foundations of writing, the university application essay
Page loading ... Please wait.![]() |
![]() |
|
| Home News | Nội qui F-net | About Us | F-neter List | Musix Box | Calendar | Online Library | Submit News | Bank | Shop | Auction | Top Ranking |
|
| |||
ARCADE GAME
|
|||
|
http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=100811555063 Hi vọng F-net sẽ quay trở lại trong một ngày gần đây. Trong thời gian tạm đóng cửa các thành viên sẽ đọc được bài viết trên F-net nhưng không thể post bài hoặc reply. Thay mặt F-net. Admin BQM,L.O.K và các thành viên BQT |
|||
foundations of writing, the university application essay
| dieulinh |
26/3/2005
Post
#1
|
|
|
Giàu có ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Member No.: 33 Group: Đại cổ đông Posts: 151 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 18294 Joined: 15-March 05 Training at : K41-A2 Giới tính: Nữ |
the university application essay
The application essay required by a college or university when u apply to enter is very much like an essay examination. U will be evaluated on many skills such as ur ability to think, plan, organize, and write ur ideas logically and clearly in Eng. there are two major differences between an application essay and an essay examination. one difference is that the application essay has no time limit . U can use all the time u have available until the date u must send it to the university. It is lika a take home test in which u can use all resources to write ur answer at home. Another difference is that the subject is personal. The topic is u and ur possible future relationship with that university. Since every uni or college application is a little different, this chapter is designed to give u some basic information. 1 The application essay question the application essay question is only one part of the entire appliation. Depending on the question, ur answer may be long essay from one to give pages. a letter, or individual paragraps. the audience will most likely be adult employees of the uni or college. the audience can be one person, a group of writing experts. or an application committee or board. there are several purposes for an application essay question to evaluate ur ability to write in eng
All essay questions should be written only by u. Some uni are very strict and do not want u to get any help at all with the writing process. in this case, the essy is a test in which u write just one fraft on the application itself. Other uni want u to give them ur final fraft after u have gone through the writing process. Even though u may write many drafts and consult with others for diraction, revision, and editing , the final result must represent ur own writing abilities. 2 Proving ur writing ability Here is a list of problems that are often seen on application essays and a list of what these mistakes often mean to the people who read them. problem student doesn:t follow the intructions, ---> student may not understand enough Eng to be admitted student joins sentences together in an unorganized way . Student doesn:t understand engl organizational patterns. answer is either too long or too short.-----> too short : the student is lazy or uninterested too long : the student is trying too hard to impress people or hasn:t learned to wirte concisely. student gets off the subj .----> student cant write in expository engl organizational patterns, student `s handwriting is illegible and the paper is messy---->. Student can`t type, doesn`t know what a paper should look like. or doesn`t care student writes without planning.----> Student is not serious about the application. student writes in a conversational style including slang words---->. Student doesn`t know the formal vocabulary and style used in academic writing. 3 Analysing ur character, individuality, and creativity depending on the application essay question, u probably will be asked to write about those areas in ur life that show ur unique positive characteristics in comparison tothe other students who will most likely apply to the same university. For many students. it is hard to identily their positive attributes and talents, and it is difficult for them to write about themselves. The example below shows how one student successfully found positive characterstics in her life. Can u identify all the positive parts of her life that she chose to write about in japan i worked at a hospital and studied nursing. I went on the train early in the morning and returned late at night everyday. Sometimes I was exhausted. Sometimes I wanted to quite. But I did`t . Eventhough I am an older student, I think I can work hard and not quit when I come to the US. ( Yukomatsuoka) 4 Comparing ur Goals to the uni goals often an application essay question will ask u to tell about ur professional goals and to explain why u think that uni is the right place for u to study. This i s really a comparison- and - contrast question. Before u can begin writing, u must identify ur own goal. Then u must find information about the uni in order to identigy the overall uni goals and the more specific goals of the department of ur major. U may find this information by studying the catalog, talking to a graduate or a current students, and talking with an advisor for the univ. After u have gathered this inforamtion, u can perpare to write by doing a comparison and contrast with a Venn diagram or an idea chart the more similar goals u have, the more compatible u ae with that uni 5 Showing Maturity in ur writing To prove ur maturity in ur application essay, u must show some characteristics of a mature writer. How will the application committee