1. Welcome to Seminar 2: Writing to Inform To enlarge the chat box, please drag the right border to the right. Since we will be using the white board, the chat box will cover 1/3 of the screen, at the most. Minimize the participant list, to make the chat box easier to view. Click the + to rescale and refresh the chat window, as needed. Click on “history”, at any time, to see a transcript of the current seminar. All seminar transcripts will be stored in the archives section. I will post the PowerPoint slides to the Doc Sharing section of the course.

2. It’s SHOWTIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to Seminar #2: Writing to Inform How is everyone today?

3. Unit 2 Work Discussion Question: There is only one discussion question for Unit 2. You will need to identify a charitable or volunteer organization that could benefit from your help. Weekly reading

4. Informative Essay All the activities in this course lead to the final project, which is an informative essay due at the end of Unit 9. Throughout this course, keep in mind that everything you do is a step towards completing the informative final project. Since the course is designed to lead you step by step through the process, if you complete all the work, you should be well prepared for the final project.

5. Reminders I want to remind everyone that the discussions are a large part of your learning experience, so do not forget to post in each section and respond to a minimum of two other students. (or whatever the directions state.) Also, if you miss seminar, remember to complete option 2 for points! Also, remember to read the weekly announcements. There is some helpful information in them!

6. RESEARCHING Often people have trouble finding specific articles, so let's go over how to research. For example, let's use the article "It's Not What You Say" by Jonathan Hershberg. Here are some things you can try: 1. In the search box, type the article title: "It's Not What You Say" using quotation marks. 2. If that doesn't work, remove the quotation marks. 3. If using the article title doesn't work, add the plus sign (+) and the name of the author. For example: "It's Not What You Say" + Hershberg.

7. Researching (continued) 4. If that doesn't work, try the word AND instead of the + sign. For example: "It's Not What You Say" and Hershberg. 5. If you still haven't found the article, try a comma instead of AND or +. 6. Next try using just the author's last name. As you can see, when researching, you'll need to try varying combinations until you find what you are looking for.

8. What Is an Essay?

9. An Essay An essay is a group of words, sentences, and paragraphs. It is nonfiction, which means it is true. It is not a story, not false, not make believe. All essays have definable beginnings, middles, and endings. Essays consist of three or more paragraphs. Essays are built around central ideas, normally referred to as the thesis statement of the essay. The essay should be long enough to completely discuss, argue, prove, or relate the main idea of the essay, the thesis. The primary job of the essay, then, is to thoroughly discuss its main idea(s). The first essay that you will write for this class is an informative essay.

10. What is an informative essay?

11. An Informative Essay An informative essay, also called expository or explanatory essay, seeks to educate the audience on a given topic. In general, it does not feature its writer's experiences or feelings, as autobiography does. Instead, successful explanatory writing presents information with the purpose of educating the reader about a subject.

12. Informative Essays (continued) This type of writing, required almost every day in nearly every profession, may be based on firsthand observation, but it always moves beyond describing specific objects and events to explain general principles and patterns of behavior. Since it deals almost exclusively with established information, explanatory writing tends not to present an argument but to present information as if everyone assumes it were true. It is a way for readers to find out about a particular subject. Much of what we find in newspapers, encyclopedias, instruction manuals reference books, and research reports is explanatory writing.

13. Informative Essays do not express the writer's opinion. However, views, pro and con, can be included. The views must be provided in an unbiased fashion, pointing out the comparisons and contrasts of the viewpoints. To avoid being persuasive, do not indicate which side you support. For example, if you informative essay topic is gay marriage, you can say that Group A is opposed to it and Group B supports it. You, however, can not say which side you think is right. Instead, remain neutral, saying something like: "This controversial issue is not likely to be resolved any time soon. Perhaps the final resolution will lie with the Supreme Court, or maybe the American voters will resolve the issue at the polls."

