English Composition

English Composition Study Guide

and become more specific are the support to back up the main ideas of each paragraph. Clustering is generally an effective method of prewriting for visual or spatial learners since it begins to make a visual diagram for the upcoming writing. Clustering also works well as a second prewrite because it can organize some of the ideas written down in a freewriting or brainstorming session. Outlining Outlining is the most structured form of prewriting. It involves the use of a number and letter system to create a detailed overview of a writing. A major concept or idea is labeled as 1 . Underneath that main idea the letters A, B, and C are used to label the supporting details that back up the main idea. This continues until there are two to five numbered main ideas, each with two or three lettered supporting details. When creating an outline it is easy to add in supporting evidence, including supporting quotations and text that will be paraphrased later in the writing. Outlines are often helpful in timed writing situations, as they create one of the most detailed structures for an essay. Regardless of the prewriting strategy used, the writer should have a clear guide for the upcoming writing. Body paragraphs, supporting details, and a thesis should be clear in any effective prewriting. Ultimately, the prewriting is the document the writer will refer back to continuously while creating the draft. 2.3 Thesis Statements A thesis statement gives the reader the topic and direction the essay will take. It is like a road map that allows readers to immediately know the author’s stance on the topic, with additional hints at what the supporting details will cover in the upcoming response. It is essential that the writer determine the thesis statement before beginning the writing. This will ensure that the writer addresses the topic in a clear and logical manner. It also helps dictate the format of the response. Generally, the order in which the details are provided in the thesis statement are the order of the body paragraphs. Each body paragraph, and the supporting details within them, should connect clearly back to the thesis statement. Writing a Thesis Statement The thesis statement should be at the start of the writing. In the introductory paragraph a hook or attention getter can be used to spark the interest of readers, however the key to the introductory paragraph is the thesis statement. The thesis statement is a single sentence, and is often times the last sentence of the introduction.

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