know that ur writing is mature ? some characteristics that the essay judges will be looking for are ur ability to think for urself anf ur ability to follow instructions. a/ Thinking for urself this means that u can express ur own ideas and opinions, It means that u have thought about a subect and hvae come to some conclusions of ur own. At the beginning of this unit u read an article about an ESL student name Mai who was haviing probles taking an essay exam. Here is an imprtan part of that article: Perhaps, like Mai, .. using both sources and ur own knowledge and experience, u come to ur own conclusions..She discovered that doing her own thinking broght her success and personal satisfaction in her academic work . ( association of American Publishers) Writing ur own thoughts as an independent person is an impotant part of the application essay. b/ Following instructions A mature person usually can follow instructions, so be sure u are exact in doing all the application essay question requires. If the essay question asks u to write a paragraph, don:t write an essay. Jf the question asks u to write an essay, don`t write a paragraph. Also, be sure to stay on the topic of the question. Some of the instructions may be very complex. Just like an essay examination, it is not unusual to find that the question has more than one part. Here is a two part question that is similar to the questions used by a leading uni. Examine this student`s answer. Did the stduent follow the instructions ? example question write a paragraph about one area in which u are outstanding and explain why this would make u an asset to this institution. example answer the most important personal attribute I can contribute to ur uni is the fact that I understand another culture and speak spanish quite well. As a child I lived and went to school in Guatemala, Chile, and Costa Rica for eights years. I became sensitive to the problems of international students and I learned about tother ways to view life. I hope my experiences will help the students I associate with. ( R.E.N. Spencer. United States) ( Carolyn M.Spencer. Beverly Arbon - foundations of writing . developing research and academic writing skills ) |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Kokoro |
26/3/2005
Post
#2
|
|
|
In the mood for love ^..^ ![]() Member No.: 10 Group: Chủ tịch Posts: 2503 Downloads: 54 Tiền mặt: 29419 Joined: 11-March 05 Giới tính: Nữ |
I think there are many poeple know these when they intend to study abroad. So it will be more understandable if you can post some exsamples for us to read. Everybody will know exactly what they must write in an application essay.
|
|
| Optimism |
27/3/2005
Post
#3
|
|
|
Thượng lưu ![]() Member No.: 16 Group: Chủ tịch Posts: 311 Downloads: 4 Tiền mặt: 8788 Joined: 12-March 05 Training at : K3x-N3 Giới tính: Nam |
QUOTE(kokoro @ Mar 26 2005, 11:06 PM) I think there are many poeple know these when they intend to study abroad. So it will be more understandable if you can post some exsamples for us to read. Everybody will know exactly what they must write in an application essay. `Many people know it `doesn`t mean that everybody have known it. Right,kokoro?? dieulinh ,you have made a good job. Those who start to learn how to write an essay would find a lot of good things after reading yours. I highly appreciate what you `ve done.Come on ,girl. This post has been edited by Optimism: 27/3/2005 |
|
| Kokoro |
27/3/2005
Post
#4
|
|
|
In the mood for love ^..^ ![]() Member No.: 10 Group: Chủ tịch Posts: 2503 Downloads: 54 Tiền mặt: 29419 Joined: 11-March 05 Giới tính: Nữ |
QUOTE(Optimism @ Mar 27 2005, 09:42 AM) `Many people know it `doesn`t mean that everybody have known it. Right,kokoro?? dieulinh ,you have made a good job. Those who start to learn how to write an essay would find a lot of good things after reading yours. I highly appreciate what you `ve done.Come on ,girl. Of course dieulinh have made a good job and I hope she will be continued. I typed "many people", it didn't mean everybody, but a lot. So these things are ver useful for someone who haven't known 'bout it yet. But if someone has known, he wouldn't found much. So if she can give more examples it will be better ! You're well-done dieulinh......Come on |
|
| Optimism |
27/3/2005
Post
#5
|
|
|
Thượng lưu ![]() Member No.: 16 Group: Chủ tịch Posts: 311 Downloads: 4 Tiền mặt: 8788 Joined: 12-March 05 Training at : K3x-N3 Giới tính: Nam |
QUOTE(kokoro @ Mar 27 2005, 01:26 PM) Of course dieulinh have made a good job and I hope she will be continued. I typed "many people", it didn't mean everybody, but a lot. So these things are ver useful for someone who haven't known 'bout it yet. But if someone has known, he wouldn't found much. So if she can give more examples it will be better ! You're well-done dieulinh......Come on Okay. your voice seems to be sweeter than it used to be. This post has been edited by Optimism: 27/3/2005 |
|
| dieulinh |
13/4/2005
Post
#6
|
|
|
Giàu có ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Member No.: 33 Group: Đại cổ đông Posts: 151 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 18294 Joined: 15-March 05 Training at : K41-A2 Giới tính: Nữ |
Writing Essay Exams
