Reading Response: TSIS 101-14

Like always, i highly enjoyed reading pages 101-14 from TSIS; i really love this book, it is very informative. 101-14 informs the reader how he/she can eliminate disconnected sentences in their own writing, and in their students' writing as well. The book gives Bill's examples; his biggest problem has much to do with him not reading his papers before submitting them, clearly, Bill has many sentences in his writing that just do not "connect." Because Bill does not proof-read his papers, he fails to realize that his writing consists of many sentences that do not "connect." He gets his paper back with teacher comments in the margin that read, "Connect your sentence" (101). Certainly, if Bill begins to "proof-read" his papers his errors will become visible. Graff, and Birkenstien convey to the reader that Bill and his classmates, "Never look back" at their reading, they just, "move forward" ; if such an an act continues, Bill and his classmates will continue to receive low scores on their essays (102). Graff, and Birkenstein recommend that students who are struggling with connecting their thoughts need to be taught "how to connect their thoughts." In other words, they need to be told that it is very important that they connect all of their ideas and sentence. By doing so, they will not mislead the reader (their audience), "It may help to think of each sentence you write as having arms that reach backward and forward. When your sentences reach outward like this, they establish connections that help your writing flow smoothly in a way readers appreciate" (103). Well said! Now, for Aristotle's topoi, this text was highly worthy and advantageous! It's worthy because it teaches the reader a worthy lesson which they can later teach to their students; it's advantageous because it provides examples of Bill's mistakes which the reader can take advantage of for future reference, and be prepared when they do come across a student who has"disconnecting" sentences. When addressing "diconnecting sentences, and how to use transitions" this book can be very resourceful.