BLUEPRINT for WRITINGBLUEPRINT for WRITING

COS Writing LabCOS Writing Lab

In home construction, the architect’s In home construction, the architect’s BLUEPRINTS BLUEPRINTS provide a builder with drawings of the provide a builder with drawings of the house‘s framework. Once the framework has been house‘s framework. Once the framework has been built, all other parts of the house will both emanate built, all other parts of the house will both emanate from and attach to that framework.from and attach to that framework.

In home construction, the architect’s In home construction, the architect’s BLUEPRINTS BLUEPRINTS provide a builder with drawings of the provide a builder with drawings of the house‘s framework. Once the framework has been house‘s framework. Once the framework has been built, all other parts of the house will both emanate built, all other parts of the house will both emanate from and attach to that framework.from and attach to that framework.

And, like the building contractor is dependent on the architect . . .

. . . so is the reader dependent on the writer.

Both need BLUEPRINTSBLUEPRINTS to guide them.

Blueprint of an EssayBlueprint of an Essay

LEAD, THESIS, CLUEING SENTENCE

TOPIC, S/D SENTENCES x # PARA.

CONCLUSION

BLUEPRINT has four parts.BLUEPRINT has four parts.

• LeadsLeads

• Clueing SentencesClueing Sentences

• Paragraph TransitionsParagraph Transitions

• Sentence CoherenceSentence Coherence

Part Two: Clueing SentencesPart Two: Clueing Sentences

CLUEING WORDSCLUEING WORDS

In a clueing sentence, clueing words will tell In a clueing sentence, clueing words will tell your reader what different topics to expect. your reader what different topics to expect. Clueing words are selected both to unify those Clueing words are selected both to unify those topics under a thesis and to indicate the method topics under a thesis and to indicate the method of presentation. When a clueing sentence is of presentation. When a clueing sentence is used, that sentence is generally located near the used, that sentence is generally located near the end of an introductory paragraph.end of an introductory paragraph.

TITLETITLE

LEADLEAD . . THESIS THESIS ..CLUEING SENTENCE CLUEING SENTENCE ..

CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTION

• Writer must first have a concrete Writer must first have a concrete thesis in mind. thesis in mind. The major loss of our forests is not to fire but to clearcutting.

• Arguments (the paper’s major topics)Arguments (the paper’s major topics) must be predetermined.must be predetermined.A. greater profits, cheaper consumer lumberB. watershed devastationC. replanting produces inferior timber

FIRST THINGS FIRST

CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONClueing words:Clueing words:

• are installed in the introductionare installed in the introduction • may be either a clause or phrasemay be either a clause or phrase

• may either follow or be integrated with the thesismay either follow or be integrated with the thesis • are a preview and/or directions to the paper’s bodyare a preview and/or directions to the paper’s body

• may serve as a transition to the paper’s bodymay serve as a transition to the paper’s body

• are more effective when framed as a commandare more effective when framed as a command

CONSTRUCTIONCONSTRUCTIONTOOLSTOOLS

THE COMMAND THE DIRECTION THE NUMBER TOPIC CLUSTER TITLE (SAMPLES) (SAMPLES) (SAMPLES) (SAMPLES)

studyexamineperceiveunderstandseeperusereviewanalyze

followingensuingnextsucceedingevolvingattendingsubsequentconsequent

fewa fewassortedseveralnumbera numbermanyvarious

advantagesproposalsitemsresultsargumentspositionsviewpointsaccounts

• Each column below represents part of a clueing word phrase or clause.

Sample paragraph with LeadLead, ThesisThesis, and Clueing SentenceClueing Sentence

Lead:Lead: Smokey the Bear’s dialogue has changed. Singling out forest fires as the result of carelessness is no longer enough. He now advises, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” Although confusing, the word change from ‘forest fires’ to ‘wildfires’ was necessary because forest fires tend to consume chaparral as well as timber. Thesis:Thesis: However, it is also easy to suspect that the term ‘forest fire’ embarrassed the lumber industry and was deleted because the major loss of our forests is not really to fire but to clearcutting.

