1. Chapter 1
An Introduction to Writing
1
EXPLORING WRITING: PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS
JOHN LANGAN
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. The Process: 4 Steps in a Nutshell
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1. Discover a clearly stated point or thesis.
2. Provide logical, detailed support for your thesis.
3. Organize and connect your supporting material.
4. Revise and edit so that your sentences are effective
and error-free.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. Point and Support
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 Any idea that you advance MUST be supported with
specific reasons or details.
 Readers are reasonable people who want to hear the
reasons and arguments for your point.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Discussion Questions
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 What are some points or assertions you have made in
the last week?
 What reasons would you give for these points?
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. Point and Support in a Paragraph
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 A paragraph usually consists of a topic sentence:
 Working at the Crescent Falls Diner and Truck Stop was the
worst job I ever had.
 Followed by supporting details:
 The work was physically very hard. During my ten-hour days, I
had to carry heavy trays of food to customers, and I had to clean
the tables.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. Knowing Your Purpose and Audience
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 Three common purposes of writing:
 To inform
 To persuade
 To entertain
 Audience can be:
 Your instructor
 Other students
 A general audience of educated adults
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

7. Benefits of Paragraph Writing
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 Mastering a paragraph’s structure will make you a
better writer.
 You will strengthen your skills as a reader and listener.
 Paragraph writing will make you a stronger thinker.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

8. Discussion Questions
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 What are your beliefs about writing and the writing
process?
 Take a moment to write or talk about your beliefs.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

9. Writing is a Skill
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 Writing is not a talent.
 It can be mastered through practice and hard work.
 Writing comes from plain hard work.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

10. Writing as Discovery
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 Writing is seldom an easy straight-line journey.
 Usually, the truth is discovered in a series of zigzag
steps.
 Writers often discover the direction of a paper during
the act of writing.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

11. Writing a Journal
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 The more you practice writing, the better you will
write.
 Keep a writing journal.
 For 15 minutes a day, sit and write whatever comes to
your mind.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

12. Review Questions
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 What did you learn today about writing?
 Take a minute to write the one most important thing
you learned today.
©2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.