An Organizational Approach using Modes of Writing CM 107: Unit 6 The Fire Gift Analytical Writing : An Organizational Approach using Modes of Writing Christine Danelski, Ph.D.

Are there any questions from Unit 5? On the readings? The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing: Chapter 18 “Understanding Grading” and Chapter 20 “Working with Microsoft Word 2007” “Million Dollar Murray” by Malcolm Gladwell from The New Yorker. ”‘From Homeless to Harvard’ - Liz Murray's Story” by Al Siebert, PhD On the discussion board about how the two Murray’s attitudes to homelessness?

Unit 6 Assignments Viewing: Review a brief part of the Campbell about 10 minutes concerning Prometheus and fire theft and fire-giving. Reading: The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, Chapter 21: Expository Essays and Chapter 26: Cause- Effect Analysis. Scenario reading with other embedded materials on Prometheus and cause and effect writing as well as other writing modes. Let’s take a moment to check these out.

Unit 6 Assignments Discussion Board: Identify someone who is a fire-giver and post his or her name on the DB. Then post about another fire-giver that a classmate chose to explain what causes led him or her to give this fire and what affects their gift has had on society. Make sure your respond to all three points mentioned in the prompt. Unit Project: Create a script that has two people discussing a social problem. Possible problems could include ignorance, bad driving, unfairness, not recycling, gossiping, abuse of children and the elderly, or illiteracy. Create a thesis that justifies why your “cure” is important. This is a kind of cause and effect writing called problem-solution writing.

Can you post an example of a social issue two characters could discuss?

Modes of Writing Modes of writing are different ways of approaching topics and organizing papers. The ones we will discuss in seminar tonight are: Compare and Contrast Definition Cause and Effect Problem Solution There are others as well including narration, process analysis and classification. They are all ways to develop main topics and individual paragraphs.

Compare and Contrast Compare and contrast refers to the examination of similarities (compare) and differences (contrast). We make comparisons constantly when we decide what type of car to buy, where to have dinner, or what college to attend. In last week’s discussion board postings we compared and contrasted the differing attitudes Liz Murray and Murray Barr had about homelessness.

Compare and Contrast Organization Compare and contrast essays can be organized in two ways: Point by point—Here, the writer would go between two subjects and compare and contrast them according to key points or characteristics. If you compare and contrast displaced homelessness versus chronic homelessness, you might focus on their definitions, reasons, and solutions. Subject by subject—Here, the writer focuses on the key points and characteristics of a single subject. For instance, if you compare and contrast private versus socialized medicine, you’ll have to choose which ways they are alike or differ. You might choose to write about the similarities in coverage, and the contrasts in cost.

Make Effective Choices Whatever strategy you choose, you must have a basis of comparison. Ideas and things that have nothing in common aren’t a good choice. While there are differences between a Remember, you don’t want to make a list of similarities and differences. You want to have a point for the comparison.

Compare and Contrast in a Thesis Statement Poor examples of compare and contrast thesis statement: Indonesia and the United States have vastly different legal systems. This example is too general. Good example of compare and contrast thesis statement: While the U.S. legal system is built around the idea of presumed innocence, the Indonesian system assumes the accused is guilty. This example gives specific criteria which allows the reader to know what key points will be compared and contrasted.

Description Description creates a mental picture for a reader. To do this, writers may focus on the five senses— what ideas and things look, sound, feel, smell, and taste like. Descriptive writing shows instead of tells.

Here a some descriptive writing: “Murray Barr was a bear of a man, an ex-marine, six feet tall and heavyset, and when he fell down—which he did nearly every day—it could take two or three grown men to pick him up. He had straight black hair and olive skin. On the street, they called him Smokey. He was missing most of his teeth. He had a wonderful smile.” Gladwell, M. (2006). Million dollar Murray. The New Yorker.

Definition Definition is explaining exactly what an idea or concept means. Definition provides a structure for making ideas, people, or things more understandable.

Definition in a Thesis Statement For example, if you were writing a paper about world religions, you might choose to write about different sects of Judaism like the orthodox, reform, and conservative movements within that religion. Example: Judaism has diverse interpretations, most notably the divisions of orthodox, reform, and conservative practices.

Cause and Effect Cause and effect examines the relationships between what happens (the effect) and why it happens (the cause).

Cause and Effect One cause may have several effects. For instance, if you decide to move into the country from the city, you may have the benefit of cleaner air, safer neighborhoods, and cheaper prices. Or, several causes can contribute to a single effect. For example, we make choices based on several criteria: The captain of the Titanic ignored fog warnings, iceberg warnings, and even the announcement that the ship was going to sink because he bought into the idea that the ship was unsinkable.

Cause and Effect in a Thesis Statement To incorporate this into a thesis statement, identify the topic, make an assertion about the topic, and decide if you want to focus on causes, effects, or both. Example: Because of their mainly vegetarian diet, Malaysia has healthier adults, less childhood obesity, and a booming farm economy.

Problem Solution Problem solution writing begins by identifying and examining a problem. After analyzing the problem, you then discuss possible solutions and their viability. For instance, if you wanted to focus on the problem of teenage pregnancy, you would look at how others have tried to solve this problem. The availability of contraception, mandatory sex education courses, and the inclusion of abstinence as a form of birth control would be possible solutions.

Problem Solution For an essay, you could choose to examine: a single solution and discuss how it works and why it works, or detail three proposed solutions and discuss and analyze their viability.

Problem Solution in a Thesis Statement Example 1: Solving teenage pregnancy by teaching abstinence has failed because it is not practical for most children. Teens without strong role models, those with low self-esteem and those who do not participate in after school activities are getting pregnant in record numbers. Example 2: Teenage pregnancy is a complicated problem that can be helped through increased availability of contraception like condoms, oral birth control, and IUDs.

In the scene you write about a social issue you may wish to include: Description Definition Compare/Contrast Problem Solution Mix and match these techniques, use whatever you think will work best!

Script format: As a class let’s go to: http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/howtoformatascreenplay

Looking ahead to Unit 7: Reading: The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing Chapter 6: The Writing Process and Chapter 17: Grammar, Mechanics and Spelling The Scenario on mentors and revision. The Discussion Board: Revising your Unit 3 Project

Looking ahead to Unit 7: Reading: The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing Chapter 6: The Writing Process and Chapter 17: Grammar, Mechanics and Spelling The Scenario on mentors and revision. The Discussion Board: Revising your Unit 3 Project

Thanks for attending live seminar! Remember all work is due Tuesday at 11:59 pm. You can reach instructors via email or AIM. If you are my student or have a question about this seminar, chat with me before or after class via AIM: CDanelski2. My email is cdanelski@ kaplan.edu Time management is the key to success!