Better Writing

1. Better Writing English II

2. What is it all about? • Better writing can lead to many wonderful things! • It can lead to higher grades. • It can lead to a better understanding of a topic. • It can lead to less misunderstandings between you and others with whom you communicate. • It can lead to a increase in your self-esteem. QUESTION #1

3. In other words… Better writing leads to better living!

4. Easy enough, right? Well, yes. It IS easy to practice better writing skills. Which is EXACTLY what we’re going to do today.

5. What constitutes better writing? First, we need to examine the basic structure of an essay and a paragraph in order to establish a starting point. An essay typically has five pieces/paragraphs in it.

6. Essay Parts The main parts of the essay are: 1. Introduction/opening paragraph with a thesis/guiding statement 2. Body Paragraph #1 with a topic sentence covering one important point of your essay 3. Body Paragraph #2 with a topic sentence covering another important point of your essay 4. Body Paragraph #3 with a topic sentence covering another important point of your essay 5. Conclusion/closing paragraph with a statement about how your thesis/main points relate to the world QUESTION #2

7. Only five parts? Yep. Only five. But those five parts are crucial to better writing and communication. Let’s focus today on the body paragraphs. We are going to look at what you need to have in a body paragraph for your essays.

8. The elements of a successful paragraph Each body paragraph MUST have the following: Topic Sentence Explanation Sentence Example Sentence Additional Example Sentence QUESTION #3

9. Topic Sentence Your topic sentence is a guiding statement about your main point that will be covered in the paragraph. NO body paragraph should be without a topic sentence! Otherwise, your paragraph is…. NAKED QUESTIONS #4 & #5

10. Support and Elaboration After you’ve got your topic sentence, your paragraph is on its way to completion. Each paragraph must have at LEAST one sentence of explanation and at LEAST one sentence with an example. QUESTION #6

11. Explanation An explanation sentence is a “tell what you mean” strategy. Phrases that introduce explanations include: In other words… By this I mean… I mean that… This means that… QUESTION #7

12. Explanation Let’s practice! If your topic sentence is: The woman was strange. Your explanation could be: In other words, How would you finish this sentence to show that the woman was truly strange? QUESTIONS #8 & #9

13. Explanation Let’s practice! If your topic sentence is: The teacher was strict. Your explanation could be: By this I mean . . . How would you finish this sentence to show that the teacher was truly strict?

14. Explanation and Example Once you’ve got the topic sentence and an explanation sentence, it’s now time to provide some kind of example. Examples are used to give a bigger picture of your topic and your point. Your sentence can even start with “For example,” or “I remember a time when…” So…let’s try it with our earlier sentences.

15. Explanation and Example The woman was strange. In other words, she often did things that most normal people wouldn’t do. How would you add a sentence here that would provide an EXAMPLE to further demonstrate your main point? QUESTION #10

16. Explanation and Example The teacher was strict. By this I mean that she wouldn’t allow anyone to leave her classroom for anyreason. How would you add a sentence here that would provide an EXAMPLE to further demonstrate your main point? QUESTION #11

17. So far, so good! We are making progress. We’ve got a topic sentence, an explanatory sentence to explain what we mean, and an example sentence to further show our point. What next? Of course! ANOTHER EXAMPLE!

18. Why so many sentences? Think of it this way… Your paragraph is like a cupcake. YES – a cupcake.

19. Cupcake? For real? The topic sentence is the paper liner that holds the whole thing together. It’s necessary. The explanation sentence is the actual cake part. It’s what you are building upon. The first example sentence is the frosting on top of the cake part. It makes the whole thing sweeter. The second example sentence is the sprinkles on top of the frosting. It makes the entire treat look even sweeter!

20. So, one more sentence? Yes, and there are MANY strategies you can employ to produce this last sentence. You can DESCRIBE your topic (with concrete or specific nouns, specific adjectives, and strong verbs). How would you describe a strange woman? A strict teacher? QUESTION #12

21. Strategies to Support You can also use FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE. This language is usually some kind of comparison. What kinds of comparisons can you come up with : A strange woman is like… A strict teacher is like… QUESTION #13

22. Strategies to Support You could also relate a PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. Be careful, however, that you don’t turn your essay into a story. The experience should relate directly to your topic and shouldn’t be more than two sentences long. What personal experience can you relate to a strange woman? How about to a strict teacher? QUESTION #14

23. Let’s try this out… The woman was strange. In other words, she often did things that most normal people wouldn’t do.For example, she often strolled down Main Street naked except for a flowered hat and gardening gloves. Can you think of an example (concrete description, figurative language, or personal experience) that would make this paragraph stronger? QUESTION #15

24. Let’s try this out… The teacher was strict. By this I mean that she wouldn’t allow anyone to leave her classroom for any reason. For instance, she will hand you a trashcan if you ask to use the restroom. Can you think of an example (concrete description, figurative language, or personal experience) that would make this paragraph stronger? QUESTION #16

25. More Strategies to Support You can also use CAUSE AND EFFECT to complete your thoughts in writing. A CAUSE AND EFFECT statement often offers some kind of action/reaction example. The woman’s habit of singing old songs at the top of her lungs often forced people to avoid her at all costs. QUESTION #17

26. Yet More Strategies to Support Using COMPARISON or CONTRAST is another effective way to enhance your writing. COMPARISON means that you are comparing two or more things. CONTRAST means that you are examining the differences between two or more things. QUESTION #18

27. One more Strategy to Support You can also use ANOTHER’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE when writing. You should be careful when using any kind of personal experience because you risk the chance of going off-topic and rambling. QUESTION #19

28. What do we have now? The woman was strange. In other words, she often did things that most normal people wouldn’t do.For example, she often strolled down Main Street naked except for a flowered hat and gardening gloves. Some say that she used to be normal, but she has changed dramatically since her lover died in a mysterious fire.

