unit 1
What does arduous mean?
extremely difficult to achieve
What does inherently mean?
in a way that forms the basic nature of something
what does succinct mean?
expressed without unnecessary words; brief and compact
what does exemplify mean?
to illustrate; serve as an example
what does fruition mean?
accomplishment or realization of a goal
Describing Central Ideas
To determine a central idea, you must determine what the author most wants you to remember about what you are reading.
The Message
Look closely at the message in a persuasive text—the point of persuasion. Examine not only the information that is included but also the information that is omitted. Also notice how the information is expressed and organized.
Structural Elements
Structural elements such as sentences, paragraphs, chapters, and sections, can help a reader to comprehend a text’s main idea or claim. Sentences are the basic building blocks of the text; they combine to make paragraphs, which build chapters and sections. Together these structural elements make a cohesive whole.
How to Determine Themes
The theme of a text can be determined from the text’s topic. Readers can first determine which topics are discussed in depth within a text. Those topics can then point readers toward what the themes are.
Elements of an Argument
Argument is a logical approach to persuasion and rhetoric. It uses logos, rather than pathos or ethos. Learning about a model of argument called the Toulmin Model will help you evaluate the validity of arguments.
objective summary
brief account of the facts of a text
Focus and Scope
Once you have a topic for your writing, the next step is to develop a research question of appropriate focus and scope
Developing Body Paragraphs
Body paragraphs provide evidence and support for the thesis statement and the main ideas of your essay. The structure and organization of the body paragraphs can vary according to your topic and the evidence you will present. Every paragraph, however, should begin with a topic sentence.
What Is Argument?
Argument is a type of writing that emphasizes logic, specifically claims, reasons, evidence and, counterclaims. As a writer of argument, you focus on two tasks
Drafting the Introduction and Body
You are to construct a draft of the introduction to your argument essay and then draft body paragraphs that will develop your first two “because” statements. Remember that you need to address at least one counterclaim and provide a rebuttal within at least one of your body paragraphs, or as a separate paragraph following the related claim. You can choose where to include those in the body of your essay.
Citing Textual Evidence as Support of Central Ideas
When determining the central ideas in a text, you need to identify key details that can be used as evidence to support or help explain a central idea. Key details can include descriptions, quotes, facts, or any other relevant information in a text.
Rhetoric: Persuasion versus Argument
The message, the writer/speaker, and the audience are all interconnected. The author must consider the message and the audience. The audience must consider the message and the author. The message is impacted by an author—who has a particular purpose and perspective—and by an audience—whose members have their own perspectives.
Chapters and sections
Chapters and sections signal new topics or add information to the topic at hand. Authors might break up text into sections to clarify or emphasize certain topics. If a text discusses three topics, for example, the author can break it up into three sections.
Example of a Theme
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
Claim
The claim is the primary statement that is to be proved through the presentation of an argument. A claim should be controversial. “Football is a sport in America” is not a claim because it is noncontroversial. It is a fact. However, “Football is too dangerous for people under 18 years old” is a highly controversial claim that could be—and is—argued at length.
The author’s task
The author’s task is the assignment or work that an author needs to do
Freewriting
When you freewrite, you write continuously about whatever comes to mind regarding possible topics for your paper
Topic Sentences
Topic sentences, which appear at the start of each body paragraph, tell readers what the paragraph will be about and forecast the ideas to come. Sentences within the paragraph that follow should support and build upon that topic sentence. Each body paragraph should also contain a concluding statement that sums up or reflects on the main idea and topic sentence of that paragraph.
Respecting Your Audience
If you have thoroughly analyzed your audience, your respect and sensitivity toward them will be reflected in your writing. You can emphasize that you respect your audience—and show that your argument is reasonable—if you also
Attention Grabber
The introductory paragraph is structured differently from your body paragraphs. It does not contain a topic sentence that states the main idea, nor does it have sentences that support and develop that main idea.