Communication Lesson Summary

Communication

• Effective communication involves the process of encoding, sender, decoding, and receiver.
• There are various types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual.

Essay Writing

• An informative essay informs the reader about a single topic or subject.
• It is fact-based and not based on opinion or argument.
• Types of informative essays:
  • Definition essay: explains a single term or concept.
  • Compare and contrast essay: focuses on similarities and differences between two things.
  • Analysis essay: uses data and numbers to explain a concept.
  • Process essay: explains how to do something.

Descriptive Essay

• A descriptive essay describes or tells about something that the writer has experienced.
• It uses illustrative language, such as imagery, figurative language, and precise language.
• Types of figurative language:
  • Similes: comparison using like or as.
  • Metaphors: comparison using is.
  • Personification: giving human qualities to something that is not human.
• A descriptive essay outline should include:
  • An attention getter/hook.
  • A thesis statement.
  • Topic sentences.
  • Transitions.
  • Closing sentences.
  • A rephrased thesis statement.

Good Writing

• A good writer has a great idea, does research, and thinks of an interesting angle.
• Characteristics of good writing:
  • Quality content.
  • Unity of content and form.
  • Consistent style and voice.
  • Informative and engaging.

Improving Essay Writing

• To improve essay writing, know your weaknesses and work on them.
• Focus on essay structure.
• Practice writing timed essays.
• Learn to evaluate your own writing.

Freelance Writing

• Freelance writing is writing for money on a contractual basis.
• Types of freelance writing:
  • Academic writing.
  • Business writing.
  • Ghostwriting.
  • Marketing and sales copy writing.
  • News writing.
  • Public relations writing.
  • Social commentary writing.
  • Website writing.

Responding to Prompts

• When responding to a prompt, look for key terms.
• Develop a one-sentence response to the prompt.
• Sketch out an outline of major points.
• Stay on track and avoid tangents.

Persuasive Appeals

• Persuasive appeals are used to support an argument.
• Types of persuasive appeals:
  • Logical appeals.
  • Ethical appeals.
  • Emotional appeals.

Prewriting

• Prewriting is a preliminary stage in the writing process.
• Techniques:
  • Brainstorming.
  • Mapping.
  • Freewriting.
  • Outlining.
• Prewriting helps writers prepare and organize their ideas.

Outlines

• Outlines are useful for organizing information and setting a direction for the essay.
• Types of outlines:
  • Full-sentence outlines.
  • Alphanumeric outlines.
  • Decimal outlines.

Sources

• A source is a piece of information used to support an argument.
• Types of sources:
  • Primary sources.
  • Secondary sources.
• Evaluating sources:
  • Determine the credibility of the source.
  • Evaluate the evidence presented.
  • Determine which source to use.

Essay Structure

• A five-paragraph essay consists of:
  • Introduction.
  • Three body paragraphs.
  • Conclusion.
• The conclusion should:
  • Restate the thesis statement.
  • Provide a sense of closure.
  • Be about 6 sentences long.

Writing Strategies

• Write the middle first: write the body paragraphs before the introduction and conclusion.
• Use evidence to support arguments.
• Anticipate and refute potential opposing views.
• Deal with disagreement.

Thesis Statements

• A thesis statement presents the main idea of a piece of writing.
• It typically occurs at the end of the introduction.
• Types of thesis statements:
  • Persuasive thesis.
  • Expository thesis.
  • Analysis thesis.
• Ineffective thesis statements:
  • Consist of a question.
  • Are too broad or too vague.
  • Contain too many unrelated ideas.### Writing Effective Body Paragraphs
• A unified body paragraph should have sentences that stick to the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.
• Coherent paragraphs feature clear, logical sentences that flow together well.
• Transitional sentences can be used to connect points, and points should be ordered in a logical way.
• Chronological order is useful when relating a story, and details should be included in the correct order.

Crafting a Strong Introduction and Conclusion

• A strong first impression and conclusion can be created by including a thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• Background information, forecasting of the paper's structure, or an anecdote can be presented in the introductory paragraph.
• The concluding paragraph can summarize main points, use the bookending technique, or clearly state a call to action.
• A powerful conclusion requires restating main points in a fresh way, adding important details, and using clever writing techniques.
• The conclusion should make a point in a bigger way.

