Seminar 3 Writing a strong paragraph

What is a paragraph? Let’s hear some ideas from you on what a paragraph is. Let’s hear some ideas from you on what a paragraph is.

The paragraph The paragraph A paragraph is a group of sentences which begins with a topic sentence. A paragraph is a group of sentences which begins with a topic sentence. What is the topic sentence? What is the topic sentence?

The paragraph - continued The paragraph - continued The paragraph is a group of unified sentences that are 4-7 sentences long and generally express one main idea. The paragraph is a group of unified sentences that are 4-7 sentences long and generally express one main idea. The topic sentence summarizes the main idea of the paragraph The topic sentence summarizes the main idea of the paragraph Let us consider some topics and what would make a good topic sentence for them Let us consider some topics and what would make a good topic sentence for them

Workshop in paragraphing Let us start building a paragraph Let us start building a paragraph Suggest some possible topic sentences. Suggest some possible topic sentences. What should the body of the paragraph do? What should the body of the paragraph do? The body should explain and develop the idea put forth in the topic sentence. The body should explain and develop the idea put forth in the topic sentence.

Let us now get some practice For the topic sentence we have picked, let us add some sentences to create a body For the topic sentence we have picked, let us add some sentences to create a body We also need to consider transitions between sentences and between paragraphs. We also need to consider transitions between sentences and between paragraphs. How should we conclude our paragraph? How should we conclude our paragraph?

Concluding your paragraph What should your final sentence of your paragraph do? What should your final sentence of your paragraph do? How should you conclude your paragraph How should you conclude your paragraph Consider now if you have fully developed the topic sentence of your paragraph. Consider now if you have fully developed the topic sentence of your paragraph.

Prewriting strategies Why is prewriting necessary? Why is prewriting necessary?

Prewriting continued Prewriting is necessary to overcome writer’s block. What is writer’s block? Prewriting is necessary to overcome writer’s block. What is writer’s block? What prewriting strategies have you read about and attempted? What prewriting strategies have you read about and attempted?

Some prewriting strategies Let us talk a little about each of them Let us talk a little about each of them Freewriting Freewriting Listing Listing Questioning Questioning Clustering Clustering

Now let us practice using some of them How do we use freewriting? How do we use freewriting? What is listing and how can it be used? What is listing and how can it be used? Clustering? Clustering? How can we use questioning? How can we use questioning?

Why we use prewriting We use prewriting to overcome writer’s block and to generate ideas. Writing is a process and involves several steps. The first step is prewriting. We use prewriting to overcome writer’s block and to generate ideas. Writing is a process and involves several steps. The first step is prewriting.

Any questions so far? Questions about the material we have discussed today Questions about the material we have discussed today A preview of the Unit 3 Assignment and discussion question this week A preview of the Unit 3 Assignment and discussion question this week

Unit 3 Project Choose an historical figure who showed courage in “crossing the threshold.” Be creative! Try to choose someone others might not think of right away. In fact, this is an opportunity to share your knowledge of a threshold-crossing hero who is important to you in particular and to the world in general. Choose an historical figure who showed courage in “crossing the threshold.” Be creative! Try to choose someone others might not think of right away. In fact, this is an opportunity to share your knowledge of a threshold-crossing hero who is important to you in particular and to the world in general. This assignment asks you to do 4 things: This assignment asks you to do 4 things: Provide a definition of courage and what it means in your own words to cross the threshold. Provide a definition of courage and what it means in your own words to cross the threshold. Identify an historical figure who is an example of courage. Explain how he or she embodies your definition of courage. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your point. Identify an historical figure who is an example of courage. Explain how he or she embodies your definition of courage. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your point. Identify what thresholds he or she had to cross. Explain how this person overcame adversity with specific examples and details to illustrate your point. Identify what thresholds he or she had to cross. Explain how this person overcame adversity with specific examples and details to illustrate your point. Finally, in one sentence, summarize the main idea of your response. Finally, in one sentence, summarize the main idea of your response. This assignment is a paragraph. To review how to write paragraphs, click here for the Writing Center link. For this assignment, aim for about 300 words, double-spaced and in 12-point Times New Roman font This assignment is a paragraph. To review how to write paragraphs, click here for the Writing Center link. For this assignment, aim for about 300 words, double-spaced and in 12-point Times New Roman font

Discussion board History textbooks are full of people who followed this wise adage: “what is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right.” Dorothea Dix was an activist who argued for better treatment of those who live with mental illness. Imagining such an activist today is not difficult. But as a Massachusetts woman beginning her work in 1850, she was uncommon indeed. She crossed a threshold into a totally unknown realm for her time. You can explore more about her at History textbooks are full of people who followed this wise adage: “what is right is not always popular; what is popular is not always right.” Dorothea Dix was an activist who argued for better treatment of those who live with mental illness. Imagining such an activist today is not difficult. But as a Massachusetts woman beginning her work in 1850, she was uncommon indeed. She crossed a threshold into a totally unknown realm for her time. You can explore more about her at One hundred years later, Martin Niemoeller, a German pastor who came under scrutiny from Hitler and was eventually moved to a concentration camp for seven years, had this to say about not speaking up for others and failing to cross a threshold: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.” One hundred years later, Martin Niemoeller, a German pastor who came under scrutiny from Hitler and was eventually moved to a concentration camp for seven years, had this to say about not speaking up for others and failing to cross a threshold: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.” Identify a time when you regret not speaking up for yourself or someone else. Describe the situation. Of all the examples you could have chosen, why does this one stand out to you? What would change if you could go back and do it again? How would you cross that threshold? Identify a time when you regret not speaking up for yourself or someone else. Describe the situation. Of all the examples you could have chosen, why does this one stand out to you? What would change if you could go back and do it again? How would you cross that threshold? After writing this response, read over your response, and ask: What is the main point or message of the story you have shared? How might you phrase this as a thesis? In other words, what are the main ideas readers should take away from your message? After writing this response, read over your response, and ask: What is the main point or message of the story you have shared? How might you phrase this as a thesis? In other words, what are the main ideas readers should take away from your message?