A few days ago I wrote out my essay outline format for a paper I had to write. It actually ended up helping me out a lot and I did 8.5 pages in less than 3 hours.

Here is what the introduction–following the format–ends up looking like:

Since understanding often induces simplification, it is no surprise that the study of global religion is found lacking. Indeed, it seems that Christianity and ethnic religions are so diametrically opposed in their philosophies that the subjection of the latter by the former was inevitable. As author Joel Tishken points out, the current definitions for what constitutes religion regularly ignores “huge portions” of the world. (303) From this he asserts that scholars must rid themselves of the bias that world religion is “evolving” towards a monotheistic, Christian-like faith. Vine Deloria in his book “God is Read” begins with similar assumptions and adds that the evangelical nature of Christianity has set it on a crash-course towards domination and conversion of native peoples. The views of both authors are exemplified in the oral history told by Lin Custalow’s “The True Story of Pocahontas.” This book–serving as a microcosm of the conflict between Christian settlers and the indigenous people of American–shows the great chasm between ethnic and evangelical religion, and how their coexistence seems unlikely. Ultimately, Christianity and ethnic religions look at the world in vastly different ways and thus it seems inappropriate and even condescending to attempt to place the two in a singular category.*

I put the thesis in bold. In the comments section of the last one, someone argued that the thesis should actually go at the bottom of the introduction, which I think is a huge mistake. Since a paper is about make a clear point and then supporting it, don’t you think that means, logically, your clear point must come first? Your thesis is the constitution of your paper and then your support is the democratic practices. One is meaningless without the other preceeding it. Boldly stating your point and then elaborating why that is true makes a great impression on the reader than stating, first, what your evidence is and then later, what it means.

*Let me make it clear that I don’t necessarily believe what I wrote, although it was the correct interpretation of the works. I make this point because I just had to sit through a fellow student use the same logic to actually defend cannibalism in Mesoamerican tribes; which of course is absolutely idiotic.

But what says Socrates?–“One man finds pleasure in improving his land, another his horses. My pleasure lies in seeing that I myself grow better day by day.”

–Epictetus

Seth Godin’s blog is really good, he looks at marketing from a common sense consumer perspective. So I thought of him today when I saw what can only be described as the least effective form of advertising I’ve ever seen.

I’d parked my car on the street and as I went out to run, I saw I had a ticket. Screaming obscenities, I walked over to look at and found that it wasn’t a ticket. It was a yellow advertisement for a sandwich shop purposely placed face down to trick me, which I promptly tore up and threw on the ground.

Clearly somewhere along the line things went horribly, horribly wrong. No such thing as bad PR right? Let’s make an exception here. What do you gain by making your customer feel like a jackass? What good is it to associate your name with fear and anger? Why would I ever want to stop by and get a sub-sandwich at a place that goes around trying to fuck with me?

This is a bit of a litmus test that I think more marketers ought to use. What good is getting noticed if you have to manipulate or piss someone off to do it? For instance, you might be hoping to get someone to read an email you’ve written. Well, you could employ some less than ethical techniques to ensure its opening–URGENT, or RE: or whatever. But why bother if you can’t deliver? Why try so hard to make sure I check out your flier, if I am going to be angry shortly there after.

The point is this: More than anything else, the customer wants to feel RESPECTED. That’s why transparency is so huge right now, people are tired of feeling worked over. So it seems to me that you gain more by having a few pleased and happy customers then a whole bunch of pissed off ones.

I’d like to hear your guys’ most ridiculous stories about bad marketing. Another marketing tip is to make sure you have the best hosting for your website, so take a look at reviews like this 000webhost review.