dtan-learning-english

I am going to concentrate on learning how to craft a __thesis statement__ and __present a clear argument__.
 * __ Lesson One __**

 Some recommended readings: [] [] [] I have summarized the above websites into 2 categories: steps to construct a thesis statement and a checklist after completing the thesis statement.
 * __ Part A: Thesis statement __**

** Steps to construct a thesis statement: ** - Narrow the focus of your main idea - Draft a working thesis statement to guide you as you write the paper; you can refine the language later. - Create a thesis that will be interesting and enlightening to your audience. - Keep your thesis statement visible as you work. - Organize the body of your paper so that topic sentences support the thesis. - When the first draft is completed, revise your thesis statement to make it as sharp, specific, and focused as possible. Choose vivid language and active verbs. ** Checklist after completing the thesis statement: ** - Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Is focused and specific enough to be "proven" within the boundaries of your paper. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Is generally located near the end of the introduction; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Identifies the relationship between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument. <span style="text-align: center; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; text-decoration: none; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;"> Some recommended readings: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">[] [] <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">I have researched on the points to note when presenting an argument and this will be helpful for my classmates and me.
 * __ Part B: Presenting a clear argument __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Must fit together to construct a logical reason for belief in the conclusion <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Cannot rely on the acceptance of the conclusion without the logical support they provide <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Argument made is a logical statement, and __not an appeal to emotion, force, tradition__, etc. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;"> **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Accepting an argument: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">an argument is acknowledged if it is… <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">A matter of common knowledge <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;"> Confirmed by one’s own personal experience or observation <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Adequately defended in an accessible source or existing argument <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">An uncontroverted eyewitness or personal testimony <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">An uncontroverted claim from a relevant authority <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">A minor claim that is supported by the argument’s context <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Supported by statistics and data <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Attack your weakest link before someone else does <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Remove as much controversy as possible <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Do not make a claim unless necessary <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; msofareastfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: Wingdings;">è <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">Support all claims made with acceptable premises <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Be as clear and straightforward as possible <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Be honest about the argument’s weaknesses <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Remove vague or confusing language <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Remove premises and sub-premises that do not matter <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Make your deductive process explicit <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msolist: Ignore; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG;">Avoid fallacies <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">After we have read the guidelines, here are some tips which will benefit us:
 * <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">The premises of the argument: **
 * <span style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; msoansilanguage: EN-SG;">Relevance of the argument: **
 * Making arguments stronger:**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">but proves that consequently shows that hence so indicates that suggests that in fact the most obvious explanation is in short the point I'm trying to make it follows that therefore it is highly probable that the truth of the matter is it should be clear that thus points to the conclusion that we may deduce that
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Key indicator words of a conclusion: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">also for the reason that as a result of in addition because of the fact that in view of first, ..., second is supported by for researchers found that for example since the evidence is <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">for one think
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Key indicator words of a premise: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Writing topic: Gm Food – boon or bane?
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lesson Two __**

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Research and Planning progress __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I will be writing an introductory paragraph in order to apply some of the skills learnt in “Lesson One – Part A: Thesis statement”. Therefore, I will need to look at some research done before deciding the scope of my essay.

Here are some of the websites I have visited: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">

The genetics war has broken out. The clash is most intense in Europe, where public concern about GM food is higher than in other parts of the world. Making a big splash in the news lately, the highly controversial debate over the harmful long-term effects of GM food has caused much apprehension among consumers despite pro-GM groups repeatedly claim that GM food is safe to consume. GM food is a bane because it has damaging effects on ecology, unforeseeable adverse health impacts on man and not sustainable.

The genetics war has broken out, making a big splash in the news lately. This clash is most intense in Europe, where public concern about GM food is higher than in other parts of the world. The highly controversial debate over the harmful long-term effects of GM food has caused much apprehension among consumers, despite pro-GM groups repeatedly claim that GM food is safe to consume. I believe that GM food is bane because it has damaging effects on ecology, an unsustainable method of providing food, and has unforeseeable adverse health impacts on man.
 * __Revised Paragraph:__**

Continuing the production of GM food might __devastate the Earth’s ecology__, __bringing more harm than intended good__ for the world’s population. GM food producers advocated that the new technology is going to be the lifesaver of developing countries such as India, as they can solve food shortages by producing large amount of quality food with less cost and shorter time. However, this good intention might not match the real life scenario as this mass production would destroy and upset the Earth’s ecology. An Australian survey showed that only 45% of the country’s population will accept GM food due to the risk it contains, following a group of British researchers who demonstrated that genetically modified DNA from crops can find its way into human gut bacteria, raising possible health concerns. Therefore, GM food might not necessarily be the world’s “lifesaver”. Another example, Prodigene Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, was fined by the USDA for allowing corn that was genetically engineered to produce a pig vaccine to contaminate 500,000 bushels of soybeans in Nebraska. Reports stated that this was merely an oversight that some stray corn seeds got left out in the field in which it was grown, germinated in the field and got harvested together with soybeans planted in the same field the next season. O <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">ne shipment of such corn got into the human food chain through a fast food outlet, raising red flags throughout the industry and consumer action groups. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore, this example proves that a slight human error might lead to devastating consequences – contaminating the food chain might lead to unthinkable cost which would be impossible to salvage. In view of such risk GM food entails, GM food is a bane with its potential ecological threat. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">