Chapter 4: Reading Essays

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As we discovered in Chapter 3 on Paragraph Organization, a common mistake in reading is to read one sentence after another without attempting to understand the organization of the writing. The problem with the sentence-after-sentence strategy is that your short term memory can only hold 5-7 chunks of information at a time before your brain starts letting go of information to make way for new sentences you’re reading. In other words, you quickly forget what you have read. There’s an expression for this problem: “In one ear and out the other!”

There’s a better way to read, a way in which you can understand, remember, and apply what you’ve read. It’s a method in which you pay attention to the organization of the writing. All professional writers use a similar writing organization, and you can take advantage of this organization to help you understand anything you read from a paragraph to an essay to a journal article to a textbook.

Here is the basic organization of the essay:

1. Introductory Paragraph:a. Gets the readers’ interestb. Sets the context for the paragraph/essay (provides

background) c. Thesis Statement = topic + main idea (What the writer hopes

to prove about the topic)

2. Support Paragraph One: Topic Sentence (the first category of support for the writer’s thesis)

a. General support (connects the Topic Sentence to the supporting details

b. Specific support (The details – quotes, statistics, and examples – that support the main idea)

3. Support Paragraph Two: Topic Sentence (the second category of support for the writer’s thesis)

a. General support (connects the Topic Sentence to the supporting details)

b. Specific support (The details – quotes, statistics, and examples – that support the main idea)

4. Support Paragraph Three: Topic Sentence (the third category of support for the writer’s Thesis)

a. General support (connects the Topic Sentence to the supporting details

b. Specific support (The details – quotes, statistics, and examples – that support the main idea)

5. Conclusion:a. Restates the Main Idea (what the writer proved in the essay in

different words)b. Takes the reader a step further

The following Essay on “Becoming a Nurse” is a good example of the organization outlined above. We’ll use this essay as a model throughout the

chapter. Read the essay once through carefully to get a general idea of what the essay is about.

As you read, notice your thoughts, especially the three kinds of thoughts covered in Chapter1_Foundations:

1. Random Thoughts that just pop into your mind. “I wish I had some coffee like the girl has at the table across the aisle. It sure looks good!” “I wonder if it’s going to rain because I need to walk to the bus after class.” “I’ve got to remember to call my mother this afternoon to see if I can borrow the car,” and on and on.

2. Judgments about people, events in your life, or the essay. “This essay [or just one idea in the essay] is good or bad, interesting or boring, worthwhile, or worthless,” and so on.

3. Negative self-thoughts. “I’m not understanding any of this stuff because I’ve never been any good at reading and never will be! It’s better to give up now and cut my losses.”

Choose one instance as you read the passage when you had one of above types of thoughts and record it here:

Practice letting go of the thought and bringing your attention back to the reading.

Use the following scale to rate how difficult it was for you to let go of the thought and return your attention to the reading.

_____ Easy       _____ Somewhat Easy

_____ Somewhat Hard      _____ Hard

Ara SaharOctober 2010ENG 090

A Career for a Lifetime – Becoming a Nurse

For several years, through my time spent in high school and now in college, I have been optimistic about the future. As I get older, I realize why each day matters, and how I need to get the most from my life. According to John M. Richardson, “When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who wonder what happened, and those who make it happen.” I’m a person who wants to make it happen. In my future, I would like to become a nurse. In order to be successful and achieve this dream, I have to develop positive study habits and get all the necessary degrees required. I will also need to enhance my education through volunteerism, leadership, and dedication to make it through nursing school and become a Registered Nurse.

Most nursing school students are at the top of their class. They are very hard-working and know what it is like to plan ahead and budget their time for studying. As a freshman undergraduate starting out at Front Range Community College, I know that it is necessary for me to have good study habits. Before even trying to think about the process of studying, I know that I have to develop a schedule and then stick to it. I need to take into account every class, laboratory, lecture, or social event. For example, every night after dinner, I block out two hours to study. On Mondays and Wednesdays I study biology and English, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I study math and chemistry. I also block out time between classes and on weekends. For me, studying comes first.

