Academic writing

ACADEMIC WRITING – TÀI LIỆU ÔN THI TÔ MINH THANH – CHU THỊ LÊ HOÀNG TỐT NGHIỆP ĐẠI HỌC CHUYÊN NGÀNH NGỮ VĂN ANH TUYỂN SINH SAU ĐẠI HỌC CHUYÊN NGÀNH GIẢNG DẠY TIẾNG ANH NHÀ XUẤT BẢN ĐẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA THÀNH PHỐ HỒ CHÍ MINH - 2009 MỤC LỤC LỜI NÓI ĐẦU Thực tế sách dạy tiếng tác giả người nước Đáp ứng đủ nội dung ôn tập thi tốt nghiệp đại học chuyên ngành Ngữ văn Anh thi tuyển sinh sau đại học chuyên ngành Giảng dạy tiếng Anh Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) theo quy định Trường đại học Khoa học Xã hội Nhân văn - Đại học Quốc gia Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh Tài liệu đời nhằm (1) đáp ứng nhu cầu ôn tập thi tốt nghiệp đại học sinh viên hệ chức hệ quy theo chuyên ngành ngữ văn Anh (2) giúp anh chị cựu sinh viên ôn tập tuyển sinh sau đại học chuyên ngành Giảng dạy tiếng Anh Ngoài ra, tài liệu nằm thư mục sách tham khảo giúp (1) học viên cao học chuyên ngành Giảng dạy tiếng Anh (2) thầy cô theo: khóa Bồi dưỡng giáo viên Trường Đại học Khoa học Xã Nhân văn đại học Quốc gia Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh học thành công môn Writing PG chương trình khóa hai hệ đào tạo sau đại học Để giúp đối tượng dự thi làm quen chuẩn bị tốt kỳ thi mình, tài liệu trình bày thành bốn phần: 1) Phần ôn tập thành phần câu ( components) thường dùng văn viết tiếng Anh trang trọng; 2) Phần ôn tập cấu trúc đoạn văn (a paragraph); 3) Phần ôn tập cấu trúc luận văn (an essay); 4) Phần giải số đề thi dựa đề thi thực tế dùng kỳ thi gần Hy vọng bốn phần trình bày với nhiều tập đa dạng độ khó phong phú chủng loại có gợi ý có lời giải đính kèm để minh họa cho phần lý thuyết trình bày giúp đối tượng dự thi tự luyện tốt dù có điều kiện hay trực học lớp luyện thi thức Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, ngày 10 tháng năm 2005 Tô Minh Thanh Chu Thị Lê Hoàng  SECTION 1:SENTENCE COMPONENTS THE PHRASE 'A phrase is a group of words used as a single part of speech and not containing a verb and its subject.’ [Warriner, 1958: 59] These groups of words may be used not only as verbs but also as adjectives, adverbs and nouns Prepositions - Prepositional phrases Prepositions: 1.1 Definition: A preposition is a word that shows the relation between a noun or a pronoun and other words in a sentence I walked to the house/ around the house/ through the house the book by him/ for him/ about him In the above examples, prepositions make great differences in meaning when they link the house with walked, and him with the book 1.2 Characteristics: 1.2.1 English prepositions may be in different forms 1.2.1.1 one – word prepositions: aboard about above across after against along among around at before behind below beneath beside besides between beyond but by down during for from in inside into like of off except on outside over since through - I am tired of them - George sat between the two deans - He objected to the last paragraph - The car stopped at the station - The lad stood on a barrel throughout to toward under underneath until up upon with within without - The car coasted into the garage with lights on - The girl was sitting against the wall - These roses are for you 1.2.1.2 -ing prepositions: In addition to the prepositions already mentioned, there is in English a group of -ing preposition which have a verb as a stem Here are some of the most common: barring, concerning, regarding, considering, following, including, pending, during, etc.: - He was vague concerning the details - Assuming the accuracy of the report, action must be taken at once - We WILL DELAY the papers, pending the of arrival of the contract Distinguish the -ing preposition from THE -ING VERB - ing prep Barring accidents the picnic will begin at eleven - ing prep There will be a smoker following the dining car - ING VERB She IS only FOLLOWING her orders after all - ing prep May I have a conference regarding my examination! - ING VERB He WAS REGARDING the newcomer with curiosity - ING VERB CONSIDERING the time, we HAD BETTER STOP now - ing prep Considering your loss, the bill WILL NOT BE SENT - ING VERB I AM INCLUDING damage to my window on the bill - ing prep The entire squad, including the water boy WILL MAKE the trip - ing prep 10 This IS the letter concerning their complaint 1.2.1.3 compound prepositions: The final group is composed of compound prepositions These are relatively numerous and various types Often it is difficult to say whether a word group should be considered a preposition or not Here