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ENGL 101 Composition Practice 7 Unity and Transitions Assignment solutions complete answers
ENGL 101 Composition Practice 7 Unity and Transitions Assignment solutions complete answers
1 . Ensuring Paragraph Unity: Topic Sentences
Which of the following is a topic sentence that can be supported with reasons, details, examples, and explanations?
I overslept today and was late for school.
Dogs have four legs.
Dr. Wong’s office is downtown.
Prosthetic devices have improved significantly since the time of the Vietnam War.
One way to make sure you have a unified paragraph is to write a clear topic sentence that states the subject of the paragraph and the point you want to make about it.
Read the following passage and identify the topic sentence. (Hint: It’s not always the first sentence.)
It is not always a bad thing to “miss the boat.” Many influential people missed the Titanic, which began and ended its doomed voyage in 1912. For example, J. Pierpont Morgan, the famous banker and founder of General Electric and U.S. Steel, had arranged a personal suite and his own private promenade deck on the ship. It sailed without him, though, because Morgan decided to continue his vacation in France instead of returning to the United States. As a result, the “Napoleon of Wall Street” avoided a watery death. Another famous person who missed the boat was Alfred Vanderbilt, who was an heir to the Vanderbilt shipping and railroad empire. Vanderbilt cancelled his voyage on the Titanic at the last minute to lengthen his European vacation. Unlike J. P. Morgan though, Vanderbilt seems to have been fated to be lost at sea; three years after missing one sinking ship, he died on another—the Lusitania. Coincidentally, the famous inventor Guglielmo Marconi also missed the Titanic, and he was aboard the Lusitania when it went down, but he survived.
Source: Daugherty, Greg. “Seven Famous People Who Missed the Titanic.” Smithsonian, 1 Mar. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/seven-famous-people-who-missed-the-titanic-101902418/.
The topic sentence is:
For example, J. Pierpont Morgan, the famous banker and founder of General Electric and U.S. Steel, had arranged a personal suite and his own private promenade deck on the ship.
It is not always a bad thing to “miss the boat.”
Another famous person who missed the boat was Alfred Vanderbilt, who was an heir to the Vanderbilt shipping and railroad empire.
Many influential people missed the Titanic, which began and ended its doomed voyage in 1912.
Many Americans believe in equality between the genders. However, the data suggest that equality has not been achieved. It has not been achieved in the workplace, where, according to the Department of Labor statistics, a woman makes 77 cents for every dollar a man makes. Also, the median annual earning for full-time, year-round women workers in 2010 was $36,931 compared to men’s $47,715. In addition to the workplace, women also have less of a voice in government. Women constitute about 51% of the population, but they hold only 17% of the seats in Congress, which suggests that equality has not yet been achieved in this sphere either.
Source: Shannon, Victoria. “Equal Rights for Women? Survey Says: Yes, but . . . .” The New York Times, 1 July 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/07/01/world/01iht-poll.html?_r=0.
Many people think of music as a source of entertainment, while others feel it’s just a tune playing in the background. Active listening of anything from a Mozart symphony to a Beatles song has an enormous, positive effect on the brain. Engagement with music can improve memory and focus, especially in children, by stimulating the brain. It also engages parts of the brain that control our emotions. When you listen to music, the brain releases dopamine, prolactin, and serotonin, which are chemicals that boost your mood. As a result, people tend to feel an increase in energy and a decrease in stress levels. Finally, tuning out and turning on your tunes can shift your brain waves from beta to more relaxed alpha and theta states.
Source: Chan, Amanda L. “Music and Health: 11 Ways Playing and Listening to Music Help Both Body and Mind.” The Huffington Post, 15 June 2012, www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/09/music-and-health-11-ways-body-mind_n_1413241.html.
2 . Ensuring Paragraph Unity: Support the Topic Sentence
Read the following topic sentence and then answer the question that follows.
Topic Sentence:
The uses of the Clydesdale breed of horse have changed significantly in the past century.
Which of the following sentences do not support the topic sentence? Check all that apply.
Because automated farm machinery is now widespread, Clydesdales no longer pull ploughs or other heavy farm equipment.
In the past, Clydesdales were never ridden for sport or leisure; now, however, such activity is commonplace.
Although Clydesdales are big and strong, the Thoroughbred is usually cited as the fastest breed of horse.
Clydesdales often generate publicity for breweries or other businesses by pulling carts with company logos on them.
To better protect delicate ecosystems, the logging industry has recently begun using Clydesdales in timber extraction.
