ENG103 WEEK 1: Writing Process and Prewriting the Paragraph

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Introduction

Welcome to week one of English one-oh-three Writing Fundamentals. This course emphasizes the principles of writing coherent expository paragraphs in various modes. The course introduces the concept of writing as a process that includes developing and narrowing a topic, logically organizing ideas, drafting, and revising. In this lesson we will discuss the writing process and prewriting the paragraph. Next Slide:

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Objectives

After you complete this lesson, you will be able to: Define paragraph; Use the basic paragraph patterns; and Identify three different strategies in prewriting. Next Slide: Defining the word paragraph is no easy task because there are different kinds of paragraphs, each having a different purpose: There are introductory, developmental, transitional, and concluding paragraphs. An introductory paragraph is usually the first paragraph in an essay; it gives the necessary background and indicates the main idea, called the thesis. A developmental paragraph is a unit of several sentences; it expands on an idea. A transitional paragraph is a very brief paragraph; it merely directs the reader from one point in the essay to another. And a concluding paragraph usually is the last paragraph in an essay; it makes the final comment on the topic. Next Slide:

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The Paragraph

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Paragraph Patterns

A developmental paragraph is a group of sentences, each with the function of supporting a controlling idea called the topic sentence. The topic sentence contains both the subject and the treatment. It carries the central idea to which everything else in the paragraph is subordinated. The support of a developmental paragraph can take several forms: Give an account; Describe people, things, or events; Explain by analyzing, giving examples, and comparing; and Argue that something should be done or resisted. Two effective patterns of conventional paragraph structure are shown on this slide. Pattern A merely states the controlling idea, the topic sentence, and develops it; Pattern B adds a concluding sentence following the development. A paragraph, however, is not a constraining formula; it has variations. In some instances, for example, the topic sentence is not found in a single sentence. It may be the combination of two sentences, or it may be an easily understood but unwritten underlying idea that unifies the paragraph.

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The Writing Process

Next Slide: The writing process consists of strategies that can help you process from your purpose or initial idea to a final developed paragraph. Those strategies can be divided into prewriting techniques and writing stages. Using prewriting, you explore, experiment, gather information, formulate your thesis, and develop and organize your support. Then you write a first draft, revise your draft as many times as necessary, and edit your writing. The typical college writing assignment process looks like this: Stage one: Exploring, experimenting, and gathering information; Stage two: Writing the Controlling Idea and organizing and developing support; and Stage three: writing, revising, and editing. Certain strategies commonly grouped under the heading prewriting can help you get started and develop your ideas. These strategies include: freewriting, brainstorming, clustering, and note taking. Prewriting strategies will help you attack the blank sheet constructively with imaginative

thought, analysis, and experimentation. We will now look at each of these strategies in more detail. Next Slide:

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Prewriting Strategies

One strategy is freewriting, an exercise that its originator has called babbling in print. When you freewrite, you write without stopping, letting your ideas tumble forth. You do not concern yourself with the fundamentals of writing, such as punctuation and spelling. Freewriting is an adventure into your memory and imagination. Another prewriting strategy is to brainstorm. Brainstorming includes two basic forms: 1. asking and answering questions, and 2. listing. One effective way to get started is to ask the big six questions about your subject: Who, what, where, when, why, and how. Then let you mind run free as you jot down answers in single entries or lists. Some of the big six questions may not fit, and some may be more important than others, depending on the purpose of your writing. The other way to effectively brainstorm is by listing. Simply make a list of words and phrases related to your topic. Next Slide:

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Prewriting Strategies (continued)

The last prewriting strategy is clustering. To start the clustering process you write down your topic in the middle of the page and draw a double circle around it. Then, respond to the question what comes to mind? Single-bubble other ideas on spokes radiating out from the hub that contains the topic. Any bubble can lead to another bubble or numerous bubbles in the same way. This strategy is sometimes used instead of or before making an outline to organize and develop ideas. The more restricted the topic inside the double bubble, the fewer the number of spokes that will radiate with single bubbles. Shown on this slide is an example of clustering.

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Summary

Next Slide: We have reached the end of this first lesson. Lets take a look at some of the major points of this lesson. A paragraph is a group of sentences, each with the function of stating or supporting a single controlling idea that is contained in the topic sentence. A paragraph contains two parts: the topic sentence and the support. Prewriting includes activities you do before writing your first draft or whenever you need new ideas. Three strategies used for prewriting include: freewriting, brainstorming, and clustering.