Essay Writing: Transitions Practice

Transition Words

In addition                          Similarly Furthermore                        Moreover In contrast                           Therefore For this reason                     However Thus                                     On the other hand                                        On the contrary                    As a result

Write each transitional word in the group it belongs to:

Addition (AND)             Contrast (BUT)       Cause and Effect (SO)

1. 2. 3. 4.

1. 2. 3. 4.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Fill in the blanks with a transitional words from the list above.

1. Using cell phones can be extremely helpful for young people. ________________, it can be harmful to their learning.
   
2. When I receive a text, it takes my attention away from my studies. ________________, I always turn the volume off when I’m studying for a test.
   
3. Nowadays, cell phones have so many useful apps, such as a dictionary and map. ___________, they provide internet access, which can be helpful when doing research.
   
4. Most teachers are opposed to using cell phones in class. _______________, they do allow laptops for taking notes.

Write a sentence that logically follows the transition.

5. I use my phone for everything. As a result, __________________________________________.
   
6. I use my phone for everything. However, ____________________________________________.

Rewrite the following sentence using Therefore. You may have to change the punctuation.

My friend really liked a rapper who was always drinking alcohol in his music videos, so she started drinking, too.

Fill in the blanks with a transition word that fits each context, keeping in mind punctuation rules. You may not change the punctuation in the paragraph. Do not use the same transition word twice.

The author states that multi-tasking can cause negative results. ______________, he points out how our brains can get confused and overwhelmed if we do too many things at once.
I agree that multi-tasking can sometimes be a bad idea. ____________, I don’t think that we should avoid it all the time. ______________, in certain situations it can even be helpful. For example, at my job at a restaurant, I am expected to multi-task all the time. I need to talk to customers, write down their orders, get their drinks, and bring them their food. ______________, my brain can feel a little tired and unfocused by the end of the day. ______________, I have never made a huge mistake because I was multi-tasking. _____________ doing two things at the same time can be mentally fatiguing, it doesn’t always bring negative results.

Free-write: e.e. cummings

Our free-write today comes from American modernist e.e. cummings's "A Poet's Advice to Students":

Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you believe or you know, you're a lot of other people : but the moment you feel, you're nobody-but-yourself. 

Do you agree with cummings that you can be taught to think, believe, or know, but not to feel? Reflect on this in a five-minute free write.  Remember, you must not stop writing during the five minutes.  If you can't think of what to write, write "I can't think of what to write."

Free-Write: Just a Minute (Flashback for RWA)

I’ve only just a minute,

Only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon me, can’t refuse it,

Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,

But it’s up to me to use it.

I must suffer if I lose it,

Give an account if I abuse it,

Just a tiny little minute,

But eternity is in it.

-Dr. Benjamin E. Mays

What does this poem make you think of?  Reflect on it in a five-minute free-write.  Remember you cannot stop writing during the five minutes.  Even if you can't think of anything to write, write "I can't think of anything to write."  You've only just five minutes.

Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement

BASIC RULE OF SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IS: “THE S RULE”:
If subject is singular, verb ends in S.
If subject is plural, verb does NOT end in S.
The employee think/thinks the manager is unreasonable.
The employees think/thinks the manager is unreasonable.
The man want/wants to go now.
The men want/wants to go now.
Note: Remember The S Rule with doesn’t and don’t (and isn’t and aren’t)
He doesn’t want to go (not: he don’t want to go!)

COMPOUND SUBJECTS

AND: the subject is plural.

Example: Anna and I walk the dog.

OR and NOR: singular or plural, depending on whether the subject closest to the
verb is singular or plural.

Examples: Anna or Shirley walks the dog.
The twins or Anna walks the dog.
Anna or the twins walk the dog

DON’T BE CONFUSED BY PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES!
Prepositional phrases are clauses in the sentence that start with a preposition (OF,
IN, ON, ABOVE, ETC.) and ends with a noun (or pronoun). They NEVER
contain the subject! DISREGARD them when deciding verb agreement!

Example: The vase of flowers is on the table.

Vase is the subject and it is singular!!! Ignore the words “of flowers”

AND DON’T BE CONFUSED BY “INTERRUPTERS” :
As well as
In addition to
Along with
Together with
Besides
NOTE: these words will be surrounded by commas.

Example: Evan, as well as his mom, is home.

RULE: IGNORE interrupters when deciding verb agreement; they are NOT part of the
subject.

Example: Bill, along with three other guys, lives in that apartment.
(Bill is the subject, and it is singular)

SPECIAL CASES:

(1) EACH, EITHER, NEITHER: always singular

Examples: Each of the children has a cupcake.
Neither room has been cleaned.
Either is fine.

(2) ALL, SOME, NONE, MOST, ANY: singular or plural depending on
what it refers to

Example 1: All of the snow is melted. All is singular here because
it refers to the snow
Example 2: All of the kids eat ice-cream. Now all is plural because
it refers to the kids.

