Issue For August 1, 2006
Writing Question of the Week
This is usually a question submitted by an OWL user to the OWL Tutors. If you have a question you need answered quickly, ask one of our OWL Tutors or call the Writing Lab's Grammar Hotline at 765-494-3723. And remember, both services are free for everyone!
I am trying to format my analytical research paper and need some suggestions on how to form my introduction and conclusion. The paper is on the electoral process in the US.
The first paragraph is as follows:
The process of electing representatives in the United States comprises of people casting votes in districts and areas across the country, to select local, state, and national leaders. Under Article I and Article II of the Constitution of the United States, as well as amendments that apply to voter requirements, voting is a right given to citizen of the United States of America, who are older than the age of 18. The right to vote in elections, local, state, and national, is one of the most basic and important rights to the people of this country.
Thanks,
Carlos
Your introduction will need to introduce the topic of your paper (which you do) and offer the readers minimal background information about your topic. You may want to include in your introduction a reference to what (what aspect of the electoral process) you are going to analyze and why. Why is it necessary to analyze that aspect?
The thesis statement can be included in the introduction or in the paragraph that follos the introduction.
The conclusion will need to recap and emphasize the main points of your discussion.
Good luck,
OWL
The OWL Help Nest
Each week we publish Purdue OWL News readers' requests for advice or information and the responses from other Purdue OWL News readers.
I had someone change my use of 'were' to 'wasn't' in the following sentence: "My adolescent memory is foggy, as if I weren't fully conscious." I contested the correction, but couldn't explain why. This use of 'was/were' has come up in other examples, so I was hoping for some basic clarification or a simple rule so I can defend myself with eloquence in the future! For example, I wish I was/were (rich, invisible etc); If I was/were (you); If only it was/were (Saturday). I'm hoping for a simple explanation (apart from 'it just sounds wrong/right'!).--Fiona, Melbourne, Australia
You were correct because you were in the conditional tense. In other words, you weren't describing an existing state; you were describing how you would feel IF some condition occurred which would change your current circumstance. In the conditional tense, "were" is the proper verb form. Similarly, "I wish I were rich" is another conditional statement. It doesn't describe your current circumstance but rather a potential one. --Susan Mueller, St. Louis College of Pharmacy
Your usage of weren't was correct because you were using the subjunctive mood to express a condition contrary to fact. As an adolescent you were fully conscious, so your statement "as if I weren't fully conscious" expresses a condition that did not exist or that was the opposite of your actual condition. This rule for using the subjunctive mood explains other correct examples including "if I were rich," etc., if the statement expresses a condition that is contrary to fact. --Linda , Russellville, Alabama
Is there a website for Spanish language questions similar to the Purdue OWL Website for English language questions?--Greg Cutchin
It's not OWL, but the Real Academia Española (Royal Academy of Spanish Language) official website http://www.rae.es/ might be an excellent help. They also answer questions. It's a simple but very rich website. --Ljudmila Hribar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
http://www.wordreference.com offers a forum in which you can post questions on Spanish grammar or voabulary. --Linda Collins, Cal State San Marcos
Not exactly the same, but Spanish has some official institutions that answer the same questions about language use. The Institution in Spain is "La Real Academia" and offers you three sources of information: 1) an on-line language use dictionary (Diccionario Panhispánico de Dudas) http://buscon.rae.es/dpdI 2) an FAQ (Preguntas más frecuentes) section on the web site; and 3) a direct e-mail (Formulario de consulta) response. To access the last two options access the "Academia" website at http://www.rae.es and on the left hand side click on "Consultas Lingüísticas". There is also a corresponding "Academia" in the USA; see www.georgetown.edu/academia. --Ismael Arinas, Madrid, Universidad Politecnica
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- OWL Eye On...More OWL Work. Since last August's launch of the redesigned Purdue OWL, we've received mounds of excellent feedback and criticism from OWL users. This coming week, the design and functionality of the new OWL are set to improve based on feedback and our usability testing. Check back for a report on new features in next week's Purdue OWL News.
What's Happening in the Writing Lab
- OWL Eye On...Writing Lab Tours for Purdue Instructors and Their Classes. Instructors at Purdue are encouraged to schedule Writing Lab Tours for their courses. Tours last 20-30 minutes and provide students an introduction to Writing Lab services. They are available only during the first two weeks of each semester. Please call 494-3723 to schedule an appointment for your Lab Tour today.
- OWL Eye On...Purdue Day at the Indiana State Fair. Writing Lab Tutors will provide resume consultations to Purdue Liberal Arts alumni at the Indiana State Fair on August 16, from 4-7 pm. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Chris Sharp, Alumni Relations Coordinator, at ctsharp@purdue.edu.
- OWL Eye On...Summer Hours and Operation. The Writing Lab will offer tutoring and ESL conversation groups throughout the summer. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Friday, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Conversation groups for ESL students are held on Monday and Tuesday, from 3:00pm to 4:00 pm, and on Wednesday and Thursday, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Workshops on writing-related topics are offered by request. Please call 494-3723 for more information about workshops, tutorials, and conversation groups.
This week's OWL News was edited by Karl Stolley, OWL Webmaster.
