Part 1: Writing an Outline and Part 2: Using a Dictionary

1. Part 1: Writing an Outline andPart 2: Using a Dictionary Dr. Sarwet Rasul

2. Review of Previous Session • Types of paragraph: Another way of looking at paragraphs • Descriptive paragraph • Narrative paragraph • Expository paragraph • Argumentative and Persuasive paragraph • Defining paragraph • Comparison and classification paragraph • Process oriented paragraph • Evaluative paragraph Tips for writing each type Exercises and activities

3. Current Session • Part 1: Writing an Outline • Part 2: Using a Dictionary

4. Part 1: Writing an Outline • What is an outline? • Types of outline • Macro outline • Micro outline • Advantages of using an outline • What is clustering? • How to use clustering? • Difference in a good and bad outline • From outline to essay/ paper

5. What is an outline? • What is an Outline? • An outline is a way of formally arranging and developing your ideas. Though formal in form, there is a great amount of flexibility in how you might approach making an outline. It can be made either before you’ve written a single word on the topic or after a draft or two. It can quickly cover the main ideas or become a detailed, in-depth undertaking. • The purpose of an outline is to help you organize your paper by checking to see if and how your ideas connect to each other, or whether you need to flesh out a point or two. No matter the length of the paper, from a 3-page weekly assignment to a 50-page senior thesis, outlines can help you see the overall picture. • Besides the basic structure (Roman numerals followed by capital letters followed by Arabic numerals, etc), there is no right or wrong way to make an outline. You can do a combination of short phrases with long sentences, or stick with one or the other. http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/outline.html

6. I. What is it? A. FormB. Purpose II. Macro A. Phrases B. Example 1. Explanation 2. Analysis III. Micro A. Details B. Quotations C. Example 1. Explanation 2. Analysis IV. Crafting an outline A. Identify Topic B. Main Points C. Order D. Sub-points E. Evaluate V. Outline to Paper A. Where to start B. Changing outline C. Retro-outlines that could be ordered in any number of ways. Macro Outlines Macro outlines, also known as topic outlines, help you to see the larger picture through a series of short phrases. It is particularly helpful when you are writing about a variety of ideas or issue As you can see, each part of the outline consists of just a few words, and conveys the basic idea of what belongs there, without going into too much detail. It is very easy to quickly look over and see the big picture, making sure you’ve covered all the points that you want to discuss. In addition, you can easily rearrange any section simply by copying and pasting, without getting too bogged down. Types of outline

7. Cont… Macro outlines • Macro outlines tend to work well in conjunction with clustering, as the short phrases from a clustering exercise can translate quickly to a macro outline.

8. Cont… What is Clustering? • Clustering is a type of prewriting that allows you to explore many ideas as soon as they occur to you. • Like brainstorming or free associating, clustering allows you to begin without clear ideas. • To begin to cluster, choose a word that is central to your assignment. For example, if you were writing a paper about the value of a college education, you might choose the word "expectations" and write that word in the middle of your sheet of paper. Circle "expectations," then write words all around it--words that occur to you as you think of "expectations." Write down all words that you associate with "expectations," words that at first may seem to be random. Write quickly, circling each word, grouping words around your the central word. Connect your new words to previous ones with lines; when you feel you have exhausted a particular avenue of associations, go back to your central word and begin again.

10. Cont… What is Clustering? • For example, "expectations" might lead you to consider "the social aspects of college," which may lead you to consider "career networking." You may then find yourself writing down words that compare the types of jobs you might get through career networking. You may end up asking yourself questions such as "What sorts of jobs do I want? Not want?" Have fun with this exercise; even silly questions can open avenues to explore, such as "What if I ended up waiting tables at Buddy's?" "Would I rather be a lion-tamer or an accountant?" "What about my brilliant career as a stand-up comedian?" • Some words will take you nowhere; with other words you may discover that you have many related words to write. Random associations eventually become patterns of logic as you look over your work. After looking over the clustering exercise above, you might conclude that you want an exciting career as a performer of some type, rather than a job in the service sector or behind a desk. • Now your sample paper/ essay about the value of a college education has some focus: how you expect college to lead to an interesting career that involves creativity, skill, and performance. You might then want to return to the phrase "Job Skills" and develop that part of your cluster, noting the skills that you'd need to reach your ideal career. • Clustering does not take the place of a linear, traditional outline; but, as the example shows, it allows you to explore ideas before committing them to a particular order.

11. Topic Outline: good and bad samplesSource: Yorkey, R. C. (1982). Study Skills for Students of English. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill

12. Topic Outline: Another sampleSource: Yorkey, R. C. (1982). Study Skills for Students of English. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill

13. Cont… Micro Outlines • A Micro Outline, contrary to what its name might suggest, micro outlines can be even longer than macro outlines. A micro outline (also known as a sentence outline) goes into the little details of the paper, and is particularly useful when the topic you are discussing is rather complex in nature. For this reason, it is often more useful to create an outline using complete sentences, rather than the short phrases of the macro outline. • In addition, it can sometimes be useful to insert the quotations you may use and subsequent analysis into your micro outline. This can help to ensure you have enough support for your ideas, as well as a reminder to actually analyze and discuss quotations rather than simply insert them and move on.

