Fluent Essays

Essay Model 1: Read the following model essay and answer the questions about it at the end. Student Name Professor Name ESL 0202 Course Month Day, Year Consider this before Choosing a Major        (1) Many people in the U.S. are raised to believe that college is the key to success, and they are not necessarily wrong.  A college degree can provide access to better, higher-paying jobs.  A college education can also provide a sense of accomplishment and personal success.  College degrees don't come easily, however.  They require a lot of time and money to complete.  Therefore, a new enrollee should think very carefully about how to make the most of her investment.  Since not all degrees are equal, thinking carefully about a course of study before embarking on the journey is one of the wisest things a student can do.  Choosing the right major can make a college investment truly worth it.   The most important factors to consider before choosing a major are one's interest in the coursework, the flexibility the major provides, and ultimately one's passion for the work that comes after its completion. (2)The first factor to think about when choosing a major should be a real interest in the coursework.  College is long and expensive commitment, so no matter how good a particular degree might appear in the abstract, it's important to consider that it takes years of coursework to get there.  If the subject matter and the assignments in the classes required for this major are not at all interesting, or are too difficult, that could be a sign that the major itself it not the right one.  It's better to choose a major with classes that that interesting, but also challenging because those classes may signal interesting challenges beyond. (3)Another consideration before choosing a major is the flexibility it could provide out in the work force.  A major that is too broad may require extra coursework and training later on to be suitable for a particular job, while a major that is too narrow limits job choices.  For instance, many English majors continue their studies after they receive their degrees because English is like an "umbrella" major.  English majors often go on to study law, business, advertising, and teaching, among other things.  A major like "Crime Scene Technician," however, limits job choices to one very particular niche in the law enforcement field.  In these cases, English is not an end goal, and Crime Scene Technician is a bit too specific.  Choosing a major that offers some flexibility with job choices but does not necessarily require further education could allow you to apply for a wider range of jobs for which you will be qualified, which, from there, allows you to build hands-on skills for more opportunities in the field.             (4)Finally, before or even after having chosen a major, one should never forget that it is more than a commitment of a few years.  A major is an indicator of the kind of work that you might do for the rest of your life.  One leaves college with particular skill sets that they will most likely use over and over again in the workforce.  It's important to think ahead by ten or fifteen years before choosing a major and asking yourself, "What will I be doing at that time?"  If the answer does not relate to your coursework or your major, then it could be a sign to choose a different major.  College is a short period of time compared a lifetime of work.  Will the work be worth it?             (5)In conclusion, college can be a highly gratifying and uplifting endeavor, but a lot of thought should go into choosing the right course of study.  Students should consider their talents, their interests, and their needs and apply these to their choice of major.  Choosing an inappropriate major can result in a lot of wasted time and money, or worse, a wasted career.   One should always consider her interest in the coursework and the opportunities that coursework will provide for a long time to come. Questions about the Model 1:  Answer all the questions given below. 1. In an essay, we call the topic sentence the “thesis.”  Where is the thesis located in the essay? Highlight it in yellow. 2. How does the writer introduce the topic of choosing a major? 3. How many paragraphs is the essay?  Which paragraphs explain the subtopics? Highlight the subtopics in blue. 4. What words does the writer use to introduce new subtopics in the essay?  Highlight the signal words in pink. 5. What word does the writer use to conclude the essay? Highlight that signal phrase in pink. Writing Practice 1: OUTLINE the above essay by writing in the key features of the essay—thesis and subtopic sentences, and details—below. Outlines—except for the thesis statements and the subtopic sentences—DO NOT need to be in complete sentences I.  Thesis Statement: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ II. Supporting Topic Sentence 1 (use transitional expressions!):  ________________________________________________________________  ________________________________________________________________ A.  _____________________________________________________ B. _____________________________________________________   III. Supporting Topic Sentence 2: ___________________________________________________________________  __________________________________________________________________ A. _____________________________________________________ B. _____________________________________________________  IV. Supporting Topic Sentence 3: ________________________________________________________________  ________________________________________________________________ A. _____________________________________________________ B. _____________________________________________________   V. Conclusion Sentence ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ESL 0202 Punctuating Connectors / Practice Many of the following sentences use connectors to join clauses. In each sentence with a connector, highlight the connector and punctuate it properly! Write C if the sentence is correct. 1. _____ Although she was scheduled for surgery she did not arrive at the hospital on time consequently she had to reschedule. 2. _____ Joan went shopping for new clothes but she didn’t find any in her size. 3. _____ The residents of the island were sick for many months after damages from the hurricane contaminated the fresh water supplies. 4. _____ If I were you I would be more careful and I wouldn’t drive so fast. 5. _____ The event was cancelled because the weather forecasted a lot of snow. 6. _____ PGCC advises students to check Blackboard regularly and also to check email. 7. _____ The mechanic fixed the brakes however he couldn’t do anything about the broken windshield. 8. _____ While we were waiting for the bus it began to rain so our books were ruined. 9. _____ Before a student receives a failing grade she should discuss it with her professor or a tutor. 10._____ After the concert ended she had a headache.