Look forand write down facts that will help you to answer your question.Timesaving hint: make sure the facts you are writing are related to theexact question you are going to answer in y
Trang 1HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH
4 Compare and Contrast 8 Evaluation
PART 1: Parts of a Paragraph
1 Topic Sentence
What is the topic sentence?
The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.
What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write one?
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be about.
Trang 2a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
2 Supporting Details
What are supporting sentences?
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph.
What do they do?
They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write them?
You should give supporting facts, details, and examples.
Example:
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the
world First, Canada has an excellent health care system All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price Second, Canada has a high standard of education Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
3 Closing Sentence
What is the closing sentence?
The closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph.
What does it do?
It restates the main idea of your paragraph.
How do I write one?
Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words.
Trang 3There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in theworld First, Canada has an excellent health care system All Canadianshave access to medical services at a reasonable price Second, Canadahas a high standard of education Students are taught by well-trainedteachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university Finally,Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed Canadian cities have
many parks and lots of space for people to live As a result, Canada is
a desirable place to live
PART 2: How to Write a Paragraph
1 Prewriting Paragraphs
What is the prewriting stage?
The prewriting stage is when you think carefully and organize your
ideas for your paragraph before you begin writing
Six Prewriting Steps:
1 Think carefully about what you are going to write Ask yourself:
o What question am I going to answer in this paragraph or essay?
o How can I best answer this question? What is the most importantpart of my answer?
o How can I make an introductory sentence (or thesis statement)from the most important part of my answer?
o What facts or ideas can I use to support my introductorysentence?
o How can I make this paragraph or essay interesting?
o Do I need more facts on this topic?
o Where can I find more facts on this topic?
2 Open your notebook Write out your answers to the above questions.
You do not need to spend a lot of time doing this; just write enough to help you remember why and how you are going to write your paragraph
or essay
Trang 43 Collect facts related to your paragraph or essay topic Look for
and write down facts that will help you to answer your question.Timesaving hint: make sure the facts you are writing are related to theexact question you are going to answer in your paragraph or essay
4 Write down your own ideas Ask yourself:
o What else do I want to say about this topic?
o Why should people be interested in this topic?
o Why is this topic important?
5 Find the main idea of your paragraph or essay Choose the most
important point you are going to present If you cannot decide whichpoint is the most important, just choose one point and stick to itthroughout your paragraph or essay
6 Organize your facts and ideas in a way that develops your main idea Once you have chosen the most important point of your paragraph
or essay, you must find the best way to tell your reader about it Look atthe facts you have written Look at your own ideas on the topic Decidewhich facts and ideas will best support the main idea of your paragraph.Once you have chosen the facts and ideas you plan to use, ask yourselfwhich order to put them in the paragraph Write down your own note setthat you can use to guide yourself as you write your paragraph or essay
2 Writing Paragraphs
What is the writing stage?
The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.
Five Writing Steps:
1 Open your notebook and word processor
2 Write the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence
3 Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning
4 Focus on the main idea of your paragraph
5 Use the dictionary to help you find additional words to express yourideas
Trang 53 Editing Paragraphs
What is the editing stage?
The editing stage is when you check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them.
Grammar and Spelling
1 Check your spelling
2 Check your grammar
3 Read your essay again
4 Make sure each sentence has a subject
5 See if your subjects and verbs agree with each other
6 Check the verb tenses of each sentence
7 Make sure that each sentence makes sense
Style and Organization
1 Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence
2 Make sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea
3 Make sure you have a closing sentence
4 Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea
5 See if your paragraph is interesting
4 Publishing Paragraphs
What is the publishing stage?
