PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH: REVIEW

Week 2, Part 2

Today

1. Quiz preparation2. Parts of the paragraph: the 4-Fs3. Really really fun group exercise

Word of the Day

Inchoate

Something that is in the beginning stages/disorganized

“The inchoate essay was actually only a draft.”

Punctuation

Commas Colons Semi-colons Hyphens Brackets Quotations

Semi-Colon

Treated as a period (full-stop power) Treated as a spice Don’t be fooled by its wink ;

Semi-Colon

Separates closely related independent clauses that are not joined by a co-con.

Examples Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what

stings is justice. When I was a boy, I was told that anybody

could become president; I’m beginning to believe it.

Semi-colon

Used for lists in which each item already has punctuation attached.

Example Classic science fiction sagas are Star Trek,

with Mr. Spock and his large pointed ears; Battlestar Gallactica, with its Cylon Raiders; and Star Wars, with Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader.

Colon

Use before a list or a quote ONLY if what begins is a full sentence.

Examples A good rice pudding should include the following:

cardamom, cinnamon, and basmati rice. My roommate is guilty of two of the seven sins:

gluttony and sloth. Consider the words of 50 cent: “If they hate, then

let them hate, and watch the money pile up.”

Colon

Used to separate two independent clauses if one explains the first.

Examples: Faith is like love: It cannot be forced.

When not to use a colon

Before a list with a dependent clause before it.

Examples: My favourite desserts are: pies, cakes, and

waffles. The play consists of: drama, suspense, and

comedy.

Quiz: Next Class

Comma splices Semi-colons Colons Commas

Paragraph: Mechanics

Is 6-12 sentences long—easy reading.

Begins with a topic sentence Is indented Expresses ONE idea Includes a transition Is packed with vivid detail

The Perfect Paragraph

Topic Sentence

Topic Sentence

Point #3

Point #3

Point #2

Point #2

Point #1

Point #1

Concluding Sentence to Summarize and

Transition

Concluding Sentence to Summarize and

Transition

Frank D’Angelo: Topic Sentence Scholar

“Readers will recall more of what they have read and will read more efficiently (i.e. read faster) than they would if writers presented the same information in a less organized and random fashion.”

4-F Test

Focus Fine Points Flow Finality

Focus: The Topic Sentence

Is like a sequel in a movie. Looks in two directions: backwards (to the

thesis) and forwards (to the body of the paragraph).

Focus: Topic Sentence

States not just a fact, but makes a claim. Is a promise to the reader: test that each

sentence holds that promise. Has a danger of being too broad or too

narrow.

Dangerous Topic Sentences

Broad Government should be investing in

alternative energy sources.Narrow Switchgrass on the Canadian prairies is a

useful source of ethanol.

Topic Becomes a Topic Sentence

Television programming

Commercial TV programming for children is more interested in selling products than entertaining or educating young viewers.

Fine Points—Details! Supporting details Evidence Examples Justifications Proof Anecdotes Examples Illustrations Analogies First-hand studies (stats and facts) Second-hand studies (journal articles)

Linking Focus and Finer Points Three reasons why having a sibling is

important.

Three reasons why you should get an A in this course.

Jon and Kate Plus 8 is exploitative for these three reasons.

Flow

Comes from how your ideas are arranged: pages 90-93

Topic sentence-to-details

Details-to-topic sentence

Topic-sentence-surrounded by details

Flow: Transitions: Adding ideas Also Finally As well as Too In addition Moreover Furthermore Another Again

Further First,

second …

Transitions: Showing Time

Later As soon

as Until First, last Until While Soon

Now Eventually To begin

with Afterwards Meanwhile During

Transitions: Showing Contrast But In contrast However Yet Despite Although On the other

hand

Even though Otherwise Conversely

Transitions: Showing Similarity Both Each Likewise Like Similarly Also Compared to

Transitions: Showing Cause and Effect As a result Consequently Therefore Thus Accordingly So To conclude

Hence For this

reason Then

List of Transitions

http://maclife.mcmaster.ca/CSD/accesstomac/images/common.pdf

Finality

Is the concluding sentence Restates the main point of the paragraph Transitions into the next paragraph.

Example of 4-F Paragraph

Watching the news before going to sleep can cause sleep disturbance or insomnia. The late-news is often filled with depressing events. As a result, an individual is put into a kind of stage of alert. Images, sounds, or phrases may remain in a person’s immediate consciousness, and therefore may plague the person as he or she tries to settle down and relax. Consequently, overstimulation and restlessness follow. Thus, a person becomes centred on worry and stress. Accordingly, the person becomes aroused rather than calmed into a state of sleep, so late-night news watching is not recommended.

Example of a 0-F Paragraph

Sports and fitness trends are related to what John Kelly, a University of Illinois sociologist, calls “the Olympic effect.” Since the Olympic Games get such an abundance of media coverage and promotion, adult viewers tend to participate more just before, during, and immediately after the Olympics. The Olympics occur every four years. After the Olympic flurry is over, participation in sports and fitness activities tends to spiral downward again, according to Dr. Kelly. However, casino gambling have increased since 2004.

Summaries

Present tense Article name/author/ thesis Main points (eg subheadings) Main points even at end of article Editing Ideas/details “According to the article . . . ”

Lottery Time!

Blogged Exercise

Part 1: generate a list of topics

Blogged Exercise

Part 2: pick one topic and narrow it

Blogged Exercise

Part 4: turn this narrow topic into a topic sentence

Blogged Exercise

Part 5: list 3-4 vivid details that support the topic sentence

Blogged Exercise

Part 6: choose the best order: Topic sentence-to-details Details-to-topic sentence Topic-sentence-surrounded by details