What is a well written answer to an essay question? It is... Well Focused Be sure to answer the question completely, that is, answer all parts of the question. Avoid "padding." A lot of rambling and ranting is a sure sign that the writer doesn't really know what the right answer is and hopes that somehow, something in that overgrown jungle of words was the correct answer. Well Organized Don't write in a haphazard "think-as-you-go" manner. Do some planning and be sure that what you write has a clearly marked introduction which both states the point(s) you are going to make and also, if possible, how you are going to proceed. In addition, the essay should have a clearly indicated conclusion which summarizes the material covered and emphasizes your thesis or main point. Well Supported Do not just assert something is true, prove it. What facts, figures, examples, tests, etc. prove your point? In many cases, the difference between an A and a B as a grade is due to the effective use of supporting evidence. Well Packaged People who do not use conventions of language are thought of by their readers as less competent and less educated. If you need help with these or other writing skills, come to the Writing Lab! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How do you write an effective essay exam? Read through all the questions carefully. Budget your time and decide which question(s) you will answer first. Underline the key word(s) which tell you what to do for each question. Choose an organizational pattern appropriate for each key word and plan your answers on scratch paper or in the margins. Write your answers as quickly and as legibly as you can; do not take the time to recopy. Begin each answer with one or two sentence thesis which summarizes your answer. If possible, phrase the statement so that it rephrases the question's essential terms into a statement (which therefore directly answers the essay question). Support your thesis with specific references to the material you have studied. Proofread your answer and correct errors in spelling and mechanics. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Specific organizational patterns and "key words" Most essay questions will have one or more "key words" that indicate which organizational pattern you should use in your answer. The six most common organizational patterns for essay exams are definition, analysis, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, process analysis, and thesis-support. Definition Typical questions "Define X." "What is an X?" "Choose N terms from the following list and define them." Example Q: "What is a fanzine?" A: A fanzine is a magazine written, mimeographed, and distributed by and for science fiction or comic strip enthusiasts. Avoid constructions such as "An encounter group is where ..." and "General semantics is when ... ." Process State the term to be defined. State the class of objects or concepts to which the term belongs. Differentiate the term from other members of the class by listing the term's distinguishing characteristics. Tools you can use Details which describe the term Examples and incidents Comparisons to familiar terms Negation to state what the term is not Classification (i.e., break it down into parts) Examination of origins or causes Examination of results, effects, or uses Analysis Typical questions Analysis involves breaking something down into its components and discovering the parts that make up the whole. "Analyze X." "What are the components of X?" "What are the five different kinds of X?" "Discuss the different types of X." Example: Q: "Discuss the different services a junior college offers a community." A: Thesis: A junior college offers the community at least three main types of educational services: vocational education for young people, continuing education for older people, and personal development for all individuals. Process Outline for supporting details and examples. For example, if you were answering the example question, an outline might include: Vocational education Continuing education Personal development Write the essay, describing each part or component and making transitions between each of your descriptions. Some useful transition words include: first, second, third, etc. next another in addition moreover Conclude the essay by emphasizing how each part you have described makes up the whole you have been asked to analyze. Cause and Effect Cause and effect involves tracing probable or known effects of a certain cause or examining one or more effects and discussing the reasonable or known cause(s). Typical questions: "What are the causes of X?" "What led to X?" "Why did X occur?" "Why does X happen?" "What would be the effects of X?" Example Q: "Define recession and discuss the probable effects a recession would have on today's society." A: Thesis: A recession, which is a nationwide lull in business activity, would be detrimental to society in the following ways: it would .......A......., it would .......B......., and it would .......C....... . The rest of the answer would explain, in some detail, the three effects: A, B, and C. Useful transition words: because consequently therefore for this reason as a result Comparison-Contrast Typical questions: "How does X differ from Y?" "Compare X and Y." "What are the advantages and disadvantages of X and Y?" Example: Q: "Which would you rather own--a compact car or a full-sized car?" A: Thesis: I would own a compact car rather than a full-sized car for the following reasons: .......A......., .......B......., .......C......., and .......D....... . Two patterns of development: Pattern 1 Full-sized car Advantages Disadvantages Compact car Advantages Disadvantages Pattern 2 Advantages Full-sized car Compact car Disadvantages Full-sized car Compact car Useful transition words on the other hand similarly yet unlike A, B ... in the same way but while both A and B are ..., only B .. nevertheless on the contrary though despite however conversely while A is ..., B is ... Process Typical questions "Describe