BLUEPRINT for WRITINGBLUEPRINT for WRITING

COS Writing LabCOS Writing Lab

In home construction, the architect’s In home construction, the architect’s BLUEPRINTS BLUEPRINTS provide a builder with drawings of the provide a builder with drawings of the house’s framework. Once the framework has been house’s framework. Once the framework has been built, all other parts of the house will both emanate built, all other parts of the house will both emanate from and attach to that framework.from and attach to that framework.

In home construction, the architect’s In home construction, the architect’s BLUEPRINTS BLUEPRINTS provide a builder with drawings of the provide a builder with drawings of the house’s framework. Once the framework has been house’s framework. Once the framework has been built, all other parts of the house will both emanate built, all other parts of the house will both emanate from and attach to that framework.from and attach to that framework.

And, like the building contractor is dependent on the architect . . .

. . . so is the reader dependent on the writer.

Both need BLUEPRINTSBLUEPRINTS to guide them.

Blueprint of an EssayBlueprint of an Essay

LEAD, THESIS, CLUEING SENTENCE

TOPIC, S/D SENTENCES x # PARA.

CONCLUSION

BLUEPRINT has four parts.BLUEPRINT has four parts.

• LeadsLeads

• Clueing SentencesClueing Sentences

• Paragraph TransitionsParagraph Transitions

• Sentence CoherenceSentence Coherence

Part One: LeadsPart One: Leads

The title, the lead, the thesis, and The title, the lead, the thesis, and the conclusion – all work toward a the conclusion – all work toward a common goal. That goal is to focus common goal. That goal is to focus and guide your reader’s attention. and guide your reader’s attention. Together, they serve as a major Together, they serve as a major part of the blueprint of your paper.part of the blueprint of your paper.

The purpose of a lead is to grab your reader’s attention and to make your reader want to read further into your paper for detail.

Therefore,the lead must open your paper (essay),

andthe lead must ‘lead’ to your thesis.

TITLETITLE

LEAD LEAD . . THESIS THESIS ..

CLUEING SENTENCE CLUEING SENTENCE . .

Leads (grabbers, hooks)Leads (grabbers, hooks)

• STATEMENTSTATEMENT• ANECDOTALANECDOTAL

•Purple (Poetic)Purple (Poetic)

Note – these journalistic leads, although popular, are only Note – these journalistic leads, although popular, are only three of many types of leadsthree of many types of leads

STATEMENT STATEMENT LEADLEAD

INGREDIENTS:

• Reveals an astonishing fact• Fact points directly to the thesis• Fact must be accurate• Fact provokes skepticism

• Best serves the two-pager essay

STATEMENT LEAD - SAMPLESTATEMENT LEAD - SAMPLE

According to its chief inspector, the federal According to its chief inspector, the federal Department of Education misspent or lost track Department of Education misspent or lost track of $450 million between 1997 and 2000. An of $450 million between 1997 and 2000. An audit found grant payments of $250 million that audit found grant payments of $250 million that were issued twice to the same universities, state were issued twice to the same universities, state departments of education, local school districts departments of education, local school districts and private companies. The audit found another and private companies. The audit found another $200 million in improper payments.$200 million in improper payments.

Astonishing fact? Skepticism Astonishing fact? Skepticism provoked?provoked?

POLS 1APOLS 1A Assignment = Research paper , Assignment = Research paper , Gov’t. WasteGov’t. Waste STATEMENT LEAD:STATEMENT LEAD: According to its chief inspector, the According to its chief inspector, the

federal Department of Education misspent or lost track of $450 federal Department of Education misspent or lost track of $450 million between 1997 and 2000. An audit found grant payments million between 1997 and 2000. An audit found grant payments of $250 million that were issued twice to the same universities, of $250 million that were issued twice to the same universities, state departments of education, local school districts and private state departments of education, local school districts and private companies. The audit found another $200 million in improper companies. The audit found another $200 million in improper payments.payments.

POINT: The federal Department of EducationPOINT: The federal Department of Education

accounting department is negligent.accounting department is negligent.Although a costly overhead, federal auditors save taxpayers Although a costly overhead, federal auditors save taxpayers

money and eventually pay for themselves in recovered fundsmoney and eventually pay for themselves in recovered funds. . THESIS:THESIS: We We must not let irresponsible budgeting in Congress must not let irresponsible budgeting in Congress eliminate our watchdogs. eliminate our watchdogs.

