COMMUNICATION STUDIES ONE

1
COMMUNICATION STUDIESONE

• Lecturer Roxanne C. Bloomfield

2
Principles of Academic Writing

• The Process of Writing an Essay

3
Essay

• An essay is a group of paragraphs about one
  subject, that is supported with details, facts
  and examples.
• It contains an introduction, a body and a
  conclusion

4
Parts of an Essay Essay Outline

• The essay follows a basic structure or outline,
  which includes the following
• The Introductory Paragraph This paragraph opens
  the essay and tries to catch the reader's
  interest. It contains the thesis statement. A
  thesis statement is one sentence that states the
  main idea of the entire essay.

5
Parts of an EssayEssay Outline

• The Body This consists of three or more
  paragraphs, each one making a different point
  about the main idea. A topic sentence should be
  included in all paragraphs.
• The Conclusion This brings the essay to a close.
  It may be a sentence or a paragraph long.

6
The Process of Writing an EssayPart 1

• Choose a topic
• Select audience, purpose
• Narrow your topic
• Write a clear thesis statement
• Generate facts, details and examples to support
  your thesis statement

7
The Process of Writing an EssayPart 2

• Plan your essay outline, choosing 3-4 main ideas
  to support the thesis statement
• Write a topic statement that expresses each main
  idea/paragraph
• Decide on a logical order to present the
  paragraphs

8
The Process of Writing an EssayPart 3

• Plan the body of your paragraph
• Write the first draft of your essay
• Revise as necessary. Proofread for grammar and
  mechanics, punctuation, spelling and any other
  errors
• Present your final copy of the finished essay

9

• Let's Write

10
The Process of Writing an EssayPart 1

• Choose a topic This should be something that you
  are interested in writing about and can get
  information on.
• 1. Volunteerism
• 2. Mental Health
• 3. Addiction
• 4. Corruption
• 5. Stress

11

• Select Audience
• These are the persons whom your essay is intended
  for/ or whom you want to read it.
• Lecturer, classmates,
• Choose your purpose This is why you are writing
  the essay
• To inform
• To explain
• To give information about

12

• Narrow your topic This is focusing on one aspect
  of a topic that you are going to write about.
• Volunteerism
• The benefits of volunteering

13

• Write a clear thesis statement
• This states the main idea/point/angle that the
  rest of the essay will support and discuss. The
  thesis statement should be specific so it gives
  your readers a clear idea of what will follow.
• Person in giving of their time and talents to the
  local community, not only enrich the lives of
  others, but they receive many surprising benefits
  for themselves

14

• Generate facts, details and examples to support
  your thesis statement
• Bringing a sense of empowerment knowing we can
  make a difference
• Gain a deeper understanding of others
• Can be used to gain experience of a work
  environment
• Can gain useful contacts that may help them in
  their field of study
• Can become mentors for at risk persons

15
The Introductory Paragraph

• The Introductory Paragraph can begin in any one
  of the following ways
• Using statistics
• Using a rhetorical question
• Using a proverb
• Using an anecdote

16
The Introductory Paragraph

• Using an example
• Using an illustration
• Using a surprising fact or idea
• Using a contradiction
• Using a direct quotation

17
The Introductory Paragraph

• An old proverb says He who brings sunlight into
  the lives of others cannot keep it from himself
  and persons who volunteer their time often
  experience this wisdom firsthand. Persons in
  giving of their time and talents to the local
  community, not only enrich the lives of others,
  but they receive many surprising benefits for
  themselves.