Study guide: Draft Different Texts for a Reader
Apply choose a genre’s opening job, name a paragraph’s development tool, choose a transition function, match a closing to purpose using supplied texts and original responses.
Ideas to explain in your own words
- An opening should match the text’s purpose. A scene introduces experience, an explanation clarifies a topic, an argument takes a supported position and a friendly letter addresses someone personally.
- Different genres need different development. Sensory detail builds a scene, definitions clarify an explanation, reasons with evidence support an argument and personal updates suit a letter.
- Transitions connect the actual relationship among ideas. Then sequences, also adds, although contrasts and therefore can indicate a conclusion supported by earlier reasons.
- A useful ending follows the text’s purpose. A narrative can reflect, an explanation can sum up, an argument can return to its supported position and a letter can sign off.
Useful vocabulary
- Choose a genre’s opening job
- An opening should match the text’s purpose. A scene introduces experience, an explanation clarifies a topic, an argument takes a supported position and a friendly letter addresses someone personally.
- Name a paragraph’s development tool
- Different genres need different development. Sensory detail builds a scene, definitions clarify an explanation, reasons with evidence support an argument and personal updates suit a letter.
- Choose a transition function
- Transitions connect the actual relationship among ideas. Then sequences, also adds, although contrasts and therefore can indicate a conclusion supported by earlier reasons.
- Match a closing to purpose
- A useful ending follows the text’s purpose. A narrative can reflect, an explanation can sum up, an argument can return to its supported position and a letter can sign off.
Watch your reasoning
- A setting does not by itself explain a process.
- An adjective alone is not an argument’s evidence.
- Therefore needs prior reasoning; it is not decoration.
- Restating a position is not permission to add a stronger unsupported claim.
A worked review example
Opening: At dawn, Jo found an empty stage. Development: cold floor under bare feet. Transition: then. Closing: Jo realized practice had made the stage less frightening. Choose a genre’s opening job: The relevant input states: Opening: At dawn, Jo found an empty stage. This fits narrative scene. An opening should match the text’s purpose. A scene introduces experience, an explanation clarifies a topic, an argument takes a supported position and a friendly letter addresses someone personally. A setting does not by itself explain a process. Name a paragraph’s development tool: The relevant input states: Development: cold floor under bare feet. This fits sensory detail. Different genres need different development. Sensory detail builds a scene, definitions clarify an explanation, reasons with evidence support an argument and personal updates suit a letter. An adjective alone is not an argument’s evidence. Choose a transition function: The relevant input states: Transition: then. This fits next event. Transitions connect the actual relationship among ideas. Then sequences, also adds, although contrasts and therefore can indicate a conclusion supported by earlier reasons. Therefore needs prior reasoning; it is not decoration. Match a closing to purpose: The relevant input states: Closing: Jo realized practice had made the stage less frightening. This fits resolve or reflect on a story. A useful ending follows the text’s purpose. A narrative can reflect, an explanation can sum up, an argument can return to its supported position and a letter can sign off. Restating a position is not permission to add a stronger unsupported claim.
Make a practice plan
- Practice choose a genre’s opening job: Read what the opening actually begins to do. Continue with the matching kind of development rather than switching purpose without a reason.
- Practice name a paragraph’s development tool: Identify the supplied detail and the role it plays. Add a second detail that serves the same genre.
- Practice choose a transition function: Read both connected ideas and identify the relationship expressed by the stated transition.
- Practice match a closing to purpose: Compare the ending with the genre and preceding material. Make the closure connect without adding an unrelated new subject.
- Try the new review before opening its answer. Return to the related lesson if you want more help.