Article: You should open your personal essay with an introductory section that is engaging and interesting for your reader. The opening section should introduce the key characters of the essay as well as the central theme or themes of the essay. It should also present the central question or concern in the essay. Don't begin with a line that explains exactly what is going to be discussed in, such as, "In this essay, I will be discussing my fraught relationship with my mother." Instead, draw your reader into your piece and still provide all the information needed in your opening line. Start instead with a specific scene that contains the key characters of the essay and allows you discuss the central question or theme. Doing this will allow you to introduce the reader to the characters and the central conflict right away. For example, if you are writing about your fraught relationship with your mother, you may focus on a specific memory where you both disagreed or clashed. This could be the time you and your mother fought over a seemingly insignificant item, or the time you argued about a family secret. Try to use an active voice instead of a passive voice as much as possible when you're writing your essay. Though you are writing a personal essay, you still have the freedom to use a unique writing voice or point of view. Like other writing genres, personal essays are often more successful when the writer uses a writing voice that entertains and informs the reader. This means using word choice, syntax, and tone to create an engaging narrative voice in the essay. This writing voice may be conversational, much like how you might speak to a good friend or a family member. Or, the writing voice may be more reflective and internal, where you question your own assumptions and thoughts about the subject of the essay. Many personal essays are written in the first person, using "I". You may decide to write in the present tense to make the story feel immediate, or past tense, which will allow you to reflect more on specific events or moments. Include vivid sensory descriptions in your essay to help the reader connect with your unique perspective. Describing touch, smell, taste, sight, and sound can help the reader invest in your story and feel like they're there with you. Be sure to describe your characters with sensory detail and physical detail. Even though you are pulling from your real life experiences in your essay, you should still consider storytelling elements like plot and character. Using these elements in your essay will keep your reader engaged and help your essay to flow smoothly. You can also include lines of dialogue spoken by your characters, based on your memory of the event. However, you should limit dialogue to only a few lines a page, as too much dialogue can start to veer away from personal essay and more toward fiction. You should also have a sense of plot in your essay, where a sequence of events or moments add up to a realization or moment of conflict at the end of the piece. In general, it's a good idea to write the events in your essay in chronological order so it's easy for the reader to follow along. You may use a plot outline to organize your essay. The plot points should act as supporting evidence for the central question or issue of the essay. This means thinking about the deeper meanings that are at the core of your personal experiences. Try to discuss your experiences with honesty and curiosity, where you are trying to uncover a hidden truth or a truth you did not know was there at the time. Often, the best personal essays will try to expose a truth that is uncomfortable or difficult for the writer to discuss. It's important to remember that though an experience may appear to have all the drama necessary to make a good personal essay, it may be a drama that is too familiar to the reader already. Be wary of experiences that are familiar and filled with pathos that a reader may have experienced before. If you are writing about the sudden death of a loved one, for example, it may feel important and deep to you. But the reader will likely know what to expect of an essay about a dead loved one, and may not relate to your essay because they did not know the loved one like you did. Instead, you may try to uncover a truth that is deeper than "I am sad my loved one died." Think about what the loved one meant to you and how the loved one affected your life, in positive and negative ways. This could lead to the uncovering of a deeper truth and a stronger personal essay.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Begin with an engaging opening scene. Write from your unique voice or perspective. Develop the characters so they are well-rounded and detailed. Include plot in your essay. Focus on uncovering a deeper truth.
Article: In order to move beyond the conflict, you and your friend need to discuss the issue. Ask your friend to meet with youinvite your friend to coffee, dinner, or a walk on the beach. Your proactiveness will show that you care about repairing the relationship. Insist that the conversation takes place face-to-faceif you and your friend can see each other's facial expressions and body language, there is less room for misinterpretations. If your friend is not ready to meet, don't push the issue. Give them a few more days to cool off and then ask again. Decline any offers to talk about your fight over the phone or social media platforms. When you and your friend meet, both of you may be experiencing very raw emotions. Your demeanor will set the tone for the entire discussion. Don't let your negative emotions take control over of the situationyelling, aggression, and defensive behavior will only derail the reconciliation. When you feel yourself getting mad, stop talking and take several deep breaths. Count to ten or repeat a mantra, like "I am calm, cool, and collected." If you feel yourself getting too heated, excuse yourself for a moment and return when you feel calm. Think about why you're feeling this way. Was it a simple misunderstanding? How much control do you have over this? Use this time to gather and organize your thoughtsidentify the source of your anger so that you can clearly articulate what you are upset about. When you meet with your friend, do not make excuses or place the blame on them. Instead, accept responsibility for your role in the conflict. Focus on expressing yourself calmly and rationally. Use "I statements" to identify and take ownership of your feelings. Be as specific as possible. "I felt angry when you left me at the party." Avoid the words "ought" and "should," as well as the phrases, "I feel like___" and "I feel that__." These transform I-statements into You-statements. Avoid yelling. After you have expressed yourself, allow your friend to share their emotions with you. It may be hard for you to hear what they say, but try not to interrupt. It is important that they feel heard and valued. Sit quietly and actively listen to what they are saying. When your friend is talking, put away all distractions, such as your phone or computer. Maintain eye contact with your friend. Lean forwards and tilt your head slightly to demonstrate that you are engaged. Mirror your friend's body language. After actively listening to your friend, set aside your point of view and desire to be right and empathize with them. Explaining the conflict from your friend's perspective assure them that you were in fact listening. It also demonstrates that you are prepared to accept responsibility for your actions and prepared to move forward. "I can see how my actions made you feel ____." "I didn't realize I hurt you by ____." Avoid the word "but." This word indicates that you did not actually see the issue from your friend's perspective. Instead, replace "but" with "and."
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Find a time to meet with your friend. Remain calm throughout the discussion. Explain your feelings and actions. Allow your friend to openly share their feelings. Acknowledge that you heard and understand your friend's perspective.