Lecture 1 Exposition 英語專業(yè)寫作 教學(xué)課件.ppt

1、English Writing (2),Lecture One: Exposition (1),Outline,exemplification process analysis cause-effect analysis comparison and contrast classification definition and analogy,2. Patterns of exposition,1. What is exposition?,Exposition is explanatory writing. Its purpose is to explain or clarify a poin

2、t. Exposition means explaining and making clear. When you describe the process of making something of the procedure in doing something, explain the cause of some natural or social phenomenon, reasons of doing something, or the solution to a problem, you employ the approach of exposition. An introduc

3、tion to a place, an advertisement about the qualities of some new product, directions, or a notice may all belong to this type of writing. In fact, exposition is mostly utilitarian description. In all these cases you just give a down-to-earth explanation or description. Scientists, professionals, or

4、 engineers often use this type of writing in their work.,2. Patterns of exposition There are seven patterns of exposition, which are listed as follows: exemplification, process analysis, cause-effect analysis, comparison and contrast, classification, definition and analogy.,1. Exemplification,What i

5、s exemplification? Exemplification is a method of supporting a thesis statement with a series of specific examples or with a single extended example. It is one of the most common and most useful means of developing a paragraph or an essay. In our daily conversations, we often provide examples detail

6、s, particulars, and specific instances to explain statements that we make. Here are several statements and supporting examples.,Example 1: The first day of school was frustrating. My sociology course was canceled. Then, I couldnt find the biology lab. And the lines at the book store were so long tha

7、t I went home without buying my textbooks. Example 2: that washing machine is unreliable. The water temperature cant be predicted; it stops in midcycle; and it sometimes shreds my clothing. Example 3: My grandfather is a thrifty person. He washes and reuses aluminum foil. He wraps gifts in newspaper

8、. And hes worn the same Sunday suit for twenty years. In each case, the examples help us see for ourselves the truth of the statement that has been made. In essays, too, examples help your audience fully understand your point. Lively, specific examples also add interest to your paper.,What kind of e

9、xamples to choose Choose relevant examples: examples that clearly demonstrate the point or idea you want to illustrate. Choose striking examples: examples that will capture your readers attention and make a vivid impression. Choose a variety of useful examples: examples that reveal different aspects

10、 of your topic or that contribute new information. Choose representative examples: typical cases, not rare or unusual ones, to illustrate your point. Choose accurate examples: examples neither exaggerated nor understated to represent the situation realistically.,Compare the two paragraphs that attem

11、pt to make the same point and explain why one is better than the other.,A. In the summer vacation everything bores my friend Xiao Lin. Nothing seems to interest or excite him. He begins the day convinced that it will be dull and that nothing interesting will happen. This attitude, of course, require

12、s no energy from him. He can just give in to it and let it overcome him. Sometimes, I wonder what would happen if an earthquake hit. Would that raise Xiao Lins blood pressure?,B. In the summer vacation everything bores my friend Xiao Lin. Nothing seems to interest or excite him. For instance, last w

13、eek a group of us decided to go on a three-day trip to the beach. The more we planned our trip, the more thrilled we became. But when we asked Xiao Lin to join us, he just shrugged his shoulder and said, “That sounds pretty pointless to me.” On another occasion, I wanted Xiao Lin to help me choose a

14、 new MP3 player at a store near his home, for he is something of an expert in things like that. He agreed, but before we could fix a date, he changed his mind, saying he didnt feel like going to the store because of an unhappy experience there. On still another occasion, when I was utterly fascinate

15、d after watching a terrific kongfu film, Lin looked at me with scorn and commented, “That sort of movie is trash.” Sometimes, I wonder what would happen if an earthquake hit. Would that raise Xiao Lins blood pressure or would he just yawn and say, “So what?”,Analysis: In the first paragraph, instead

16、 of providing specific details to support the thesis statement “In the summer vacation everything bores my friend Xiao Lin”, the writer mainly repeats the idea put across in the thesis statement. But in the second paragraph, the writer uses three examples to prove his point and these examples are st

17、riking and representative.,How to organize an exemplification essay,Pattern A: Generalization (thesis) Specifics (supporting examples) Introduction - Thesis statement Example 1 Body - Example 2 or One extended example Example 3 Conclusion - Restatement of thesis,Pattern B: Specifics (examples) Gener

18、alization (thesis) Introduction - Example 1 Example 2 Body - Example 3 Example 4 Conclusion - Restatement of thesis,How to write a good exemplification essay,In order to write a good exemplification essay, you should (1) begin with a clear introduction. Your introduction should arouse the readers in

19、terest and include necessary background information on the topic, (2) provide sufficient examples and use vivid language so that your readers feel as if they are experiencing or observing the situation themselves,(3) connect the topic sentence and your example(s) with a linking sentence, (4) use tra

