Drafting Introductions & Profiles PDF

*Drafting Your Introduction: Tell Them What You're Going to Tell Them*​ - Five Introductory Moves​: Move 1: Identify your topic​ - Move 2: State your purpose​ - Move 3: State your main point, thesis statement or a question you will answer​ - Move 4: Offer background information on yo...

*Drafting Your Introduction: Tell Them What You're Going to Tell Them*​ - Five Introductory Moves​: Move 1: Identify your topic​ - Move 2: State your purpose​ - Move 3: State your main point, thesis statement or a question you will answer​ - Move 4: Offer background information on your topic​ - Move 5: Stress the importance of the topic to your readers​ Using a Grabber to Start your Introduction​ - Ask an interesting question​ - State a Startling Statistic​ - Begin with a Quotation​ - Use a Dialogue​ - Make a compelling statement​ Using Lead to Draw in the Readers​ - Scene Setter -- It describes the place in which something important or interesting happened​ - Anecdote -- It starts out the introduction with an interesting true story that happened to the author or someone else.​ - Case histories - It tells two to three short stories about different people who had similar problems or experiences.​ - Personal Sketch -- It begins with a description of the person and a small biography.​ Writing a Profile: Body​ - Generally, a body paragraph needs... - ​a topic sentence to state the main idea of the paragraph​ - supporting details or evidence to back up or explain the main idea​ - a concluding sentence to summarize the details, connect them, and bridge to the next paragraph​. - Describe your topic -- Use plenty of details to describe how your subject looks, moves, sounds. In some situations, you may use your full senses to describe your subject's environment.​ - Offer Background on the Topic -- You can tell your readers something about the time periods and places in which your subject lived or lives now. Explore the circumstances that led to key events you describe in your profile. ​ - **Use Anecdote to Tell Stories -- An anecdote is a small story that reveals something about a person or a place. Your anecdotes should also reflect the main point of your profile by revealing something important about your subject.**​ - **Reveal Important Information through Dialogues or Quotes -- Dialogue and quotes** are often the best way to reveal something important about the topic of your profile without coming out or stating something directly. ​ - Restate your thesis statement​ - Summarize the key supporting ideas​ - Offer a final impression on the central idea​ - A memoir is, quite literally, a memory -- a record written from personal knowledge or experience. It's a form that complies with that great piece of advice, "write about what you know!"​ - "Memoir is how writers look for the past and make sense of it. We figure out who we are, who we have become, and what it means to us and to the lives of others: a memoir puts the events of a life in perspective for the writer and for those who read it. It is a way to validate to others the events of our lives- our choices, perspectives, decisions, responses. ​ - Memoir recognizes and explores moments on the way to growing up and becoming oneself, the good moments and the bad ones. It distills the essence of the experience through what the writer includes and more importantly, through what a writer excludes. Memoir celebrates people and places no one else had ever heard of. And memoir allows us to discover and tell our own truths as writers." ​ ***So, how is it different from an autobiography?***​ Basic Organization for a Memoir​ - Introduction: Sets the Scene​ - Description of a Complication​ - Evaluation of a Complication​ - Resolution of the Complication​ - Conclusion: What the writer learned​ **Start Strong!**​ - Announcement​\ Open with an announcement about what is to come. However, do not insult the reader by saying something like, "I am going to tell you about \..."​ - Personal Experience​\ Open with something that has happened to you, or a personal experience. It could be a part of the story, or it could be not a part of what you are writing about but still relates to the topic.​ - Figurative Language​\ Begin with a simile, metaphor, or personification.​ - The Dramatic/Mysterious Lead​ Begin with an action/description that calls for an emotional appeal.​ - Opinion​\ Open with your opinion about the topic. (No need to say, "In my opinion" -- we know it's your opinion.)​ - Content *(lack of support, topic sentence)*​ - *Grammar (errors in sentence construction)*​ - Use of Punctuation Marks *(comma, semi-colon)*​ - Choice of Words *(formal vs. informal)*​ - Organization of ideas *(unity of ideas)*​ - Capitalization​ - Style of writing/tone *(type of writing)*​ - **What is writing?**​ The act or art of forming letters and characters on paper, wood, stone, or other material, for the purpose of recording the ideas which characters and words express, or of communicating them to others by visible signs.​ - Writing is a process where symbols must be arranged according to a certain convention to from words and words must be arranged to from sentences​ - It is the process of writing analytically --- the breaking down of ideas with the purpose of presenting information that depicts a clear understanding of a certain subject.​ - Academic writing is the process of presenting ideas in a rational, organized, systematic, reasonable, and logical way.