BEGINNING AND ENDING YOUR PAPER

(You mean these paragraphs actually matter?!?

More Than Filler

Sets up the conversation about topic Relates to the audience Introduces the books and their concepts Presents purpose

Put yourself in the position of the reader. What would you need to know to understand the argument? What would make you want to read the paper?

Introduction - What to Include Hook

Makes it relevant, interesting to your audience Context

Characters in Gatsby Choices and happiness from Foster and Hicks

Titles and Authors The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald How We Choose to Be Happy: The 9 Choices of

Extremely Happy People – Their Secrets, Their Stories by Rick Foster and Greg Hicks

Thesis Statement Takes a position on happiness Links two works

Hook - IDEAS

Open with a bold, thought-provoking statement

Provide a modern example to set up your argument about happiness

Present data connecting to the topic (but then you have to cite it!)

Use a quotation from an outside source (again, cite!) that presents interesting thinking about the topic AND talk about it

Hooks – DON’TS

The Definition “In Webster’s Dictionary, happiness is

defined as…” The “Dawn of Man”

“Since the beginning of time, man has been trying to be happy…”

Single sentence with no follow-up

Make sure to develop the hook fully—one sentence is not enough!

Background Info – Blue or Yellow Present The Great Gatsby

Title, author Overall plot summary Additional focus on your character

Present Foster and Hicks’s book Title, authors The purpose of their study General explanation of the choices DON’T list all 9 choices

You can do these in whatever order seems appropriate to you.

Background Info – Green

Present The Great Gatsby Title, author Overall plot summary

Present Foster and Hicks’s book Title, authors The purpose of their study General explanation of the nine choices Clearly explain the Choice you are

focusing on for your paper

You can do these in whatever order seems appropriate to you.

Thesis Statements - PURPOSEIndicate the KEY IDEAS: Character(s) Choice(s) Happiness

Overall, address these questions:Why do the choices the character(s) make/don’t make keep them from being happy?Based on their choices (or lack of them), what is wrong with the way the character seems to interpret happiness?

Thesis Statements - IDEAS

Option A (Blue) Why are these two choices essential for the character’s

happiness? How would these choices have made him/her happier?

Option B (Green) Why is this choice essential to the happiness of

individuals? Option C (Yellow)

Why does the choice the character lacks make the difference in his happiness?

What is wrong with the way the character interprets happiness, according to the choices?

ORBased on these choices, why isn’t the character happy?

Introduction DON’TS

The Placeholder Five or so vague sentences that don’t really

say much. Just there to say, “I have an intro!”

The Restated Question/Prompt Summarizes the assignment

The Book Report Merely summarizes the texts

Adapted from http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/introductions/

Conclusion

Restate your thesis NOT in the same words as your introduction

Summarize your main points What connections are there between these

choices? (Blue or Yellow) What comparisons can be made between

characters? (Green)

Conclusion – The big ideas

Broaden your topic to apply the ideas of the body paragraphs to happiness in general. How are these choices important in life? What can the reader or realize about

happiness from understanding the choice(s) in your paper?

Closing sentence should relate back to the reader.

Works Cited

MLA citation of BOTH books (use Easybib, etc.) Gatsby – be sure to cite OUR edition (not autocite!) Foster and Hicks – Citation is on the Happiness

Inventory handouts Cite any additional quotes/data used in introduction

Proper Works Cited Format Alphabetical order Hanging indent Double spacedWorks Cited does not have to be on a separate page.

Feel free to skip a line at the end of your paper.