How to Teach Topic Sentences Using Models

Topic sentences can be likened to miniature thesis statements for individual paragraphs. The topic sentence states the main idea or topic of the paragraph. The sentences that follow the topic sentence must relate and support the claim or position made in the topic sentence.   As with all writing, teachers should first model proper topic sentences to have students identify the topic and the claim in the sentence, regardless of the academic discipline. For example, these models of topic sentences inform the reader about a topic and the claim that will be supported in the paragraph: Topic Sentence: Pets are important to many people because they can improve the overall health of the pet owner.  Topic: PetsClaim: Improve the overall health of the pet owner.Topic Sentence: Coding requires a number of different skills.Topic: CodingClaim: Requires a number of different skills.Topic Sentence: There are many reasons why housing in Singapore is the best in the world.  Topic: â€Å"Housing in Singapore†Claim: Housing in Singapore is the best in the world.Topic Sentence: Drama class requires students to be collaborative and willing to take risks.Topic: Drama classClaim: Drama class requires students to be collaborative and willing to take risks.   Writing the Topic Sentence The topic sentence should not be too general or too specific. The topic sentence should still provide the reader with the basic answer to the question being posed. A good topic sentence should not include details. Placing the topic sentence at the beginning of a paragraph ensures that the reader knows precisely what information is going to be presented.   Topic sentences should also alert the reader as to how the paragraph or the essay has been organized so that the information can be better understood. These paragraph text structures can be identified as compare/contrast, cause/effect, sequence, or problem/solution. As with all writing, students should be given multiple opportunities to identify topics and claims in models. Students should practice writing topic sentences for many different topics in all disciplines using different test structures. Compare and Contrast Topic Sentences The topic sentence in a comparison paragraph would identify the  similarities or similarities and differences in the topic of the paragraph. A topic sentence in a contrast paragraph would identify only differences in topics. The topic sentences in compare/contrast essays may organize the information subject by subject (block method) or point by point. They may list comparisons in several paragraphs and then follow those with contrast points. The topic sentences of comparison paragraphs may use transition words or phrases such as Æ’ as well as, correspondingly, Æ’ compared to, just like, likewise, similarly, and the same as. Topic sentences of contrast paragraphs may use transition words or phrases such as:  although, conversely, even though, however, in contrast, on the other hand,  to the contrary, and unlike. Æ’ Some examples of compare and contrast topic sentences are: Animals in the same family share common characteristics. These characteristics include†¦A purchase of a small car has both advantages and disadvantages.   Cause and Effect Topic Sentences When a topic sentence introduces the effect of a topic, the body paragraphs will contain evidence of causes. Conversely, when a topic sentence introduces a cause, the body paragraph will contain evidence of effects. Transition words used in topic sentences for a cause and effect paragraph may include: AccordinglyBecauseAs a resultConsequentlyFor this reasonThereforeThus   Some examples of topic sentences for cause and effect paragraphs are: I am great at a grilling a steak, but I can never seem to make a good cake. This is because†¦The United States Civil War was started for a number of reasons. The causes of the Civil War include:The Great Depression was a period of great distress and economic problems for many Americans and individuals across the globe. The effects of the Great Depression include: Some essays require students to analyze the cause of an event or action. In analyzing this cause, students will need to discuss the effect or consequences of an event or action. A topic sentence using this text structure can focus the reader on the cause(s), the effect(s), or both. Students should remember not to confuse the verb affect with the noun effect. The use of effect means â€Å"to influence or change† while the use of effect means â€Å"the result.† Sequence Topic Sentences While all essays follow a specific order, a text structure of sequence explicitly alerts the reader to a 1st, 2nd or 3rd point. A sequence is one of the most common strategies in organizing an essay when the topic sentence identifies a need to order the supporting information.  