Plan of the Session

Shows basic procedure for building text (TS)T and

paragraph (TS)p
Gives examples of effective paragraphs
paragraph analysis (TS)p (TS)T
Shows ways to Develop and ways-to-begin
Discusses features of the introductory paragraph,
the conclusion paragraph, and the transitional
paragraph.
27 key slides/33 total min time 90 contact time.
(slides with red background show additional
examples or WTD).

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted

General Approach
What may happen?
1. The subject/The idea is not clear!
2. OR Is it a thesis or topic Statement?
3. Try to cast the idea into Topic + Comment.
4. T and/or C should be specific, but general enough:
T and/or C should be expandable: Raise(s) questions:
what who, when, how, ? Require(s) explanation.
5. If the Reader needs details about both T & C ~
thesis statement
6. If T/C has many facets (is complex) ~ thesis
statement
7. If only one satisfies Rs curiosity ~ topic
statement

The Thesis S holds/cements the entire Paragraph

Topic S

Topic S

Trans

Thesis
Statement

Topic S

Topic S

Topic S

Topic S

: form, structure, length, WTB,

WTD, Type (I, B, , T, C)

Sentences: form, structure, length,

emphasis + cohesion, preciseness,

conciseness, word propriety, variety
clarity & unity

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -

When you search for an idea to write about:

1. Vision is not clear, ideas are fuzzy
2. But, start outlining any thought in a
sentence
3. Structure the sentence in the form T + C
4. Repeat Step 3 for the thoughts you have
5. Organize sentences from general to lessgeneral-nature of T or C, or T & C
6. The most general could be a thesis
statement; an umbrella for other sentences
7. By writing, your view will be clearer and
ideas be less fuzzy

Example:

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach-

What usually happens?

1. The subject/The idea may not be clear!

Smoking? What, why?

2. Is it a thesis or topic Statement?

Smoking is a noun it is a topic still

needs a comment

3. Try to cast the idea into Topic + Comment.

Smoking (s) is bad Causes harm

S is hazardous what hazard?
several hazards a thesis.

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -

4. define the hazard :

a- Smoking is hazardous
b- Smoking is hazardous to health
c- Smoking weakens social rapports
d- Smoking is expensive, too
e- Smoking initiates many fires events

5. Find relations between a thru d s:

a the thesis statement; the most general
b through e are the topic statements; each
is a summary of a part of a.

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -

5. Collect ideas about T/C for the [4] paragraphs

6. Outline collected ideas. Organize. Check.
7. Write one for the/each T Statement: Select
WTB, WTD, transition words.
8. Refine sentences:
emphasize Comment; repeat; repeat; .
pay attention to cohesion, preciseness, and
conciseness;
observe word propriety, variety, clarity, and
unity .
9. Start with an introductory .
10. End with a conclusion .
11. You may need to insert a transitional .

Building Thesis/Topic Statement: Adopted Approach -

Introduction
End of Introduction: Smoking is hazardous

-2: Smoking weakens social rapports

-3: Smoking is expensive, too

Body

-1: Smoking is hazardous to health

-4: Smoking initiates many fires events

Conclusion:
Consequences of smoking are quite serious; it
is the third cause of death worldwide Stop
wasting precious human resources.

Example
"Smoking is hazardous to your health. Several years
ago, studies linked the intake of tar and nicotine,
found in cigarettes, with the development of cancer in
laboratory animals. The evidence was so
overwhelming that governments required cigarette
manufacturers to put a warning on the outside of each
package of cigarettes. Aside from the most serious
and dreaded disease, cancer, cigarette smoking also
aggravates or promotes other health problems. For
example, smoking can increase the discomfort for the
people with asthma and emphysema. Moreover,

cigarettes are not only hazardous to health but

expensive too. It can give one a "smoker's cough" and
contribute to bronchitis. Finally, recent studies have
shown that cigarette smokers are susceptible to
common colds and flu. Whether you get an
insignificant cold or the major killer, cancer, smoking
cigarettes is a real hazard to your health."

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Exampl
e
To Health

Sent no.

