ACADEMIC WRITING IApril 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.