I think what comes out in my pieces the most from what he discussed is “the lead”. In my writing, I always make sure my introduction is one of the strongest parts of the piece. I know it has to be because that is essentially, the make it or break it for the reader. If you read even the first line of a piece, or ‘the lead’, and it does not draw you in to read more, what would be the reader’s reason to then continue reading? I always make sure that throughout not only the first line, but the entirety of the introduction keeps the reader guessing but still makes it clear on what my piece will include and who I presume the reader is. Without this key factor, to keep the reader guessing, the excitement of the essay will be less enjoyable for the reader. What seems to be most helpful to me is the trust factor. I think it isn’t just one aspect but it is one aspect that ties into the others, such as ‘specific information’ and ‘closing’. The reader has trust in your writing, whether to tell themselves they want to continue reading or just the information that your writing is spitting at them. This “trust” you give your reader ties into specific information because any good essay has to deliver a certain amount of information that will satisfy the reader, no matter what type of story it may be, a piece can’t just be a bland mix of words. A good essay or piece of writing will have a good amount of information that will preferably inform the reader or just make a story flow better. Also, as a reader, one does not want to be told what to do but allow themselves to finish a story and decide for themselves on what to think, or what Murray calls the ‘closing’. The reader trusts that you will inform them to the extent of making a rational decision for themselves instead of having the decision about any given topic already made for you in the piece. For my next draft, I plan on using his tips to make my piece the best article it can be. I think it is good he including examples from what is considered good writing, which will help me compare what I write and critique according to that.
I really agree with what you say about the introduction, how it's the make or break it part of the paper; because that's entirely true, you're either hooked or bored out of your mind within the first paragraph of a paper. However, for me, the strength of my introduction is very dependent upon the task of the paper. For more factual papers, I find my introduction to be more bland, which is unfortunate but I find it harder to come up with a solid lead to hook my readers when I myself am not even interested in the topic. For more personal papers or papers that are actually appealing to me, the introduction comes a lot easier. I also feel like in personal papers I'm able to create a lot stronger bond of trust because I'm speaking to them directly and for the purpose I'm trying to convince them something or prove something (or anything along those lines) I have a much more logical analytical approach which allows them to better understand what I'm saying.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree about the introduction. I know I hate when I start off a reading something and from the very start it is boring and uninteresting. At that point the writer has completely lost me and anything said in future paragraphs or lines is now unimportant. I also really connected with what you said about how the writer should essentially, finish the story themselves. A good paper will get the reader thinking and to see all points of view and create a call of action for the reader to decide on how they feel on a particular topic or scenario.
ReplyDeleteI deff agree about the introduction because I think that it's the most important part of the paper. If I'm not hooked within the first few sentences, I usually put down the piece of writing because I am bored. However, if they manage to get me interested within in the first paragraph, I usually continue on reading the paper. Usually, the introduction is the hardest part of the paper for me to write, just because it is so important. Sometimes, I will write my entire paper and leave my introduction last just because I need it to be that good.
ReplyDeleteI also agree about the introduction because that is the first thing that the reader reads. If you start off with an attention grabbing quote or have an intriging beginning than it is more likely that you will have the readers full attention. The first impressions always the one that counts. However, you can't have a really good introduction and have the rest of your paper be slacking. You need to maintain the same level of writing throughout the essay.
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