Writing an Example Paragraph

Summary

In this video, Michael Langdon provides a simple guide on how to write an example paragraph. Aimed at students, he demonstrates how to choose a topic and structure an example paragraph with clear and concise sentences. Using grammar websites as his topic, he introduces three examples: Grammar Girl, EngVid, and the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University. Through this tutorial, Langdon explains how to present each example with an introduction sentence followed by a detailed explanation, making the writing process easy to understand for beginners.

Takeaways

• 😀 Example paragraphs are a core component of non-fiction writing and are the easiest to write for students.
• 😀 The main task in writing an example paragraph is to introduce a topic and then provide relevant examples with explanations.
• 😀 The topic sentence should clearly introduce the subject, such as the websites to learn about grammar.
• 😀 When providing examples, each example should be followed by a clear explanation of what it offers or how it helps.
• 😀 The first website example in the script is Grammar Girl, a site with over 200 podcasts on grammar and usage.
• 😀 Grammar Girl also offers transcripts of podcasts, allowing learners to either listen to the audio or read the content.
• 😀 The second example is EngVid, a website that provides video lessons on grammar and usage, stored on YouTube.
• 😀 EngVid is noted for being easy to use and offering comprehensive and simple lessons.
• 😀 The third example is Purdue University's OWL (Online Writing Lab), which covers both basic and advanced topics related to writing.
• 😀 OWL is particularly praised for its extensive resources, including topics like logic and deductive reasoning in writing.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that this is a rough draft, suggesting that future edits can enhance clarity and remove redundancies.

Q & A

What is the purpose of an example paragraph?

An example paragraph serves to provide specific examples that support a particular idea or topic, making it easier to understand and illustrate the point being made.

How does the speaker suggest students approach writing an example paragraph?

The speaker suggests that students first choose a topic, then introduce it with a topic sentence, followed by sentences explaining specific examples related to that topic.

What topic does the speaker choose to demonstrate writing an example paragraph?

The speaker chooses the topic of grammar websites to demonstrate how to write an example paragraph.

What are the three grammar websites mentioned in the example paragraph?

The three grammar websites mentioned are Grammar Girl, EngVid.com, and the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL).

How does the speaker explain the Grammar Girl website?

The speaker explains that Grammar Girl is a site offering over 200 podcasts covering grammar topics, with the option to download the audio or read the transcripts.

What type of content does EngVid.com provide?

EngVid.com provides video lessons stored on YouTube, offering comprehensive and easy-to-understand grammar topics.

What makes the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) stand out according to the speaker?

The OWL is highlighted as a comprehensive resource that covers not only basic grammar but also advanced topics like logic, deductive reasoning, and writing techniques.

What key feature does the speaker emphasize about the Grammar Girl website?

The key feature emphasized is the extensive library of over 200 podcasts that cover various grammar rules and usage, with options for both audio and transcripts.

Why does the speaker refer to some of the content as 'a little generic'?

The speaker acknowledges that some descriptions, like the explanation of EngVid.com, could be more specific and less repetitive, which is why they mention it as 'a little generic'.

What is the speaker's plan for the next step after presenting the rough draft of the example paragraph?

The speaker plans to show how to edit and improve the rough draft in the next part of the presentation to make it more polished and effective.