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Openings & Closings…

by | Dec 12, 2015 | Create, Rubrics, Write | 44 comments

Both 8th grade and 9th grade are working on opening paragraphs, and I bet more than a few of you are a bit stumped on how to start. Some of you may even be working on a conclusion.

Wouldn’t that be nice.

My best advice is to use the latest version of my iBook “Fitz’s Literary Analysis Rubric.” The latest version is in the Materials section of your course on iTunes U. If you do not have the latest version, simply delete your version in iBooks and upload the new version.

You can also go to the Opening Paragraphs site on my Resources and Rubrics Page, which has essentially the same information as in my iBook.

Here is a good opening paragraph for The Odyssey already turned in by Ahbinav Tadikonda. It might give you an idea of what might work for you–in your own words and ideas!

Everyday is the same: Odysseus travels the vast seas with his crew in hope to return home only to be disappointed day after day. Enduring the pain of a thousand men Odysseus keeps moving on, being the hero he is. But what is a hero anyways? When most people think of a hero, they think of a tall, muscular, and handsome being that could do no wrong; however, Odysseus is not all that perfect. Odysseus, is often rude, disrespectful, and not always the most attractive male. However he is still a hero. He shows he is a hero by the way he handles difficult times. For Odysseus disaster as constant as the sun rising everyday. Even getting out of bed has become dangerous for him. From battling cyclops’s to being away from family for over 17 years, it really makes you ask: how is it that through all the terrible times Odysseus still shows his maturity, bravery and courage?

For you ninth graders, check out this opening written by Mike Demsher a couple of years ago:

Throughout human history, we have advanced. Whether it is electronically, medically or socially, we have moved forward to a better society; however, could we be moving in the wrong direction? We have advanced our lives to a point where we are constantly hurrying with everything we do. We have been moving into a world where there is no real thought. We are in a philosophical dark age. The only way to snap ourselves out of it is to slow down and think. We must live deliberately each day and remember who we are meant to be. In Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, Thoreau urges us to live our lives purposefully and to not give up who we are. He wants us to live with our eyes open and not to fall into the blur that society is moving towards. Henry David Thoreau wants us to live deliberately.

 

Done with all that…?

If you are working on your conclusion, go to my “Essay Conclusions” website and see the rubric there, which is geared towards concluding a literary anlaysis essay.

Please steal my rubric from me!

For the ninth graders writing an essay on Walden, the example essay on my “How to Write Literary Essays” site uses a Walden essay ( and a fine one) as an example of how to put together an entire essay.

It’s a big project, and I am really only hoping that your write carefully and use the rubrics carefully. If you do, you will do well.

I hope this helps!

44 Comments

  1. Liam tasker
    Liam tasker on December 12, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    Sounds, good.

    • Fitz
      Fitz on December 12, 2015 at 6:35 pm

      Does that mean you listened to the podcasr? 🙂

  2. George von Weise
    George von Weise on December 12, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    Alright, thanks a lot.

  3. Fitz
    Fitz on December 12, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    I can sense the enthusiasm:)

  4. Abhinav Tadikonda
    Abhinav Tadikonda on December 12, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Thanks for all the resources on how to write this!

  5. Lucas
    Lucas on December 12, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Sounds good, when should these be done by?

    • Fitz
      Fitz on December 12, 2015 at 8:48 pm

      Opening Monday; Conclusion Tuesday–Essay on Wednesday

      • Fitz
        Fitz on December 13, 2015 at 7:05 pm

        Or any time before the mid-year exam time.

  6. Gray Hussey
    Gray Hussey on December 12, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    Thanks Fitz I’ll start my conclusion

  7. Nathan Soukup
    Nathan Soukup on December 12, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    Ok, I’m working on my opening now.. Thanks!

  8. Julian Yang
    Julian Yang on December 12, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    I’m kinda stumped on how to write a good opening. This definetely helped.

  9. Charles Brookby
    Charles Brookby on December 12, 2015 at 10:31 pm

    Thank you for all the rubrics fitz. In life, everyone could use a little more organization and this helps all the more! I will download the new literary analysis rubric book and work on my conclusion and opening paragraph(s). Thanks for all the help!

  10. Anonymous
    Anonymous on December 12, 2015 at 10:38 pm

    Thanks Fitz 🙂

  11. Nick Beck
    Nick Beck on December 13, 2015 at 12:39 am

    The opening and closing paragraphs should be fun! Thanks

  12. Colin Cunningham
    Colin Cunningham on December 13, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Thanks Fitz

  13. Charlie Cribb
    Charlie Cribb on December 13, 2015 at 10:05 am

    Thanks for the help. I was stumped.

  14. Nick Beck
    Nick Beck on December 13, 2015 at 11:09 am

    Can we use multiple elements in an opening paragraph?

    • Fitz
      Fitz on December 13, 2015 at 7:04 pm

      Yes!

  15. Sam Farley
    Sam Farley on December 13, 2015 at 11:42 am

    Thanks for all the info here, I’m sure it will come in handy today when I’m writing these!

  16. Logan Renneker
    Logan Renneker on December 13, 2015 at 12:46 pm

    Thank you Fitz!

  17. Henry Patton
    Henry Patton on December 13, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    Thank you for giving us all of these rubrics that we can use later in life.

  18. Jake Harvey
    Jake Harvey on December 13, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    Thanks Fitz

  19. Bennet
    Bennet on December 13, 2015 at 2:18 pm

    Thanks for the guidelines, Fitz!

  20. Arthur
    Arthur on December 13, 2015 at 3:54 pm

    Thanks Fitz

  21. Anonymous
    Anonymous on December 13, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Thanks for this Fitz… I hope this will help me! I am having a bit of trouble with the opening!

    • James Ewin
      James Ewin on December 13, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      That was me sorry!

  22. Greyson
    Greyson on December 13, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    Thanks fitz.

  23. Tim First
    Tim First on December 13, 2015 at 5:38 pm

    Yah. I’m starting my conclusion now!

  24. Matthew Gainsboro
    Matthew Gainsboro on December 13, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    When is our entire essay due? I already have all of the sections and I’m guessing we are going to edit in class, but is there a due date for the entire thing?

    • Peter
      Peter on December 13, 2015 at 6:49 pm

      Matthew, it’s Thursday

  25. Daniel
    Daniel on December 13, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    Thanks fitz

  26. Nicholas Bettenhauser
    Nicholas Bettenhauser on December 14, 2015 at 9:22 am

    Thanks Fitz for the resources

  27. Owen Johnson
    Owen Johnson on December 14, 2015 at 9:37 am

    Thank fitz

  28. Callan Fries
    Callan Fries on December 14, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Thanks Fitz

  29. Mark
    Mark on December 14, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Thanks Fitz

  30. Max Ewing
    Max Ewing on December 14, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Thanks Fitz! can’t wait to start on my conclusion and wrap this thing up

  31. Nathan Soukup
    Nathan Soukup on December 14, 2015 at 8:15 pm

    I have a question, is the conclusion supposed to be about you?

  32. Colby Freeman
    Colby Freeman on December 14, 2015 at 8:53 pm

    A lot of information, all of it helpful. Thanks

  33. Jack Folz
    Jack Folz on December 15, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Thanks for the info

  34. Ben Carbeau
    Ben Carbeau on December 15, 2015 at 10:56 am

    Ok sounds good.

  35. Nico Carere
    Nico Carere on December 15, 2015 at 12:50 pm

    Thanks Fitz

  37. Nico Bowden
    Nico Bowden on December 16, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    Already finished the essay, but the resources were helpful