...Shaping Content Writing Paragraphs 1. PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, TONE, AND CONTENT L E A R N I N G 1. 2. 3. 4. 6 O B J E C T I V E S Identify the differences between summary, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation paragraphs Identify the content in writing paragraphs Demonstrate how audience and tone influence content Apply purpose, audience, tone, and content to a specific assignment Imagine reading a poorly written review of a movie that you would like to see this weekend. You cannot follow the characters, action, or conflict because the author of the review rambles on and on. Without clear paragraphs, this review will likely lose your interest, and you may skip the movie altogether! When you are the writer, it is helpful to position yourself as a reader. Ask yourself whether you can focus easily on each point you make. Effective writers use a single paragraph for each new idea they introduce. Paragraphs separate ideas into logical, manageable, and distinct units. Each paragraph focuses on only one main idea and presents coherent sentences to support that single point. Because all the sentences in one paragraph support the same point, a paragraph may stand on its own. Each paragraph is shaped by Purpose: the reason why the writer composes the paragraph. < Tone: the attitude the writer conveys about the paragraph’s subject. < Audience: the individual or group whom the writer intends to address. < Content: the written material in the paragraph. < 174 WRITING FOR SUCCESS ...
Words: 11739 - Pages: 47
...Associate Level Material Appendix N Topic Sentences and Supporting Paragraphs Topic Sentences When you write, you form paragraphs. A paragraph is a group of sentences that relate in topic and thought. A paragraph generally consists of three to five sentences and usually begins with a topic sentence. A topic sentence is a general statement that announces what the paragraph is about. By starting a paragraph with a topic sentence, your audience may immediately identify your topic. This construction also helps you, the writer, stay focused on your subject. Consider the following example of an essay introduction: The first sentence is the topic sentence: It tells the readers they will learn about past narratives. The sentences that follow the topic sentence relate to the topic sentence because they provide examples of past narratives. Finally, the last sentence is the thesis of the essay, which expresses the author’s position on the topic and previews what the entire paper is about. You learn more about writing effective introductions later in this course. Supporting Paragraphs Every paragraph after your introduction must be a supporting paragraph. A supporting paragraph supports or proves your thesis. All supporting paragraphs must include a topic sentence. You may then develop the supporting paragraphs within your paper by using one or more of the following methods: • Examples and illustrations • Data, facts, or historical...
Words: 1214 - Pages: 5
...OUTLINE Name: ___________________________________ Date: ______________ Topic Subtopic I. _________________________________________________ A. ___________________________________________ 1. ______________________________________ 2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________ 4. ______________________________________ Supporting details Subtopic Supporting details B. ___________________________________________ 1. ______________________________________ 2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________ 4. ______________________________________ Subtopic Supporting details C. ___________________________________________ 1. ______________________________________ 2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________ 4. ______________________________________ Subtopic Supporting details D. ___________________________________________ 1. ______________________________________ 2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________ 4. ______________________________________ GO.9.1 PLANNER FOR NEWSPAPER ARTICLE Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________ Title of Article ________________________________________________________________ Introduction (who, what, when, and where) __________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________...
Words: 672 - Pages: 3
...The writing process begins the minute you get a writing assignment—whether you are writing a book, an essay, or a single paragraph. It involves all the activities you do, from choosing a topic to turning in a final draft. The phases, or stages, of the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Prewriting Prewriting refers to all activities that help you explore a subject, generate ideas about it, choose a specific topic, establish a purpose, and analyze the audience for your paragraph or essay. Your mission at this stage is to stimulate your thinking before and during the act of writing. Every time you think of a new idea during the writing process, you are prewriting. Drafting When you have lots of ideas to work with, you are ready to start drafting. Drafting involves writing down your thoughts, developing or expanding some ideas, organizing your thoughts to reflect your purpose, and writing a first version of your paragraph or essay. To start on your draft, you may want to spread out your class notes, journal entries, and other prewriting notes so that you can start to string your ideas together. This is the time to keep your thoughts flowing without worrying too much about grammar, punctuation, mechanics, or spelling. Revising As you may suspect, the process of writing is not finished with your first draft. You should always revise your work to make it stronger and better. Revising involves rethinking your content and organization so that your writing...
