|
Observe consistency in tense in making a paragraph or a composition.
txb.413, 425
Observe the mistakes in this paragraph. Some of the verbs are in the past tense but some of the verbs are in the present tense. Since the paragraph denotes a past event, all the verbs should be in the past town.
We went downtown, and then we watch a movie. Later we met some friends from school, and we all go to the mall. For most of the evening, we play video games in arcades. It was a typical but rather uneventful day.
correct:
We went downtown, and then watched a movie. Later we met some friends from school, and we all went to themall. For most of the evening, we played video games in arcades. It was a typical but rather uneventful summer day.
Check the following for consistency in tense.
1 Once upon a time, a Professor Glen was very popular with the students. He kept long office hours and always speaks nicely to the students. He even bought popcorn for them to munch on during tests. Respecting their sensitivity, he marks with a soothing green ink instead of red. He often tells jokes and listens attentively to their complaints. The students chose him as the teacher of the year.
2 The Apes and the Two Travelers
TWO MEN, one who always spoke the truth and the other who tells
nothing but lies, were traveling together and by chance ccome to
the land of Apes. One of the Apes, who had raised himself to be
king, commanded them to be seized and bring before him, that he
might know what was said of him among men. He ordered at the
same time that all the Apes be arranged in a long row on his
right hand and on his left, and that a throne be placed for him,
as was the custom among men. After these preparations he
signifies that the two men should be brought before him, and
greeted them with this salutation: "What sort of a king do I seem
to you to be, O strangers?' The Lying Traveler replies, "You seem
to me a most mighty king." "And what is your estimate of those
you see around me?' "These," he made answer, "are worthy
companions of yourself, fit at least to be ambassadors and
leaders of armies." The Ape and all his court, gratify with the
lie, commanded that a handsome present be given to the flatterer.
On this the truthful Traveler thought to himself, "If so great a
reward be given for a lie, with what gift may not I be rewarded,
if, according to my custom, I tell the truth?' The Ape quickly
turned to him. "And pray how do I and these my friends around me
seem to you?' "Thou art," he says, "a most excellent Ape, and all
these thy companions after thy example are excellent Apes too."
The King of the Apes, enraged at hearing these truths, gives him
over to the teeth and claws of his companions.
RESEARCH
A RESEARCH IS A DOCUMENTED ESSAY based on a thorough examination of your topic and support by your explanations and by both references and quotations from your sources. This course uses the Modern Language Association (MLA).
TOPIC. It should be of interest to you and should researchable in the library or internet. It should not be too broad nor too specific.
Examples:
CANCER is a very broad topic. You can subdivide it into: lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer.......
Lung cancer can be subdivided into:
diagnosis of lung cancer
symptoms...
medicines ....
treatmen....
care.....
research.....
From the above topics, you can choose one like, DIAGNOSIS OF LUNG CANCER for your topic.
After choosing a topic, look for books, articles and websites that contain your topic. Be sure you write down the title, author, publication, number of pages and year the article was published.
ASSIGNMENT: Look for 10 sources about your topic and copy them. Bring the materials to class for checking.
Paragraph: Introduction, Body, Conclusion
Introductory paragraph
The introductory paragraph introduces the paper's thesis to the reader. This type of paragraph is used not only in presenting the topic and organization of the paper, but it is also utilized to grab the reader's attention. It is probably best, when writing the introduction, to use the funnel or general-to-specific method. This method begins with a very broad, general topic (e.g., cars), and then gradually narrows the subject down to a specific example of that topic (e.g., Porsches). The point in the paragraph at which the thesis statement is finally made is most commonly in the last sentence.
There are also three other common techniques that are utilized to open the introductory paragraph:
- Factual Information: The writer opens his or her paragraph by giving a list of facts that will eventually lead to his or her thesis (e.g. "Gasoline car sales have been plummeting...").
- Anecdote: The writer opens the paragraph with a story that relates to the thesis (e.g. "I've always grown up admiring my father's collection of automobiles...").
- Quotation: The writer builds the introductory paragraph around an applicable quote (e.g. "The president of Ford has said, 'Cars are now the wave of the future...'").