Either the paragraphs must be read in order, much like a recipe, or the writer has prioritized the information using terms such as then, next or finally. In a sequence text structure, the body paragraph follows a progression of ideas that are supported by details or evidence. The transition words that could be used in topic sentences for sequence paragraphs may include: AfterwardBeforeEarlierInitiallyMeanwhileLaterPreviouslySubsequently Some examples of topic sentences for sequence paragraphs are: The first reason why a real Christmas tree is preferred by many to an artificial one is:Successful leaders of large companies often share similar traits. The most important trait  includes:Changing the oil in a car is easy only if you follow the  steps. Problem-Solution Topic Sentences The topic sentence in a paragraph that uses the problem/solution text structure identifies a problem for the reader. The remainder of the paragraph is dedicated to offering a solution. Students should be able to provide a reasonable solution or refute objections in each paragraph. Transition words that can be used in topic sentences using the problem-solution paragraph structure are: AnswerProposeSuggestIndicateSolveResolvePlan Some examples of topic sentences for problem-solution paragraphs are: Students can avoid getting sick when they go away to college by taking certain precautions. Proposed precautions include...Various health agencies suggest that many kinds of pollution can affect your health. The different kinds of pollution include†¦Texting while driving has increased the number of auto fatalities. One answer to this problem could be†¦ All of the example sentences above can be used with students to illustrate the different types of topic sentences. If the writing assignment requires a particular text structure, there are specific transition words that can help students organize their paragraphs.   Crafting Topic Sentences   Crafting an effective topic sentence is a necessary skill, especially in meeting college and career readiness standards. The topic sentence requires that student plan what they are trying to prove in the paragraph before the draft. A strong topic sentence with its claim will focus the information or message for the reader. In contrast, a weak topic sentence will result in an unorganized paragraph, and the reader will be confused because the support or details will not be focused. Teachers should be ready to use models of proper topic sentences to help  students determine the best structure for delivering information to the reader. There must also be time for students to practice writing topic sentences. With practice, students will learn to appreciate the rule that a proper topic sentence almost lets the paragraph to write itself!

T.s. Eliot Essay - 1241 Words

As one of Americas first modernist poets, T. S. Eliots unique style and subject matter would have a dramatic influence on writers for the century to come. Born in 1888 in St. Louis Mo. at the tail end of the quot;Cowboy eraquot; he grew up in the more civilized industrial era of the early 20th century, a time of the Wright Brothers and Henry Ford. The Eliot family was endowed with some of the best intellectual and political connections in America of that time, and as a result went to only the best schools. By 1906 he was a freshman in Harvard, finishing his bachelors in only 3 years and studying philosophy in France from 1910 to 1914, the outbreak of war. In 1915 the verse magazine Poetry published Eliots first notable piece, The†¦show more content†¦This marked contrast in opinions seems to be expected from one who wrote such controversial poems. In The WasteLand he was quot;highly concerned with the regeneration of the fragmented modern worldquot; and used a more mythical touch, somewhat akin to Homers Ulysses. Eliots viewed his giving the literary work structure the mythical method itself, something he learned from Joyce Leavell. Leavell even said quot;The assumption of the mythical method is that our culture and language once had a pervasive meaningfulness which has been lost in our increasingly rational and discontinuous society, but that by recovering the lost myth from within our culture, poets can restore mythic unity to literature.quot; amp;#9;So why was did was this poet often considered to be so controversial at times? quot;I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature, and a royalist in politics.quot; T.S. Eliot so defined, and even exaggerated, his own conservatism. The ideas of this stimulating writer were perhaps traditional, but the way in which he expressed them was extremely modern. Eliot was one of the first to reject conventional verse forms and language. His experiments with free expression contributed to his reputation as one of the most influential writers ofShow MoreRelatedThe Wasteland by T.S. Eliot1017 Words   |  4 PagesT.S. Eliot’s most famous poem â€Å"The Wasteland,† a grim picture of post-war London is analyzed as being the most important poetic work of the twentieth century. The first glance at this poem leads one to the conclusion that the content of this piece is bleak and depressing. The assumption can be made that Eliot has diagnosed his society with a te rminal disease, which he chooses to describe through his poem. After further analyzing â€Å"The Wasteland† it can be seen that out of the dust of this barren placeRead MoreT.S Eliot2104 Words   |  9 PagesEliots attitude was reflected in his work. A quote from T. S. Eliot: The Man and His Work states, Eliot was a man with the highest standards in his poetry, his critisism, and his behavior to others. ( Spender 34). Perhaps much of this can be attributed to his birth toward the end of the Victorian Era. Eliots background also had a major effect on his writing style. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1888. Though Eliot was born in America, he spent much of his life in England. AlthoughRead MoreThe Wasteland, by T.S. Eliot857 Words   |  4 Pagestwentieth century, T.S. Eliot transformed the traditional poetry form into a more modern style. Eliot was born in St. Louis, Missouri on September 26, 1888. At the age of 25, Eliot moved to England where he bega n his career as a poet. Eliot greatly attracted the modernist movement, which was poetry written in the reaction of Victorian poetry. His first poem, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, was known as one of the most famous pieces of the Modernist movement. In his poetry, Eliot combines themesRead MoreEssay on T.S. Eliot704 Words   |  3 PagesT.S. Eliot T.S. Eliot is said to be one of the most influential modernist poets of our time. His poetry, although very complex is the subject of literary classes and discussions around the world. His poems â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† and â€Å"The Waste Land† are not only alike in his literary style, but also share the same theme of unsuccessful male and female relationships. Eliot experienced a very unsuccessful relationship with the opposite sex when he was married to a drug-addictedRead MoreEssay T.S. Eliot and Modernism931 Words   |  4 Pagestwentieth century produced works of poetry and prose which were unique to the form. The writing style of modernism was unprecedented and reflective of the socio-political events of the period. T.S Eliot was a pre-eminent figure in modernism publishing many important works of prose and poetry in his lifetime. â€Å"Eliot forged a style of aggressively fragmentary, urban poetry, full of indelicate, ‘unpoeticâ₠¬â„¢ images and diction† (OXFORD BRITLIT) Eliot’s â€Å"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock† is a poem that fullyRead MoreThe Wasteland by T.S. Eliot Essay558 Words   |  3 PagesThe Wasteland by T.S. Eliot In the poem, The Waste Land, T. S. Eliot gives a primarily positive connotation by using the theme of speech, language, and failure of speech. In each of the sections, Eliot shows how speech and communication are important in life. He also shows that speech cannot always accomplish what actions can. The way the characters in the poem use speech show that speech and communication are important. A Game of Chess This section may be the best example of communicationRead More Gerontion by T.S. Eliot Essay1629 Words   |  7 PagesNature: Effects of Revision in Gerontion After such knowledge, what forgiveness? Think now History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions, Guides us by vanities. These lines from T.S. Eliots Gerontion (1429, 34-37) appear in the final version of the poem, published in 1920. The speaker of this dramatic monologue is an old man sitting inside a â€Å"decayed house.† The reference to knowledge invokes the original sin of Adam and EveRead MoreEssay on T.s. Eliot And Society1454 Words   |  6 Pagesdaily lives to find greater reasoning. T.S. Eliot is considered to be one of the most prominent poets and playwrights of his time and his works are said to have promoted to â€Å"reshape modern literature† (World Book). He was born in 1888 in St. Louis, Missouri and studied at Harvard and Oxford. It was at Harvard where he met his guide and mentor Ezra Pound, a well-known modernist poet. Pound encouraged Eliot to expand his writing abilities and publish his work. Eliot became an England citizen in 1925 andRead MoreT.S. Eliot the Wasteland Essay1371 Words   |  6 Pages Oh keep the Dog far hence, that’s friend to men, Or with his nails hell dig it up again! You! Hypocrite lecteur! – mon semblable, - mon frà ¨re! T.S. Eliot, â€Å"The Burial of the Dead†, The Waste Land, lines 60-76. T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land is a Modernist piece of literature. Combining â€Å"traditional content† and radical style, Eliot has captured the tension between past and present. For him, the past is at once nostalgic, yet responsible for the present shared post-war â€Å"sense of desolationRead MoreWilliam Wordsworth and T.S. Eliot814 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Wordsworth and T.S. Eliot are both excellent and admirable poets from different time periods that have very distinct views on what it means to be a true poet. On one hand Wordsworth strived to be unique, romantic and sentimental in a time where people needed a poet as such. On the other hand, Eliot lived in a time where romanticism and sentimentalism did not satisfy readers that needed something less elevated and more realistic. Although they had opposing views neither is right or wrong and

