2018-01-30 Writing: for and against English

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - Notes from all my classes
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Homework: write an outline for an opinion essay/paragraph about why NOT to study English.
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counterargument = an argument against a position
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You are going to write an essay about why you SHOULD study English, but you will include three reasons against your position.
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You’ll need some different transitions for this type of essay:
“The first reason many people think you shouldn’t study English is because it’s very expensive. For example, a week at Stafford House Boston costs $300, which is more than many people can afford.”
“On the other hand, no one says you shouldn’t go to university because it’s expensive.”
However, / Nevertheless, /
“Even though no one says you shouldn’t go to university because it’s expensive, many people think you shouldn’t study English because it costs a lot of money.”
- Then support your opinion with details or examples. (“College costs several times more than English class, but people understand that it’s worth the price because…”)
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Body (supporting) paragraph outlines
A. 	price
	1.	English class is expensive. (the reason you don’t agree with)
		a. 	price of Stafford House
	2. 	University is also expensive. (your opinion)
		a. 	example 1
		b. 	supporting detail
B. 	benefit of studying
	1. 	no extra money for knowing English
	2. 	research shows people who know English make 23% more money than people who don’t
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Introduction:
	- background about people studying English (35 million people around the world study English…)
	- “A lot of people think you shouldn’t study English because ___, ___, and ___.”
	- “However, in my opinion, they are wrong.” (thesis statement)
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Conclusion:
	- restate your opinion and reasons (For these reasons, I think the arguments against studying English are not very good. English is the most important thing you can study…)
	- recommendation (If you have some time between university and…)
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Make a brief outline of a pro-English paragraph or essay, using the anti-English arguments from yesterday’s homework.
Intro: people think English is bad but they’re wrong
A. 	price
	1. too expensive (SH one week)
	2. university also expensive
B. 	benefit
	1. (reason against English)
	2. (reason for English)
C. 	(third reason)
	1. (reason against English)
	2. (reason for English)
Conclusion: this is why those people are wrong. you should study English
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Homework: Use this outline to write a long paragraph or short (5-paragraph) essay about why you should study English and why the reasons some people have against studying English are wrong.