Tech 21 English 9
Academic
Writing Guide
Miss Damico
Cedar Springs HS
2015-2016 School Year
Table of Contents
Essay Structure
Standard Essay Structure...... 3
Thesis Statements...... 4
Openings: Persuasive...... 5
Openings: Rhetorical Analysis………………………………………………………………………..6
Openings: Showing……………………………………………………………………………………7
Body Paragraphs / Topic Sentences...... 8
Body Paragraphs: Rhetorical Analysis………………………………………………………………..9
Body Paragraphs: Argumentative…………………………………………………………………...10
Other Sample Body Paragraphs………………………………………………………………………12
Six Argumentative Strategies...... 13-14
Rebuttal / Responding to the Other Side...... 15
Conclusions (summary)……………………………………………………………………………….16
Conclusions (non-summary)…………………………………………………………………………17
Conclusions: Rhetorical Analysis…………………………………………………………………….18
Using Textual Support When Analyzing or Responding to Literature
Guidelines for Literary Analysis...... 19
Blending Quotations………………………………………………………………………………….20
Leading into, Blending, and Explaining Quotations...... 21-22
Multi-Source Essays or Research Papers: MLA Format
Plagiarism...... 23
Citing Sourcesand Using Direct Quotations...... 24-26
Text Formatting...... 27
Parenthetical Citations...... 28
Works Cited Entries - MLA Format...... 29-31
Style
Using Showing Detail...... 32
Using Precise, Specific Language...... 33
Using Transitions...... 34
Templates for Argumentation...... 35-37
Using Similes and Metaphors...... 38
Avoiding Wordiness / Redundancy...... 39
Using Active Voice...... 40
Avoiding Sexist Language...... 41
Punctuation Guide
Elements of a Complete Sentence……………………………………………………………………….42
Clauses and Phrases……………………………………………………………………………………..43
Relative Clauses………………………………………………………………………………………….44
Avoiding Sentence Fragments……………………………………………………………………………45
Compound Sentences…………………………………………………………………………………….46
Avoiding Run-ons………………………………………………………………………………………..47
Commas…………………………………………………………………………………………………..48
Semicolons...... 49
Colons...... 49
Apostrophes...... 50
Dashes……………………………………………………………………………………………………51
Common Errors in Essay Writing
Parallelism………………………………………………………………………………………………..52
Subject - Verb Agreement...... 53
Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement...... 54
Awkward Constructions...... 55
Illogical Constructions...... 56
Common Word Errors...... 57-58
Common Usage Errors...... 59
Words to Describe Tone,Mood, and Language
Tone Words………………………….………………………………………………………………...... 60
Mood Words………………………………………………………………………………………………61
Words to Describe Language……………………………………………………………………………..62
Sources for the Academic Writing Handbook...... 63
Standard Essay Structure
The graphic organizer below represents the structure of a standard academic essay. Most of the essays that we write will be either five or six paragraphs in length. A five-paragraph essay consists of an opening paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A six-paragraph essay includes a rebuttal paragraph which makes sure to directly address an argument made by the other side.
Thesis Statements
The thesis statement is a one or two sentence statement of the essay's central idea. A good thesis should be clear, focused, and limited to fit the assignment.
GUIDELINES SAMPLES
1. A good thesis states the writer's clearly defined opinion or analysis of some subject.2. Do not use personal expressions such as: I think, I believe, in this paper, etc.
3. A good thesis asserts one main idea.
4. A good thesis is limited to fit the assignment.
5. A good thesis is located at the end of the first paragraph in a short essay. / Good Thesis Statement
Although cloning may have scientific benefits, it should be banned because it is immoral, dangerous, and destructive.
Bad Thesis Statement
I think cloning should be banned, but in some cases it might be all right.
Good Thesis Statement
Shakespeare's examination of youthful impulsivity is as relevant now as it ever has been. *
*(A thesis without listing the three points is appropriate for 10th, 11th & 12th grade students in advanced literature courses.)
