English 350 & 355 Monday 10 March 2014 Melissa Gunby
Jan 01, 2016
Please attend lab when scheduled. If you need to make up time, please check with one of the staff to make sure it’s okay
You should be working on chapter 5: locating main ideas or starting the compare/contrast writing assignment
If you think you need to schedule additional hours, please talk to Diane
Reminders
◦ Why does Candy have so much more money than the others do? How has it affected his life? What does he want to make himself happy?
What is Suzy’s place? How is it different from Clara’s place?
How do both of these places show the man’s loneliness?
The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. Evidence supports the main idea. Transitional words and phrases show the connections between ideas. A summary statement reinforces the main idea of the paragraph.
Review: Paragraph Structure
Introduction◦ Thesis statement
Body paragraphs◦ Anywhere from 3- ∞
conclusion
Essay Structure
Intro
Body Paragraphs
conclusion
Thesis statements are to essays what topic sentences are to paragraphs◦ Every essay has to have one◦ It gives the main and controlling idea for the
essay in a single statement◦ It will be clearly worded and specific◦ It will not just be a statement of fact◦ It will not announce◦ It will be broad enough to complete the
assignment, but limited enough to also complete the assignment
Thesis Statements
Many people have different opinions on whether people under twenty-one should be permitted to drink alcohol, and I agree with them.
The question of whether we need a national law governing the minimum age to drink alcohol is a controversial issue in many states.
I want to give my opinion on the national law that sets twenty-one as the legal age to drink alcohol and the reasons I feel this way.
To reduce the number of highway fatalities, our country needs to enforce the national law that designates twenty-one as the legal minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol.
The legal minimum age for purchasing alcohol should be eighteen rather than twenty-one.
The writer’s opinion is not clear to the reader.
It may introduce a thesis, but there is no clear opinion stated.
What is the writer’s opinion?
There is a clearly stated opinion that will be supported in the essay
Clear position that will be supported –I would argue this is a good first draft thesis
Let’s go through these (13-5) as a group and decide if they are facts, announcements, vague statements, or thesis statements
Please look at page 205
Common Thesis Mistakes Don’t announce:
◦ Your reader knows that you will be talking about something in your essay –that’s the whole point. State an attitude toward the subject.
Don’t say “I believe” or “in my opinion:”◦ Your reader also knows this is your essay – your name is at the
top. Therefore, your reader knows it’s your opinion. Don’t be unreasonable:
◦ Making irrational claims will only make your reader think that you haven’t done any studying about your topic.
Don’t state a fact:◦ We need a bit of your view on something to make an essay work
Don’t use a question:◦ Asking a question as a thesis statement can give the reader
doubts as to your credibility. If you can’t give a solid statement of opinion and topic, why should the reader believe anything you say that follows?
Name Topic
Teena Careers
Joseph Reality Television
Patricia Music
Jazalene Texting in class
Billy Computer games
Anastashia The cost of gas
Loni Disciplining children
Jose Texting in class
Vaughn Music
Exercise 13-8Take the topic assigned and come up with a thesis statement for a 2-3 page essay.
Each paragraph should support the thesis statement◦ The main idea statement should link back to the
thesis The major supporting details should explain the topic
The minor supporting details should give the support/evidence/explanation needed to make your point.
Paragraph Development
Thesis: There are many reasons why cats are better than dogs.P.1: Cats are quieter than dogsMSD: Cats don’t have a loud barkmsd: my cat’s cry for food is much less loud than my neighbor’s dog barking to be let out.P.2: Cats are calmer than dogsMSD: cats spend more time resting than dogsmsd: so they aren’t as activeP.3: Cats can be less dangerous than dogsP.4: Cats don’t have to be walked because they use a litter box.
Outlining
Map/Visual Outline
Main Idea
Major Supporting
Detail
Minor support Minor Minor
Major Supporting
Detail
Minor Minor Minor
Outlining
Linear/Textual Outline
Main idea: ◦ Major Supporting Detail
Minor support Minor support Minor support
◦ Major Supporting Detail Minor support Minor support Minor support
Do whatever outlining feels the most comfortable to you to get yourself organized.
Some people are more visually oriented; some are more linear. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to do it (other than to turn in a hot mess of an essay because you didn’t do any organizing at all).
All essays:◦ Have an introduction, which sets up the topic,
provides background, and leads the reader to the thesis statement
◦ Have a thesis statement, which gives the main idea for the essay
◦ Has sufficient body paragraphs to support the thesis, with details, evidence, and examples
◦ Has a conclusion paragraph which restates the main idea and brings the essay to a close
Review