Words: 3901 - Pages: 16
...The writing process begins the minute you get a writing assignment—whether you are writing a book, an essay, or a single paragraph. It involves all the activities you do, from choosing a topic to turning in a final draft. The phases, or stages, of the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Prewriting Prewriting refers to all activities that help you explore a subject, generate ideas about it, choose a specific topic, establish a purpose, and analyze the audience for your paragraph or essay. Your mission at this stage is to stimulate your thinking before and during the act of writing. Every time you think of a new idea during the writing process, you are prewriting. Drafting When you have lots of ideas to work with, you are ready to start drafting. Drafting involves writing down your thoughts, developing or expanding some ideas, organizing your thoughts to reflect your purpose, and writing a first version of your paragraph or essay. To start on your draft, you may want to spread out your class notes, journal entries, and other prewriting notes so that you can start to string your ideas together. This is the time to keep your thoughts flowing without worrying too much about grammar, punctuation, mechanics, or spelling. Revising As you may suspect, the process of writing is not finished with your first draft. You should always revise your work to make it stronger and better. Revising involves rethinking your content and organization so that your writing...
Words: 3901 - Pages: 16
...How to prepare for IELTS - Writing Contents Page Details of the writing test Task 1 Bar and line graphs, pie charts & tables Process or flow charts Objects/how something works How to prepare for Task 1 Task 2 Questions How to prepare for Task 2 General tips for writing 2 2 4 7 9 10 13 14 17 19 Make sure you have a copy of the How to prepare for IELTS – FAQs booklet in addition to this booklet. 1 How to prepare for IELTS - Writing Details of the Writing Test Procedure of the test The writing test is the third test you do on the test day. You have 60 minutes for this test. There are two tasks or parts to do. You will be given a card with the two tasks – one task on each side of the card. You can make notes or write your plans on the card but it will not be seen by the examiner. You will also be given an answer booklet. You have to write your essays in the answer booklet. Notes are not acceptable and essays under the word limit will be penalized. How to prepare for IELTS - Writing Length & Timing You have to write at least 150 words. You are advised to spend 20 minutes on this task. Marking The Tasks This task tests your ability to perform one or more of the following functions in English: describe and interpret graphic data describe the stages of a process or procedure describe an object or event or sequence of events explain how something works Task 1 Your performance in Task 1 will be assessed on the criteria below: Task Achievement Being...
Words: 3707 - Pages: 15
...Communication I | Copyright © 2011, 2010, 2009 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course addresses the key elements necessary for effective academic writing in college. The course begins with focus on prewriting strategies and builds to drafting and revising essays. In addition, the course includes skill development at the sentence and paragraph level. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials McLean, S. (2011). Writing for success (1st ed.). Irvington, NY: Flat World Knowledge, Inc. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Supplemental Material Associate Level Writing Style Handbook MyWritingLab® |Week...
Words: 2799 - Pages: 12
...course addresses the key elements necessary for effective academic writing in college. The course begins with a focus on prewriting strategies and builds to drafting and revising essays. In addition, the course includes skill development at the sentence and paragraph level. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: · University policies[->0]: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. · Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Arlov, P. (2012). Wordsmith: A guide to paragraphs and short essays (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. McLean, S. (2011). Writing for success. Irvington, NY: Flat World Knowledge. Supplemental Materials Associate Level Writing Style Handbook MyWritingLab All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Writing Process| |Details|Due|Points| Objectives|1 1.1 Identify the steps in the writing process.1.2 Demonstrate correct application of grammar, diction, syntax, and punctuation to writing.||| Reading|Read the University of Phoenix Material: Final Assignment...