The publishing stage is when you produce a final copy of yourparagraph to hand in
Three Publishing Steps:
1 Make a paper copy of your paragraph
2 Show your work to your teacher, tutor, or parents
3 Ask them for hints on how to improve your writing
Trang 6PART 3: Kinds of Paragraphs
1 Definition Paragraph
When writing a definition paragraph, you take a thing or an idea andexplain what it is
Example: Write a paragraph giving the definition of a pest
The following words can help you to write a good definition paragraph:
1 "is defined as"
Example: A pest is defined as any animal or plant that damages crops,
forests, or property
2 "is a kind of"
Example: A pest is a kind of animal or plant that damages crops,
o is a kind of Coal is a kind of non-renewable resource.
o can be divided into Energy resources can be divided into two
types
o is a type of Coal is a type of non-renewable resource.
o falls under Coal falls under the category of non-renewable
resources
o belongs to Coal belongs to the category of non-renewable
resources
Trang 7o is a part of Coal is a part of the category of non-renewable
resources
o fits into Coal fits into the category of non-renewable resources.
o is grouped with Coal is grouped with non-renewable
resources
o is related to Coal is related to other non-renewable resources.
o is associated with Coal is associated with other non-renewable
resources
3 Description Paragraph
In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place,
or thing is like Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located
Examples
Write a paragraph describing what a polar bear lookslike
Describe where Canada's industry is located
The following words can help you to write a good descriptionparagraph:
Properties Measurement Analogy Location
nearnorth/east/south/west
Properties
Size
Trang 8Example: Polar bears are big in size.
Trang 9Example: Most of Ontario is below Hudson Bay.
Beside
Example: Quebec is located beside Ontario.
Near
Example: Many companies are located near Toronto.
north / east / south / west
Example: Ontario is west of Quebec.
4 Compare and Contrast Paragraph
In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similaritiesand differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.Example: Write a paragraph comparing the weather in Vancouver andHalifax
The following words can help you to write a good compare and contrastparagraph:
Similarities
is similar to
Example: Spring weather in Vancouver is similar to spring weather in
Halifax
Trang 10On the other hand
Example: On the other hand, winter is much colder in Halifax.
In a sequencing paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of events
or a process in some sort of order Usually, this order is based on time.Example: Write a paragraph outlining how a person becomes the primeminister
Trang 11The following words can help you to write a good sequence paragraph.
first, second, third, etc recently
First, second, third, etc.
Example: First, you need to become a leader of a political party Second, you need to win a seat in the House of Commons Third,
your party must have a majority of seats
In the beginning
Example: In the beginning, you need to become a leader of a political
party
Before
Example: Before becoming the prime minister, you need to become
the leader of a political party
Then
Example: Then, you must win a seat in the House of Commons.
Trang 12Example: After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must
make sure you have a majority of seats
Example: Subsequently, you must make sure you have a majority of
seats in the House of Commons
Example: After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must
make sure you have a majority of seats
6 Choice Paragraph
Trang 13In a paragraph where you have to make a choice, you need to choosewhich object, idea, or action that you prefer Often, you will need togive your opinion on a choice of actions or events.
Example: Write a paragraph stating whether you would prefer to playhockey or lacrosse
The following words can help you to write a good choice paragraph:
Trang 14Example: My understanding is that hockey is more fun than
Example: Write a paragraph explaining why so many Europeansmoved to Canada during the nineteenth century
The following words can help you to write a good explanationparagraph:
Trang 15Example: People moved to Canada from Europe during the nineteenth
century because they had poor living conditions in Europe.
Since
Example: Since living conditions in Europe were terrible, many people
moved to Canada
As a result of
Example: People moved to Canada from Europe as a result of poor
living conditions in Europe
Is due to / was due to
Example: The large influx of people to Canada was due to economic
pressures in Europe
Effect
Therefore
Example: Living conditions in Europe were terrible Therefore, many
people moved to Canada for a better life
Thus
Example: Living conditions in Europe were terrible Thus, many
people moved to Canada for a better life
Consequently
Trang 16Example: Living conditions were terrible in Europe Consequently,
many people moved to Canada
Hence
Example: Living conditions were terrible in Europe Hence, many
people moved to Canada
It follows that
Example: Living conditions were terrible in Europe It follows that many people moved to Canada.