To be unified, the information in each paragraph must adequately explain, give examples, define, or in some other way support your topic sentence. Therefore, your essay should provide enough supporting information or evidence to back up your topic sentence. Some types of evidence include specific examples or details, personal experience, reference to research, facts, statistics, and testimony from authorities. Without such specific evidence, your reader will not accept your ideas. Also, it is important to remember that length alone does not provide adequate support. If a paragraph is filled with vague generalities or repetitious ideas, it might be long, but it doesn’t fully support the topic sentence.
Read the paragraphs and answer the questions that follow. The topic sentences appear in boldface.
Body Paragraph 1
DNA sequencing is on the verge of revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of diseases—a revolution that spurs many ethical questions. First, DNA sequencing is dramatically changing detection of diseases. Currently, the detection of disease happens after symptoms appear in the tissues, organ, or bone where it originates. But now, some medical researchers are looking toward our DNA.
Body Paragraph 1 support the topic sentence effectively.
Which revisions would include more supporting information or evidence? Check all that apply.
This paragraph does not need more evidence.
Provide statistics on the percentage of people with cancer in the United States.
Refer to a specific study on DNA sequencing that shows how it is changing the detection of diseases.
Offer an example of a person whose disease was detected by a DNA sequence test.
Add testimony from experts about what DNA sequencing is and how it can be used to detect disease.
Body Paragraph 2
Although DNA sequencing offers people insight into future medical problems, it also can become a Pandora’s box. Should everyone really have access to knowledge of their future health problems? Many people want to know, but some doctors are reluctant. Doctors worry that people will find out things they might not want to face about their medical fate. Moreover, ethicists believe this could lead down a path where people face discrimination based on the information in their DNA sequence.
Body Paragraph 2 support the topic sentence effectively.
Which revisions would include more supporting information or evidence? Check all that apply.
Provide a hypothetical example of how DNA sequencing can provide people with too much information, such as the knowledge that they will develop Alzheimer's or Parkinson’s disease.
Restate that DNA sequencing can give people more information that they want to know.
Add testimony of ethicists about the consequences of DNA sequencing.
This paragraph does not need more evidence.
Give facts about the amount DNA sequencing costs.
Body Paragraph 3
However, despite the ethical questions surrounding DNA sequencing, people want it, and, in some cases, they have gotten it with beneficial results. According to an NPR survey, 81.45% of people would have their DNA sequenced if they could afford it. One family, the Wests, could afford DNA sequencing and became the first family to do so. John West, who is the former CEO of a sequencing technology company, explains, "We were interested in getting a look ahead as to what might be in our family’s medical future, and I think we found that it was useful in that regard." For example, the sequencing revealed that the Wests are prone to blood clots. Now, the Wests know to change their eating habits to avoid blood clots, including consuming more vitamin K.
Body Paragraph 3 support the topic sentence effectively.
Which revisions would include more supporting information or evidence? Check all that apply.
Restate that there are ethical issues surrounding DNA sequencing.
This paragraph has sufficient evidence.
Provide an example of a person who has learned important medical information from DNA sequencing.
Add statistics about the number of people who want DNA sequencing.
Topic Sentence:
At the 2012 London Olympics, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt proved to be both a winner and a showman.
Mr. Bolt was born in Trelawny, Jamaica, but now resides in Kingston, Jamaica.
Upon winning races, Mr. Bolt sometimes strikes dramatic poses, such as putting a finger to his lips or pointing dramatically at the crowd.
When Mr. Bolt was introduced to the Olympic Stadium crowd, he gave a stiff-wristed royal wave.
Mr. Bolt wore a baseball cap turned backward and smiled for cameras as he stepped out onto the track for the 200-meter sprint.
After becoming the first man ever to win the 100- and 200-meter titles in successive Olympics, Mr. Bolt declared himself a living legend.
Body Paragraph 1
Before changing your diet, you should make sure that you are switching to one based on nutritional research versus popular ideas. One common dieting myth is that some foods have "negative calories," meaning that digesting the food burns more calories than the food itself contains. In some magazines, I have seen women encouraged to eat such foods. These foods often don’t sound appetizing to eat. Some people eat these foods to lose weight; they think their bodies will use up a greater percentage of calories to digest these than their bodies would use to digest other foods. In fact, some people believe celery burns so many calories that they can actually get thinner by eating it, which must be too good to be true.
Body Paragraph 2
Another common myth is that brown foods are better for you. In fact, there are a lot of foods that are brown because of food dye. So, brown foods won’t always make you lose weight. You must be eating the right kinds of brown foods to get the health benefits.
