Plan of the Session Shows basic procedure for building text (TS)T andparagraph (TS)p

Gives examples of effective paragraphsparagraph analysis (TS)p (TS)T

Shows ways to Develop and ways-to-begin Discusses features of the introductory paragraph,the conclusion paragraph, and the transitionalparagraph.

27 key slides/33 total min time 90 contact time.(slides with red background show additionalexamples or WTD).

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: AdoptedGeneral ApproachWhat may happen?1. The subject/The idea is not clear!2. OR Is it a thesis or topic Statement?3. Try to cast the idea into Topic + Comment.4. T and/or C should be specific, but general enough: T and/or C should be expandable: Raise(s) questions:

what who, when, how, ? Require(s) explanation.5. If the Reader needs details about both T & C ~

thesis statement6. If T/C has many facets (is complex) ~ thesis

statement7. If only one satisfies Rs curiosity ~ topic

statement

ThesisStatement

Topic S Topic S Topic S

Topic STopic STopic S

Trans

: form, structure, length, WTB,WTD, Type (I, B, , T, C)

Sentences: form, structure, length,emphasis + cohesion, preciseness,

conciseness, word propriety, varietyclarity & unity

The Thesis S holds/cements the entire Paragraph

When you search for an idea to write about:1. Vision is not clear, ideas are fuzzy2. But, start outlining any thought in a

sentence3. Structure the sentence in the form T + C4. Repeat Step 3 for the thoughts you have5. Organize sentences from general to less-general-nature of T or C, or T & C6. The most general could be a thesis

statement; an umbrella for other sentences7. By writing, your view will be clearer andideas be less fuzzy

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -2

What usually happens?1. The subject/The idea may not be clear! Smoking? What, why?

2. Is it a thesis or topic Statement? Smoking is a noun it is a topic stillneeds a comment

3. Try to cast the idea into Topic + Comment. Smoking (s) is bad Causes harmS is hazardous what hazard?

several hazards a thesis.

Example: Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach-3

4. define the hazard:

a- Smoking is hazardousb- Smoking is hazardous to healthc- Smoking weakens social rapports d- Smoking is expensive, too e- Smoking initiates many fires events

5. Find relations between a thru d s:

a the thesis statement; the most general b through e are the topic statements; each

is a summary of a part of a.

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -4

5. Collect ideas about T/C for the [4] paragraphs6. Outline collected ideas. Organize. Check.7. Write one for the/each T Statement: Select

WTB, WTD, transition words.8. Refine sentences:

emphasize Comment; repeat; repeat; . pay attention to cohesion, preciseness, and

conciseness; observe word propriety, variety, clarity, and

unity .9. Start with an introductory .10. End with a conclusion .11. You may need to insert a transitional .

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -4

-1: Smoking is hazardous to health

-2: Smoking weakens social rapports-3: Smoking is expensive, too-4: Smoking initiates many fires events

Conclusion:Consequences of smoking are quite serious; itis the third cause of death worldwide Stopwasting precious human resources.

IntroductionEnd of Introduction: Smoking is hazardous

Body

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -4

"Smoking is hazardous to your health. Several yearsago, studies linked the intake of tar and nicotine,found in cigarettes, with the development of cancer inlaboratory animals. The evidence was sooverwhelming that governments required cigarettemanufacturers to put a warning on the outside of eachpackage of cigarettes. Aside from the most seriousand dreaded disease, cancer, cigarette smoking alsoaggravates or promotes other health problems. Forexample, smoking can increase the discomfort for thepeople with asthma and emphysema. Moreover,cigarettes are not only hazardous to health butexpensive too. It can give one a "smoker's cough" andcontribute to bronchitis. Finally, recent studies haveshown that cigarette smokers are susceptible tocommon colds and flu. Whether you get aninsignificant cold or the major killer, cancer, smokingcigarettes is a real hazard to your health."

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Example

Sent no. SmokingCigarettes

Hazardous To Health

1 Yes yes yes2 yes yes yes3 yes yes yes4 yes yes yes5 yes yes yes6 yes yes NO7 yes yes yes8 yes yes yes9 yes yes yes

Example

Way-To-Begin of the : Summary starts with the thesis statement,summaries the whole paragraph; background (Sentence 2).

