ACADEMIC WRITING English 28

Academic Writing in American Colleges: See pages in your textbook In academic writing, your are expected to: Respond to other writings on the topic Ask questions Say what you think Have a main focus from the start State your point explicitly (directly and clearly)

Academic Writing in American Colleges: Let’s review the list of Characteristic Features on page 543 Use standard edited English Use a clear pattern of organization Mark logical distinctions between ideas State claims explicitly and provide support Present your ideas as a response to other ideas Express ideas clearly and directly Be aware of how genres and conventions (rules) vary across disciplines (a.k.a. fields of study, majors) Document sources using the appropriate citation style for your discipline After we discuss each of these, what questions do you still have?

What is a paragraph? A paragraph is a group of sentences that work together for a common purpose. All of the sentences in a paragraph are about the same general topic. Each sentence works with the others in order to achieve the purpose of the paragraph. Paragraphs contain a topic sentence and two different types of support: primary support and secondary support. Each new paragraph is indented five spaces.

Organizing Paragraphs: The Topic Sentence Your topic sentence introduces the main idea of your paragraph. A topic sentence has two parts: a topic an a controlling idea. Your topic is what the paragraph is about. Your controlling idea is the opinion or idea about the topic that the paragraph will explain.

Example Topic Sentences Let’s say that you were assigned to write a paragraph about the topic “Cell phones”. There are many different ideas or opinions about cell phones that you could explore, so it’s important to pick just one. You might write… Cell phones that can connect to the internet have changed the way people shop. Cell phones and texting should be banned during class time.

Supporting Your Topic Sentence When you have decided what your topic and your controlling idea will be, it is time to support your topic sentence. Primary support points are the major ideas that support your topic sentence. (They are usually general rather than specific.) Secondary support points are specific examples and details that back up your primary support.

Example Paragraph Outline Topic Sentence: Cell phones that can connect to the internet have changed the way people shop. Primary support 1: Able to check reviews online. Secondary support: Checked reviews for digital camera at Best Buy. Secondary support: Check reviews of new authors at amazon.com before buying at a bookstore Primary support 2: Able to compare prices at other stores while shopping. Compared prices on the new season of Burn Notice the first day it was out. Compared prices for new flash drive when I lost my old one. Primary support 3: Able to use coupons without ever printing them out. Used a 40% off coupon scanned off of my iPhone at World Market last week. Used an ed coupon at a candle store last month.

Completed Paragraph Cell phones that can connect to the internet have changed the way people shop. First of all, customers can immediately check reviews online before making a decision. When I was shopping for a digital camera at Best Buy, I used an iPhone to see which brand had the most positive reviews. Also, when I buy a book by a new author at the bookstore, I sometimes check reviews of his or her books at amazon.com first. Second, customers can compare prices at other stores while they are out shopping. When the new Sherlock Holmes movie came out, I compared prices online and was surprised to find that Target had a better price than some online discount stores. I also compared prices using a cell phone when I lost my flash drive and had to buy a new one. Finally, customers are able to use in-store coupons without ever printing them out, which saves a lot of money, paper, and ink. Last week, I used a 40% off coupon scanned off of my room mate’s iPhone at Borders, and last month, I used a coupon that had been ed to me at a candle store. In these ways, cell phones are making it easier for customers to find the best deals and make informed decisions.

Parallel: Structure of a Paragraph/Structure of an Essay Introduction: Main Thesis of the Essay Paragraph 1: Topic Sentence—supporting main thesis Support/Evidence/Examples Paragraph 2: Topic Sentence—supporting main thesis Support/Evidence/Examples Paragraph 3: Topic Sentence—supporting main thesis Support/Evidence/Examples Paragraph 4 and more: Topic Sentence—supporting main thesis Support/Evidence/Examples Conclusion: Reemphasize thesis and summarize contribution to the greater conversation on the topic/call to action or further thought.

Homework: Thursday, April 17 In Class: Topics: Introducing the Research Paper and Arguing a Position. Homework Due: Read “The Role of Argument” p.269—274 (also discuss in class) Read “Arguing a Position” p. 61—78