Body Paragraph 3
Another common misconception is that cutting carbohydrates is the best way to lose weight. However, new research from the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests otherwise. The best type of diet is neither a low-fat diet nor low-carb diet, but instead a low-glycemic diet. A low–glycemic diet is one where 40% of calories come from carbohydrates, 40% come from fats, and 20% come from proteins. According to Dr. David Ludwig from Boston’s Children’s Hospital, "Our findings suggest that actually trying to restrict either carbs or fat is not the best way [to achieve long-term weight loss] and instead to focus on the quality of fats and the quality of carbs." For example, instead of going to a diet of all steak and bacon, medical researchers find that people should balance fiber-rich, natural carbohydrates, such as steel-cut oats, with healthy fats and proteins, such as nuts and olive oil. Based on my personal experience, the low-glycemic diet works. I tried a diet of quality fats, carbs, and proteins for six weeks. Unlike when I was on an all-protein diet, I found that the variety of foods helped me to stick with my new nutritional plan. This diet was, by far, the most successful in helping me meet my weight-loss goals.
Topic Sentence:
The Mars Science Laboratory, which landed on the surface of Mars in August 2012, is equipped with several fascinating science instruments.
Many of the world’s space agencies are considering manned missions to Mars in the future.
An imaging device on the laboratory takes extreme close-up pictures of rocks and soil.
The laboratory also has an instrument that detects radiation and helps assess the planet’s ability to harbor life.
Perhaps the laboratory’s most fascinating instrument is a laser that vaporizes Martian rocks so that their content can be analyzed.
Two other robotic vehicles landed on the surface of Mars in the summer of 2003.
Body Paragraph 1
Languages all over the world are vanishing; these endangered languages should be brought back to preserve our global linguistic diversity and cultural history. One endangered language that should be preserved for its unique complexity and historical importance is the Navajo language. Navajo is a tough language to learn and is hard to grasp. Without early exposure, most people cannot master it. The U.S. military used Navajo Native Americans in WWII because they were so difficult to understand. These Navajos became code talkers. This makes Navajo both a unique and historically important language that should be preserved.
Body Paragraph 2
Moreover, it is not just the unique and complex language of Native Americans that should be preserved. Languages from remote corners of Europe are also dying off. For example, the Scot language is getting less use, and at times, is extinguished, which happened to the Scot language of Cromarty. So, this means that a unique and complex language is lost to us.
Body Paragraph 3
Some speakers of endangered languages aren’t just trying to preserve them; they are also trying to revitalize these important parts of their heritage. For example, the last 25 speakers of Iquito, a language spoken in the Amazon Basin of Peru, are passing down their native tongue after centuries of pressure to assimilate to Spanish. These surviving Iquito speakers are aging—the youngest is 52 years old. Therefore, teaching the language to the next generation cannot wait. So, the indigenous speakers of Iquito and students from the University of Texas at Austin are now working together to preserve the language by creating a dictionary to document it and by teaching it through community classes. This is altering the fate of one of the few indigenous languages from the Amazon Basin still in existence.
3 . Ensuring Paragraph Unity: Check That All Details Are Relevant
A unified paragraph contains only details and explanations that are relevant to the point made in the topic sentence.
Read the following paragraph and identify which sentences are not relevant to the topic sentence.
(1) Taking care of a vegetable garden takes a lot of time and money, and the results don’t always seem worth it. (2) I like pumpkins, but I didn’t have enough room to grow them. (3) I bought tomato, pepper, and zucchini plants for about $35. (4) I spent hours planting, watering, and weeding so I wouldn’t have to buy some of the things I like to eat. (5) I don’t eat eggplant, so I didn’t plant any of it. (6) My garden didn’t yield much; by the end of the summer I had three peppers, eight tomatoes, and two zucchinis. (7) I think I would have been better off going to the farmers market and spending $35 on vegetables there.
Which of the following sentences are not relevant to the topic sentence? Check all that apply.
(5) I don’t eat eggplant, so I didn’t plant any of it.
(4) I spent hours planting, watering, and weeding so I wouldn’t have to buy some of the things I like to eat.
(3) I bought tomato, pepper, and zucchini plants for about $35.
(6) My garden didn’t yield much; by the end of the summer I had three peppers, eight tomatoes, and two zucchinis.
(2) I like pumpkins, but I didn’t have enough room to grow them.
