WRITING 1

2ND WEEK

UNTIRTA

Outline

• Getting familiar with the acedemic writing

• Paragraph structure

What is [Academic] Writing?”

• What types of writing do you know?

• How do you define “academic writing”?

• What makes academic writing different from other types of writing ?

Types of Writing

• Academic writing

• Creative writing

• Personal writing

Academic Writing: Definition

• Academic writing is “the kind of writing used in high school and college classes.”

• Academic writing in English is probably different from academic writing in your native language (Indonesia)

Creative, and Personal Writings

• Creative writing is the kind of writing you do when you write stories.

• Personal writing is the kind of writing you do when you write letters or e-mails to your friends and family.

What makes academic writing different from creative/personal?

• Read the essays you have, and remember the novels/letters/diaries you have read; discuss how they are written/structured /organized?

• What are the differences between academic and creative/personal writings

Academic writing vs. Creative/personal

• Creative/personal writings– Informal– You may use slang, abbreviations, and

incomplete sentences.– Are not tied by any paragraph/writing rules

(everyone can write in their own ways)• Academic writing

– Formal– You cannot use slang, abbreviations, and

incomplete sentences.– Is tied by paragraph/writing rules (structure).

Parts of paragraph a writing has

A piece of writing should have the three following components:

• Introductory paragraph

• Body paragraphs

• Concluding paragraph

Introductory Paragraph

• The introductory paragraph, or introduction, is the first paragraph of an essay:

• The introductory paragraph has two functions:– It attracts reader’s interest, and – It introduces the topic of the essay

Structure of Introductory paragraph

• An introductory paragraph is like a funnel so called “funnel introduction”.

• It has two parts:– Several general statements, and – one thesis statement

• General statements give the reader background information about the topic of the essay.

• They should lead your reader gradually from a very general idea of your topic to a very specific idea

Thesis Statement

• The thesis statement is normally the last sentence in an introductory paragraph

• It has three purposes:– It states the specific topic of the essay– It may list the subtopics of the main topic.– It may also mention the method of

organization

Introductory paragraph Organization

Introduction should include:

- General statement (GS):

- More specific statement (SS-1):

- Even more specific statement (SS-2):

- Thesis statement (TS) (it may contain subtopic & essay map)

Topic: Computers benefit our lives. Do you agree?

- General statement (GS):Major technological advances have been made in recent decades and technology has become an important part of our daily lives.

- More specific statement (SS-1):Items such as mobile phones and computers are an integral part of modern life and it is difficult to imagine life without them.

- Even more specific statement (SS-2):Indeed, many aspects of modern life are reliant on computers

- Thesis statement (TS):- (sometimes) Essay map (EM):

The writer believes that computers bring us many benefits (TS) and this essay will outline three important areas where computers help us greatly: medicine; communication; and leisure (EM).

Body paragraph: Making a good paragraph

A good paragraph must have:

- a topic sentence, and

- supporting sentences/ controlling ideas, and if necessary

- concluding sentence

Concluding paragraph

• The concluding paragraph is the last paragraph of an essay.

• It has three purposes:– It signals the end of the essay– It reminds the reader of your main points– It leaves the reader with your final thought on the

topic

Contents of a concluding sentence

In making a conclusion you should neatly sum up the main point of your essay

• Don’t repeat everything laboriously• Don’t introduce anything new

This paragraph should include the following: - a restatement of the thesis statement, using some of the original language or language that "echoes" the original language.- a summary of the main points from the body of the essay.- a final statement that gives the reader signals that the discussion has come to an end.

5-paragraph Essay• Introductory paragraph

This is where the writer grabs the reader's attention. It tells the reader what the paper is about.

• Body - First paragraphThe first paragraph of the body should include the strongest argument, most significant example, cleverest illustration, or an obvious beginning point.

• Body - Second paragraphThe second paragraph of the body should include the second strongest argument, second most significant example, second cleverest illustration, or an obvious follow up the first paragraph in the body.

• Body - Third paragraphThe third paragraph of the body should include the weakest argument, weakest example, weakest illustration, or an obvious follow up to the second paragraph in the body.

• Concluding paragraphThe fifth paragraph is the summary paragraph. It is important to restate the thesis and three supporting ideas in an original and powerful way as this is the last chance the writer has to convince the reader of the validity of the information presented.

