English 505 Modern English Grammar

Elements:

Topic

• Match the topic to the audience.• Select one that is important to you

and the office.

• Trouble deciding upon a topic? Make a list and narrow it down to

one.

Purpose(Dowis 17)There are six basic purposes of a

speech:• to entertain,• to inform,• to motivate,• to advocate, or• to convince or persuade

Select one or two.

Audience

Don’t assume• Length• Timing• Number of people• Gender, age group, education level,

etc.• Prior knowledge on topic

Research(Dowis 35)• Keep your focus narrow• Be disciplined in researching,

reading, and writing• Connect to nature of speech,

subject, prior knowledge of the audience, your own knowledge, etc.

Organize(Dowis 50-12)• Create a list of key points. Narrow

the scope.• Write you supporting points.• This process helps you develop your

thesis statement. • Develop an outline

Thesis

• A thesis is a single, unifying idea or theme of the speech (Dowis 2000)

• You should develop your thesis first. However, writing is not always neat and tidy.

• Develop an outline. This is will help your organize your speech.

RecapHere’s what you should have

before you begin writing:• audience,• purpose,• what you want to accomplish, • thesis, and• key and supporting points.

What is cohesion?

Cohesion is the glue that binds your writing together into a seamless unit.

Transitions

Move the reader from paragraph to another.

Also, transitions close gaps within a paragraph.

Transitions (Ruskiewicz, Friend, Hairston 211)Similarity Contrast Accumulation Consequence

likewiselikesimilarityin the same wayjust as

however --insteadneverthelessalthough--butin spite of--ratheron the other handnot only

moreoverin addition tofor exampleandfor instance

henceconsequentlysothereforeas a result ofthus

Causation Sequence

because--since next--after—finallysubsequentlyfirst, second, third

Repetition

Contribution of particular words to the continuity of text. (Kolln 67)

Repeating of key termsRefers to synonyms and other

related words: animals/lions, supper/dinner, husband/hubby, etc.

Opener(Dowis 61-8)

Establish a common ground.Set the tone.Catch the interest of the listener.Segues into the topicTypes -- novelty, dramatic, question,

humorous, and reference