(1) Baking a cake relies on some complex chemical reactions to transform all the individual ingredients into something delicious to eat. (2) Flour, eggs, butter, one or more leavening agents, and some sort of flavoring, such as vanilla or chocolate, are all combined in a bowl and then baked in the oven. (3) Many people avoid eating eggs due to health considerations. (4) Chocolate is my favorite flavor. (5) Leavening is the process that makes air bubbles form; this helps the batter to rise when it is heated.
Which of the following sentences are not relevant to the topic sentence? Check all that apply.
(2) Flour, eggs, butter, one or more leavening agents, and some sort of flavoring, such as vanilla or chocolate, are all combined in a bowl and then baked in the oven.
(5) Leavening is the process that makes air bubbles form; this helps the batter to rise when it is heated.
(1) Baking a cake relies on some complex chemical reactions to transform all the individual ingredients into something delicious to eat.
(3) Many people avoid eating eggs due to health considerations.
(4) Chocolate is my favorite flavor.
(1) My town holds a 5K road race every year to raise funds for charity. (2) People pay to participate and the money is used to help families in need of assistance. (3) More than 5,000 people ran in the race this year. (4) I am on the track team at Hosmer High School. (5) My sister also runs track, but we don’t go to the same school.
Which of the following sentences are not relevant to the topic sentence? Check all that apply.
(5) My sister also runs track, but we don’t go to the same school.
(3) More than 5,000 people ran in the race this year.
(4) I am on the track team at Hosmer High School.
(2) People pay to participate and the money is used to help families in need of assistance.
(1) My town holds a 5K road race every year to raise funds for charity.
4 . Ensuring Paragraph Unity: Check That the Details Are Logically Organized
To help keep your paragraph unified around one central idea, it’s important to present information clearly and in a logical order. Make sure to include a topic sentence with a main idea, which might be (1) your reason for presenting the topic—why you think it’s important or necessary for the readers to know it—or (2) an argument about the topic itself. Writers often organize body paragraphs in easily recognizable patterns that give readers a sense of logical movement and order. Three examples of common patterns of ordering sentences in a paragraph are order of time, order of space, and order of importance. A writer might arrange details chronologically (beginning with the first step or event and ending with the last step or event). This is order of time. If the subject of the paragraph is a physical object, a writer might choose order of space to describe the object from left to right, top to bottom, or inside to outside. If the writer chooses to start with the most critical details and move toward less essential information later, they are using order of importance.
Read the following paragraph. Then answer the questions
(1) Establishing credit might feel overwhelming, but anyone can accomplish this goal by following a series of steps. (2) First, research why establishing credit is important. (3) Ask your family members or friends how their credit ratings have made an impact on everything from their interest rates on an auto or home loan, to getting a good job, to signing a lease on an apartment. (4) Now that you understand why credit is important, the second step is to open a savings account and a checking account in your name. (5) Your ability to withdraw, deposit, transfer, and save money shows you have financial responsibility, which is reflected in your credit report. (6) After establishing your bank accounts, the third step is to apply for a credit card. (7) Some department stores have coupons that allow you to save 20% on that day’s purchases if you get one of their credit cards. (8) The final step is to use your credit cards and bank accounts wisely. (9) You will establish good credit only if you make your credit card payments on time and don’t bounce checks. (10) If you do so, you will be on your way to having many great financial opportunities in the future.
Source: “Establishing or Rebuilding Credit.” National Foundation for Credit Counseling, www.nfcc.org/consumer-tools/consumer-tips/establishing-or-rebuilding-credit/. Accessed 30 May 2016.
What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
Sentence 6: After establishing your bank accounts, the third step is to apply for a credit card.
Sentence 5: Your ability to withdraw, deposit, transfer, and save money shows you have financial responsibility, which is reflected in your credit report.
Sentence 1: Establishing credit might feel overwhelming, but anyone can accomplish this goal by following a series of steps.
Which of the following is also a suitable topic sentence for this paragraph? (Hint: Pick the sentence that states the goal of the process given in the paragraph.)
Establishing good credit requires a lot of money and resources.
Many students use their credit cards to buy expensive goods they cannot afford.
Anyone can establish credit by following a few simple steps and guidelines.
Is this paragraph logically organized?
Which sentence does not clearly relate to and support the topic sentence?
Sentence 7: Some department stores have coupons that allow you to save 20% on that day’s purchases if you get one of their credit cards.
Sentence 4: Now that you understand why credit is important, the second step is to open a savings account and a checking account in your name.
Sentence 5: Your ability to withdraw, deposit, transfer, and save money shows you have financial responsibility, which is reflected in your credit report.
How is the passage organized?
