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2. Argument Revision Today we will look at: Overall paragraph
Topic sentences
II Modifiers
III Sentence starters
IV How to correctly use semi-colons with conjunctive adverbs
V Possessives and plurals
VI Correctly writing titles
VII. Notes to Note

3. I. (Paragraph) & Commentary
Small children usually have a wild imagination, and to them, anything is possible. But unfortunately, that is no longer the case. I have a cousin of the age of five; she has just started kindergarten. When I tell her a wild, impossible story, she shoots it down and proceeds to tell me that half of my story isn’t possible. She doesn’t draw in coloring books or tell me crazy stories. The only thing she knows how to do is play games on her Ipad. It is sad to think that she will never see things from a different perspective other than what she is taught in school. How could children like her come up with a “creative solution” when she is only taught one way to solve a problem?

4. I. (Paragraph) & Commentary
Small children usually have a wild imagination, and, to them, anything is possible. But unfortunately, that is no longer the case. I have a cousin of the age of five; she has just started kindergarten. When I tell her a wild, impossible story, she shoots it down and proceeds to tell me that half of my story isn’t possible. She doesn’t draw in coloring books or tell me crazy stories. The only thing she knows how to do is play games on her Ipad. It is sad to think that she will never see things from a different perspective other than what she is taught in school. How could children like her come up with a “creative solution” when she is only taught one way to solve a problem?

5. II. Topic Sentences A. Too specific B. Expository 
Weak: Creativity is like Michelle Obama’s healthy school action.
Stronger: Although a class in creativity appears as a utopian ideal, the concept is flawed; the class will ultimately stifle original thinking.
Weak: In Fahrenheit 451, the government has the same idea as the TV producers.
Stronger: The mindless programs on television rot viewers into vacuous beings.
B. Expository 
Weak: There are many programs available for Americans to watch that receive many viewers and educate viewers about interesting topics.
Stronger: Television contains value in its potential to educate viewers despite Ehrenreich’s claim that it purely entertains.

6. Activity #1: Topic Sentences Rewrite the following sentence to make it stronger.
The creation of the IPhone is a prime example of how creativity can change the future of the world.
In elementary and middle school there was a program called the Gifted and Talented program, or G.T.

7. III. Modifiers (from the LOC)
Do not use too many modifiers.
The bright yellow compact car with the plum-laden, out-of-date vanity plates was like beautiful, warm sunshine on the gray, dreary Tuesday afternoon.
(side note: use a comma between adjectives when you could substitute the word and)
2. Do not rely on adjectives when strong verbs are more effective.
Instead of writing, “Elani walked with a confident and quick stride,” perhaps say, “Elani strutted” or “Elani strode.”
3. Beware of adding too many qualifiers. Be especially careful about really and very.
“Troy felt really sad” might be expressed as “Troy felt discouraged” or “despondent.” Or it might simply be stated as “Troy felt sad.”
Similarly, “The mockingbird’s song is very beautiful” is probably just as well stated as “The mockingbird’s song is beautiful” or, introducing a strong verb, as “The mockingbird serenades.”

8. Susan talked with self-assurance about movies she hadn’t even seen.
Activity #2: Modifiers Rewrite the following sentences to make the modifiers more effective.
I had difficulty understanding my teacher because he talked so quickly and softly.
Michael was so very excited about the beginning of lacrosse season that he could barely sleep.
Susan talked with self-assurance about movies she hadn’t even seen.
The skyline was amazing on the beautiful evening.

9. IV. Conjunctive Adverbs

10. Activity #3: Conjunctive Adverbs Write a sentence using the following adverbs.
However
B. Furthermore

11. V. Possessives and Plurals
Possessive = ‘s or s’ Plural= s or es

12. VI. Correctly Writing Titles
Small Works
“Song Title” = “Party in the USA”
“Article Title” = “On Compassion”
“Short Story” = “The Girl and the Giraffe”
B. Large Works
Novel = Fahrenheit 451
Movie = American Sniper
Newspaper = Houston Chronicle
Album = The Dark Side of the Moon

13. VII. Other Notes to Note
Capitalize proper nouns = English class [not math class]
Do not use contractions
NEVER use second person [you]