Tuesday, Nov. 24

Today we rediscovered topic sentences--the sentence in each body paragraph that tells the reader EXACTLY what will be covered.

Topic sentences are a lot like the paragraph's version of a thesis statement because topic sentences accomplish the same goals and purposes as our larger thesis statement--helping establish focus and organization. In fact, the two are so similar that they can even be built the same way:

Thesis Statement

Topic of Essay + Point you want to make =Thesis Statement

Curfews + are beneficial to both parents and children = Curfews are beneficial to both parents and children.

We use this same construction to create focused body paragraphs.

Topic Sentence

Topic of Paragraph + Point you want to make = Topic Sentence

Curfews + beneficial for children = Curfews are beneficial to children.

From this last sentence, you can see how you will need to further DEVELOP this paragraph out because right now it is just a claim. The rest of the paragraph will need to offer proof. What are two things that could be written to support the topic sentence that curfews are beneficial to children?

**Remember that unlike the thesis (which MUST live in the last sentence in the intro paragraph), topic sentences may be anywhere within the paragraph. Check out the samples here. Notice how the topic sentence can show up as the first, last, or middle sentence?

For extra practice, you can check out MySkillsLab, and for more review on paragraphs within an essay, look to OWL's breakdown.

Form Must Not Dictate Content...

Patterns of organization are important, but they do not tell us what to write our papers about.

There are many types of organizational patterns we have covered so far:

Order of Importance

Chronological Order

Spatial Order

Cause and Effect

Compare and Contrast

They all have their purpose in writing, but remember that you have the power! It is up to you to choose the best mode of organization for the topic you have chosen to write about. You should not write based on mode of organization (for the most part).

Consider getting some extra practice by going to myskillslab and working on some of the tests posted there. You can also read a more intensive study on organizational patterns in EG or here (Caution: There is some crazy flash illustration happening on this page).

Comma-Palooza!

We already know that commas are used along with conjunctions (FANBOYS) to separate two independent clauses:

I ran a marathon last month, and I vow to never do it again!

And we know that we use commas along with dependent clauses to help with organizing our sentences:

While the lit candle was burning his house down, Thomas was sleeping soundly.

(note that the comma is in this sentence BECAUSE the first part is a dependent clause. How would you punctuate the sentence if you flipped the two clauses?)

These are our BIG comma rules, but recently we covered some other reasons to use commas. Review these in your EG book (page 470) or check out OWL's breakdown of commas and make sure to examine the notes linked at the bottom of the page too :)

Like V. As

For a detailed and technical breakdown of "like" vs. "as," check out Grammar Girl's site.

Notice that like is used to compare two nouns:

Harold's painting looks like a child's experiment with finger paint.

As is used to compare two clauses:

Writing a good essay requires students to concentrate as if they are baking a cake.

One way to test this out is to follow this guideline from Rutgers:

As versus Like.

In formal writing, avoid using like as a conjunction. In other words, something can be like something else (there it's a preposition), but avoid "It tastes good like a cigarette should" — it should be "as a cigarette should." Quickie test: there should be no verb in the phrase right after like. Even in phrases such as "It looks like it's going to rain" or "It sounds like the motor's broken," as if is usually more appropriate than like — again, at least in formal writing. [Entry revised 12 April 2001; moved 10 December 2006.