Topic
Contact a business executive to interview, preferably someone whowrites a lot on the job. Investigate the nature of the writing they do. Write anessay describing your findings.
Format
This is to be an expository, thesis-driven essay. Pay particularattention to your thesis as we have discussed in class. Be sure it predicts orhints at what is to come in the rest of your paper. It is conventionally placedas the last sentence in your first paragraph. Your thesis can be broad andgeneral, so long as it adequately predicts what is to come in yourpaper.
General vs. Specific Thesis Sentence
General predictive statement as thesis: Priscilla Owens, infact, spend almost her whole day writing.
The following paragraphs begin with topic sentences such as, "In the morning, she grabs her laptop..."
Next section begins "Around 11:00, she typically composes amemo to clients with her sales team." etc.
or
More specific sectional divisions announced in thesissentence: Priscilla Owens writes the greater part of her workday: emails and team memos in the morning, proposals in theafternoon and legal correspondence for the remaining two hours of herworkday. (Specific prediction)
Be sure to introduce your interviewee (name, placeof work, title) in your first paragraph. A bit of physical description is alsoeffective.
You should use some quotations from the person youinterview to back up your findings. But don’t begin paragraphs withquotations. They should generally illustrate points that you introduce first.You do NOT have to use MLA documentation style (no page numbers at the end ofquotations). "This means that periods and commas go inside quotationmarks, like this."
If possible, get a writing sample from your interviewee and discuss itbriefly in your paper.
Write a catchy lead (first) sentence.
Include an introductory and conclusive device.
Length
2 1/2 to 3 pages, double spaced
Style
- Use active verbs, specific language
- Vary sentence length. Use a very short one here and there.
- Avoid "to be" verbs
- Vary sentence beginnings
