Linden Mueller's List: Sites I've Used to Teach Writing

• ADD TO LINKS PAGE - Linden Mueller on 2008-02-20

• *Count and Non-Count Nouns - Understanding Nouns
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  What are countable nouns?
  
  Countable nouns are individual objects, people, places, etc. which can be

• A because clause needs to be set off by a comma only when it begins a sentence.

• The very use of "because" dictates that the following clause will be sub-ordinated in every case, and sub-ordinated clauses are not separated by commas.

• It might mean that he ran, but not because he was afraid. To prevent confusion, sometimes you need  the comma.

• In other words:
  
  "He didn't run because he was afraid, he ran because he was in a hurry." - Linden Mueller on 2008-04-26

• 3. Topic Sentences should be developed in a parallel fashion.

   

  Example:

   

  Topic Sentence #1: First, Gordimer uses her skills as a writer to attack  Apartheid’s racism within its legal system and within its press.

   

  Topic Sentence #2: Second, as a writer, Gordimer uses her trade to attack  Apartheid’s capitalistic exploitation of the working class in general and of the  black people specifically.

   

  Note: "Parallel" does not mean "identical"; it means that there  should be sufficient similarity in the structure and representation of ideas to inform the  reader where you are in your overall plan of development.

   

  4. Each Topic Sentence should be introduced by a transition.

   
  • Transitional adverbs (e.g., "First," "Then," "Finally")
   
  • Transitional adjectives (e.g., "One . . . ," "Another . . . ,"  "The last . . .")
   
  • Transitional dependent clauses (e.g., "Not only does Gordimer attack racism, . .  .")

• 3. Supporting Points should be developed in a parallel fashion.

   

  Example:

   

  Topic Sentence: First, Gordimer uses her skills as a writer to attack Apartheid’s  racism within its legal system and within its press.

   

  Supporting Point #1: She has been an outspoken advocate of those who have been  oppressed by the government’s white laws.

   

  Supporting Point #2: Furthermore, she has been a fierce opponent against the  suppression of information by the government’s white news.

   

  4. Transition words should mark the movement from one Supporting Point to another.

• "So What?"
• Show them how the points you made and the support and examples you used   were not random, but fit together.
• Give your reader something to think about, perhaps a way to use your   paper in the "real" world.
• demonstrating how your ideas work together
• If you   begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof   that your essay was helpful in creating a new understanding.
• By issuing a challenge to your   readers, you are helping them to redirect the information in the paper, and   they may apply it to their own lives.
• Looking to the future can emphasize   the importance of your paper or redirect the readers' thought process. It   may help them apply the new information to their lives or see things more   globally.

5 more annotations...

• If a fine introduction gives the reader a good initial impression,   a strong conclusion will leave the reader with a lasting memory.
• to provide   the reader with a sense of completeness or finality, to emphasise   key material, and to direct the reader’s attention to future   action or study.