ACADEMIC WRITING I
April 3rd 2012
Today
• Essays (continued)
•
- Logical division of ideas essay.
• - Coherence in essays (paragraph transitions).
• Paper # 2 information
Review
• The two parts of an introduction paragraph = ?
• 1. General statements (attract reader’s attention).
• 2. Thesis statement (states the essay’s main idea).
Source: http://home.earthlink.net/~khatzi/essay/intro.htm
Introduction
General comment
qualify
relate
thesis
Introduction
• Focus on a key word related to your topic.
• - Clothing
• Write an opening sentence providing a general comment about
that word.
•
- Many people feel that clothing defines them as a person
• Write a few more (2 or 3) more specific sentences that lead
you to your actual topic (thesis).
• - Whether is be formal attire or jeans and sneakers, people tend to wear
clothes that they are most comfortable in. Sometimes the type of clothes
people wear is dependent on their lifestyle.
• Next, write a sentence clearly relating to the previous
sentences and also introducing the specific topic.
• - Dress code policies often limit people’s personal
choices and infringe upon their financial situations.
• Finish with the thesis statement.
• - The school dress code policy should not be adopted due to
various circumstances within the school and among the students.
• http://www.slideshare.net/markbarkowski/5-paragraph-
essay-6933418
Review
• What is wrong with each thesis statement?
• Buying a car is stressful.
• From now, I will write about the Korean War.
• Cats are pets.
• Bowling.
Review
• Body paragraphs:
• Develop the topic and prove your points.
• i.e., “Buying a car is a stressful activity because it is
expensive, time consuming, and requires previous
knowledge about cars.
• What will the body paragraphs be about?
Review
• Concluding paragraph.
• Has three purposes:
• 1. Signal the end of the essay (begin with a concluding
transition signal).
• 2. Remind the reader of the main points.
• 3. Leave the reader with your final thoughts on the topic.
- Sometimes called a “clincher”
Concluding paragraph example
Source: http://home.earthlink.net/~khatzi/essay/concl.htm
Concluding paragaph
• The final thought (or ‘clincher’)
• - Make a prediction.
• - Suggest results or consequences.
• - Make a recommendation or suggest a solution.
• - Quote an authority on the topic.
Essay types
• As I mentioned last week, there are several types of
essays:
• Compare/contrast essays
•
- “There are several differences between K-pop and J-pop.”
• Chronological order essays (explaining a process).
•
- “The formation of diamonds takes millions of years and involves
several processes.”
• Logical division of ideas.
•
- “Buying a car is a stressful activity because it is expensive, time
consuming, and requires previous knowledge about cars.”
Logical division of ideas
•
The “basic” essay.
Logical division of ideas
• Basic pattern
• Divide topic into subtopics.
• Discuss each topic in a separate paragraph.
• Useful for essays:
•
explaining causes, reasons, types, kinds, qualities,
methods, advantages, and disadvantages.
Logical division of ideas
Three keys:
•
1. Divide topic into subtopics. Discuss each topic in a
separate paragraph.
•
2. Write a thesis statement that indicates logical division.
•
3. Use transitions between paragraphs to guide
readers from one subtopic to the next.
Logical division of ideas
Examples:
• Thesis statement may indicate the number of subtopics:
• “Native Americans have made valuable contributions to
modern U.S. culture in four main areas.”
Logical division of ideas
Examples:
• Thesis statement may also name the specific subtopics
• “Native Americans have made valuable contributions to
modern U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language,
art, food, and government.”
Logical division of ideas
Examples:
• A colon (:) can be useful for lists of two or more topics.
•
“The father of Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, believed
that the human mind had three separate parts: the id, the
ego, and the superego.”
Logical division of ideas
Examples:
• Paired conjunctions (both….and….) can be a good way to
list two subtopics.
•
“Puppies, like children, need both love and discipline to
become responsible members of society.”
Logical division of ideas
Examples:
• Paired conjunctions (both….and….) can be a good way to
list two subtopics.
•
“Puppies, like children, need both love and discipline to
become responsible members of society.”
But what is this “logical”
division of ideas?
Logical division of ideas
What is this ‘logical division?’:
• How should your ideas be ‘divided’?
• How do you determine which subtopic should be the first
body paragraph, which the second, and which the third?
Logical division of ideas
What is this ‘logical division?’:
• How should your ideas be ‘divided’?
• How do you determine which subtopic should be the first
body paragraph, which the second, and which the third?
• This order is often determined in the thesis statement:
• “Native Americans have made valuable contributions to
modern U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language,
art, and government.”
“Native Americans have made valuable contributions to modern
U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, and
government.”
• Body paragraph 1 should:
•
•
•
- Contain the strongest argument.
- The most relevant point or example.
- or be the obvious beginning point.
• In our example above, ‘language’ is the most significant
example of the valuable contributions made by Native
Americans to modern U.S. culture.
“Native Americans have made valuable contributions to modern
U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, and
government.”
• Body paragraph 2 should:
•
•
•
- Contain the second strongest argument.
- The second most relevant point or example.
- or be the obvious follow up to the previous paragraph.
• In our example above, ‘art’ is the second most significant
example of the valuable contributions made by Native
Americans to modern U.S. culture.
“Native Americans have made valuable contributions to modern
U.S. culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, and
government.”
• Body paragraph 3 should:
•
•
•
- Contain the weakest argument.*
- The weakest point or example.*
- or be the obvious follow up to the previous paragraph.
• In our example above, ‘government’ is the “weakest”
example of the valuable contributions made by Native
Americans to modern U.S. culture.
• * No point should actually be weak. Just not as strong
as the previous points.