Way-To-Develop: listing of health hazards, exemplification. Used Techniques of Repeating Words: list of words that carry

almost the same meaning: forms of hazards, full form repetition,short form repetition, pronouns (also a tool for cohesion), use ofmetaphor, Transition Words: The evidence (the link), aside from, for example,

finally, structure (whether or ) Paragraph Type: body paragraph, develops the first topicstatement The Sentence Moreover, cigarettes are not only hazardous to

health but expensive too does not belong to the same comment, itcovers financial hazards.

Emphasis of the keywords: placement (s of the main verb,close to the period, beginning of the main clause,repetition all forms).

Analysis of the Paragraph on Smoking

1. Statement WTB WTD

2. Action, Process: a process to follow X X3. Advice: gives an important advice X4. Background: Shows history, what wasdone or happened X X5. Call for action related to the topic X X6. Command/Request. States an order,command or request. X7. Comparison-contrast: Showsresemblance or contrast X X8. Definition and classification:Defines/classifies components X X9. Early theory and technique X X10. Forecast and hypothesis: forecastsfuture of the topic X X11. Illustration and exemplification: Givesexamples and illustrations X X

12. Listing: lists components of the topic. X X

Ways To Begin (WTB) and Ways To Develop WTD) Paragraphs

13. Point of view: of the author. X X14. Question: Poses a question then shows answer X X15. Quotation: Starts with an important quotation X16. Refute-an-argument: strong statement againstanother argument X X

17. Statement of scope: shows limitation X X18. Specific details: gives important details X X19. Statement of a fact related to the topic X20. Statement of a point of important interest X21. Statement of plan of development of the topic X X22.Statement of purpose X X23. Statement of the problem X X

24. Summary: A brief statement of the main idea (TS) X

25. Combination: Not limiting beginning to one way X X

Ways To Begin (WTB) and Ways To Develop WTD) Paragraphs

1. Statement of the Way-To-Begin or the Way-To-Develop WTB WTD2. Action, Process: shows a process or action steps to follow X X3. Advice: gives an important advice X4. Background: Shows history, what was done or happened X X5. Call for action related to the topic X X6. Command/Request. States an order, command or request. X7. Comparison-contrast: Shows resemblance or contrast X X8. Definition and classification: Defines/classifies components X X9. Early theory and technique X X10. Forecast and hypothesis: forecasts future of the topic X X11. Illustration and exemplification: Gives examples and illustrations X X12. Listing: lists components of the topic. X X13. Point of view: An initial statement of point of view of the author. X X14. Question: Poses a question then shows elements of the answer X X15. Quotation: Shows an important quotation that serves as a start X16. Refute-an-argument: strong statement against another argument X X17. Statement of scope: shows limitation of the subject X X18. Specific details: gives a piece of details of special importance X X19. Statement of a fact related to the topic X20. Statement of a point of important interest X21. Statement of plan of development of the topic X X22.Statement of purpose: explicates the purpose of writing on the topic X X23. Statement of the problem: states the problem behind the thesis X X24. Summary: A brief statement of the main idea (thesis statement) X25. Combination: Not limiting the beginning to one way only. X X

Ways To Begin (WTB) and Ways To Develop WTD) Paragraphs

DefinitionWhat is technical writing? Technical writingas a term is not found in commondictionaries. Websters New WorldDictionary defines technical as having todo with applied sciences... and writing asthe occupation of the writer .... We mightcombine these two definitions to definetechnical writing as writing about scienceand technology.Associated Specific/Transition Wordsthis means, from this definition, in otherwords, as a clarification, , defines isdefined as, use of to be, to have,

Process (Narration)1- What happens when the source (person) tries toestablish commonness of experience with the receiver?First, the source encodes the message he wants tocommunicate. The message is then sent to the receiver.The receiver gets the message and can decode it onlywithin the framework of his knowledge of the subject andhis personal experience.2- When the brakes are applied, the pistons in the wheelcylinder, acting on the brake shoe, through the connectinglinks, force the shoe against the drum. Since the shoefloats free in the brake, the force of friction between theshoes and the rotating drum, turns the entire assembly inthe direction of the wheel rotation....Transition ElementsUse sequence transition such as moreover, in addition,also, then, afterwards, next, afterwards, again, first,sequence of verbs...,

Exemplification / Illustration1. Not only the physical and life sciences but

also the social sciences and the humanitiesrequire the services of technical writers.For example, a discussion on languagetesting can become very "technical."Demography offers a variety of aspectsinvolving complex statistical data,....

