Procedure:

• Computers are available on a first come, first served basis.
• I would prefer you to type your paragraph on the computer, but if you are really uncomfortable doing this, you may hand write your draft, and if you do, you must skip every other line and write on only one side of the page.
• For those on computers, you want to make sure your paragraph is double-spaced. In addition to printing off a copy, you should save a copy to your floppy disk. Also, you should save frequently to your floppy drive as you type, in case the computer crashes. If your computer will not read your floppy disk, you should go ahead and hand write your paragraph.

Assignment: Writing a Paragraph of Illustration.

• You'll find this assignment described in detail on pages 94-95 in Creating Compositions.
• Write one paragraph of at least fifteen sentences in which you describe or define a topic by providing examples to show different aspects of that topic.
• Use examples from your own personal experiences and from your own observations.
• Though you are relating personal experiences, these should be short - only a three to four sentences. You are not writing a narrative paragraph.
• Your paragraph needs to begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the subject of the paragraph, and your opinion or attitude toward that subject.
• Your paragraph should have at least three subtopic sentences, each introducing a specific aspect of the subject introduced in the main topic sentence.
• Your paragraph should end with a sentence that offers a concluding thought upon the subject you have been illustrating.
• Title your paragraph.

When you finish your paragraph, look back and make sure you've done the following:

1. Does the topic sentence introduce the subject and your opinion on the subject?
2. Do all your examples, experiences and observations in the paragraph relate back to the topic sentence?
3. Do you have at least three subtopic sentences to introduce new aspects of the topic?
4. When you offer an example based on personal experience, do you incorporate concrete sensory detail and good action words?
5. Do you have effective transitions?
6. Do you try a variety of sentence openings? (Remember, you don't want to start every sentence with subject and verb. Try opening a sentence with an -ly adverb or an -ing word. Also try opening a few sentences with dependent clauses to form complex sentences.
7. Have you arranged the details of the paragraph in an order that makes sense. For example, if you are explaining the concept of fear, do you begin with childhood fears and move toward adult fears? If you are discussing love, do you begin with the lowest kind of love (lust) and move toward the best kind of love (true love)?
8. Have you used some of the vocabulary words on p. 65?
9. As you proofread your paragraph look for misspelled words, comma splices, fragments and fused sentences.
10. Does your essay have a title?