Communication

• Effective communication involves the process of encoding, sender, decoding, and receiver.
• There are various types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual.

Essay Writing

• An informative essay informs the reader about a single topic or subject.
• It is fact-based and not based on opinion or argument.
• Types of informative essays:
  • Definition essay: explains a single term or concept.
  • Compare and contrast essay: focuses on similarities and differences between two things.
  • Analysis essay: uses data and numbers to explain a concept.
  • Process essay: explains how to do something.

Descriptive Essay

• A descriptive essay describes or tells about something that the writer has experienced.
• It uses illustrative language, such as imagery, figurative language, and precise language.
• Types of figurative language:
  • Similes: comparison using like or as.
  • Metaphors: comparison using is.
  • Personification: giving human qualities to something that is not human.
• A descriptive essay outline should include:
  • An attention getter/hook.
  • A thesis statement.
  • Topic sentences.
  • Transitions.
  • Closing sentences.
  • A rephrased thesis statement.

Good Writing

• A good writer has a great idea, does research, and thinks of an interesting angle.
• Characteristics of good writing:
  • Quality content.
  • Unity of content and form.
  • Consistent style and voice.
  • Informative and engaging.

Improving Essay Writing

• To improve essay writing, know your weaknesses and work on them.
• Focus on essay structure.
• Practice writing timed essays.
• Learn to evaluate your own writing.

Freelance Writing

• Freelance writing is writing for money on a contractual basis.
• Types of freelance writing:
  • Academic writing.
  • Business writing.
  • Ghostwriting.
  • Marketing and sales copy writing.
  • News writing.
  • Public relations writing.
  • Social commentary writing.
  • Website writing.

Responding to Prompts

• When responding to a prompt, look for key terms.
• Develop a one-sentence response to the prompt.
• Sketch out an outline of major points.
• Stay on track and avoid tangents.

Persuasive Appeals

• Persuasive appeals are used to support an argument.
• Types of persuasive appeals:
  • Logical appeals.
  • Ethical appeals.
  • Emotional appeals.

Prewriting

• Prewriting is a preliminary stage in the writing process.
• Techniques:
  • Brainstorming.
  • Mapping.
  • Freewriting.
  • Outlining.
• Prewriting helps writers prepare and organize their ideas.

Outlines

• Outlines are useful for organizing information and setting a direction for the essay.
• Types of outlines:
  • Full-sentence outlines.
  • Alphanumeric outlines.
  • Decimal outlines.

Sources

• A source is a piece of information used to support an argument.
• Types of sources:
  • Primary sources.
  • Secondary sources.
• Evaluating sources:
  • Determine the credibility of the source.
  • Evaluate the evidence presented.
  • Determine which source to use.

Essay Structure

• A five-paragraph essay consists of:
  • Introduction.
  • Three body paragraphs.
  • Conclusion.
• The conclusion should:
  • Restate the thesis statement.
  • Provide a sense of closure.
  • Be about 6 sentences long.

Writing Strategies

• Write the middle first: write the body paragraphs before the introduction and conclusion.
• Use evidence to support arguments.
• Anticipate and refute potential opposing views.
• Deal with disagreement.

Thesis Statements

• A thesis statement presents the main idea of a piece of writing.
• It typically occurs at the end of the introduction.
• Types of thesis statements:
  • Persuasive thesis.
  • Expository thesis.
  • Analysis thesis.
• Ineffective thesis statements:
  • Consist of a question.
  • Are too broad or too vague.
  • Contain too many unrelated ideas.### Writing Effective Body Paragraphs
• A unified body paragraph should have sentences that stick to the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.
• Coherent paragraphs feature clear, logical sentences that flow together well.
• Transitional sentences can be used to connect points, and points should be ordered in a logical way.
• Chronological order is useful when relating a story, and details should be included in the correct order.

Crafting a Strong Introduction and Conclusion

• A strong first impression and conclusion can be created by including a thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph.
• Background information, forecasting of the paper's structure, or an anecdote can be presented in the introductory paragraph.
• The concluding paragraph can summarize main points, use the bookending technique, or clearly state a call to action.
• A powerful conclusion requires restating main points in a fresh way, adding important details, and using clever writing techniques.
• The conclusion should make a point in a bigger way.