Bad Thesis Statement
Shakespeare's examination of youth is kind of relevant to today most of the time, and he also shows how deceptions have unintended consequences.
Good Thesis Statement
Parents should limit the amount of television a child watches in order to improve the child’s mental, physical, and emotional health.
Bad Thesis Statement
Parents should limit the amount of television that their children watch and should teach them to be polite.
Good Thesis Statement
Schools should offer more extra-curricular activities to meet the interests of students, to improve academic performance, and to promote healthy attitudes.
Bad Thesis Statement
I believe that schools should do more things for all kids.
Opening Paragraphs - Argumentative
An opening paragraph should pull the reader into the paper using some sort of attention-getting device. It should then smoothly transition into the topic of the essay. Finally, it should conclude with a clear and logical thesis statement. Below are a few different types of openings you might use.
CHALLENGE AN ASSUMPTION + THESISMany American citizens assume that the development of new technologies and the increasing speed of societal change are leading to a more “creative” world. Unfortunately, a 2010 report by authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman suggests that the public’s “creativity quotient” has been on the decline since 1990. This report has led some school board members to consider adding a class in creativity to the school’s curriculum. Unfortunately, creativity is not a finite skill that can be taught within a one-hour time period each day. Creativity is the product of active minds drawing exciting new connections between different types of knowledge. Instead of offering a class in creativity, our school should simply offer students a wide-ranging curriculum that builds the creative capacity of every student.
* Qualified thesis / BIG THEME + THESIS
When many of us think of creativity, we think of artists: painters, musicians, or story-tellers. We don’t necessarily think of architects, engineers, or scientists. However, all of those professions often require creative thinking and problem solving. Unfortunately, a 2010 report by authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman suggests that the public’s “creativity quotient” has been on the decline since 1990. This report has led some school board members to consider adding a class in creativity to the school’s curriculum. But can our schools really “make” students more creative? Truly, the creative spark grows to a fire in moments of inspiration. Creativity cannot be easily identified or taught; hence, it makes no sense for our school to offer a class that attempts to “teach” creativity.
* Thesis disagrees
REFER BACK TO A DETAIL FROM THE PROMPT + THESIS
According to Professor Kyung Hee Kim at the College of William and Mary, the decline in scores on the Torrance Test, a widely-used test of creativity, have been declining in a “serious way” for American students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Research such as this has led many to conclude that America is facing a creativity crisis. Our children lack the skills to think creatively, which involves coming up with novel or innovative solutions to problems. What can our community do to help our children think creatively? The most logical answer leads us to the schoolhouse door. In order to address a decline in creativity, our school district should offer a class in creativity.
* Thesis agrees / DEFINE BOTH SIDES OF ISSUE + THESIS
A 2010 report by authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman suggests that the public’s “creativity quotient” has been on the decline since 1990. This report has led some to consider adding a class in creativity to the school’s curriculum. Those who want to add a class to the curriculum see creativity as a series of skills that can be taught; they believe that teachers can model thought processes that will help generate innovation. Unfortunately, creativity is not a finite skill that can be taught within a one-hour time period each day. Creativity is the product of active minds drawing exciting new connections between different types of knowledge. Instead of offering a class in creativity, schools should simply offer students a wide-ranging curriculum that builds the creative capacity of every student.
Opening Paragraphs –Rhetorical Analysis
- An opening for a rhetorical analysis essay, the type you are asked to write on the SAT and in AP Language and Composition, should be SHORT and SWEET. It needs to grab the reader, address all parts of the prompt, and clearly mention all of the elements that will be discussed in the essay.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION + THESIS
Perhaps no two early Americans are more famous for their personal communications than John and Abigail Adams. The now archived letters exchanged by this husband and wife combination are filled with passionate intellectual exchanges and tender words of love. The same is true of the letter Abigail Adams sent to her son John Quincy Adams back in 1780 regarding his travels abroad with his father. In this letter, Abigail Adams uses reasonable arguments, effective comparisons, and a passionate yet respectful tone to convince John Quincy that his travels abroad will benefit him. / BIG THEME + THESIS
Being a parent is a constant balancing act. Parents want to show their children unconditional love, but they also want to raise children who will make them proud, children who will uphold their cherished values and principles. Abigail Adams demonstrates her formidable skills as a parent in her letter to her son John Quincy Adams, advising her son to travel with his father to France. In this letter, Abigail Adams uses reasonable arguments, effective comparisons, and a passionate yet respectful tone to convince John Quincy that his travels abroad will be good for him.
