07 - English Writing

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International MilitaryStudent Preparatory

Course

P910

English Writing


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Practical Exercise

For the next 15 minutes, write a

description, in English, of what

you did in class yesterday.


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Why This Process & Format?

Students will be able to express

their ideas clearly

Students will be able to satisfy

the writing requirements of their

courses at CGSC


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Class Time

Today

Learn the process

Small group practice

Short homework assignment

Tomorrow: Composition during class


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What You Will Learn

Use a process for composing

Follow a format for essays Avoid certain structure errors


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What is the Writing Process?

Understand the assignment

Gather information

Generate ideas

Establish a purpose

Compose a thesis statement

Make a plan Draft the composition

Check and revise the composition


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What is My Assignment?

What is the subject?

How long should the paper be?

When is the paper due?

Do I have to do research?

Do I have to work alone or with others?

What format do I have to use?


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How Can I Find Relevant Information?

Library Internet

Interviews

Personal experience

Newspapers

Magazines

Lectures

Discussions


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How Can I Get Ideas?

Brainstorming

Freewriting

Listing Mapping

Drawing

Talking and listening

Journal writing


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How Can I Choose A Purpose?

Think about your assignment, your

skills, your interests, your knowledge

Look for relationships among your

ideas and information

Ask yourself:

What do I want to achieve?

What do I want to show?


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How Can I Write a Good Thesis

Statement? (1 of 2)

A thesis must be:

Clear a complete sentence

Specific not too general

Supportable with evidence

Strong not doubtful

Coherent does not mix differenttopics

Originalincludes the authors own

ideas


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How Can I Write a Good Thesis

Statement? (2 of 2)

What do you believe about thetopic?

What is your original idea?

Are you well informed?

Can you support your view with

evidence and logic?

Knowledge + Reflection = your

own supportable view

Thesis: A proposition that is maintained by argument


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What is NOT a Good

Thesis Statement?

Avoid:

Questions

Judgments

Feelings

Facts

Other peoples views

Religious views


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What is the Format of an Essay?

Introduction

Body

Conclusion


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What Is An Introduction?

The Beginning

Attention-getting

Presents the thesis Predicts the body

One paragraph


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What Is A Body?

The middle

Several paragraphs, each with:

Topic sentence (main idea of

paragraph) with supporting pointsthat explain the main idea using

facts, examples, and descriptions

Explanation & proof of the Thesis

Clear, thorough reasoning

Ideas in logical order


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What Is A Conclusion?

The Ending

One paragraph

Restate the thesis, or . . .

Summarize the main points

Concise, clear, reinforcement

Avoid anything new

Close smoothly, positively

Make the reader remember


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How Can I Organize my Ideas into a

Plan?

Identify relationships amongyour ideas and information:

General/Specific

Cause/Effect

Similarities/Differences

Categories/Classifications

Processes/Chronologies

Problems/Solutions


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How Can I Organize my Ideas into a

Plan?

Rewrite your ideas in logical ordermake an outline:

I. Introduction with Thesis

II. Body

A. Main Point (general)

1. Supporting Point (specific)

2. Supporting Point (specific)B. Main Point, etc.

III. Conclusion


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How Can I Check my Outline?

Do I have enough support?

Is my support balanced?

Does every point support my thesis?

Are my ideas in logical order?

Did I consider opposing views?

Did I analyze the topic enough?

Does my reasoning and my evidence

prove my point?


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How Do I Write a Good Draft?

Focus

Remember your purpose

Write your thesis statement at the top

Follow your outline

Compose your draft quickly do not

worry about grammar . . . yet

Write the Body first, the Introduction

second, and the Conclusion last


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How Do I Check & Revise?

Sleep on it wait 24 hours if you can

Imagine you are the instructor then

read your draft

First, check for a clear thesis, good

reasoning and support, logical order

Second, check for mechanics

Third, check for style

Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite


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But English is not my Native

Language!!!

Avoid translating word for word

Write the first draft quickly

Check mechanics later (spelling,

grammar, vocabulary), then rewrite

Compose on the computer

Be concise, be direct Perfection is NOT required

Ask for help, but do your own work!


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Can I Really be a Good Writer?

Good writers follow a good process

Good writers check and rewrite

Good writers imagine the readers

point of view

Good writers think, think, think

Good writers use computers

Good writers avoid plagiarism


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The Ownership of Words & Ideas

Be careful . . .

You can borrow but you cannot steal

Plagiarism is an academic crimetheft of words or ideas

Always identify the words or ideas of

another person or source


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A Few Dos and Donts About

Structure

DO

Use transitions

Use active verbs

Dont

Use jargon

Use very long sentences

Use many passive verbs


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In Conclusion: The Process

Understand the assignment

Gather information

Generate ideas

Establish a purpose

Compose a thesis statement

Make a plan

Draft the composition

Check and revise the composition


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The Parts Of An Essay

Introduction

Presents the thesis

Predicts the body Body: Supports the thesis with

reasoning and information

Conclusion: Restates the thesis


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Any questions?


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Homework

In your own opinion:

What is a good leader?

Describe a good leader -- giveexamples

In your early military career, what are

some lessons you learned, and how

did you learn them?

Documents

07 - English Writing