basic information

Narration 
Chapter Objectives


This chapter focuses on narrative as a method of development in writing. The main points presented are:

• A narrative is a story, a retelling of a sequence of events or of “what happened.”
• Proper narration has a clear point, which may be implied or stated in a topic sentence or thesis sentence.
• Effective narration is usually organized in chronological (time) order and includes clear transitions.
• Good narration includes specific, relevant details and may include dialogue.
• In narration, point of view and tense should be consistent.

Description 
Chapter Objectives


This chapter focuses on description as a method of development in writing. When using description, keep in mind the following guidelines:

• Effective description has a clear sense of purpose.
• A good descriptive paragraph or essay has a main idea, which may be implied or stated in a topic sentence or thesis statement.
• Effective description includes both factual and sensory details.
• Sensory details appeal to the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch.
• Clear description often includes comparisons, many of which use the words like or as.
• Descriptive paragraphs and essays may be organized according to space order, time order, or order of importance.

Persuasion 
Chapter Objectives


The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate how to persuade people through writing, to convince readers to agree with a particular position or point of view.

• Persuasive writing attempts to convince readers to agree with the writer’s position on an argument.
• In persuasion, a writer’s topic sentence or thesis should be an arguable statement and not a statement of fact.
• Effective persuasive appeals involve reason, emotion, and character.
• Acceptable support for a persuasive claim should be reasonable, fair, and effective; types of support include examples, facts and statistics, and reliable sources.
• Proper persuasive writing avoids oversimplification, irrelevant evidence, overly emotional words, and distorted or suppressed evidence.
• Good persuasive writing recognizes and effectively refutes opposing arguments.
• Successful persuasive writing uses an effective structure:
1. Background and statement of the writer’s position on the subject
2. Strong evidence for the writer’s position
3. Recognition and refutation of the opposing argument(s)
4. A conclusion that restates the writer’s position

source: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_harris_scw_2/14/3621/927206.cw/index.html

Comment: This is useful because this provides students with basic knowledge of kinds of paragraph. From that, students will have orientation to develop their writing skills.