Exploring Writing 2nd Edition by John Langan

Exercise 8

Complete the partial outlines provided for the two paragraphs that follow.
1.
How My Parents' Divorce Changed Me
In the three years since my parents' divorce, I have changed from a spoiled brat to a reasonably normal college student. Before the divorce, I expected my mother to wait on me. She did my laundry, cooked and cleaned up after meals, and even straightened up my room. My only response was to complain if the meat was too well done or if the sweater I wanted to wear was not clean. In addition, I expected money for anything I wanted. Whether it was a new iPod or my own cell phone, I expected Mom to hand over the money. If she refused, I would get it from Dad. However, he left when I was fifteen, and things changed. When Mom got a full-time job to support us, I was the one with the free time to do housework. Now, I did the laundry, started the dinner, and cleaned not only my own room but also the rest of the house. Also, I no longer asked her for money, since I knew there was none to spare. Instead, I got a part-time job on weekends to earn my own spending money. Today, I have my own car that I am paying for, and I am putting myself through college. Things have been hard sometimes, but I am glad not to be that spoiled kid anymore.
Topic sentence: In the three years since my parents ' divorce, I have changed from a spoiled brat to a reasonably normal college student.
a. Before the divorce
(1) ______________________________________________________
(2) ______________________________________________________
b. After the divorce
(1) ______________________________________________________
(2) ______________________________________________________
Complete the following statement: Paragraph 1 uses the __________ method of development.
2.
Good and Bad Horror Movies
A good horror movie is easily distinguishable from a bad one. A good horror movie, first of all, has both male and female victims. Both sexes suffer terrible fates at the hands of monsters and maniacs. Therefore, everyone in the audience has a chance to identify with the victim. Bad horror movies, on the other hand, tend to concentrate on women, especially half-dressed ones. These movies are obviously prejudiced against half the human race. Second, a good horror movie inspires compassion for its characters. For example, the audience will feel sympathy for the victims in the horror classics about the Wolfman, played by Lon Chaney, Jr., and also for the Wolfman himself, who is shown to be a sad victim of fate. In contrast, a bad horror movie encourages feelings of aggression and violence in viewers. For instance, in the Halloween films, the murders are seen from the murderer's point of view. The effect is that the audience stalks the victims along with the killer and feels the same thrill he does. Finally, every good horror movie has a sense of humor. In Alien , as a crew member is coughing and choking just before the horrible thing bursts out of his chest, a colleague chides him, "The food ain't that bad, man." Humor provides relief from the horror and makes the characters more human. A bad horror movie, though, is humorless and boring. One murder is piled on top of another, and the characters are just cardboard figures. Bad horror movies may provide cheap thrills, but the good ones touch our emotions and live forever.
ACTIVITY 1
Topic sentence: A good horror movie is easily distinguished from a bad one.
a. Kinds of victims
(1) ______________________________________________________
(2) ______________________________________________________
b. Effect on audience
(1) ______________________________________________________
(2) ______________________________________________________
c. Tone
(1) ______________________________________________________
(2) ______________________________________________________
Complete the following statement: Paragraph 2 uses the __________ method of development.