What is the purpose of this passage?
Which steps appear in the paragraph? Check all that apply.
Go on a shopping spree with your department store credit card
Open a bank account
Use your credit cards wisely
Research the importance of having good credit
Open a credit card account
(1) Many people pay high interest rates on car loans simply because they are unaware of the easy steps to refinance. (2) First, collect and organize your car documents. (3) You’ll need a copy of your current car loan; the age, make, and model of your vehicle; and the vehicle identification number (VIN). (4) The VIN can be found on the dashboard or in the registration paperwork. (5) Before the VIN was introduced, each manufacturer had a different system for numbering its cars. (6) Next, call your lender for the payoff amount and find out how long until the quote expires (usually five to ten days). (7) Then check your credit to make sure your new lender will receive the most accurate and up-to-date version of your credit report. (8) The fourth step is to shop for the best refinance loan offer and accept a new offer at a lower interest rate. (9) The fifth and final step is to make sure the original car lender has issued a notice stating that the loan was repaid in full. (10) By following these simple steps, a car owner can save hundreds of dollars each year.
Source: “How to Refinance a Car Loan.” ehow, www.ehow.com/how_2082486_refinance-car-loan.html. Accessed 6 July 2016.
Sentence 6: Next, call your lender for the payoff amount and find out how long until the quote expires (usually five to ten days).
Sentence 9: The fifth and final step is to make sure the original car lender has issued a notice stating that the loan was repaid in full.
Sentence 1: Many people pay high interest rates on car loans simply because they are unaware of the easy steps to refinance.
Which of the following is also a suitable topic sentence for this paragraph? (Hint: Pick the sentence that states the main idea around which the paragraph is unified.)
People often pay far too much interest on their auto loans.
Refinancing an auto loan should never be attempted.
High-interest auto loans can be refinanced by following five simple steps.
Sentence 7: Then check your credit to make sure your new lender will receive the most accurate and up-to-date version of your credit report.
Sentence 2: First, collect and organize your car documents.
Sentence 5: Before the VIN was introduced, each manufacturer had a different system for numbering its cars.
(1) Although the foreclosure crisis has been covered often by the media, many people are still unclear about how the foreclosure process works or how people threatened by foreclosure lose their homes. (2) The first misstep in the process involves the home purchase itself; specifically, buying a home beyond what the buyer can comfortably afford. (3) Some new homes include luxury features, such as granite countertops, hardwood floors, and landscaped gardens. (4) The second misstep involves the loan terms; eager buyers often become trapped by loans with changing interest rates that start out low and increase dramatically a few years later or loans with low monthly payments that require the entire loan amount to be paid as a “balloon payment” at the end of the loan term. (5) The next misstep involves a dramatic change in the homeowner’s financial situation—the homeowner is laid off from work, a family member develops a costly medical condition, or the homeowner gets called to active duty in the military and has not provided for keeping the mortgage payments going. (6) In such circumstances, a smart homeowner can usually seek assistance from lawyers or government and nonprofit agencies that provide advice for individuals facing a financial crisis. (7) However, the fourth misstep that leads to foreclosure is when homeowners postpone seeking assistance until their legal rights have passed, or they walk away from their homes without being able to keep any of their investment. (8) The personal financial crisis of the homeowner moves into the public legal system. (9) The creditor (the agency from which the homeowner borrowed money) demands immediate payment of the entire balance (which is impossible for the homeowner) and then files a lawsuit in a court located near the property. (10) If the homeowner does not file an answer to the creditor's lawsuit, then the court rewards the creditor with the property. (11) These four missteps that lead to foreclosure explain the often confusing process of how a buyer loses a home. (12) The home, now officially foreclosed, is sold under court supervision.
Source: “Steps That Advocates Can Take to Help Prevent Foreclosure.” National Consumer Law Center, May 2014, www.nclc.org/images/pdf/older_consumers/cc_steps_that_advocates_can_take_to_help_older_homeowners_prevent_foreclosure_may_2014.pdf.
Sentence 1: Although the foreclosure crisis has been covered often by the media, many people are still unclear about how the foreclosure process works or how people threatened by foreclosure lose their homes.
Sentence 7: However, the fourth misstep that leads to foreclosure is when homeowners postpone seeking assistance until their legal rights have passed, or they walk away from their homes without being able to keep any of their investment.
Sentence 2: The first misstep in the process involves the home purchase itself; specifically, buying a home beyond what the buyer can comfortably afford.
Which of the following is also a suitable topic sentence for this paragraph? (Hint: Pick the sentence that best captures the main idea of the paragraph.)
