Welcome to English Composition

Today’s Class Review of the reading(s) Assignment formatting Some common grammatical errors Large group essay workshop In-class paragraph writing and editing workshop Reading Preview Microsoft Word Editing Tutorial Homework

Reading Review (online) Make the paragraph the unit of composition – one unit to each topic. Very short pieces may not require division into topics. Ordinarily you discuss several topics to make your point. The paragraph is a visual tool that shows the reader that one idea is finished, and a new one is beginning.

Reading Review (online) As a rule, begin each paragraph with a topic sentence; end it in conformity with the beginning. This idea was discussed in the 5 paragraph essay. Ending with a digression, or with an unimportant detail, is particularly to be avoided.

Reading Review (online) Strunk’s perfect paragraph The topic sentence comes at or near the beginning; The succeeding sentences explain or establish or develop the statement made in the topic sentence; and The final sentence either emphasizes the thought of the topic sentence or states some important consequence.

Reading Review (textbook) The need for structure (or lack thereof) What are some different kinds of structures? How do different structures serve different purposes?

Reading Review (textbook) The single-sentence paragraph Story vs. Essay paragraphs

Reading Review (textbook) Paragraphing calls for a good eye as well as a logical mind. Moderation and a sense of order should be the main considerations in paragraphing. Paragraphing is difficult because you start with the whole (your essay topic) and divide it into appropriate parts. This is difficult mental work. This is why writing is hard.

Assignment Formatting Filetype (please do not paste into the ):.doc or.docx format Font: Times New Roman 12 pt File name should look like: yourname_essay_title.doc First three lines of the essay should be: Title Name Word Count

Common Grammatical Errors Chinglish Do not think in Chinese and translate into English. Try to write your ideas in English

Common Grammatical Errors Overuse of the word ‘of’ Taiwanese people tend to use ‘of’ rather than use nouns as adjectives. “the clothing of basketball” should be written as “basketball clothing”

Common Grammatical Errors Some common tenses and their uses: Simple Present: A recurring action Simple Past: An action completed in the past Present Progressive: An action occurring at the moment of speaking (writing). Simple Future: Actions that will occur in the future.

Common Grammatical Errors Countable vs. Uncountable Countable measured with words like: a lot of, many, few, more, fewer Uncountable measured with words like: a lot of, a little, more, less Usually uncountable nouns are pieces of a larger noun that is the same Some nouns can be both countable and uncountable

Lists Set off with a colon  : Comma after every item; ‘and’ before last item. All verbs must have same form (except in special cases) If all items in the list are preceded by the same signifier (‘a’ or ‘the’) then only put the signifier before the first word Eg. Don’t write, “his coat, his boots, and his hat.” Write, “his coat, boots, and hat.”

Now, write some paragraphs Please write a paragraph at least eight sentences long. You may want to plan your ideas and structure first. Please write two copies of your paragraph. Some topic ideas: A great place The biggest problem in the world Something everybody should try once The best experience that I ever had

Workshop Choose an order to present your paragraphs. If nobody wants to go first, go in alphabetical order. Pass around your paragraphs and make notes about problems with, and improvements that could be made to, the paragraphs. Then take turns discussing the paragraph with the writer. The writer should speak very little, or not at all.

Workshop Things to look for in paragraphs: Structure: Does it follow the paragraph structure discussed in class? Mistakes: Spelling and grammar errors. On topic: Do all of the sentences support the main idea? Are there any unnecessary or redundant sentences? Other Issues: Are there any unnecessary words? Are there any sentences that could be made simpler or clearer? Could any long or difficult words be replaced with simpler or shorter ones?

Reading Preview The Elements of Style parts 1 – 10 to be done on the whiteboard.

Reading Preview The Elements of Style chapter 4, Words and Expressions Commonly Misused Among vs. Between And/or Anticipate vs. Expect Expect simply implies knowledge. Anticipate can also imply action.

Reading Preview Anybody Anyone Can vs. May Case Contact Due to Affect vs. Effect Fact Less vs. Fewer Personally Secondly, thirdly, etc. Utilize

Microsoft Word Editing To be done on screen

Homework Writing: Final essay topic (can be the same as something I love) Essay workshop: Revise group member essays and them to myself, and the author. Due Date: Monday December 28 th at 9:00 am Reading The Elements of Style Chapter 1 Parts 1-10 Chapter 4