Notes on the the definition of rhetoric and the process of writing

1. Speaking of
Thesis Drafts
and Essays

2. How do we
communicate?
Through various
forms of
rhetoric

3. What is rhetoric?
It is the way we
speak or write
effectively.

4. Forms of rhetoric are
called
• Narration
rhetorical modes or
• Description
rhetorical devices.
• Comparison/Contrast
• Classification/Process
There are (5)  • Argument

5. What is the
general writing
process?
After making a
decision about what
you will write
• Freewriting
about, then you
• Thesis draft (outline)
should follow this
• 1st draft, (2nd, 3rd)
writing process:
• Final draft essay

6. The process
• Freewriting
• Thesis Draft (outline)
• The Essay

7. Freewriting
Once you have a topic, this is the
technique that will pull ideas out.
Purpose of freewriting
Freewriting is a method for developing a
small hint of an idea into a fully grown
one. Freewriting is a little like fishing -
you cast out with your pen, and then you
let the ideas swim to you... but they won't
come if you don't start fishing for them!

8. Purpose cont’d
The key to freewriting is
Purpose of freewriting
to not think in your head.
Do not think before you
start - just pick up a pen
and write... write on the
topic if you can, and if
you can't, just write
anything and try to get
there eventually. Write
full, flowing sentences
(freewriting looks like
paragraphs, not like a list.)

9. Purpose cont’d
When you freewrite you
Purpose of freewriting
do not need to worry
about correct
punctuation, grammar or
spelling. The point of
this kind of writing is
flow, not correctness.
Don't re-read what
you've written until after
you've finished; if you
worry about if they're
written down "right"
then you are not letting
them flow.

10. The process
• Freewriting
• Thesis Draft (outline)
• The Essay

11. The
Thesis
Draft
What is it?
What are the steps
in developing a
productive outline?

12. What is the thesis?
The thesis statement
– is the sentence(s) that sum up what the whole essay is
about. It includes the main points that will be addressed.
– is the last sentence of the first paragraph.

13. By all means, do not let writing an
essay stress you out!!

14. The thesis draft allows you to determine how you will
express the thoughts you have chosen to analyze.
I. Introduction
a. Introductory statement -
b. Acknowledgement statement -
c. Thesis statement -
I. Body
A. First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence)
Detail1.
Detail2.
Detail3.
B. Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence)
Detail1.
Detail2.
Detail3.
C. Third Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence)
Detail1.
Detail2.
Detail3.
I. Conclusion
A. Closing statement -
B. Restate thesis -

15. The best process?
I. Introduction
a. Introductory statement
2. Design your intro, b. Acknowledgement statement
acknowledgment statement
c. Thesis statement
and thesis statement
II. Body
A. First Topic/Idea (Topic Sentence)
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
1. Design you main B. Second Topic/Idea (Topic Sentence)
Detail 1
points Detail 2
Detail 3
C. Third Topic/Idea (Topic Sentence)
Detail 1
Detail 2
Detail 3
III. Conclusion
3. Design your conclusion A. Closing statement
B. Restate thesis
C. Summary point(s)

16. Things to remember about designing
your thesis draft (outline)
• Begin with the middle, then go
to the intro, then finally the
conclusion.
• Make sure you keep control of
the ideas you are addressing.
The key here is to stay on topic.
• The better your thesis draft the
easier it will be for you to write
your essay.

17. The process
• Freewriting
• Thesis Draft (outline)
• The Essay

18. The
Traditional
What is it?
What are the steps in achieving a great essay?

19. The traditional
essay has five (5)
paragraphs:
Gonna tell ‘em
Tell ‘em
Told ‘em

20. Intro - Paragraph 1
Gonna tell ‘em
The introduction includes:
• An introductory statement
* Question, quote, statistic, interesting fact
• An acknowledgement statement
•If referring to a book, this statement acknowledges the type of
writing, the title, the author, and what it is about.
•If referring to a subject, it affirms the subject and the subject matter
that is being addressed.
• The thesis statement
* This is the sentence(s) that sum up what the whole essay is about.
It includes the main points that will be addressed.
* It is the last sentence of the first paragraph.

