31st class
Brad Johnson Engl 81, 31st class
CHALLENGE YOUR THINKING: Writing about something that is foreign to us challenges us to be understanding. Eg. If someone is heterosexual, that person could write about being homosexual. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. If you are Christian, try to imagine being a Muslim after 911. Imagine being a black person living in a very racist society. If you are a man, try to understand what it is like to be a woman. Or if you are a woman, try to understand what it is like to be a man.
OUTLINES
pp. 78-86, “Power Learning”
Look at number 5 on p. 80. Note: 5 a. The title, author, date of publication is included. Use this is as an example for your writing.
There are 3 key ideas in the article, “Power Learning”.
1. Time Control: this paragraph should contain about 60 words.
2. Classroom Note-Taking
3. Textbook Study: this paragraph should be the longest: 80 words
There should be a quick/short introduction.
There should also be a quick/short conclusion.
This will give you a 5-paragraph essay.
Use transition words at the beginning of each paragraph.
The title of the article is: “Power Learning”. Use quotation marks. Using these marks helps you to avoid wordiness. You can avoid using “In the article....” by writing: In “Power Learning”……
Note: important points to remember:
1. Underline the book from which the article came: (College Writing Skills, 1997). (Underline or italicize to let the reader know that this is a book).
2. Use the author’s name: John Langan (reports).
3. Use active verbs. Ask yourself: what active verbs is John Langan using? Remember
that the audience consists of college students. Replace reports.
Active verbs: don’t use “is reporting” which equals passive, wordy, weak.
4. What is the purpose of the article?
What is his purpose for college students? Use succinct, brief verbs: educates,
teaches, suggests, discusses, recites, advises. Use verbs that end in “s”.
5. Use 3 point plan: does what, to whom, for what reason using……
This is a thesis statement. An example of a topic/thesis sentence is found at the bottom
of p. 80: “In Crime Time Bomb” (U.S. News & World Report, March 25, 1996), Ted
Gest reports that there is a growing epidemic of drug use, weapons violations, and
murders committed by juveniles.”
Note: In the above sentence, 3 points are given:
Growing epidemic of:
1. drug use
2. weapons violations
3. murders committed by juveniles
Do the same thing in writing your thesis statement from the article, “Power Learning”
Note: The use of the 3 point plan:
1. does what: reports
2. to whom: the reader
3. for what reason: inform that there is an epidemic
In your first sentence, give the 3 ideas of the paper. Go on to develop these.
Example of a thesis statement from “Power Learning”: In “Power Learning” John Langan informs students about the importance of time-control, college note taking, textbook study,
When doing summary:
1. Use full name to know who the person is: the writer of the textbook. The full name is used in the first sentence, the topic sentence.
2. Mention the author’s name at least one time per paragraph to give him credit. Use variety. Can use initials: J. L. in the concluding paragraph.
3. When using the author’s name further in your thesis, use the last name of the person, don’t use first name
4. Use author, writer, he, rather than repeating the last name repeatedly.
5. Remind the reader that the author is doing the research.
6. Use active verbs
WRITE A THESIS STATEMENT
Remember to include: Author, title, purpose
WRITE SENTENCES IN YOUR PARAGRAPHS THAT DESCRIBE THE THREE MAIN POINTS:
1st sentence in first body paragraph should mention time control:
Example: The first tool of learning is time control.
1st sentence in second body paragraph should mention classroom note taking.
Example: Next Langan states that classic note taking…….
1st sentence in third body paragraph should mention text book study.
Example: A third point that he describes is textbook study.
Remember: Have an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph.
Total number of paragraphs: 5
HW:
1. Bring your 50-word outline.
2. Give Brad the total number of word count from your outline.
3. Use this outline for writing in class tomorrow.
4. Hand in homework tomorrow.
A. Free-write on, “Here Comes the Sun”.
B. Chapter 35, Parts D, E, F up to Practice 6, odd numbered questions
C. Chapter 31, Parts A, B, C Practices 1-5, odd numbered questions
5. Activism paragraphs
6. Remember to listen to the radio station programs and do a one page
summary of what you hear.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.” Anita