Here is an example of an introductory paragraph written with the funnel method:
Paragraph: Introduction, Body, Conclu
Introductory paragraph
The introductory paragraph introduces the paper's thesis to the reader. This type of paragraph is used not only in presenting the topic and organization of the paper, but it is also utilized to grab the reader's attention. It is probably best, when writing the introduction, to use the funnel or general-to-specific method. This method begins with a very broad, general topic (e.g., cars), and then gradually narrows the subject down to a specific example of that topic (e.g., Porsches). The point in the paragraph at which the thesis statement is finally made is most commonly in the last sentence.
There are also three other common techniques that are utilized to open the introductory paragraph:
- Factual Information: The writer opens his or her paragraph by giving a list of facts that will eventually lead to his or her thesis (e.g. "Gasoline car sales have been plummeting...").
- Anecdote: The writer opens the paragraph with a story that relates to the thesis (e.g. "I've always grown up admiring my father's collection of automobiles...").
- Quotation: The writer builds the introductory paragraph around an applicable quote (e.g. "The president of Ford has said, 'Cars are now the wave of the future...'").
Here is an example of an introductory paragraph written with the funnel method: |
|
|
|
The number of cars that are mass produced today is astounding. More than 200 million are produced every year throughout the world. The number of automobiles that are owned by people in America is equally staggering. Over 100 million Americans own at least one automobile and over twenty million families in America own at least two. Despite the amount of producing and selling of cars in this modern age, however, only one out of every twenty Americans knows the mechanics of his or her vehicle. This has led to America's naive dependency on the advice of costly automechanics. It is time for America to realize its problem and to begin learning about correct motor vehicle maintenance.
|
Concluding paragraph
The concluding paragraph brings the paper to a proper closing, and does not merely restate what has already been explained thoroughly in the essay. If the writer has sufficiently explained his or her thesis in the paper, then nothing more is needed. If, however, the writer cannot fit his or her concluding remarks about the topic in a final paragraph, then a conclusion is recommended. The conclusion will not repeat ideas, nor will it bring up a new topic; rather, it will give an implicit summary of the paper and then give a unique perspective on the material discussed, reemphasizing the thesis for the reader.
There are four main tactics that the writer can employ in writing the concluding paragraph:
- Restatement and Recommendation: Here the major points of the paper are given in a summary form and a suggestion is made to the reader about the subject (e.g. Take good care of your car).
- Prediction: The writer of a paper may want to predict what will happen with his or her topic in the future (e.g. The electric car will take over the industry).
- Allusion: The writer may choose to write an appropriate story to get his point across to the reader. This will allow the reader to relate better to the subject (e.g. "I know a good friend who had a '57 Chevy...").
- Quotation: This can give some more validity to your argument if it is a quotation from an expert in the subject (e.g. "As Lee Iacocca concluded at his retirement speech at Chrysler...").
Here is an example of a concluding paragraph with a restatement and a recommendation: |
|
|
|
Americans have much more to learn about their automobiles than they think. It takes a good deal of research and advice from other people in order to get acquainted with the basics of a car. It also requires the car owner to confront his or her fears about fixing his vehicle and to take a risk in doing so. Finally, the car owner must be wise in choosing the right type of mechanic to work on his car when the problems become too large for the owner to handle. All of these steps are absolutely essential to follow if Americans ever want to get beyond their normal naivete about automobiles. |
|
|
|
|
Here is an example of a concluding paragraph with a prediction: |
|
|
|
The prevailing ignorance of basic auto mechanics on America's part is indeed appalling. However, in spite of the current situation, there is hope on the horizon. The number of people showing interest in car maintenance has been increasing at a steady rate over the past few years. Having grown tired and frustrated by the excessive amount of money they have had to spend on shops and auto mechanics, they have come to realize that car maintenance is much more essential than they had thought. If this trend continues in America, we can hopefully predict the coming of an age where dependence upon others for "car smarts" will finally become obsolete. |
|
|
|
|
Take note, however, that there are no sure-fire formulas for writing the concluding paragraph. One approach might work better for one paper than for another. A recommendation for the writer is to draft three different paragraphs, utilizing the different techniques, and then choose the one that would be best suited for the paper |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