The foreclosure process consists of several different phases.
Home foreclosure can be prevented by getting legal assistance at an early stage.
Negotiating with the mortgage company or service is the best way to prevent home foreclosure.
Sentence 9: The creditor (the agency from which the homeowner borrowed money) demands immediate payment of the entire balance (which is impossible for the homeowner) and then files a lawsuit in a court located near the property.
Sentence 3: Some new homes include luxury features, such as granite countertops, hardwood floors, and landscaped gardens.
Sentence 4: The second misstep involves the loan terms; eager buyers often become trapped by loans with changing interest rates that start out low and increase dramatically a few years later or loans with low monthly payments that require the entire loan amount to be paid as a “balloon payment” at the end of the loan term.
5 . Organizing Supporting Ideas in a Paragraph
What you include for your supporting ideas matters, but so does how you include them. In other words, you want to organize your supporting ideas in the most logical, effective way. Here are the most common ways of organizing your supporting ideas:
•
Chronologically
This is time order—from past to present or present to past. It is usually used for stories, events, or processes. You will need time-related transitional words or phrases such as first, in the beginning, then, later, last, or finally.
•
Spatially
Often used for description or explanation of something visual like a picture or a place. You will need visual transition words such as in the front, on the left, to the back, next to, above, or below.
•
By order of importance
You might want to build to your most important point or start with it, depending upon how you want to make your impact. You will need to use transitions such as first, more, most, next, or finally.
Read each paragraph from the student essay, and then use the dropdown menu to determine which organizational method is used.
(1) Volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) offers many important rewards. (2) One such reward is that volunteers who are interested in social work, education, or nonprofit work can learn about their fields of interest through the program. (3) For example, BBBS is a great way for volunteers to get the experience of working with young people one on one. (4) More important than career education, though, is the fact that volunteers for BBBS learn about their communities. (5) Volunteers often get to know their little siblings' schools, churches, and athletic programs. (6) Most importantly, volunteers for BBBS often build lasting relationships with little siblings. (7) For example, I am close with my little brother, Michael, whom I met 12 years ago. (8) Overall, volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters is a worthwhile and rewarding experience.
The supporting ideas in this paragraph are organized .
The following are topic sentences that belong in the same essay, but they are not in chronological order. Put them in the correct order by selecting the appropriate number from the dropdown menus. The sentence that should appear first (the thesis) has been labeled for you.
Chronological Position
Sentence
1 (Thesis)
My grandfather, Francis Xavier Lorango, took many risks in his life.
5
After just a year in Montana, Francis met Betty, the daughter of a German butcher in Anaconda, and they became the town's only biracial couple when they got married in the spring of 1949.
6
My grandfather worked for the mine until 1965, when he decided to pursue his real dream: he began work as an artist, painting Montana landscapes until his death 20 years later.
4
Eventually, in 1947, he arrived in Anaconda, Montana, where, due to racist hiring practices, he had to lie about his Native American heritage to get a job as a miner.
3
At the age of 17, he left his home to seek work; he traveled the west, taking odd jobs.
2
He was born in 1927 on the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota.
(1) College students should have to volunteer as a graduation requirement. (2) First and most importantly, volunteering builds character. (3) By volunteering at a homeless shelter, for example, a college student may learn the value of generosity, respect, and compassion. (4) The next most important reason why students should have to volunteer is that volunteering helps communities. (5) College students are young and talented, and their diverse range of skills can provide much aid to those in need. (6) Finally, volunteer programs for college students establish strong relationships between colleges and their surrounding communities. (7) Healthy learning environments extend learning beyond the classroom and encourage students to share resources with their neighbors. (8) No one loses when college students volunteer.
Amelia Earhart is best known for her disappearance during a solo, round-the-world airplane flight, but her life was full of remarkable adventure.
Earhart was born in 1897 in Kansas.
Earhart ventured to the Pacific in 1936, becoming the first person to fly alone from Hawaii to California.
After working as a nurse and a social worker, she became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean as a passenger in June of 1928.
Her final flight was the next year, when she disappeared while attempting to fly around the world alone.
By 1932, she was setting records for her solo flights: she was the first woman to cross the Atlantic alone in May, and she flew solo from California to New Jersey in August.
