Information to review for a brief quiz on the Vietnam War

- United States troops fought in the war from 1965 - 1973.
- It was America's longest war.
- In 1973, the United States "ingloriously" pulled out of the war (without winning)
- The U.S. was trying to help non-Communist South Vietnam fight invasion by Communist North Vietnam.
- US agenda - to fight against any spread of Communism
- It was a controversial war, but the majority of Americans disapproved of all anti-war movements in all its forms.
- American success was measured not by taking territory or by winning key battles, but by the "body count," the amount of enemy dead. But no one knew how many dead it would take to end the war.
- The fighting was "guerilla warfare" - surprise attacks.
- The draft was instituted for this war.

Essay Writing

BODY PARAGRAPHS:

The body paragraphs are where you develop your ideas and defend your thesis statement. There can be any number of body paragraphs in an essay; however, three body paragraphs is the standard. Each body paragraph needs its own topic sentence, evidence and analysis.

PARTS OF A BODY PARAGRAPH:

TOPIC SENTENCE: This sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It also supports your thesis statement by giving a “reason why.”

EVIDENCE: The evidence is your support for your topic. It is an example using a direct quote, paraphrase, or summary.

ANALYSIS: The analysis is when you explain why and/or how your evidence supports your topic. NEVER expect your evidence to speak for itself! You must ALWAYS explain the significance of the evidence to your argument.


Example Body Paragraph:
(Topic Sentence): Paris’s love for Juliet is unrequited. (Evidence): Paris mistakenly assumes that Juliet loves and wants to marry him, but it is clear that she doesn’t. “O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, from the battlements of any tower” (4.1.78-79). (Analysis): Juliet tells Friar Lawrence that she would rather die than marry Paris. Clearly she does not love Paris even though he loves her.


Hmwk for tonight: This assigment should be typed and printed out for tomorrow. Do not submit your answers on this blog.

Revise each of your body paragraphs so that for each body paragraph you have:
1) a good TOPIC SENTENCE
2) clear EVIDENCE (including a quote),
3) ANALYSIS of the evidence. It’s very important that you explain HOW and WHY your evidence supports your argument.