Brick by Brick: Write Hard In the beginning… …there was the complete sentence - …was the complete sentence
Elements of a Complete Sentence: -
- Starts with a capital
- Subject
- Verb (complete predicate)
Elements of a Complete Sentence: -
- Starts with a capital
- Subject
- Verb (complete predicate)
- Agree in number
- . (! ?)
-
- Complete sentence =
- Complete thought
-
(Independent clause) Kinds of Complete Sentences: - Simple: I drive a bus. My wife is a lawyer.
- Compound: I drive a bus, but my wife is a lawyer.
- Compound sentences are thus made up of two linked thoughts or two linked independent clauses.
- This is done through the use of a comma and a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS).
- You can also use a semicolon: I drive a bus; my wife is a lawyer.
- Incomplete sentences are known as fragments.
Building Blocks: - Complete sentence. Complete sentence. Complete sentence. Complete sentence. Complete sentence.
- Thus, you have a paragraph.
- A paragraph = A series of complete thoughts that add up to
The One Paragraph Essay First Element: I. Topic Sentence - A topic sentence:
- a) Is what you are going to talk about
- b) Is specific
- c) Takes a supportable position
- d) Is NOT simply a statement of fact, it is something you have to explain.
- Turn to p. 32 in TPW Ex. A
One Paragraph Essay Second Element: II. The Subtopic Sentence - A) Subtopic sentence:
- Is a specific supporting idea for your topic sentence.
- Usually answers a ‘W’ question:
- Who? What? Where? When? Why?
The Subtopic Sentence - Topic sentence: If you visit Yellowstone National Park, you’ll almost certainly see some big wild animals. (Can it be explained? For instance?)
- Subtopic sentence: For example, Yellowstone is known for its bears, including the famous grizzly. (This answers: What?)
One Paragraph Essay Third Element: III. Specific Support - A) Specific support:
- Relevant example or evidence that illustrates the subtopic sentence.
- It answers the question:
- How?
Specific Support - Topic sentence: If you visit Yellowstone National Park, you’ll almost certainly see some big wild animals. (Can it be explained? For instance?)
- Subtopic sentence: For example, Yellowstone is known for its bears, including the famous grizzly. (This answers: What?)
- Specific Support: Though they don’t hang out alongside the road as they did 40 years ago, they’re common to spot in the valleys and by the lake. (This answers: How?)
One Paragraph Essay Fourth Element: IV. The Reworded Topic Sentence - A) The reworded topic sentence:
- Is the conclusion of the discussion of your topic.
- It answers the question:
- Why?
- In other words:
- Why is what you wrote about the topic important? Why are we reading this?
Reworded Topic Sentence - Topic sentence: If you visit Yellowstone National Park, you’ll almost certainly see some big wild animals. (Can it be explained? For instance?)
- Subtopic sentence: For example, Yellowstone is known for its bears, including the famous grizzly. (This answers: What?)
- Specific Support: Though they don’t hang out alongside the road as they did 40 years ago, they’re common to spot in the valleys and by the lake. (This answers: How?)
- Reworded Topic Sentence: So if you visit Yellowstone and keep your eyes open, you’ll get one of the great thrills of your life. (Why was this important?)
The One Paragraph Essay: - Topic sentence. Subtopic sentence, specific support. Subtopic sentence, specific support. Subtopic sentence, specific support. Reworded topic sentence.
- This lets us transition to
Your One Paragraph Essay - Assignment:
- Using your notes, and the relevant chapters in TPW (1, 3, 7, 8) write a one paragraph essay on one of the essay topics (1, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 9) located on my website: see blogroll, “Writing Topics.” DO NOT use outside sources.
- It must be typed in MLA format. You should have a title (skip one space under you MLA header and then center). “Assignment” is not a title. IMPORTANT: Under the date on your header, write “Topic # X” (whatever essay number you’ve chosen).
- You need to have a topic sentence, 3 subtopic sentences, 3 items of specific support, and a reworded topic sentence
- Consult 1 para essay rubric under “1 Para Essay” on my website
- It should be around 200 - 250 words (around 2/3 of a page but no more than one full page)
- Examples of 1 para essays are on pp. 405 – 412 of TPW
- Use the outline sheet provided – staple to back of 1st draft
- PROOFREAD: Use spell check! Make sure your sentences are complete! DO NOT USE “YOU”!
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