You will be writing many seminar papers during the course of the quarter. Seminar papers should follow a conventional essay format with a strong thesis statement in your opening paragraph and supporting paragraphs with topic sentences that thread back to the thesis. These supporting paragraphs develop the thesis by using details, examples, observations, references, etc. to support the points you as the writer are making. Finally, you will have a strong concluding paragraph.
Seminar 1 The Qualities of Gods and Goddesses
Due: Thurs, July 1-- first draft due for peer edit
Through reading the first section of Echoes from Mt Olympus, many generalizations can be drawn about gods and goddesses. Thus, your first essay is to determine the characteristics found in the gods and goddesses of yesteryear and see if we can find at least one man and one women discussed in the New York Times (NYT), who seem to share some of those same characteristics. Once you have done so, write an essay discussing the qualities and show how they apply to the contemporary heroes found in NYT.
Professional writers know that a variety of development is necessary when trying to convince an audience of a certain point. While no perfect blueprint for doing so exists, using the "Methods of Development" can help a writer in pursuing her goal of explaining, exploring and developing her point, so that the intended audience at least understands the writer's point-of-view.
In your writing career, you may have written entire essays using the methods. Perhaps in a literature class, you compared and contrasted two main characters in two different stories. Or in biology, you classified the birds and bees. Or maybe in your history class, you were required to explain the causes of W.W.I and then discuss the effects of it. All of these are common ways the methods are used. However, using a the methods in a paper is a much more efficient way to utilize them.
Using the methods effectively depends upon your purpose and your audience. If you are writing to a CEO of a community non-profit organization, you can assume certain things about the CEO -- she is busy, active, has more requests on her time and energy than she can handle, and she has little time for leisure. Thus, when looking what methods to use when asking for a new program to be added to her organization's services, you will know that description, narration, and analogy probably will not be an effective means of persuading her. Instead, you will want to use definition, cause/effect, process, illustration, and classification.
Learning to use the methods in a meaningful manner will help you become a more skillful writer. Be aware that this may be confusing when you begin to pay attention to the ways you develop your ideas; however, with continued use it will be come easier. Note, too, that the best way to proceed is to have both a clear thesis and audience in mind before you sit down to brainstorm.
Use the following methods as paragraph development for your essay. Some methods are good for any audience; for others, you must use your judgment. Your essay should contain at least five of the methods from those listed below.
 | Narration develops the topic as a story. Most events are arranged in
chronological order (as they occurred). Narration is based on facts and true experiences.
Good for audiences who read for more than just information. | |
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| Description uses sight, sounds, odors and whatever other sensory detail to let
the reader experience the situation under discussion. The audience here is more visual in
nature; also this method is good for the audience who needs to see the runaway, the
results of a failed experiment, or the nature of your alarm about a particular topic. | |
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| Illustration (exemplification) requires in-depth examples. Shows the reader
rather than tells. Most audience need a variety of illustration. | |
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| Definition specifies what, when, where, how and why of the topic under
consideration. If the audience does not know your topic, this is a must. Or if you are
trying to display your topic in an unusual manner, use definition. | |
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| Division attempts to sub-divide a complex topic. When addressing a complex
problem, many audiences will need the writer's aid. Break down the problem into smaller
more manageable parts. | |
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| Classification works by classifying the problem under discussion with others of
its kind. With an antagonistic audience or one who is unfamiliar with your topic, this
works well. | |
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| Comparison and contrast shows similarities and differences between two like
topics. Most audiences appreciate a well-developed compare/contrast paragraph (essay). | |
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| Analogy merges the familiar and the unfamiliar. Use for the audience who might be
intimidated by your topic. For example, you might draw an analogy between gene splicing
(your topic) and the cut/paste command on the computer. However your analogy must be
believable! | |
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| Cause and effect illustrates how something happened or what the consequences are.
Audiences of all types rely on this type of information. | |
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| Process analysis gives practical 'how to' information. If you are trying to show
your audience how to do something or how something works, this is a must.
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Click here to see the sheet that will be used to evaluate your essays.