1. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing
Sixth Edition, Concise Edition
Chapter 12: Composing and Revising Closed-Form Prose
pp. 288-331

2. Skill 12.1: Understand Reader Expectations
Unity &
Coherence
Old Before
New
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 289-292
Forecasting
& Fulfillment

3. Skill 12.2: Convert Loose Structures into
Thesis/Support Structures

Good Closed-Prose Structure is Thesis  Support


Wallows in Complexity
Bad Closed-Prose Structure

“…And Then” or Chronological Structure

“All About” or Encyclopedic Structure

“Engfish” or Structure Without Surprise
Exercise:Turn to page 296
Complete Developing a Thesis/Support Structure.
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 292-296

4. Skill 12.3 Plan and Visualize Your Structure

Use a hierarchy to contrast main and sub points

Outline




Tree Diagram



List and organize “chunks”
Nutshell the argument for different perspectives
Write full sentences for clear meaning and forced articulation
Illustrates logical connections
Minimizes “All About” outline
Flowchart

Evolving diagram; add question marks for areas to expand
 Review pp. 28-32 of The Allyn & Bacon Guide for generating ideas
 See pp. 19-22 of The Little, Brown Compact Handbook for examples.
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 296-301

5. Skill 12.3 Plan and Visualize Your Structure

Google Drive Products

6. Skill 12.4: Set Up Reader Expectations
Through Effective Titles and Introductions

Creating Effective Titles



State or imply the addressed question
State or imply the thesis
Follow the old to new format
Exercise: Evaluate Titles
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 301-307

7. Skill 12.4: Set Up Reader Expectations
Through Effective Titles and Introductions

Creating Effective
Introductions


Avoid the boring
“funnel introduction.”
Focus on the
problem, not
summarizing the
content
AttentionGrabber /
Hook
• Quote, story, statistic,
scenario
Explanation
of Question
• Consider what level of
depth the audience
needs
Background
Information
• Provide multiple
perspectives of the
problem
Preview
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 301-307
• Surprise or challenge
• Presents the big picture
• Forecasting / fulfillment

8. Skill 12.4: Set Up Reader Expectations
Through Effective Titles and Introductions
Exercise: Evaluate and rewrite these theses:
1. Aggression usually leads to violence, injury, and even death, and
we should use it constructively.
6.Television is useful for children and a mindless escape for adults
who do not want to think about their problems.
9. Business is a good major for may students.
 Review pp. 306-307 of The Allyn & Bacon Guide to structure a thesis
 See pp. 14-18 of The Little, Brown Compact Handbook for more writing and
revising thesis statements.
The Little, Brown Compact Handbook (8th ed.), 2012, p. 18

9. Skill 12.5: Create Effective Topic Sentences
for Paragraphs


Clear topic sentence  supporting details organizes and
clarifies the argument
Ensure each supporting detail connects back to the topic
sentence.



Use transitions to connect to the bigger topic
Stay Focused; don’t tangent
Eliminate irrelevant points
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 307-311

10. Skill 12.5: Create Effective Topic Sentences
for Paragraphs
Exercise:Turn to p. 311. Complete exercise Revising a Paragraph for
Point-First Structure on this introduction.
Helena’s Distress
Helena’s speech in Act 3.2 ln 192-219 of Midsummer
Night’s Dream focuses on her reactions to Hermia after
Demetrius and Lysander are drugged with fairy juice. Helena
becomes flustered and upset when both Athenian men seem
to fall in love with her because she thinks it is a cruel joke.
Furthermore, Helena firmly believes that her dear friend
Hermia is also acting in the joke. Helena’s passionate reply
questions her friendship with Hermia by voicing an accusation
of mal-intent which changes to an appeal towards their
friendship and close bonds and finally to a cry of pain.
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 307-311

11. Skill 12.6: Guide Your Reader with
Transitions and Other Signposts



Transition within sentences
Incorporate resting places between major parts
Review APA Formatting when using titles as transitions.
 Review pp. 312 of The Allyn & Bacon Guide to for a list of transitions
 See pp. 45-54 of The Little, Brown Compact Handbook for more writing and
revising thesis statements.
 See pp. 532-538 of The Little, Brown Compact Handbook for APA title
formatting.
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 311-314

12. Skill 12.7: Bind Sentences Together by
Placing Old Info before New Info

“Any upcoming sentence is new information, but once the
reader has read it, it becomes old information” (p. 316).

Linking the Old to New:




Key concept from preceding sentence
Key concept for preceding paragraph
Forecasting statement about structure
Use transitions to show relationships
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 314-318

13. Skill 12.7: Bind Sentences Together by
Placing Old Info before New Info

Using Pronouns



Useful to substitute for a key word for coherence
Be cautious of overusing pronouns
“This” is vague and should be used sparingly
 See pp. 246-254 of The Little, Brown Compact Handbook for pronoun
agreement and reference.
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 314-318

14. Skill 12.8: Learn Four Expert Moves for
Organizing and Developing Ideas
For Example
Summary/However
Division-into-Parallel
Parts
Comparison/Contrast
• Assertion then illustration
• Provides detailed support for generalization
• State issue  Opposing view  Writer’s view
• Creates tension and implies importance of issue
• Creates a list-like structure overall or per paragraph
• Forecasts framework
• Repetition makes it easier for the reader to follow
• Side-by-side
• Back-and-forth
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 318-323

15. Skill 12.8: Learn Four Expert Moves for
Organizing and Developing Ideas
Exercise: Develop a plan and
write the introduction
paragraph to support this
statement:
For Example
Summary/
However
“A thesis formed from a
question is better than a
thesis formed from a
statement.”
Division-intoParallel Parts
Comparison/
Contrast
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 318-323

16. Skill 12.9: Use Effective Tables, Graphs, and
Charts to Present Numeric Data

Identify the purpose of
the image




Table: High detail,
requires reader
concentration
Line Graph: Illustrates
broad relationships
Bar Graph: Makes quick
comparisons with
specific details
Pie Chart: Compares
parts to a whole
Table
Line Graph
Bar Graph
Pie Chart
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 323-328

17. Skill 12.9: Use Effective Tables, Graphs, and
Charts to Present Numeric Data

Schematics

Illustrate
connections
between ideas

Useful for
explaining
processes

Level of detail
must reflect the
audience’s
understanding
and interests

18. Skill 12.9: Use Effective Tables, Graphs, and
Charts to Present Numeric Data

Infographics

Combine
multiple types of
data

Use size and
color to stress
importance and
differences

Requires an
organized page
structure

19. Skill 12.10: Write Effective Conclusions

Simple summary

Larger significance

Proposal

Scenic or anecdotal

Hook and return

Delayed-thesis
 Review the chart Strategies for Concluding an Essay pp. 329-330 of The
Allyn & Bacon Guide for specifics about types of conclusions and when to
use them.
The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing (6th ed.), 2012, pp. 329-331