Unit. 2 Before writing: 1. Types of Essays 1. Description: Painting a picture in words of a person, place, object, or scene. 2. Narration: Give an account of an event or a series of events. 3. Exposition: Explain or explore something, (e. g, process of make a machine, the causes of a natural or social phenomenon, the planning of a project, or a solution of a problem) * Description mainly deal with appearance and feelings, and narration with events and experiences, unlike the two, the exposition mainly deals with relationships as well as processes. Things can be explained by illustration, process, classification, and division, comparison, contrast, and analysis of their causes and effects or definition. That is to say, methods that are good for paragraph development are also good for expository essays. 3. Argumentation: unlike the purpose of exposition, which aims to inform, the purpose of argumentation is to convince. You should do your best to meet the following requirements: 1) A debatable point: Eg: Noise is the most harmful of all environmental pollution; Part-time study is helpful for young students; 2) Sufficient evidence: Common knowledge, specific example, facts (not opinions unless the opinions are expert and authoritative;) statistics, and quotations from authorities. 3) Logic ways of reasoning: (1) Inductive reasoning（归纳）From facts to a general conclusion. (2)Deductive reasoning（演绎）From general to specific German cars are well built. Volkswagens are German cars My Volkswagen is well built. II. Process of Writing 1. Generate ideas 2. outlining 3. draft 4. revise 5. edit III. Our teaching plan Generally follow the textbooks arrangement, but not exactly. (the syllabus to be finished) IV. Grading method Three best ones + final test V. Other activities 1. web-pubishing (above 90) 2. a collection of students articles 3. journal writing (two journal books) VI. Telling your stories A personal narrative Narrative writing is a story telling. A personal narrative is simply a story taken from your life. It is organized chronologically, and relies on narration, sometimes in combination with description and other kinds of writing. If it is a short one, you’d better choose one main point or incident, you should give enough specific details and facts so that readers can see and feel the experience rather than read about it. Before writing activity: Before writing activities 1. Asking questions: What is happening? When did it begin? What is causing it to happen? What dose it do? How is it being done? Where is it being done? Why is it happening? What dose it look like? Samples: When I was sixteen, I overheard a conversation between my mother and my father that changed my life. On this particular day, I had stayed home from school because of an attack of asthma that I frequently suffered. While resting in my bedroom, I could overhear my parents discussing my illness. ‘I wonder if asthma is inherited, my mother said.’ No one in my family or in yours has ever had it . Tom must have inherited it from his mother and father”. “from his mother and father!” I could not believe my ears. Weren’t those two people in the living room my father an mother? If they were not, then who were my parents? Suddenly, I realized what they had meant. I was adopted. That nigh I could hardly sleep, shaken by what I had overheard. The nest morning I confronted my parents with the words I had overheard and demanded to know the truth The looked nervously at each other, trying to find the words to answer me. Finally, my mother told me the story My real parents were unmarried, and I had been put up for adoption shortly after my birth. Their present whereabouts were unknown. My adoptive parents had been unable to have children of their own, and the adoption agency awarded me to them when I was two months old. For a few weeks I was confused in my feelings. I wondered what their occupations were, and even such little things as what they did for hobbies and entertainment. But little by little, my attitude and thoughts changed. I began to appreciate my parents in a new and powerful way. When I saw the ways in which they had to economize by skipping a vacation or driving an old car, I realized the sacrifices they had made for me. The shock is experienced that night when I heard that conversation was soon replaced by an increased love and admiration for two important people in my life: my mother and dad. Revision Checklist Worksheet: Revision checklist (from Robert) After you write your personal narrative, answer the following questions: 1: Did I select one main incident and stick to it? 2: Did I arrange the events chronologically, or in order of the happening? 3: Did I build up to a certain point or idea? 4: Did I give examples and details to support my point? 5: Did I check the dictionary when I wasn’t sure how to spell a word. Reader-Writer Response (From Reid) R: Answer the question. Be specific. Then complete the following statements: The best part of this article was__________. When I finished the essay I thought/felt_____________. One place I disagreed was where you said__________ One experience or idea I had that was similar to this was___________ When you said______, I thought about _________. One suggestion I want to make to improve the paper is __________. 2) Possible topics: 1. college life 2. Introduce yoursedl 3. A visit to… 4. an unforgettable experience