Module 2 Flashcards
Organization refers to
the way information is
structured and delivered.
Organization includes:
Audience (the readers)
* Purpose (of the text)
* A logical and coherent
presentation of ideas
* The introduction,
summarizing and
repetition of key points
* Transitions between
points given
* Consistency in
organization of ideas
The different types of organization are
Specific to general, or
general to specific
organization
* Chronological
organization
Organization
* Comparison organization
* Cause-effect
organization
What a writer uses to support her points:
Evidence
3 Types:
Data and information
analyzed by the writer
* What the writer generally
observes and perceives
* The citations the writer
uses (references and
quotations)
Types of evidence:
Findings (statistics, data,
theories, observations)
* Observation (informal,
formal, anecdotal)
* Authority (appealing to
experts, scholarly works,
organizations, etc. for
support)
__________ detail may cloud the
main point, while _________ detail may
overgeneralize and not be
clear.
Too much
not enough
The first sentence in the
paragraph which should convey
the main idea of the
paragraph, and the
subsequent sentences
should support it.
Topic sentence
The sentence that summarizes the main idea, usually at the end of the
introduction is called the ____________.
Thesis statement
Each subsequent paragraph should have its
own “mini-thesis statement”, called a topic
sentence, usually at the beginning of each
paragraph.
Reason (logic/logos), authority (ethics/ethos) and emotion (pathos) are ways to:
appeal to the reader
Language should not be
_________-biased
Gender
Transition word examples:
Addition: also, moreover,
furthermore, in addition
Introduction: concerning,
regarding, with regard to
Similarity: likewise, but the
same token, similarly
Conflict: however,
whereas, but, in contract
Transitions
Emphasis: even more,
indeed, besides
Condition: given that,
granted, even if
Conclusion: in the end,
lastly, to conclude
Summation: given these
points, consequently, on the
whole, in short
Consistency of point of view:
refers to the
consistency in the person or
pronouns being used:
Wrong: I like to go to the store.
You have a lot of things from
which to choose.
Right: I like to go to the store.
There are a lot of things from
which to choose (there are other
ways to write this).
Avoiding plagiarism is important for 4 main reasons:
To avoid plagiarism and to
be ethical in writing
* To be more convincing and
credible when writing
Use of Reference
Materials
* To provide a “dialogue”
when writing, a
conversation between the
writer and the sources
used. This reaction and
interaction gives the paper
more substance and
dimension.
* To give readers additional
resources for further
reading on the subject
Sources should be
documented especially
when they are:
- Uncommon facts
- Ideas that are original
and unique
Sometimes quotations
are so well known that we don’t
have to cite them, and we may not
even know where they came from. Examples:
Blood is thicker than water.
The same can be made with
general statements:
Mount Everest is the highest
mountain in the world.
What should you do to make your paper more lively than if the paper were only
written from your perspective?
Document sources
Things that you need to be aware of when
choosing sources is:
Internet versus print
source
* Objectivity versus
subjectivity of source
* Relevance and range of
coverage of source
* Credibility of the source
and of the author of the
source
* Date of publication of the
source
Type of Source:
Is the source a primary
source (first hand source)
or a secondary source
(something written about a
primary source)
* Is it a peer-reviewed or
non-peer reviewed source?
Internet vs Print sources:
- With a print source, it’s
easier to find out who
wrote it, and when and
where it was written.
Anyone can put anything
online anytime. - With a print source, the
publication process is
more refined and strict,
and more reliable. There
is reviewing and editing
involved. Anyone can put
anything online anytime. - With a print source, it is
less likely to be biased.
Anyone can put anything
online anytime.
Objectivity Versus
Subjectivity of Source:
Biased sources may not
be credible or convincing
* Evidence should show
an impartial viewpoint
* Look for language and
wording cues that offset
an objective focus
Relevance and Range of
Coverage of Source:
Is the source that is selected
relevant to the topic? Is it a
scholarly work about that
topic? Is it primary research?
* Does the source cover
enough information about the
topic? Is it too superficial, or
perhaps too complex?
Credibility of the Source and
of the Author of the Source:
How are the author’s and
the source’s credentials
and affiliations?
* What else has the author
published in this field or in
other fields?
* How is the reputation of
the source and/ or the
author?
Date of Publication of the Source:
Does the publication represent
the latest research in the field?
Are there a variety of
publications over different
dates? Does it matter?
* Does the field being researched
change constantly? Is the
publication true to the latest
findings?
* Is the latest research
necessarily the best?
Citation
When you integrate
resource material into a paper,
you cite a reference.
References
This gives the
bibliographic information of the
source (author, title, publisher,
date of publication, place of
publication). Depending on the
source, not all of this will be
available.
