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1. Thesaurus I
A thesaurus is a dictionary of synonyms. Using a thesaurus is similar to using a dictionary. Suppose I am writing a document and realize I have used the word ‘stop’ too many times in the same paragraph. To reduce the number of times I’ve used stop, I check my thesaurus to find synonyms. The thesaurus has many suggestions including discontinue, check, arrest, halt, stall, stay, terminate, suspect, and cease.
If I prefer using the thesaurus software that comes with Office - it is faster - I simply move my cursor to stop, and click on the tools tab. Next to language, I click on thesaurus. I see another set of synonyms that includes discontinue, block, end, and prevent.
Example before using a thesaurus:
The new ABC chocolate cookie is a low-fat cookie. However, what you cookie lovers need to understand is that a cookie stops being low-fat if you eat three or four of them. The fat in the total number of cookies stops being a small amount if you do not stop eating so many.
Example after using a thesaurus:
The new ABC chocolate cookie is a low-fat cookie. However, what you cookie lovers need to understand is that the cookie ceases being low-fat if you eat three or four of them. The fat in the total number of cookies discontinues being a small amount if you do not stop eating so many.
Using the thesaurus suggested verbs, ‘cease’ and ‘discontinue,’ gave the paragraph a varied vocabulary, which created a more appealing text.
2. Helping Readers With Set Expressions
The writer’s task is to help readers understand the text. One writing technique that provides such help is to organize the writing with set expressions. In the same way that an outline helps to organize, set expressions have the power to organize. Set expressions prepare readers for what they are about to read. Such expressions tell readers that a list, new idea, evidence for an idea, or conclusion will follow.
When you want to introduce a new topic, set expressions such as ‘first’ and ‘second’ help readers.
Example:
Learning a new language requires a number of essentials. The first is exposure to the target language, and the second is motivation.
The expression ‘such as’ helps readers to know an example or a list is next.
Example:
Languages such as English, Spanish, and French use the Roman alphabet.
Set expressions such as ‘to summarize’ and ‘to conclude’ help readers know that a summary or conclusion is next.
Examples:
To summarize, language learning is an activity that requires time, energy, and motivation.
To conclude, learning a language takes time, energy, and motivation.
3. Doctor-assisted Suicide
Oregon is the only state in the fifty United States with a law that allows physicians to speed the death of dying patients. The law is known as the Death With Dignity Act. In Oregon, people with a life expectancy of less than six months may request a lethal dose of drugs. Two medical doctors are required to confirm the seriousness of the illness and the mental competency of the person making the request.
Voters in Oregon passed the law, and since then, one hundred and seventy very ill people have made the decision to speed their own deaths.
The Bush administration asked the Supreme Court to review the law and decide its constitutionality. The Supreme Court has decided it will do so.
The issue is an interesting one in that Oregon voters made their decisions, but the federal government believes it has the right to decide whether or not such a law is a good law. As the Bush administration is conservative, and conservative governments believe states have the right to determine their own laws, the conflict between the Bush administration and the voters of Oregon is attention-grabbing. We look forward to the Supreme Court’s decision.
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