​ - Developing your writing skills will not only help you to express yourself more effectively, but it will also help you achieve success in life. Being a strong writer will help you do well in school, college or university and it will serve you well in a wide range of occupations.​ - Appropriate content to the audience​ - Focus/unity​ - Organization​ - Development​ - Sentence structure​ - Diction/word usage​ - Mechanics​ - **Genre** is a term frequently used to define the elements that repeat themselves in similar kinds of movies, books, television shows, music, and more.​ - **Genres** are ways of writing and speaking that people interact, communicate and work together. ​ 1. **Genres are flexible.**​ 2. **Genres are adaptable to various situations.**​ 3. **Genres evolve to suit various fields.**​ 4. Genres shape situations and readers.​ 5. Genres can be played with. ​ - **Profile Essay**​- a type of descriptive writing that provides a detailed and in-depth look at a specific person, place, event, or thing, aiming to give the reader a comprehensive understanding of the subject through vivid details and insightful observations. - **Narrative**- a narrative essay is a broader category of writing that simply tells a story, usually focusing on a single event or experience from the author\'s perspective, with the goal of engaging the reader through vivid details and description - **Memoirs**​-A memoir is a type of personal narrative writing where an author reflects on a specific period or event from their life, often focusing on the deeper meaning and lessons learned,  - **Reviews**​-a critical analysis of a topic that synthesizes multiple sources, such as research papers or books - **Argumentative**​- a piece of writing where the author takes a clear stance on a debatable topic, supporting their position with evidence and logical reasoning to persuade the reader to agree with their viewpoint, often by presenting and addressing opposing arguments as well. - **Research**​-an essay with your own thesis, angle, ideas, and support, but with the added layer of valid researched support which adds to the evidence supporting your thesis. - **Proposals**​- a type of academic writing where the author identifies a problem, presents a solution or course of action to address it, and provides detailed arguments and evidence to convince the reader of its feasibility and effectiveness, essentially outlining a plan to implement the proposed solution.  - **Literary Analysis**​-a type of academic writing where a writer examines and interprets a literary work, like a novel, poem, or play, by closely analyzing its elements such as characters, plot, themes, language, and literary devices to uncover deeper meanings and complexities within the text.  - It involves a process of summarizing and evaluating a work or concept.​ **Reviews/Critiques are used to carefully analyze a variety of works such as:** - **Creative works** -- novels, exhibits, films, images, poetry, books​ - **Research** -- monographs, journal articles, systematic reviews, theories​ - **Media** -- news reports, feature articles​ - **Others** -- products, services, performances​ 1. Statistics/Research Findings​ 2. Authority's Opinions/Testimony​ 3. Facts/Examples​ - A profile essay is a type of descriptive writing.​ - It focuses on a person, place, or event​ - Goal: To paint a vivid picture using words​ - Combines factual information with personal observations​ - Typically includes quotes and anecdotes​ - Form of writing similar to the personal essay, but different because the experiences and particulars are not about the writer --but someone else.​ - Profile Writing (case study) is a way of documenting details of his/her experiences that would help dramatize/explore an issue and bring it to life. ​ - Profile Writing relies on interviews for information.​ - **A subject** ( person, organization, place or event) that allows you to explore an issue, idea, or theme that is interesting to you and your readers.​ - **An interesting angle** that captures a single dominant impression about the subject.​ - **A description** of the subject that allows readers to visualize and imagine it.​ - **Background information** that describes the setting or social context of the subject.​ - **Anecdotes** that reveal the character of the subject through actions and dialogues.​ - **A main point**, or central theme about the subject that goes beyond the surface and factual details to address larger questions.​ **Tips for a Successful Profile Writing**​ - Show, don\'t tell: Use specific examples and anecdotes​ - 2\. Capture the subject\'s voice: Include direct quotes​ - 3\. Be objective: Present a balanced view of your subject​ - 4\. Use vivid language: Engage the reader\'s senses​ - Focusing too much on yourself instead of the subject​ - Including irrelevant or excessive information​ - Relying solely on facts without personal observations​ - Using vague or generic descriptions​ - Neglecting to proofread for grammar and spelling errors​ - Select someone or something interesting and accessible​ - Options:​ - A classmate or family member​ - A local business owner​ - A school club or sports team​ - A community event or tradition​ - Consider what makes your subject unique or noteworthy​ - **Accessibility** (Can you interview them?)​ - **Uniqueness** (What makes them interesting?)​ - **Relevance** (Why would others want to read about them?)​ 1. **Interest:** Interesting themes/angles of stories from other people​ 2. **Unique Perspective:** Does the story offer a unique perspective or insight that could engage readers?