Smoking
Cigarettes

Hazardous

Yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

NO

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

Analysis of the Paragraph on Smoking

Way-To-Begin of the : Summary starts with the thesis statement,
summaries the whole paragraph; background (Sentence 2).
Way-To-Develop: listing of health hazards, exemplification.
Used Techniques of Repeating Words: list of words that carry

almost the same meaning: forms of hazards, full form repetition,

short form repetition, pronouns (also a tool for cohesion), use of
metaphor,
Transition Words: The evidence (the link), aside from, for example,
finally, structure (whether or )
Paragraph Type: body paragraph, develops the first topic
statement
The Sentence Moreover, cigarettes are not only hazardous to
health but expensive too does not belong to the same comment, it
covers financial hazards.

placement (s of the main verb,

close to the period, beginning of the main clause,
repetition all forms).
Emphasis of the keywords:

Ways To Begin (WTB) and Ways To Develop WTD) Paragraphs

1. Statement

WTB

WTD

2. Action, Process: a process to follow

3. Advice: gives an important advice

4. Background: Shows history, what was
done or happened
5. Call for action related to the topic
6. Command/Request. States an order,
command or request.
7. Comparison-contrast: Shows
resemblance or contrast
8. Definition and classification:
Defines/classifies components
9. Early theory and technique
10. Forecast and hypothesis: forecasts
future of the topic
11. Illustration and exemplification: Gives
examples and illustrations
12. Listing: lists components of the topic.

X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

Ways To Begin (WTB) and Ways To Develop WTD) Paragraphs

13. Point of view: of the author.
14. Question: Poses a question then shows answer
15. Quotation: Starts with an important quotation
16. Refute-an-argument: strong statement against
another argument
17. Statement of scope: shows limitation
18. Specific details: gives important details
19. Statement of a fact related to the topic
20. Statement of a point of important interest
21. Statement of plan of development of the topic
22.Statement of purpose

X X
X X
X

23. Statement of the problem

X X

24. Summary: A brief statement of the main idea (TS)

25. Combination: Not limiting beginning to one way

X X

X X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X

X
X

Ways To Begin (WTB) and Ways To Develop WTD) Paragraphs

1. Statement of the Way-To-Begin or the Way-To-Develop
2. Action, Process: shows a process or action steps to follow
3. Advice: gives an important advice
4. Background: Shows history, what was done or happened
5. Call for action related to the topic
6. Command/Request. States an order, command or request.
7. Comparison-contrast: Shows resemblance or contrast
8. Definition and classification: Defines/classifies components
9. Early theory and technique
10. Forecast and hypothesis: forecasts future of the topic
11. Illustration and exemplification: Gives examples and illustrations
12. Listing: lists components of the topic.
13. Point of view: An initial statement of point of view of the author.
14. Question: Poses a question then shows elements of the answer
15. Quotation: Shows an important quotation that serves as a start
16. Refute-an-argument: strong statement against another argument
17. Statement of scope: shows limitation of the subject
18. Specific details: gives a piece of details of special importance
19. Statement of a fact related to the topic
20. Statement of a point of important interest
21. Statement of plan of development of the topic
22.Statement of purpose: explicates the purpose of writing on the topic
23. Statement of the problem: states the problem behind the thesis
24. Summary: A brief statement of the main idea (thesis statement)
25. Combination: Not limiting the beginning to one way only.

WTB
X
X
X
X
X
X

WTD
X

X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

X
X
X

Definition
What is technical writing? Technical writing
as a term is not found in common
dictionaries. Websters New World
Dictionary defines technical as having to
do with applied sciences... and writing as
the occupation of the writer .... We might
combine these two definitions to define
technical writing as writing about science
and technology.
Associated Specific/Transition Words
this means, from this definition, in other
words, as a clarification, , defines is
defined as, use of to be, to have,

Process (Narration)
1- What happens when the source (person) tries to
establish commonness of experience with the receiver?
First, the source encodes the message he wants to
communicate. The message is then sent to the receiver.
The receiver gets the message and can decode it only
within the framework of his knowledge of the subject and
his personal experience.
2- When the brakes are applied, the pistons in the wheel
cylinder, acting on the brake shoe, through the connecting
links, force the shoe against the drum. Since the shoe
floats free in the brake, the force of friction between the
shoes and the rotating drum, turns the entire assembly in
the direction of the wheel rotation....
Transition Elements
Use sequence transition such as moreover, in addition,
also, then, afterwards, next, afterwards, again, first,
sequence of verbs...,

Exemplification / Illustration
1. Not only the physical and life sciences but
also the social sciences and the humanities
require the services of technical writers.
For example, a discussion on language
testing can become very "technical."
Demography offers a variety of aspects
involving complex statistical data,....
2. Birds and animals communicate. For
example, a bee returning from flowers with
a load of nectar performs a dance that tells
the other bees in hive where to get nectar....
Transition Elements (exemplification)
for example, to illustrate, as an example, for instance, in
particular, namely, that is, in other words, Verbs: define,
show, illustrate, have, be (equative), ...

