CHAPTER 3 Drafting a Paper

The Short Essay Essays have three parts Introduction Body Conclusion

Thesis Statement  What the essay is about Look at example on page 44

Paragraph Length No set amount of sentences per paragraph Use short paragraphs to isolate a point; therefore, stressing it Type written page with four or more paragraphs need rewritten Vary paragraph length

Paragraphs as miniature essays Topic Sentence => thesis statement Developing Details => body Closing comment or sentence => conclusion

Paragraph Development Developmental Paragraph (Important Term) Paragraph with a topic sentence and developing details

5 kinds of Paragraph Development Examples (47) support a generalization with concrete information

Illustrations (47-48) little story, narrative, or anecdote that embodies an idea

Details (48-49) component parts that make up the whole ex: individual steps in a procedure

Reasons answer the question why reasons are acceptable and respectable if the writer basis them on established fact, close observation and experience, or logical analysis

Mixed Material Mix of details, reasons, examples, and illustrations

Paragraph Unity (51)  Unified Paragraph (Important Term)  Every sentence is about the topic sentence  Reread first two paragraphs under paragraph unity

Paragraph Coherence (51 – 52) Coherent Paragraph (Important Term)  Paragraph in which a clear pattern of thought emerges Achieve Paragraph coherence in three ways:  Appropriate ordering principle  Providing transitions from one idea to another Maintaining a consistent tone

Ordering Principles Way to achieve coherence

Time You can arrange material according to when it happens past to present early to late old to new

Space (Physical Space) [53] Narrator stands in place and proceeds from a natural or logical order of progression left to right bottom to top

Importance (54) Ideas arranged in ascending order of importance or value (least to most) It is human nature to build towards a climax

Using Transitions (55) Passing from one subject to another Symbols, words, phrases can make a smooth passage Some transitional words: First, next, then, finally

Consistency of Tone Tone (Key Rhetorical Analysis Tool) Tone Defined The author’s attitude towards his or her subject and audience

A Few Examples Formal Personal Emotional Joking

To Maintain a Consistent Tone Decide who is speaking => Point of View (116) Omniscient- outside narrator (3 rd Person) knowing everything that is happening Limited- one character is used. Only know what that character knows, hears, and sees

First Person- narrator is a character in the writing Objective or Dramatic- moving like a movie camera recording only what you can see or hear, never delving into anyone’s mind or heart

Consider whether the statement should be made in the present tense or past, the active or passive voice

Know what diction to use Diction (A Very, Very Important Rhetorical Tool) Word choice and language used  (conflagration –vs- fire) Reread Example on page 56

Getting Started Introduction Have a thesis statement Do not have to write the introduction first

Ways to start a paper Allusion: reference to a person, work of art, event, or literature Only effective if the audience knows it short narration startling question, observation, or line of dialogue

definition of a key term striking contrast direct statement