to write your assignment - well then, you'll be done early :)<br />
<br />
This is WEEK ONE. For this week, your one and only assignment is to pick a topic. That's it. Simple huh? Just pick your topic. Now don't get lazy on me, though. Make sure that topic is narrowed down enough you can write a paper on it. If you want to write about cats, narrow it a bit. What kind of cats? What about cats specifically? Do you want to write about house cats? Big, wild cats? How cats were worshiped in Ancient Egypt? Get that topic narrowed.<br />
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While you're at it, write out your thesis statement. No, this is not an extra assignment...it's part of picking your topic. It's the point of your paper, the reason you are writing, the point you want to get across, the...well, you get my point :)<br />
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So! Pick topic - Write thesis statement. You have a whole week. I can't make it any easier :)<br />
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(If you want to get ambitious, you could start picking out likely looking sources...you'll need those next week. But no worries if you don't feel like it. Just stick to the topic!) :D<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT THE HECK IS IT?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Research or Term Paper: </span>A research or term paper is a paper in which you present information on a specific topic backed up by other sources. It is similar to an essay. It follows the same steps and has the same basic purpose, but is generally longer and more in depth than an essay. Depending on your specific paper requirements, your paper could be simple presentation of facts, or a complex, in-depth analysis of your chosen subject.<br />
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Just as with essays, there can be many different types of research papers. Your paper could be analyzing a particular subject, (exploring the various aspects of the world of peanut butter), arguing your point of view on a topic, (proving why peanut butter is better than jelly), or comparing and contrasting two ideas or subjects, (discussing the similarities and differences between chunky and smooth peanut butter). A research paper is simply an expanded form of one of these essays.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Thesis Statement: </span>According to <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/thesis%20statement">dictionary.reference.com</a> = an explanation of the topic or purpose of a research paper.<br />
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In other words, it is the reason you are writing the paper, the focus of your paper, a firm declaration of what your paper will discuss. Does your paper prove that Robert Pattinson is the all-time best film vampire? Then your thesis statement would go something like this:<br />
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Robert Pattinson's portrayal of a vampire in the Twilight movie series is the best ever.<br />
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Is your paper proving why chunky peanut butter is better than creamy? You could say, "This paper will prove that chunky peanut butter is better than creamy peanut butter."<br />
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It doesn't have to be fancy. Just make it to the point so that anyone who picks up your paper can read that statement and immediately know what your paper is about.Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911501093443061514.post-20999938284457252062009-09-12T23:00:00.001-04:002009-09-13T15:36:42.128-04:00Coming Soon!Regular posts will begin on Monday, September 21, 2009. Stay tuned!!!Michelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.com0