how X is accomplished." "List the steps involved in X." "Explain what happened in X." "What is the procedure involved in X?" Process (sometimes called process analysis) This involves giving directions or telling the reader how to do something. It may involve discussing some complex procedure as a series of discrete steps. The organization is almost always chronological. Example Q: "According to Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute?, what is the best procedure for finding a job?" A: In What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles lists seven steps that all job-hunters should follow: .....A....., .....B....., .....C....., .....D....., .....E....., .....F....., and .....G..... . The remainder of the answer should discuss each of these seven steps in some detail. Useful transition words first, second, third, etc. next then following this finally after, afterwards, after this subsequently simultaneously, concurrently Thesis and Support Typical questions: "Discuss X." "A noted authority has said X. Do you agree or disagree?" "Defend or refute X." "Do you think that X is valid? Defend your position." Thesis and support involves stating a clearly worded opinion or interpretation and then defending it with all the data, examples, facts, and so on that you can draw from the material you have studied. Example: Q: "Despite criticism, television is useful because it aids in the socializing process of our children." A: Television hinders rather than helps in the socializing process of our children because .......A......., .......B......., and .......C....... . The rest of the answer is devoted to developing arguments A, B, and C. Useful transition words: therefore for this reason it follows that as a result because however consequently -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- exercises A. Which of the following two answers is the better one? Why? Question: Discuss the contribution of William Morris to book design, using as an example his edition of the works of Chaucer. a. William Morris's Chaucer was his masterpiece. It shows his interest in the Middle Ages. The type is based on medieval manuscript writing, and the decoration around the edges of the pages is like that used in medieval books. The large initial letters are typical of medieval design. Those letters were printed from woodcuts, which was the medieval way of printing. The illustrations were by Burn-Jones, one of the best artists in England at the time. Morris was able to get the most competent people to help him because he was so famous as a poet and a designer (the Morris chair) and wallpaper and other decorative items for the home. He designed the furnishings for his own home, which was widely admired among the sort of people he associated with. In this way he started the arts and crafts movement. b. Morris's contribution to book design was to approach the problem as an artist or fine craftsman, rather than a mere printer who reproduced texts. He wanted to raise the standards of printing, which had fallen to a low point, by showing that truly beautiful books could be produced. His Chaucer was designed as a unified work of art or high craft. Since Chaucer lived in the Middle Ages, Morris decided to design a new type based on medieval script and to imitate the format of a medieval manuscript. This involved elaborate letters and large initials at the beginnings of verses, as well as wide borders of intertwined vines with leaves, fruit, and flowers in strong colors. The effect was so unusual that the book caused great excitement and inspired other printers to design beautiful rather than purely utilitarian books. From James M. McCrimmon, Writing with a Purpose, 7th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1980), pp. 261-263. B. How would you plan the structure of the answers to these essay exam questions? 1. Was the X Act a continuation of earlier government policies or did it represent a departure from prior philosophies? 2. What seems to be the source of aggression in human beings? What can be done to lower the level of aggression in our society? 3. Choose one character from Novel X and, with specific references to the work, show how he or she functions as an "existential hero." 4. Define briefly the systems approach to business management. Illustrate how this differs from the traditional approach. 5. What is the cosmological argument? Does it prove that God exists? 6. Civil War historian Andy Bellum once wrote, "Blahblahblah blahed a blahblah, but of course if blahblah blahblahblahed the blah, then blahblahs are not blah but blahblah." To what extent and in what ways is the statement true? How is it false? |
|
| dieulinh |
13/4/2005
Post
#7
|
|
|
Giàu có ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Member No.: 33 Group: Đại cổ đông Posts: 151 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 18294 Joined: 15-March 05 Training at : K41-A2 Giới tính: Nữ |
