© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

English Brushup, English Brushup, 3E3E

John LanganJohn Langan

An Introduction to Writing: An Introduction to Writing: Part OnePart One

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

A Good Attitude is a Good Start

In the next few slides we’ll discuss some important considerations about your attitude’s relationship with your writing.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Writing is a Skill!Writing is a Skill!Writing is not a talenttalent. It is a skillskill that can be mastered

through practicepractice and hard workhard work.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Writing is a Skill!Writing is a Skill! Since writing is a skill,

you can

your writing, even if English has given you trouble in the past.

Focus on

first.

Deal with mechanics later in the process.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Writing is a Skill!Writing is a Skill! Focus on writing as a

and you’ll

be well on your way to better writing!

Note: This means you can’t start your papers at the

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

The ParagraphThe ParagraphSolid are essential to college

essay writing.

Let’s take a look at

in this regard. . . .

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Point and SupportPoint and Support

Any idea that you advance MUST be

supported with specific specific reasonsreasons or detailsdetails..

(What kind? How many? What (What kind? How many? What did it look/feel/smell/taste/sound did it look/feel/smell/taste/sound

like?)like?)

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Point and Support in a Point and Support in a Paragraph

A paragraphparagraph usually consists

of a topic sentence…topic sentence…Ex: Although I love the Although I love the movies, i’ve found that movies, i’ve found that there are drawbacks to there are drawbacks to movie going.movie going.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Point and Support in a Point and Support in a ParagraphParagraph

…Followed by supporting supporting sentencessentences..

Ex.: On aOn a recent visit, teenagers were recent visit, teenagers were throwing popcorn and ice cubes to throwing popcorn and ice cubes to the left of me. The seats were torn the left of me. The seats were torn and missing springs, and the floors and missing springs, and the floors sticky with spilled soda. [. . .]sticky with spilled soda. [. . .]

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Benefits of Paragraph WritingBenefits of Paragraph WritingMasteringMastering the structure of the the structure of the

paragraphparagraph will

• help make you a betterbetter writer,writer,• make you a strongerstronger thinker,thinker, and

•strengthenstrengthen your skills as a reader and listener.reader and listener.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

The Paragraph . . .The Paragraph . . .

. . .is the building block of the college essay.

Now let’s take a look at the goals

of effective writing

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

The First Two Steps

pointpoint..

the point withthe point with

specific specific evidenceevidence..

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Step 1:Begin with a Point, or Topic SentenceBegin with a Point, or Topic Sentence

Write your Write your

point out inpoint out in a

single sentence.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

A Good Topic SentenceA Good Topic Sentenceis neither too too broadbroad nor too too narrow:narrow:

too too broadbroadCrime is a major concern of everyone in our Crime is a major concern of everyone in our

country.country.

too too narrownarrowMy parents had only one child.My parents had only one child.

JUST RIGHTJUST RIGHTA honeymoon is perhaps the worst way to begin A honeymoon is perhaps the worst way to begin

a marriage.a marriage.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Step 2: Support the Point with Specific Step 2: Support the Point with Specific EvidenceEvidence

Write down your topic sentence and then jot down the three pointsthree points that will support it.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

The Importance of Specific DetailsThe Importance of Specific Details

Develop your supporting points with specific details.

WHY? Because•details excite the details excite the reader’s interest.reader’s interest.•details serve to details serve to explain a writer’s explain a writer’s point.point.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Step 3Step 3Organize and Connect the Specific Organize and Connect the Specific

EvidenceEvidence

• common methods of methods of organizationorganization

• transitionstransitions

Organize and Organize and connectconnect

your supporting material by using:

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Common Methods of OrganizationCommon Methods of Organization

2: 2: emphatic orderemphatic order

1: 1: time time orderorder

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Time OrderTime Order akaaka chronological orderchronological order

Details are listed as they occur in timetime. . First thisthis is done; next thisthis; then thisthis; after that, thisthis; and so on.Ex:Ex: To exercise successfully, you should To exercise successfully, you should follow a simple plan consisting of follow a simple plan consisting of arranging the time, making arranging the time, making preparations, and warming up properly.preparations, and warming up properly.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Emphatic OrderEmphatic Order aka “saving the best for last”

EmphasisEmphasis is placed on the most the most important detailimportant detail by positioning it near the endnear the end of a paragraph.

Ex.: Ex.: Thesis: Celebrities lead very stressful Celebrities lead very stressful lives.lives. Last detail supporting point: Most Most important, celebrities must deal with the important, celebrities must deal with the stress of being in constant danger.stress of being in constant danger.

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

TransitionsTransitions

TransitionsTransitions signal the directiondirection of a writer’s thought. They are like road signsroad signs that guide travelers..Ex.: After you’ve snagged the job of TV you’ve snagged the job of TV sports reporter, you have to begin sports reporter, you have to begin working on the details of your image. working on the details of your image. First, invest in two or three loud sports invest in two or three loud sports jackets [. . .].jackets [. . .].

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Step 4Step 4Write Clear, Error-Free SentencesWrite Clear, Error-Free Sentences

• Use parallelism.parallelism.• Use a consistent point of view.consistent point of view.

• Use specific words.specific words.• Use active verbs.active verbs.• Use concise wordsconcise words..

• VaryVary your sentences.

Strategies for revising revising sentences:sentences::

© 2002 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. English Brushup, 3E

Introduction: Part 1

Let’s Take a Break!

That was a lot of info, wasn’t it?

Let’s take five.

Be sure to come back for Part Two now, y’hear?