20、nsitions to lead your readers from one example to another and (5) conclude your essay with a final statement that pulls your ideas together and reminds the readers of your thesis.,2. Process Analysis,What is process analysis? A process analysis is a step-by-step explanation of how to do something, o

21、r how something works/is done or made, or how something happened.,Every day we perform many activities that are processes, that is, series of steps carried out in a definite order. Many of those processes are familiar and automatic: for example, loading film into a camera, diapering a baby, or makin

22、g an omelet. We are thus seldom aware of the sequence of steps making up each activity. In other cases for example, when someone asks us for directions to a particular place, or when we try to read and follow directions for a new table game that someone has given us we may be painfully conscious of

23、the whole series of steps involved in the process.,What is process analysis used for? To give directions to people who want or need to perform the process. (giving instructions) To give information to those who want to understand the process but may not actually perform it. (giving information) To e

24、xplain how something happened. (giving the history),Major types of process analysis Directive process analysis which is aimed at explaining how to do or make something Informative process analysis which is aimed at explaining how something is done/works or how something took place.,Ex. Point out wha

25、t kind of process analysis each of the following topics requires.,(1) How to apply for a student loan (2) How to open a bank account (3) How the computer was invented (4) How the News Center of the Students Union works (5) How you succeed in solving a problem (6) How your university recruits student

26、s (,(Directive),(Directive),(Informative),(Informative),(Informative),(Informative),(7) How the mobile phone works (8) Tips on the prevention of A (H1N1) influenza on campus (9) The steps involved in making Chinese dumplings (10) What to do when you find your room broken into (11) What led up to the

27、 American War of Independence (12) What you should do if you are trapped in a snowstorm,(Informative),(Directive),(Directive),(Directive),(Directive),(Informative),How to write a good process paper To write a good process paper, you should follow these steps: (1) clearly state your purpose and, if n

28、ecessary, provide necessary background information in the introduction of your paper; (2) arrange the steps in logical order;,(3) make sure not to leave out any critical steps; (4) use transitional words or phrases to help your readers follow the process; (5) conclude the analysis by briefly reviewi

29、ng the major steps in the process, or by reinforcing the thesis, or by summarizing the results of the process or by explaining its significance.,How to organize a process paper General pattern: Introduction - Thesis statement Step 1 Body - Step 2 Step 3 Conclusion - Restatement of thesis,Sample essa

30、y 1: A Plain Omelette for One Person,Break two eggs into a basin. Beat them a little till the whites and yolks have mixed properly. Add a little salt and pepper and a tablespoonful of water and mix these in. Melt a little fresh butter in an omelette pan, remembering that too much butter will make th

31、e omelette greasy. When the butter is hot, pour in the eggs, stir twice in the center and cook the eggs over a low heat. Loosen the edges with a knife to allow the uncooked part to run underneath. When the under surface is firm, double the omelette over with a knife so that it is crescent-shaped and

32、 allow any loose egg to cook. Lift it out on to a hot dish covered with paper with the side that was nearest the pan on top. Serve it at once. A well-cooked omelette should have a firm surface but a creamy inside.,Qs: 1. What type of process analysis is it, informative or directive? 2. Is it a good

33、process analysis? Why?,Sample essay 2: I have several suggestions to offer to help you buy fine clothes at reasonable prices. First, go to more than one shop and compare the quality and prices of what you intend to buy. Second, if you are sure you really like an item and want to get it very much, ba

34、rgain with the shopkeeper, trying to make him/her reduce the price to a third of what they ask for. Pretend to leave if you cant reach an agreement. Often you will be called back and they will sell it to you at the price you want. Third, if you shop in department stores, youd better wait until the i

35、tems are on sale. Good-quality clothes of famous brands are often available at a greatly reduced price then.,Qs: 1. Is it a good process analysis? Why? 2. What are the strengths and weaknesses of it?,3. Cause-effect Analysis,What is cause and effect? Another common method of organizing an expository

36、 essay is by cause and effect. In a cause-effect essay, you discuss the reasons or causes for something, and/or its results. When we ask why certain things happen, we are seeking causes; when we ask what will happen as a result of certain causes, we are trying to understand the effects.,The answers

37、to the following questions show the distinction between cause and effect: Why didnt I do well in the exam? (cause) Why do I need a laptop for my study? (cause) Why did I choose English as my major? (cause) What may happen when someone is depressed? (effect) What may happen when someone is under too

38、much pressure? (effect),What is cause and effect used for? To explain why certain things happen. To analyze what will happen as a result. To organize and present ideas in a sound and logical way.,Ex. Identify causes and effects. Bill had never felt so unhappy in his life. Being a new student in a st

39、range country was no fun at all. He missed his old friends, he found the new work too hard and he could barely speak the language. The only thing that he liked at school was the big swimming pool and the swimming classes. He had been a champion swimmer in his own country and he could always forget h

40、is problems when he was in the water. And in the water no one laughed at him.,Qs: 1. Does the paragraph focus on cause or effect? 2. Why was Bill unhappy? Check the causes. _ He was in a strange country. _ He could barely speak the language. _ He was a champion swimmer. _ He found the work too hard.