NOTE: This is an exception to the rule that you ignore the
prepositional phrases! Here, you must look at the prepositional
phrase to know what the subject “ALL” refers to.

Practice:
Directions- Identify and correct the 10 Subject-Verb Agreement errors in the following paragraph.

In her article, ‘Lower the Drinking Age for Everyone,’ Michelle Minton argue that the US should allow 18 year olds to buy and consume alcohol. She point out the inconsistency that although 18 year olds are considered legally adults, when it comes to alcohol they doesn’t have the same rights as older people. Minton also claims that a high drinking age do not prevent alcohol-related problems. America have a worse rate of alcoholism in young people than Europe, even though nearly all European countries has a lower drinking age. She thinks this is because making alcohol illegal for college-aged people force them to drink on the sneak, which is more dangerous. To me, the most interesting idea presented in the article is that a high drinking age doesn’t simply do no good, it actually make things worse. I think this is true, because banning alcohol do not stop people from drinking. It only changes the way that they drinks.

Literature: Rebecca Brown's "Forgiveness"

Sometimes you need to cut off your own arm in order to come of age.  That's kind of what this story is about.

Rebecca Brown: Forgiveness

As you read, be sure to keep track of vocabulary with the Vocabulary Study Tracker

After reading and annotating, answer the following questions:

1. Choose three events in the story that you feel are most important.  Briefly summarize each event and explain why you feel it is most important.

2. How would you describe the relationship between "you" and "I" at the beginning of the story?  Use two quotation sandwiches.

3. The story starts off with a figurative expression "give my right arm for you" that becomes very literal.  Let's pay attention to figurative language.  In class, with "Handful of Dates" we talked about simile.  A simile is a figurative comparison using like or as.  Find four similes in the story and discuss what you feel the writer is trying to say with the simile.  What is the function of the use of figurative language in each instance.  Use one quotation sandwich for each simile.

4. How does "I" change from the beginning of the story to the end?  Do you think I has come of age?  Use two quotation sandwiches to answer this question.

Essay Writing: Total Recall

There's an interesting article in the Huffington Post:

A Judge Is about to Rule Whether Banning Mexican-American Studies Is Constitutional

Read this article from beginning to end.  The article bears some connections to the texts we read in L&T.  Think about Richard Wright, Malcolm X, and Julia Alvarez.  For our practice today, use one of those texts as a textual example and write a body paragraph in which you respond to something in the article using that textual example.

Reminder: When quoting from this article, be sure that your introduction to the quote answers "who said what when?" (Phase 2ers especially know what this means)

Essay Writing: Dangers of Reality TV

In Monday's post, you have an article on the dangers of reality TV.  What did you think?  Do you feel that reality TV is as harmful as the article says.  End your summary paragraph by writing your thesis and complete the essay with two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

Remember you have the handout on the CATW Structure in the Links section, but be sure to use your own transitions.

Free-write: Sa'di

Sa'di was a great Persian poet and philosopher who lived in Shiraz, Iran in the 13th century.  He wrote the Gulistan in which he recounts:

I never complained of the vicissitudes of fortune, nor suffered my face to be overcast at the revolution of the heavens, except once, when my feet were bare, and I had not the means of obtaining shoes. I came to the chief of Kfah in a state of much dejection, and saw there a man who had no feet. I returned thanks to God and acknowledged his mercies, and endured my want of shoes with patience...

This story speak to the number of old sayings to the effect that whenever you feel you have it bad, there's always someone who has it worse.  What do you think about this?  Reflect on it in a five-minute free-write.  Remember: don't stop writing for the duration of the five minutes.

Free-write: Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes wrote "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" in which he concludes:

We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.

What does it mean to build a temple for tomorrow "strong as we know how"?  What does it mean to be "free within ourselves"?  Reflect on that for five-minutes in a free-write.  Remember you must not stop writing for the five minutes.

Announcing New Links

Hey all,

If you've forgotten about things like quotation sandwiches and our CATW essay format, refer to the links on the side.  There are new links to your old class handouts.

Literature: Reginald McKnight "The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas"

This is a nice coming of age story that is actually part of the pool of CUNY Start curriculum stories, but one we did not do in class.  You get to enjoy it now.

Reginald McKnight- The Kind of Light That Shines on Texas

Remember to use as you read your Vocabulary Study Tracker

After reading and annotating twice, answer the following questions:

1.     Choose three events in the story that you consider to be important.  Briefly summarize each event (and provide the page number where it can be located) and then discuss why you have selected it.  In what way does the event reveal significant aspects of a character or characters.

2.     How would you describe Clint’s relationships with the two other African American children in his class?  What parts of the text support your ideas?  Use two quotation sandwiches.