REFER BACK TO A DETAIL FROM THE PASSAGE + THESIS
“[D]o honor to your country, and render your parents supremely happy, particularly your ever affectionate mother.” These emotional words from former first-lady Abigail Adams highlight the link between love and high expectations that exists in so many parental-child relationships. In her letter to her son John Quincy, Abigail Adams demonstrates her skills as both a parent and a persuader. Adams uses reasonable arguments, effective comparisons, and a passionate yet respectful tone to convince John Quincy that his travels abroad will benefit him. / DIRECT APPROACH + THESIS
Back in 1780, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her son John Quincy, advising him to accompany his father and brother on a trip to France. Over the course of this letter, she demonstrates her skills as both a parent and a persuader. Adams uses reasonable arguments, effective comparisons, and a passionate yet respectful tone to emphasize the benefits that John Quincy can gather from his travels.
YOUR OPENING MUST identify the author and title,include the elements that you will refer to in the essay,and address ALL elements of the prompt.
Opening Paragraphs – Showing Introductions
DISCUSS A LARGER THEMEOur modern world is full of tales of violence and atrocity. On a daily basis, countless individuals attempt to flee countries stunted by war, poverty, and civil unrest to embrace life without fear. In 2001, 3,600 Sudanese boys sought asylum in the United States, leaving behind gruesome memories of their families’ massacres, of animal attacks, and of pursuing soldiers in order to adopt lives filled withstudy, sports, US pop culture, and fluent English. In the same way, the characters in Chris Cleave’s novel Little Bee must come to terms with the violence they have experienced, acknowledge the current atrocities surrounding them, and aspire to build a better future for themselves and others.
USE A BRIEF, SHOWING STORY THAT CONNECTS TO YOUR THEME
Cuddled amongst five laughing cousins, Becky sits on the couch, waiting for one more picture to be taken. Soon her family will open the mound of Christmas presents nestled under the tree. Smiling faces circle the large living room and extend into the pictures on the mantel, capturing the progression of time, the growth of a family. This is Grandma's house: a secure place of love and generosity, a place to meet and remember, an island oasis in the undulating sea of family life. Like a grandmother's home, the garden in Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time serves as a symbol of Meg's security, connection, and growth.
PARAPHRASE A SCENE FROM THE WORK OF LITERATURE
Another Friday night and all of Odessa has assumed their seats in the stadium stands. Boobie Miles, the ultimate athlete, is geared up and glowing in his suit of invincible glory, as college recruiters and his fans await him. Boobie and the Odessa Panthers are up against Palo Duro, yet Boobie is starved for more. His hunger fuels him to work the field as he pushes through and goes for fifteen yards. He reaches the fifteen yard line but strives for more. He sees an opening and plants his left leg to stiff arm an oncoming tackler. His leg gets caught in the pristine artificial turf, and as another tackler slams into his knee, the entire stadium goes silent. Boobie attempts to bounce back only to find that he can barely put any pressure on his knee at all. Boobie's overzealous desire to win big at the expense of his physical well-being, even in a scrimmage game, is the kind of misplaced priority H.G. Bissinger often depicts in Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream.
Body Paragraphs / Topic Sentences
A standard essay should include at least three body paragraphs that support the ideas expressed in the thesis statement. Each body paragraph should express one argument, and this argument should be clearly stated in a topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph. The body of the essay is where all of the "meat" is. In other words, this is where writers should use vivid examples, relevant analogies, and logical arguments to back up their arguments.