If then
Example: If living conditions were better in Europe, then fewer people
would have moved to Canada
8 Evaluation Paragraph
In an evaluation paragraph, you make judgments about people, ideas,and possible actions You need to make your evaluation based oncertain criteria that you develop In the paragraph, you will state yourevaluation or recommendation and then support it by referring to yourcriteria
Example: Write a paragraph evaluating whether pesticides should beused on farms
The following words can help you to write a good evaluation paragraph:
Criteria for Evaluation Recommendation
important / trivial
Trang 17Example: The use of pesticides to control pests is immoral because it
harms the environment
Right / wrong
Example: It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the
environment
Important / trivial
Example: The issue of pesticides is an important one because it
affects the environment
Recommendation
Suggest
Example: I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests Recommend
Example: I recommend that pesticides should not be used because
they are harmful to the environment
Advise
Example: I would advise farmers not to use pesticides if possible Argue
Example: I would argue that pesticides should not be used because
they harm the environment
Writing a paragraph
Trang 18Một đoạn văn là một loạt câu phát triển, ủng hộ, chứng minh một ý nào
đó, và ý này thường là câu chủ đề (topic sentence) của đoạn văn Cáccâu còn lại (supporting sentences) phát triển, giải thích, minh họa chocâu chủ đề Câu kết luận (concluding sentence) của đoạn văn là câukhẳng định lại câu chủ điểm, tóm tắt lại các ý chính của đoạn văn
1 Topic sentence
o Introduces the topic in the paragraph
o Is the most general sentence in the paragraph
o Contains controlling ideas that the following sentences in theparagraph will explain/ define/ clarify/ illustrate
* A controlling idea is a word or phrase that the reader can ask questions about: How? Why? In what ways? What does that mean?
Ex: The conical leaf hat is one of the typical features of the Vietnameseculture
Topic: conical leaf hat
Controlling ideas: What is it? (typical feature of the Vietnamese culture), In what way is it typical?
o Signals the end of the paragraph
o Summarizes the main points of the paragraph/ restates the topicsentence without copying exactly
o Gives a final comment on the topic
Trang 19Vậy trước khi viết một đoạn văn, HS hãy theo các bước sau:
o Liệt kê tất cả những ý có thể nghĩ ra được có liên quan đến chủ
đề đó
o Đọc chủ đề cho sẵn, rồi chọn viết một câu chủ đề Gạch châncâu chủ đề này để nhắc các em về trọng tâm của đoạn văn
o Viết ra các ý giải thích và làm rõ câu chủ đề
o Với mỗi ý lớn, hãy viết ra các ví dụ, số liệu…dùng để minh họa
o Nghĩ cách kết thúc đoạn văn và viết nó ra
Sau khi đã làm dàn ý như trên, hãy bắt đầu viết và bám sát dàn ý đãvạch ra
Để đoạn văn có thể liên kết với nhau và thống nhất trong một mạchchảy của bài viết, HS phải biết cách sử dụng các từ nối câu cho hợp lý.Sau đây là bảng các từ/ cụm từ nối
Useful expressions
Sequencing/ Listing First of all, First(ly), Initially, To begin
with; Second(ly); Third(ly); Next;Then; After that (this); Following this(that); Finally; The first reason is…/The second is…; Last but not least…Adding to what you have
said
Also, Furthermore, In addition,Additionally, Moreover, Besides, Aswell as, Similarly, not only…butalso…, even beside this/ that
Contrasting In contrast to this, On the contrary, In
contrast, Conversely, On the otherhand, While, Whereas, However,Despite/ In spite of, Although, Eventhough, Otherwise, Nonetheless
Expressing similarity Similarly; Likewise, In the same wayShowing results As a result, As a consequence,
Trang 20Consequently, Hence, Thus, Therefore,So
Giving examples For example, For instance, In
particular, Particularly, That is to say,Namely, Such as
Restating In other words, That is to say, To put it
simplyInferring In other words, In that case, or else,
OtherwiseSummarizing In summary, To sum up, To conclude,
To recapitulate, In conclusion, In short,
In brief, In a nutshell, Lastly, Finally
Writing an essay
Một bài luận là một bài viết dài hơn và thường gồm nhiều đoạn và mỗiđoạn văn thường theo cấu trúc đoạn văn trình bày trên Tuy nhiên, cáchviết đoạn mở đầu (introductory paragraph) và đoạn kết (concludingparagraph) đặc thù như sau:
1 The introductory paragraph
• The attention getter
- a sentence that gets the reader interested
• The main idea
- the topic or thesis of the essay
• The guide/ thesis statement (the last sentence of the introductoryparagraph)
- a list of the points that will be discussed, thus showing theorganization of the composition
Ex: There are many things that symbolize the Vietnamese culture.Among these is the conical leaf hat, a symbol of traditional Vietnamesegirls The hat is very special because of its physical features and its use
Trang 21- Attention getter: There are many things that symbolize the Vietnameseculture.