21. • An introductory statement
• An acknowledgement statement
• The thesis statement
Sample Intro Paragraph
For many, turning on the computer and checking for e-mail
messages has become as much a part of the daily routine as a trip to
the mailbox. In the essay, “Click and Send It,” by John Smith, the
reader learns of the growing popularity of e-mail that makes many
individuals wonder how they ever survived without it. E-mail has
many advantages over regular mail, including speed, low cost, and
convenience.
Remember you can add more information to this paragraph in
between the acknowledgement statement and the thesis statement, but
it is important that these three elements are covered in this order

22. The body – Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4
Tell ‘em
The body is paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 :
• Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence that responds to the ideas
you indicated in your thesis statement.
• You must support each topic sentence with details. Examples and direct
quotes also provide excellent support.
• Thoughts are expressed through the proper use of transitions that carry
the reader from one idea to the next or from one paragraph to another.
• End each paragraph with a concluding sentence that seals the idea being
addressed.

23. Intro Paragraph
For many, turning on the computer and checking for e-mail messages has become as much a part of the daily routine
as a trip to the mailbox. The growing popularity of e-mail makes many individuals wonder how they ever survived without it . E-
mail has many advantages over regular mail, including speed, low cost, and convenience.
There is no denying that e-mail has many advantages over regular mail. The most obvious advantage is
Sample Body Paragraphs
speed. Users can send e-mail around the world in a matter of minutes with no more effort than it takes to press a
few keys on the computer. It is this speed that has led to our calling regular mail "snail mail."
E-mail also has the advantage of being less expensive, for most people, than regular mail. Many
people have access to e-mail for free through their work or school. While some people may pay for e-mail through
an online service, there is no increase in cost relative to the number of messages sent. It is the same price to send
one message to one person as it is to send messages back and forth all day or to a hundred people. Finally, if
consumers consider the costs saved in long-distance phone bills in addition to the costs saved in postage, most e-
mail users surely come out ahead.
There is no question that e-mail is convenient. It allows users to send the same message to many
people at the same time with little more effort than it takes to send a message to one person. When sending
multiple copies of a message, users avoid the trouble of photocopying the letter, printing out additional copies,
addressing envelopes, and posting the mail. E-mail is also convenient because it lends itself to an informal style
that makes composing a message relatively easy; in addition, readers of e-mail tolerate more mistakes than readers
of conventional mail, and their tolerance saves consumers time.

24. Conclusion - Paragraph 5
Told ‘em
The conclusion includes:
• An a concluding statement
* This is similar to the opening statement but is a
reaffirming point.
• A restatement of the thesis
* This is a restatement of the thesis statement from the
introduction sentence(s) that sum(s) up what the whole
essay is about.

25. • A closing statement
• The restatement of the thesis
Sample Conclusion Paragraph
• Summary point(s)
While e-mail gives users the ability to send messages with
convenience, speed, and little expense, it lacks the personality and authority of
regular mail. Luckily, however, senders should not always choose one over the
other. Instead they should take advantage of both, using each to its best
advantage: e-mail for quick notes, multiple mailings, and routine business
correspondence; regular mail for personal messages and for formal or private
business correspondence. Regular mail will always take a bit longer, but at
times good things are worth waiting for.
Remember you can add more information to this paragraph in
between the restatement of the thesis, and the closing statement, but it
is important that these three elements are covered. These elements
can be written in any order.

26. Things to remember about essay writing
• Avoid saying,
“I am going to write about . . .” or “This essay is about . . .”
Instead say:
The information presented here will explain . . .
or
Presented here are . . .
• Avoid contractions when possible
• Try to avoid the use of you, we, us . . .when possible. It sets
you up for vagueness. Be specific to the audience the point
addresses.
– No = Smith tells you about all the things that made the journey possible.
– Yes = Smith informs the reader about all the things that made the
journey possible.

27. Things to remember about essay writing
• Remember that a paragraph must
have a minimum of three
sentences to be considered a
paragraph.
• Use transitional phrases to allow
the reader to travel with your
intent
• Make sure to fully support your
topic sentences and maintain
control. A good thesis draft will
ensure this.
• Wrap your essay eloquently and
without saying “In conclusion. . .”
• Make sure you follow directions
for completing your essay.