<p>I start off my essay with a an expletive f-ck, because it was something someone said to me once. That quote and its meaning is kind of the main theme of the essay, so I don't want to change it and dumb down the effect of my essay. What should I do?</p>
<p>Can you post what the actual quote is, if it’s not too sensitive?
In any case, there should be some way to paraphrase the quote to avoid the expletive, without dumbing-down the effect of the essay; I’m not even sure how an essay can hinge on a single expletive…if it really is necessary, then by all means keep it, but try to suffuse the rest of the piece with a similar grainy and harsh tone, so as to camouflage the very pointed opening.</p>
<p>“You ****ing Muslim!”</p>
<p>There are many ways to get a point across about what was said without saying it. The risks you run are appearing to be looking for attention and shock value and offending someone who is reading your essay. Unless it is vital to the meaning, I would find another way. When my college students use vulgar language, slang, or cliche’s, I tell them that those are not generally appropriate for academic writing.</p>
<p>I kinda was looking for shock value on that one. What should I change it to? Freaking, damn, stupid? I kinda want my essay to stand out and make the reader want to read more.</p>
<p>i wouldnt use that since it may set the wrong tone for your essay and you dont want to start off on the wrong foot. attention is good as long as its not the wrong type.</p>
<p>I don’t know. Is this your personal statement for the Common App? Because I wouldn’t call that “academic writing.”</p>
<p>There was a sign in the journalism room of my high school about dealing with controversial content: “Is this the mountain I want to die on?” If it means enough to you that you’re willing to deal with the possibility of a less-than-receptive adcom, then go for it.</p>
<p>Also, you can always use asterisks if you don’t want to write out the entire word.</p>
<p>Everyone on earth would know what you were saying if you used your post #3 option. I posted #4 at the same time you were posting #3, so I had not seen that. I am certain that it would be quite shocking to have that yelled at you and most of us have no idea what it feels like.</p>
<p>mflevity–it’s not academic writing, but it may be read by academics.</p>