...Study Unit Writing Sentences and Paragraphs Preview Preview In this study unit, you’ll take all the information and skills you’ve acquired so far and use them to practice writing complete, correct sentences and well-organized, coherent paragraphs. You have the tools—the parts of speech; correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization; and good grammar— to construct and use a variety of sentence types. You’ve studied the uses of modifiers, tone, and form, so you can reach the people you’re addressing. You’ve also learned to write to your audience, whether you’re sending out a basic business letter, convincing a group to accept your recommendations, or presenting a research report. Now we’ll begin to put it all together. By learning how to express yourself in correct sentences and to recognize common errors, your basic communications skills will significantly improve. By learning to focus on your topic, organize your ideas, use transitions, and write an effective conclusion, you’ll write consistently stronger paragraphs, letters, essays, and reports. This, in turn, will increase your professionalism and open doors to future success. When you complete this study unit, you’ll be able to • Compose sentences correctly • Use various sentence structures and types • Recognize and correct fragments and run-on sentences • Construct unified, coherent paragraphs • Connect paragraphs to build a well-organized, logical document ...
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...Paragraph 1 I chose Paralegal as a career path because I am very enthused and, passionate about law, the legal system and, legal research. Being able to work for Finnegan & Wicker Law Firm will help me to hone my skills, to grow and learn more in this field. As a paralegal, to be able to assist lawyers with depositions, drafting of pleadings, subpoenas and, other legal documents is a very fulfilling task. There is one particular event that inspired me and propelled me into pursuing a career as a paralegal and that’s – watching and reading the civil case brought against Orenthal James Simpson (O.J), by the family of Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson in 1997 - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._J._Simpson_murder_case). The depth in which the depositions were done and the discovery process led to a successful win in the civil trial. The success of the civil suit in my opinion was mainly due to the adequate and proper research that was done, no stones were left unturned and, even though O.J was found not guilty in criminal court for the death of Ron Goldman and, Nicole Brown Simpson respectively he was held responsible for their deaths in civil court. Seeing the outcome of the civil trial against O.J, I knew that I would really enjoy being a paralegal and, to be able to work for some of the best lawyers here at Finnegan & Wicker Law Firm, makes becoming a paralegal worthwhile. I sincerely hope that I can become a part of your prestigious organization and team. Nickey Simpson ...
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...A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. A paragraph (from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος paragraphos, "to write...
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...Shaping Content Writing Paragraphs 1. PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, TONE, AND CONTENT L E A R N I N G 1. 2. 3. 4. 6 O B J E C T I V E S Identify the differences between summary, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation paragraphs Identify the content in writing paragraphs Demonstrate how audience and tone influence content Apply purpose, audience, tone, and content to a specific assignment Imagine reading a poorly written review of a movie that you would like to see this weekend. You cannot follow the characters, action, or conflict because the author of the review rambles on and on. Without clear paragraphs, this review will likely lose your interest, and you may skip the movie altogether! When you are the writer, it is helpful to position yourself as a reader. Ask yourself whether you can focus easily on each point you make. Effective writers use a single paragraph for each new idea they introduce. Paragraphs separate ideas into logical, manageable, and distinct units. Each paragraph focuses on only one main idea and presents coherent sentences to support that single point. Because all the sentences in one paragraph support the same point, a paragraph may stand on its own. Each paragraph is shaped by Purpose: the reason why the writer composes the paragraph. < Tone: the attitude the writer conveys about the paragraph’s subject. < Audience: the individual or group whom the writer intends to address. < Content: the written material in the paragraph. < 174 WRITING FOR SUCCESS ...
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...course addresses the key elements necessary for effective academic writing in college. The course begins with a focus on prewriting strategies and builds to drafting and revising essays. In addition, the course includes skill development at the sentence and paragraph level. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: · University policies[->0]: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. · Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Arlov, P. (2012). Wordsmith: A guide to paragraphs and short essays (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. McLean, S. (2011). Writing for success. Irvington, NY: Flat World Knowledge. Supplemental Materials Associate Level Writing Style Handbook MyWritingLab All electronic materials are available on the student website. Week One: The Writing Process| |Details|Due|Points| Objectives|1 1.1 Identify the steps in the writing process.1.2 Demonstrate correct application of grammar, diction, syntax, and punctuation to writing.||| Reading|Read the University of Phoenix Material: Final Assignment...