Words: 3130 - Pages: 13
...1 Overview of How to Write an Essay Writing essays is a major element of your education at the university level. Effective writing gives you the ability to express your ideas, theories, arguments, and projects clearly. The skills you acquire at the university level through writing essays will be aimed at practical business applications that you will be able to use in the workplace. The following information provides a succinct overview of the elements you need to know to begin writing an essay. It will help you on your writing journey. Types of Essays Narrative A narrative essay is a story told by a narrator. Generally, a narrative discusses the personal experience of the author (the first person point of view), but it can also be written about things that happen to others (third person point of view). A narrative typically involves characters, a setting, specific and vivid details, and a series of events that can include current incidents, flashbacks, or dialogue. Cause and Effect A cause and effect essay explores why events, actions, or conditions occur (cause) and examines the results of those events, actions, or conditions (effect). For example, a cause could be purchasing a new expensive home. The effect might be fewer family vacations, more time spent on upkeep, or less time with family because of extra work hours to pay for the home. Comparison and Contrast A comparison and contrast essay shows the relationship between two or more elements. The items can be compared...
Words: 6215 - Pages: 25
...practice of writing paragraphs is essential to good writing. Paragraphs help to break up large chunks of text and make the content easier for readers to digest. When writing the paragraph we should plan the paragraph, write the paragraph, and review the paragraph. First, plan the paragraph, must have a clear idea of what the paragraph is going to be about. This is because a paragraph is essentially a collection of sentences which all relate to one central topic. Without a definite idea of what the main topic is, the paragraph will lack focus and unity. Secondly, write the paragraph, when writing the paragraph the first sentence of the paragraph needs to be the topic sentence. A topic sentence is an introductory line which addresses what the main idea or thesis of the paragraph is going to be. It should contain the most important and relevant point you wish to make regarding your topic, thus summarizing the paragraph as a whole. Then fill in the supporting details. The supporting sentences are the meat of the paragraph; should fill them with as much evidence to support our topic sentence as possible. Depending on the topic, we can use facts, figures, statistics and examples or we can use stories, anecdotes and quotes. Moreover, write a concluding sentence. The concluding sentence of the paragraph should tie everything together and reiterate the main point of the topic sentence, albeit in different words. A good concluding sentence will reinforce the idea outlined in topic sentence...
Words: 555 - Pages: 3
...FALE 1033 WRITING FOR SCIENCE Topics Covered Introduction to effective writing skills Writing thesis statement and topic sentences Definition , exemplification and classification Description Cause and effect Interpreting diagrammatic information Comparing and contrast Proofreading and editing Text Used 1. 2. Main Text: Oshima, A & Hogue. ( 1997). Introduction to Academic Writing. New York: AddisonWesley, Longman Zimmerman. (2003).English for Science. Singapore: Prentice Hall Additional Text Brannan, B. (2003). A Writer’s Workshop: Crafting Paragraphs, Building Essays. McGraw Hill Trible,C. (2003). Writing Oxford: Oxford University Press Method of Assessment 2 Assignments + 1 Test Assignment 1 -15% (Outlines) Assignment 2 – 15% (interpreting data) Test – 10% (Grammar/proofreading) Final Examination- 60% Section A- Essay Section B- Grammar Section C- Interpreting Graphic Data LECTURE 1 INTRODUCTION TO EFFECTIVE WRITING SKILLS What is Science Writing? Science writers are responsible for covering fields that are experiencing some of the most rapid advances in history, from the stunning advances in biotechnology to the exotic discoveries in astrophysics. A science writer may include coverage of new discoveries about viruses, the brain, evolution, artificial intelligence, planets around other suns, and the global environment, to name a few topics Aims and objectives for writing for science To provide students with the necessary knowledge of the...