An essay templete

Conclusion 8-10% of total

length

Introduction 8-10% of total

length

BodyPara 1.Para 2.

Etc.

•General statement•Closer to topic•Thesis statement

Body paragraph

•Summary•General statement

Steps by steps in Academic Writing

Steps in Writing the Essay   • Choosing the topic    • Brainstorming  • Doing research    • Outline   • Introduction -  Thesis statement   • Body   • Conclusion   • Editing and proofreading

Choosing a topic (General <> Specific)

 Steps to choose essay topic     1.What is your purpose? Determine what you are going to do in your potential essay: convince people of

your opinion, explain something, narrate a story, or compare things, people or ideas?

  2.Brainstorming Once you have defined the slope of your writing note down the subjects that appeal to you. You will never produce a good paper if you don’t feel enthusiastic about the topic. Your choice should be based on the area of your personal interests and preferences.

 3.Estimate each perspective topic Don’t choose the complicated topic. You will waste a lot of precious time in search of necessary information and even more time to make some sense of it.

 4.Narrow your topic. It is impossible to cover a general topic in the scope of an essay. Extract more specific and particular issue from a general topic. That way you will have an opportunity to give a deeper and more detailed discussion of the question.

General subject: MoviesNarrowed topic: Soap operasSpecific topic: How soap operas influence us Now you can precede your work on planning your essay and writing it.

Choosing a topic

• General <> SpesificEducation

VEvaluation system

VNational Final Evaluation/UAN

VProblems in its implementation

VWhy problems exist & How to deal with problems

(it might be used as your writing topic)

Topic brainstorming/mindmapping

Topic: Air pollution

I. Factors/ causes of air pollution

II. Things that contribute air pollution- poor transportation system- Companies/industries with poor waste disposal management

III. Solution to reduce air pollution- law enforcement- government commitment

Essay OutlineThesis statement: Air pollution is caused by the following factors: exhaust gases from cars, uncontrolled factory releases, and burning of low-quality coal for heating.

I. exhaust gases from cars    A. government does not have enough control    B. citizens are not conscientious

II. uncontrolled factory gases    A. no regular checks on gases released    B. factories are inside the borders of residential areas

III. burning of low-quality coal for heating    A. no governmental control    B. other forms of energy too expensive

Task!

• Make an outline on the following topic:

– “The effects of watching too much TV”-

What might be the outline of this essay?

EFFECTS OF WATCHING TOO MUCH TV

 

Discoveries and invention of devices  are always welcome till we, humans, find a way to abuse its benefits and be adversely affected by it. This was the case when Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-ray and within five years, the British Army was using a mobile x-ray unit to locate bullets and shrapnel in wounded soldiers in the Sudan. TV was also invented with positive thoughts in mind – there would be no national borders, education and communication would be worldwide, etc. However, we are now trying to overcome its physiological and psychological adverse effects on human beings.

 

One of the physiological effects of watching TV in excessive amounts is eye-strain. It is true that there are specifications for watching TV; TV should be 5 m. away from the eye, the room should be adequately lit, TV should be placed at the same height with our eyes, etc. However, these do not prevent our eyes from getting tired if we keep watching TV for a long time. Another effect is obesity, which is widely observed in people who like watching TV and eating snacks  everyday (there is even a term “TV snacks” to refer to fast food that is suitable for eating in front of the TV). TV is such a powerful machine that people cannot get away from it – it is addictive.

 

Apart from the physiological effects, TV also causes psychological effects. One  is a result of being exposed to violence. After seeing so many violent scenes on TV, people start considering violent actions normal and they lose their sensitivity to their environment. Partly connected to this effect, the interpersonal communication among people decreases. Being insensitive to the suffering of other people causes people to become alienated. Also, after coming home from work people seek to relax in front of the TV, and generally people prefer watching TV to talking to each other. This issue is very important since lack of interpersonal relationships mostly end with divorces.

 

Shortly, inventions are meant to be beneficial for human beings, if we know how to benefit from them. TV is one of such inventions that need to be used for the right purpose only – being educated and entertained for a reasonable (according to age) period of time. We may, then, be safe from or at least reduce the adverse physiological and psychological effects of watching too much TV.

References

1. Lomanno, K. (2009). What is Academic Writing? How to Write Effectively for High School and College. Retrieved from http://academicwriting.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_academic_writing#ixzz0mm2XbxFx

2. http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm