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How to write a college essay
Your Name
Teacher’s name
Date
Class
Centered title with a catchy phrase, then a colon and a mention of the main point:
Imbalanced Individualism: Liz and Charlotte compromise their ideals
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAH
Catchy opening:
Balance is impossible: declaring one’s own individualism against the demands for conformity that society requires will never end in balance. Either the individual will be ostracized as an outside, a black sheep, or he will be assimilated into the conformity of groupthink, buying the same car, wearing the same clothes, talking the same way as the rest of us merely to fit in.
Avoid wishy washy thesis:
It all depends on the person and what they want, whether they are strong enough to go against the crowd or whether they feel insecure and need the acceptance of fitting in; so it all depends.
Clear thesis with a bold claim:
Individualism will always be in conflict with the conformist demands of society, and oversimplifying the answer to ‘strike a balance’ is dishonest in that it pretends such a compromise exists; whatever they choose, Elizabeth and Charlotte must risk either being an outsider or being co-opted. Neither choice will ever be ideal.
BODY T-E-A PARAGRAPHS with strong claims in topic sentences:
Topic
Evidence
Analysis
NOT:
Many times, individuals will try to go against society and stand up for themselves. Elizabeth is an example of such a person.
[Is this really a hard hitting claim? Does it make you want to read further?]
CONCLUSION?
