Writing Topic Summary Chapter 2

             Chapter 2 of "Rules for Writers"  by Diana Hacker covers how to begin Drafting your essay. It is important to gather your ideas and organize them before worrying about your sentence structure and choice of words. For Americans, we like to have a very clear thesis statement so our main point is understood right out of the gate, according to Ms. Hacker. Apparently, there are foreign countries who's writing of essays is more acceptable with the thesis being very subtly called into existence as the reader progresses. I liked the quote that Diana uses in this chapter from Joan Didion who says "I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see and what it means". I never put it in those words but I tend to do that everytime I write.
             Figuring out your thesis statement maybe the most difficult. You need to grab the readers attention in a way that shows your intention and also your integrity. If I'm reading something, I want to believe that the author actually believes what they are writing. Once you have your thesis in your head, you can then work on your revisions of your thesis statement. Remember that drafting is just the age of discovery for your paper. You can go back and forth fine tuning your thesis statement as you go. I have sometimes begun writing with my thesis statement laid out and then in the process of writing found I couldn't support it enough with the body of my essay so I have to go back and maybe open up the scope of my statement or narrow it into a focus that I can support.
             The body of your draft is the Meat of the paper. You have given the reader your idea now tell them the reason, or describe the effects, or use your critical thinking to dissect your subject. This is really where I pay a lot of attaention to my audience. How do I want the reader to feel? Do I want them to discover something new? or do I focus on showing evidence for something that maybe questionable? There are many roads to take here and you can spend a lot of time just focusing on your supporting paragraghs.
            My favorite part of anything I have ever written is the End. It feels great when you can find that perfect balance in your last paragragh to leave the reader with a specific emotion or train of thought. I think this is what politicians study most when they are out stumping. What information or feeling do I want the reader to walk away with? Is it mystery that calls them to investigate? Is it a sense of closure that there shouldn't be anymore questions on the subject after they read my paper? You have many choices to play with here.
              I always use these guidelines for my papers. I spend a lot of time reading and re-reading my papers until I find that flow that causes and easy, chewable read for the audience. I like when there is almost a poetic aspect to the way words, paragraghs, and the thesis all work together in synergy. This chapter reaffirmed some things like using different ideas for hooking the reader.