is a short list of two types Two-word prepositions together with up at contrary to as for ahead of inside of due to aside from apart from as concerns up to because of out of owing to away from instead of Prepositions with Noun on account of By way of in spite of In comparison with with rega to In reference to in advance of With respect to in addition to In event of on behal of For the sake of in place of In case of in I ieu of By means of Recognize the compound preposition in the following sentences: We arrived ahead of time The game was cancelled on account of rain The oldest daughter is up at the camp Contrary to our expectations, the movie was a delightful spoof The hoard had a meeting with reference to the new building I want to thank you on behaif_of these refugee They served rice in lieu of potatoes I can answer all the questions except for the last In spite of her protestations, Harriet was persuaded to join the guild 10 The foreman received a letter with respect to alleged violations 1.2.2 As far as their meaning is concerned, English prepositions are of two main kinds: 1.2.2.1 Prepositions that have specific meanings, namely the meanings of the relations that they represent or refer to Below are a number of their common meanings: a Space may be subdivided into: + Location: in the kitchen, under the ground, behind the wall + Direction: towards the town, from Leeds to Manchester b Time may be subdivided into: + Point of time: before the wedding, at nine o'clock + Extent of time: for several days, since January c Topic: (chilling stories) about ghosts d Purpose: (a key) for the opening of the safe  e Similarity: (a boy) like his father f Instrument: with an axe g Accompaniment: with a bowler hat 1.2.2.2 Prepositions used without any specific meaning, when they are attached to particular VERBS, adjectives or nouns - They BLAMED the mess on Jim - They BLAMED Jim for the mess - I am interested in your_offer - She is proud of her children - He’s anxious about/for her_safetỵ - There is great anxiety about his future - We have a lot of sympathy for you - During the occupation, we had to live in total ubmission to the invaders In all these cases the preposition has a purely syntactic relational function in relating a VERB, adjective or noun to a following object or complement The preposition is predictable (i.e it cannot be replaced by any other preposition), and so lacking in specific meaning Prepositional Phrases: Do not confuse prepositions with adverbs Prepositions, which introduce prepositional phrases, are always followed by a nominal Compare: Adverb: She looked up Preposition: She looked up the stairs Adverb: They went inside Preposition: They went inside the house Distinguish prepositions from adverbs The swimmer waited below The swimmer waited below the dam She liked to sit near She sat near the window the paint bucket fell off The paint bucket fell off the porch I haven’t seen him since I haven’t seen him since yesterday The refreshments came after 10 The refreshments came after the program 2.1 Definition: A prepositional phrase is a group of words beginning with a preposition and ending with nominal The nominal which ends the prepositional phrase is the complement of the preposition that begins the phrase - He answered the question with (great) care [prep + noun (phrase)] - I am interested in swimming [prep + gerund]/ in learning a foreign language [prep + gerund phrase] - Do it for me [prep + pronoun] - One can see the airport from upstairs.[prep + adverb] 2.2 Use: 2.2.1 A preposition phrase can be used as an adjectival to modify a noun or a pronoun EX: - the lady in the green dress - two identical girls with long blond hair - some of the most common methods - one of tine two possibly solutions 2.2.2 A preposition phrase can be used as an adverbial to modify: 2.2.2.1 A VERB (when this prepositional phrase tells when, where,how, how etc the action of the verb takes place): - He LIVES in the suburbs.( Where does he live?) - The train ARRIVED at two o 'clock ( did the train arrive?) - The reproduction TAKES PLACE by budding (How does the reproduction take place?) - He MISSED the target by a foot ( How far did he miss the target?) 