Writing a Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a sentence (or sentences) that expresses the main ideas of your paper and answers the question or questions posed by your paper. It offers your readers a quick and easy to follow summary of what the paper will be discussing and what you as a writer are setting out to tell them. The kind of thesis that your paper will have will depend on the purpose of your writing. This handout will cover general thesis statement tips, explain some of the different types of thesis statements, and provide some links to other resources about writing thesis statements. General Thesis Statement Tips A thesis statement generally consists of two parts: your topic, and then the analysis, explanation(s), or assertion(s) that you're making about the topic. The kind of thesis statement you write will depend on what kind of paper you're writing. In some kinds of writing, such as narratives or descriptions, a thesis statement is less important, but you may still want to provide some kind of statement in your first paragraph that helps to guide your reader through your paper. A thesis statement is a very specific statement -- it should cover only what you want to discuss in your paper, and be supported with specific evidence. The scope of your paper will be determined by the length of your paper and any other requirements that might be in place. Generally, a thesis statement appears at the end of the first paragraph of an essay, so that readers will have a clear idea of what to expect as they read. You can think of your thesis as a map or a guide both for yourself and your audience, so it might be helpful to draw a chart or picture of your ideas and how they're connected to help you get started. As you write and revise your paper, it's okay to change your thesis statement -- sometimes you don't discover what you really want to say about a topic until you've started (or finished) writing! Just make sure that your "final" thesis statement accurately shows what will happen in your paper. Analytical Thesis Statements In an analytical paper, you are breaking down an issue or an idea into its component parts, evaluating the issue or idea, and presenting this breakdown and evaluation to your audience. An analytical thesis statement will explain: what you are analyzing the parts of your analysis the order in which you will be presenting your analysis Example: An analysis of barn owl flight behavior reveals two kinds of flight patterns: patterns related to hunting prey and patterns related to courtship. A reader who encountered that thesis in a paper would expect an explanation of the analysis of barn owl flight behavior, and then an explanation of the two kinds of flight patterns. Questions to ask yourself when writing an analytical thesis statement: What did I analyze? What did I discover in my analysis? How can I categorize my discoveries? In what order should I present my discoveries? Expository (Explanatory) Thesis Statements In an expository paper, you are explaining something to your audience. An expository thesis statement will tell your audience: what you are going to explain to them the categories you are using to organize your explanation the order in which you will be presenting your categories Example: The lifestyles of barn owls include hunting for insects and animals, building nests, and raising their young. A reader who encountered that thesis would expect the paper to explain how barn owls hunt for insects, build nests, and raise young. Questions to ask yourself when writing an expository thesis statement: What am I trying to explain? How can I categorize my explanation into different parts? In what order should I present the different parts of my explanation? Argumentative Thesis Statements In an argumentative paper, you are making a claim about a topic and justifying this claim with reasons and evidence. This claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. However, this claim must be a statement that people could possibly disagree with, because the goal of your paper is to convince your audience that your claim is true based on your presentation of your reasons and evidence. An argumentative thesis statement will tell your audience: your claim or assertion the reasons/evidence that support this claim the order in which you will be presenting your reasons and evidence Example: Barn owls' nests should not be eliminated from barns because barn owls help farmers by eliminating insect and rodent pests. A reader who encountered this thesis would expect to be presented with an argument and evidence that farmers should not get rid of barn owls when they find them nesting in their barns. Questions to ask yourself when writing an argumentative thesis statement: What is my claim or assertion? What are the reasons I have to support my claim or assertion? In what order should I present my reasons? Further Resources For more about writing an argumentative paper, you might want to visit our research paper workshop, which covers writing research papers from start to finish. Many writing centers and writing websites offer help with writing thesis statements. Here are some links to get you started. Academic Writing: Developing a Thesis Statement Thesis Writing The Thesis Statement How to Write a Thesis Statement LEO Thesis Statement This handout written by Erin Karper, August 2002 |
|
| dieulinh |
13/4/2005
Post
#8
|
|
|
Giàu có ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Member No.: 33 Group: Đại cổ đông Posts: 151 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 18294 Joined: 15-March 05 Training at : K41-A2 Giới tính: Nữ |
The thesis statement is that sentence or two in your text that contains the focus of your essay and tells your reader what the essay is going to be about. Although it is certainly possible to write a good essay without a thesis statement (many narrative essays, for example, contain only an implied thesis statement), the lack of a thesis statement may well be a symptom of an essay beset by a lack of focus. Many writers think of a thesis statement as an umbrella: everything that you carry along in your essay has to fit under this umbrella, and if you try to take on packages that don't fit, you will either have to get a bigger umbrella or something's going to get wet.
