Download Thesis Statement Paragraph Structure Sentences and Commas

Thesis Statement
Paragraph Structure
Sentences and Commas
Group Meeting
(Sit with groups for final project)
American Humor—Summer 2016
Tracy Wuster
American Humor
2-page Paper #1
This is My Interesting and Apt Title
This is the beginning of the introductory paragraph. It will give the reader a
good sense of what I am arguing and introduce my subject, including dates of the
“Stories” (1884), “Films” (1914), or Books (1998) I am using. It will also include an
underlined thesis statement that encapsulates my argument and sets up my reader.
No need for extra spaces after the paragraph, just an indent. The font is 12
point and the spacing is 1.5 (except for block quotes). My margins are one inch all the
way around. I do not need the heading above for any page but the first, since my pages
are stapled together. All material is clearly cited, including references to scenes in films,
which are cited like this (“Safety Last,” 2:54).
1
--Writing about American Literature, 83
A good thesis:
1. Makes a claim
2. Determines the scope of the argument
3. Provides a structure for the argument.
4. Is revised as you go through the writing
proces.
Comedy is a Man
(or woman) in trouble
“When the comedians … act
these mischances out on-screen,
we are in a perfect situation: we
can laugh at the kind of fiasco
we know from experience but
that’s happening to somebody
else for once, and in a more
extreme form than we could
perhaps survive. (Even the
solicitous are morally free to
laugh because nobody got
hurt)” (Dale, 12).
Initial Thesis
The humor of the building scene in Safety Last
(1923) develops from the tension between the
seemingly awkward climber and the increasingly
ludicrous escapes he makes as he climbs higher,
climaxing with the absurd encounter with the
flagpole rope and the kiss with his girl.
Discuss your theses (5 minutes)
Paragraph Structure
Ta-Da!
Ta-Da!
Sandwich
Most academic paragraphs contain three basic elements: a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a
concluding/transition sentence. The topic sentence is the general statement of the basic idea of the paragraph.
The supporting evidence are the details that add depth to the topic sentence and act as evidence for your point.
The concluding sentence works to summarize the importance of the paragraph and point toward the next idea.
One writing website describes paragraph structure as being like a sandwich:
Consider a hamburger that you can buy at a fast-food restaurant. A hamburger
has a top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese, lettuce, and other elements in the
middle of the hamburger, and a bottom bun. Note how the top bun and the bottom
bun are very similar. The top bun, in a way, is like a topic sentence, and the
bottom bun is like the concluding sentence. Both buns "hold" the meat, onions,
and so on. (Walters, “Basic Paragraph Structure,” 23)
Viewing paragraph structure as a sandwich shows that each paragraph should be viewed as a coherent
structural element of writing. You should always introduce sources to let the reader know who and where the
idea is from and paraphrase almost all quotes. Almost of of the paragraphs in your papers should follow this
basic model of topic sentence, supporting evidence, and concluding/transition sentence in order to best convey
the individual ideas of your paper and better structure your paper overall.
Website for source: http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html
How can you avoid the “ta-da!” paper?
Turn the point into your thesis…
How can you avoid the “ta-da!” paper?
Rewriting is the
essence of writing
well—where the
game is won or
lost. —William
Zinsser
Rewriting is the
essence of writing
well—where the
game is won or
lost. —William
Zinsser
Sentences are your friends.
“Vigorous writing is
concise. A sentence should
contain no unnecessary
words, a paragraph no
unnecessary sentences, for
the same reason that a
drawing should have no
unnecessary lines and a
machine no unnecessary
parts.”
--William Strunk, Jr.
Give proper credit where it is due.
In other words, be active when needed.
Avoid “It ,” “there,” and “this”
constructions. (7.5)
This is the enemy of clarity. There are better
ways to say it.
ex.
It was believed that the vampires would
probably destroy the village.
The zombies believed that the vampires would
destroy their village.
There would seem to be no way to avoid the
vampires.
The vampires seem to be unavoidable.
The vampires are unavoidable.
The vampires are unavoidable, except during the
day.
Sentence Structure
This is the key to solving the problem.