A body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence which is "thematically and grammatically parallel to the thesis statement" (TPA Style Guide 9-10). Some teachers may require that topic sentences be strictly grammatically parallel such that the subject and verb ofthe thesis are repeated as the subject and verb of each topic sentence. While this is encouraged early in the writingprocess, it should be discouraged in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades.
Sample Topic Sentences
SAMPLE THESIS (Persuasive Essay): Cloning should be banned because it is dangerous, immoral, and destructive.GOOD TOPIC SENTENCE: First of all,cloning human beings is a dangerous proposition.
BAD TOPIC SENTENCE: First of all, nobody should be cloning because it could cause major problems.
SAMPLE THESIS (Literary Analysis): The river for Huckleberry, in Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, serves as a symbol of refuge, a world that provides an escape from the cruelties of everyday life, a place where hope and love prosper.
GOOD TOPIC SENTENCE: Symbolically, the river acts as a safe haven for Huckleberry.
BAD TOPIC SENTENCE: The river is a refuge for Huckleberry, and it provides an escape from everyday life.
SAMPLE THESIS (Literary Analysis): Chaucer reveals three main areas of corruption in the Medieval church: a focus on worldly pleasures, a violation of basic Christian theology, and an exploitation of parishioners. These criticisms alert the reader to the human faults of the clergy; like their parishioners, they, too, are people who sin and make mistakes.
GOOD TOPIC SENTENCE: Chaucer emphasizes the corruption of the Medieval church by revealing the clergy's focus on worldly pleasures.
BAD TOPIC SENTENCE: The church that Chaucer presents is really corrupt. A lot of the clergy just want pleasure, like when some of the monks seek out sex from poor widows.
Sample Body Paragraphs – Rhetorical Analysis
When writing a body paragraph in a rhetorical analysis paper, follow this structure:
- Topic sentence identifies author’s last name, method being used, how the method is used
- Lead into and blend multiple quotes (short words, phrases, or fragments)
- Always be analyzing!! Don’t explain what the author is saying; explain how and why the author is saying it.
SAMPLE BODY # 1 (a few of the power verbs are in bold, 147 words long)
Throughout the first two paragraphs, Adamsuses reasonable arguments that appeal to John Quincy’s respect for his mother’s judgment. She asks her son to trust her because he is not yet “capable of judging what [is] most for [his] own benefit.” This classic argument drives at the heart of the parent-child relationship: the child must accept his limitations and put his trust in the judgment of the parent. Abigail Adams points out that because her son has “readily submitted to [her] advice” on prior occasions, he must now act on it with dignity and honor. Here, the mother calls out to the son’s intellect and his sense of duty by calmly reminding him that following his mother’s voice has worked well for him so far. Adams defines John Quincy as an obedient and honorable son, leaving him with little choice but to seek out “daily improve[ment]” while he travels abroad.
USING TRANSITIONS & WORD GLUE TO CREATE COHERENCE
Topic sentences should begin with some sort of transitional word or phrase that moves the reader from the previous paragraph to the current one. As the reader moves through the paragraph, word glue (transitional words and phrases, synonyms, pronouns, or repeated words) should help connect sentences.
SAMPLE BODY # 2 (word glue / transitions in bold, 161 words)Having appealed to her son on a personal level, Adams employs some effective comparisons to suggest John Quincy’s potential for greatness. Adamscompares John Quincy to a “judicious traveler” who is like a “river.” John Quincy is like “certain springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals, improve their qualities as they pass along.” Adams’s use of this metaphor suggests all of the gains that will come from his travels to France. Adams then uses a historical comparison, reminding her son of “Cicero,” and suggesting that he would not have been as great an “orator if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by the tyranny of Catiline, Verres, and Mark Anthony.” By referencing the brilliance of Cicero, she leaves open the possibility of her son’s own genius while also referencing the revolutionary spirit of the day. If John Quincy shows “diligence,” perhaps he can become great like Cicero. Perhaps he can become even as great as his revered father.
* Notice that the words in bold all make reference to the previous sentence in some way. This use of word glue builds coherence.
USE APT, SPECIFIC DICTION TO SHOW YOUR COMMAND OF LANGUAGE