Lecture 3 Flashcards
Pre-Writing
finding a topic and sometimes developing a
tentative argument
o Pre-Writing helps clarify your focus and generate ideas
o So you can form a tentative thesis
Pre-Reading Questions to consider?
What is your purpose in writing?
o How can you achieve your purpose?
o How can you make a plan?
* Consider your reader:
o What questions might your reader ask?
Sketch Outline
Represents only your main points. A rough
guideline that gives you flexibility.
Formal Outline
Includes main points and sub-points, and may
include specific evidence. Gives you more of a structure.
Paragraphs
Paragraphs are the logical building blocks of essays
* Paragraph must be organized to:
o Introduce an important point
o Develop that point
o Connect the point to the overall argument of the essay. A group of sentences that develops one main idea
* Contains a topic sentence
* Presents the topic in a clear and organized way to your reader
* ~ 5-12 sentences
* Indented
Paragraphs need to be what?
Unified: About a single topic
Developed: The constituent sentences connect
in some way- they often offers a series of
observations about the main idea, or build on
each other for a more sustained analysis of an
element of the main idea.
Coherent: Makes sense and provides logical
connections
Paragraph development
Arguments should be fully, thoroughly, and interestingly
developed.
* Ideas are developed by bringing in evidence that supports the thesis and is fully analyzed.
* A fully developed argument also explains the significance
of the claim, and the relevance of the evidence to the claim.
How to create coherence?
Carefully organizing your material so the ideas are in a
logical order
o Using transition words and repetition to help your reader
see how your ideas connect
General Essay Organization
The structure of an essay should not be determined by the structure of its source material. The essay should be organized to best convey your argument. You can test organization, unity, and coherence by making
a reverse outline.
The reverse outline
Make an outline after you’ve written your draft
* Using your draft, summarizing your main points in essay form
o You can make a detailed outline including supporting evidence to test unity
* Watch for repetition or tangents
* Ensure you’ve said all that’s required to develop your thesis (no gaps in the
argument)
Writing a critical response
A critical response assignment requires you to use active reading skills to analyze
something you have never seen before
* Your response will demonstrate your critical thinking and ability to analyze the
writer’s purpose, audience, and strategies
* A critical response shows that your evaluation of the author’s thesis and success in
developing it is valid and well-supported
