PA#7: "They Say," Part 2

Read Chapter 2 of Writing from Sources (WFS) and the essay by Carl Singleton on pp. 192 - 94. You might also want to look at Chapter 2 of TSIS, especially the list of verbs at the end.

Write a paragraph summarizing Singleton's argument in the essay. Don't agree or disagree yet. Simply summarize his point of view. Be objective in your tone, language, and content.

Try to use and CORRECTLY introduce SHORT quotations from the essay when you think Singleton does a better job of writing his point of view than you can, but don't overdo it. Don't let Singleton do your writing for you.

Your paragraph should take the following form, which more or less follows the instructions given in WFS:

1. Summarize the main argument. Don't forget to work in Singleton's full name and the title of the essay. I typical template for that first sentence might be as follows. In [title of the essay], [author's full name] [verb from the list in TSIS] that [the author's main argument/ thesis].

2. Summarize the supporting arguments, each in their turn. Use transitions to indicate the flow of the argument and the fact that Singleton and not you is arguing.

Here, you'll need to understand the underlying organizational principle of the essay. Writers don't always make them obvious. Use your understanding of that organizational principle to structure your summary.

3. State the underlying principle present in Singleton's essay -- the idea that makes the argument go. You can think of it as the thesis, but it is often unstated. Think of it as the idea that you will either defend or refute in subsequent paragraphs in the body of an essay that follows this introductory summary.

WFS gives you excellent instructions on how to determine these matters. Use them.

PA#6: Wiki Summary ("We Say. I Say")

Write a paragraph summarizing the topic of your wiki page. Discuss its proposed content, organization, divisions, and your part in it.

Your paragraph should have the following content in the order listed.

1. The topic of the wiki

2. Any explanation required to clarify the topic

3. The purpose of the wiki

4. Division into parts

5. The part that you will write about

6. An example or detail from your part that illustrates how interesting your part is.

Upload your paragraph as a comment to this blog post by Thursday at 5 PM. As usual, bring a hard copy to class on Friday. Please note the deadlines. A few paragraphs have been coming in late, which makes it more difficult for me to prepare class. Also, a few of you are not posting paragraphs. Get with the program.

PA#5: Refutation "They Say, BUT I Say . . ."

In the last PA, you took one of the arguments that favored your position and developed it into a paragraph.

In PA#5, consider an argument against the position stated in your thesis (PA#3) and respond to it.

Consider the following structure:

1. State the counterargument to your position,

2. Explain the point of conflict,

3. State your response,

4. Explain your response, and finally

5. Provide evidence for your response in the form of quotation and/ or and example and details.

Post the paragraph as a comment to this blog entry by Tuesday, 1/26, at 5 PM and bring a hard copy to class on Wednesday 1/27.

Below is a sample culled from the previous assignment. Yes, the writer inadvertently wrote a refutation paragraph when he or she was supposed to write a confirmation paragraph. However, it's a very good refutation paragraph anyway.

Misinformation is largely to blame when it comes to why there are many American individuals who refuse to donate organs. People are simply not as correctly informed about organ donation as they should be and instead are only fed myths. Many believe that if there is a fine print in the back of their drivers license declaring them organ donors , the hospital staff wont work as hard to save their lives. Saving a life is always first priority to any medical professional. In fact , the medical team that treats the patients is separate from the transplant team. Doctors and nurses involved in a person’s care before death are not typically involved in the recovery or transplantation of donated organs, tissues or corneas. In addition hospital staff cannot access the donor registry list. Another myth believed by many is that if you are a registered organ donor, doctors will not wait until you are declared dead to start removing organs. According to Gift of Life Donor Program “Brain death is a medically, legally, and morally accepted determination of death. To determine brain death, more than one diagnosis of brain death and a series of tests over a period of time are required before the donor's family is presented with the opportunity to donate.” 

PA#4 -- Confirmation (I Say, and They Say)

In PA#3 you established a point of view (a thesis) on a subject and divided your support of that point of view into separate sub-arguments.

Note, for example, how Emily Poe does it in the sample. She claims in her thesis statement that "vegetarianism is clearly the better option for sustaining the Earth and all its inhabitants." She divides her support of that claim into three subtopics: environmental improvement, humane treatment of livestock, and improved personal health.

Presumably, in a paragraph that follows, she discusses the first of those sub-claims: That the vegetarian lifestyle improves the environment.

Look back at the introductory paragraph you wrote. Find your first sub-claim and write what would become the second paragraph of your essay. Use the following paragraph pattern:

1. Topic sentence/ statement of the claim

2. Explanation of the claim (spend some time here)

3. Evidence by example and detail

4. Evidence by quotation

Use the templates in TSIS to indicate the moves you are making.

Upload the paragraph here as a comment below by Sunday, 1/24 at 5 PM. Bring a hard copy to class on Monday. Really. I mean it this time. We'll definitely be spending some time in class making comments on each others' paragraphs.

PA#3: They Say, I Say (Knocking Down the Straw Man)

Write a paragraph using the basic pattern found on p. 14 - 15 of TSIS, both the second and third editions, (Assignment #1). Use the italicized words to structure what would essentially become an introductory paragraph to a larger essay.

Post your paragraph by Thursday, 1/21, and bring a hard copy to class on 1/22.

PA#2: Student Interview Paragraph

Dear Students,

For your second paragraph assignment, you will be interviewing (and be interviewed by) another student in the class.

Please write a paragraph about that student. Make sure that you capture something -- not everything -- important about your colleague. Don't try to say everything. Narrow the focus to one critical quality.

That focus will allow you to provide the kind of evidence and detail that makes the paragraph real and engaging.

For example, let's say the student is on the golf team. Surely, the student experienced one moment that ensured that he or she would be a golfer forever. Describe the student's interest, but make it real to the reader. Capture that moment.

Post the paragraph here as a comment to this assignment by T/1/19 at 5 PM. Bring a hard copy to class on W/1/20.

PA#1 – A Simple Paragraph

Hello, students,

Paragraph Assignment #1 – Basic Downshifting

We'll actually write the paragraph in class on Wednesday, so you need only bring detailed notes to class. In the meantime, observe your environment. Look around. Take some notes.

 Define and describe a problem here at Ohio Wesleyan. Start with a topic sentence that defines the problem. Then describe the problem in more detail in subsequent sentences. Finally, give a detailed example of the problem. Use the details to illuminate the description above.

 Write a well developed paragraph that follows the basic downshifting pattern we will discuss in class. Sometime over the weekend, post your paragraph to the blog as a "comment" to this assignment. Also, BRING A HARD COPY THE PARAGRAPH TO CLASS on Friday so that I can read them outside of class.

We will follow that basic pattern on all the paragraphs you write during the first weeks of the semester:

Day 1: Draft the paragraph. Blog it ASAP.

Next class day: Edit the previous paragraph and draft the next one.