Hi people! As you may remember, this blog is not personal, but for all people in our First Michigan Course, and the idea is to profit from our contributions to it. The exam in very close and it's important to keep practicing all areas, so why not using this tool for our own benefit? I suggest you post your writings here, essays as well as letters; they will all be welcome since they 'll be a new or different source of ideas we can all benefit from.
What do you think? Any comments?
Hope you like the idea and make it work,
Adriana
4 comments:
Hi!!
I took some notes from a book titled "Practical Grammar and Composition" and I think its can be useful to review for the exam. I like to share it and hear Adriana`s opinion.
To bear in mind for essays and letters:
THE PARAGRAPH is a connected series of sentences all dealing with the development of a single topic. Where the general subject under discussion is very narrow, the paragraph may constitute the whole composition; but usually, it forms one of a number of subtopics, each dealing with some subdivision of the general subject. For each one of these subtopics a separate paragraph should be made.
The purpose of the paragraph is to aid the reader to comprehend the thought to be expressed. The paragraph groups in a logical way, must show the different ideas to be communicated. It gives rest to the eye of the reader, and makes clearer the fact that there is a change of topic at each new paragraph.
PARAGRAPH LENGTH- There is no fixed rule governing the proper length of the paragraph, but, probably, no paragraph need be more than three hundred words in length. If the whole composition is not more than two hundred and fifty words in length, it will not often need to be subdivided into paragraphs. In a letter, paragraphing should be more frequent than in other compositions.
Paragraphing should not be too frequent. If paragraphing is too frequent, by making each minute subdivision, it defeats its purpose of grouping ideas about some general topic.
Sometimes a sentence or even a part of a sentence may be set off as a separate paragraph in order to secure greater emphasis. This, however, is only using the paragraph for a proper purpose: to aid in gaining clearness.
The essential qualities which each paragraph should have are: UNITY, COHERENCE and EMPHASIS.
(Next time I share with you some tips about how we can gain this qualities in a composition)
Bye-Bye! Pat.
Hi everybody!
I hope my notes aid you to develop some strategies for improving your writings. Its give me support to take into account some ideas that I did not think about.
Further notes:
The essential qualities of a composition: Unity, Coherence and Emphasis.
UNITY- Unity requires that the paragraph should deal with only one subject, and should include nothing does not have a direct bearing on that subject.If the ideas can all be fairly included under one general topic, unity demands that they be grouped in one paragraph. Thus, in describing the route followed in a certain journey, one should not use a separate paragraph for each step in the journey.
If unity is to be secured, not only must all the ideas brought out in the paragraph deal with the same topic, but also, they must be developed in some consistent, systematic order. A certain point of view should be generally maintained as to tense, subject, and manner of expression.
HOW TO GAIN UNITY-Careful thought before beginning the paragraph is necessary if unity is to be gained. The topic of the paragraph should be determined, and should be clearly indicated by a topic sentence. Usually this topic sentence should be placed near the beginning of the paragraph. The first sentence is the clearest and best place for it. The topic sentence need not be a formal statement of the subject to be discussed, but may be any sentence that shows what is to be the central idea of the paragraph.
With the topic determined, there are various ways of developing it. It may be developed by repetition; by adding details and specific instances to the general statement; by presenting proof; by illustration; or by showing cause or effect.
COHERENCE- Coherence demands that each paragraph will be perfectly clear in its meaning, and it be so constructed that it may be readily grasped by the reader. The relation of sentence to sentence, of idea to idea, must be clearly brought out. The whole fabric of the paragraph must be woven together: it must not consist of disconnected pieces.
HOW TO GAIN COHERENCE- Where vividness or some other quality does not gain coherence in the sentence, it is usually gained by the use of words or phrases which refer to or help to keep in mind the effect of the preceding sentences, or which show the bearing of the sentence on the paragraph topic. These words may be various sorts (connectors): as, it, this point of view, however, in this way, although, etc.
EMPHASIS- The third quality which a paragraph should possess is emphasis. The paragraph should be so constituted as to bring into prominence the topic or the point it is intended to present. The places of greatest emphasis are usually at the beginning and at the end of the paragraph. In short paragraphs sufficient emphasis is generally gained by having a topic sentence at the beginning. In longer paragraphs it is often well to indicate again the topic at the end by way of summary in order to impress thoroughly on the reader the effect of the paragraph. END.
If I read other theme that I consider to be worth sharing I will write in the blog.
See you in class!! Bye!! PAT.
Thank you very much Patricia for you contribution. It's really descriptive and useful information. I hope everybody can read it and take advantage of it. Just remember, what you have to write is a four-paragraph essay, so it's important to adapt it to your needs, since an essay can have from four paragraphs to many pages...
Adriana
Hi people!!!
The people who don´t take the exam next december must remember the clinic´s class.These will start next february in Alianza Carrasco once a week.
I don´t know the time yet.
Whose are interested should register.
Be aware the class will have rooms for 20 people.
See you Nica
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