I also need to take good notes in class. In biology, because of all the information given in each lecture, I must be especially careful. My notes must be organized, inclusive, and an accurate reflection of the professor’s lecture. Here, for example, is an excerpt from my notes on types of cells:

“There are two general classes of cells: prokaryotic and eukaryotic. The

evolution of prokaryotic cells preceded that of eukaryotic cells by 2 billion years.

Streptococcus pyogenes , the bacterium that causes strep throat, is an example of a prokaryote.

Yeast, the organism that makes bread rise and beer ferment, is an example of an unicellular eukaryote.

Humans, of course, are an example of a multicellular eukaryote.

The major similarities between the two types of cells (prokaryote and eukaryote) are:

1. They both have DNA as their genetic material.2. They are both membrane bound.3. They both have ribosomes.4. They have similar basic metabolism.5. They are both amazingly diverse in forms.

The major differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes are:

1. Eukaryotes have a nucleus and prokaryotes do not.

2. The DNA of prokaryotes floats freely around the cell. The DNA of eukaryotes is held within its nucleus.

3. The organelles of eukaryotes allow them to exhibit much higher levels of intracellular division of labor than is possible in prokaryotic cells.” http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/staff/dave/roanoke/bio101ch05.htm

Just as important as taking good notes is reviewing my notes after class while the information is still fresh. In biology, I review my notes the evening of the lecture and again before the exam. I also make flashcards to drill myself in the vocabulary of each lecture. In the lecture on different types of cells, for example, my flashcards include definitions of prokaryote cells, eukaryote cells, Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, strep throat, DNA, and ribosomes. I also make sure that I ask questions in class on all parts of the assignments I do not understand. In

biology, for example, I did not understand the role of “ribosomes” in the cell, so I made sure to ask the professor at the very next class.

Getting through nursing school is not an easy or small task and takes careful planning. Being in college and trying to declare a nursing major is just the beginning. I know that a four-year bachelor’s degree is necessary for me to be a Registered Nurse or RN. Starting out with a two-year degree program at Front Range Community College, I can take many of my prerequisites, save money, and get more individual attention than at a large university. I will first receive an associate of nursing degree in order to transfer to the University of Colorado at Boulder. At the University of Colorado, I hope to declare nursing as my major and complete the requisite nursing course work for the RN degree. To make sure I am on track, I visit with an advisor each semester. At the last visit, my advisor, Nancy West, found out that I was missing a chemistry class, not required for a two year degree, but essential for a four year nursing degree. Because of Ms. West’s advice, I was able to complete the chemistry class this fall.

The nursing field requires not only long hours of study, good grades, and a college degree, but also must be bolstered by volunteerism, leadership, and passion for the work. As a Longmont United Hospital Volunteer since 2009, I have been spending some of my spare time by giving back to the community. In the future, my goal is to volunteer in third-world countries, such as my family’s homeland, Afghanistan. The maternal mortality rate is one of the world’s highest. In Afghanistan, a woman dies of pregnancy-related causes every 27 minutes of every day. Of the thousands of infants left motherless, 75 percent are likely to die either during or soon after delivery because of the lack of health care. As a volunteer, I am willing to devote my time to help and care for the wellness of others. I plan to work in a field hospital in rural Afghanistan for Doctors Without

Borders. The organization describes its mission on its Website: “Doctors and nurses volunteer to provide urgent medical care in countries to victims of war and disaster regardless of race, religion, or politics” (Doctors Without Borders). I have already applied to volunteer next summer and hope to take a year between community college and the university to volunteer.