ANECDOTAL LEADANECDOTAL LEAD

INGREDIENTS:

• Tell me a story

• Point (moral, ethic, foible)

• Max 3 characters, action, dialogue

• @130 words• Story’s point parallels thesis

ANECDOTAL LEAD - SAMPLEANECDOTAL LEAD - SAMPLE

The young woman was jogging when she saw a wizened The young woman was jogging when she saw a wizened old man smiling at her from his porch.old man smiling at her from his porch.

“ “You look so happy!” she said to him. “What’s your You look so happy!” she said to him. “What’s your secret for a long, satisfying life?”secret for a long, satisfying life?”

“ “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he replied. I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he replied. “Drink a case of whiskey every week, eat nothing but fatty “Drink a case of whiskey every week, eat nothing but fatty foods and never exercise.”foods and never exercise.”

“ “That’s amazing,” the woman said. “How old are you?”That’s amazing,” the woman said. “How old are you?”

He answered, “Thirty-two.”He answered, “Thirty-two.”

HEA 10 Assignment = Research paper on Nutrition

ANECDOTAL LEAD:ANECDOTAL LEAD: The young woman was The young woman was jogging when she saw a wizened old man smiling at her from jogging when she saw a wizened old man smiling at her from his porch. “You look so happy!” she said to him. “What’s his porch. “You look so happy!” she said to him. “What’s your secret for a long, satisfying life?” your secret for a long, satisfying life?” “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he replied. “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he replied. “Drink a case of whiskey every week, eat nothing but fatty “Drink a case of whiskey every week, eat nothing but fatty foods and never exercise.” foods and never exercise.” “That’s amazing,” she said. “How old are you?” “That’s amazing,” she said. “How old are you?” He answered, He answered, “Thirty-two.”“Thirty-two.”POINT: Tobacco, alcohol and cholesterol are harmful.POINT: Tobacco, alcohol and cholesterol are harmful.T.V. tobacco and alcohol ads have been soundly condemned, but our T.V. tobacco and alcohol ads have been soundly condemned, but our politicians seem reluctant to wage war against fast food franchises. politicians seem reluctant to wage war against fast food franchises. THESIS:THESIS: The Surgeon General must reinvigorate his campaign The Surgeon General must reinvigorate his campaign against cholesterol, calories and the drive-through industry.against cholesterol, calories and the drive-through industry.

HEA 10 Assignment = Research paper on NutritionHEA 10 Assignment = Research paper on Nutrition

•Purple Lead Purple Lead (Poetic)(Poetic)

INGREDIENTS:

• Sets reader’s mood

• Uses figurative language

• Holiday pieces, papers to galvanize

Purple Lead - Purple Lead - SampleSample

Outside my office door a soft breeze blows a shower of pecan leaves, the color of butterscotch, to the ground. A United Nations of butterfly species dance around the dark-red salvia and pale-blue plumbago. One by one, the fig leaves, in no particular hurry, let go their branches. All over the city, people who are laying in half-cords of mesquite and oak are in hopeful anticipation that the nightly temperature will bring the sort of mild chill that warrants lighting a fire.

HIST 2 Assignment = Research paper, Election 2004HIST 2 Assignment = Research paper, Election 2004

Purple Lead: Outside my office door a soft breeze blows a shower of pecan leaves, the color of butterscotch, to the ground. A United Nations of butterfly species dance around the dark-red salva and pale-blue plumbago. One by one, the fig leaves, in no particular hurry, let go their branches. All over the city, people are laying in half cords of mesquite and oak in hopeful anticipation that the nightly temperature will bring the sort of mild chill that warrants lighting a fire.

MOOD: wistful, loath to change, lethargy Autumn of next year may see more than the usual reluctant change of seasons. America will be moving into a winter of discontent, and THESIS: GOP leaders may reluctantly be leaning to the left in their 2004 electoral platform.

1. Due to the writing task that leads perform, they are also known as

A. seeds, chum

B. prongs, pliers

C. grabbers, hooks

C. grabbers, hooks

LEADS QUIZ

A. purple

B. anecdotal

C. statement

A. purple

2. If the writer intends to set his reader’s mood for a patriotic 4th of July speech, or a sentimental Mother’s Day essay, what type of lead would be advisable?

A. purple

B. anecdotal

C. statement

C. statement

3. Which lead reveals an astonishing fact?

4. Which lead points to a moral or ethic or foible that parallels the thesis?

A. purple

B. anecdotal

C. statement

B. anecdotal

5. Which lead uses figurative language?

A. purple

B. anecdotal

C. statement

A. purple

6. Answer TRUE or FALSE.

The type of lead that a writer chooses (purple, anecdotal, statement, or other) is generally suggested by the nature of the thesis.

TRUE

7. Answer TRUE or FALSE.

The subject of any lead generally matches that lead to the thesis of only one paper.

FALSE