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...to WRITE a PARAGRAPH The practice of writing paragraphs is essential to good writing. Paragraphs help to break up large chunks of text and make the content easier for readers to digest. When writing the paragraph we should plan the paragraph, write the paragraph, and review the paragraph. First, plan the paragraph, must have a clear idea of what the paragraph is going to be about. This is because a paragraph is essentially a collection of sentences which all relate to one central topic. Without a definite idea of what the main topic is, the paragraph will lack focus and unity. Secondly, write the paragraph, when writing the paragraph the first sentence of the paragraph needs to be the topic sentence. A topic sentence is an introductory line which addresses what the main idea or thesis of the paragraph is going to be. It should contain the most important and relevant point you wish to make regarding your topic, thus summarizing the paragraph as a whole. Then fill in the supporting details. The supporting sentences are the meat of the paragraph; should fill them with as much evidence to support our topic sentence as possible. Depending on the topic, we can use facts, figures, statistics and examples or we can use stories, anecdotes and quotes. Moreover, write a concluding sentence. The concluding sentence of the paragraph should tie everything together and reiterate the main point of the topic sentence, albeit in different words. A good concluding sentence will reinforce...
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...Associate Level Material Appendix N Topic Sentences and Supporting Paragraphs Topic Sentences When you write, you form paragraphs. A paragraph is a group of sentences that relate in topic and thought. A paragraph generally consists of three to five sentences and usually begins with a topic sentence. A topic sentence is a general statement that announces what the paragraph is about. By starting a paragraph with a topic sentence, your audience may immediately identify your topic. This construction also helps you, the writer, stay focused on your subject. Consider the following example of an essay introduction: The first sentence is the topic sentence: It tells the readers they will learn about past narratives. The sentences that follow the topic sentence relate to the topic sentence because they provide examples of past narratives. Finally, the last sentence is the thesis of the essay, which expresses the author’s position on the topic and previews what the entire paper is about. You learn more about writing effective introductions later in this course. Supporting Paragraphs Every paragraph after your introduction must be a supporting paragraph. A supporting paragraph supports or proves your thesis. All supporting paragraphs must include a topic sentence. You may then develop the supporting paragraphs within your paper by using one or more of the following methods: • Examples and illustrations • Data, facts, or historical...
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...Page 1 of 8 How to Structure & Organize Your Paper Organizing Your Thoughts Making sense out of your observations about a text is a difficult task. Even once you've figured out what it is that you want to say, you are left with the problem of how to say it. With which idea should you begin? Should you address the opinions of other thinkers? As to that stubborn contradiction you've uncovered in your own thinking: what do you do with that? Writing papers in college requires that you come up with sophisticated, complex, and even creative ways of structuring your ideas. Accordingly, there are no simple formulae that we can offer you that will work for every paper, every time. We can, however, give you some things to think about that will help you as you consider how to structure your paper. Let Your Thesis Direct You Begin by listening to your thesis. If it is well-written, it will tell you which way to go with your paper. Suppose, for example, that in responding to Richard Pipes' book, The Russian Revolution, you have written a thesis that says: The purpose of the Russian Revolution was not only to revise Russia's class system, but to create a new world, and within that world, a new kind of human being. This thesis provides the writer (and the reader) with several clues about how best to structure the paper. First, the thesis promises the reader that it will argue that the Russian Revolution was not simply a matter of class. The paper will therefore begin by saying that...
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...Draft Formula Writing Have you ever had problems getting started on an essay? Most writers have. There is a technique that can help, and it’s called formula writing. Formula writing, like most essays, contains an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. These elements are the “formula” for writing. The first element of formula writing is the introduction. It is the first paragraph of the essay and introduces the main idea of the entire essay. In addition, this paragraph contains information to grab the reader’s attention. The first sentence can either present the thesis statement, which is not the preferred method, or it can hook the reader, as this essay does. The introduction also contains a listing of the main ideas that will be developed in the body paragraphs. If the thesis statement has not been expressed in the first sentence, it should be the last sentence of the introduction; this is the preferred placement of the thesis statement. If the thesis statement is the first sentence, the last sentence of the introductory paragraph should be a concluding sentence that either wraps-up the paragraph or leads into the first body paragraph. The body is the second element of formula writing. The body usually contains three paragraphs, although it can contain more or fewer. Each paragraph must have its own topic sentence, which is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. The remaining sentences develop the main idea, or topic sentence, through details...
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...The writing process begins the minute you get a writing assignment—whether you are writing a book, an essay, or a single paragraph. It involves all the activities you do, from choosing a topic to turning in a final draft. The phases, or stages, of the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Prewriting Prewriting refers to all activities that help you explore a subject, generate ideas about it, choose a specific topic, establish a purpose, and analyze the audience for your paragraph or essay. Your mission at this stage is to stimulate your thinking before and during the act of writing. Every time you think of a new idea during the writing process, you are prewriting. Drafting When you have lots of ideas to work with, you are ready to start drafting. Drafting involves writing down your thoughts, developing or expanding some ideas, organizing your thoughts to reflect your purpose, and writing a first version of your paragraph or essay. To start on your draft, you may want to spread out your class notes, journal entries, and other prewriting notes so that you can start to string your ideas together. This is the time to keep your thoughts flowing without worrying too much about grammar, punctuation, mechanics, or spelling. Revising As you may suspect, the process of writing is not finished with your first draft. You should always revise your work to make it stronger and better. Revising involves rethinking your content and organization so that your writing...