- Topic/ thesis: Among these is the conical leaf hat, a symbol oftraditional Vietnamese girls
- The guide/ thesis statement: The hat is very special because of itsphysical features and its use
2 Body
Các đoạn tiếp theo sau đoạn mở đầu sẽ phát triển tương ứng các ý được
đề cập trong câu chủ đề của bài luận, và cách viết tuân thủ theo cáchviết đoạn văn đã được đề cập trên Ví dụ, đối với phần mở bài trên, phầnthân bài sẽ có 2 đoạn: Paragraph 1: physical features & Paragraph 2: itsuse
3 The concluding paragraph
Là đoạn cuối của bài luận Thường có 3 cách để viết đoạn kết
• A summary repeats the main points of the essay
• A prediction discusses what will happen in the future
• An evaluation compares the main points and states what is best
Tóm lại:
Structure of the Paragraph and the Essay
• Main idea (topic sentence or thesis)
• Support for the main idea (a number of supporting details in aparagraph or a number of paragraphs in an essay)
• Conclusion (summary of the main points of support for the main idea)
The writing process for the Paragraph and the Essay
• First steps
o understanding the assignment
o narrowing the topic
o determining the writing context
Trang 22o formulating a main idea
Writing an argumentative essay
Thể loại viết tranh luận thường gặp đối với các vấn đề có 2 mặt, ví dụnhư các ưu và nhược của máy tính/ Internet… Đề bài thường yêu cầucho biết quan điểm về vấn đề nào đó; ủng hộ hay chống đối; hoàn toànđồng ý hay bất đồng
Thể loại viết tranh luận cũng theo cấu trúc cơ bản của một bài luận, từđoạn mở đầu, các đoạn thân bài, cũng như kết luận Tuy nhiên, viết mộtbài tranh luận thường yêu cầu một kỹ năng viết riêng; đó là ngôn ngữ sửdụng để tranh luận, chứng minh hay biện giải cho quan điểm đưa ra.Sau đây là một số ngôn ngữ hữu dụng cần khi viết thể loại này
1 Introducing arguments
• First of all,…
• On the other hand,…
• It is worth remembering that…
• Another advantage is…
• In addition to this…
• Another point is that…
Trang 23o Others feel that…
o Nevertheless/ However? Nonetheless
o That may be true, but…
o In my opinion, it is true to say…
o Personally, I believe/ I do not believe that…
o Having said that, it is important to remember that…
o At the same time, I feel that…
o Although some people feel…
o Perhaps the most important point, however, is…
o Another important consideration is that…
o One of the main arguments against … is…
Several objections to…may be raised
o All things considered/ On balance, it is fair to say that…
o It is inevitable/ undeniable that…
o While I appreciate the importance of…, I still think that…
o Most people would argue that…
Trang 24o On the whole/ Overall,…
o Many people would disagree with the assertion/ idea that…
o The fact that… does not mean…
o It may be true that…but…
o However, it is doubtful/ I doubt whether…
b Use double negative to give emphasis to an unexpected
o While it is not unusual/ uncommon/ impossible for sb/ sth to do
sth, it is quite usual/ common/ possible that…
o While it is not inconceivable that…, there is slight possibilitythat…
o In the last analysis,…
o On balance, I would say that…
Describing a film/ a book/ a place
IV Describing a film/ book
1 What to write
Trang 25Khi mô tả một bộ phim/ cuốn sách, HS nên đưa vào các phần sau:
o Title and author
o Type of book/ film
o Characters
o Events in the film/ book
o Your opinion of the film/ book
