1. Paragraph Unity Homework
During its first year, a baby is very demanding. Some children suffer from colic, which makes them cry for long hours and refuse to go to sleep. The first year can be a tiring time for parents.

2. More Practice Find the sentence that doesn't belong.
The history of diving is quite interesting. George has always been fond of diving. When he was only seven, he was jumping from the high dive; at ten, he was a medallist on a diving team.
Wrong: The history of diving is quite interesting.

3. Even More Practice Find the sentence that doesn't belong.
Even in the best of times, men can fail. It is a fact of the human condition that no ones' behaviour is truly consistent. A person's intentions are very important. We mean well, do our best, and then toss all our effort away in a moment.
Wrong: A person's intentions are very important.

4. One More Time Find the sentence that doesn't belong.
My brother lives in Boston. He found a nice big apartment on Commonwealth Avenue. He likes to read. Although the landlord doesn't allow pets, my brother has two cats. The cats seem to understand the situation, because they hide behind the refrigerator whenever someone comes to the door.
Wrong: He likes to read

5. Discussion Questions Is he a good person?
What bad decisions does he make?
What good decisions does he make?
Why does he make these decisions?
Is he racist?

6. Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Racism and Terrorism
“Just simply that if a community is a poor community, it’s going to be a seedbed for instability…you won’t win that war until you work so that conditions that make people desperate are eradicated.”
Where does racism come from?

7. Where does racism come from? Why does it exist?
What is racism
With your group try to make your own definition of racism—do not use your dictionary.
Where does racism come from? Why does it exist?

8. What Is a Thesis Statement?
A thesis statement tells in a few words, what your argument is, not what your argument is about.
Remember: A thesis statement will have 2 parts: the topic and the controlling idea.
The purpose of thesis statement is to tell your reader not only the topic, but what you THINK about the topic.
The rest of the paper will tell them WHY you think this way.

9. Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
Good Thesis Statement
Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.
The paper that follows should present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students should pursue community projects before entering college.

10. Another Good Thesis Statement
Example of an argumentative thesis:
In order to develop their decision-making abilities, college students should not have a curfew.
The paper should give evidence for the argument that eliminating a curfew would enhance students' decision making abilities.

11. Examples of good and bad thesis statements.
Bad: The purpose of this paper is to agree basically with Willard Gaylin's essay “What You See Is the Real You.”
(This is a description of the paper—it does not tell what the author thinks.)‏
Bad: In dealing with people, the profession of psychoanalysis often gives society the wrong impression about moral responsibility.
(not specific enough—what wrong impression?)‏
Good: Studying and emphasizing “the inner man,” as Willard Gaylin argues in “What You See Is the Real You,” has had the unfortunate effect of relieving individuals of moral responsibility for their acts.
(This tells the reader the topic and what s/he believes about the topic.)‏

12. What is wrong with these thesis statements?
Emily Dickinson's poem, I Dwell in Possibility, discusses the advantages of writing in poetry.
This is a description of her poem—it does not give the authors personal insights.
Many students want activities that create an English speaking atmosphere on campus.
This is not specific enough—what activities?

13. Homework Assignment
Create your own thesis statement about the character you discussed today.
Remember to introduce your topic and tell what you think.
Later you will make this into a paper: the paper will explain why you think this.
This will be an argumentative/persuasive paper.