2.2.2.2 AN ADJECTIVE - These shoes ARE too small for comfort - If you ARE susceptible to colds, vitamin c helps you resist them - She IS very clever at dealing with strangers 2.2.2.3 ANOTHER ADVERB - Never in mililion years WILL he ADMIT defeat - Later in the afternoon,the sun WAS NOT so bright, and the sky WAS NOT SO blue 2.2.2.4 A WHOLE CLAUSE OR SENTENCE: - According to me, you'RE quite right - In fact the contract IS invalid 2.2.3 A preposition phrase can be used as an adverbial after the verb BE It is called the subjective complement in the sentence: - The books ARE under the desk-lamp - She IS in the kitchen preparing dinner - Jack WAS on top of the car - HAVE you ever BEEN to Cairo EXERCISE 1: Underline the prepositional phrases in the given paragraph Vitamins are necessary for good health Vitamin A promotes the growth of young animals and is essential to the proper development of their eyes If you CANNOT SEE in the dard, perhaps you should drink more milk, which is rich in vitamins Yellow vegetables like carrots also contain vitamin A If you have trouble with digestion or if your appetite IS below normal, you may need vitamin B Among the food containing this vitamin are eggs, green vegetables, and meals According to my druggist; liver, which contains vitamin B, IS a safeguard against anaemia For an adequate supply of this vitamin, eat plenty of tomatoes If you are susceptible to colds, vitamin C may help you resist them In the spring or during the summer, you CAN GET vitamin D by a trip to a sunny beach Vitamin D, derived from sunshine and found In fish-liver oils, PREVENTS rickets When you look at a menu, DECIDE upon a well-balanced meal fortified with vitamins PARTICIPLES - PARTICIPIAL PHRASES Definition: 1.1 A participle is a word formed from a verb and used as an adjective or an adverb Participles may occur in different forms: Present Participle Past Participle Perfect Participle Active Writing Having written Passive Being written Written Having been written 1.2 A participial phrase consists of a participle together with its modifier (s)and/or its object (s): Tới - The man standing (active present participle) near the front door (adjunct of place) is Mr Snow of their eyes If you CANNOT SEE in the perhaps you should drink more milk, which is rich in vitamins Yellow vegetables like carrots also contain vitamin A If you have trouble with digestion or if your appetite IS below normal, you may need vitamin B Among the food containing this vitamin are eggs, green vegetables, and meals According to my druggist, liver, which contains vitamin B, IS a safeguard against anaemia For an adequate supply of this eat plenty of tomatoes If you are susceptible to , vitamin c may help you resist them In the spring or during the summer, you CAN GET vitamin D by ứ trip to a sunny beach Vitamin D, derived from sunshine and found in fish-liver oils,PREVENTS rickets When you look at a menu, DECIDE upon a well-balanced fortified with vitamins PARTICIPLES - PARTICIPIAL PHRASES Definition: 1.1 A participle is a word formed from a verb and used as an adjective or an adverb Participles may occur in different forms: 1.2 A participial phrase consists of a participle together with its modifieris) and/or Itsobieciis): - The man standing near the is Mr Snow tJ active present participle adjunct of place - Having translated the, text with great I copied it down T7 ' I active perfect participle adjunct of manner  Usage: 2.1 A present or past participle can be used as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun,or to subjective complement in a sentence, following A LINKING VERB ACTIVE PRESENT PARTICIPLES a liv/>7ỹthing a burn/>7ỹ approach/Ạỹstranger the \eering manager the preced/>7ỹ melt/>7ỹsnow taWing leaves the leapÁr^/dropp/Ạỹđicks house a statement - Thẹ cup GOT broken - Some plants are erect, others ARE tracing or 2.2 We use a present participle after VERBS OF PERCEPTION to show something in occurrence: - DO you HEAR her s\r\qingfl - We SAW the enemy approach/>7ỹ -1 FEEL my heart beating 2.3 We also use a present participle to show an action happening at the same time with the action illustrated by THE PREDICATIVE VERB in the sentence: - The children RAN crying in the street - Step by step, they FOLLOWED danc/>7K7 described os an example of gymnosperms the pines ARE abundant plants, particularly in colder regions of the world In these cases, 'when’and may be added before the present participle:  Wherjspeak/nợ about the new project,the lecturer SHOWED a map - Whffe working a\ the farm,the students HELPED the farmers 2.4 To express an action which has already finished before the one illustrated by THE PREDICATIVE VERB in the sentence, we use either a past or a perfect participle - Translat ecjinto many_ languages,this book BECAME well-known all over the world - Hav/>777