Short summary of there will come soft rains

Balance: The content of the essay needs to be balanced. Think of it painting: what would the world look like if we were only allowed one color to paint our buildings, dye our fabrics and paint our cars? The world would be monochromatic and somewhat monotonous. It is the same with writing an essay. You need to add different “colors” to your piece: summary, argument, discussion, examples from the text, comparison, and description, to name a few. You must use a wide variety of Rhetorical Strategies in your paper to prove your argument, don’t rely on only one or two. Summary should only be used as a tool to remind or inform the reader about what is happening in a specific part of the text, but it needs to serve a purpose. So, when you find yourself using summary in your paper, ask yourself, why? Are you using it to explain the context of quote you plan to use as an example? Are you using it to support an argument? I guess my best piece of advice in this matter is this: every sentence, every word in your essay needs to move it forward. It needs to help you prove your thesis. Sometimes we write “in circles” because we are not sure of what we want to say yet, but you have to push past that phase and move your argument forward with the tool you deem better suited for the job. 4. Style: Just like Essay 1, your second essay should be written in the past tense and in the third person, this means no “I’s” no “We’s” and “You’s.” Again, I remind you: I am not requiring this because I am evil, or because I enjoy making people cry. The reason for using third person instead of first (or second) is very simple: when we write in the first and second person, we tend to use a more colloquial style. What is the danger in that? Very simple, the danger is that you, as a writer, can lose focus of the importance of analyzing your argument objectively, and fall in the trap of “this is right because I say so.” When you write in the third person, you are forcing yourself to express your ideas in a more neutral manner, and this kind of analysis will help you build a stronger argument. So please, no “I,” “You,” or “We” in the essay. The essay needs to be double-spaced, 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman (because it is easier to read, so please don’t use anything like this, or this, or this, and certainly not this). 5. Conventions: Please pay attention to writing conventions. Part of your grade will be based on your accurate use of spelling, grammar, mechanics, vocabulary and clarity. Please avoid the use of jargon and colloquialisms. Also, don’t believe everything Microsoft Word tells you, and when in doubt, consult the dictionary. You also need to be careful when it comes to apostrophes. If you have doubts as to how to properly use apostrophes, you can check out these handy websites: http://www.scribendi.com/advice/using_apostrophes.en.html http://theoatmeal.com/comics/apostrophe (this one is really funny). Also remember: “ it’s” means “it is,” while “its” is the possessive for “it.” Be careful with homonyms (words that sound the same but mean different things). For example, “were” is the past tense of “are,” but “where” means a place, and “we’re” means we are. So, you may say: “ Jon and Mary were at the movies,” “I don’t know where John and Mary are,” or “we’re at the movies.” All three sentences sound the same, but they mean different things. One last pet peeve of mine: “they’re,” “their” and “there.” The first one means “they are” (it is a conjunction, that’s why it has an apostrophe). The second one is a possessive pronoun (as in “their house,” meaning the house belongs to a group of people) and the third one represents a place. I strongly advise you to proofread your paper at least once (ideally more times) before you turn it in. Another great resource we have here on campus is the Writing Center, located on Herman 107. The tutors can help you develop your thesis if you are having troubles or questions about it, and they will even work with you brainstorming and developing ideas for your essay. They can also offer assistance with organization,