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Essay Break down... For those who read it!!! ^_^
P.O.S. essay i dont agree with it
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Couldn't care a less bout it
100%
 100%  [ 4 ]
Good essay i agree with it
0%
 0%  [ 0 ]
Total Votes : 4

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Unknown
Moira's Silly Little Slave Bitch


Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 82
Location: Behind you...

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:18 pm    Post subject: Thoughts... [quote]

My latest essay for School!!! Since the people around here seem to enjoy "debateing" and in some cases hehe FLAMEin different topices, here is one to debate/FLAME/ Rave about
!_!

http://www.shadowland.cc/Thoughts.pdf
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LeoDraco
Demon Hunter


Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 584
Location: Riverside, South Cali

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:32 pm    Post subject: [quote]

I shall not comment upon the subject matter, as I have no opinion one way or the other. I shall especially not comment upon the subject matter as I only really read the first paragraph. However, I shall comment upon the syntactic/semantic structure of your essay: namely, adding in some [syntax/semantic] structure would improve things.

Such as uniform paragraph indentation; while the odd, uneven indentation might simply be due to whatever tool you used to autogenerate the PDF, it looks slipshod. Also, I wot, paragraphs should either be denoted via indentation or by vertical whitespace, not by both simultaneously by current [American literary] convention.

I realize this is probably an attempt at informal writing, but constructions, such as the last sentence in the first paragraph, scream bad writing; not only is the sentence pendantically incorrect and ill-formed, it fails to lead sufficiently into the rest of your essay. I am also a bit miffed about the structuring of your thesis; if what you are driving home is, "those in the army are not the blind, selfless gits they are paraded to be," then your intro paragraph does a poor job of communicating the point.

I suppose the ultimate issue is, as far as presentation goes, your apparant lack of interest in the paper: if you do not care enough to present your thoughts in a conventional manner --- which is, at the very least, suggested by labelling this effort as an "essay for School!!!" --- why should we care to take the time to grok it?
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NyanNyanKoneko
Wandering Minstrel


Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 98

PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:56 pm    Post subject: [quote]

Aren't school essays supposed to be double spaced?

Beyond that, you're a little wordy, repeating yourself when you have no need to. Also, try to reduce the number of pronouns you use when you write.

For example, you write, "Is this what is happening?" You should try to be more descriptive. A good rule of thumb is to never start a sentence with the word, "it."

Also, never start a sentence with the word, "like." You write, "Like, let's say..." in your first paragraph. Try replacing that with, "For example."

Similarly, your second paragraph begins, "For example was the death..." For example is a prepositional clause, not a noun / subject. You should rewrite that sentence to read, "A famous example of the betrayal of the army's oath is..." Watch your tenses. Unless your example is no longer an example, refer to it in the present tense.

Anyways, I'm going to stop grammar naziing your paper. I'm not being fair. I can tell you spent a lot of time on it.
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Unknown
Moira's Silly Little Slave Bitch


Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 82
Location: Behind you...

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:59 am    Post subject: [quote]

Thanks guys for ya'lls critiqs so far i will definally work on it ;) as i can see no one wants to take sides on the essays content... i guess if you didnt get what my main point was... i was tryin to say that in effect those in command should take responsibilty for there actions and those they are over...

anyhow once again hehe repatition sorry ^_^ thanks for the help!!!

Oh ya and about not being enthusiastic (LeoDraco) about it DUDE its a School Essay If i wasnt i wouldnt of posted it here !!!
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tunginobi
Wandering Minstrel


Joined: 13 Dec 2005
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:33 pm    Post subject: [quote]

You're using capital letters where they aren't required. Capital letters to begin words should be restricted to the start of sentences and proper nouns (i.e. names of people, places, etc.). You're using capital letters for regular nouns...
Quote:
Loyalty, Duty, Respect

should be
Quote:
Loyalty, duty, respect

and even after commas
Quote:
This all leads to two possible conclusions, it was a negligent homicide, A dereliction of duty or a cover up.

should be
Quote:
This leads to two possible conclusions: it was a negligent homicide, a dereliction of duty or a cover up.

Note I added the colon there to make the statement flow correctly. I'd go as far as rewording that entirely, but that's just me.


Avoid contractions. Contractions are used in colloquial speech, not in essays.


Stop using the words "you" and "your". You can use the word "one" to refer to an arbitrary individual worth consideration if you really need it.
Quote:
Would you like to serve in an army where you had to watch your six if you spoke out against the corruption of your superiors?

Just on this, this is an essay. You are presenting an argument, not asking for the reader's opinion.


You're overusing the double quotes. I feel like you're trying to make some sort of point, some sort of implicit irony from the use of these terms. Except on their own, they don't make points. If you have something to say about "core values", or "suicide", or "power" (all of those are your words, and your double quotes), you should make explicit statements about them, or omit the quotes, or omit the terms entirely.


Just on the read-through, I'm picking up a theme, but there's no... coherence. You make a collection of statements, loosely tied into paragraphs, and then it all ends.

Rule of thumb: each paragraph should be a self-contained argument. The first sentence should present that argument, and the ones that follow should provide evidence, and tie it with the argument.

Your introductory paragraph should present the overall theme, but should also summarise what points each paragraph will cover. The conclusion should tie the arguments of each paragraph together to ultimately prove your overall aim.


And after all that, you might want to read it out aloud. Some of those sentences are clunky.


Gee, all those criticisms, and I haven't been near an essay in over a year. Sorry about that. :|
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Unknown
Moira's Silly Little Slave Bitch


Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 82
Location: Behind you...

PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:33 pm    Post subject: [quote]

WOW DUDE so like a "standard" for essay writting is like so:

Thesis Statment.
A.Point a
B.Point b
c.Point c

P.A.
sub A.a
sub A.b
sub A.c

P.B.
sub B.a
sub B.b
sub B.c

P.C.
sub C.a
sub C.b
sub C.c

Restate Thesis: Point A point B point C and conclued

is that like the formate??? or am i like totally off from what i think your sayin?
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Nephilim
Mage


Joined: 20 Jun 2002
Posts: 414

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:34 am    Post subject: [quote]

There's no hard-and-fast rule for structuring an essay, but his suggestion is a good one. The "thesis-point-point-point-conclusion" format may be a little dry, but there's a reason it's so universally taught: it's easy and it works pretty well for most cases. (I'll let you in on a little secret, too: that format is also very easy to grade, which makes teachers happy.)
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NyanNyanKoneko
Wandering Minstrel


Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 98

PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:39 am    Post subject: [quote]

Don't listen to people who say you can't use contractions in your essay. You can use them, but use them sparingly.
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