2. Birds and animals communicate. Forexample, a bee returning from flowers witha load of nectar performs a dance that tellsthe other bees in hive where to get nectar....

Transition Elements (exemplification)for example, to illustrate, as an example, for instance, inparticular, namely, that is, in other words, Verbs: define,show, illustrate, have, be (equative), ...

Comparison/Contrast1. Some people would like to distinguish between the writingdone by scientists and engineers. However, the principle ofwriting is the same. This text is concerned with the principlecommon to the requirements for technical writing, no matterwho does the writing.2. Clarity and precision are often interdependent. Clarity isachieved when the writer has communicated meaningfully tothe reader. Precision is achieved when the writer attainsexact correspondence between the matter to becommunicated and written expression. Faults in clarity andprecision result when the following occur....Transition Elementsnot only... but also, but, yet, however, still, nevertheless, eventhough, in spite of, despite, on the contrary, unlike, on theother hand, conversely, whereas, also, similarly, likewise, inthe same way (manner)...

Cause-and-Effect AnalysisThe source can encode and the destination candecode only in terms of the experience each hashad. If the two have a large area in common,communication is easy. If they share nothing,communication is impossible. If we have neverlearned Chinese, we can neither encode or decodein that language. The presence of a common codebetween the sender and the receiver is, therefore,essential for any message to be understood.Transition ElementsBecause, therefore, for, so, although, if, causativeverbs: cause, result, produce, effect, give, as aresult, consequently, hence, because, if, thus, forthis reason, since, due to, when,...Special Verbs: cause, result, give rise to, induce,produce, affect, ... conditional tenses, ... .

ListingIn addition to coal and nuclear energy, a variety of otherpower sources are also frequently discussed in the newsand in scientific literature.... Geothermal energy is one ofthe more practical of proposed new sources.... Solar energyseems an elegant idea.... Sophisticated windmills togenerate electricity are also under study by some ....

What makes for a good paragraph in scientific/ technicalwriting? First of all, a good paragraph has unity: focuseson a single idea or theme. Second, a good paragraph hascoherence: one sentence leads to the next in some kind oflogical sequence. Finally, a good paragraph has adequatecontent: appropriate details to support the main idea.Transition ElementsUse sequence transitions: first, second, ... and other ordinalnumbers, then finally, ...Others: Lists show parallelism. (All lists start with the samegrammatical form or structure.)

General-to-Particular OrderingWhat kinds of things must writers learn to become effectiveand efficient communicators? Writers should understandthe situation, uses, and audiences for a givencommunication and write for those audiences and uses.Also they should have clear organisation and logicalreasoning; they should write clear and concise sentences.

In other words, writers should produce sentences thatreaders can easily understand, and they should place thosesentences in context of paragraphs and larger.

Moreover, they should follow the standard conventions forgrammar, punctuation, and other mechanics.

Transition Elements: Move from big concepts to details:situation uses, audience organize write Sent.

Captures reader's interestAnnounces the topic.Contents

Defines problem/process/objectsMat contain quotationsDefines background/historyPresents the thesis statementStates purpose/scope/objectivePresents contents of the text.

The Opening Paragraphor the Introduction of a Text

The Body Paragraph

Is a typical paragraphHas a topic statement, detailing

the thesisIt does not play the role of

introduction, nor conclusion, nortransition.

Short paragraph of one or twosentences

Sums up previous topic(s) shows where to go next.

The Transitional Paragraph

Restates/Rephrases thesis Summarizes conclusions Discusses significance Addresses future implicationsMay present recommendations.

Do not introduce new

information.Do not rely on modifiers alone.The content should reflect

nature.

The Closing ParagraphOr Conclusion of a Text

Closing Slide: to close this partOnce the topic is definedTry to find a comment that complementsthe message (objective of writing)Repeat basic ideas explaining themessage (using brainstorming orinnovative techniques) until the thesis isfully explained.Will follow Writing paragraphs. Organizing.

Summarizing. Discovering Ideas File 4-Discovering Ideas-Mental Skills.pptx