ADV 100Week 4

New Beginnings Chapter 5 Chapter 6

St. Martin’s Handbook Chapter 22 Chapter 32 - 35

Graded Essays from Last Week 5-step paragraph development:

development needed to go from average to above average

Weak thesis statements

Weak of missing topic sentences

Restating thesis in conclusion

Strong Thesis Statement1. Use this paper to reveal your personality by naming all

the positive and negative features you possess. Which of them would you like to get rid of and which of them would you like to promote and enhance?

Possible thesis: Even though my personality contains several positive features such as a good sense of humor and a caring nature, it also contains several negative traits such as being a procrastinator and being a bully; I would like to eliminate my procrastination and enhance my sense of caring.

Strong Thesis: 1. Jeremy wants to buy a vehicle. He is not sure whether

he wants to buy a car or a truck, a new or a used one. Explain in your essay how Jeremy should prepare to

make this decision.

2. Possible thesis: In order to make an informed decision about buying a new vehicle, Jeremy should conside his wants vs. his needs, his financial situation, and the history of the vehicle he is purchasing.

Wanted: A Strong Thesis!

1. Where do you see yourself, career-wise, 10 years from now? Use this opportunity to think and write in a concise manner to answer this question.

2. Possible thesis: In ten years, career-wise, I see myself working as a dental hygienist, going to school to learn office management skills, and pursuing a bachelor's degree in pre-dentistry.

Grading Scale 100-90= A Exceptional

89-80 = B Above Average

79-70 = C Average

69-60 = D Below Average

Below 60 Failing

Graded Essays, cont. Lack of parallelism: “I am strong, a great encourager, selfless, and

caring.

“being a procrastinator, finding it hard to say no, and at times I lack confidence”

“being able to stay on task with some things and other things putting them off until tomorrow”

“…someone may label you as a spoiled brat or not being a team-player.”

Comma Worksheets:

Turn in now: name

Get into peer revising groups

Look at returned essays: compare content and form problems, and successes

In writing groups:

Correct all cases of indefinite reference: IR

I like to help other people in different ways. It gives me the motivation to keep going forward.

“I believe in doing what’s right when it comes to any given situation.”

Ambiguous Reference

When a pronoun can refer to two different nouns

Bob and John went to the party. He didn’t have any money to bring a gift.

“If he purchases a car or truck from an individual, the price might be cheaper. Buying it from an individual does not guarantee it has not been wrecked.”

Note-taking, Studying, and Test-taking Skills

IDEAL NOTES

I=Individualized N=NumberedD=Detailed O=OrganizedE=Explainable T=ThoughtfulA=Abbreviated E=EditedL=Layered S=Selective

Study Skills Effective Study Habits1. Regularly set time aside for study and review2. Ask questions3. Take notes4. Complete homework assignments5. Get help if you don’t understand something6. Look up words you don’t know7. Find a quiet place to study

Strategies for Reading Questions to ask yourself:

How long does it take me to read a chapter? What information do I know about the subject? What is the size of the assignment? How difficult do I think this assignment will be? What is my aptitude for the subject? How motivated am I to get an “A”, “B” or just

pass the class?

Computer Basics

Have access to the minimum requirements of the program

Save, save, save your work Follow directions Don’t always rely on the computer

spell check/format Great resources – learn the ones you

need/want

Chapter 32 – 33: Verbs

A verb is a word used primarily to indicate a type of action or a general state of existence.

Every subject in a sentence must have a verb.

Chapter 34: Pronouns

A pronoun replaces a nour or pronoun.

He, she, it, they, who, whom, which, they, we, etc.

Chapter 35: Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjective Modifies a noun or a pronoun by

describing, identifying, or quantifying words.

Adverb Describes or modifies a verb, an

adjective, another adverb, clause, or sentence.

Adjective Examples:

The truck-shaped balloon floated over the trees.

A battered music box sat on the mahogany table.

The kitchen walls were covered with hideous wallpaper.

A well-read essay will usually receive a better grade.

Adverb Examples:

He quickly finished his work. Paul is a very good worker. (This is a

trick!) I should have studied; instead, I

went to the movies.

Transitions Connecting words

And Again But However Soon Finally

Handout

Thesis Statement

Purpose Help reader identify the main idea of the

paper Help writer develop and stay on track

Strong thesis vs. Weak thesis

“Now he has to decide whether he wants a car or a truck or if it should be new or used.”

“I will be sharing some of the positive and negative things about myself, and some of the things I want to change.”

“These are the steps to keep in mind when purchasing a vehicle: studying the finance options, determining needs versus wants, and researching vehicle history.”

“All of these things are part of my history.”

Thesis: strong or weak?

“Jeremy should put a lot of thought and research into these decisions when purchasing a vehicle.”

The best strategies for buying a new car include researching the vehicle thoroughly, comparative shopping, and finding a trustworthy dealership.

Buying a new car is hard. My best traits are my lack of jealousy, my

organizational skills, and my carefree nature.

Three Ways to Check for Sentence Completeness

1. Find the subject2. Find the verb3. Make sure the words form a complete

thought

Homework

Write a wonderful final essay! Study for final exam Do exercises listed on wiki: follow

directions