Paired texts: “The Machine Stops” and technology, Frankenstein and the Human Genome Project, “The Masque of the Red Death” and Immunizations, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and mental health, The Bell Jar and “Mirror,” “Balloons,” “Metaphors”
Central Idea
The central idea (main idea) in a piece of writing is the point that the author wants you to remember most. Some writers may state the main idea, but it is often implied, which means the reader has to make inferences (what the text says + what I know) about it. It is important to identify the key points in the text before determining the central idea. Just like theme in fiction, the central idea is not a topic or phrase; it is a complete sentence. The central (main ) idea can be found in three places:
1. in the beginning of a text/paragraph
2. near the end of a text/paragraph
3. not stated, but implied through most of the sentences
Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehensionis the ability to read text, process it, and understand itsmeaning.
Character Analysis
Evaluating acharacter's traits, their role in the story, and the conflicts they experience. When analyzing, you think critically, ask questions, and draw conclusions about thecharacterby looking at those three areas.
Argumentative Essay Writing
The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position (claim) on the topic in a concise manner. The argumentative essay is different from the informational essay in that it contains a claim, counterarguments, and a final “call to action.”
Informational Essay Writing
The informational essay examines and conveys complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content." TheInformative/Explanatory genre covers a variety of text types, such as autobiography, biography, descriptive, essay, experiment, informationalreport, how to, and more.
Elaboration vs. Evidence
· Evidence is a type of literary device that appears in different categories of essays and theses in the form ofparaphraseand quotations. It can be presented to persuade readers and is used with powerful arguments in the texts or essays. It is factual information that helps the reader reach a conclusion and form an opinion about something. Evidence is given in research work or is quoted in essays andthesisstatements but is paraphrased by the writer. If it is given as it is, then it is quoted properly within quotation marks and includes in-text citation. Inrhetoric, when a person makes aclaimor presents anargument, he needs to present evidence in support of his claim and argument in order to establish the veracity and authenticity of his claim or argument. If there is no evidence, the claim stands quashed. The same is true with a case in law where a case or litigation is quashed, if there is no evidence to support the claim. However, literary evidence is only used in literature, essays and research papers forpersuasionand convincing purposes.
Elaboration means to tell the reader more using specific words, extensions (phrases, clauses), specific strategies, e.g., anecdotes or scenario, lists for specificity, examples, definitions, descriptions, quotations, statistics, and facts. When you write commentary about your evidence, you are elaborating. Bridge sentences are an elaboration of your topic in your introduction.
TECECC
An outline for body paragraphs in essay writing (Topic Sentence, Evidence, Commentary, Evidence, Commentary, Concluding Statement)
Point of View
The choice of the point of view from which to narrate a story greatly affects both the reader’s experience of the story and the type of information the author is able to impart. First person creates a greater intimacy between the reader and the story, while third person allows the author to add much more complexity to the plot and development of different characters that one character wouldn’t be able to perceive on his or her own.
Grammar
· Capitalization
· Punctuation
o End punctuation
o Commas, semicolons, colons
o Quotation marks
· Participles and participial phrases
· Adjectives
· Nouns, pronouns, and antecedents