The thesis statement is also a good test for the scope of your intent. The principle to remember is that when you try to do too much, you end up doing less or nothing at all. Can we write a good paper about problems in higher education in the United States? At best, such a paper would be vague and scattered in its approach. Can we write a good paper about problems in higher education in Connecticut? Well, we're getting there, but that's still an awfully big topic, something we might be able to handle in a book or a Ph.D. dissertation, but certainly not in a paper meant for a Composition course. Can we write a paper about problems within the community college system in Connecticut. Now we're narrowing down to something useful, but once we start writing such a paper, we would find that we're leaving out so much information, so many ideas that even most casual brainstorming would produce, that we're not accomplishing much. What if we wrote about the problem of community colleges in Connecticut being so close together geographically that they tend to duplicate programs unnecessarily and impinge on each other's turf? Now we have a focus that we can probably write about in a few pages (although more, certainly, could be said) and it would have a good argumentative edge to it. To back up such a thesis statement would require a good deal of work, however, and we might be better off if we limited the discussion to an example of how two particular community colleges tend to work in conflict with each other. It's not a matter of being lazy; it's a matter of limiting our discussion to the work that can be accomplished within a certain number of pages. The thesis statement should remain flexible until the paper is actually finished. It ought to be one of the last things that we fuss with in the rewriting process. If we discover new information in the process of writing our paper that ought to be included in the thesis statement, then we'll have to rewrite our thesis statement. On the other hand, if we discover that our paper has done adequate work but the thesis statement appears to include things that we haven't actually addressed, then we need to limit that thesis statement. If the thesis statement is something that we needed prior approval for, changing it might require the permission of the instructor or thesis committee, but it is better to seek such permission than to write a paper that tries to do too much or that claims to do less than it actually accomplishes. The thesis statement usually appears near the beginning of a paper. It can be the first sentence of an essay, but that often feels like a simplistic, unexciting beginning. It more frequently appears at or near the end of the first paragraph or two. Here is the first paragraph of Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.'s essay The Crisis of American Masculinity. Notice how everything drives the reader toward the last sentence and how that last sentence clearly signals what the rest of this essay is going to do. What has happened to the American male? For a long time, he seemed utterly confident in his manhood, sure of his masculine role in society, easy and definite in his sense of sexual identity. The frontiersmen of James Fenimore Cooper, for example, never had any concern about masculinity; they were men, and it did not occur to them to think twice about it. Even well into the twentieth century, the heroes of Dreiser, of Fitzgerald, of Hemingway remain men. But one begins to detect a new theme emerging in some of these authors, especially in Hemingway: the theme of the male hero increasingly preoccupied with proving his virility to himself. And by mid-century, the male role had plainly lost its rugged clarity of outline. Today men are more and more conscious of maleness not as a fact but as a problem. The ways by which American men affirm their masculinity are uncertain and obscure. There are multiplying signs, indeed, that something has gone badly wrong with the American male's conception of himself. The first paragraph serves as kind of a funnel opening to the essay which draws and invites readers into the discussion, which is then focused by the thesis statement before the work of the essay actually begins. You will discover that some writers will delay the articulation of the paper's focus, its thesis, until the very end of the paper. That is possible if it is clear to thoughtful readers throughout the paper what the business of the essay truly is; frankly, it's probably not a good idea for beginning writers. Avoid announcing the thesis statement as if it were a thesis statement. In other words, avoid using phrases such as "The purpose of this paper is . . . . " or "In this paper, I will attempt to . . . ." Such phrases betray this paper to be the work of an amateur. If necessary, write the thesis statement that way the first time; it might help you determine, in fact, that this is your thesis statement. But when you rewrite your paper, eliminate the bald assertion that this is your thesis statement and write the statement itself without that annoying, unnecessary preface. Here are the first two paragraphs of George Orwell's classic essay, "Politics and the English Language" (1946). Which of these sentences would you say is or are the thesis statement of the essay which is to follow? Everything that follows in this essay, then, would have to be something that fits under the "umbrella" of that thesis statement. Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent, and our language—so the argument runs—must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes. Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration: so that the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writers. I will come back to this presently, and I hope that by that time the meaning of what I have said here will have become clearer. Meanwhile, here are five specimens of the English language as it is now habitually written. |
|
| accishapams |
23/11/2009
Post
#9
|
|
|
Nghèo rớt mùng tơi ![]() Member No.: 38201 Group: Cổ đông Posts: 4 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 29 Joined: 21-November 09 Training at : USA Giới tính: Không xác định |
Hello !.
