Homework for December 6

Below is your homework for our next class on Tuesday:

Look at the sample introductions on pages 71 and 72 in your textbooks.  

For each of the introductory paragraphs, do the following:

A.    Type the five thesis statements on the lines below.

B.    Identify the probable number of body paragraphs.

C.    Identify the subject and the narrowed topic.

D.   Write a possible title(s).

Example

The first meeting with a new person, especially in business, can be very important. When are you in another country, do you know how to greet someone? How important is eye contact, looking into the other person’s eyes while you speak? How important is personal distance, the space between you and the other person? Here are some tips on polite behavior in four countries.

Thesis Statement: Here are some tips on polite behavior in four countries.

Probable number of paragraphs: 4

General subject: Behavior

Narrowed down topic: Behavior in different countries / cultures

Possible title: Polite Behavior in Four Countries

Note on a topic

Understanding the Topic

The topic is the subject of a text. The topic is always a word or a phrase. You do not state it as a complete sentence.

When you identify the topic:

1.    Choose a word or a phrase that best describes the subject of the whole text.*

2.    Do not chose a topic that is too general.

3.    Do not choose a topic that is too specific. 

* You do not have whole texts, only introductory paragraphs. However, I'd like you to try to guess/ predict  a probable topic of the essays just by reading the introductions. 

The worksheet for this task can be downloaded from the ADDITIONAL MATERIALS page of 

this blog.