Crafting Expository Argument : Practical Approaches to the Writing Process for Students and Teachers

by Degen, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780966512557
• ISBN10: 0966512553
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-08-01
• Publisher: Telemachos Pub

Summary

Crafting Expository Argument focuses on providing secondary students the universal writing skills required for producing the expository essay. The approach to teaching writing found in this text weaves practical grammar instruction into the writing process. Annotated writing samples, all of which are student-written, illustrate the process by which young writers create clear, coherent prose, precise topic sentences and thesis statements, and extensively elaborated supporting details. The editing symbols the author uses will facilitate productive communication among young writers and their instructors during the revision stage of composition.

Author Biography

Michael Degen teaches English at Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, TX

Table of Contents

foreword To Teachers: Arguments and Lesson Plans
Definition of Expository Argument	9	(1)
Quick Overview: What This Book Is About	10	(1)
Four Key Teaching Concepts	10	(1)
Teaching Expository Argument	11	(1)
Teacher's Role	12	(3)
A Suggested Lesson Planning Sequence: Weaving Grammar Instruction into the Writing Process	15	(18)
Developing Writing Skills
Objectives	33	(1)
Writing to Show	34	(2)
Extending Elaboration	36	(2)
Sample Writing to Show Compositions: Student-Written Models	38	(4)
The Revision Process When Writing to Show	42	(1)
Writing to Show Assignments and Activities, Assignments 1-4	43	(4)
Writing to Show List of Telling Sentences	47	(1)
Other Writing to Show Assignments	47	(2)
Publishing Project: The Writing to Show Anthology	49	(2)
Expository Paragraph
Definitions	51	(1)
One-Idea and Subordinate Paragraphs: Qualities	52	(1)
Coherence: Using Word Glue and Logic Glue	53	(2)
Exercise: Working with Transitional Word & Logic Glue	54	(1)
Constructing a Paragraph: A Strategy	55	(4)
Example Process 1 for Constructing a Paragraph (Essay Question)	56	(1)
Example Process 2 for Constructing a Paragraph (Thesis Statement)	57	(1)
Example Process 3 for Constructing a Paragraph (Essay Question)	58	(1)
Revision Process: Questions to Ask About Paragraphs	59	(1)
The Editing Symbols: Fixing the Paragraph Problems	60	(35)
A = Add a transitional phrase or sentence	61	(2)
B = Blending textual support	63	(2)
C = Combine sentences	65	(2)
E = Extend your elaboration of ideas	67	(4)
L = Listing plot details	71	(3)
O = Off-topic	74	(4)
P = Paragraph needs revision	78	(3)
S = Summarizing plot	81	(1)
SH = Show concret images	82	(1)
T = Transitions are weak	83	(3)
TS = Revise the topic sentence	86	(3)
TH = Thesis problems	89	(1)
V = Vague details	90	(2)
W = Wordy structures	92	(2)
[ ] = Vary your sentence beginnings	94	(1)
&xcir; = Vivid verb usage	94	(1)
Complete Expository Paragraphs: Student-Written Models	95	(10)
Expository Paragraph Assignments and Activities	105	(5)
Putting a Paragraph Together	105	(3)
Revising for B (Blending Textual Support)	108	(1)
Extend the Elaboration of an Idea E3, E4	108	(1)
Revise for A1, A2 (Add a Transitional Phrase or Sentence)	108	(1)
Revising for O/O2 (Off-topic) etc...	109	(1)
Destroying a Paragraph	109	(1)
Constructing a Paper
Definitions	110	(1)
How Does the Writer Generate a Topic for a Thesis?	111	(1)
Once the Writer Has Chosen a Topic, How Does the Writer Discover a Thesis Statement?	112	(2)
How Does the Writer Formulate a Thesis Statement?	114	(1)
After Writing the Thesis Statement, What Next?	115	(1)
After Organizing Evidence, What Does the Writer Do? (Topic Sentences)	115	(2)
Check the Diction of the Topic Sentences	117	(1)
More Example Thesis Statements + Topic Sentences	118	(1)
A Final Word About Organization/Content	118	(1)
The Writing Process: The Introductory Paragraph (The Showing-Telling Introduction)	119	(1)
Sample Showing-Telling Introductions: Student-Written Models	119	(3)
Ask These Questions About the Introduction	122	(1)
The Writing Process: The Concluding Paragraph (The Non-Summary Conclusion)	123	(1)
Sample Concluding Paragraphs: Student-Written Models	123	(2)
Ask These Questions About the Conclusion	125	(1)
Sample Papers: Student-Written Models	126	(8)