The words of Greg Anderson do in fact ring true, because “when we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live.” I have to admit that in my life I have been through many ups and downs. When I was much younger, I would continuously question myself about my goals and how they might be reached. Now, I know what those goals are and how they should be pursued. I will have to be successful when it comes to my studies. I will need to get all the necessary degrees required, but most of all I will need to be committed to my career with leadership, dedication, and passion. I am proud of what I have achieved so far and look forward to what lies ahead. Getting through nursing school and becoming a nurse is my goal, and I am determined to get there.

Let’s look at the organization of the essay on becoming a nurse to see how organization leads to understanding and comprehension.

Introductory Paragraph(s)

Most essays begin with an Introduction, which can have the following parts:

The Introduction:1. Gets the readers’ interest2. Sets the context for the paragraph/essay (provides background)3. Thesis Statement = Topic + Main Idea (What the writer

hopes to prove about the Topic)

Let’s start with the Introductory Paragraph in our example essay on becoming a nurse. We’ve highlighted the organization of the Introductory Paragraph using the following code:

The Introduction that sets the context in the essay is in Italics. In the Thesis Statement the Topic is underlined and the Main Idea is

in Bold.

A Career for a Lifetime – Becoming a Nurse

Introduction to provide background and provide context for the essay: For several years, through my time spent in high school and now in college, I have been optimistic about the future. As I get older, I realize why each day matters, and how I need to get the most from my life. According to John M. Richardson, “When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who wonder what happened, and those who make it happen. I’m a person who wants to make it happen. In my future, Thesis Statement Topic plus Main Idea for the essay: I would like to become a nurse. In order to be successful and achieve this dream, I have to develop positive study habits and get all the necessary degrees required. I will also need to enhance my education through volunteerism, leadership, and dedication to make it through nursing school and become a Registered Nurse.

The student writer, Ara Sahar, gets her readers’ interest and sets the background for the essay by writing about how she came to her decision to pursue a career: “As I get older, I realize why each day matters, and how I need to get the most from my life.” She then quotes John M. Richardson, to help the reader better understand her goals and character: “’When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who wonder what happened, and those who make it happen.’ I’m a person who

wants to make it happen.” Like many writers that you read, she ends the Introduction with the Thesis Statement. Her Topic (the Subject) of her essay is: becoming a nurse, and her Main Idea is: what it will take “to achieve this dream.” Notice that she also summarizes her three Support Points in her Thesis Statement: “I have to develop positive study habits and get all the necessary degrees required. I will also need to enhance my education through volunteerism, leadership, and the dedication to make it through nursing school and become a Registered Nurse.”

The Support Paragraphs

Once the writer provides the background and writes the Thesis Statement, she uses the major part of the essay to develop and support her Thesis. This important section of the essay is called the Support Paragraphs. It’s the Support Paragraphs that provide the key to understanding in your reading. Support paragraphs have three parts:

Support Paragraphs:1. Topic sentence (the first category of support for the writer’s

Thesis)2. General support (connects the Topic Sentence to the

supporting details)3. Specific support – (quotes, statistics, and examples that

support the main idea)

Recall that a writer is like a lawyer in a trial. The lawyer is trying to prove her client’s innocence – the client is similar to the Topic in an essay, and her client’s innocence is similar to the Main Idea. However, she must also bring forward evidence that proves her client’s innocence. The judge and jury are not going to just take her word for it. The evidence is like the Support Paragraphs in the essay. Here’s an example:

Topic Main Idea

Thesis Statement = My client is innocent.