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...The writing process begins the minute you get a writing assignment—whether you are writing a book, an essay, or a single paragraph. It involves all the activities you do, from choosing a topic to turning in a final draft. The phases, or stages, of the writing process are prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Prewriting Prewriting refers to all activities that help you explore a subject, generate ideas about it, choose a specific topic, establish a purpose, and analyze the audience for your paragraph or essay. Your mission at this stage is to stimulate your thinking before and during the act of writing. Every time you think of a new idea during the writing process, you are prewriting. Drafting When you have lots of ideas to work with, you are ready to start drafting. Drafting involves writing down your thoughts, developing or expanding some ideas, organizing your thoughts to reflect your purpose, and writing a first version of your paragraph or essay. To start on your draft, you may want to spread out your class notes, journal entries, and other prewriting notes so that you can start to string your ideas together. This is the time to keep your thoughts flowing without worrying too much about grammar, punctuation, mechanics, or spelling. Revising As you may suspect, the process of writing is not finished with your first draft. You should always revise your work to make it stronger and better. Revising involves rethinking your content and organization so that your writing...
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...Communication I | Copyright © 2011, 2010, 2009 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved. Course Description This course addresses the key elements necessary for effective academic writing in college. The course begins with focus on prewriting strategies and builds to drafting and revising essays. In addition, the course includes skill development at the sentence and paragraph level. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: • University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. • Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials McLean, S. (2011). Writing for success (1st ed.). Irvington, NY: Flat World Knowledge, Inc. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Supplemental Material Associate Level Writing Style Handbook MyWritingLab® |Week...
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...Purdue Writing Online Lab and slightly modified. Basics on Writing an Academic Paragraph What is a paragraph? A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an organized fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing). The Basic Rule: Keep one idea to one paragraph The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one paragraph. If you begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new paragraph. There are some simple ways to tell if you are on the same topic or a new one. You can have one idea and several bits of supporting evidence within a single paragraph. You can also have several points in a single paragraph as long as they relate to the overall topic of the paragraph. If the single points start to get long, then perhaps elaborating on each of them and placing them in their own paragraphs is the route to go. Elements of a paragraph To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: Unity, Coherence, A Topic Sentence, and Adequate Development. As you will see, all of these traits overlap. Using and adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct effective paragraphs. Unity ...
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...Read through the guide that follows this worksheet. 2. Create an introductory paragraph. Include the following parts: A. Method of getting reader's attention B. Background information C. Thesis statement with plan of development ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Complete the rest of your outline. Brief notes for each section will suffice. I. Topic Sentence for first supporting paragraph (first point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] II. Topic Sentence for second supporting paragraph (second point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe in a few words] C. Supporting idea 3 [Describe in a few words] D. Transition sentence into next paragraph [Describe in a few words] III. Topic Sentence for third supporting paragraph (third point in thesis): [Insert topic sentence] A. Supporting idea 1 [Describe in a few words] B. Supporting idea 2 [Describe...
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...Module 1 A typical paragraph consists of a topic sentence and details that expand on the topic sentence. Every well-written paragraph will have a topic sentence, detail sentences, and a concluding sentence. * A typical paragraph consists of a topic sentence and details that expand on the topic sentence. Every well-written paragraph will have a topic sentence, detail sentences, and a concluding sentence. * To develop your paragraph you will need to generate concrete supporting details and examples that are directly related to your specific topic. -Use concrete words: anything you can see, hear, touch, smell, or taste * A concluding sentence brings the paragraph to a close and sums up its content. It ties the ideas of the paragraph together and gives the reader a sense of closure. * Most paragraphs are organized in one of five ways: 1.) General to particular, 2.)Chronologically (by time), 3.)Spatially (by physical arrangement), 4.)From one extreme to another Limited topic + controlling idea= topic sentence Module 2 Every essay consists of several easily recognizable parts: a title, an introduction, a thesis statement, several body paragraphs, and a conclusion. A title is a phrase, usually no more than a few words, that gives a hint about the subject, purpose, or focus of what is to follow in the essay. The introduction to your essay—your first paragraph—should introduce your subject and stimulate your audience's interest. This paragraph essentially tells...
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