International Military Student Preparatory Course P910

English Writing

Practical Exercise

For the next 15 minutes, write a description, in English, of what you did in class yesterday.

Why This Process & Format?

Students will be able to express their ideas clearly Students will be able to satisfy the writing requirements of their courses at CGSC

Class Time

Today
Learn Small Short

the process group practice

homework assignment

Tomorrow: Composition during class

What You Will Learn

Use a process for composing Follow a format for essays

Avoid certain structure errors

What is the Writing Process?

Understand the assignment

Gather information
Generate ideas Establish a purpose Compose a thesis statement Make a plan Draft the composition Check and revise the composition
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What is My Assignment?

What is the subject?

How long should the paper be?

When is the paper due? Do I have to do research? Do I have to work alone or with others? What format do I have to use?

How Can I Find Relevant Information?

Library Internet

Interviews
Personal experience Newspapers Magazines Lectures Discussions
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How Can I Get Ideas?

Brainstorming Freewriting

Listing
Mapping Drawing Talking and listening Journal writing
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How Can I Choose A Purpose?

Think about your assignment, your skills, your interests, your knowledge

Look for relationships among your ideas and information

Ask yourself:
What What

do I want to achieve? do I want to show?

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How Can I Write a Good Thesis Statement? (1 of 2)

A thesis must be:

Clear a complete sentence Specific not too general Supportable with evidence Strong not doubtful Coherent does not mix different topics Original includes the authors own ideas
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How Can I Write a Good Thesis Statement? (2 of 2)

What do you believe about the topic? What is your original idea? Are you well informed? Can you support your view with evidence and logic? Knowledge + Reflection = your own supportable view

Thesis: A proposition that is maintained by argument

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What is NOT a Good Thesis Statement?

Avoid:

Questions Judgments Feelings Facts Other peoples views Religious views

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What is the Format of an Essay?

Introduction Body Conclusion

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What Is An Introduction?

The Beginning
Attention-getting Presents the thesis Predicts the body One paragraph

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What Is A Body?

The middle Several paragraphs, each with:

Topic

sentence (main idea of paragraph) with supporting points that explain the main idea using facts, examples, and descriptions & proof of the Thesis

Explanation Clear,

thorough reasoning

Ideas

in logical order

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What Is A Conclusion?

The Ending One paragraph

Restate the thesis, or . . .

Summarize the main points Concise, clear, reinforcement Avoid anything new Close smoothly, positively

Make the reader remember

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How Can I Organize my Ideas into a Plan?

Identify relationships among your ideas and information:

General/Specific

Cause/Effect
Similarities/Differences

Categories/Classifications
Processes/Chronologies Problems/Solutions
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How Can I Organize my Ideas into a Plan?

Rewrite your ideas in logical order make an outline:
I. Introduction with Thesis
II. Body A. Main Point (general) 1. Supporting Point (specific) 2. Supporting Point (specific) B. Main Point, etc. III. Conclusion
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How Can I Check my Outline?

Do I have enough support?

Is my support balanced? Does every point support my thesis? Are my ideas in logical order? Did I consider opposing views?

Did I analyze the topic enough?

Does my reasoning and my evidence prove my point?
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How Do I Write a Good Draft?

Focus
Remember Write

your purpose

your thesis statement at the top your outline

Follow

Compose your draft quickly do not worry about grammar . . . yet

Write the Body first, the Introduction second, and the Conclusion last
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How Do I Check & Revise?

Sleep on it wait 24 hours if you can

Imagine you are the instructor then read your draft

First, check for a clear thesis, good reasoning and support, logical order
Second, check for mechanics Third, check for style Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite
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But English is not my Native Language!!!

Avoid translating word for word Write the first draft quickly Check mechanics later (spelling, grammar, vocabulary), then rewrite Compose on the computer Be concise, be direct Perfection is NOT required Ask for help, but do your own work!
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Can I Really be a Good Writer?

Good writers follow a good process Good writers check and rewrite Good writers imagine the readers point of view Good writers think, think, think Good writers use computers Good writers avoid plagiarism

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The Ownership of Words & Ideas

Be careful . . .

You can borrow but you cannot steal

Plagiarism is an academic crime theft of words or ideas

Always identify the words or ideas of another person or source

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A Few Dos and Donts About Structure

DO Use transitions Use active verbs Dont Use jargon Use very long sentences Use many passive verbs

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In Conclusion: The Process

Understand the assignment

Gather information
Generate ideas Establish a purpose Compose a thesis statement Make a plan Draft the composition Check and revise the composition
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The Parts Of An Essay

Introduction
Presents Predicts

the thesis

the body

Body: Supports the thesis with reasoning and information Conclusion: Restates the thesis

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Any questions?

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Homework
In your own opinion:

What is a good leader? Describe a good leader -- give examples In your early military career, what are some lessons you learned, and how did you learn them?

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