Now that you have picked your topic for the comparison/contrast essay and created a chart using ONE of the types of organization, you have what you need to write the body of the essay. However, you will also need a stunning introduction and a powerful conclusion! Transitions between points and paragraphs will also be useful.
Before you do any of that, you need to identify your audience. It is important to know for whom you are writing. Some things to consider when identifying your audience are age, experience, point of view (Do they agree or disagree with you?),
Once you know your audience, you are ready to create a powerful introduction You have worked on this in the past, but this time, in addition to capturing the attention of the readers, you need to introduce both topics. From the beginning, you need to clearly show that you prefer one topic over the other, or that you have equal feelings about both.
In the essay, you cannot change your mind. For example, in your introduction, you cannot say that you prefer trips to the ocean over camping in the mountains and then end your essay by stating that you would always select camping in the mountains over a trip to the ocean.
You will learn to use transitions throughout the essay. Then, you will write a powerful conclusion. The organization is easy. Just follow the organizational chart you created for homework last week. (Point by Point OR Item vs. Item)
Week #11 Assignment #1: Audience
A. Handout: Read this. It has excellent advice. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/audience/
Types of audiences: https://magoosh.com/pro-writing/know-your-audience/
In writing, answer these questions about your reading audience for the comparison/contrast essay. Post in CANVAS.
- Who is your audience?
- Might you have more than one audience? If so, how many audiences do you have? List them.
- Does your assignment itself give any clues about your audience?
- What does your audience need? What do they want? What do they value?
- What is most important to them?
- What are they least likely to care about?
- What kind of organization would best help your audience understand and appreciate your argument?
- What do you have to say (or what are you doing in your research) that might surprise your audience?
- What do you want your audience to think, learn, or assume about you? What impression do you want your writing or your research to convey?
B. https://literarydevices.net/audience/ Definition and writing samples (Read the samples. Warning, there are MANY advertisements on this site. Ignore them. Nothing is free!)
Read samples 1, 2, 3, and 4. Explain if you feel the writing is appropriate for the intended audience. Provide an example or two from the writing. (Two sentences for each sample.)
C. Short tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JgMNhsz7jc
Watch and think! Have you identified your audience? Explain. Use these questions to guide your response .
1. What does your audience need to know about your topic?
2. Is this a friendly audience? If so, they will agree with you and enjoy what you say.
3. If this is not a friendly audience, think about what the "foes" need to know in order to understand your point of view.
(30 points. The items in blue are the items to answer.)
Week #11 Assignment #2 The Introduction - tips
Review the information about effective introductions. After reading the information at each site, explain in a paragraph or two what tips you plan to use when writing your own introduction. (20 points)
https://writingcenter.ashford.edu/introductions-conclusions
https://writing.msu.edu/how-to-write-a-good-introduction/
Week #11 Assignment #3 Using Transitions
If you do not use transitions in your essay, you might as well hand the reader a bulleted list. Transitions will help your writing flow from idea to idea.
Read this first. It is an informative overview of why you need transitions and the types of transitions.
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/transitions/
Transition chart: https://owl.purdue.edu/engagement/ged_preparation/part_1_lessons_1_4/transitions.html
Additional information: https://www.gallaudet.edu/tutorial-and-instructional-programs/english-center/the-process-and-type-of-writing/guide-to-transition-words-and-sentence-samples
And on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3OZn29K93s
Finally, one more chart.
http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/transitions.htm
After visiting and studying these sites, explain what you learned about transitions and their use. You may write a paragraph or provide a bulleted list. (25 points)
Week #11 Assignment #3
Learn to write an effective conclusion by studying these links.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L7aeO9fBzE&t=52s
https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html
After viewing and reading, list three possible approaches you feel would be effective when writing the conclusion for your comparison/contrast essay. Explain why you think each might work to conclude your essay.
(15 points)
Week #11 Assignment #4 Comparison/Contrast Draft
Write the entire draft of your comparison/contrast essay. Use the topic you selected last week for the comparison/contrast chart.
Pay attention to the following:
1. The introduction. Capture the attention of the audience with a hook and clearly identify your two items of comparison. Keep the audience in mind.
2. Use one of the two organizational patterns that you practiced for the chart last week. Be faithful to the pattern. (The body of the essay is several paragraphs in length.) Use transitions to keep the writing flowing. If you borrowed information from anyone or anywhere, be sure to include in-text citations and provide a Works Cited page at the end.
3. Transition to a powerful conclusion.
Post the draft in CANVAS. Remember to write in Word and then post in Canvas. I need to be able to make comments on your draft. If you need a copy of Word, it is free. Just contact the technology department at EMCC. They will guide you through the process.
(50 points)
Happy Writing!