The Imagery of ``Kubla Khan''	126	(3)
Simon and The Tao	129	(2)
Mary Shelley and John Milton	131	(3)
Constructing the Paper Assignments and Activities	134	(2)
Writing Thesis Statements (TH)	134	(1)
Writing Progress Chart	134	(2)
Grammar for Structure and Syntax
Philosophy of Grammar Instruction	136	(1)
Structures for Writing: Clauses and Phrases	137	(1)
Clauses: Two Categories	137	(1)
The Difference Between Independent and Subordinate Clauses	137	(1)
Subordinate Clauses	138	(1)
Adverb Subordinate Clauses ADVSC	138	(1)
Adjective Subordinate Clauses ADJSC	139	(1)
Teaching and Learning Punctuation	139	(1)
Using who, whom, that, and which	139	(1)
Noun Subordinate Clauses NSC	140	(1)
Complex, Compound, and Compound-Complex Sentences	141	(1)
The Three Ways to Join Two Independent Clauses to Form a Compound or Compound-Complex Sentence	141	(1)
Participial Phrases as Adjectives PrPP and PaPP	142	(1)
Essential or Nonessential Participial Phrase?	142	(1)
Verb or Adjective?	142	(1)
Absolute Phrases AbP	143	(1)
Gerund Phrases as Nouns GP	144	(1)
Verb Forms Ending in ing: Participles or Gerunds?	145	(1)
Infinitive Phrases as Adverbs, Adjectives, Nouns ADV-IP, ADJ-IP, N-IP	145	(2)
Appositive Phrases AP	147	(1)
Parts of Speech as Structural Elements	148	(1)
The Functions of the Noun in a Clause or Sentence	148	(3)
What Is a Subject?	148	(1)
What Is a Predicate Nominative	149	(1)
Is That Noun Really Functioning as a Predicate Nominative?	149	(1)
What is a Direct Object?	149	(1)
How Can an Indirect Object Be Distinguished from a Direct Object?	150	(1)
What Is an Appositive?	150	(1)
The Functions of the Pronoun in a Clause or Sentence	151	(1)
The His or Her Dilemma	152	(1)
Verbs	152	(2)
How Is a Helping Verb Distinct from a Main Verb?	152	(1)
The Somewhat Notorious ``be'' Verb	153	(1)
More About Linking Verbs	153	(1)
About the 23 Helping Verbs	153	(1)
Forms of the Verb & Voice of the Verb	154	(1)
Modifiers: Adverbs and Adjectives	154	(2)
Preposition: Functions of Prepositional Phrases in a Clause or Sentence	156	(1)
Conjunctions: Coordinating, Correlative, Conjunctive Adverbs, and Subordinating	157	(1)
Rhetorical Patterns and Variations for Sentences	158	(1)
Additional Punctuation for Clarity: Comma, Semicolon, and Colon	159	(1)
Common Problems with Structure and Syntax: Comma Splices, Run-ons, Faulty Parallelism, Fragments, Subject-Verb Agreement	160	(3)
Extending Elaboration with Modification: Repeat Word, Analysis Modifiers	163	(1)
Sentence Structure Exercises	164	(17)
Sentence Combining: Repeat Word Modifiers/Analysis Modifiers	164	(1)
Sentence Combining with Adverb Subordinate Clauses	165	(1)
Sentence Combining with Adjective Subordinate Clauses	166	(1)
Writing Complex Sentences with Adjective Subordinate Clauses	166	(1)
Writing Compound-Complex Sentences with Adjective and Adverb Subordinate Clauses	166	(1)
Noun Subordinate Clauses and Adjective Subordinate Clauses	167	(1)
Writing Complex Sentences with Noun Subordinate Clauses	167	(1)
Three Types of Subordinate Clauses	168	(1)
Simple, Compound, Complex, and Compound-Complex Sentences	169	(1)
Sentence Combining with Present Participial Phrases	170	(1)
Sentence Combining with Past Participial Phrases	171	(1)
Identifying Present and Past Participial Phrases	172	(1)
Identifying Infinitive Phrases and Their Function	172	(1)
Identifying Gerund Phrases and Their Function	173	(1)
Distinguishing Between Gerund and Present Participial Phrases	173	(1)
Infinitive, Gerund, and Participial Phrases	174	(1)
Sentence Combining with Absolute Phrases	175	(1)
Sentence Combining with Appositive Phrases	176	(1)
Commas with Introductory Elements	176	(1)
Using Commas with Coordinating Conjunctions: Compound Sentences vs. Compound Predicates	177	(1)
Using Semicolons	178	(1)
Using Colons and Semicolons	179	(1)
Using Commas, Colons, and Semicolons	179	(1)
Potpourri: Putting Clauses and Phrases Together	180	(1)
Parts of Speech for Structure and Syntax Chart	181	(1)
Creating the Grammatical Structure Guide	182	(1)
appendix
General Composition Assignment and Revision Directions	183	(2)
MLA Documentation	185	(1)
MLA Works Cited Format	186	(3)
Grading Rubrics	189	(2)
Transitional Words	191	(1)
Quick Essay Checklist	192	(1)
Editing Symbols	193	(2)
Peer Review/Editing Activities	195	(7)
glossary of literary terms	202	(5)
index	207