Unit 5 Starting to Draft the Introduction KU-121

Key Concepts Drafting - The step of the writing process where you organize ideas from brainstorming, sorting out the best ones to use in your writing. This should be your shortest step. Writer’s Block –mental block caused when students try to create/shape ideas and write the paper at the same time which leads them to too much criticism of their own writing

Key Concepts (cont.) Introductory paragraph--The first paragraph of an essay. It starts with broad, general ideas and then works toward more specific ideas, ending with the thesis sentence. Trailer – advertisement for a movie; similar in purpose to an introductory paragraph Teaser- opening scene for a TV Show; similar in purpose to an introductory paragraph

Key Concepts (cont.) Lead- opening of an article or essay that encourages readers to keep reading. Anecdote- short, to the point, stories that illustrate your point Thesis sentence -- A single sentence with an essay, located at the end of the introductory paragraph. The thesis sentence functions as a "signpost" to signal to the reader the main ideas to come later in the essay.

Introductory paragraph First paragraph Should grab the attention of your audience Ends with a thesis sentence

Ideas for a Strong Opening Illustrate your point using anecdotes (short, to the point, stories) Stating a position directly or addressing the reader directly Using a specific incident to make a general statement about society

Thesis sentence Previews your essay “Heart” of your paper Must be clear and concise Should be the last sentence in your introductory paragraph

Project This week, you will post a draft of the introduction paragraph for your autobiography so your instructor can offer suggestions, tips and comments. You will build on the brainstorming from Unit 3 and the thesis and outline from Unit 4. You will make the writing you use more formal than the informal approach you used in pre-writing.

Project (cont.) Imagine that you have completed your program at Kaplan University and have been offered your dream job! The company or organization you will be working for wants to issue a press release announcing that you are joining them and in what capacity. In order to do so, they need a minimum 500 Word autobiographical statement from you. Your autobiography should include and introduction that identifies who you are, where you live, the company or organization that has hired you, and your new job title. It will end with the thesis statement and follow the outline that you submitted in Unit 4.

Project (cont.) Because your autobiography will appear in the company newsletter and in local newspapers, it should be written in third person (no I or you), include concrete nouns, descriptive adjectives, active verbs, effective transitions between paragraphs, and should be relatively error free.

Required Reading Sentence Basics and Development: Read Chapter 8 in Pathways: Writing Scenarios Using Punctuation Correctly: Read pp : Pathways: Writing Scenarios Writing the Essay: Read pp : Pathways: Writing Scenarios

What do I do? Reading Discussion Seminar MyWritingLab Quiz Project