Welcome to ESL 114!
This blog is designed for the ESL 114 class of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. On this blog, I will be sharing the schedule for classes, and making announcements about assignments, essay due date, etc.
Hope everyone enjoys this class and blogging!
Doing citations is really important in academic writing, but learning the specific ways to cite is very challenging. Today I only focused on APA styles, but it's always hard for one class to cover how to use the APA styles in a proper manner. I strongly encourage you to practice the APA styles when you write on argumentative essays, and I will ask you to use citations in a correct way when you work on research papers.
I know you need more time to get familiar with the APA styles, but get prepared yourself for the world of the academic writing! Please visit the following link, and you will find further information about the APA. Click on here!
One student asked me when to use a comma and when to exclude a comma, so I introduce a link that has detailed information about using commas. Hope it helps. Here's the link: Click on here!
In argumentative essays, the introductory paragraph should have a thesis statement that shows your opinion on the issue. If often mentions the opposing view first.
E.g. Police departments say that the laws to control teenage gangs are necessary, but I believe that such laws are unfair, unconstitutional, and counterproductive.
When you state an opinion, you should indicate that it is an opinion by using a transition expression.
In my opinion, everyone should be allowed to own a gun.
In my view, no one should be allowed to own a gun.
I believe that a Honda is better than a Toyota.
I think a Lexus is better than a Honda.
In the body paragraphs, support your opinion with reasons. Each reason is a paragraph in the finished essay.
E.g. Theses statement: Although many people feel that doctors must do everything possible to keep their patients alive, I believe that euthanasia should be legalized for three reasons.
Reason A: These patients have no change of recovery. --> body1
Reason B: Medical costs are very high. --> body2
Reason C: The family suffers. --> body3
In the concluding paragraph, you may (1) restate your thesis statement in different words or (2) summarize your reasons. In your final comment, you may call for action, as in the following example. Your final comment should be powerful –one that your readers will remember.
An argumentative essay is built around a specific statement (or main premise) that is debatable within the field in which you are studying. In other words, your readers may agree or disagree with the statement. Your essay will need to support that statement in a manner that convinces your readers of its truth.
Debatable statements Statements with which other people might or might not agree. These are sometimes called "arguments", "assertions", "propositions" or "premises".
E.g. Solar energy is the best way of meeting Australia's energy needs in the 21st century.
Non-debatable statements Statements with which nobody would normally disagree or argue. These are sometimes called "facts".
E.g. Coal and oil are the main sources of energy in Australia in the 20th century.
Remember!
When you write an argumentative essay, your topic sentence is an opinion. You can support your topic sentence with both opinions and facts. It is better to use facts, but it is possible to use opinions. Your paper will be stronger if you use more facts, however.
There are two ways to organize a comparison/contrast paragraph. One way is called block organization, and the other way is called point-by-point organization.
1. Block Organization
In block organization, you group all the similarities together in one block and all the differences together in one block.
2. Point-by-point Organization
In point-by-point organization, you write about similarities and differences by subtopic.
Remember!
If you have a lot to say about each subtopic, you may need to write a separate paragraph for each one. The pattern of organization you choose depends on your topic. Also, whether you discuss more similarities or more differences (or both) depends on your topic. (Caution: limit your paragraph to one subtopic; otherwise, your paragraph will not have unity.)
A topic sentence for a comparison/contrast paragraph should name the topic and also indicate comparison/contrast organization.
E.g.) The left and right sides of your brain process information in different ways.
E.g.) When buying wireless telephone service, you should compare different plans on four points.
A concluding sentence for a comparison/contrast paragraph may repeat the main idea.
E.g.) The hiring decision is difficult because both applicants are so similar.
A concluding sentence may also make a recommendation.
E.g.) However, JX would be the better choice for the receptionist job because of her experience with patient contact and preference for working with other staff.
E.g.) In my opinion, the TeleVox telephone is the best choice for our company.
Use comparison and contrast signals to show similarities and differences.
For comparison: similarly, likewise, also, too, as, just as, equal, the same, similar to,equal to, (just) like, the same as, equally, both…and, not only…but also.
For contrast: in contrast, on the other hand, however, but, yet, while, whereas, although, even though, though, different(ly) from, unlike, differ (from) (in).
Intro to Academic Writing (ESL 114 M) 3-3:50 MWF, Davenport Hall 336
Office Hours: 1-1:50 MW, FLB 3050 or by appointment (Please bother me a lot!)
Homework
1. The final version for the research paper is due 12/16. Name your file as Your NetID_ESL114M_Rsrch(final).doc.
2. Underline the thesis statement and topic sentences when you submit the paper. By doing this, you can reflect your paper in a critical way to figure out your paper includes essential factors for the research paper.