14. I. What is an Outline? A. An outline is a formally arranging and developing your ideasB. The purpose of an outline is to help you organize your paper, checking to see if and how your ideas connect to each other, or whether you need to flesh out a point or two II. Macro Outlines A. Macro outlines, also known as topic outlines, help you to see the larger picture through a series of short phrasesB. Example 1. Each part of the outline consists of just a few words, and conveys the basic idea of what belongs there, without going into too much detail2. It is very easy to quickly look over and see the big picture, making sure you’ve covered all the points that you want to discuss Mind maps III. Micro Outlines A. A micro outline (also known as a sentence outline) goes into the little details of the paper, and is particularly useful when the topic you are discussing is complex in natureB. It can sometimes be useful to insert the quotations you may use and subsequent analysis into your micro outlineC. Example 1. A micro outline tends to be much longer than the macro outline.2. By using complete sentences, you are able to see exactly what you are writing about instead of relying on key words to spark ideas IV. Crafting an outline A. Identify Topic: put it in your own words to show your individual understanding.B. Main Points: What are the main ideas you want to convey or need to convince your audience?C. Arrange your main points in a logical order and list them in the outline. D. Create sub-points beneath each major ideaE. Evaluate your outline. Look over what you have written. Does it make logical sense? Is each point suitably fleshed out? Is there anything unnecessary? V. Outline to Paper A. One of the best things about an outline is that you can start at any point, and still know what you need to discuss before and after that section.B. It may be that the act of writing these ideas out has spawned new ideas that simply need to be added to your outline. C. Try a retro-outline, which means creating an outline from the paper rather than vice versa. This method is quite useful before handing in any paper, regardless of whether or not you made an initial outline. Cont…Sample of Micro outline

15. Cont. Micro outline • As you can see from this example, a micro outline tends to be much longer than the macro outline. However, by using complete sentences, you are able to see exactly what you are writing about instead of relying on key words to spark ideas. Some people also find it easier to move from a micro outline to the paper, since there is so much already written, and they can simply continue to expand on the ideas with further analysis rather than trying to remember the reason why some point was included in the first place.

16. Sentence outlineSource: Yorkey, R. C. (1982). Study Skills for Students of English. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill

17. Sample format Yorkey, R. C. (1982)

18. Activity

19. Moving from the Outline to the Paper • Once you have a satisfactory outline, you are ready to start writing the essay/ paper. One of the best things about an outline is that you can start at any point, and still know what you need to discuss before and after that section. Try to follow the flow of the outline as much as possible, since that is its purpose. • As you write, however, you may find yourself diverging from your outline. Don’t panic. It may be that the act of writing these ideas out has spawned new ideas that simply need to be added to your outline. Go ahead and add them, but make sure all the ideas still flow together well. • On the other hand, moving away from the outline can also mean that you have lost your focus. So, be careful.

20. Part 2 of the session • Using a Dictionary • The Authority of a Dictionary • Differences in British and American English and the use of dictionaries • Desk Dictionaries • Which dictionary to buy? • What a dictionary will tell you? • Exercises on how to use a dictionary effectively?

21. Introduction • For foreign students of English, a good dictionary is a necessary reference book. • Like all tools, however, it is valuable only if it is used correctly and efficiently. • A short time spent on what a dictionary contains and how it should be used will save you much time later. • Note: All the material for “ Using a Dictionary” is taken from : Yorkey, R. C. (1982). Study Skills for Students of English. (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill

22. The Authority of a Dictionary • There are many English dictionaries; a few are excellent, many are poor. None of them is “the supreme authority” that advertisers may claim. • Unlike some other languages, English has never been regulated, approved, or authorized by an academy or government ministry. An English dictionary is merely a record of how English speakers define, pronounce, spell, and use the words of their language. • The only authority an English dictionary has is its completeness, its accuracy in reporting the facts, and its recency of publication.

23. British and American English • Foreign students are frequently worried about the differences between British English and American English. • Although these differences may seem to be confusing at first, they are not sufficiently numerous or important to worry about. • Where a difference exists, a good dictionary will indicate alternate British or American pronunciations, spellings, or meanings. Either is equally correct.

24. Desk Dictionaries • Several large dictionaries, called unabridged, contain all the words of the language. Usually you will not need such a complete dictionary. If you should, you will find it in the reference room of a good library. • Your study needs will be met by one of the common and convenient abridged dictionaries. • These are desk dictionaries that have more than 100,000 words+ important references. • Buy a recent adition.

25. Which dictionary to buy?

27. What a dictionary will tell you?

28. Cont… What a dictionary will tell you?

29. Exercise 1

30. Exercise 2

31. Exercise 3

32. Exercise 4

33. Exercise 5

34. A Tip!

35. Review of Today’s Session • Part 1: Writing an Outline • What is an outline? • Types of outline • Macro outline • Micro outline • Advantages of using an outline • What is clustering? • How to use clustering? • Difference in a good and bad outline • From outline to essay/ paper

36. Review of Today’s Session • Part 2: Using a Dictionary • The Authority of a Dictionary • Differences in British and American English and the use of dictionaries • Desk Dictionaries • Which dictionary to buy? • What a dictionary will tell you? • Exercises on how to use a dictionary effectively?

37. Thank you very much!