3rd class
Brad Johnson’s English 81 3rd class
Suggestion topics for writing are on p. 80
Next Wednesday, have topic chosen for writing. Will have first writing workshop this day.
Look at HW sheet for today’s homework:
NOTE: Consider means to think about and have a possibility. On HW page for Wednesday, the suggestions are on page 80, not page 75.
Two requirements for a topic sentence- this is the first sentence of the paragraph
1. Topic
2. Controlling idea: defines topic, controls topic, informs reader about the topic, limits
what is talked about: example—Pink Floyd tape – dealt with general topic of education/ dark sarcasm/ treatment of students/identity conformity/ important/future. What was Pink Floyd saying about education – confines youth, restricts creativity, illustrates teacher’s authority, encourages rebellion. Brainstorm about ideas – what was being said in the prompt.
You want to take these ideas and make them into one idea – one topic sentence – make one, compelling, clear, cogent sentence that captures the essence of the entire paragraph. You, the writer, are the hosts of the party and are kind, courteous, considerate to your friends and give them a crystal clear idea. Then you illustrate it in one sentence. The most important criteria in the topic sentence is that it must be CRYSTAL CLEAR, and captures the essence of the entire paragraph.
LIVING IN SEATTLE IN THE WINTER --TOPIC
Weather
Challenge
“Living in Seattle poses many challenges.” – clear, topic sentence
Topic sentence needs to be a clear statement of purpose. What do you want to say about the topic (education, traffic, weather, war in Iraq, etc.)
Topic sentence needs to be meaningful, engaging, complete, compelling, purposeful, clear, and specific.
Do clustering, brainstorming, etc., and then form a topic sentence. Go from one idea to more topics. Now come up with what you really want to write about. The more you write – in pre-writing, the clearer you become about your topic. For most, the concluding sentence will be your strongest sentence. Clear, concise, compelling. Don’t need it immediately, but will develop. In workshops, you will revise, change. The topic sentence will become stronger. Liberate yourself, don’t be married to your writing, be willing to change. Maybe you will even change your topic. Chapter 3 deals with this.
First assignment will be (probably 4th week) one paragraph long. NOTE: P. 21, defining and looking at paragraph
p. 23, paragraph 2 – focused, clear – key idea:
Topic: cell phones. What does the writer want to say about this topic? First need to know what is the topic.
Controlling and limiting idea: how to say something in short, concise, compelling, limiting way. Take these ideas: hazardous, chemicals, toxins, recycling, trash, pollution, and put into a topic sentence. The topic sentence is the last sentence: “As the popularity of cellular phones soars, growing numbers of cell users are creating growing piles of toxic trash.”
p. 24 – Practice 2
1. Answer is: f – broad enough sentence to allow you to talk about specific things
3. Answer is: d – includes “brain”, and both sides of “brain” that control different
functions
p. 31, paragraph 1
Topic: animals can save your life
HW: Read chapter 5 in E on writing illustration paragraphs. Do Practice 1 and 2 (1-3 only). Consider Practice 4 for a writing topic for our paragraph draft, as well as all the suggestions on page 80. Review the checklist for writing an illustration paragraph (79)
