Portfolio Entry # 8 - A well-written Paragraph.

Parts of a Paragraph 

In his video, "Parts of a Paragraph - English Academic Writing Introduction", Mr. Alex makes clear the steps to writing a well-structured paragraph in English. The most importan items discussed are:

• The specific structure of paragraph expected at University-level.
• The formula of a well-written topic sentence.
• The content of the body part.
• The functions of the closing sentence.

Resource:

• English Lesson with Alex, (2009, April 19). Parts of a Paragraph - English Academic Writing Introduction. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCuExRE6N-4

Examples of Paragraphs and Topic Sentences

1.  The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and-tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes. (from Debra Blank, "The Eternal Quest" [edited]).                                                                                                                                         Topic Sentence: There are two broad theories concerning what triggers a human's inevitable decline to death.
2. The strictest military discipline imaginable is still looser than that prevailing in the average assembly-line. The soldier, at worst, is still able to exercise the highest conceivable functions of freedom -- that is, he or she is permitted to steal and to kill. No discipline prevailing in peace gives him or her anything remotely resembling this. The soldier is, in war, in the position of a free adult; in peace he or she is almost always in the position of a child. In war all things are excused by success, even violations of discipline. In peace, speaking generally, success is inconceivable except as a function of discipline. (from H.L. Mencken, "Reflections on War" [edited]).                                                                                                         Topic Sentece: We commonly look on the discipline of war as vastly more rigid than any discipline necessary in time of peace, but this is an error.
3.  In Montreal, a flashing red traffic light instructs drivers to careen even more wildly through intersections heavily populated with pedestrians and oncoming vehicles. In startling contrast, an amber light in Calgary warns drivers to scream to a halt on the off chance that there might be a pedestrian within 500 meters who might consider crossing at some unspecified time within the current day. In my home town in New Brunswick, finally, traffic lights (along with painted lines and posted speed limits) do not apply to tractors, all terrain vehicles, or pickup trucks, which together account for most vehicles on the road. In fact, were any observant Canadian dropped from an alien space vessel at an unspecified intersection anywhere in this vast land, he or she could almost certainly orient him-or-herself according to the surrounding traffic patterns.                                                                                                                                      Topic Sentence: Although the interpretation of traffic signals may seem highly standardized, close observation reveals regional variations across this country, distinguishing the East Coast from Central Canada and the West as surely as dominant dialects or political inclinations. 

 

Portfolio Entry # 7 - GENRE: Exploring Ideas in Literature

GENRES: Exploring Ideas in Literature

• Summary

     Genre is a French term that means “kind” or “type”. In literature, it refers to any work that helps to express ideas and shares certain characteristics. There are different genres to embody content. The two major categories are fiction and nonfiction; however, various types of media can be considered genres nowadays. For instance, short stories, novels, comedies are models of fiction genre. Autobiographies, essays, news articles, speeches illustrates nonfiction genre. TV shows, advertising and web sites are types of media.

     Fiction such as short stories, novels and novellas have a plot, a setting and characters; many have a major theme. The novel is the longest genre of narrative prose fiction in modern literature. Otherwise, the novella is prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and longer than a short story.

     Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language. Poems are written in stanzas, which are groups of lines within a poem that are similar in rhyme, rhythm or style. Some poems use rhyming words to create a certain effect. However, not all poems are rhyming. Poetry that does not rhyme is called “free verse poetry”. Sometimes poets use repetition of sounds or patterns to create a musical effect, which an be described as the beat of the poem. Poetry uses imagery in order to create mental pictures through language.

     Drama is a piece of writing that tells a story and is performed on a stage. A particular feature of drama is that it is written as a dialogue between the characters. The author also describes the setting, the characters´ movements and other notes that reflects the playwright´s point of view.

     Contradistinctively, in nonfiction and informational texts events actually happened, and the characters are real people. Nonfiction is usually written with specific text features and structures, for instance: subheadings, bullets, fonts, whit space, pictures, labels, etc. Text cues or signal words help readers decode how ideas are organized. Some nonfiction works are autobiographies, biographies, essays, speeches, news, feature articles, and functional documents.

     Undoubtedly, mass media influence people´s believes and opinions, so it is important to become media literate. This is the ability to analyze, evaluate and create messages in a wide variety of media modes, genres and formats, for instance feature films, news media, TV shows, advertising and web sites. All of them have their own characteristics and hey all have a target audience, in order words, a particular group of consumer to which a message is addressed.


Bibliography:

• Allen, J. et al (2011). "Genres: Exploring Ideas in Literature". In  Literature. U.S.: McDougall Littell

Writing as a Social Act

Writing as a Social Act: Graphic Model

Source: Webpage: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/page.cfm?pageid=14&guideid=3. 12/05/2016

Portfolio Entry # 6 - What is academic writing?

• The Use of Graphic Organizers to Enhance Thinking Skills in the Learning of Economics 

• What Is "Academic" Writing? by L. Lennie Irvin. 

“What Is ¢Academic¢ Writing” by L. Lennie Irvin explores the situation and nature of the writing task in college. Firstly, the author identifies some misconceptions and myths about this subject. For instance, having a good grammar is enough to write a good essay. Secondly, Irvin examines de complexities that are involved in the writing situation and the importance of developing the “writer´s sense”. When performing a writing task you must take into consideration the audience, the context, the message, the purpose and the genres, its codes and conventions. In particular, it is important to interpret what is an argumentative or an analytical essay. Thirdly, the author outlines three common types of academic writing tasks and offers advice on how to fulfil them. Finally, Irvin describes the characteristics of the critical essay and concludes affirming that successful writing is based on a well understanding of the assignment and the approach to this kind of task.

Portfolio Entry # 5 - Communication & Miscommunication

• How miscommunication happens? 

• Summary

“Human communication is incredibly complex”, affirms Katherine Hampsten in this short TED-Ed video. Besides, it seems as if misunderstandings are an inherent thus unavoidable part of this human activity. Two main theories have tried to explain what happens during the communication process: The Transmission Model and The Transactional Model. The former has not succeeded in giving an effective explanation of the communication´s complexity. The latter has taken into account different aspects of the same issue, for instance the intention and the interpretation of the message. Knowledge, past experience, age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and family background are variables on which is based the personal perception. Moreover, there are other stimuli such as emotions that can lead to miscommunication. At this point, the author gives some techniques in order to avoid misunderstanding. First, recognize the verbal and non-verbal feedback as both speaker and listener. Second, fully involved in the communication process. Third, pay attention to what the other person expresses and think carefully the reply. Fourth, be aware of your personal perceptual filters, such as culture, community, family and experience. Thereby, you can upgrade your understanding and improve the communication with others.

• Think Section