How To Write A Good Paper For Mr. Leiter

Follow these instructions to write an awesome paper and be guaranteed a 95% (if you use vocab words, correct grammar, etc)

So, what do you do first?  Let's do this paper step by step.  DO NOT SKIP STEPS!!  Skipping steps will lead to your demise and create a malevolent attitude toward teachers in your life.

Let's say we are writing a paper on the "Cost of Freedom"

1. Divide your topic into three sub-topics you can write your three main paragraphs about.

For example:    Video cameras at all public events

Identification papers on hand at all times

Armed military personnel in public

2. Write your thesis statement.

This is a sentence which appears last in the intro paragraph that tells me what

the whole paper is about.  Basically, it is a sentence which introduces the entire paper and what it will be about.  Therefore, it must contain all three of your sub-topics.  If we are doing a paper on "the cost of freedom" we would use the three sub-topics from above in the thesis statement. 

Example Thesis Statement:

"When people decide keeping their freedom is not worth the cost of human life, they force governments to resort to drastic action such as:  video cameras, identification papers, and armed military."

3.  OK, now that the hard part is done, the rest isn't so bad.  Let's start with the introduction.

The intro paragraph must have at least three sentences which lead into the thesis statement.  So, you will need at least 4 sentences including the thesis statement in the introductory paragraph.  The first two sentences should lead the reader toward the thesis statement. 

For example:  If you are doing a paper on "What you want to see changed in 2002", you might use some general sentences like:

"As our Nation looks ahead to 2002, citizens have many choices to make when considering the cost of freedom.  Is freedom something that must be given up in exchange for protection?"

The above two sentences give the reader a "lead in" to what the thesis statement may be about----the value of freedom.

So, now all we have to do is stick the thesis statement at the end of the intro and we're done with it. 

Here it is:

"As our Nation looks ahead to 2002, citizens have many choices to make when considering the cost of freedom.  Is freedom something that must be given up in exchange for protection?  When people decide keeping their freedom is not worth the cost of human life, they force governments to resort to drastic action such as:  video cameras, identification papers, and armed military."

4.  Now, the main body of the paper

The main body needs to have three paragraphs.  Each paragraph must be about each of the three sub-topics from above.  Each paragraph must have at least 5 sentences:  1) the topic sentence, 2) 3 supporting sentences, and 3) a transition sentence.

Topic Sentence:  This sentence tells me what the paragraph will be about.  For the first paragraph of my paper, I will talk about video camera surveillance in public places, so my topic sentence may be something like:  "Video cameras may be a necessary way to protect innocent participants at large public functions."  This sentence tells the reader that the rest of the paragraph will be about video surveillance.  The 3 supporting sentences must support or further discuss the topic sentence.  The transition sentence is the last sentence of the paragraph and it's purpose is to lead the reader into the next paragraph.  It offers a "glimpse" of what the next paragraph is about.  For example, if you just finished your paragraph on video surveillance and wanted to "lead the reader" into the paragraph on identification papers, you might have a transition sentence that says: "Although video cameras let authorities know what is happening in public, identification papers let them know detailed information about individuals involved."

5.  Conclusion Paragraph

The conclusion needs to be at least 3 sentences long.  It must reiterate (repeat) the three sub-topics you just talked about in the main body of the paragraph.  Finally, you must not introduce any new information.  That's about all I can say about the conclusion.  I reckon, you'll just have to give it a shot.  And.if you do well on it, I'll be much abliged.

That's it.  Do the above and you will have paper writing down.