This journal measures your mastery of ULOs 2.1, 2.2, 4.4, and 4.6.
Throughout this unit, we have discussed ways that illustrations can help convey a point or exemplify an idea that a writer is trying to communicate. No doubt, you find yourself in situations all the time in which you must use illustrations. Before you begin working on the major assignments in this course, it is important to understand how illustrations function to support a point and how to effectively use illustrations in your writing.
For this journal entry, complete the following:
- Choose one of the following prompts:
- It is vital that all people over 18 years of age vote.
- Florida is a great place to vacation for people of all ages.
- LeBron James is one of the world’s greatest basketball players.
- Dolly Parton is one of the greatest country musicians of all time.
- Taking online courses can be a better option for working adults than attending in-person courses.
- It is possible to make healthy food choices at fast food restaurants.
- Write a paragraph of at least 200 words to support your chosen prompt using at least two illustrations. Most of these prompts will be easily supported by precise illustrations, though you may use a general or hypothetical illustration as one of the required two illustrations.
- As indicated in the Lesson IV: What Is an Illustration? video, remember to ask yourself some questions to consider the task before you begin writing: consider your reader and ask yourself what the reader might need to know in order to understand, believe, or support the claim. Be sure to read this Sample Illustration Paragraph!
Notes
- You may edit the specifics if you choose Prompts 2-4. For instance, you may replace Florida with a different state, James with another basketball player, or Parton with another musician. The point of this assignment is not to force you to support a certain argument; rather, it is to help you learn to use illustrations effectively in academic writing.
- You are not required to use outside source material, but if you do choose to use an outside source of information, you must include in-text and reference citations.
Your response must be at least 200 words in length. Though outside sources are not required, if you use source information for your Illustration Paragraph, you must include in-text and reference citations.