Introductory Paragraphs

Clearly state the point of your paper, i.e,

thesis statement.
Avoid grandiose claims that cannot be
substantiated.
Only include information that is necessary
to the point at hand.
Provide some contextual information.

Example
A good man cannot be harmed in life or in death
(41d). Socrates states this after being sentenced to
death at his trial in the dialogue of Platos Apology.
In the Apology, Socrates was accused of corrupting
the youth and creating new gods. After the Athenian
jury found him guilty of these charges, Socrates
responded with an argument of how he would not be
harmed by this significant decision. Within this
analysis we will discuss what a good man is, why
Socrates stated this, what he meant, and why we
believe he is right.

Through the course of human history, only a handful of

individuals dedicated themselves to living the life of truth,
justice, and moral goodness. The likes of MLK Jr.,
Mother Thersea, and Mahatma Gandhi have struggled
against the unconquerable will of the masses and the
overwhelming forces of politics to combat that which they
believed to be unjust. By failing to compromise their
beliefs, theyve risen amongst a sea of adversities to reach
a level of morality and righteousness. Platos Euthyphro,
Apology, Crito, and Meno relates the life of Socrates, a
well-known philosopher who lived in Athens . . .

 over two thousand years ago. Through a rigorous life of

questioning the ultimate issues of life, he has succeeded in
branding his name in the annals of great thinkers. Yet, by the
same token, he suffered profound discrimination from the
masses and government officials by practicing his beliefs.
They believed that his teachings promoted a corruption of the
citys youth, and the creation of false gods. His life ended in
prosecution and execution. He once said, a good man cannot
be harmed in life or in death. This quote exemplifies his
ultimate belief that by living the good life, he will have
fulfilled the desires of his heart and conscience. As a group
we feel that Socrates lived a life that we truly good.

Quotation Usage

Use quotations only to support or explain

important points of the paper.
Make sure the quotation is genuinely
supporting or explaining the point you are
trying to make.
Read the sentences just prior to (and just
after) the quote in isolation and ask
whether the quotation works.

Examples
. . . Socrates further illustrates how a good man
cannot be harmed in life when he explains to the
jury why he cannot be hurt by their sentence.
Socrates says, I do not think it is permitted that a
better man be harmed by a worse; certainly he
might kill me, or perhaps banish me or
disfranchise me, which he and others think to be a
great harm but I do not think so. He believes, in
other words, that a good man cannot be harmed in
ways that matter to his soul.

The body is the place in which our soul

dwells. They are fused together only in the
physical world to keep us constantly yearning to
obtain the Ultimate Truth. The body and the
soul are separate and to harm one is not directly
harming the other. Only the body and its
desires cause civil war, civil discord, and battles,
for all wars are due to the desire to acquire
wealth, and it is the body and care of it, to which
we are enslaved.

Embed the Quote

Socrates says that a good man cannot be

harmed in life or in death.
A good man, Socrates says, cannot be
harmed in life or in death.
Socrates spoke at his trial of being a good
man. A good man cannot be harmed in
life or in death.