Andrea:)

Name:
Location: Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Exercises 3. FURTHER PRACTICE ON THE ESSAY

Answers:
1) a- Opening with a quote (the exact words)
b- Opening with an interesting or emotional story.
c- Opening with a question.
d- Opening with a startling fact.
e- Opening with a striking image (description)

2) a-All men are not created equal
b- In this time of increased terrorism and nuclear proliferation, we need a strong military that represents the entire nation and all its citizens, a military that can be ready for action at a moment’s notice.
c- Lastly, as medical science and technology are always advancing, there is always the possibility that what is incurable today could be curable or manageable in the near future.
d- Therefore, marijuana should be legalized.
e- On the other hand, however, branding sexual offenders for life might actually do more harm than good.

3) a- To improve voter turnout
Voting to elect public officials is one of the most invaluable rights of a citizen in a democratic society. Through voting, people realize the basic principles of democracy and establish a government of the people, by the people and for the people. In countries where voting is compulsory, voter turnout is between 70% and 90%. In contrast, voter turnout in the U.S. is only 50%. That is because, unlike in other western democracies, registering to vote is not easy in the U.S. to make matters worse, elections are held on a Tuesday, which is a workday for most Americans. In addition to the cumbersome registration process and the fact that Election Day is a workday, the two-party system offers a limited choice to voters. Unless the known causes of low voter turnout are dealt with, citizen of the U.S. will not be truly represented by their elected leaders.
b-Against Euthanasia
Nowadays, there is a heated debate going in regarding euthanasia (assisted suicide). Supporters of euthanasia say that it is inhumane to keep alive terminally ill people who are experiencing immense suffering. However, pain and suffering are just as much a part of life as good health and happiness. Life is precious, and no one has the right to take his own life. Moreover, because the interest of the patient may be in conflict with those of the family or medical community, there is technology are always advancing, there is always the possibility that what is incurable today could be curable or manageable in the near future. For these reasons, euthanasia should remain illegal.

4) a- The thesis contradicts the introductory paragraph
b-The thesis is unclear
c- The thesis is a fact
d- The thesis unrelated to the introductory paragraph
e- The thesis is too general

5) Cases of juveniles offenders should be handled by the juvenile justice system. The responsibility of protecting and rehabilitating juveniles lies within this system’s jurisdiction. To achieve this, it offers save and appropriate alternatives to adult prisons. These alternatives may include: suspended judgments, probation, placement in a community treatment program or in a state agency responsible for juvenile institutional care. In addition, courts have ruled that, unlike adults, juveniles committed to rehabilitative institutions have a right to treatment such as therapy and educational or vocational programs. These treatment plans give juveniles a chance for emotional growth and education. Once juvenile offenders are properly educated and emotionally stable, they can become productive members of society. Therefore, only the juvenile justice system is the appropriated place to handle teenagers who committed crimes.

6) a- Required military service would create a military made up of members from all walks of life.
b- Participation in educational programs helps prisoners appreciate and adopt social norms and values that are agreeable to society.
c- Considering race in college admissions promotes diversity on college campuses.
d- However, executions cost taxpayers a lot more than life imprisonment.

7) a- Should Election Day be a national holiday?
Elections in the U.S. take place on a Tuesday. This is the day when citizens elect a president who will hold the highest public office, as well as a number of senators, house representatives and other officials. Yet, this important day of exercising a vital democratic right falls on a workday, and as a result, there are many Americans who are unable to leave work to cast their ballot. In contrast, many others democracies that encourage people to vote by designating a national holiday for elections or by holding elections on weekends have a very high voter turnout. To increase voter turnout, the U.S. government should do the same as its western counterparts and give people a holiday on which the can cast their votes at leisure.
b- Harassment of sex offenders
One negative effect of the community notification law is that sex offender whose residence in a community is well known may be subject to harassment or physical harm by the public. One such incident is the case of Joseph Gallardo, a released child molester. Gallardo had his house torched by vigilante-minded citizens who felt it was their duty to tell the ex-convict he was not wanted. However, though such vigilantism is just as illegal as the crimes for which Gallardo was convicted, the case was not investigated thoroughly and no suspects were arrested. One possible reason for this negligence is that law enforcement officials are not very sympathetic to a sex offender’s claim of harassment or violence. With this adverse treatment by authorities and community, an offender who has done his time in prison may never be able to readjust to a normal life.

8) a- As this study clearly shows, sentencing teenagers as adults helps discourage other teenagers from committing crimes.
b- Because gun-access preventions laws are constitutionals and practical, they make and effective means of gun control.
c- There is no denying that caring for terminally ill loved one takes a serious physical and emotional toll on family members.
d- In short, prison education programs are beneficial to society because they turn prisoners into productive, dependable and upstanding citizens.

9) a- In fact, but, yet, similarly, in addition, therefore.
b- As a result, since, consequently, but, in order to, as long as.
c- Also, however, in fact, consequently, when, but.

