Category or class

Model Paragraph: What Is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disability that until the 1940s was 
unrecognized. In 1988, the fi lm 
Rain Man
starring Dustin Hoffman brought 
the condition to greater public awareness. Now some researchers claim 
that one in every 91 American children has some form of autism. This is 
because the defi nition has broadened to include a wide range of identifying 
symptoms. The three most distinctive symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of 
autism are (1) a diffi culty with social interaction, (2) a problem with verbal 
and nonverbal communication, and (3) repetitive actions or obsessive 
interests. For instance, a parent may slowly realize that a child is not 
making eye contact or smiling. Sometimes a child is developing normally 
and then suddenly loses language and social skill. Experts point out that 
autism is not to be confused with mental retardation. Autistic children are 
often gifted in one or more areas. While there is still much to learn about 
the syndrome, doctors all agree that the earlier parents start intervention 
therapies, the better the outcome. 
1. ADD (Attention Defi cit Disorder)
2. Childhood Obesity
3. Alzheimer’s Disease
4. Asthma
5. Munchausen Syndrome
6. Borderline Personality Disorder
7. Dyslexia
8. Anorexia Nervosa
9. Postpartum Depression
10. Asperger 
Syndrome
Ten suggested topics
Topic sentence
PART 4
CREATING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS
480
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ASSIGNMENT 2: DEFINITION OF A CONTROVERSIAL TERM
Write a paragraph that will defi ne a controversial term. The following extended 
defi nition is how Lawrence M. Friedman, Professor of Law at Stanford Univer-
sity, defi nes the term 
crime.