The Impact of Perception of Performance Appraisal

Questions: 1. Explain why using valid selection procedures is important.2. Describe four (4) criteria commonly used to evaluate the effectiveness of training efforts. For each criterion, give an example of how effectiveness could be measured.3. Who else besides an employees immediate supervisor could serve as a rater for performance appraisal purposes? Give three (3) examples and explain why their input could be useful.4. Why should managers be concerned about employees perceptions of the fairness of a firms compensation system? What tools or mechanisms do organizations use to help ensure internal and external equity?5. What are the pros and cons of high executive pay? Answer: 1. It is highly essential to use a valid selection procedure in the field of human resource because selection process is a crucial requisite for every production or performance value firms that aim at operating successfully. A valid selection process is crucially important because it enhances transparency and confidence of corporate firms to grow firmly from the very root. By means of valid selection process along with effective hires, companies gain immense values. On the other hand, invalid or faulty selection process leads to bad hires and consequently overall corporate loss (McLean and DeMars). 2. The most practiced approach of evaluating effectiveness of training has been the Four Level Evaluation Model of Kirkpatrick. The key steps of this model are: reaction, learning, behaviour and results. Reaction This first level is said to solicit views of learning experience that follows training. The scope concerns the extent to which experience proved valuable or relevance of training. Learning This level measures the extent to which participants receive the required skills, knowledge and values as training outcomes (Manoharan, Muralidharan and Deshmukh). Behaviour This level measures the extent to which behaviours of participants alter due to training. For instance, improper behavioural change may have caused for other circumstances like individual reluctance. Results This level determines tangible outcomes of training like improved quality and efficiency, reduced, enhanced productivity, increased sales and employee morale, and employee retention. 3. In the process of performance appraisal, various approaches may be used. One of the most effective approaches is 360 degree performance appraisal. This process signifies that an individuals performance may be rated by not only his immediate supervisor but also other individuals like his subordinates, peers, separate departmental managers, and the employee himself (Goksoy and Alayoglu). For any employee, his subordinates and peers are some of the best individuals who may rate his performance effectively. It is because these individuals are ones who closely observe his performance, attitude, behaviours, etc. 4. Managers should be concerned about employees perceptions of the fairness of a firms compensation system because pay as well as benefits are highly significant to both existing as well as new employees. The compensation that they receive from the work happens to be the major cause behind seeking employment. Compensation not only acts as a source of their sustenance by allowing people to satisfy their materialistic or recreational needs, but also serves their needs for self-esteem (Manoharan, Muralidharan and Deshmukh). When the compensation system of any organization is perceived as inadequate, effective and deserving applicants may reject its employment offers, and also current effective employees may leave the organization at once. Organizations may ensure internal and external equity by performing job analysis and then recruiting most suitable individuals with required job specifications to justify the post. 5. High executive pay possesses both merits and demerits. The merits is that high pay means higher quality of life and social recognition (Schultz). It attaches lot of prestige and ensures professional success. On the other hand, the demerit states that these individuals with fat salaries involve intense public scrutiny. They always remain in the limelight and so they need to be highly aware all the time. References Goksoy, Asli, and Nihat Alayoglu. 'The Impact Of Perception Of Performance Appraisal And Distributive Justice Fairness On Employees' Ethical Decision Making In Paternalist Organizational Culture'.Perf. Improvement Qrtly26.1 (2013): 57-79. Web. Manoharan, T. R., C. Muralidharan, and S. G. Deshmukh. 'Analyzing The Interaction Of Performance Appraisal Factors Using Interpretive Structural Modeling'.Perf. Improv.49.6 (2010): 25-35. Web. McLean, Gary N., and Shane K. DeMars. 'Organization Development: Principles, Process, Performance'.Perf. Improv.45.8 (2006): 41-43. Web. Schultz, John R. 'Performance Improvement: The Means To Process Improvement'.Perf. Improv.46.7 (2007): 27-32. Web.