Words: 1686 - Pages: 7
...Page 1 of 8 How to Structure & Organize Your Paper Organizing Your Thoughts Making sense out of your observations about a text is a difficult task. Even once you've figured out what it is that you want to say, you are left with the problem of how to say it. With which idea should you begin? Should you address the opinions of other thinkers? As to that stubborn contradiction you've uncovered in your own thinking: what do you do with that? Writing papers in college requires that you come up with sophisticated, complex, and even creative ways of structuring your ideas. Accordingly, there are no simple formulae that we can offer you that will work for every paper, every time. We can, however, give you some things to think about that will help you as you consider how to structure your paper. Let Your Thesis Direct You Begin by listening to your thesis. If it is well-written, it will tell you which way to go with your paper. Suppose, for example, that in responding to Richard Pipes' book, The Russian Revolution, you have written a thesis that says: The purpose of the Russian Revolution was not only to revise Russia's class system, but to create a new world, and within that world, a new kind of human being. This thesis provides the writer (and the reader) with several clues about how best to structure the paper. First, the thesis promises the reader that it will argue that the Russian Revolution was not simply a matter of class. The paper will therefore begin by saying that...
Words: 4691 - Pages: 19
...________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Complete the rest of your outline. Brief notes for each section will suffice. I. Topic Sentence for first supporting paragraph (first point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] II. Topic Sentence for second supporting paragraph (second point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] III. Topic Sentence for third supporting paragraph (third point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] IV. (Continue support paragraphs until you have fully explained and supported your thesis) V. CONCLUSION: Tie your bow. How will you end your essay in a way that reemphasizes what you learned from this...
Words: 1191 - Pages: 5
...Topic Sentences: Fact Sheet and Examples [A student sent me this explanation he found on the internet. Other students have told me the explanation was useful. My comments are in red.] A topic sentence "brings to the paragraph not only order but also unity," and it "announces the topic and an attitude toward it" (Hall 198). As Rise B. Axelrod notes, [My favorite definition:] "A topic sentence lets readers know the focus of a paragraph in simple and direct terms" (406). Sometimes we say that the topic sentence embodies the paragraph's organizing idea or its controlling idea. A topic sentence performs at least some of the following functions: 1. Announces the topic: "A polar bear walks in a way all its own." - Barry Lopez [This is the most common function for a topic sentence. In WA 2, look for the sentence that states the topic of most or all of the other sentences in the paragraph.] 2. Makes a transition from the previous paragraph: "Like sensations, ideas are neither true nor false." - Mortimer J. Adler [A more sophisticated topic sentence summarizes the topic of the last paragraph and announce the topic of the current one, which “connects” the two ideas in the reader’s mind.] 3. Asks and answers a rhetorical question: "What about motion that is too slow to be seen by the human eye? That problem has been solved by the use of the time-lapse camera." - James C. Rettie [The “ask-answer” topic sentences is effectively draws in the reader,...
Words: 1164 - Pages: 5
...Academic Tip Sheet This academic tip sheet: • explains the academic essay as an academic style of writing; • looks at the structure of an academic essay; • looks at the main types of academic essays; • explains how to write an academic essay; and • provides you with a quick checklist that covers most aspects of writing an academic essay. CRICOS IPC 00279B What is an academic essay? For our purposes, we can define an academic essay as a document that has a defined structure – an introduction, a body and a conclusion. What are the main types of academic essays? If we look at the intent of the academic essay we can define three main types: • Descriptive – describes a subject, e.g.; a person, place or event. • Expository – explains a concept or theory. • Argumentative – presents an argument through reasoning and the use of evidence. 01/08 The argumentative essay Most academic essays will require you to present an argument through reasoning and the use of evidence. In the process of planning and drafting your essay, you will need to respond to the assigned question by thinking, reading and writing your way to a considered position/stance, or thesis statement. The thesis statement is expressed as one or two sentences in the introductory paragraph of your essay, and supported in the body of the essay by a series of topic sentences, one in each paragraph. Each topic sentence is in turn supported by evidence and examples from your readings and research, reflection, observation...
Words: 1077 - Pages: 5
