FRESHMAN COMPOSITION, RHETORIC, GRAMMAR II

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INTRO. TO LITERARY RESEARCH & WRITING

INSTRUCTOR: James Maxfield

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Sample 6-part Essay using Cause & Effect
 

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English 1010 James Maxfield, Instructor

Pre-Outlining: Sample 6-part essay format using Cause & Effect

Sample Topic: Requiring one year of Latin in high school

Discussion Question: Should a one-year course in Latin be required in either 8th or 9th grade as a high school pre-requisite?

Essay Strategy: Use Cause and Effect as the primary rhetorical mode.

Working Thesis: Requiring a minimum of one year of Latin language instruction between the 8 and 10 grades will increase English competency scores, enhance other foreign language learning skills, and better prepare students for either pursuing college or other challenging technical programs.

Working Title Ideas: Latin Isn’t for Losers; Succeed in Latin—Succeed in Life; Study some Latin, Stupid!

Statement of Fact: There seems to be a general consensus among all English and Language Arts teachers (many of whom I have consulted with personally) that the overall English and language skills in all high school students has continued to decline during the last 35 years.

Body (Confirmation): Topic Sentences for Major and Minor Premises: (Rearrange for Strongest Emphatic Sequence)

bulletStudents better understand English grammar and syntax as a byproduct of learning Latin. This directly translates into better competency scores and overall composition and reading skills.
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bullet                          Since Latin arguably forms the root word for a major portion of
bullet                          English words, whenever we learn a new Latin word, we also
bullet                          learn numerous new English vocabulary words based on that
bullet                          Latin root word. Minor Premise: Latin vocabulary is directly
bullet                          applicable in the professions of medicine and law.
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bulletStudents who have been exposed to some Latin find learning other foreign languages easier, not because they may be related Romance languages, but because of the discipline required to learn Latin. Minor Premise: Because we live in a growing global economy, we cannot afford to downplay foreign language study.
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bulletThis learning discipline also carries over to other subjects, projects, job skills, and life works.

Refutation: 1. Some school administrators and politicians assert that competency tests scores have increased in recent years. But this is often the result of their massaging test scores or revising testing standards. 2. They also maintain that learning Latin is of no practical use, which we have clearly shown in this essay is not true. 3. Some people (parents, teachers, administrators, and others) have asserted that if a student cannot learn English, they should not bother to study a foreign language, let alone Latin, because it will be too difficult for them. Again, we have proven that point of view is both incorrect and misses the point.

Emotional Appeal: It is vitally important that this issue be addressed without further delay—we cannot afford nor can be tolerate any further incompetence or lowering of testing standards. We can no longer remain ignorant of our ignorance in language skills.

Conclusion: Restate thesis, summarize main points, and make a strong final comment about what to expect if my proposal is implemented and where we should go from here.

 

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Last modified: 04/30/06