(1) College students should not have to volunteer as a graduation requirement. (2) First and most importantly, college students are often overcommitted. (3) Many college students work full- or part-time jobs and have family responsibilities and, therefore, do not have the time or energy to devote to volunteer work. (4) The next most important reason why volunteering shouldn't be a graduation requirement is that colleges and universities should not impose a value system on their students. (5) By requiring volunteerism, colleges take away from students' ability to choose how to spend their free time. (6) Finally, required volunteerism goes against the very principles of volunteering. (7) Instead of generously giving their time and energy, students become resentful and stressed out by the requirement. (8) Students should be given the opportunity to volunteer within their communities but should not be required to do so.
Historians have pieced together quite a bit of detail about the life of William Shakespeare.
Soon thereafter, Shakespeare composed some of his greatest plays: Hamlet in 1600, Othello in 1603, and Macbeth in 1606.
Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
In 1596, Shakespeare successfully applied for a family coat of arms and was therefore allowed to be called a "gentleman," and two years later, he bought himself a large new house in his hometown of Stratford.
In 1582, when he was only 18 years old, he married Anne Hathaway, an older woman.
Historical documents show that by 1592, when he was 28 years old, Shakespeare had established a successful career as a playwright in London.
6 . Organizing a Paragraph Using Time, Space, or Importance
To cohere means “to hold together.” A paragraph coheres when the arrangement of sentences is in a clear, logical order and when the sentences all relate to one another. You can achieve coherence by ordering ideas using order of time, order of space, or order of importance.
Organizing ideas by order of space is useful when describing something visual—sections of a painting, the layout of a room, or maybe the position of actors on a stage. Organizing ideas by order of space means describing something from top to bottom, from left to right, from foreground to background, or any other arrangement that makes sense. The following paragraph contains ideas organized according to order of space.
When I remember my son as an infant, I think of him all bundled up for his first outing during the snowy winter when he was born. On his feet, he wore fuzzy blue socks, which were always in danger of falling off. Above, his legs were covered in fleece pants. He wore a soft white shirt underneath a tan wool sweater that my Aunt Pat knit especially for him. On top, his head was covered with an extra-thick red hat, which was double layered to protect his ears from the frigid temperatures outside. Then, to complete his outfit, I put his whole body into a cozy blue fleece article of clothing that resembled a sack. I called him my "baby in a bag." All in all, my son wore three full layers of warm, soft clothing when I brought him into the freezing Minnesota winter for the first time.
In the paragraph, the writer's son is described from bottom to top. First, the writer describes the baby's feet and then moves up to describe his legs, body, and head. Notice that transitional expressions indicating space, such as above, underneath, and on top, help the reader imagine the baby from bottom to top. The following box lists common transitional expressions that indicate order of space.
in the foreground
in the background
in the middle
beside
in front
in back
behind
nearby
together
in the distance
Directions: A topic sentence appears in the first row of the table below, but the sentences that follow it are not in proper paragraph order. Choose the best order by selecting the correct number for each sentence.
Georgia O'Keeffe with painting in the desert. © Tony Vaccaro/Getty Images/Archive Photos
Important: The writer describes the photo of Georgia O'Keeffe from front to back.
Topic Sentence: In this photograph, Georgia O'Keeffe, her painting, and the desert setting appear in harmony with one another.
She holds a large canvas of a desert arch with a yellow sky beaming through its hollow middle; this yellow sets off O'Keeffe's profile, making her look as if she is part of the painting that she created.
Looking first at the front of the photo, O'Keeffe's dark dress contrasts her skin, which has been tanned to almost the same hue as the reddish mesa behind her.
Behind O'Keeffe and her painting, a pale red-colored mesa rises against the blue sky.
Taken together, this photo shows O'Keeffe, her painting, and the desert as distinct elements given life from the same patterns and colors.
To organize ideas in order of importance means to put them in order from most important to least important or from least important to most important. The following paragraph contains ideas arranged in order of importance.
Before running a marathon, a runner must carefully prepare for the race. One important pre-race activity is picking up the race packet, which contains a bib with the runner's number printed on it. Typically, runners without bibs aren't allowed to participate, so it's essential to obtain this beforehand. An even more important pre-race activity is eating a large meal the night before the marathon. Carbohydrates, such as pasta and bread, and proteins, like chicken, will provide much-needed energy during the 26.2 mile run. Finally, the most important way to prepare for a marathon is to get a great night of sleep the night before the race. The mental and physical challenges of running require a well-rested body and mind.
In the paragraph, the writer organizes the preparations for a marathon from least to most important. The writer begins with logistical details of preparation and ends with the final and most important preparation: a good night's sleep. The writer uses transitional expressions such as "an even more important" and "finally, the most important" to help the reader move from one detail to the next. The following box lists common transitional expressions that show order of importance.
first
to start
to begin
second
next
additionally
also
last
in conclusion
finally
most importantly
moreover
Topic Sentence: Georgia O'Keeffe, the American painter, spent a lifetime learning and exploring art.