Clueing Sentence:Clueing Sentence: To stay clear of the lumber industry’s ‘smoke screen,’ examine the following several positions on clearcutting practices before consigning our besieged and pristine forests to the sawmills.

“Only you can prevent forest fires.”

Appearing below are five variations of the clueing Appearing below are five variations of the clueing sentence from the ‘Smokey’ introductory paragraph, sentence from the ‘Smokey’ introductory paragraph, using words taken from the clueing word columns.using words taken from the clueing word columns.

NOTE:

• Not all clueing word phrases or clueing word clauses will draw words from each column.• Nearly any combination of clueing words will work.

1. Examine the following several positions on forest clear- cutting.

2. Examine several positions on forest clearcutting.

3. Examine the positions on forest clearcutting.

4. The positions on forest clearcutting are easily examined.

5. Several of the positions on clearcutting should be examined.

Clueing Sentence Practice1st – Create a thesis.

Maybelline makeup is superior to Cover Girl cosmetics.2nd – From the examples appearing below, select appropriate words and construct a clueing sentence.

Both sides of the dispute need appraisal.Both the similarities and differences are apparent. Note both the similarities and differences.The differences are apparent, (but several deserve discussion.). . . may be recovered by several methods.. . . once the criteria is established.. . . decide to . . . rather thanThere are many . . . But two or three will suffice.. . . easily perceived when reduced to its parts. (to its two parts.). . . it becomes a no-win situation.

Most Maybelline differences are apparent, but ingredients and packaging deserve some discussion.

Determine the clueing words.Determine the clueing words.

So the president of Harvard hurt the feelings of one of his African-American Studies’ professors. Is this a big story? The elite media obviously think it is. Let’s examine why.

Let’s examine why.

Determine the clueing words.Determine the clueing words.

A good deal of today’s high school academic hoopla centers around what has been termed Senior Project. The student’s analytical, writing, artistic, and speaking skills are examined. Too often school districts have adopted this program merely to retain the senior for full term, well-knowing that the program nurtures dishonesty in the students. Local communities that buy into Senior Project will suffer deceit in three ways.

will suffer deceit in three ways

Determine the clueing wordsDetermine the clueing words..

General firearm seasons tend to be chaotic and crowded. When hunters invade the woods, all the noise and commotion quickly forces deer out of their normal patterns and into a survival mode. Those rubs and scrapes you scouted during the rut won’t indicate a thing. Hunters score simply out of luck. But if you know how mature deer react to this pressure, you don’t need to rely solely on luck to get a buck on the first day of the season.

know how mature deer react

Determine the clueing words.Determine the clueing words.

As a child, I was anything but a history buff. Perhaps it was reaction to growing up in Washington, D.C. where every weekend was spent slogging through museums and memorials. When we moved two hours from Lake Tahoe, it became my favorite summer haunt. I loved Tahoe’s recreational offerings –swimming, horseback riding, hiking, boating–set in a stunning alpine landscape. Overdosed on American history, I was oblivious of Tahoe’s own past. I was too busy planning the next day’s adventure.

oblivious of Tahoe’s own past

CLUEING SENTENCE QUIZ

1. Clueing sentences are used to tell your reader

A. the thesis of a paper

B. what different topics to expect

C. how to apply bullets and subheadings

B. what different topics to expect

2. The clueing sentence is

A. generally located near the end

of the introductory paragraph

B. used to signal the topic sentence

of a paragraph

C. used exclusively in philosophical

papers

A. generally located near the end of a paragraph

3. Clueing sentences are unnecessary

A. in essay exam answers of one paragraph

B. in research papers

C. in multiparagraph papers

A. in essay exam answers of one paragraph

4. Before constructing a clueing sentence,

the writer must first

A. outline his conclusion

B. clear his/her mind of all the topics to

be covered

C. have a concrete thesis in mind

C. have a concrete thesis in mind

5. Before constructing a clueing sentence, the writer must also

A. decide if the paper will include tables and illustrations

B. predetermine his arguments (paper’s major topics)

C. consult and choose wording from a prescribed list of word choices

B. predetermine his arguments

6. It is best to frame your clueing sentence

A. as a command

B. as a statement

C. as a question

A. as a command