the writing zone for english 101 at csula
TRANSCRIPT
Greetings, Students!In this presentation, we will discuss two important
topics that you will need to familiarize yourselves with. The first topic is The Writing Process. The second topic is Essay Structure. Both of
these topics will help you to complete the Writing Assignments that are required for this course.
By Daniel LambertBased on a Short Film by Joseph Longo
(Glendale College and Santa Monica College)
The Writing Zone: How To Write An Essay
Writing an essay (or anything, for that matter) is a process with three major steps:
PrewritingWritingRewriting
American novelist Ernest Hemingway said REWRITING is the most important step.
Introduction
Prewriting involves:
Coming up with a topicDeveloping a workable thesisResearching support for your thesis
Four techniques for coming up with a topic are…BrainstormingListingClusteringFreewriting
Prewriting
Our Topic: A Comparison and Contrast of Dogs Versus Cats…
An Example of Clustering…
First Choice: Subject by Subject:Thesis: “Jed and Jake are both excellent banjo-pickers whose
differences reflect their training.”1. Introduction2. Jed
1. Training2. Choice of material3. Technical dexterity4. Playing style
3. Jake5. Training6. Choice of material7. Technical dexterity8. Playing style
4. Conclusion
How to Organize a C&C Essay:
Second Choice: Point by Point:Thesis: “Jed and Jake are both excellent banjo-pickers whose
differences reflect their training.”1. Introduction2. Training
1. Jed: studied under Scruggs2. Jake: studied under Segovia
3. Choice of material3. Jed: traditional4. Jake: innovative
4. Technical dexterity5. Jed: highly skilled6. Jake: highly skilled
5. Playing style6. Jed: likes to show off7. Jake: keeps work simple
6. Conclusion
How to Organize a C&C Essay:
Two Women “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and “A
Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell are two similar short stories that are also different. Both stories share the theme of a woman victimized by her culture. Each woman murders a man because of the pressures of male-dominated society. Minnie and Emily kill for different reasons, however. Emily kills her fiancée, Homer Barron, because she is afraid of becoming an “old maid” (an unmarried woman). Minnie kills her jealous and domineering husband because he strangled her song bird.
A Sample Comparison and Contrast Paragraph
It must not be too broad or too narrowIt asserts one main ideaIt states the writer’s clearly-defined position
on some subjectIt has something worthwhile to sayIt is clearly stated in specific termsIt must be written as one or two complete
sentences, with subjects and verbs
Characteristics Of A Good Thesis:
Writing involves:
Developing an outlineWriting the essay by developing paragraphsDeveloping paragraphsWriting the opening paragraph, or the lead,
and the concluding paragraph
Writing
The OUTLINE is a map of your essay. The following is an example of the classic outline structure:
TitleThesis Statement
I. Main Point OneI. A. Secondary Point OneII. B. Secondary Point Two
II. II. Main Point TwoI. A. Secondary Point OneII. B. Secondary Point Two
III. Main Point ThreeI. A. Secondary Point OneII. B. Secondary Point Two
Outline Structure
There are several questions you should ask yourself when you are revising an essay. Here are a few of them…
What can I do to this piece of writing to make it most effective, interesting, compelling, and inviting?
Does this essay make sense?Is it well-supported?Is it written in terms the reader can
understand?Does it move smoothly from beginning to
end?
Revising
The Five-Paragraph Format
Your essay should be laid out as follows:
Introduction• Hook • Thesis
Main Body Paragraph I• Topic Sentence• Support
Main Body Paragraph II• Topic Sentence• Support
Main Body Paragraph III• Topic Sentence• Support
Conclusion• Restatement of the Thesis• Satisfaction of the Reader
Essay Structure
An outline is: A logical, general description A schematic summary An organizational pattern A visual and conceptual design of your writing
Developing an Outline
Purpose Thesis Audience Title:
Microcomputer Programs and the Process of Writing
I. I. Major Steps in the Writing ProcessII. A. OrganizingIII. B. Writing the First DraftIV. C. EvaluatingV. D. RevisingVI. II. Writing Programs for the MicrocomputerVII. A. Types of Programs and Their Relationship to the Writing ProcessVIII. B. Positive and Negative Aspects of Computer Writing ProgramsIX. C. Future Possibilities of Computer Programs for WritingX. 1. Rapid ChangeXI. 2. Improved ProgramsXII. 3. Increased Use and AvailabilityXIII. 4. More Realistic Assessment of Value
A Sample Outline
The paragraph is a group of sentences on one topic.
The opening paragraph, or LEAD, must capture or hook the reader’s attention
The opening paragraph contains two components
The HOOKThe THESIS
A paragraph does two things:It makes a pointIt proves a point
The Paragraph
Unity
Support
Coherence
The CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH should do two things:
• Restate your essay’s thesis• Satisfy the reader that the essay has arrived at
its conclusion
Characteristics of a Good Paragraph
Questions or Comments?