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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
 Posted - 01/05/2002 : 19:17:08
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O.K. I need some advice, I want to write my first essay (well my first since I finished school 13 years ago). Does anyone have any websites or hints on how to get started. I have the embryo of a topic in my head, it is just I am not quite sure where to start.
Can anyone help here?
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2002 : 20:58:38 [Permalink]
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Um, what topic? Give us some more and maybe we can help. We won't steal ideas.
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. -Mark Twain |
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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2002 : 21:17:54 [Permalink]
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Well, after watching heaps of documentaries on primates and their social behavior (especially in the rearing of their young) I have noticed that humans display most of these traits.
Eg. Some males will hurt the offspring of other males, eg. stepfathers beating up on kids that are not theirs. Or other species will stay in a relationship and help care for their young, eg. A "normal" and caring father. Or male that impregnate then leave, leaving the mother to care for the young. eg, A man that is happy to sleep with a woman, but not be responsible for the outcome of his actions.
I may be wasting my time, it probably has been done over and over, but you have to start somewhere I suppose.
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2002 : 21:25:04 [Permalink]
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Ok, quick and dirty.
Begin at the beginning, of course. Do not use five words when three will get the thought across. Do not clog it up with an ancedote unless it supports a point and adds a little humor. Be sure that you can document your statments.
Remember, the words must flow. There is a rythm there in even as short a work as an essay. Again I say, be brief.
And never forget: There is no such thing as good writing. There is only good re-writing. Be patient. The words will come.
Wishing all luck.
f (sporadic freelancer, very occasionaly published)
The more I learn about people, the better I like rattlesnakes. |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2002 : 21:40:33 [Permalink]
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quote:
Or male that impregnate then leave, leaving the mother to care for the young. eg, A man that is happy to sleep with a woman, but not be responsible for the outcome of his actions.
I am too familiar with this particular species of male.
The Ghost in the Machine, An essay or a book - I can't remember. Try Bertrand Russell and Descartes and Sapir. I can't think of anything else at the moment.
It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them. -Mark Twain |
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Badger
Skeptic Friend
Canada
257 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 13:42:59 [Permalink]
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Hey, Gezzam.
Try some Desmond Morris of Naked Ape fame. He's got several books out, and they're all quite good. He's a biologist who started out studying Fruit Flies, and then applied the same study techniques to Homo Sapiens.
Just because we're hypnotized, that don't mean we can't dance. - Tonio K. |
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Garrette
SFN Regular
USA
562 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 04:57:41 [Permalink]
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quote:
And never forget: There is no such thing as good writing. There is only good re-writing. Be patient. The words will come.
Filthy is correct. I think it was Mark Twain who said something along the lines of:
"When you read your own works, look for those passages that you strike you as most brilliant and strike them out immediately."
My kids still love me. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2002 : 00:28:23 [Permalink]
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quote:
O.K. I need some advice, I want to write my first essay (well my first since I finished school 13 years ago). Does anyone have any websites or hints on how to get started
Talk about the state of education today!!!
Don't they teach you guys to make an outline?
I'd start by aranging my thoughts, point 'A' to 'B', 'C', etc. In other words, a beggining to the end of what the idea is that I want people to know.
I think once you put an idea on paper and where you want to go with it, the rest can be filled in.
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art. |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2002 : 00:34:45 [Permalink]
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quote:
The Ghost in the Machine, An essay or a book - I can't remember.
That's a movie. Someone told me it's supposed to be the sequal to 'Lawnmower Man'. I guess it could be! It sort of picks up where the 1st movie stops but other than that there's not much of the same story or plot.
Both are interesting if you get a chance to see them. 'The Ghost in the Machine' is weird and scary, espiecaly if you use computers.
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art. |
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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2002 : 01:37:45 [Permalink]
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quote:
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Talk about the state of education today!!!
Don't they teach you guys to make an outline?
I'd start by aranging my thoughts, point 'A' to 'B', 'C', etc. In other words, a beggining to the end of what the idea is that I want people to know.
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Well......I'm sorry to sound like a dunderhead.....
I asked beacause I want to do the fucking job properly, instead of a half arsed attempt. It's been thirteen years since I've written anything more than a description for the work I have completed in one of my customers invoices.
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 01/09/2002 : 21:44:50 [Permalink]
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quote:
Well......I'm sorry to sound like a dunderhead
Sounds like someone is a little too touchy and taking things a bit too personally.
If you are referring to my comment about schools, that was a continuation of what others are saying about the way kids are taught now days and how bad the education system is.
If you are offended, talk to your school district and elected officials, ask for better quality in education.
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art. |
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gezzam
SFN Regular
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2002 : 15:33:56 [Permalink]
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Many aopolgies Snake, as I think I said before, I shouldn't post replies whilst stressed out at work....
I think I should have gone to the English lessons a little more instead of hanging at the Computer Lab when I was a kid......
It's just that compared to Physics, Maths and Computer Science, English and English Lit didn't quite raise the bar in excitement levels (the crap books they made us read didn't help either)
"Damn you people. Go back to your shanties." --- Shooter McGavin |
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Slater
SFN Regular
USA
1668 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2002 : 15:58:38 [Permalink]
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quote:
I think I should have gone to the English lessons a little more instead of hanging at the Computer Lab when I was a kid......
I think that the best advice that I was ever given about writing was to "write like you talk."
So I'll pass that on to you. You should write like I talk 
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The brain that was stolen from my laboratory was a criminal brain. Only evil will come from it. |
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Xev
Skeptic Friend
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2002 : 16:26:45 [Permalink]
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Brevity is the soul of wit. Be clear, be brief. Try to make your paragraphs 'flow' into each other.
Good luck, I know the feeling, I have to take another advanced composition class this term. Ick!
(Pretend this is a witty Latin phrase, okay?) |
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Snake
SFN Addict
USA
2511 Posts |
Posted - 01/11/2002 : 22:25:06 [Permalink]
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quote:
I think that the best advice that I was ever given about writing was to "write like you talk."
So I'll pass that on to you. You should write like I talk
Wellllllll!!!! That's all good and well BUT, "I want to do the fucking job properly", He could write like that if he doesn't mind getting an X rating, LOL.
Rap Crap is to music what Paint by Numbers is to art. |
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