The Science Of Scientific Writing    Set 5     Set 5-Essays • Second page • Third page • Ordering ideas • Exercise 1 • Signposting • Exercise 2 • Final.

Course Home

OVERVIEW: The way to well-written science

How to do the Course

 

PART I: Paragraphs and Sentences

SET A: Paragraphs: The Maps Behind Them

SET B: Paragraphs: Using Maps to Meet Readers' Expectations

SET C: Paragraphs with Something Extra: Points and Tails

SET D: The Generic Section: Expectations and Maps as Blueprints

SET E: Scientific Sections: The Methods and Results

SET F: Scientific Sections: The Discussion

SET G : Scientific Sections: The Introduction

SET H : Sentences

SET I : The Paper as a Whole

 

 

PART II: The Paper and its Sections

Introduction

SET 1: Argument Parts

SET 2: Indicator Words

SET 3: Refining Claims

SET 4: Locating Arguments in Prose

SET 5: Rationale's Essay Planner

SET 6: Evidence in Arguments: Basis Boxes

SET 7: Assessing

SET 8: More on Assessing

SET 9: Analysis Maps

SET 10: Assessing Again

Synthesis 1: Position-Early Paragraphs

Synthesis 2: Position-Final Paragraphs

Synthesis 3: Writing a Discussion I

Synthesis 4: Writing a Discussion II

 

Exercise 1

Here's a map we could use to structure an argumentative essay that makes the case that mobile phones should be banned in schools:

Mobile phones

1. Use the mobile phones map to construct a short position-early essay.  We'll provide all the pieces of text you need - your job is to work out where to place each claim in the essay.

Hints

  • The introduction should clearly state the position you're arguing for
  • The body should be split into paragraphs that each develop one main line of thought
  • The conclusion should restate the position

2. Start by cutting and pasting the indicated text below into the Scratch Pad pane of the Text Panel (tab is lower right).

Start cut-paste here

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Claims

  • Mobile phones should be banned in schools
  • mobile phones are disruptive in class
  • mobile phones often ring in class
  • mobile phones can be used to cheat on tests
  • students can text message other people without being noticed
  • some students need mobile phones
  • these students could have their communication needs met in other ways

3. Take the list of the claims above and cut and paste each into the most suitable place in the mini-essay below. The main position needs to be pasted several times. When you are finished, paste the resulting essay into a yellow Note box in the central Workspace.



Introduction

… There are two main reasons supporting this position, and the main objection to it can be rebutted.

Body

The first reason is that… since…

The second reason to think that… is that…This is because…

On the other hand, a consideration against the idea that… is that…This objection is not convincing, however, because…

Conclusion

Based on this reasoning it is clear that…

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End cut-paste here

4. Check the Model answer.

 

 

 

 

 

Content of this page drawn in whole or part from the Austhink Rationale Exercises with permission from Austhink.