Statement-Support Patterns

Part 1:

Read pages 31-45 in Writing and Revising. Using “Four Menus” as your source text, analyze “Four Menus” by answering the following questions:

Where does the writer use the statement-support pattern?
How does the statement-support pattern affect the essay’s persuasiveness?
Where might the writer have stated a claim or assertion more clearly?
What do you think the main idea (statement/thesis) of this essay is? In other words, what’s the big idea?
List two items that support the main idea.
Your post should be a full paragraph or at least five sentences in length. Responses should be full and thoughtful. You must post your reply before you can view other posts.

Statement-Support Patterns
The information about the statement-support pattern can be found on pages 42-45 of your Writing and Revising book. Statement-support patterns make arguments more persuasive. It’s easier to convince an audience if you provide reasons. Statement-support patterns involve

Making a claim, statement, or assertion
Supporting that statement with evidence
For example:

Claim: College is expensive.

Evidence 1: The cost of textbooks can vary from $35 to $400 per book, which makes some classes quite expensive.
Evidence 2: Each class costs $105.17 per credit, and some classes have an additional fee attached.
Evidence 3: Parking passes, notebooks, pens, computer lab fees, and printing fees add up quickly.

Part 2:

Read through your classmates’ posts, and choose one to respond to.

In your response, explain why you found your classmate’s post interesting, and how it has expanded your thinking of “Four Menus.” How does it enlarge, change, or contradict how you read the essay?

Each post should be approximately a full paragraph or at least five sentences in length. Responses should be full and thoughtful.