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English Composition

Today’s ClassReview of the reading(s)Assignment formattingSome common grammatical errorsLarge group essay workshopIn-class paragraph writing and editing workshopReading PreviewMicrosoft Word Editing TutorialHomework

Reading Review (online)Make the paragraph the unit of composition – one unit to each topic.

Very short pieces may not require division into topics.

Ordinarily you discuss several topics to make your point.

The paragraph is a visual tool that shows the reader that one idea is finished, and a new one is beginning.

Reading Review (online)As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning.

This idea was discussed in the 5 paragraph essay.

Ending with a digression, or with an unimportant detail, is particularly to be avoided.

Reading Review (online)Strunk’s perfect paragraph

The topic sentence comes at or near the beginning;

The succeeding sentences explain or establish or develop the statement made in the topic sentence; and

The final sentence either emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states some important consequence.

Reading Review (textbook)

The need for structure (or lack thereof)

What are some different kinds of structures?

How do different structures serve different purposes?

Reading Review (textbook)

The single-sentence paragraph

Story vs. Essay paragraphs

Reading Review (textbook)

Paragraphing calls for a good eye as well as a logical mind.

Moderation and a sense of order should be the main considerations in paragraphing.

Paragraphing is difficult because you start with the whole (your essay topic) and divide it into appropriate parts. This is difficult mental work. This is why writing is hard.

Assignment FormattingFiletype (please do not paste into the email):

.doc or .docx format

Font: Times New Roman 12 ptFile name

should look like: yourname_essay_title.doc

First three lines of the essay should be:TitleName

– Word Count

Common Grammatical Errors

• Chinglish

• Do not think in Chinese and translate into English. Try to write your ideas in English

Common Grammatical Errors

• Overuse of the word ‘of’

• Taiwanese people tend to use ‘of’ rather than use nouns as adjectives.

• “the clothing of basketball” should be written as “basketball clothing”

Common Grammatical Errors

• Some common tenses and their uses:

• Simple Present: A recurring action

• Simple Past: An action completed in the past

• Present Progressive: An action occurring at the moment of speaking (writing).

• Simple Future: Actions that will occur in the future.

Common Grammatical Errors

• Countable vs. Uncountable• Countable measured with words like: a lot of,

many, few, more, fewer• Uncountable measured with words like: a lot of,

a little, more, less• Usually uncountable nouns are pieces of a

larger noun that is the same• Some nouns can be both countable and

uncountable

Lists• Set off with a colon :• Comma after every item; ‘and’ before last item.• All verbs must have same form (except in

special cases)• If all items in the list are preceded by the same

signifier (‘a’ or ‘the’) then only put the signifier before the first word

• Eg. Don’t write, “his coat, his boots, and his hat.” Write, “his coat, boots, and hat.”

Now, write some paragraphs

Please write a paragraph at least eight sentences long. You may want to plan your ideas and structure first.

Please write two copies of your paragraph.Some topic ideas:• A great place• The biggest problem in the world• Something everybody should try once• The best experience that I ever had

Workshop• Choose an order to present your paragraphs. If

nobody wants to go first, go in alphabetical order.

• Pass around your paragraphs and make notes about problems with, and improvements that could be made to, the paragraphs.

• Then take turns discussing the paragraph with the writer. The writer should speak very little, or not at all.

Workshop• Things to look for in paragraphs:

– Structure: Does it follow the paragraph structure discussed in class?

– Mistakes: Spelling and grammar errors.– On topic: Do all of the sentences support

the main idea? Are there any unnecessary or redundant sentences?

– Other Issues: • Are there any unnecessary words? • Are there any sentences that could be made

simpler or clearer?• Could any long or difficult words be replaced

with simpler or shorter ones?

Reading Preview• The Elements of Style parts 1 – 10 to be

done on the whiteboard.

Reading Preview• The Elements of Style chapter 4, Words

and Expressions Commonly Misused• Among vs. Between• And/or• Anticipate vs. Expect

– Expect simply implies knowledge. Anticipate can also imply action.

Reading Preview

Microsoft Word Editing• To be done on screen

HomeworkWriting:

– Final essay topic (can be the same as something I love)

– Essay workshop: Revise group member essays and email them to myself, and the author.

– Due Date: Monday December 28th at 9:00 am

Reading – The Elements of Style

• Chapter 1 Parts 1-10• Chapter 4