ENG 101: Grammar Lesson 1, Comparison Essay Assignment

ENG 101: Grammar Lesson 1, Comparison Essay Assignment

Molly Collins, Instructor

Open Ended

Attendance Question: How many classes are you taking at TCTC this semester?

Today's Agenda

Course Objective: Write a well-organized, well-developed, grammatically and mechanically acceptable comparison/contrast essay.

1. Grammar Lesson: Comma Splices and Run-Ons

2. Review Purpose and Structure Guidelines of the Comparison Essay Assignment Sheet

3. Comparison Structure Notes and Examples: Developing Criteria ​

4. Comparison Structure Notes and Examples: Choosing an Organizational Pattern​

Run-On

• What is it: Two independent clauses (complete sentences with a subject and verb) are joined with a single comma.

• Why is it wrong? Commas connect independent and dependent clauses, because dependent clauses lack both a subject and verb and can't stand alone. Stronger punctuation is needed for multiple independent clauses.

Comma Splice

What are Comma Splices and Run-Ons?

• What is it: Two independent clauses (complete sentences with a subject and verb) are joined with no punctuation at all.

• Why is it wrong? Punctuation helps establish a connection between main ideas communicated in sentences. When no punctuation is included, there's a lack of clear transition and connection. It also disrupts the pace of the writing. ​

Run-On

The error: ​Tri County Technical College will not have a final exam week at the end of the Spring 2022 semester, students will take their exams on or before the last day of class.

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Fix it:

Tri County Technical College will not have a final exam week at the end of the Spring 2022 semester;​ students will take their exams on or before the last day of class.

Comma Splice

What Do Comma Splices and Run-Ons Look Like, and How Do We Fix Them?

​The error: Tri County Technical College will not have a final exam week at the end of the Spring 2022 semester students will take their exams on or before the last day of class.

​

Fix it: Tri County Technical College will not have a final exam week at the end of the Spring 2022 semester, so students will take their exams on or before the last day of class.

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Fix it: Tri County Technical College will not have a final exam week at the end of the Spring 2022 semester--students will take their exams on or before the last day of class.

​

Practice Questions with Grammar Bytes

• Grammar Bytes is a website with explanations and exercises for all types of grammar errors. I've linked it for you in Course Content in Blackboard.

• ​I'll ask you, as, a class, to let me know what you think is the correct answer through a show of hands. Take your best guess if you still aren't sure.

• We'll go over the answer and ways to correct the errors. ​

Comparison Essay Purpose and Structure Guidelines (Assignment Sheet)

• ​There are many requirements listed; today, we are solely concerned with the purpose and criteria and organizational pattern requirements.

• Review the purpose carefully. Turn your textbook to p. 379.

• Review and underline the task sections that state requirements for points of comparison and ​organizational patterns.

• Turn textbook to p. 386 for points of comparison.

• Turn textbook to p. 387-388 for organizational patterns. ​

Creating Points of Comparison

Example: If I wanted to decide which social media platform (Tik Tok or Facebook) was best for younger users, I might consider:

-Safety

-Educational Value

-Does it inspire creativity? ​

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*One option does not have to be superior for each point of comparison to be the one you choose. ​

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Creating Points of Comparison (5 minutes)

With a small group: Brainstorm a list of possible points of comparison that could be used to evaluate whether TCTC should build a parking garage on campus or ​just expand into the wooded area to build an additional lot.

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*List as many as you can think of, and don't worry about being able to narrow everything to a one-word category.​

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Choosing an Organizational Pattern (5 minutes)

• Revisit the patterns on textbook p. 387-388.

• You ​will be able to choose the pattern that you think is best suited for your essay. There will be pros and cons for both logistically (what is most effective for the writer/audience relationship), and topically (what is the best approach for showcasing the aspects of the decision you deem important).

• With your group, revisit your points of comparison and decide which pattern you'd go with if you were writing the essay. Prepare a brief explanation for your choice.

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Open Ended

What about establishing points of comparison and choosing an organizational pattern for the essay can I clarify for you? You can type 'all clear' if you have no questions.

Structuring a Comparison Thesis Statement: Identifying Weaknesses

These thesis statements are common submissions, but are not yet effective:

• ​There are many factors to consider when deciding whether Tik Tok or Facebook is the best social media platform for young users in that accounts for their safety while also proving to be educationally enriching and inspire creativity.

• ​There are many pros and cons when it comes to Tik Tok and Facebook, but Tik Tok is better for young users.

• Tik Tok is better than Facebook for young users due to safety, educational value, and creativity. ​

• In this essay, I will prove that Tik Tok is a better social media platform for younger users than Twitter, as while both can compromise user safety without awareness and supervision, the educational value and creative insight reigns supreme on Tik Tok.

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Exercise: Use textbook pp. 125-127 to identify the structural issue with each one on the following slides. Choose the most significant/prominent issue.

Multiple Choice

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether Tik Tok or Facebook is the best social media platform for young users in that accounts for their safety while also proving to be educationally enriching and inspire creativity.

• Lacks an assertion

• Too general

• Lacks an original perspective (dull or ordinary)

• Makes an announcement

Multiple Select

There are many pros and cons when it comes to Tik Tok and Facebook, but Tik Tok is better for young users.

• Lacks an assertion

• Too general

• Lacks an original perspective (dull or ordinary)

• Makes an announcement

Multiple Choice

Tik Tok is better than Facebook for young users due to safety, educational value, and creativity. ​

• Lacks an assertion

• Too general

• Lacks an original perspective (dull or ordinary)

• Makes an announcement

Multiple Choice

In this essay, I will prove that Tik Tok is a better social media platform for younger users than Twitter, as while both can compromise user safety without awareness and supervision, the educational value and creative insight reigns supreme on Tik Tok.

• Lacks an assertion

• Too general

• Lacks an original perspective (dull or ordinary)

• Makes an announcement

Structuring a Comparison Thesis Statement: How to make an assertion, be specific, and offer an original perspective

1. Make an assertion, and place it at the beginning or end of the thesis statement.

Assertion:

• Tik Tok is a more suitable social media platform for young users when compared to Facebook

• Tik Tok is a better social media option for young users than Facebook.

• Young social media users are better off scrolling Tik Tok than browsing Facebook.

2.Be specific and original by giving a concise overview of your reasoning rather than simply listing the criteria. This way, you still introduce the criteria but give more information to set a direction for the paper.

• While both can compromise user safety without awareness and supervision, the educational value and creative insight reigns supreme on Tik Tok.

​Example 1: While both Facebook and Tik Tok can compromise user safety without awareness and supervision, the educational value and creative insight reigns supreme on Tik Tok, making it the more suitable social media platform for young users.

Example 2: ​ Young social media users are better off scrolling Tik Tok than browsing Facebook; while both can compromise user safety without awareness and supervision, the educational value and creative insight reigns supreme on Tik Tok.

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Exercise: Independently, write a draft of a thesis statement for the parking garage/lot comparison you've been working on. Later, you'll compare drafts within your group and create a final thesis statement to share with the class. ​

Open Ended

One person from each group: Share the final thesis statement created with your group.