This week, we’re wrapping up with Opinion Paragraphs, and with the textbook.
Lesson 1
For Week 14, we’re going to do things a little differently. For today, the Textbook related work is what we discussed in class. Specifically, in today’s in-person lecture, we covered the following issues:
- Brainstorming for Opinion Paragraphs with the Pros/Cons Table
- The Counterargument and Refutation move
- Common Pitfalls when writing Opinion Paragraphs.
If you were in class, you can skip the textbook videos, but you should still do the textbook exercises (and check the handout) that accompany the videos.
Before ending the class, I’ll also answer any questions you have about the exam.
Lesson 2
In our small-group meeting this week, we’re going to review the Brainstorming via Pros and Cons technique, choosing a specific policy-related topic sentence and brainstorming for and against arguments.
Handouts
Textbook-Related Videos and Materials
This is the last bit of work you’ll be doing with the textbook. The videos below are optional, but you need to do the exercises even if you don’t watch the videos.
In Great Writing 2, please do the following:
- Read Fact and Opinion (pg. 143)
- Complete Activities 6–7 (pg. 143–144)
- Read Topic Sentences for Opinion Paragraphs (pg. 144)
- Complete Activities 8-9 (pg. 144–145)
- Read Developing Ideas for an Opinion Paragraph (pg. 149)
- Complete Activity 14 (pg. 149)
Below is the Mind Map example image from the lecture video above:
Optional Textbook Homework
If you would like to do the following work for more practice with the techniques and concepts covered in Unit 8, you’re free to do the following work in Great Writing 2, but it’s completely optional: you don’t have to do it unless you really want more practice:
- I’m not a big fan of memorizing suffixes: I think reading a lot has a similar effect on your vocabulary but works better. However, if you want, you can read Grammar: Common Suffixes (pg. 146) and try Activities 10–12 (pg. 146–148).
- If you just want some general practice in editing and writing, try Activities 19–22 (pg. 152–154).
- If you’re eager to practice writing Opinion Paragraphs, you might try some of the Additional Topics for Writing (pg. 155) although some of those are very American in their focus. Feel free to choose some more familiar topic that you care about personally.
Optional Paragraph Practice (With Advanced Brainstorming) for Week 14
For this week’s Practice Paragraph, you should practice the advanced brainstorming possible with the Pros & Cons Table and develop your own topic and controlling idea for today’s Paragraph Blog post. I’ll mention some problems, and you need to develop a suggested solution for the problem.
For your Practice Paragraph for Week 14, please write an Opinion Paragraph. I want you to write about English being a required topic of study at our university. For example, you could use one of the following topic sentences:
- To better fit the needs of students, our university’s English classes should focus on conversational skills instead of writing skills.
- In order to better accommodate all students, our university should allow students to study any foreign language available instead of just English.
- To solve the problem of unfair advantage in English classes, students should be sorted according to their English ability level.
- There are several reasons why, in order to modernize, our university should stop requiring students to study English in order to graduate.
Those are just a few examples of possible topic sentences. If you have a different idea, go with it. The only requirement is that the opinion related to English classes at our university. Argue an opinion that you really believe. (This will make the task of writing easier for you.) Also, use the Brainstorming Worksheet for Opinion Paragraphs document that I shared under Handouts, above.
Make sure you include a Counterargument and Refutation! Also, make sure to use the entire paragraph-writing process we’ve learned this semester. You should be practicing it, in order to prepare for the final exam.
Non-Textbook Videos and Materials
This week’s Non-Textbook Videos and Materials are option, but helpful if you want to write better Opinion Paragraphs. Feel free to skip them or check them out if you want help with the really high-level concerns that come into play for Opinion writing.