14. Once you've decided on a topic and have done a little research, it's time to begin writing. (Easier said than done! LOL) It is difficult to write if you have NOTHING to write about! This is where prewriting comes in handy. What is Prewriting? Why should you use it?

15. Prewriting is the first step in the writing process. This is where you gather ideas and discover topics before you attempt to write on that blank page or computer screen. You can use prewriting to find a topic or to decide upon a topic. You can also use prewriting to decide upon a thesis statement. There are different methods of prewriting. You can select the one that works best for you.

16. Strategies for prewriting….

17. Brainstorming Brainstorming or Listing is a very easy technique. Many people like this method. You simply sit down and for five to ten minutes list everything you can think of about the topic as it pops into your mind. When you cannot think of anything else to write, then sort the information into categories.

18. Freewriting Freewriting appeals to some. Using this technique you simply write and write about a topic. You record your thoughts, ideas, impressions, and feelings without interruption and without any concern for spelling, grammar, punctuation, or even logic. The only problem with this style is that it really has no organization and you have to rewrite several times for organization. If this style does appeal to you, be sure to double space or skip lines so that you leave yourself room to make changes.

19. Clustering, Webbing, Bubbling, Mapping This is a form of brainstorming, but with more organization. When you cluster, the topic is sorted for you as you write. There are several formats of clustering. The basic one is to draw a circle in the center of your paper. Put your topic in this circle. Your can find more information about clustering at a web site called Types of Maps: www- personal.umich.edu/~jmargeru/conceptmap/types.htm

20. Questioning Questioning is an excellent way to begin writing about an unfamiliar assigned topic. The "Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How" technique is also excellent for prewriting for a research paper or report in your work area. This can also be used in combination with clustering or listing for research.

21. What is a thesis statement?

22. Your thesis statement is merely your topic plus whatever point you are making about your topic. The next step BEFORE WRITING is organizing, which includes sorting out your information and developing a thesis statement or your main point. Begin by looking at your prewriting. What do you want to say ABOUT your topic? What do you want your reader to know? What point do you want to make about your topic?

23. Thesis Statement = Topic + Point (Main Idea) * A thesis statement should be only ONE SENTENCE in length. * A thesis must be a COMPLETE SENTENCE and is not the same as a title. * A thesis can NOT be a question. If you find yourself with a question, answer it. The answer may be your thesis. The thesis is the glue which binds the essay together. It is the point of the essay. It's what the essay is about, what it intends to show, prove, or do: the controlling purpose.

24. Have any of you ever used MapQuest? When using MapQuest, what two things must you have or know?

25. YOU NEED TO HAVE Starting AddressEnding Address

26. You will get different sets of directions for the following trips: Trip #1 Starting AddressEnding Address [Fort Myers][New York City] Trip #2 Starting AddressEnding Address [Fort Myers][San Diego]

27. Think of your thesis statement as using Map Quest Starting AddressEnding Address [Topic][Point]

28. Your starting address (topic) may remain the same, but as you chance your ending address (your point), your directions change. Starting AddressEnding Address [Topic: Relatives][Point: Can create problems] Starting AddressEnding Address [Topic: Relatives][Point: Will support you in times of trouble] DIRECTIONS = OUTLINE

29. Your thesis statement is like using MapQuest or buying airline tickets. You must know where you are starting from and where you are going. Your topic is where you are starting from. However, if you do not know where you want to go (your point), you can not get directions or buy tickets.

30. How Do You Find Your Point?

31. Methods You Can Use to Find Your Point: Freewriting Take a piece of paper or pull up a blank computer screen and start jotting down everything you know about the topic. When you run out of things you know, ask questions that you'd like to have answered.

32. Sample Free Writing about Illegal Immigration That means coming to the country illegally. What makes it illegal? How do you come legally? What type of people are coming and why? How are they coming? Where are they coming from? Why? Are they families or just individuals? How do they get here. I heard the government was going to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. I also heard that illegals had built a tunnel. Some people say that it's a war zone down there. Do we have the same problems with Canada? What about our large coast line. I heard people are sneaking in by ship. Some have even landed on Sanibel. That's just down the road from me! Reading that, you can see that it lacks unity and organization. That means that it jumps from idea to idea.