Support 1: WitnessesSupport 2: FingerprintsSupport 3: Video evidence

The lawyer organizes her defense by introducing each area of evidence (witnesses, fingerprints, and video). Similarly, the writer uses the Topic Sentence of each Support Paragraph to let you, the reader, know what area of support will be covered in that paragraph. Next, the lawyer and the writer might have General Support, which provides an overview of the evidence. For instance, the lawyer might introduce one area of evidence by telling the judge and jury that she has three witnesses who will testify that her client was not at the scene of the crime. That’s like the Topic Sentence for a Support Paragraph in the essay. The lawyer then provides the equivalent of General Support by introducing her first witness. Next, she asks detailed questions of that witness to establish an alibi for her client. This is equivalent to the writer using Specific Support (detailed examples, quotes, and statistics) to provide evidence for each support point. Remember, the key to effective reading is asking questions: First, what are the major Support Points in the essay? And, second, what Thesis, or Main Idea, is the writer providing evidence for with each Support Point? While the Thesis Statement can be hard to find, the Support Points are easier. Therefore, the best reading strategy is to move from the Specific Support (examples, quotes, and statistics) up through the General Support to the Topic Sentence for each Support Point, and, finally, up to the Thesis Statement for the entire essay. In effect, the reader is using an inductive approach, where he understands an essay by moving from facts up to theory. He makes the transition from facts to theory just as a detective would: by asking questions of the evidence (the support).

Let’s take an example, using the first Support Point from the essay on becoming a nurse. The Background is in Italics; the Topic Sentences for the Support Paragraphs are underlined; the General Support is in Blue Type.; the Specific Support is in Red Type, and the Transition Phrases are in (Parentheses).

Support Point 1 – Good Study Habits:

Introduction that provides background for the first Support: Most nursing school students are at the top of their class. They are very hard-working and know what it is like to plan ahead and budget their time for studying. As a freshman undergraduate starting out at Front Range Community College, Topic Sentence for Support Point 1: I know that it is necessary for me to have good study habits. Before even trying to think about the process of studying, I know that General Support 1: I have to develop a schedule and then stick to it. I need to take into account every class, laboratory, lecture, or social event. Transition Phrase to Specific Support: (For example), Specific Support 1: every night after dinner, I block out two hours to study. On Mondays and Wednesdays I study biology and English, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I study math and chemistry. I also block out time between classes and on weekends. Conclusion to General Support 1: For me, studying comes first.

Notice that writer includes an Introduction to her first Support Point that gives background: “Most nursing school students are at the top of their class. They are very hard-working and know what it is like to plan ahead and budget their time for studying. As a freshman undergraduate starting out at Front Range Community College…” She then gives her Topic Sentence for the first Support: “I t is necessary for me to have good study habits .” One of Ara’s support points is: Develop a schedule and then stick to it.

Given the five General Support sentences, it’s clear that the Topic Sentence is, “I t is necessary for me to have good study habits ,” and not the introductory sentence, “Most nursing school students are at the top of their class…” Remember, it is the Support that provides the key to understanding what you are reading.

Notice also that each General Support sentence is followed by Specific Support (detailed examples, quotes and/or statistics). This order of General to Specific Support is typical of the organization of most writing and worth keeping an eye out for in your reading. Also helpful is the writer’s use of Transition Phrases like “for example” and “also” to signal her shift in Support points. Transition phrases are like road signs that guide the reader through the organization of the essay. (Click Here) for a more complete discussion of Transition Phrases.

Support Area 2 – Getting through nursing school takes careful planning:

Topic Sentence for Support Area 2: Getting through nursing school takes careful planning. General Support Sentences: Being in college and trying to declare a nursing major is just the beginning. I know that a four-year bachelor’s degree is necessary for me to be a Registered Nurse or RN. Starting out with a two-year degree program at Front Range Community College, I can take many of my prerequisites, save money, and get more individual attention than at a large university. I will first receive an associate of nursing degree in order to transfer to the University of Colorado at Boulder. At the University of Colorado, I hope to declare nursing as my major and complete the requisite nursing course work for the RN degree. General Support Sentence introducing Specific Support: To make sure I am on track, I visit with an advisor each semester. Specific Support with Example: At the last visit, my advisor, Nancy West, found out that I was missing a chemistry class, not required for a two year degree, but essential for a four year nursing degree. Because of Ms. West’s advice, I was able to complete the chemistry class this fall.

