My Favorite Book by V

I'm a bit of a romantic in my own private world. My workload is hectic and insane. So, when I get home after a long and tiring day, one of my favorite things to do is cuddle with a good romantic book and imagine myself in a different place. I have two favorite authors and I will be writing about one – Richard Matheson.

Richard Matheson wrote such books as I am Legend, Hell House, and Stir of Echoes, and many episodes of “The Twilight Zone”. Now you’re thinking, “What?! Those are suspense. None of those are romantic at all!” Yes, you’re right. In addition to being a horror novelist (who incidentally, inspired the likes of Stephen King, George Romero, and Anne Rice), Matheson was also a romance author. He wrote What Dreams may Come. My favorite novel of his though is Bid Time Return. Matheson himself said that What Dreams may Come is a love story that transcends death and Bid Time Return is a love story that transcends time.

Bid Time Return is a romance sci-fi novel, but not in the cheesy, B-movie sense. At its core, it’s a love story about two people who can’t be together. Richard Collier is a writer from the 1970s who has an inoperable brain tumor. On a whim, he decides to go to Hotel del Coronado (which is a real location in San Diego, CA and where Matheson wrote the entire novel). There, he becomes obsessed with an actress from the late 1800s named Elise McKenna. He develops a time traveling method which transports him to 1896. There he meets Elise and they fall in love.

I don’t want to spoil the ending for those who are interested, but suffice to say, it is one of the most romantic stories I have ever read. At the end of the novel, I couldn’t stop bawling. The novel moved me, and to this day, my eyes tear up every time I think about Richard, Elise, and their love.

-V

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Summary vs. Analysis

So you’ve got your basic outline set. You’ve chosen your quotes, and know where you want to go with your essay. You start writing, and halfway through realize all you’ve done for the past few hours is summarize the reading when you needed to make analysis.

What went wrong? Well first, what is the difference between summary and analysis? It’s easy to get the two mixed up. In essence, a summary is a rewriting of what you have read, in your own words. In a summary, one does not evaluate and examine the text beyond the surface meaning; it’s simply a concise way to retell what the author has said. Summary can be important when introducing the plot of a story you are analyzing, but it should not be confused with the actual analysis. The analysis breaks down aspects of a story and shows how those aspects create meaning. The meaning you are trying to illustrate is essentially your thesis.

Yes, the point of an analytical essay is to come up with a thesis, and use the work to prove that thesis. A simple restating of the plot points will not achieve this. The reader needs to explain why certain elements of the story (character, setting, plot, figurative language) help to prove the thesis. Summary restates the facts; analysis explains the hidden meanings. Analysis can also question the author, critique the text, and evaluate the credibility of the work. A summary will just restate what the author has said.

Ultimately, summary tells you what, while analysis tells you why.

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Good luck!

-The CAS English Blog

Essay Structure - Conclusion

The conclusion (final paragraph):
Your conclusion is the sum of all the points you have in your essay. Use the most
important points of your essay to attempt to leave an afterthought in your reader's mind.
This afterthought will keep your reader thinking about your claim, which is the purpose
of the essay.

Here is the same example from before, adding the concluding paragraph:
Outline
Title: How to Play Tennis
I. Introduction paragraph
     A. Hook: tennis around the world
     B. Introduction of topic: playing tennis
     C. Thesis: proper equipment, necessary strokes, keep score, places to play

II. Equipment

     A. Rackets

          a. wood vs. metal

     B. Balls

          a. white vs. colors

          b. high altitude balls

III. Strokes

     A.Forehand and backhand

     B. Lob

     C. Slam

     D. Serve

     E. Volley

IV. Scoring
     A. Points 
          a. 15, 30, 40, game
     B. Winning

          a. game, set, match

V. Conclusion

     A. Summarization: non-violent sport, no body contact, little chance of injury
     B. Final thought: good way to meet people, exercise, enjoy tennis!
Essay
      There are many different competitions around the world regarding tennis. Although people watch this fascinating sport, many people do not fully understand the game. The best way to understand a sport is to play it. Therefore, in order to play tennis, you should have the proper equipment, learn the necessary strokes and how to keep score, and become familiar with places to play.

