English 350 & 355Monday 10 March 2014

Melissa Gunby

Please attend lab when scheduled. If you need to make up time, please check with one of the staff to make sure it’s okay

You should be working on chapter 5: locating main ideas or starting the compare/contrast writing assignment

If you think you need to schedule additional hours, please talk to Diane

Reminders

Of Mice and MenChapter 3

Your Questions?

Why do you think George told Slim what happened in Weed? How can he trust Slim?

◦ Why does Candy have so much more money than the others do? How has it affected his life? What does he want to make himself happy?

What is Suzy’s place? How is it different from Clara’s place?

How do both of these places show the man’s loneliness?

EssaysChapter 13: Writing an Essay (page 191)

The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. Evidence supports the main idea. Transitional words and phrases show the connections between ideas. A summary statement reinforces the main idea of the paragraph.

Review: Paragraph Structure

Introduction◦ Thesis statement

Body paragraphs◦ Anywhere from 3- ∞

conclusion

Essay Structure

Intro

Body Paragraphs

conclusion

Thesis statements are to essays what topic sentences are to paragraphs◦ Every essay has to have one◦ It gives the main and controlling idea for the

essay in a single statement◦ It will be clearly worded and specific◦ It will not just be a statement of fact◦ It will not announce◦ It will be broad enough to complete the

assignment, but limited enough to also complete the assignment

Thesis Statements

Many people have different opinions on whether people under twenty-one should be permitted to drink alcohol, and I agree with them.

The question of whether we need a national law governing the minimum age to drink alcohol is a controversial issue in many states.

I want to give my opinion on the national law that sets twenty-one as the legal age to drink alcohol and the reasons I feel this way.

To reduce the number of highway fatalities, our country needs to enforce the national law that designates twenty-one as the legal minimum age to purchase and consume alcohol.

The legal minimum age for purchasing alcohol should be eighteen rather than twenty-one.

The writer’s opinion is not clear to the reader.

It may introduce a thesis, but there is no clear opinion stated.

What is the writer’s opinion?

There is a clearly stated opinion that will be supported in the essay

Clear position that will be supported –I would argue this is a good first draft thesis

Let’s go through these (13-5) as a group and decide if they are facts, announcements, vague statements, or thesis statements

Please look at page 205

Common Thesis Mistakes Don’t announce:

◦ Your reader knows that you will be talking about something in your essay –that’s the whole point. State an attitude toward the subject.

Don’t say “I believe” or “in my opinion:”◦ Your reader also knows this is your essay – your name is at the

top. Therefore, your reader knows it’s your opinion. Don’t be unreasonable:

◦ Making irrational claims will only make your reader think that you haven’t done any studying about your topic.

Don’t state a fact:◦ We need a bit of your view on something to make an essay work

Don’t use a question:◦ Asking a question as a thesis statement can give the reader

doubts as to your credibility. If you can’t give a solid statement of opinion and topic, why should the reader believe anything you say that follows?

Name Topic

Teena Careers

Joseph Reality Television

Patricia Music

Jazalene Texting in class

Billy Computer games

Anastashia The cost of gas

Loni Disciplining children

Jose Texting in class

Vaughn Music

Exercise 13-8Take the topic assigned and come up with a thesis statement for a 2-3 page essay.

Each paragraph should support the thesis statement◦ The main idea statement should link back to the

thesis The major supporting details should explain the topic

The minor supporting details should give the support/evidence/explanation needed to make your point.

Paragraph Development

Thesis: There are many reasons why cats are better than dogs.P.1: Cats are quieter than dogsMSD: Cats don’t have a loud barkmsd: my cat’s cry for food is much less loud than my neighbor’s dog barking to be let out.P.2: Cats are calmer than dogsMSD: cats spend more time resting than dogsmsd: so they aren’t as activeP.3: Cats can be less dangerous than dogsP.4: Cats don’t have to be walked because they use a litter box.

Outlining

Map/Visual Outline

Main Idea

Major Supporting

Detail

Minor support Minor Minor

Major Supporting

Detail

Minor Minor Minor

Outlining

Linear/Textual Outline

Main idea: ◦ Major Supporting Detail

Minor support Minor support Minor support

◦ Major Supporting Detail Minor support Minor support Minor support

Do whatever outlining feels the most comfortable to you to get yourself organized.

Some people are more visually oriented; some are more linear. There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong way to do it (other than to turn in a hot mess of an essay because you didn’t do any organizing at all).

All essays:◦ Have an introduction, which sets up the topic,

provides background, and leads the reader to the thesis statement

◦ Have a thesis statement, which gives the main idea for the essay

◦ Has sufficient body paragraphs to support the thesis, with details, evidence, and examples

◦ Has a conclusion paragraph which restates the main idea and brings the essay to a close

Review

Read “The Twin Revolutions of Lincoln and Darwin” on page 743

Read “The Dog Ate My Disk and Other Tales of Woe” on page 756

Answer the questions that follow for both Homework packets due next Monday

◦ I will have a checklist for you on Wednesday

Homework