Week 9 Class 2EWRT 211

Agenda

Common Writing Errors: Missing comma with transitional and parenthetical expressions, absolute phrases, and contrasted elements

Discussion: Torture Essays

In-class writing: Outlining and Thesis statement practice

Common Writing Errors: Missing comma with transitional and parenthetical

expressions, absolute phrases, and contrasted elements

Transitional ExpressionsCORRECT: Therefore, I could not finish writing my paper.

Parenthetical ExpressionsCORRECT: You, on the other hand, can’t carry a tune.

Absolute PhrasesCORRECT: Having taken preventative measures, I did not get sick.

Contrasting ElementsCORRECT: I want English, not Economics, classes.

Practice1. Lance where did you leave the car keys?

2. We can however just stay home and have a quiet evening.

3. Instead I'd rather use the money for a vacation.

4. That trip to the dentist wasn't so bad in fact.

5. However I hope I don't have to go there again for a long time.

6. Celine Dion for example achieved success as a singer at an early age.

7. How did you catch the criminal Sherlock Holmes?

8. I hope you realize moreover that this is your last chance.

9. Mr. Van Allen unfortunately is no longer with our organization.

10.Consequently his grades began to slide.

Discussion: Torture Essays In groups of three:

Using Bagaric’s essay “A Case for Torture” (266):Find (and mark) the thesis statement

Identify (and mark) Bagaric’s most compelling reasons for justifying torture in his essay

Find (and mark) illustrations (specific details, quotes, statistics, or real-life examples) he uses to support his reasons.

Find (and mark) the issues he addresses in his counterargument.

Using Johnson’s essay “Inhuman Behavior: A Chaplains View of Torture (268):

Find (and mark) the thesis statement

Identify (and mark) Johnson’s most compelling reasons for justifying torture in his essay

Find (and mark) illustrations (specific details, quotes, statistics, or real-life examples) he uses to support his reasons

Find (and mark) the issues he addresses in his counterargument.

Are you using any of these as support for your essay? Should you?

FREECASH

Which arguments from our FREECASH brainstorming session do you find most compelling?

Which side will you argue?

Which objections will you address by accommodating or refuting?

The Prompt: Is torture ever morally

justified? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

TORTURE ESSAY OUTLINE FORM

Controlling idea of the essay. Which side will you argue? Torture is sometimes morally justifiable? Torture is never morally justifiable?

____________________________________________

Three main points of the argument:1. Torture_______________________________

2. Torture_______________________________

3. Torture______________________________

INTRODUCTION:

The introduction should make the reader want to continue reading.

The lead in statements could (1) make a striking assertion, (2) use a split anecdote (a story that is begun in the introduction and is finished in the conclusion), or (3) use an interesting detail, statistic, or quotation.

Choose one and write your idea here:

Thesis

Transition to thesis: While both sides have passion for their positions; or?

_______________________________________________________________________

Thesis (which includes points of argument; You can eliminate these later if you desire, but for now, they must be there):

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraphs

Each topic sentence should be a major point of argument that supports the thesis statement.

Explanation sentences are general statements that support the topic sentence.

The concrete illustrations support the explanation sentences, provide specific details, quotes, statistics, or real-life examples.

Body Paragraph 1 (develops first point of argument):

Topic sentence: _____________________________________________________________

Explanation _______________________________________________________________

Concrete Illustration: _____________________________________________________

Explanation: _____________________________________________________________

Concrete Illustration: ______________________________________________________

Explanation: _______________________________________________________________

Concrete Illustration: ______________________________________________

Transition: ______________________________________________________________________________

Follow the same format for the next two

paragraphsBody paragraph 2

Topic SentenceExplanation

Illustration

ExplanationIllustration

ExplanationIllustration

Transition

Body paragraph 3

Topic SentenceExplanation

Illustration

ExplanationIllustration

ExplanationIllustration

Transition

Counterargument (anticipates objections by accommodation or refutation):

First anticipated objection: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Accommodation or Refutation? Circle your approach. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Second anticipated objection: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Accommodation or Refutation? Circle your approach. ______________________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION:

The concluding paragraph should include a general summary statement that recaps the thesis, a sentence that restates the major points of argument, and a wrap-up statement. The conclusion could also contain the end of a split anecdote that would finish the story begun in the introduction. The wrap-up statement could contain insights of the essay writer, encourage the reader to take action, emphasize the importance of one of the points of argument, or create a solid sense of finality.

General summary statement that recaps thesis in different words: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Recap major points of argument: 1.___________________________________________________________2.___________________________________________________________3.___________________________________________________________End of Anecdote: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Wrap-up statement (consequences and insights; prediction of the future if your warnings are not heeded):__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Homework: EXAM PREP

Finish outline and thesis statement.

REREAD DEBATE ESSAYS!

Bring a copy of your outline (with a thesis) and your book to class!

Bring a computer to class if you want to type your in-class essay.