     Equipment is necessary when playing tennis. The most important piece of equipment is the tennis racket. You should try a wood racket and metal racket to determine which you prefer. The wood may be lighter, but you often get more power from a metal racket. Additionally, tennis balls come in white or yellow. On some surfaces, yellow is easier to see. Yellow balls have become very popular. A tennis player must be careful to purchase special balls when playing at high altitudes. Regular balls will usually bounce off the court due to thinner air.

     Tennis involves more than just hitting a ball over a net. Various strokes are used, such as forehand and backhand, varied by changing the group on the racket; the lob; the overhead slam; the serve; and the volley.  The first serve is usually more powerful than the second serve.

     Tennis is scored by sets. Four points make a set. The points are counted as fifteen, thirty, forth, and game. You must win the game by two points. Six games make a set, and either two or three sets make a match.

     Tennis is a non-violent sport with no body contact and very little chance for serious injury. It is a good way to meet people while getting some exercise. Go out and enjoy playing one of the best ways  to stay fit and healthy.

 

 Now you know how to put it all together. Be sure to prepare before writing, be thorough with what you write, and most of all, have a "voice"!

Good luck!
-The CAS English Blog

Essay Structure - Body

It's time to write your body paragraph(s).

 

The support for your claim with evidence and commentary (2nd - 4th* Paragraph) 

*Note that your instructor might require you to have a certain number of supporting paragraphs, there are no limit to essays! Generally not a fixed amount.

• This would be the support that you have brought up in your thesis. These paragraphs will give you an opportunity to explain and prove your thesis by using evidence to verify the support of your claim.
• To verify and prove your support, you need to have the evidence, which are facts taken from a source. This maybe paraphrased or put into a quote, as long as you are able to cite your source (preferably from a trusted and reliable source).
• Following each evidence is the commentary, which is necessary to clarify to your reader why the evidence proves the supporting claims. You should conclude each of your supporting paragraphs by smoothly transitioning each one from another.

Here is the same example from before, but adding the body paragraphs:
Outline
Title: How to Play Tennis
I. Introduction paragraph
     A. Hook: tennis around the world
     B. Introduction of topic: playing tennis
     C. Thesis: proper equipment, necessary strokes, keep score, places to play

II. Equipment

     A. Rackets

          a. wood vs. metal

     B. Balls

          a. white vs. colors

          b. high altitude balls

III. Strokes

     A.Forehand and backhand

     B. Lob

     C. Slam

     D. Serve

     E. Volley

IV. Scoring
     A. Points 
          a. 15, 30, 40, game
     B. Winning

          a. game, set, match
Essay
      There are many different competitions around the world regarding tennis. Although people watch this fascinating sport, many people do not fully understand the game. The best way to understand a sport is to play it. Therefore, in order to play tennis, you should have the proper equipment, learn the necessary strokes and how to keep score, and become familiar with places to play.

     Equipment is necessary when playing tennis. The most important piece of equipment is the tennis racket. You should try a wood racket and metal racket to determine which you prefer. The wood may be lighter, but you often get more power from a metal racket. Additionally, tennis balls come in white or yellow. On some surfaces, yellow is easier to see. Yellow balls have become very popular. A tennis player must be careful to purchase special balls when playing at high altitudes. Regular balls will usually bounce off the court due to thinner air.

     Tennis involves more than just hitting a ball over a net. Various strokes are used, such as forehand and backhand, varied by changing the group on the racket; the lob; the overhead slam; the serve; and the volley.  The first serve is usually more powerful than the second serve.

     Tennis is scored by sets. Four points make a set. The points are counted as fifteen, thirty, forth, and game. You must win the game by two points. Six games make a set, and either two or three sets make a match.

Come back to finish this essay with the conclusion!

Good luck!

-The CAS English Blog