CM 107: Unit 8 Seminar

Feel free to chat and get acquainted until the top of the hour. This session is held 12:00-1:00 PM (EST). Once the seminar starts, please keep all comments relevant to the class topic.

Welcome to Effective Writing 1- CM 107

Jeris Swanhorst

Are there any Are there any questions from questions from Units 1-7?Units 1-7?

What’s the difference between revising and

editing?

Introduction: Engage attention, provide background and definition of

topic, and state thesis in a single sentence at

the very end of the paragraph. A thesis does not strictly have to come at the end of the introduction, but it is a common practice.

http://kucampus.kaplan.edu/DocumentStore/kupDocs/pdf/WritingCenter/process/Introductions_and_Conclusions.pdf

Example introduction: Attention engager, topic background, and thesis.

When the world met the first printing press in the fifteenth century, few people may have realized the power of the printed word. In the twenty-first century, with, for example, over 250 million copies of the Harry Potter books having been sold, one can hardly deny the success of leisure reading (Howell, 2005). However, a new giant looms on the horizon of this popular pastime. Internet publishing has grown from a small-time enterprise to a completely viable form of seeing one’s work in print or online (Johnson, 2006). What has spurred the success of Internet publishers such a Lulu.com and X-Libris.com? Many writers choose to publish virtually because they will be represented by major booksellers, have little or no start-up costs, and have almost no chance of being rejected.

Conclusions provide a summary of the entire essay—they are a moment for the reader to reconsider what they read.

Restate thesis (not the same sentence), wrap up major ideas, close the essay while keeping the reader

engaged.

Example conclusion: restate thesis, sum up key points’ importance, and close the circle

This lack of rejection, along with economic concerns and the promise of unparalleled marketing, inspires today’s authors to give Internet publishing a chance. After all, who would not be drawn to a world that promises no more rejection letters? In addition, the challenged finances of most beginning authors make the low cost of virtual publication even more attractive. Finally, writers who dream of seeing their names in the author lists of major-market book vendors often have no problem choosing to abandon the traditional print publishers for more immediate success. Therefore, the Internet-publishing revolution is similar to the fifteenth-century printing revolution. Movable type replaced hand-written books. Now, the computer screen and the print-on-demand order form have changed the world of publication.

Thank you for a great Thank you for a great seminar!seminar!

Have a wonderful week!

Jeris