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Illustration and Comparison/Contrast. Week 3. Illustration. One of the biggest problems with many students’ writing is the lack of development, which means the writer hasn’t provided enough support to make a convincing argument.
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Illustration • One of the biggest problems with many students’ writing is the lack of development, which means the writer hasn’t provided enough support to make a convincing argument. • It’s as if the writer has constructed a three-story building, but the stairs are so rickety, no one is willing to climb them. • Using examples is one primary way of building the necessary support, of reinforcing those stairs.
Thesis Statements • The skills we learned in the previous chapters (narration, description) will serve as essential tools in illustration writing, but they will become secondary to your main goal, which is to state a thesis and develop that thesis using several solid examples. • You will decide on a thesis fairly early in the process.
Thesis Statements • Should be opinion – not merely a fact • Avoid thesis statements that are merely a reflection of your tastes – You can argue that chess is more beneficial to a person’s future than ping pong, but it would be useless to argue that one activity is more satisfying to you than another.
Thesis Statements • Generate a list of opinion statements • Nonpersonal: • Parents nowadays are too lenient with their young children. • Children learn how to respect others by watching their parents. • Parents who try too hard to be friends with their teens invite rebellion. • Personal: • My parents treat me like a child. • My father understands my needs better than my mother.
Types of Examples • Personal examples • Hypothetical examples • Factual examples
Agree/Disagree Activity • Read through the statements on the handout. Mark whether you agree or disagree with each statement. • Get with a group and compare your responses. Find 2 or 3 statements on which everyone in the group has the same response (agree or disagree). • Come up with examples you would use in an essay using the statement as a thesis. Remember you can use personal, hypothetical, and factual examples.
Organizing Examples Lastborns must endure greater hardships than older siblings. • Thesis • Strict Curfew • Hand-me-downs • Fewer photos • Still called the baby • Always have to call home—still • More chores but less independence • Some ideas might be grouped or rearranged (curfew/independence) • Relatively minor issues first then build to more critical ones • Start more humorous and then become more serious • Chronological approach to show how problem has worsened over the years
Organizing Examples • Two broad categories • Lastborns are neglected, yet • Lastborns attract too much attention • Expresses a paradox: Lastborns get both too little and too much attention.
Use Transitions • Similar ideas: likewise, similarly, also, in addition to, just as • Opposing ideas: but, yet, although, in spite of, nevertheless, on the other hand • Shift in direction: either, or • Builds on previous point: in addition, for instance, moreover • Shows consequences: therefore, thus, so, as a result, consequently • Shows cause and effect: for, because, since • Shows sequence or rank: first, second, next, finally, then
Journaling • You need a job. To prepare for the interview, you need to think of several personal examples that demonstrate your responsibility and your work ethic. Write down two such examples. • Think about the people who have had a great influence on you. Why were these people so inspiring? Think of examples to show this influence/impact.
Comparison/Contrast: Point-by-Point • Self-Awareness of Emotions • Females are more aware of their emotions. • Males are not as aware of their emotions. • Awareness of Others’ Emotions • Females are more aware of others’ emotions. • Males are less aware of others’ emotions. • Willingness to Express Emotions • Females are more willing to express their emotions. • Males try to hide their emotions. • Willingness to Discuss Others’ Emotions • Females are more willing to discuss others’ emotions. • Males are less willing to discuss others’ emotions.
Comparison/Contrast: Block Method • Females • Females are more aware of their emotions. • Females are more aware of others’ emotions. • Females are more willing to express their emotions. • Females are more willing to discuss others’ emotions. • Males • Males are not as aware of their emotions. • Males are less aware of others’ emotions. • Males try to hide their emotions. • Males are less willing to discuss others’ emotions.
Journaling • Renting a movie vs. going to theater • Two jobs you’ve held (or compare a disease with a job you’ve held) • Compare yourself now to when you were in high school (or compare maturity with a garden) • Compare female and male approaches to solving relationship problems (or compare problems in a relationship to working in a fast food restaurant).
