The Whole
Composition (1)
Contents
Criteria
Steps
Parts
Criteria of a Good Composition
irrelevant
Unity
short
long
short
Proportion
Order
Content&
language
Steps in Writing a Composition
Planning
Revising the 1st Draft
Writing the 1st Draft
Making the Final Copy
Planning a Composition
Writing
Thinking
Re-examining
Listing
Relevant
facts
Subject chart
(web)
Cubing
(describe it, compare
it, associate it, analyze
it, apply it, and argue
for or against it)
Proper thesis
Details
&
outline
Planning a Composition
Types of Outlines
Topic Outline
Sentence Outline
Gerund phrases
infinitive phrases
I. Introduction
An Outline
Thesis (controlling idea)
II. Main idea
A. Sub-idea
B. Sub-idea
1. Supporting detail
2. Supporting detail
a. Fact 1
b. Fact 2
III. Main idea
A. Sub-idea
A. Sub-idea
1. Supporting detail
2. Supporting detail
IV. Conclusion
a. Fact 1
b. Fact 2
Complete sentences
I. Introduction
An Outline
Thesis (controlling idea)
Para.1: topic sentence +
supporting details
II. Body
supporting
paragraphs
Para.2: topic sentence +
supporting details
IV. Conclusion
Rules for Writing Outline
single
Unparalleled Question &
subdivisionsmixing types structure
incomplete
sentence
Topic: Struggle in the Sea - The Rise of Carrie and the Fall of Hurstwood
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Outline :
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I. An introduction to the book Sister Carrie
II. Causes for the rise of Carrie
No parallel
A. Social factors
a. The development of industry
b. The growth of cities
c. The trend of immigrating from the country to the cities
d. Women seeking positions
B. The influence of people
a. The influence of Mrs. Vance
b. The influence of Mr. Ames
Not related
c. Spurred by endless desire pursuing
III. Causes for the fall of Hurstwood
A. His nature as a member of upper middle class
B. Two mistakes he made
a. Stealing the money
Grammar structure
b. His infatuation for Carrie
c. Not adapting to the new circumstance
IV. Conclusion
• Topic: Struggle in the Sea - The Rise of Carrie and the Fall of Hurstwood
• Outline :
• I. An introduction to the book Sister Carrie
• II. Causes for the rise of Carrie
• A. External causes --- social factors
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1. The development of industry and growth of cities
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2. The trend of migration from the country to the cities
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3. The trend of women seeking jobs
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B. Internal causes
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1. Her looks
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2. Her age
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3. Her guiding principle of life
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4. Her ability to learn from others
a. The influence of Drouet
b. The influence of Mrs. Vance
c. The influence of Ames
• III. Causes for the fall of Hurstwood
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A. External causes --- social factors
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1. His calculating wife
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2. His chance to steal the money
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3. His moving from Chicago to New York
• B. Internal causes
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1. His infatuation for Carrie
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2. His age
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3. His lack of inner strength
• IV. Conclusion
Content
Revising
Organization
Sentences
Grammar
Structure,
tenses, …
topic sentence,
clear thesis,
enough facts,
logic
Diction
beginning,
body
ending,
transitions
coherence, unity,
variety, wordiness
appropriateness,
chinglish,
Think Arms!
• Add
• Remove
• Move
• Substitute
Think Cups!
• Capitalization
• Usage
• Punctuation
• Spelling
Steps in Writing a Composition
Design a writing plan
Write an outline
Write the first draft
Revise the first draft
Make the final copy
Check the final copy before handing in
Three Main Parts of a Composition
Digressing from the main subject
too general topic
The Middle
The Beginning
Time and place
Relevant background
A question
Facts and ideas
Figures or statistics
A quotation
An analogy
definition
The End
Restatement
Recommendation
Prediction
Quotation
Writing Practice
• Topic One: Say “Yes” to Plastic Surgery
• Topic Two: Say “No” to Plastic Surgery
• Think of a proper thesis statement based on
your topic, and use your own words to
write an outline, making use of details
related to your theme.
• Write your first draft based on your outline
and revise the draft.
Self-learning Assignment
• 1. Preview Description and analyze samples of
description in text book.
• 2. Group work: Describe someone with whom
you have a close relationship. How could you
present the this person? What overall
impression of him/her would you like readers
to get from your description?
•
Choose a better one for a presentation for
the whole class (PPT/Word file)
• While prepare your description, include the
following aspects:
• Vivid portrait including concrete details on
physical features.
• Typical behavior (specific gestures, actions
showing feelings, interesting habits etc)
• Speech (memorable expressions, tones of
voice, manner of speech etc.)
• Clarification of the person’s significance in
your life.
What a good thesis statement is?
•
•
•
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Example:
Specific and Restricted
1. Television is a plug-in drug.
2. Too much TV for children is a big problem.
3. Children may develop passive personalities
from watching too much TV.
• Topic: Selecting a major.
• Thesis: _______________________
Selecting a major is the most important
decision a student makes in college.
•
_________________________
Wheel strategy
Examples that
support the topic
ideas
rim
hub
thesis
spoke
Topic ideas and strategies to
develop the topic ideas
Thesis statement: The local weather patterns are hub
undergoing significant changes.
Topic idea 1: Winters are becoming milder. Spoke 1
Development 1: Give examples. Spoke 1: 1paragraph
Examples: No strong wind, higher average temperature,
trees remaining green longer.
rim
Topic idea 2: Shorter spring and fall.
Development 2: Compare with former spring and fall.
Examples: sudden change of seasons without transitional
periods, change of clothes from coat to shirt.
Topic idea 3: Summers are growing cooler. (Spoke 3)
….