Support in Illustration

The paragraph and essay models on pages 136–37 use the topic sentence (paragraph) and thesis statement (essay) from the Main Point section of this chapter. Both models include the support used in all illustration writing: examples backed up by details about the examples. In the essay model, however, the major support points (examples) are topic sentences for individual paragraphs.

To generate good detailed examples, use one or more of the prewriting techniques discussed in Chapter 3. First, write down all the examples that come into your mind. Then, review your examples, and choose the ones that will best communicate your point to your readers.

PRACTICE 2 Supporting Your Main Point with Examples

Read the following main points, and give three examples you might use to support each one.

EXAMPLE: My boss’s cheapness is unprofessional.

image

image

image

  1. My (friend, sister, brother, husband, wife — choose one) has some admirable traits.
    _____________________________________________________
    ________________________________________________________________
  2. This weekend is particularly busy. ______________________________________________________
    ________________________________________________________________

PARAGRAPHS VS. ESSAYS IN ILLUSTRATION

136
For more on the important features of narration, see the Four Basics of Good Illustration on page 132.

image

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Think Critically As You Write Illustration

ASK YOURSELF

  • Is each of my current examples clearly related to the main point?
  • If my paragraph or essay feels “thin,” might I find relevant new examples to enrich it? (For more on generating ideas, see pp. 46–49.)

PRACTICE 3 Giving Details about the Examples

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In the spaces provided, copy your main points and examples from Practice 2. Then, for each example, write a detail that further shows, explains, or proves what you mean.

EXAMPLE:

Main point: My boss’s cheapness is unprofessional.

Example: image

Detail: image

Example: image

Detail: image

Example: image

Detail: image

  1. Main point: ________________________________________________________________
    Example: ___________________________________________________
    Detail: _____________________________________________________
    Example: ___________________________________________________
    Detail: _____________________________________________________
    Example: ___________________________________________________
    Detail: _____________________________________________________
  2. Main point: ________________________________________________________________
    Example: ______________________________________________________
    Detail: ___________________________________________________________
    Example: ________________________________________________________
    Detail: __________________________________________________________
    Example: ________________________________________________________
    Detail: ___________________________________________________________