Writing a discussion of own opinion in 3rd person

Bian · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:06

Hi guys,

I am working on an essay for which i have to write about my stance on sustainability issues within the creation of artificial artefacts. I have to write about my stance in the 3rd person, this is where im confused....how do you write your opinions in the 3rd person??

Anyone able to help me out please??

Cheers

gjrc · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:07

how strange.. :confused:

use "one" or the royal "we"???

surely you should just say "this argument, in my opinion, is flawed" etc etc

DB_SamX · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:11

first person is "I think..."

3rd person is "he thinks..."

I think...

Azagoth · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:14

Wouldn't 3rd person be along the lines of "Bian thought that writing this article was an abuse of Bians intelligence. Bian didn't like to have his intelligence questioned, so Bian decided to rip out the lecturers larynx"?

If it was written by Bian and not me.

Andr3w · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:15

hehe it reminds me of that family guy episode where brian just talk about his life in third person

gjrc · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:16

Azagoth said:
Wouldn't 3rd person be along the lines of "Bian thought that writing this article was an abuse of Bians intelligence. Bian didn't like to have his intelligence questioned, so Bian decided to rip out the lecturers larynx"?

If it was written by Bian and not me.

yeah that sounds right. so basically you need to sound like football manager in a post match interview....

Shackley · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:22

Write the essay as if you are describing someone else's stance on sustainability - i.e. use 'he' or 'she' rather than 'I'.

Are you sure that it isn't meant to be in the 'Passive voice'? Either way, a good site is The Online Writing Lab

Hellsmk2 · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:23

I'd forget about writing it in the third person to begin with. Do the essay as you usually would, and then rewrite it in the third person as you proof read it.

It's probably your lecturer's way of getting students to proof read their own work. Having had to read many undergraduate essays, I can honestly say only a very small percentage ever showed signs of being proof read!

happytechie · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:27

DB_SamX said:
first person is "I think..."

3rd person is "he thinks..."

I think...

isn't that 2nd person whereas the 3rd person would be 'it is thought that'

to the OP get used to writing in the 3rd person as it's how all scientific and degree level writing should be done.

HT

fini · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:33

the eminent theorist <insert name> is thought to believe that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

fini

WillyNelson · 24 Jan 2007 at 17:51

1st Person = I explain
2nd Person = You explain
3rd Person = Nelson explains

Think about how Lennox Lewis used to talk about his fights. He'd say "Lennox Lewis went out there and gave it his all. Lennox Lewis was victorious!" Even though he's speaking about himself he is phrasing it as if someone else were speaking about him. This is how you write. Just imagine that you are writing about someone else's stance on sustainability issues within the creation of artificial artefacts.

ghgh · 24 Jan 2007 at 18:34

My thoughts in my head are in the third person and it always says he thinks... etc always started with he so I guess that is the third person as I have a drug induced psychosis.

geeza · 24 Jan 2007 at 19:28

parts from my report-

The author would like to thank the following people who have helped contribute towards this report:

This report will look at the following topics

The author plans to carry out research in a number of areas

The author proposes to take an open minded approach when designing

Whilst carrying out research the author must take into account any ethical issues.

not that hard really, once you start its easy