ADV 100 Week 4  New Beginnings Chapter 5 Chapter 6  St. Martin’s Handbook Chapter 22 Chapter

Graded Essays from Last Week  5-step paragraph development: development needed to go from average to above average 5-step paragraph  Weak thesis statements  Weak of missing topic sentences  Restating thesis in conclusion

Strong Thesis Statement 1.Use this paper to reveal your personality by naming all the positive and negative features you possess. Which of them would you like to get rid of and which of them would you like to promote and enhance?  Possible thesis: Even though my personality contains several positive features such as a good sense of humor and a caring nature, it also contains several negative traits such as being a procrastinator and being a bully; I would like to eliminate my procrastination and enhance my sense of caring.

Strong Thesis: 1.Jeremy wants to buy a vehicle. He is not sure whether he wants to buy a car or a truck, a new or a used one. Explain in your essay how Jeremy should prepare to make this decision. 2.Possible thesis: In order to make an informed decision about buying a new vehicle, Jeremy should conside his wants vs. his needs, his financial situation, and the history of the vehicle he is purchasing.

Wanted: A Strong Thesis! 1.Where do you see yourself, career-wise, 10 years from now? Use this opportunity to think and write in a concise manner to answer this question. 2.Possible thesis: In ten years, career-wise, I see myself working as a dental hygienist, going to school to learn office management skills, and pursuing a bachelor's degree in pre- dentistry.

Grading Scale  = AExceptional  = BAbove Average  = CAverage  = DBelow Average  Below 60Failing

Graded Essays, cont.  Lack of parallelism: “I am strong, a great encourager, selfless, and caring. “being a procrastinator, finding it hard to say no, and at times I lack confidence” “being able to stay on task with some things and other things putting them off until tomorrow” “…someone may label you as a spoiled brat or not being a team-player.”

Comma Worksheets:  Turn in now: name  Get into peer revising groups  Look at returned essays: compare content and form problems, and successes

In writing groups:  Correct all cases of indefinite reference: IR  I like to help other people in different ways. It gives me the motivation to keep going forward.  “I believe in doing what’s right when it comes to any given situation.”

Ambiguous Reference  When a pronoun can refer to two different nouns  Bob and John went to the party. He didn’t have any money to bring a gift.  “If he purchases a car or truck from an individual, the price might be cheaper. Buying it from an individual does not guarantee it has not been wrecked.”

Note-taking, Studying, and Test- taking Skills IDEAL NOTES I=IndividualizedN=Numbered D=DetailedO=Organized E=ExplainableT=Thoughtful A=AbbreviatedE=Edited L=LayeredS=Selective

Study Skills  Effective Study Habits 1.Regularly set time aside for study and review 2.Ask questions 3.Take notes 4.Complete homework assignments 5.Get help if you don’t understand something 6.Look up words you don’t know 7.Find a quiet place to study

Strategies for Reading  Questions to ask yourself: How long does it take me to read a chapter? What information do I know about the subject? What is the size of the assignment? How difficult do I think this assignment will be? What is my aptitude for the subject? How motivated am I to get an “A”, “B” or just pass the class?

Computer Basics  Have access to the minimum requirements of the program  Save, save, save your work  Follow directions  Don’t always rely on the computer spell check/format  Great resources – learn the ones you need/want

Chapter 32 – 33: Verbs A verb is a word used primarily to indicate a type of action or a general state of existence. Every subject in a sentence must have a verb.

Chapter 34: Pronouns A pronoun replaces a nour or pronoun. He, she, it, they, who, whom, which, they, we, etc.

Chapter 35: Adjectives and Adverbs  Adjective Modifies a noun or a pronoun by describing, identifying, or quantifying words.  Adverb Describes or modifies a verb, an adjective, another adverb, clause, or sentence.

Adjective Examples:  The truck-shaped balloon floated over the trees.  A battered music box sat on the mahogany table.  The kitchen walls were covered with hideous wallpaper.  A well-read essay will usually receive a better grade.

Adverb Examples:  He quickly finished his work.  Paul is a very good worker. (This is a trick!)  I should have studied; instead, I went to the movies.

Transitions  Connecting words And Again But However Soon Finally Handout

Thesis Statement  Purpose Help reader identify the main idea of the paper Help writer develop and stay on track

 Strong thesis vs. Weak thesis  “Now he has to decide whether he wants a car or a truck or if it should be new or used.”  “I will be sharing some of the positive and negative things about myself, and some of the things I want to change.”  “These are the steps to keep in mind when purchasing a vehicle: studying the finance options, determining needs versus wants, and researching vehicle history.”  “All of these things are part of my history.”

Thesis: strong or weak?  “Jeremy should put a lot of thought and research into these decisions when purchasing a vehicle.”  The best strategies for buying a new car include researching the vehicle thoroughly, comparative shopping, and finding a trustworthy dealership.  Buying a new car is hard.  My best traits are my lack of jealousy, my organizational skills, and my carefree nature.

Three Ways to Check for Sentence Completeness 1.Find the subject 2.Find the verb 3.Make sure the words form a complete thought

Homework  Write a wonderful final essay!  Study for final exam  Do exercises listed on wiki: follow directions