Comparison/Contrast
1. Some people would like to distinguish between the writing
done by scientists and engineers. However, the principle of
writing is the same. This text is concerned with the principle
common to the requirements for technical writing, no matter
who does the writing.
2. Clarity and precision are often interdependent. Clarity is
achieved when the writer has communicated meaningfully to
the reader. Precision is achieved when the writer attains
exact correspondence between the matter to be
communicated and written expression. Faults in clarity and
precision result when the following occur....
Transition Elements
not only... but also, but, yet, however, still, nevertheless, even
though, in spite of, despite, on the contrary, unlike, on the
other hand, conversely, whereas, also, similarly, likewise, in
the same way (manner)...

Cause-and-Effect Analysis
The source can encode and the destination can
decode only in terms of the experience each has
had. If the two have a large area in common,
communication is easy. If they share nothing,
communication is impossible. If we have never
learned Chinese, we can neither encode or decode
in that language. The presence of a common code
between the sender and the receiver is, therefore,
essential for any message to be understood.
Transition Elements
Because, therefore, for, so, although, if, causative
verbs: cause, result, produce, effect, give, as a
result, consequently, hence, because, if, thus, for
this reason, since, due to, when,...
Special Verbs: cause, result, give rise to, induce,
produce, affect, ... conditional tenses, ... .

Listing
In addition to coal and nuclear energy, a variety of other
power sources are also frequently discussed in the news
and in scientific literature.... Geothermal energy is one of
the more practical of proposed new sources.... Solar energy
seems an elegant idea.... Sophisticated windmills to
generate electricity are also under study by some ....
What makes for a good paragraph in scientific/ technical
writing? First of all, a good paragraph has unity: focuses
on a single idea or theme. Second, a good paragraph has
coherence: one sentence leads to the next in some kind of
logical sequence. Finally, a good paragraph has adequate
content: appropriate details to support the main idea.
Transition Elements
Use sequence transitions: first, second, ... and other ordinal
numbers, then finally, ...
Others: Lists show parallelism. (All lists start with the same
grammatical form or structure.)

General-to-Particular Ordering
What kinds of things must writers learn to become effective
and efficient communicators? Writers should understand
the situation, uses, and audiences for a given
communication and write for those audiences and uses.
Also they should have clear organisation and logical
reasoning; they should write clear and concise sentences.
In other words, writers should produce sentences that
readers can easily understand, and they should place those
sentences in context of paragraphs and larger.
Moreover, they should follow the standard conventions for
grammar, punctuation, and other mechanics.
Transition Elements: Move from big concepts to details:
situation uses, audience organize write
Sent.

The Opening Paragraph

or the Introduction of a Text

Captures reader's interest

Announces the topic.
Contents

Defines problem/process/objects
Mat contain quotations
Defines background/history
Presents the thesis statement
States purpose/scope/objective
Presents contents of the text.

The Body Paragraph

Is a typical paragraph
Has a topic statement, detailing
the thesis
It does not play the role of
introduction, nor conclusion, nor
transition.

The Transitional Paragraph

Short paragraph of one or two
sentences
Sums up previous topic(s)
shows where to go next.

The Closing Paragraph

Or Conclusion of a Text
Restates/Rephrases thesis
Summarizes conclusions
Discusses significance
Addresses future implications
May present recommendations.

Do not introduce new

information.
Do not rely on modifiers alone.
The content should reflect
nature.

Closing Slide: to close this part

Once the topic is defined
Try to find a comment that complements
the message (objective of writing)
Repeat basic ideas explaining the
message (using brainstorming or
innovative techniques) until the thesis is
fully explained.
Will follow
Writing paragraphs. Organizing.
Summarizing. Discovering Ideas
File 4-Discovering Ideas-Mental Skills.pptx