Improving Your English Writing

Part 2:

Introduction & Thesis

John E. Clayton

Nanjung University, Spring, 2004

Qingdao

Anybody from Qindao?

Anybody returning home to Qingdao for the National Day holiday?

A Balanced ParagraphRiding a bicycle is preferable to driving a car. First of all, a bicycle is relatively inexpensive to buy and to maintain. While a car may cost thousands of dollars annually, a good bicycle will cost only a hundred dollars or so, and its annual maintenance cost is very small. Biking is also healthier. Not only does the biker get more physical exercise than the driver, but bicycles are nonpolluting. The consequence is a person with strong legs and a strong heart whose bicycle helps keep the environment clean. Finally, bicycling is, unlike driving, personally satisfying. Instead of being a robot inside a machine, the biker pedals along, enjoying the scenery, becoming a part of nature. In all but the most inclement weather, the bicycle is a pleasurable means of transportation.

Which is the topic sentence?

Which is the concluding sentence?

What specific points are being made?

It's relatively inexpensiveIt's healthierIt's personally satisfying

Handout

Hand out: Essay Structure and Sample Essay

(one page)

5 Paragraph Essay Structure

Body Paragraphs•Begin with a topic sentence•Explain, define, clarify the topic sentence with facts, examples, descriptions, etc.

•End with a concluding sentence that draws the paragraph together

Conclusion•Say the thesis in a different way•“Grab” the reader, so he/she will not forget. Might include a prediction, a recommendation or a solution

Introduction•Motivate and interest the reader•State your position - thesis•Tell a little more about what to expect

Some Ways to Start the Introduction

• a quotation

• a question

• acknowledgment of an opposite opinion

• an interesting fact

• a definition or explanation

Don’t Block Your Essay

What is a Thesis Statement?

Your thesis statement:

• expresses the main ideas of your paper

• is supported by the body paragraphs

• answers the question: "What is your argument?"

Avoid Statements of Fact

Examples of poor thesis statements –

“Hamlet is the prince of Denmark, and he dies at the end of the play”

“The French Revolution, which started in 1789, brought about many changes”

A good thesis statement should be debatable.

Divide into 8 teams

Thesis - Quick Quiz1. Computers and automation increase

unemployment. DEBATABLE

2. Smoking is harmful to people's health. NON-DEBATABLE

3. Plants produce oxygen that the world needs to sustain life.

NON-DEBATABLE4. A good education is necessary for a

successful and happy life.DEBATABLE

Team Thesis Practice

Write a debatable and a non-debatable statement about each of the following topics:

• Alcohol • Rock music• Television • Chinese traditional medicine• Public transport • Students and computer games• The Chinese education system• University dormitories

Thesis Practice

AlcoholAlcohol can be legally sold to adults over the age of 18 in Victoria Drinking alcohol is always bad for your heath TelevisionTelevison broadcasting began in Australia in 1956. Cable television will become more popular than free-to-air television in the next 10 years.

Public TransportTrains, trams and buses are all forms of public transport. Public transport is more economically efficient than private car transport.

Homework AssignmentWrite a 5 paragraph argumentative essay:

Subject: the most important of the five things that interest you (previous homework assignment)

1. Brainstorm ideas about the subject2. Develop a thesis statement, stating your position3. Your audience is your teacher4. Your tone is argumentative5. Write a rough draft (which you will not turn in)6. Write the final draft, printed on the PC, to turn in

Don’t forget your English name and student numberDue October 18th or 20th