3.     How would you describe Clint’s relationships with most of his white classmates?  What parts of the text support your ideas?  Use two quotation sandwiches.

4.     Why do you think Ah-So didn’t speak in class?  What parts of the text support your ideas.  Use two quotation sandwiches.

5.     How would you would describe Clint as a person?  What evidence from the story supports your use of these adjectivs.  Use at least two quotation sandwiches.

Essay Writing: Beyond "Says"

Sometimes articles are just plain informational, but sometimes the author has a strong opinion they're trying to advance.  When summarizing these articles, we want to move beyond writing "the article/the author says."  We should use opinion words: supports, advocates, endorses, criticizes, opposes, rejects, is a supporter of, is an opponent of.

Create a chart of verbs you can use when the article is for something, against something, or has no opinion.

The article ________________

FOR             AGAINST  NO OPINION

1. 2. 3. 4.

1. 2. 3. 4.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Read the following article and write a summary using opinion words.

The Dangers of Reality TV

Reality television reinforces several unsound messages that are molding the minds of its young fans. Among the dangerous messages that reality TV sends out are the importance of competition, the value of image over ability, and the obsolescence of education.
Reality television promotes the old belief that competition is the key to success in a capitalist economy. Whether it’s Survivor awarding winners a million dollars or Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire awarding a husband, reality tv shows reinforce the idea that life is nothing but a competition that we continually engage in with each other. In fact, big business abhors competition. There isn’t a business in America that doesn’t want to become a monopoly serving the needs of 100% of consumers. This is why almost every industry in the United States is shrinking due to mergers and acquisitions.

Reality television also sends the message that the key to success is image rather than ability. On many of these shows a contestant who is often considered the most qualified often loses out to another contestant who presents a hipper image. Whether it is a singer on American Idol who has a better voice but is less attractively “packaged” or someone on The Apprentice who is far more competent at what they do but lacks “personality,” the message is that image is more important than substance. Of course, in the world of television, the message is true. After all, who would tune-in week after week to watch a boring yet infinitely qualified-to-win contestant over a contestant who consistently entertains and surprises?

Probably the single most dangerous message these shows send is that education is completely unnecessary to fulfill the American dream. One need only possess the ability to humiliate oneself on national television, or have absolutely no shame whatsoever, and make more money than many college graduates. Why go to school and face the difficulties of learning something when you can just get on Fear Factor, eat bugs, and walk away with a bucket of money?

By categorizing these shows as “reality,” the makers are insidiously suggesting that they are replicating society. In fact, they aren’t replicating society as it is, but rather as those in power want people to believe it is. And if you have to ask why those in power wouldn’t want you to become educated…well…hey, I think Who Wants to Marry an Idol Survivor who Danced with a Skating Celebrity Named Gotti is on.

Adapted from article by Timothy Sexton. Originally posted on Buzzle.com.

Grammar: Sentence Completion

We remember what makes a complete sentence, right?

1. It begins with a capital letter.
2. It has a subject.
3. It has a verb.
4. It expresses a complete thought.
5. It ends with a period.

If you have more than one subject-verb pairing in the sentence, you have more than one sentence in the sentence.  That's generally fine so long as they are properly combined.

To combine two sentences, you need a comma (,) and a conjunction (and/but/or/yet/so/for/nor).

Two sentences also go into one if one of the two has a dependent word.  The dependent word makes the sentence NEED another sentence to complete it.  Some examples of dependent words are:

Dependent Words

after                         if                                  since                           where        although                  even if                         that                             whether          as long as                  even though               though                        as soon as      because                     in case                        unless                         while before                       just as                         until                            whenever once                       now that                     when                           wherever

So with this quick review, let's try some practice.

Identify is the sentence below is a complete sentence.  Write S if it is, RO if it is a run-on, and F if it is a fragment.  Bonus: Fix the run-ons and fragments.

_____ l. More powerful than a locomotive.

_____ 2. When it's your turn.

_____ 3. The firefighter yelled down the well.

_____ 4. That referee.

_____ 5. The spider fell down the back of his shirt, he screamed.

_____ 6. If you like blueberry pancakes.

_____ 7. Who is standing on the desk?

_____ 8. The man who is standing on the desk is a great teacher, all the students love him.

_____ 9. Under the boardwalk, down by the sea.

_____ 10. My big brother likes motorcycles, my little brother likes lollipops.

_____ 11. The man who came to dinner.

_____ 12. Whispered sweet nothings.

_____ 13. Mother's Day and Halloween.

_____ 14. You are my favorite person.

_____ 15. I don't know the smallest planet, I know the largest.

_____ 16. Sweet Georgia Brown.

_____ 17. The man down on his luck tripped over the pot of gold.

_____ 18. Bandits steal on land, pirates steal at sea.

_____ 19. Before you go.

_____ 20. Destroyed the kitchen.