41、 _ He could forget his problems in the water. 3. Why did Bill like swimming?,Barbara couldnt believe her eyes. She had never won anything in all her fifty-seven years. She looked again at the telegram. It really said that she was the first prize winner of the magazine contest she had entered. This e

42、ntitled her to many prizes, biggest of which were $100,000, a trip to Hawaii, and her own vacation home in the mountain. In only a few days the good things began to arrive but so did something else.,Just as Barbara received the news, it seemed that relatives, newspapers, and also strangers learned a

43、bout her good fortune. The first glamour of the awards and the newspaper publicity quickly wore off. The phone began to ring constantly. People Barbara had long forgotten suddenly remembered her. Sick relatives appeared on her doorstep. Barbara began to fear being robbed. At last she decided she wou

44、ld have to move where no one would know her. Today when anyone mentions entering contests, she merely smiles and says nothing.,Qs: 1. How did Barbara win so much money? 2. What were the effects of Barbaras winning the contest? She ended up happy and contented. She was bothered by relatives and newsp

45、apers. She had to move from her old home. She didnt want to enter any more contests.,How to organize a cause-effect essay Pattern A: Focusing on causes Introduction - Background information about the event of phenomenon Thesis statement (suggesting an effect) Cause 1 Body - Effect Cause 2 Cause 3 Co

46、nclusion - Restatement of thesis / Final statement,Pattern B: Focusing on effects Introduction - Background information about the event of phenomenon Thesis statement (suggesting a cause) Cause 1 Body - Cause 2 Cause Cause 3 Conclusion - Restatement of thesis / Final statement,How to write a good ca

47、use-effect essay If you want to write a good cause-effect essay, you should (1) be thorough in your analysis and cover all the main causes/effects; (2) make sure that the cause-effect connection is logical, and (3) support the cause-effect analysis with solid evidence, avoiding one-sidedness in reas

48、oning.,4. Comparison/Contrast,What is comparison/contrast? Comparison/Contrast is a method of developing a paragraph or an essay. Comparison shows similarity while contrast shows difference. The word comparison is sometimes used to mean both comparison and contrast.,What is comparison/contrast used

49、for? To clarify something unknown or not well understood. To lead a new way of viewing something familiar. To bring one or both of the subjects into sharper focus. To show that one subject is better than the other.,How to organize a comparison/contrast essay There are three comparison/contrast patte

50、rns: (1) subject by subject you treat all of subject A and then all of subject B, emphasizing the subject as a whole; Point 1 Point 1 subject A Point 2 subject B Point 2 Point 3 Point 3,Both Professor Yang and professor Wu are my favorite teachers, yet they teach with very different styles. Professo

51、r Yang, a 30-year-old female, likes to get her students involved in class discussion. Thus, her class is usually lively and stimulating. She also likes to use TV, CD, and other modern technology to assist classroom instruction. Since she doesnt give any homework, your grade in her class depends main

52、ly on two or three big exams. And make no mistake about it. She is a tough grader! Professor Wu, on the other hand, is almost the opposite of Professor Yang. A 50-year-old male, Professor Wu tends to lecture all the way through a class, but his solid knowledge, clear organization, and occasional hum

53、or keep you from dozing off. He also likes to write the key points of his lecture on the board to facilitate students note-taking. While he gives lots of homework and administers frequent small exams, he can be really generous in grading. The two professors have one thing in common, though: they bot

54、h are excellent teachers. Thats perhaps why despite the differences in their teaching style, I enjoy their classes very much and never get bored.,Professor Yang and Professor Wu,Subjects Points of Comparison and Contrast Professor Yang classroom instruction homework exam grading Professor Wu classro

55、om instruction homework exam grading,(2) point by point you make a point about subject A and then the corresponding point about subject B. Then you make the next point about subject A and follow it with the corresponding point about subject B. You continue in this alternating fashion until all your

56、points have been presented and developed; Point 1 Point 2 Point 3,Subject A Subject B,Subject A Subject B,Subject A Subject B,Professor Yang and Professor Wu,Professor Yang and professor Wu, two of my favorite teachers, are very different in how they run their classes, how they give exams, and how t

57、hey grade students. Professor Yang, a 30-year-old female, likes to get her students involved in class discussion. Thus her class is usually lively and stimulating. Professor Wu, on the other hand, is almost the opposite of Professor Yang. A 50-year-old male, Professor Wu tends to lecture all the way through a class, but his solid knowledge, clear organization, and occasional humor keep you from dozing off. While Professor Yang likes to use TV, CD, and other modern technology to assist classroom inst