Laying Out the Topic: Proofreading and Prewriting - Assignment Example

1. What sentence is the topic sentence of the paragraph? The topic sentence of the above paragraph is: “A trip to the ocean can be a relaxing escape from the everyday pressures of life.” 2. List four things to look for when you’re proofreading. Four things to look for when proofreading include, but are not limited to, misspelled words, improper punctuation, improper sentence structure, and incorrect word usage or tense. 3. Name and explain the two types of prewriting. Prewriting is the first stage of the writing process; it allows the writer to determine what their topic is, and the initial ideas that they have on that particular topic.

In addition, it gives the writer ways to get their thoughts into a semi-organized form and allows them to brainstorm on the thoughts, ideas, and concepts that may make it into their final paper. Two different types of prewriting are free writing and clustering. Free writing is the process by which a writer picks up pen and paper and just starts writing on all the different thoughts, concepts and ideas that come into their head in regards to their particular topic. This may or may not cause the writer to drift slightly off topic at times, as thoughts of one subject may lead to thoughts of another, however, that may also serve to strengthen their particular paper, or give the writer a slant by which they want to use to address the particular topic at hand.

Clustering is another form of prewriting; it involves the use of a doodle, or diagram, in which the primary topic is the central, or primary, circle. Once the primary circle has been created, the writer will then take lines and draw additional circles as connected to the primary circle with all of the words they associate with that particular topic. For example, the topic of cars may have circles going off to technical specs, history, and so on; each of those circles would then have additional lines going off of them with their own circles and so on. 4. Write an eight-sentence paragraph that fully develops the topic “A high school diploma is important to my future.

” A high school diploma is important to my future because it will ensure that I have the necessary educational requirements to get my start in life. My diploma will allow me to gain access to the college of my choice, which will get me that much further to my career goals. While I am studying and working towards attaining my career goals, my high school diploma will allow me to get my start in the workforce, as most jobs nowadays require, at minimum, a high school diploma. A job of my own will work to ensure my financial independence, and work towards my other goals of being a fully independent and self-sustaining individual.

By attaining my high school diploma, I am showing others that I am willing to work to attain what I want. It shows that I have a certain amount of knowledge, and have the basic necessary skills in order to get my start in life. High school diplomas also make it easier, in many cases, to attain grants and scholarships that may not be offered to those with just a GED.