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1、1Part I. General IntroductionI. An Introduction to Writing1. Point and Support 1.1 An Important Difference Between Writing and TalkingIn everyday conversation, you make all kinds of points or assertions. You say, for example, “My boss is a hard person to work for“; “Its not safe to walk in our neigh
2、borhood after dark“; or “Poor study habits keep getting me into trouble.“ The points that you make concern personal matters as well as, at times, outside issues: “That trade will be a disaster for the team“; “Lots of TV commercials are degrading to women“; “Students are better off working for a year
3、 before attending college.“The people you are talking with do not always challenge you to give reasons for your statements. They may know why you feel as you do, or they may already agree with you, or they simply may not want to put you on the spot; and so they do not always ask, “Why?“ But the peop
4、le who read what you write may not know you, agree with you, or feel in any way obliged to you. If you want to communicate effectively with readers, you must provide solid evidence for any point you make. An important difference, then, between writing and talking is this: In writing, any idea that y
5、ou advance must be supported with specific reasons or details.Think of your readers as reasonable people. They will not take your views on faith, but they are willing to accept what you say as long as you support it. Therefore, remember to support with specific evidence any point that you make.1.2 P
6、oint and Support in a Paragraph In conversation, you might say to a friend who has suggested a movie, “No, thanks. Going to the movies is just too much of a hassle. Parking, people, everything.“ From shared past experiences, your friend may know what you are talking about so that you will not have t
7、o explain your statement. But in writing, your point would have to be backed up with specific reasons and details.Below is a paragraph, written by a student named Diane Woods, on why moviegoing is a nuisance. A paragraph is a short paper of around 150 to 200 words. It usually consists of an opening
8、point called a topic sentence followed by a series of sentences which support that point.The Hazards of MoviegoingAlthough I love movies, Ive found that there are drawbacks to moviegoing. One problem 2is just the inconvenience of it all. To get to the theater, I have to drive for at least fifteen mi
9、nutes, or more if traffic is bad. It can take forever to find a parking spot, and then I have to walk across a huge parking lot to the theater. There I encounter long lines, sold-out shows, and ever-increasing prices. And I hate sitting with my feet sticking to the floor because of other peoples spi
10、lled snacks. Another problem is my lack of self-control at the theater. I often stuff myself with unhealthy calorie-laden snacks. My choices might include a bucket of popcorn, a box of Milk Duds, a giant soda, or all three. The worst problem is some of the other moviegoers. Kids run up and down the
11、aisle. Teenagers laugh and shout at the screen. People of all ages drop soda cups and popcorn tubs, cough and burp, and talk to one another. All in all, I would rather stay home and wait to see the latest movie hits on cable TV in the comfort of my own living room.Notice what the supporting evidence
12、 does here. It provides you, the reader, with a basis for understanding why the writer makes the point that is made. Through this specific evidence, the writer has explained and successfully communicated the idea that moviegoing can be a nuisance.The evidence that supports the point in a paper often
13、 consists of a series of reasons followed by examples and details that support the reasons. That is true of the paragraph above: Three reasons are provided, with examples and details that back up those reasons. Supporting evidence in a paper can also consist of anecdotes, personal experiences, facts
14、, studies, statistics, and the opinions of experts.Exercise：The paragraph on moviegoing, like almost any piece of effective writing, has two essential parts: (1) A point is advanced, and (2) that point is then supported. Taking a minute to outline the paragraph will help you understand these basic p
15、arts clearly. Write in the following space the point that has been advanced in the paragraph. Then add the words needed to complete the outline of the paragraph.Point: _Support:1. _a. Fifteen-minute drive to theaterb._c. Long lines, sold-out shows, and increasing pricesd._2. Lack of self-controla. Often stuff myself with unhealthy snacksb. Might have popcorn, candy, soda, or all three3._3a._