Since vampires are hunting only at night, it is
recommended that zombies stay indoors at
night. This is the key to solving the problem.
There appear to be no other solutions.
Since vampires hunt only at night, zombies can
solve the problem by staying indoors at night.
Zombies should purchase their brains during the
day.
You should hunt and kill “it,” “this,” and “there”
constructions like Van Helsing hunts vampires…
Commas, who needs them?
Grammar: Sentence Structure
Simple sentence—Complete thought, one independent
clause:
Dracula wrote a paper.
Compound sentence—Two independent clauses joined
by conjunction or semicolon:
Dracula wrote a paper, and Dr. Frankenstein
performed an experiment.
Complex sentence—One independent clause and one
dependent clause:
Although The Mummy wrote the section by herself,
she worked with a zombie at the writing center to edit
the material.
Compound-complex sentences—Two independent
clauses joined to one or more dependent clauses:
The Mummy writes the papers, but Mothra, who
has an eye for detail, enjoys the editing process.
1. Use comma to join ICs joined by conjunction:
The Bride of Frankenstein informed her team of her
progress, but she was not as clear as she could have
been.
2. Do not use commas with conjunctions joining an IC
to a DC:
Frankenstein’s Monster talked to his teammates on
Thursday and let them know of his progress.
3. Use commas to set of non-essential DCs from and IC:
“Even in the summer, the Abominable Snowman wears his
hair long.”
“The empty castle is haunted by ghosts, which is one
reason it is not selling.”
“The empty castle, haunted by ghosts, is now reduced for
a quick sale.”
“Dracula, of all the monsters in the world, terrifies me the
most.”
“The Swamp Thing, for example, is a monster who does
not like to write memos.”
Digression—Dashes and Hyphens
Dashes are two hyphens (- + - = —)
Use dashes sparingly to set of non-essential DCs from and IC:
“Dracula, of all the monsters in the world, terrifies me the most.”
“Dracula—of all the monsters in the world—terrifies me the most.”
“Even in the summer, the Abominable Snowman wears his hair long.”
“The Abominable Snowman wears his hair long—even in the summer.”
4. Use a comma to set off an introductory element:
“Of course, the haunted house is not ideal for
everyone.”
“Additionally, some monsters do not get along
with ghosts, and they would have to hire the
Ghostbusters before moving in.”
(Hint: use “Additionally” instead of “Also” as an
introductory phrase)
Other uses of commas:
5. To separate coordinate adjectives:
“A hairy, disgusting spider dangled from the
tree.”
6. To distinguish between list items (always use the
serial or “Oxford” comma):
“We purchased Skittles, Mars Bars, Snickers, and
Milky Ways.”
Commas:
Clarifying
sentences
and saving
dogs since
December
2010
Questions on grammar?
Groups
*review assignment
*begin planning
*think about selections of texts for class
Papers Back
*Grading style
*You may revise for new grade for this paper
(late points are gone forever). Due Monday.
*Next two papers can be revised for up to 10
points. Better to revise before.
Colons vs. Semicolons
Use semicolons to clarify complicated lists:
“The party’s guest list included Count Dracula, a
vampire; Godzilla, a giant, nuclear lizard; and Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde, a man who changes between two distinct
personalities.”
Do not use before a series:
“We know many of the main monsters to avoid;
vampires, mummies, komodo dragons, and OU fans.”
Colons vs. Semicolons
Use colons to introduce a series:
“We know many of the main monsters to avoid: vampires,
mummies, komodo dragons, and OU fans.”
Colons introduce further explanation or modification
following a complete main clause.
“The party’s guest list was varied: Dracula, a vampire;
Godzilla, a giant, nuclear lizard; and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a
man who changes between two distinct personalities.”
Colons vs. Semicolons
You can use semicolons between independent clauses that
are closely related:
“The Wolfman will not be at the game this weekend; the
moon is full.”
Or, in cases using conjunctive adverbs to join independent
clauses:
“ Amanda does not advise using semicolons; however, you
can use them with conjunctive adverbs, such as consequently,
hence, indeed, instead, nonetheless, etc.”