The writer’s second Support Area is simpler than her first and makes up just one paragraph. She begins with the Topic Sentence that states the area of Support: “Getting through nursing school takes careful planning.” She follows up the Topic Sentence with a series of Support Sentences that explains the planning she needs to do to both get through the two-year program at a

community college and the four-year degree at a university. It’s not until the end of the paragraph that she gives a General to Specific Support sequence when the General Support Sentence: “To make sure I am on track, I visit with an advisor each semester” is followed by a Specific Support Sentence with a detailed example: “At the last visit, my advisor, Nancy West, found out that I was missing a chemistry class, not required for a two-year degree, but essential for a four-year nursing degree. Because of Ms. West’s advice, I was able to complete the chemistry class this fall.”

Nancy West helps a nursing student at Front Range Community College.

Support Area 3 – Success in nursing requires volunteerism, leadership, and passion:

Topic Sentence for Support Area 3: The nursing field must be bolstered by volunteerism, leadership, and passion for the work. General Support Sentence introducing Specific Support 3: Volunteering is important to me. Specific Support 1: As a Longmont United Hospital Volunteer since 2009, I have been spending some of my spare time by giving back to the community. Specific Support 2: In the future, my goal is to volunteer in third-world countries, such as my family’s homeland, Afghanistan. The maternal mortality rate is one of the world’s highest. In Afghanistan as a whole, a woman dies of pregnancy-related causes every 27 minutes of every day. Of the thousands of infants left motherless, 75 percent are likely to die either during or soon after delivery

because of the lack of health care. As a volunteer, I am willing to devote my time to help and care for the wellness of others. I plan to work in a field hospital in rural Afghanistan for Doctors Without Borders. The organization describes its mission on its Website: “Doctors and nurses volunteer to provide urgent medical care in countries to victims of war and disaster regardless of race, religion, or politics” (Doctors Without Borders). I have already applied to volunteer next summer and hope to take a year between community college and the university to volunteer.

Support Area 3 also has a relatively simple organization having one paragraph. The first sentence is the Topic Sentence, “The nursing field requires volunteerism, leadership, and passion for the work,” followed by the first General Support, “Volunteering is important to me.” There are two Specific Support Sentences with detailed examples, the first concerns her volunteer work at a hospital and the second her plans to volunteer for Doctors Without Borders in Afghanistan. This method of setting out General Support followed by Specific Support with detailed examples, statistics, or quotes, is used often and something you’ll want to look for in essays you’re reading.

The Conclusion

The last part of an Essay is the Conclusion. The Conclusion usually has two goals.

The Conclusiona. Restate the Thesis Statement (what the writer has proved in

the essay) in different words.b. Take the reader a step further.

In our example essay on becoming a nurse, the Conclusion has two parts. The first part restates the Main Idea of the essay and is in underlined Green Type. The second part takes the reader a step further and is in Green Type. The transition phrases are in (parentheses).

Conclusion:

Transition from the Support Paragraphs to the essay as a whole using a Quote: (The words of Greg Anderson do in fact ring true, because “when we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then we truly live.” I have to admit that in my life I have been through many ups and downs. When I was much younger, I would continuously question myself about my goals and how they might be reached.) Conclusion that restates the Thesis in different words: Now, I know what those goals are and how they should be pursued. I will have to be successful when it comes to my studies. I will need to get all the necessary degrees required, but most of all I will need to be committed to my career with dedication, leadership, and passion. Conclusion that takes the reader a step further: I am proud of what I have achieved so far and look forward to what lies ahead. Getting through nursing school and becoming a nurse is my goal, and I am determined to get there.

Using a quote as a transition, the writer moves to a clear message of the essay as a whole: “When I was much younger, I would continuously question myself about my goals and how they might be reached. Now, I know what those goals are and how they should be pursued.” It’s important that to identify when the Support Paragraphs end and the Conclusion begins. The key question to ask is: When does the writer stop introducing new Support Points and restate the message?