33. Freewriting (continued) When you use free writing, you write down whatever comes to you. Don't evaluate your ideas; just write FAST! After you are done, comb through the writing, much like an archeologist carefully scrapes the earth looking for things of value. Something you wrote may be the direction (point) in which you want to go. Choose one sentence and research it. Examples: – "The U.S. is proposing to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S." – – You could write an essay informing the reader about that. – OR: "How do you come illegally?" Answering that question could be your essay.

34. Methods You Can Use to Find Your Point: Questioning If free writing isn't helping or it's just not for you, try questioning. Brainstorm answers to WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY. WHO: People from other countries who come to the U.S. They're coming here illegally. Possibly terrorists, too. WHAT: They're coming here illegally. What does that mean? How do you come here legally? WHERE: They're coming from Mexico, Central America, S. America, China, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Arab nations. Maybe other places. HOW: How are they getting here? Car? Boat? Plane? Walking?

35. Choose one question to answer WHEN: It's happening now. How long has it been going on? Have there always been laws restricting immigration? Is it different now than before or are we just more worried about it now? WHY: Why are they coming here? Money? Freedom? Fleeing from oppression? Running drugs? Terrorists? Select one of the questions (who, what, when, where, why). – Example: Why: "Why are they coming here?“ – Answering that question could be your essay.

36. Let's practice thesis statements. For example, suppose your topic is "relatives" (family) and you've used prewriting to jot down a number of ideas. You can now begin developing a working thesis statement. What would YOU want people to know about YOUR relatives???? Anyone?

37. Sample thesis statements about relatives. You might say: –Relatives can be a source of support in troubled times. –Relatives can make or break a holiday family reunion. –Relatives can be troublesome and interfering. All of these are possible thesis statements that could be developed into full essays.

38. More about Thesis Statements 1) A thesis statement is the topic and your point, comment, or opinion about it. A thesis statement makes some point about the topic. It is not just a topic. 2) A thesis statement is generally stated in a single sentence. 3) Usually, you will begin with a working thesis statement. This is a simplified version of your final statement. But it keeps you on track and provides direction. Your original thesis statement can and probably will change as you begin to write your paper. You may find that your opinion changes or there is a better way to make your point (which is what the thesis statement is doing).

39. More on Thesis Statements (continued) 4) A thesis statement limits the topic. For example, if your thesis was "Television action heroes teach children that violence is an acceptable method of resolving conflicts," then that and ONLY THAT is what you would discuss in the essay. 5) A thesis statement does not announce (e.g. "I am going to tell you about" or "My paper will be about"). Just state your opinion or comment and begin. 6) Effective thesis statements are precisely worded. Vague and general terms such as "good" or "bad" or "serious" are avoided. For example: "Air pollution is bad" says nothing. For more information on thesis statements, check out the Kaplan Writing Center. http://www.kaplan.edu/MyDesk2/Studentcenter/su ccess/writing/pdfs/typestools/Writing_a_Thesis_Statement. pdf http://www.kaplan.edu/MyDesk2/Studentcenter/su

40. Writing Tip: than & then The word THAN is used to compare two or more things: He is taller THAN she is. The word THEN is defined as (1) Next in time, space, or order: I watched the late movie and THEN went to bed. (2) At that time: I was still in school THEN. (3) In addition; moreover; besides: It costs $20, and THEN there's the sales tax to pay. (4) In that case; accordingly: If traffic is heavy, THEN allow extra time. (5) As a consequence; therefore: The case, THEN, is closed. As you can see, THEN has a lot of meanings, but THAN is used only for comparison. If you find you are confused, ask yourself if you are comparing anything. If not, choose THEN.

41. The End!! “Time” to Go!!! Questions ? Concerns ? Closing Thoughts ? Have a great week!!