10) a- The concluding paragraph does not match the outline.
b- The concluding paragraph matches the outline.
c- The concluding paragraph does not match the outline.
d- The concluding paragraph does not match the outline.
e- The concluding paragraph matches the outline.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Exercises 2. The Thesis Statement

Answers:
1- Thesis "b" is the best working thesis. It identifies specific causes of anorexia nervosa and indicates the grouping and order in which the causes will be discussed in the research paper.

2- Thesis "c" is the best thesis.Thesis "c" provides more focus than thesis "b" by identifying the particular areas of business practice to be researched.

3- Thesis "b" is the best thesis. Thesis "b" focuses its thought on two types of dilemma raised by the appearance of Hamlet's father's ghost. You could use evidence from the play as well as evidence from critics' interpretations of the play in order to support this stance.

4- Thesis sentences "a," "b," and "c" are all potentially usable as working theses for a research paper. Thesis "b" is an example of a working thesis for an
ANALYTICAL research paper while thesis "c" is an example of a working thesis for an ARGUMENTATIVE research paper. Both "b" and "c" are researchable and, once you started to research, you'd probably find ways of defining the phrase "substantially helped." Yet the best thesis is thesis "a," since it already does specify the ways in which the whole language approach has helped elementary school children to read. Thesis "a" functions better as a working thesis, since it focuses the search in what might be a very broad field of benefits.

5- Thesis "a" is the best thesis since it is the most focused and specific. Thesis "a" focuses the argument on the hospital as an oligopoly (a certain type of economic structure). It also implies that the writer will explain how changed policy has influenced hospital economics.

6- UNIT 7 - Thesis Statements
Exercise 1: For each of the following, decide whether it is a general topic (GT), narrowed topic (NT), argumentative thesis statement (ATS), or report thesis statement (RTS). Start by deciding if the sentence is a grammatically complete (that is, whether it has a full verb and is an independent clause). If it is a complete sentence, then it will be either a report thesis statement or an argumentative thesis statement. If it is not a complete sentence, then it states either a general topic or a narrowed topic.
1. Small business enterprises in China's northern regions.
NT
2. Cotton is a subtropical plant that has many uses.
RTS
3. Although many medical students study in foreign countries, it is better to do medical training in one's own country.
ATS
4. Despite the fact that most people believe that the Knights Templars Order disappeared after its trial, there is some evidence that the Order was maintained and became the current Masonic Order.
ATS
5. Use of an EKG recorded during twenty-four hours in the diagnosis, evaluation, and rehabilitation of patients with arrhythmias.
NT
6. Languages of the world.
GT
7. Because Italy is in danger of losing an important part of its cultural tradition -- opera, the Italian government should step in and try to make it more accessible to the public and encourage new talent.
ATS
8. The piano as a keyboard instrument.
GT
9. Keyboard instruments are of many types.
RTS
10. Schools need to train students to play keyboard instruments because it builds hand-eye coordination, as well as developing a love for music.
ATS

Exercise 2
1. Which of the following is a general topic?
- The internet in Japan
2. Which of the following is a narrowed topic?
- Soaking one's body in a hot tub as a way of improving health and composure
3. Which of the following is an argumentative thesis statement?
- Artificial Intelligence researchers should not try to make computers think like people but should instead try to develop computers that will have special applications only
4. Which of the following is a report thesis statement?
- The market for vending machines is so competitive that we can see a variety of them everywhere
5. Which of the following is a general topic?
- Issues in city planning.
6. Which of the following is a narrowed topic?
- The cost of maintaining the United Nations buildings in New York.
7. Which of the following is an argumentative thesis statement?
- Soy beans should be cultivated more widely.
8. Which of the following is a report thesis statement?
- Three ways of controlling the spread of disease are to be described.

Friday, November 10, 2006

Class 2. Theory about The Thesis Statement

Thesis Statement:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/

Friday, November 03, 2006

Exercises 1. What do you know about the essay?

Answers:
1) A thesis statement gives an outline of what will be discussed in the essay.
2) It commonly gives background information and the thesis statement, although it can contain other ideas an opinion.
3) It's usually the last sentence of the introduction.
4) A sentence which gives an outline of the contents of a paragraph.
5) Normally at the beginning of a paragraph (but sometimes at the end).
6) It gives details on one of the arguments in a paragraph.
7) Development by using an example.
8) A summary of the main arguments, often with an opinion or recommendation.

Class 1. Theory about The Essay

Essay Structure and Development:

HAPPINESS/LOVE ESSAY

HAPPINESS / LOVE

"A lot of people lose nice small moments, waiting the big happiness"
Through the years, human being has been looking for the way to be happy and in many times they don't realize that is not far of them, instead of this they continued time to time ignoring what they really need for getting it.
The main reason that do the human look for the constantly felicity is because it has a good effect in them. they feel that they are so important, that need a feeling as emotional as spiritual and physically.
The way to get happiness is accepting them the way they are, with defects and virtues, just for the fact of exist in this world thy must be happy, because it’s a unique gift and wonderful called LIFE, they also, must fight to get their goals.
When a strong idea comes to their minds, produces in them a big influence, almost unconscious. It won’t be suffice, repeating themselves mechanically: “I’m happy”, “I have the power”, “I’m patient”, and so on, instead of try living if they have that happiness and love. All suggestion must be produced in a soft and persuasive way.