S

EWRT 1A Class 9

AGENDA

S Vocabulary (10-13)

S Presentation:

S Friedman: Anecdotes; Compare and Contrast

S Holmes: Illustrations and Examples

S Basic Features

S Discussion: Ways to begin your concept essay.

S In-Class Writing:

S Focusing your Concept

Discuss these words in your groups:

Vocabulary 10-13

“Born to Be Happy, Through a

Twist of Human Hard Wire”

Richard A. Friedman

SIn your groups, discuss

this essay and answer

questions.

Take 10 minutes to discuss the

following among yourselves.

• First, briefly summarize the story

• What is the concept about which Friedman writes?

• Which anecdotes does Friedman use to help explain the concept

to his readers?

• What other concepts does Friedman compare and contrast to his

concept? Why does he do this?

• How does he focus his concept?

• Which terms does he define?

“In The Blink of an Eye”

Bob Holmes

SGet back into your groups to

discuss this essay and answer

questions.

Take 10 Minutes to Answer

These Questions

S First, summarize the story.

S How does Holmes focus his concept?

S Which terms does he define and why?

S How do the pictures and graphs work to

enhance his explanation of his concept?

Get Back Into Your Groups

S Read Aloud “Basic Features: Explaining a

Concept” pages 164-65

S When you finish, discuss each feature, noting

how you will integrate each one into your own

essay.

S Take notes about your own writing while you

discuss.

The Basic Features of the

Concept Essay

S A Focused Concept

S An Appeal to Readers’

Interests

S A Logical Plan

S Clear Definitions

S Appropriate Writing

Strategies

S Classification

S Process Narration

S Comparison and Contrast

S Cause and Effect

S Careful Use of Sources

A Focused Concept

S Concepts can be approached from many

perspectives (for example, history, definition, known

causes or effects), and you cannot realistically

explain every aspect of any concept, so you must

limit your explanation to reflect both your special

interest in the concept and your readers’ likely

knowledge and interest.

S Get out your Post #9. Make a list of two or

three aspects of one of your concepts that

could become a focus for your essay, and

evaluate what you know about each aspect.

S Under each possible focus in your list,

make notes about why it interests you, what

you know about it already, and what

questions you want to answer about it.

Remember, choose your concept, and then limit it. For example, if

you are writing your essay about the concept of games, focus on one

kind of game, like playground games.

Then split your limited concept into two or three categories: Using the

games example, we might say games with a ball and games

without a ball.

Then identify two or three types that fall under each of the

categories. For example, you might use kids games with a ball,

teenager’s games with a ball, and adult games with a ball. You

could use the same three type for “games without a ball.”

Focusing your Concept

Concept: Games

Limiter: Playground Games

Category 1:Games with a ball

S Types

S Kids’ games with a ball

S Teenagers’ games with a

ball

S Adults’ games with a ball.

Category 2:Games without a ball

S Types

S Kids’ games without a ball

S Teenagers’ games without a

ball

S Adults’ games without a

ball.

.

Games: Playground

Games:With a ball (kids, teens, adults);

Without a ball (kids, teens, adults)

S a kids game played with a

ball (kick ball; four square;

tether ball)

S a teen game played with a

ball (basketball, soccer,

baseball or fast pitch)

S an adult game with a ball

(slo-pitch or lawn bowling).

S a kids game played

without a ball (tag, hide

and go seek)

S a teen game played

without a ball (kick the

can, red rover)

S an adult game played

without a ball (cribbage,

chess, checkers at the

park)

HOMEWORKS Read: HG through chapter 22

S Post #10: Finish and post your in-class

writing: Focused concept, thesis, anecdotes

S Find three more examples of your

concept in HG. Endeavor to find examples to

represent your classifications or categories.

S Post #11 Choose another concept to

compare and contrast with yours for the

purpose of demonstrating differences.

S Study: Vocab (1-18)