There are many causes of divorce Essay Example

There are many causes of divorce Essay There are many causes of divorce. A director of the Family studies centre, named Malcolm Wickes stated that ‘The causes of divorce spring from fundamental social, economic and psychological developments that are occurring world wide.’ Sometimes divorce cannot be prevented and the irreconcilable differences cannot be overlooked. This is a problem for many religions and ethnic communities as several believe that divorce is always iniquitous.The law has a serious view on divorce and so if the couple wish to have a divorce they must prove that their marriage is completely beyond any repair. With these grounds for divorce they will then be given a decree nisi and the separation will take up to 6 months. The law is indifferent to where they may marry again, divorce is still viewed by the state as a serious affair and they recognise the broken relationship.In the Bible, there are numerous views on divorce. These are extremely varied and the teachings of the church are equally d ivided. In the Old Testament a man was allowed to divorce his wife simply if he found ‘no favour’ in her. In the New Testament both proclamations contradict themselves: one is that ‘man must not separate †¦what God had joined together’ in Mark 10:9. For this particular reason, many traditional Christian churches refuse to remarry divorced people in a church, although they can marry in a registry office with the ‘blessing’ of the church. This is because divorce is seen as a misdemeanour in the eyes of God. However, in Matthew another statement declares that ‘If anyone divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Some believe that there are these conflicting opinions about divorce perhaps because Mark saw marital unfaithfulness as such an obvious reason for divorce that he did not deem it worthy to mention.The church of England does not completely agree with divorce , but recognises that the differences in a relat ion can sometimes not be reconciled, even if they have attended couceling. Therefore, divorce is the only option. The Roman Catholic Church however is stricter in its approach. Divorce is not even considered as marriage between two baptised people is a sacrament that should not be broken. However, a marriage where only one partner is baptised can be dissolved but only under special circumstances in other words there is a just reason such as impotence.The Catholic Church believes that divorce cannot merely be a legal contract. The marriage was conjoined in the eyes of god and so if the couple wishes to remarry in a Catholic Church the church much acknowledge that their marriage had been annulled, this is a statement that the marriage bond never existed due to an inability to carry out the duties of marriage, so that the couple may remarry in a Catholic Church. Otherwise, if they decide to remarry in any other way they would have committed adultery in the eyes of the Catholic Church a nd God. In addition there is also the condemnation of adultery in the Bible expressed by the quote:A man can hire a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery will cost his all he has. Jesus agreed with this as he stated in matthew 5:28 that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Therefore the breaking of a marriage bond is never right when adultery is concerned.Subsequently, there are more conflicts of opinion for example in Genesis 2:24 the Bible states â€Å"[a husband] cleaved to his wife and become one flesh.† This is demonstrating the belief that the marriage relationship should be eternal and the love should be immutable (as embodied by the ring in the marriage service.) Pope John Paul once said that marriage is an ‘unbreakable alliance’ and not just a ‘passing emotion’ but a ‘free decision to bind oneself completely in the good times and the bad to one’s partne r. It is a gift to oneself and to the other.’ The duty of Paul was to reflect the Churches view and he is explicidly saying that marriage is a sacrament a declaration that cannot be undone.Reiterating this opinion is Harold Loukes who said that marriage is not just a ‘pleasant arrangement†¦but a vocation into which we have been drawn by nature and god.’ Therefore, divorce would be seen as spiritually and religiously immoral. On the other hand, divorced Quakers are free to remarry and the Quaker faith and practice declared in 1994 that the ‘value [of marriage] is increasingly recognised’ but ‘whilst believeing that marriage is different and spcial, we recognise the value of other relationships and the single state.’ I believe that this is a more contemporary view on marriage divorce and relationships allowing autonomy where relationships are concernedIn the Christian faith, marriage is not only between man and women; it is also betwe en Jesus and his followers. Therefore, divorce should not occur between the followers and Christ, let alone the couple. This is expressed by the quote in Revelation 19:7, ‘For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. This decries the intertwined relationship between them.This quote conveys that the church is not merely made up of a material building but the faith of its believers. Toady nuns discribed as the brides of Christ and are given wedding rings after their final vows. These rings have the same significance as they do amoung the couple, both the nun and the couple should honour their promise both to God and eachother. The relationship between the couple should embody the relationship of christ and his followers. Divorce may be seen as a declaration that the amalgamtion of two people via marriage does not have any significance as is can be easily dismissed by the means of divorce.In conclusion, I believe that divorce can be right in partic ular circumstances. However, different faiths and ethnic groups all have their own outlook on divorce. Divorce is regarded as a highly controversial subject within christianity. However, the Quaker faith and The Church of England is perhaps more lenient in their allowance of divorce as they perhaps recognise the necessity of the joining and separation of a relationship. However a Catholic Church regards divorce as a sacrament that is forbidden to be broken, unless annulled and therefore the couple is declaring full ignorance to whether the marriage ever existed.Personally, it is my belief that love and marriage should be eternal (till death do us part.) By breaking this sacred bond you are initially implying that you did not fully commit and that the symbolic acts performed in the marriage service had no physical and emotional effect on you. However, if there is a just reason for the marriage to be annulled and the irreconcilable difference cannot be overlooked than there is a just cause for divorce.