Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on national secondary education examination

Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I INTRODUCTION Writing a paragraph is an new and inevitable part of almost every standarlized examination, especially in the important examinations such as the GCSE ( General Certificate Secondary Education Examination) Moreover English is the compulsory subject in the test of National Secondary Examination which will be organized for nationwhile students by the Ministry of Traning and Education since 2015 Writing a paragraph is an obligatory section in the written The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination assignment of the GCSE which makes up 15 percents of the test( 1.5 points) However, It is considered as the most difficult section because this assignment requests that students have a wide range of vocabularies, master English grammar and know how to write a good paragraph Moreover, in competitive exams and under time pressure(about 20 minutes), the task becomes more difficult So students often become embarrassed even out of weariness and they let the task run its course As a result, their mark is low Being a teacher, I thought a lot of this actual situation I applied some strategies that help my students in my school to the task well Thanks to these strategies, my students achieve the surprising success They got good marks in writing paragraph after practising some writings by new methods The most important examination for all students comes nearer and nearer, I would like to present : “Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination ” Hopefully, these experiences could help students to take the writing task easily If a student can write a good paragraph, they will be able to write anything from stories to essays to research reports And, this theme would be shared with any colleagues who had the same problem or anyone who is interested in this theme PART II CONTENTS Knowing how to write a good paragraph is incredibly important when you are given a written assignment for coursework or when you are taking an examination It’s a basic aspect of writing, and it is something that everyone should know how to There is a specific structure that you have to follow when you’re writing a paragraph This structure helps make it easier for the reader to understand what is going on Parts of a paragraph In many languages, the fundamental unit of composition is the paragraph In order to write a good paragraph, you have to thoroughly understand the basic structure of the paragraph A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and related to a single topic There are three parts to a paragraph These three parts are the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and the concludinging sentence We will also talk briefly about details in paragraphs 1.1 Topic sentence The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination The topic sentence states what the paragraph will be about It gives the topic of the paragraph, and it also restricts the topic to one or two main ideas which can be explained fully in the space of one paragraph The controlling idea is the specific area that the topic is limited to:  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 I write one? Summarize the main idea of your paragraph Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be about  Example: topic controlling idea Studying abroad has two main benefits Firstly, people who study abroad can get a better job when they return to their home country This is because their qualifications and experience mean that they tend to get jobs that are higher paid, and they can also gain promotion quickly Another advantage of studying abroad is the independence students can gain For example, students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures As a consequence, they will become more confident in their life and in their relationships with others All in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience 1.2 Supporting sentences Supporting sentences give information that explains and expands the topic of the paragraph They answer questions—who? what? where? when? why? and how?— and give details Good writers think of these questions when they write supporting sentences for the topic sentence  What are supporting sentences? They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph  What they do? They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination  How I write them? You should give supporting reasons, facts, details, examples, statistics, quotations  Example: Studying abroad has two main benefits Firstly, people who study abroad can get a better job when they return to their home country This is because their qualifications and experience mean that they tend to get jobs that are higher paid, and they can also gain promotion quickly Another advantage of studying abroad is the independence students can gain For example, students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures As a consequence, they will become more confident in their life and in their relationships with others All in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience The supporting sentences that explain the benefits of studying abroad are: • People get a better job when they return home (1st supporting idea) - Better qualifications & experience mean better pay and promotion (reason) - Now has a high standard of living (result) • Students gain independence (2nd supporting idea) - Students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures.(example) - Students will become more confident in their life and relationships (result) 1.3 Concluding sentence A concluding sentence (closing sentence) can be used to signal the end of the paragraph It tells the reader the important points to remember It is often a paraphrase of the topic 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 I write one? Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination Example: Studying abroad has two main benefits Firstly, people who study abroad can get a better job when they return to their home country This is because their qualifications and experience mean that they tend to get jobs that are higher paid, and they can also gain promotion quickly Another advantage of studying abroad is the independence students can gain For example, students have to cope with the challenges of living alone and meeting new people from different cultures As a consequence, they will become more confident in their life and in their relationships with others All in all, it is clear that studying abroad is a beneficial experience  Kinds of Paragraphs It is vitally necessary that you should know what kind of paragarph you are going to write, this is depened on the asignment topic.I would like to introduce some useful words or expressions belonging to different kinds of paragraph that you may use for your paragraph writing 2.1 Definition Paragraph When writing a definition paragraph, you take a thing or an idea and explain 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: • "is defined as" Example: A pest is defined as any animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or property • "is a kind of" Example: A pest is a kind of animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or property 2.2 Classification Paragraph When writing a classification paragraph, you group things or ideas into specific categories Example: Write a paragraph discussing two types of energy resources The following words can help you to write a good classification paragraph: • is a kind of: Ex: Coal is a kind of non-renewable resource • can be divided into: Ex: Energy resources can be divided into two types The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination • • • • • • • • is a type of: Ex: Coal is a type of non-renewable resource falls under: Ex: Coal falls under the category of non-renewable resources belongs to: Ex: Coal belongs to the category of non-renewable resources is a part of: Ex: Coal is a part of the category of non-renewable resources fits into: Ex: Coal fits into the category of non-renewable resources is grouped with: Ex: Coal is grouped with non-renewable resources is related to: Ex: Coal is related to other non-renewable resources is associated with: Ex: Coal is associated with other non-renewable resources 2.3 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 Write a paragraph describing what a polar Examples bear looks like Describe where Canada's industry is located The following words can help you to write a good description paragraph: Properties Measurement Analogy Location size length is like in colour width resembles above shape mass/weight below purpose speed beside near north/east/south/west • Properties - size: Ex: Polar bears are big in size - colour: Ex: Polar bears are usually white in colour - shape: Ex: Polar bears have a special shape - purpose : Ex: The purpose of the polar bear's fur is to keep it warm • Measurement - length : Ex: The length of a polar bear's claws is 20 cm - width: Ex: The width of a polar bear's head is about 50 cm - mass / weight : Ex: Polar bears weigh up to 650 kg - speed : Ex: Polar bears can swim at a speed of 40 km per hour • Analogy - is like: Ex: A polar bear is like other bears in shape - resembles: Ex: A polar bear resembles other bears in shape The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination • Location - in: Ex: Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec - above: Ex: The ceiling is above us - below: Ex: Most of Ontario is below Hudson Bay - beside: Ex: Quebec is located beside Ontario 2.4 Compare and Contrast Paragraph In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas Example: Write a paragraph comparing the weather in Ha noi and Da Lat The following words can help you to write a good compare and contrast paragraph: Similarities Differences is similar to the other hand both however also but too in contrast as well differs from c while unlike • Similarities - is similar to: Ex: Spring weather in HaNoi is similar to spring weather in DaLat - both: Ex: Both Ha Noi and Da Lat have rain in the spring - also: Ex: Da Lat also has a rainy spring season • Differences - on the other hand: Ex: On the other hand, winter is much colder in Ha Noi - however: Ex: However, winter is much colder in Ha Noi - in contrast to: Ex: In contrast to Da Lat , Ha Noi has a cold winter - while: Ex: While Da Lat has a mild winter, Ha Noi has a cold winter 2.5 Sequence Paragraph 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 prime minister The following words can help you to write a good sequence paragraph Order Time first, second, third, etc recently in the beginning previously The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination before afterwards then when after after finally at last subsequently • Order - first, second, third, etc: Ex: 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: Ex: In the beginning, you need to become a leader of a political party - before Ex: Before becoming the prime minister, you need to become the leader of a political party • Time - recently: Ex: She was recently elected prime minister - afterwards Ex: She won the party leadership last year Afterwards, she won the election 2.6 Choice Paragraph In a paragraph where you have to make a choice, you need to choose which object, idea, or action that you prefer Often, you will need to give your opinion on a choice of actions or events Example: Write a paragraph stating whether you would prefer to play hockey or lacrosse The following words can help you to write a good choice paragraph: Point of View Personal Opinion in my opinion like/dislike belief hope idea feel understanding I think that I consider I believe it seems to me The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination I prefer • Point of View - in my opinio: Ex: In my opinion, hockey is more fun than lacrosse - belief Ex: My belief is that hockey is more fun than lacrosse - idea: Ex: My idea is that hockey is more fun than lacrosse - understanding: Ex: My understanding is that hockey is more fun than lacrosse - I think that: Ex: I think that I would prefer to play hockey and not lacrosse - I consider: Ex: I consider hockey to be