Notice the essay begins and ends the essay with a quote. Writers often use this technique, called “completing the circle,” where they begin with an idea, story, or quote in the Introduction and then in the Conclusion complete the concept, bringing symmetry and closure to the writing.

Thesis Statement Conclusion restating the Thesis in different words:

In my future, I would like to become a nurse. In order to be successful and achieve this dream, I have to develop positive study habits and get all the necessary degrees required. I will also need to enhance my education through volunteerism, leadership, and the heart and dedication to make it through nursing school and become a Registered Nurse.

Now, I know what those goals (nursing) are and how they should be pursued. I will have to be successful when it comes to my studies. I will need to get all the necessary degrees required, but most of all I will need to be committed to my career with volunteerism, leadership, and passion for the work.

Lastly, the essay ends by taking the reader a step further: “I am proud of what I have achieved so far and look forward to what lies ahead. Getting through nursing school and becoming a nurse is my goal, and I am determined to get there.” While reading an essay, a journal article, or a textbook look for this organization. Instead of reading one sentence at a time and soon forgetting what you’ve read, seek to identify the organization the writer is using. This will provide the scaffolding to understand, remember, and apply what you read.

Here are steps you can use to identify the organization of the essays, articles, and textbooks you read in college:

Engage

Question

Focus

Investigate

Understand

1. Engage: Read the paragraph once through carefully. Listen to what the paragraph has to say.

2. Question: Underline the unknowns (people, places, events, vocabulary) that you have questions about. Use the book, dictionary, computer, or ask for help to find the answers.

3. Focus: Identify the topic. What is the reading about?

4. Investigate: Identify the support sentences (the details – quotes, statistics, and examples in the essay)

5. Understand: Answer the following questions:

In your own words what is the writer’s opinion about the topic? Support your position with words, sentences, and ideas from in the essay.

How does the support reveal the writer’s opinion about the topic?

What sentence in the essay reflects the topic and the writer’s opinion about the topic.

By asking and answering questions, you interact with the reading, making it possible to understand, remember, and apply what you’ve read.

Use the above steps in the following practice exercises.

Practice 1: Why I Deserve a RaiseRead the essay and complete the assignment below:

Part 1: Define or explain the following terms:

Paragraph 1: asset

Paragraph 2: meticulous

Paragraph 5: “a raise is the bench mark of actually doing a good job”

Part 2: Identify the Organization of the following essay according to the

directions below:

Put the Introduction designed to give background or get the reader’s interest in

Italics

Underline and put in bold print the Thesis Statement for the essay

Put the Topic Sentence in blue type for the Support Paragraphs.

Put the Support Sentences in red type for the Support Paragraphs.

Put (parentheses) around the Transition Words and Phrases that signal the

Topic Sentence of Support Paragraphs.

Put [brackets] around the Transition Words and Phrases that signal specific

support or examples.

Why I deserve a Raise

Carlos Peña

1Persuading your employer to give you a raise can be a very difficult and

nerve racking task. There is always the fear that they will say no because they

do not believe that you are doing as good of a job as you thought. I however

believe that I do deserve to get a raise. The three reasons why this is so are: I

work hard and know what I’m doing; I am the best salesman in the store; and I

feel that I am an asset to the company.

2First, I am a very work oriented person. Most of my job is physical labor, and

I love doing that. I am very meticulous about the quality and speed of my

work. I like to make sure that I do a good job, and that it’s done in a timely

fashion. Last month, we had two major projects due the same week. I worked

overtime and skipped lunch, so I could get both project completed on time.

3Secondly, I am a fantastic salesman. I have no problem talking to anyone

about what plants they are looking for. I also help identify the mystery plants

in people’s yards, as well as find the plants that are best suited for their needs.

I helped a woman from Lakewood to completely re-landscape her yard. She

was so happy with the result that she has told all her friends about our

business.

