106 / Methods of Development
-^ Include transitions—words, phrases, or sentences—both within and between
paragraphs to help the reader follow your thoughts and see the relationships
among your ideas. [See transitions in the Glossary.]
-^ Remember that you are explaining why you hold your opinion. You are not
attempting to persuade the reader to think as you do.
-^ In order not to offend the reader, maintain a third-person point of view. You
should not include such phrases as I believe or in my opinion. At the same time, to
use the second-person point of view (you) is to risk putting the reader ill at ease.
-^ Conclude with a reference to the topic or thesis sentence. A summary of your
main points may also serve effectively as a conclusion.
Write quickly to get your ideas on paper. Do not worry about sentence structure,
mechanics, grammar, and other technical details. Think about content.
STEP 7: Revising—Improving the Content
Rereading the draft will help you spot need for revision. To help, ask yourself these
questions:
- Does^ my^ introduction^ attract^ the^ reader’s^ attention?
-^ With a subject likely to create antagonism, have I begun with details least apt
to turn away the reader? - Have^ I^ organized^ the^ details^ in^ the^ most^ effective^ manner?^ Do^ I^ attract^ interest^
early, maintain it, and build to the most significant supportive details?
-^ Does the topic or thesis statement appear in the introduction or, in the case of
a highly controversial subject, in the conclusion? - Do^ the^ details^ support^ the^ opinion^ I^ am^ trying^ to^ express?^ Have^ I^ maintained^
unity? - Have^ I^ included^ effective^ transitions^ both^ between^ and^ within^ paragraphs?^
[See Chapter 3, Revising, Sample Revision for Transition.] - Are^ the^ supporting^ details^ specific?^ Have^ I^ used^ specific^ words,^ clear^ examples,^
good illustrations, effective explanations? Can the reader identify with the
supporting details? [See Chapter 3, Revising, Sample Revision for Specific
Detail.] - Are^ my^ sentences^ varied^ in^ length^ and^ structure?^ Have^ I^ maintained^ good^
emphasis within the sentences, putting the main ideas in the main clauses?
[See Chapter 3, Revising, Sample Revision for Sentence Variety and Sample
Revision for Emphasis.] - Is^ the^ conclusion^ effective?
Revise so that you can answer “yes” to the questions above. Then compare your
essay with the sample and its analysis below.