29. What do we have now? The teacher was strict. By this I mean that she wouldn’t allow anyone to leave her classroom for any reason. For instance, she will hand you a trashcan if you ask to use the restroom.She guards her classroom door like a mother bear guards her cubs against predators.

30. A good paragraph, that’s what! There are MANY ways to add spice to your writing. Let’s look at the diagram of Ways to Support and Elaborate on your handout. Time to get creative folks!

31. Working from left to right…

32. We’re going to fill out each category Let’s start off with our topic sentence of: Miss Maggie was an eccentric kind of person. This is written at the top of your page to remind you of your topic. Now, let’s start brainstorming how to support this statement.

33. Explanation What kind of sentence can you come up with to explain what you mean by the statement that “Miss Maggie was an eccentric kind of person?” PUT IT ON YOUR MAP! By this I mean… In other words… I mean that… Miss Maggie often exhibited odd and unusual behavior.

34. Example Now that you’ve explained your topic sentence, let’s add an example that lends support to your explanation. PUT IT ON YOUR MAP! For example, . . . For instance, . . . For instance, she often strolled down Main Street naked, save for a flowered hat and gardening gloves.

35. Description (Concrete Language) What kind of a description about Miss Maggie can you come up with to support your assertion that she was eccentric? Think about how she smells, looks, sounds… PUT IT ON THE MAP! Miss Maggie’s left eye never truly focused on any one thing, and her hair appeared to have never been touched by a comb or brush.

36. Description (Figurative Language) Does Miss Maggie’s hair seem to be full of spiders? Does her one cloudy eye belong in a horror movie? What kinds of figurative descriptions can you provide to show that Miss Maggie was indeed eccentric? Remember – figurative language isn’t necessarily true, but it IS descriptive. PUT IT ON THE MAP! Her Medusa hair and Cyclops eye tended to frighten small children.

37. Personal Experience What kinds of personal experiences do you have with Miss Maggie that led you to believe that she was eccentric? What kinds of behavior would she exhibit to give you this impression? PUT IT ON THE MAP! Miss Maggie once stopped me on the street, left eye darting about wildly and hair billowing about her face. She inquired as to why I was not yet married, but before I could answer, she huffed, “Men are crazy anyway. You should marry yourself for true happiness.”

38. Cause/Effect Is there a cause and effect relationship that affects your main topic? How does it affect it? Do the effects help support your main point? PUT IT ON THE MAP! Some say that Maggie used to be as normal as anyone else, but she has changed dramatically since her lover died in a mysterious fire.

39. Compare or Contrast Can you compare your main topic to another related topic? How does the comparison help support your point? Does a contrast exist that helps you to make your argument stronger? PUT IT ON THE MAP! Miss Maggie, was, at one time, a typical young woman, yearning for love and affection to fill her days and nights.

40. Another’s Experience Did someone else experience something that contributes to your argument about your main topic? PUT IT ON THE MAP! The town’s mayor, Tully Sanders, relates how he found her reeking of gasoline the night her lover was incinerated.

41. Now look at what you’ve done! You’ve created a full picture of Miss Maggie. Instead of simply telling me that she’s eccentric, you’ve SHOWN me through various types of examples. Great job! Now the fun part REALLY kicks in…

42. The next map… We’re going to try to fill out an identical map with a different topic. The next topic will be a response to: If you could spend a day with the person of your choice, who would it be and why?

43. Step 1: Figure out your topic Think about it. If you could spend a day with anyone on the planet, who would you spend it with? Why did you choose them? What qualities do they possess that caused you to want to hang out with them? Now put that into a sentence.

44. Sample Topic Sentences I would love to spend the day with my best friend, because she always knows how to make me feel better. I would spend the perfect day with the perfect brother, who helps me with homework, housework, and life’s lessons. Although my grandfather has passed away, I can envision an entire day spent with him where he tells me about his childhood, takes me fishing, and tells me one of his crazy bedtime stories.

45. Topic sentence - Write your topic sentence at the top of your map. Now, let’s get to work on the explanation. What do you mean by stating that you want to spend a day with your best friend?

46. Sample Explanation Sentences I would love to spend the day with my best friend, because she always knows how to make me feel better. I mean, she brings out the best in everyone around her, including me. I would spend the perfect day with the perfect brother, who helps me with homework, housework, and life’s lessons. What I mean is that he’s perfect to me because he is always available to help me out. Although my grandfather has passed away, I can envision an entire day spent with him where he tells me about his childhood, takes me fishing, and tells me one of his crazy bedtime stories. My grandfather seemed to enjoy our times together, regardless of what we were doing.

47. Explanation Be sure to write your explanation sentence under the section marked EXPLANATION. Your job is to complete the rest of the map, focusing on how to complete a full picture of your topic (who you want to spend a day with and why). Feel free to refer to the earlier map we just completed for examples.

48. When your map is complete… Raise your hand to let me know that you are finished. We will be sharing our sentences so that you can get a good idea of how to use examples to your benefit in writing.