4Finally, I feel that I am an asset to the company. I have no problem working

long hours, or fixing any mistakes I may have made. I am the only employee

that returned from last season. Considering that everyone else was let go or

left the job, I feel that my staying shows my commitment to my work. This

season, I have helped to train all of the new employees.

5Not everyone that works for a company for over a year deserves a raise. For

many people, however, a raise is the bench mark of actually doing a good job.

After discussing the many reasons I feel I deserve a raise, I know you will

agree. I will always give my best to your business. I even hope to move up to a

management position someday.

Practice 2. Raising TeensRead the essay and complete the assignment below:

Part 1. Complete the following:

Paragraph 1: Define the word: volatile

Paragraph 2: Define the word: sufficing

Paragraph 3: Find a metaphor in Paragraph 3

Paragraph 4: Define the word: tangible

Part 2. In the following essay, identify the organizational structure

according to the following code:

Put the Introduction designed to give background or get the reader’s interest in Italics.Underline and put in bold print the Thesis Statement for the essay.Put the Topic Sentence in Blue Type. Put the Support Sentences in red type.Put (parentheses) around the Transition Words and Phrases that signal the Topic Sentence of Support Paragraphs.Put [brackets] around the Transition Words and Phrases that signal specific support or examples.Put the Conclusion that restates the Main Idea in different words and takes the reader a step further in Green Type.

Part 3. As you read, notice your thoughts, especially the three kinds of thoughts covered in Chapter1:

1. Random Thoughts that just pop into your mind. “I wish I had some coffee like the girl has at the table across the aisle. It sure looks good!” “I

wonder if it’s going to rain because I need to walk to the bus after class.” “I’ve got to remember to call my mother this afternoon to see if I can borrow the car,” and on and on.

2. Judgments about people, events in your life, or the essay. “This essay [or just one idea in the essay] is good or bad, interesting or boring, worthwhile, or worthless,” and so on.

3. Negative self-thoughts. “I’m not understanding any of this stuff because I’ve never been any good at reading and never will be! It’s better to give up now and cut my losses.”

Choose one instance as you read the passage when you had one of above types of thoughts and record it here:

Practice letting go of the thought and bringing your attention back to the reading.

Use the following scale to rate how difficult it was for you to let go of the thought and return your attention to the reading.

_____ Easy       _____ Somewhat Easy

_____ Somewhat Hard      _____ Hard

Raising TeensCamille Robertson

1 Being a parent is never an easy job. Small babies need constant attention,

toddlers are often challenging, and the elementary years certainly have their

frustrations. I never realized the effort it would take to help my children

survive their teenage years. Teenagers are not only more costly but are also

more emotionally volatile than small children and cause more worry to their

parents.

2 The difference in prices when shopping for teenagers even for everyday

items is astronomical. I don’t remember exactly when Wal-mart clothes and

shoes stopped sufficing and name brand department stores took their place.

Outfits had cost under ten dollars, but I was now spending nearly eighty

dollars for something very similar with a different label. For example, when

my son was four years old, I took him to Walmart and bought a Power

Rangers shirt and shorts ($6) and matching Power Ranger flip flops ($3),

whereas at fourteen we purchased a shirt ($27), shorts ($42), and sneakers

($65) at Sol. The difference shopping for the clothes added up to $122! A

happy meal, which only costs a few dollars, no longer makes him happy, and

the bigger meals cost twice as much. Even at home, one peanut butter and

jelly sandwich has turned into five or six!

3 All children are prone to strong attitudes and emotions although teenagers

seem to take it to the extreme. When my daughter was about six years old, she

went through a stage of temper tantrums. She would jump up and down and

yell, "You're the meanest Mommy ever!" However, she soon noticed that I

wasn't paying attention to her tantrum, and she would stop after only a few

minutes. She is now twelve, and “the fits” are slightly different. Now I get the

“silent treatment” for days, and I overhear her on the phone with her friends

debating whether I am the meanest mom ever or if the friend’s mom should

be the title holder. The emotional roller coaster of ups and downs also seems

to travel faster these days. Where she spent most of her time relatively happy

a few years ago, she seems to change moods now faster than I can keep up

with them.

