Language and written expression IV

"From paragraph to essay" is a book written by Maurice Imhoof and Hernan Hudson that was published in 1930 with the purpose of helping advanced students developing composition writing. A variety of paragraph styles are presented and analysed in the form of model passages, with accompanying written exercises, such as paragraph development by listing, by examples, by comparison, by contrast, by definition and by classification. At regular stages the techniques and paragraph styles are developed into essay form; essay development by examples and by comparison and contrast, in particular. The final chapter combines all the techniques and styles introduced throughout the book. The book is intended to advanced students who need training to writing clear and well organised essays in English. In my opinion, the authors are communicating effectively to that audience since they have included appropriate academic terminology and a wide variety of examples. However, I think the a...

A book review looks at the quality, meaning and significance of a work of literature. It´s a reaction paper which focuses on purpose content and authority in which strenghts and weaknesses of the material are analyzed.  You have to look at what the author tried to do and you have to evaluate it and provide evidence to support it. You have to read the book actively and critically. The book review has to parts: Summary and analysis. In the summary you have to write in your own words what the book was about. It restates the author´s main point purpose intent and supporting details; it is the shortest part, you have to look at the book as a whole. On the other hand, the analysis is a detailed evaluation of the thesis presented by the author; you have to look at objective strenghts and weaknesses. The analysis has to be balanced and it requieres a lot of critical thinking; you have to interact with the text and ask questions of it such as: "Who is the audience?" "Is the auth...

Source: [60second Recap®]. [2014, Nov 4].Thesis Statements: Four Steps to a Great Essay . [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R0ivCaLtnY  In order to write the thesis statement, you have to begin with the question you are answering with your essay. There are series of steps to follow: A) Step 1:Answer the question: You have to answer the question off the top of your head. B) Step 2:Refine your answer: You need to refine your answer, you have to look back at your notes in order to answer all the parts of the question correctly.  C) Step 3: Focus with examples: The thesis sends your reader off into your essay. They must know what you are going to write about and how you are going to make your case; you want to give your reader a little bit more direction, and this is where examples come in. You need to know which examples are going to help to make your case. D) Step 4: Go deeper: Ask yourself: Am I really saying all I could be saying in my thesi...

Video 1: Source: [Nawal, Nader]. [2010, February 19].How to Write an A+ Thesis Statement . [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HePQWodWiQ  The thesis statement is the single, specific claim that your essay supports. It includes a topic, a precise opinion, and reasoning. It tells the reader where you are going in your essay and how you plan on getting there. There are three parts of the thesis statement: A) The subject: The topic of your essay; you should narrow it.  B)The precise opinion: Your opinion on the subject of your essay; you should do some research.  C) The blueprint of reasons: This is where you show your reader how you plan to argue and prove your opinion. Typically, you should have three strong pieces of evidence to support your opinion. Later, you will need to expand on each detail in the body of the essay. Those pieces of evidence are only effective if you explain what you mean about each blue print point in the body paragraph...

Source: [David Taylor]. [2012, May 27).How to Write an Effective 5-Paragraph Essay: Formulas for 5-Paragraph Essay. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=GwjmMtTVO1g

2) Examples of paragrapahs with their topic sentences:  A) Many politicians deplore the passing of the old family-sized farm, but I'm not so sure. I saw around Velva a release from what was like slavery to the tyrannical soil, release from the ignorance that darkens the soul and from the loneliness that corrodes it. In this generation my Velva friends have rejoined the general American society that their pioneering fathers left behind when they first made the barren trek in the days of the wheat rush. As I sit here in Washington writing this, I can feel their nearness. (from Eric Sevareid, "Velva, North Dakota")  B) There are two broad theories concerning what triggers a human's inevitable decline to death . The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and-tear theor...

Source: [Maker Alex]. [2009, May 19). Parts of a paragraph- English Academic Writing Introduction. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCuExRE6N-4 1) Parts of a paragraph: A) Topic sentence: - It states what you are writing about, what your subject is. - In order to write an effective topic sentence, you have to come up with an interesting topic and give your opinion on it. B) Body- Order of importance, or chronology: - It is the heart of the paragraph. - It is where you get all the supporting details and the supportive arguments for the topic sentence. - Two ways in which you can order the details: . Order of importance: What you feel is going to make your arguments really stand out. . Chronology: The ordering of events. C) Closing sentence: - It has to functions: . To remind the audience what you are writing about, to restore the topic sentence. . To keep readers thinking once they finish reading, giving them an extra.