Sample 1 Tips for student – the way to a good composition/essay

What readers look for in writing ?

Grammar: articles, pronouns, rules for verbs, agreement.

Mechanics: spelling, punctuation.

Word Choice: vocabulary, idiom, tone.

Syntax: sentence structure, stylistic choices.

Content: relevance, clarity, originality, logic.

Organization: paragraphs, topic and support, cohesion and unity.

Purpose: the reason for writing.

Audience: the readers and what they want or expect.

What is a paragraph?

Paragraph: group of sentences supporting one idea; central idea is usually stated in topic sentence; every sentence is relevant.

5-paragraph essay: Introduction (argument), paragraph 1- support; paragraph 2 - support; paragraph 3 – support; paragraph 4 - conclusion (summary); paragraph 5 - restatement of main points.

Important to remember in your paragraphs

Summarize: be concise, put statements into your own words.

Cite Sources: never copy; always give source of information, if it is not original.

Revise: you can always go back and change your writing; revising is part of the writing process.

Ways to support a topic sentence

Examples: specific instance that explains an idea.

Details: particular parts or characteristics of a whole thing or idea; usually used in description.

Anecdotes: a short, entertaining account of some happening, usually personal. Facts or Statistics: objectively verifiable or numerical facts.

Different ways to organize papers

Enumeration: start with a general class, then list all its members or parts (you can begin with “First” and then proceed with “Next”, “Then”, and “Finally”).

Chronology: list events in order of occurrence in time; what happened, first, second, third?

Cause and Effect: explain different phenomena by explaining the “cause” or reason why a situation is how it is, and the "effect," the result of the cause —Sentence Connectors for cause and effect structure:

cause; as a result, effect

cause; consequently, effect

cause; therefore, effect

cause; because of this, effect —Predicate Structures for cause and effect:

cause is the reason for effect

cause is responsible for effect

cause leads to effect

cause contributes to effect

Definitions and facts

Definition: explains what a particular term means; usually term to be defined, the class to which is belongs, and its distinguishing features.

Circular Definitions: using a word from the same family to define a term (economics: study of the economy).

Over-extended Definitions: definition can be more than the term (if we describe lemonade as a refreshing drink, it defines nothing since there are many different kinds of refreshing drinks).

Restricted Definitions: term can be so much more than the word that defines it (if we describe a table simply as a place where one eats, we're missing important distinguishing features of the table; it can be used to put things, for discussions, for games).

Stipulated Definitions: these are used when 1) of all the possible meanings of the term you will use one, and not the others; 2) you will use the word in a very special sense not to be found in the dictionary, usually for abstract words like love, friendship, and success.

Facts: evidence that no rational person could refute (Fact: Michael Jordan has won several basketball championships with the Chicago Bulls; Opinion: Michael Jordan is the best basketball player in the world).

Voice: unique way of using language, individual style.

Elements of Voice: sentence structure, diction, tone.

Sentence Structure: way sentences are constructed; some use long, some use short.

Diction: word choice; concrete (dealing with the 5 senses) or abstract (love, peace, abstract terms); formal, dignified and serious (report or business letter), or informal, casual, conversational.

Tone: emotional effect of a piece of writing; the way it makes a reader feel.

Two kinds of meanings in words

Denotation: dictionary meaning.

Connotation: implied meaning of word that transcends dictionary meaning.

All words have denotations, but usually different connotations according to context.

Language

Literal Language: matter of fact, to the point; words mean precisely what they say.

Figurative language: poetic, imaginative; speaks of things as if they were different from what they actually are (simile, metaphor).

Simile: uses like or as to reveal similarities in things.

Metaphor: speaks of one thing as if it were something else, suggesting a comparison but not stating it directly.

Personification: figure of speech when an animal, a thing, or an idea is given human characteristics.

Idioms: expression that has a different meaning from the sum of the individual words (the exam was a piece of cake).

Slang: newly coined words and phrases with new, specialized meanings (hobo, killjoy, cool).

Cliches: overused phrases that have lost their power (bored to death, as cold as ice).

Jargon: specialized vocabulary used by people engaged in a particular activity (in computers: log on, log in, web search, portal, google).

Sound devices in writing

Repetition: repeated words and phrases (she walked and walked and walked until she couldn't walk anymore).

Rhyme: repeated sounds usually at the end of the line (hat, cat).

Rhythm: pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables (iambic pentameter: “Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?”).

Onomatopoeia: using a word or phrase that imitates sound (hiss, buzz, meow).

Alliteration: repeating beginning consonant sounds.

Consonance: repeating internal consonant sounds.

Assonance: repeating vowel sounds.

Omit unnecessary words

A machine should have no unnecessary parts, and a drawing should have no unnecessary lines; every word should tell.