4I’ve been a careful observer of my children, both when they were toddlers, in

grade school, and now that they are teens. I’ve come to understand that there

is no way to avoid worrying about your children; the worries just seem to be

more tangible when they are small. “Baby proofing” your house to avoid

accidents, staying close to avoid children running into the street, and

sterilizing everything they touch with Clorox wipes are just a few of the many

precautions you might take to protect your little ones. I remember taking my

children to the park and hovering over them to prevent as many “owies” as I

could. As they have gotten older, the worries have become more abstract. I am

not always there to physically and emotionally protect them from the dangers

of the world. When they leave with their friends, I find myself afraid of the

things and situations they may encounter and the ways in which they will deal

with them. I have taught them good morals and values and the basics of self

defense, preparing them as much as I am able to deal with whatever they may

face, but the consequences are more likely to be serious and out of my hands.

5 Small children are not necessarily easier to care for than teenagers, but

there are fewer costs, emotional complications, and less to worry about. If

teenagers are this complicated, I hesitate to consider the things that are yet to

come as they become adults.

They grow up fast!

http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/teenage-timbomb-415x275.jpg

Chapter Review Questions

1. What are the four parts in an organized essay? (fill-in-the-blank) (Click Here for Chapter Review of Essay Organization)

a.

b.

c.

d.

2. What are two goals of the Introduction in an essay? (fill-in-the-blank) (Click Here for Chapter Review of Introduction in an Essay)

a.

b.

3. What are the two parts of the Thesis Statement in an essay ? (fill-in-the-blank) (Click Here for Chapter Review of Essay Organization)

a.

b.

4. Read the following Thesis Statement and identify the following (fill-in-the-blank).(Click Here for Review of Topic and Main Idea)

Teenagers are not only more costly but are also more emotionally volatile than small children and cause more worry to their parents.

a. What does volatile mean?

b. Underline the Topic of the Thesis Statement and put the Main Idea in Bold.

5. What sentence in each Support Paragraph tells the reader what category of support will be covered in that paragraph? (multiple choice)Click Here for review of Support Paragraphs in an Essay)

a. Specific Support b. General Support c. Topic Sentence

6. What are the two kinds of Support in an essay support paragraph? (fill-in-the-blank)

(Click Here for Chapter Review of Essay Organization)

a.

b.

7. What is a key difference in General and Specific Support in an essay support paragraph? (multiple choice)

(Click Here for review of Support Paragraphs in an Essay)

a. General Support gives general categories of support; Specific Support gives the detail through examples, quotes, or data.

b. General Support gives the detail through examples, quotes, or data; Specific Support gives general categories of support.

8. How are the Support sentences organized in an essay support paragraph? (multiple choice)

(Click Here for review of Support Paragraphs in an Essay)

a. General Support 1 followed by Specific Support 1. General Support 2 followed by Specific Support 2. And so on…

b. Specific Support 1 followed by General Support 1. Specific Support 2 followed by General Support 2. And so on…

c. All the General Support sentences followed by all the Specific Support sentences.d. All the Specific Support sentences followed by all the General Support sentences.

9. What kinds of words and phrases help the reader move from one support paragraph to another in an essay? (multiple choice)

(Click Here for Chapter Review of Transition Phrases)

a. First, Second, Third, Finallyb. For example, For instance,

10. What are the two parts of a Conclusion in an essay? (fill-in-the-blank) (Click Here for Chapter Review of the Conclusion in an Essay)

a.

b.

11. What do each of the following steps suggest you do in reading an essay (fill-in-the-blank):

(Click Here for Chapter Review: Steps_in_Reading_an_Essay)

a. Engage

b. Question

c. Focus

d. Investigate

e. Understand