​ 3. **Depth:** Is there enough depth or complexity in the story to explore further in an essay?​ 4. **Connection:** Do they feel a personal connection to the story, or the person involved?​ - Sensory imagery is a literary device writers employ to engage a reader's mind on multiple levels. Sensory imagery explores the five human senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.​ - Visual imagery (sight)​ - Auditory imagery (hearing)​ - Olfactory imagery (smell)​ - Gustatory imagery (taste)​ - Tactile imagery (touch)​ - A thesis statement is usually one sentence.​ - It is often placed in the introductory paragraph of an essay.​ - A thesis statement is a claim that could be argued.​ - The essay will contain evidence and opinions that support the argument.​ - **Informative Thesis**​: An informative thesis is appropriate when your purpose is to inform readers, not to persuade them. ​ - **Argumentative Thesis**​: An argumentative thesis states a claim that your readers can choose to agree or disagree. It has two features, an assertion and backing.​ - **Question or Open-Ended Question**​: Occasionally, you may want to hold off stating your main point, saving it for the end of the paper. ​ - **Implied Thesis Statement**: In some situations, you might choose now to state your thesis explicitly. Genres that used narrative pattern, such as memoirs and some profiles sometimes don't need an explicit thesis statement. ​ - A thesis statement should not be too broad.​ - A thesis statement should not be too wordy.​ - A thesis statement should not be too general.​ - A thesis statement should not be a title.​ - A thesis statement should not be a fact.​ - **Transitional Devices** - Transitional devices act as bridges between ideas in writing, aiding readers in following the writer\'s thought process. They enhance coherence by showing logical relationships between parts of an essay **Types of Transitional Devices** The course details several types of transitional devices, categorized based on their function: - **Time**: Words that indicate a sequence, e.g., \"first,\" \"next,\" \"finally\" 13. - **Similarity**: To show likeness, e.g., \"likewise,\" \"similarly\" 15. - **Difference**: To contrast ideas, e.g., \"however,\" \"although\" - **Consequence**: To indicate results, e.g., \"therefore,\" \"as a result\" 19. - **Emphasis**: To highlight importance, e.g., \"definitely,\" \"in fact\" 21. - **Summary/Conclusion**: To summarize or conclude, e.g., \"in conclusion,\" \"thus\"  - **Paragraph Transitions** - Transition words signal shifts between paragraphs, helping readers understand the flow of the essay. Examples include \"first,\" \"second,\" \"however,\" and \"finally\" 26. - **Practice and Application** - Students are tasked with revising paragraphs to include transitional devices and constructing a new paragraph using at least five sentences and various transitional phrases  - **What are transitional devices, and why are they important in writing?**\ *Transitional devices are words or phrases that connect ideas in writing, helping to guide the reader through the text. They are important because they enhance coherence and clarity, allowing the reader to follow the writer\'s train of thought more easily.* 9, 11. - **List and explain two types of transitional devices mentioned in the class.** - **Time Transitions**: Indicate the sequence of events, such as \"first,\" \"next,\" and \"finally,\" helping the reader understand the order in which ideas are presented 13. - **Contrast Transitions**: Used to show differences between ideas, such as \"however\" and \"on the other hand,\" which signal a shift in perspective or argument 17. - **What is the purpose of using transitional devices in paragraph writing?**\ *The purpose of using transitional devices is to create smooth connections between sentences and paragraphs, preventing abrupt jumps in ideas and ensuring a logical flow throughout the writing. This helps the reader to better comprehend the relationships between various points discussed in the text.* 10, 26. - **How can students practice using transitional devices?**\ *Students can practice by revising paragraphs that lack transitions, incorporating appropriate transitional phrases to improve coherence. Additionally, they can write new paragraphs that demonstrate the effective use of various transitional devices.* - Research is an organized inquiry carried out to provide information for solving problems.​ - **What is research?**​ - Research is the systematic process of collecting and analyzing information to increase our understanding of the world in general and of the phenomenon under study in particular.​ - **Comprehensive Summary** - **Why Conduct Research?