Illustration Writing

ILLUSTRATION WRITING Using illustrations or examples to support a point is one of the most simple and common ways of developing ideas in academic writing. In everyday writing and speaking, we tend to use illustrations to be more specific about what we communicate to others. Imagine you make the point below. Look at the example to support that point. Could you think of any other types of examples that could make that point more specific? Point: The work meeting was productive today. Example: Within the first twenty minutes, we had all agreed to extend the business hours and hire one more office assistant. Rule #1: When you write an illustration paper, be sure to make the point or main idea clear with a topic sentence (paragraphs) or thesis statement (essays). In an illustration paper, the main point will be to illustrate or exemplify a topic. (See handout on topic sentence or thesis statement for more info.) Examples There are some major office etiquette mistakes that can make anyone look unprofessional. Writing a professional email has three fundamental characteristics. Rule #2: The body of an illustration paper should provide support for the main idea. Typically, three supporting points in the form of examples can be made, and then for each example, more facts, reasons, examples, and details should be used for specificity. Be as specific as you can. See example below. (Also, see handout on how to develop a paragraph or essay for more info.) Example: (main idea)Writing a professional email has three fundamental characteristics. o (supporting point #1)For example, the first characteristic is tone.  (details + examples)Specifically, a formal register should be used, utilizing words such as “dear,” “looking forward to,” and “sincerely.” Rule #3: In the body, you should also include transition words to move from one supporting point to the next or one example to the next. (See handout on transitions for more information.) the first example, as an example, to illustrate, for example, first, next, etc. Transitioning from one point to the next can also be done in order of importance. smallest to largest, least important to most important, least to greatest, etc. Rule #4: The conclusion of an illustration paper should summarize the main points listed in the body or restate the topic sentence. Use transition words to signal the conclusion is near. (See handout on paragraph and essay development for more information on conclusions.) in the end, to conclude, in sum, all in all, in conclusion, for these reasons Last Modified 11/15/17 PRACTICE: Read the illustration paragraph below. Then answer the questions. Check with a tutor when you are finished. Office Politics Office politics is a destructive game played by several types of people. For instance, two supervisors may get into a conflict over how to do a certain job. Instead of working out an agreement like adults, they carry on a power struggle that turns the poor employees under them into human ping pong balls being swatted between two angry players. Another common example of office politics is the ambitions worker who takes credit for other people’s ideas. He or she will chat in a friendly fashion with inexperienced employees, getting their ideas about how to run the office more smoothly. The next thing that happens is Mr. or Ms. Idea stealer is having a closed door session with the boss and getting promotion points for his or her wonderful creativity. Yet another illustration of office politics is the spy. This employee acts very friendly, again, with other works, often dropping little comments about things he or she doesn’t like in the workplace. The spy encourages people to talk about their problems at work, that they don’t like their boss, the pay, the working conditions. Then the spy goes straight back and repeats all he or she has heard to the boss, and the employees get blamed for their poor attitude. A final example office politics is people who gossip. Too often, office politics can turn a perfectly fine work situation into a stressful one. Knowing that one’s co-workers don’t respect her enough to talk behind her back creates feelings of resentment. In the end, employees must be careful in an office setting that they do not hinder the mood of their work environment with these negative tendencies. *Taken from English Skills with Readings by Langan 1. What is the main idea or point of this paragraph? In other words, what’s being illustrated here? Underline the topic sentence (main idea) that shows this. 2. In the body, there are four examples that the writer uses to support the main idea. What are they? Underline all four. 3. Does the writer use transition words to move from one example to the next? Circle them in the paragraph above. 4. Does the conclusion restate the topic sentence or summarize the main ideas in the body in order to remind the reader of the main idea again? Underline it. 5. If you could add one more supporting point or example with facts, reasons, and details to this topic, what would it be?