Exploring Writing 2nd Edition by John Langan

Exercise 4

Read the two student paragraphs below about families today. Which paragraph clearly supports a single point Which paragraph rambles on in many directions, introducing a number of ideas but developing none of them Paragraph A
Changes in the Family
The demands of modern society in recent years have changed family life. First of all, today's parents spend much less time with their children. Several generations ago, most parents were able to pick their children up from school. Now parents work longer hours, and their children attend an after-school program, stay with a neighbor or older sibling, or go home to an empty house. Another change is that families no longer eat together. In the past, Mom would be home and fix a full dinner-salad, pot roast, potatoes and vegetables, with homemade cake or pie to top it off. Dinner today is more likely to be takeout food or frozen dinners eaten at home, or fast food eaten out, with different members of the family eating at different times. Finally, television and the Internet have taken the place of family conversation and togetherness. Back when there were traditional meals, family members would have a chance to eat together at the dining room table, talk with each other, and share events of the day in a leisurely manner. Now, families are more likely to be looking at the TV or browsing the Internet than talking to each other. Clearly, modern life is a challenge to family life.
Paragraph B
The Family
Family togetherness is very important. However, today's mothers spend much less time at home than their mothers did, for several reasons. Most fathers are also home much less than they used to be. In previous times, families had to work together running a farm. Now children are left at other places or are home alone much of the time. Some families do find ways to spend more time together despite the demands of work. Another problem is that with parents gone so much of the day, nobody is at home to prepare wholesome meals for the family to eat together. The meals Grandma used to make would include pot roast and fried chicken, mashed potatoes, salad, vegetables, and delicious homemade desserts. Today's takeout foods and frozen meals can provide good nutrition. Some menu choices offer nothing but high-fat and high-sodium choices. People can supplement prepared foods by eating sufficient vegetables and fruit. Finally, television and the Internet are also big obstacles to togetherness. It sometimes seems that people are constantly watching TV or browsing the Internet and never talking to each other. Even when parents have friends over, it is often to watch something on TV. TV and the Internet must be used wisely to achieve family togetherness.
Complete the following statement: Paragraph _____ is effective because it makes a clear, single point in the first sentence and goes on in the remaining sentences to support that single point.