o Personal recommendation
2 How to write
a Viết tiêu đề
Tiêu đề phim/ sách thường được gạch dưới hoặc in nghiêng Từ quan
trọng thường được viết hoa, trong khi các từ chức năng như and, in, a…
thường được viết thường trừ phi chúng là từ đầu tiên của tiêu đề
Ex: Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands
b Dùng tính từ để làm cho bài mô tả phim/ sách hấp dẫn
o Type of book/ film: a detective story/ film; a romantic novel; alove story film; an adventure story; a science fiction novel; ahistorical novel; a humorous story; a thriller
o Adjectives to describe film/ book: funny; hilarious; horrifying =frightening; interesting; gripping; exciting; fascinating;entertaining; brilliant; realistic; sad; tragic; imaginative;touching = moving; action-packed; well-written; well-directed;well/beautifully-filmed; wonderfully-acted…
o Adjectives to describe author/ director: great; skilled; observant;gifted = talented; perceptive; entertaining…
c Cấu trúc
o Mô tả: It’s called…; It’s by…; It was (written/ directed/produced/ published/ designed) by/ in…; It’s by the same(writer/ director) as…; It’s his/ her first/ second (book/ film); It’sabout/ tells the story of…; It stars…; It’s set in…; It’s based
Trang 26on…; It’s adapted from…; It lasts about…hour(s); The story isvery simple/ complicated.
o Bày tỏ ý kiến cá nhân: The (acting/ story/ graphics) is/ arebrilliant/ terrible.; The best/ worst thing(s) about it is/ are…;
… is really boring/ annoying/ exciting.; Another thing I reallyliked/ hated was…; One weak point was…; It’s well worthseeing.; I’d recommend it to anyone who likes…; I wouldn’trecommend it to anyone…
o Thì V: dùng simple present để mô tả phim/ sách dù là kể lại các
sự kiện xảy ra trong quá khứ
sparsely-o Where: It is lsparsely-ocated/ situated in the west/ ssparsely-outhern/ centre sparsely-of…;
It is near the border with…; It is on the river X.; It is famousfor…; It is about/ approximately … km from…
Trang 27o Main attractions: an industrial area; beautiful scenery nearby; anunderground system or trams; sandy beaches; docks or a habour;spectacular views; shopping malls or street markets; a carnival/festival or other events
VI Writing an announcement about a sports event
Writing an announcement cơ bản là viết một bản tin để thông báo một
sự kiện nào đó Vì thế, ngôn ngữ thông báo thường ngắn gọn, rõ ràng và
dễ hiểu Thông thường để thu hút sự chú ý của người đọc, các nội dungchính thường được in đậm, gạch dưới, hoặc viết in hoa
Tips
o Keep it short, inviting and to the point
o Making the information in the announcement clear andcomplete
o Be straightforward and concise so the reader can get theinformation quickly and be able to refer to it easily
Ngoài ra, các chữ viết tắt đôi lúc cũng sử dụng, mạo từ, giới từ… cũngđược bỏ đi
HO CHI MINH COMMUNIST YOUTH UNION
In celebration of the International Workers’ Day
Friendly Football Match
Cantho Youth Union vs Local Sports Club
Trang 28Về nội dung, một thông báo về một sự kiện thể thao thường bao gồmcác thông tin sau:
Who that announcer is
What the event is
The purpose of the event
When and where the event will take place
Who can come
Ví dụ về một đoạn văn viết bằng tiếng Anh:
Your school organizes a competition for students to write about The world in which I would like to live in the year 2020
Below is an essay by one of the studens.