After charcoal, O'Keeffe, now a professional artist in New York, began painting close-ups of silky, bright flowers.
Early in her career as an art student in Chicago, O'Keeffe used rough charcoal on smooth white paper for her drawings.
At the end of her career in 1984, O'Keeffe was a widely recognized artist whose work remains internationally known and praised.
All in all, O'Keeffe's works from all of her artistic stages show an artist who was willing to explore new mediums.
Time order organizes ideas from the past to the present or from the present to the past. Time order is often used in stories and when writing about processes and historical events. The following paragraph contains ideas arranged in Time order.
Each year on her birthday, Agnes challenges herself to do something adventurous. This year, when she turned 65, she went skydiving with her daughter. Last year, Agnes went camping alone in Denali National Park to mark her big day. Ten years ago, Agnes swam with sharks, and twenty years ago, she ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. She began this birthday tradition in 1970 when she was 20 years old with perhaps her most incredible adventure: she tried to swim the English Channel. Agnes's birthday tradition, she says, keeps her young.
In the paragraph, the writer describes Agnes's birthday tradition from present to past in Time order. The paragraph begins with the most recent adventure (skydiving) and ends with the beginning of the tradition in the past (swimming the English Channel). The following table lists common transitional expressions that can be used to indicate that something took place at a particular time.
after
early on
at the beginning
starting
during
meanwhile
while
after
by the end
finally
Topic Sentence: One of the greatest American artists of the twentieth century, Georgia O'Keeffe (1887–1986), spent a lifetime learning and exploring art.
After her formal education as an artist, O'Keeffe had her first show in New York in 1916; in the following decade, O'Keeffe began painting larger close-ups of flowers, a style for which she is widely recognized.
Early on in her schooling, O'Keeffe's teachers recognized her talent and encouraged her to attend the Art Institute of Chicago, where she mastered the traditional principles of art making.
During the following years (1930s–1950s), O'Keeffe continued to create her own style, focusing on the stark beauty of the New Mexico desert.
By the end of her career in the 1980s, O'Keeffe had proven herself an innovative master of a variety of artistic styles.
7 . Connecting Sentences Using Transitions
Transitional words and phrases tell readers how one idea relates to another. Using words and phrases such as however, for example, as a result, and also helps readers to understand your meaning.
Transitional words and phrases are used...
To give more information
additionally, also, as well, first of all (second of all, and so on), for one thing, furthermore, in addition, moreover, next, then
To give an example
for example, for instance, in particular, one such, specifically
To show similarity or agreement
also, as well, equally, likewise, similarly
To show difference or contradiction
although, but, however, in contrast, on the other hand
To show cause or effect
and so, as a result, because, consequently, since, so, therefore
To qualify
maybe, perhaps
To show placement
above, across from, below, beside, here, in, next to, outside
To show a temporal (time) relationship
after a while, afterward, at last, at present, briefly, currently, eventually, finally, first (second, third, and so on), gradually, immediately, in the future, later, meanwhile, next, now, recently, soon, suddenly, then
To show importance or emphasis
above all, especially, finally, first, in fact, least, less, most, most importantly, next
To summarize or conclude
all in all, finally, in conclusion, in other words, lastly, to conclude
Directions: In each of the blanks below, select the transitional expression from the dropdown menu to indicate a logical relationship between the two sentences it connects. Then answer the question that follows.
First, pull the damaged bike tube from the tire. , find and remove the sharp object that punctured the tire tube. Finally, put a new tube in between the tire and the rim.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the transitional expression in the previous sentence?
To qualify
To summarize or conclude
To show a temporal (time) relationship
Everyone wanted to go to Lake Tahoe for the weekend. , no one had enough gas money to go.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the transitional expression in the previous sentence?
To give more information
To show difference or contradiction
To show placement
In these mountains, there isn't much oxygen above 11,000 feet. , trees and bushes aren't able to grow near the peaks.
Wearing a seat belt can help you avoid paying a high fine for breaking the law. , wearing a seat belt can save your life.
In many ways, The Great Gatsby is a novel about the greed and selfishness of the wealthiest Americans during the Jazz Age. , it offers readers a glimpse of their irresponsible behavior.
Learning disabilities can cause students to experience a variety of challenges. , some students have difficulty focusing during class.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of the transitional expression in the previous