might , probably very interested to know how one can collect a huge starting capital . There is no initial capital needed You may commense to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars. AimTrust is what you haven`t ever dreamt of such a chance to become rich The firm incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas. It is based in Panama with structures around the world. Do you want to become an affluent person? That`s your choice That`s what you desire! I feel good, I started to take up real money with the help of this company, and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a correct companion who uses your savings in a right way - that`s it!. I take now up to 2G every day, and my first deposit was 1 grand only! It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://bankinfodata.net and lucky you`re! Let`s take our chance together to feel the smell of real money |
|
| accishapams |
23/11/2009
Post
#10
|
|
|
Nghèo rớt mùng tơi ![]() Member No.: 38201 Group: Cổ đông Posts: 4 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 29 Joined: 21-November 09 Training at : USA Giới tính: Không xác định |
Hi !.
You re, I guess , perhaps curious to know how one can make real money . There is no need to invest much at first. You may start to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars. AimTrust is what you thought of all the time AimTrust represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas. It is based in Panama with offices everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus. Do you want to become an affluent person? That`s your choice That`s what you really need! I`m happy and lucky, I began to take up income with the help of this company, and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a correct companion who uses your savings in a right way - that`s AimTrust!. I earn US$2,000 per day, and my first deposit was 1 grand only! It`s easy to join , just click this link http://bankinfodata.net and go! Let`s take our chance together to get rid of nastiness of the life |
|
| dogdibNobre |
12/12/2009
Post
#11
|
|
|
Nghèo rớt mùng tơi ![]() Member No.: 38848 Group: Cổ đông Posts: 4 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 26 Joined: 6-December 09 Training at : USA Giới tính: Không xác định |
Hello !.
You re, I guess , perhaps very interested to know how one can collect a huge starting capital . There is no need to invest much at first. You may commense to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars. AimTrust is what you need The firm incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas. Its head office is in Panama with affiliates everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus. Do you want to become really rich in short time? That`s your choice That`s what you really need! I`m happy and lucky, I began to take up income with the help of this company, and I invite you to do the same. It`s all about how to select a correct partner utilizes your funds in a right way - that`s it!. I make 2G daily, and my first deposit was 1 grand only! It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://gebudacy.kogaryu.com/utexetit.html and go! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life |
|
| dogdibNobre |
12/12/2009
Post
#12
|
|
|
Nghèo rớt mùng tơi ![]() Member No.: 38848 Group: Cổ đông Posts: 4 Downloads: None Tiền mặt: 26 Joined: 6-December 09 Training at : USA Giới tính: Không xác định |
Hi !.
might , perhaps very interested to know how one can reach 2000 per day of income . There is no initial capital needed You may begin to receive yields with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars. AimTrust is what you need The company incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas. Its head office is in Panama with affiliates everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus. Do you want to become really rich in short time? That`s your chance That`s what you wish in the long run! I`m happy and lucky, I started to take up income with the help of this company, and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to select a correct companion who uses your money in a right way - that`s the AimTrust!. I make 2G daily, and what I started with was a funny sum of 500 bucks! It`s easy to join , just click this link http://uworejoxu.builtfree.org/wyfahok.html and go! Let`s take this option together to get rid of nastiness of the life |
|
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 14th March 2010 |
![]() |