My ideal world would be a peaceful one There are no wars or conflictsbetween nations People won't have to live under the threat of terrorismbut all live together in harmony Everyone has a job to do, and there is agood healthy standard of living for all I would also wish to live in aclean healthy environment with less noise and less pollution There aremore and larger parks where children can play and wildlife can beprotected But my main desire is to see people less materialistic, lessselfish, less violent and more loving than they are now (Trang 89 - 90SGK Tiếng Anh 12)
Bản dịch tiếng Việt:
Thế giới lý tưởng của tôi là một thế giới hòa bình (Thế giới đó) Không
có chiến tranh hoặc mâu thuẫn giũa các quốc gia Người dân sẽ không phải sống dưới nỗi sợ khủng bố mà tất cả mọi người cùng chung sống hòa thuận Ai cũng có công ăn việc làm và mọi người đều có mức sống tốt đẹp Tôi cũng muốn sống trong một môi trường trong sạch, lành mạnh có it tiếng ồn và it bị ô nhiễm Nhưng khát vọng của tôi là được nhìn thấy mọi người bớt tôn sùng vật chất, bớt ích kỷ, bớt bạo lực và thương yêu nhau nhiều hơn.)
Trang 29Trong đoạn văn trên, câu đầu tiên (My ideal world would be a peaceful one.) là câu chủ đề, trong đó topic là My ideal world và controlling idea
là a peaceful one (hiểu là a peaceful world)
Các câu văn còn lại là supporting sentences
Tác giả sắp xếp supporting sentences theo trật tự từ chi tiết ít quantrọng nhất đến quan trọng nhất
Đề thi bạn có thể gặp: Write about the ideal world in which you would
like to live in the year 2020 (Trang 90 SGK Tiếng Anh 12)
Như vậy, trong kỳ thi THPT Quốc gia, đề bài yêu cầu viết một đoạn văn, các em cần bình tĩnh thực hiện các bước sau:
1/ Viết câu chủ đề (cần triệt để lợi dụng đề bài để viết thành câu chủ
đề.)
2/ Kiểm tra lại câu chủ đề để biết chắc trong câu chủ đề có topic và
controlling idea
3/ Tìm ý để chứng minh/diễn giải ý chính bằng cách đặt các câu hỏi mở
đầu bằng từ nghi vấn Lưu ý: do độ dài của đoạn văn bị khống chế nêncác em chỉ cần đặt khoảng 5 câu hỏi là được Nhớ rằng các câu hỏi phảiliên quan đến câu chủ đề
4/ Ráp các câu trả lời cho các câu hỏi (supporting sentences) lại thành
một đoạn văn hoàn chỉnh Cần nhớ mấu chốt ở bước này là phải biếtchắc mình đang sử dụng trật tự nào để ráp nối supporting sentences
5/ Cân nhắc có nên viết câu kết hay không Nếu không chắc chắn thì bỏ
qua bước này
6/ Kiểm tra lại các lỗi chính tả, lỗi ngữ pháp có thể có trong từng câu viết của bạn Lưu ý: cũng như phần viết thư, các em chỉ nên dùng
những loại câu đơn giản như câu đơn, câu kép, câu phức Nói chung, từngữ, cách diễn đạt càng rõ ràng, càng đơn giản càng tốt
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Topic 1: writing a letter of job application
Trang 30Topic 2: Writing TOPIC 2 – A MAGAZINE ARTICLE
Trang 32Topic 3: DESCRIBING PLACES OF INTEREST
TOPIC 4 – A REVIEW OF A FILM
Trang 33TOPIC 5 – AN ESSAY ON A GLOBE ISSUE
Trang 34TOPIC 6 – A STORY DESCRIBING A CRIME
Trang 35TOPIC 7 – A BOOK REVIEW
Trang 36TOPIC 8 – A NARRATIVE TELLING THE STORY OF AN EVENT
Trang 37TOPIC 9 – PRESENTING OPINION FOR OR AGAINST STATEMENT
Trang 38TOPIC 10 – DISCUSSING A THEORETICAL ISSUE
Trang 39MORE EXERCISES