** - Research is an integral activity pursued by various professionals---including students, professors, researchers, and practitioners---in different fields such as government, media, market research, healthcare, and law. The primary motivation behind conducting research is to make informed and less biased decisions, as opposed to relying on guesses, hunches, or personal experiences 1. - **Understanding Research** - Research is fundamentally concerned with two main aspects: - **WHAT**: This pertains to the facts and conclusions drawn from the research. - **HOW**: This refers to the scientific methods and critical components involved in the research process. - Research is characterized as an iterative process that aims to explain or solve an identified problem 2. - **Characteristics of Good Research** - Good research possesses several key characteristics that enhance its quality and reliability: - **Empirical**: It is based on direct observation and evidence collected by the researcher 4. - **Logical**: It employs valid procedures and principles, making it a robust tool for decision-making 4. - **Cyclical**: The research process begins with a problem and often leads to the identification of another problem 4. - **Analytical/Critical**: It involves critical analysis of data to avoid errors in interpretation 5. - **Replicability**: Research results gain validity when they can be replicated in different contexts 5. - **Systematic**: It follows a structured scientific method that includes sequential steps 5. - - **Study Questions and Answers** - **Questions** - **What are the primary motivations for conducting research?** - **What are the two main aspects that research concerns itself with?** - **List and explain the characteristics of good research.** - **How does empirical research contribute to the validity of research findings?** - **Why is replicability important in research?** - **Answers** - **The primary motivations for conducting research** are to be better informed and to make less biased decisions, contrasting with guesses and personal experiences 1. - **The two main aspects that research concerns itself with** are: - **WHAT**: The facts and conclusions derived from the research. - **HOW**: The scientific methods and critical components used in the research 2. - **The characteristics of good research include**: - **Empirical**: Based on direct observation. - **Logical**: Follows valid procedures for decision-making. - **Cyclical**: Starts with a problem and often leads to another. - **Analytical/Critical**: Involves critical analysis to avoid interpretation errors. - **Replicability**: Valid results can be replicated. - **Systematic**: Follows a structured scientific method 4, 5. - **Empirical research contributes to the validity of research findings** by ensuring that conclusions are based on observable evidence, which enhances the credibility of the results 4. - **Replicability is important in research** because it helps establish the validity of the findings. The more a study can be replicated with consistent results, the stronger the evidence for its conclusions - **Research Topic and Research Title** - **Page 1: Research Problem** - **Definition**: A research problem is an expression of concern about a condition needing improvement. - **Characteristics**: - Presents a challenging question found in scholarly literature. - Can be related to theory or existing practices requiring investigation. - **Importance**: Demands meaningful understanding and scientific inquiry to resolve. - **Page 2: Where are Research Problems Found?** - Research problems can be found throughout various domains in: - Scholarly literature - Theoretical discussions - Current practices across disciplines - **Page 3: Selecting the Research Topic** - **Definition**: A research topic is a general area of interest chosen for investigation. - **Purpose**: Serves as the foundation for further research inquiries and investigations. - **Page 4: Factors to Consider in Selecting a Topic** - **Interest**: Ensure personal interest in the topic to sustain motivation. - **Manageability**: Choose a topic that can be realistically researched within available time and resources. - **Available Resources**: Assess the availability of literature, data, and materials to support the research. - **Page 5: Research Agenda Areas** - **STEM**: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics - **ABM**: Accountancy, Business, and Management - **HUMSS**: Humanities and Social Sciences - **Key Issues**: - Local Food Security - Adaptation to Climate Change - Water, Sanitation and Health - Social Heritage and Entrepreneurship - Cultural Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - Governance, Leadership, and Citizenship - Biodiversity - Psychosocial and Educational Research - **Page 6: How to Write the Research Title** - Crafting a precise and meaningful title that reflects the study\'s focus is crucial. - **Page 7: Factors to Consider in Writing the Research Title** - **Avoid Overly General Titles**: Example: \"Exercise and Weight.\" - **Refrain from Abbreviations**: Use only well-known abbreviations. - **Page 8: More Factors to Consider in Research Title** - **Avoid Phrases Indicating Studying/Investigating**: - E.g. \"A Study of\...\" or \"An Investigation of\...\" - This leads to wordiness (Example: \"A Study on the Effects of Violent Video Programs on the Students' Academic Performance\"). - **Indicate Subject and Scope**: Clearly define dependent and independent variables. - **Page 9: Additional Title Writing Guidelines** - **Avoid Year Indication**: Unless necessary, such as in historical studies (E.g., "Examining the Study Habits of Grade 11 students during School Year 2023-2024"). - **Page 10: Title Formulation Techniques** - **Use Declarative Form**: Frame the title as a statement. - **Current Terminology**: Utilize accepted terminology relevant to the field of study. - **Page 11: Final Tips for Research Titles** - **Create Positive Impressions**: Use engaging words to stimulate interest. - **Correct Grammar and Capitalization**: - Capitalize first and last words, along with significant terms in between. - Ensure grammatical accuracy in title construction.