more exciting than lacrosse - I believe: Ex: I believe hockey is more exciting than lacrosse - it seems to me: Ex: It seems to me that hockey is more exciting than lacrosse - I prefer: Ex: I prefer hockey over lacrosse • Personal Opinions - like/dislike: Ex: I like the sport of hockey because it is fast and exciting - hope: Ex: I hope that I can play hockey in the future - feel: Ex: I feel that hockey is my favorite sport 2.7 Explanation Paragraph In an explanation paragraph, you need to explain how or why something happens Very often in social studies class, you will be asked to explore causes and effects of certain events Example: Write a paragraph explaining why so many Europeans moved to Canada during the nineteenth century The following words can help you to write a good explanation paragraph: Cause Effect because therefore since thus as a result of consequently is due to hence it follows that if then • Cause -because: Ex: People moved to Canada from Europe during the nineteenth century because they had poor living conditions in Europe - since: Ex: Since living conditions in Europe were terrible, many people moved to Canada The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination - as a result of: Ex: People moved to Canada from Europe as a result of poor living conditions in Europe - is due to / was due to: Ex: The large influx of people to Canada was due to economic pressures in Europe • Effect - therefore: Ex: Living conditions in Europe were terrible Therefore, many people moved to Canada for a better life - thus: Ex: Living conditions in Europe were terrible Thus, many people moved to Canada for a better life - consequently: Ex: Living conditions were terrible in Europe Consequently, many people moved to Canada - hence: Ex: Living conditions were terrible in Europe Hence, many people moved to Canada - it follows that: Ex: Living conditions were terrible in Europe It follows that many people moved to Canada - if then: Ex: If living conditions were better in Europe, then fewer people would have moved to Canada 2.8 Evaluation Paragraph In an evaluation paragraph, you make judgments about people, ideas, and possible actions You need to make your evaluation based on certain criteria that you develop In the paragraph, you will state your evaluation or recommendation and then support it by referring to your criteria Example: Write a paragraph evaluating whether pesticides should be used on farms The following words can help you to write a good evaluation paragraph: Criteria for Evaluation Recommendation The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 10 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination good / bad correct / incorrect moral / immoral right / wrong important / trivial suggest recommend advise argue • Criteria - good / bad: Ex: The use of pesticides such as DDT is bad for the environment - correct / incorrect: Ex: The belief that pesticides must be used is incorrect - moral / immoral Ex: The use of pesticides to control pests is immoral because it harms the environment - right / wrong: Ex: It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the environment - important / trivial: Ex: The issue of pesticides is an important one because it affects the environment • Recommendation - suggest: Ex: I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests - recommend: Ex: I recommend that pesticides should not be used because they are harmful to the environment - advise: Ex: I would advise farmers not to use pesticides if possible - argue: Ex: I would argue that pesticides should not be used because they harm the environment Process of writing a paragraph In the examination room we have little time to the writing task ( about 20 minutes).The following is a guide on how to draft, expand, refine, and explain your ideas so that you write clear, well-developed paragraphs under time pressuse effectively: Step 1: Decide the topic of your paragraph Before you can begin writing, look at the writing prompt or assignment ,you need to determine the type of paragraph and know what you are writing about As you look at the prompt, note any key terms or repeated phrases because you will want to use those words in your response Then ask yourself: • On what topic am I supposed to be writing? The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 11 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination • What does this assignment mean to me? How I relate to it? After looking at the prompt, and brainstorm you should better understand your topic and what you need to discuss Before attempting to write a paragraph, you will need to choose a topic It is very important that your topic be neither too broad nor too narrow If it is too broad, you will not be able to limit your writing to a paragraph, and if it is too narrow, you will not be able to come up with enough writing to fill up a paragraph Step 2: Develop a topic sentence Before writing a paragraph, it is important to think first about the topic and then what you want to say about the topic Most often, the topic is easy, but the question then turns to what you want to say about the topic This concept is sometimes called the controlling idea Strong paragraphs are typically about one main idea or topic, which is often explicitly stated in a topic sentence Good topic sentences should always contain both a topic and a controlling idea -The topic – The main subject matter or idea covered in the paragraph -The controlling idea – This idea focuses the topic by providing direction to the composition Read the following topic sentences They all contain a topic and a controlling idea When your paragraphs contain a clearly stated topic sentence such as one of the following, your reader will know what to expect and, therefore, understand your ideas better Examples of topic sentences: • People can avoid plagiarizing by taking certain precautions • There are several advantages to online education • Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop Step 3: Demonstrate your point After stating your topic sentence, you need to provide information to prove, illustrate, clarify, and/or exemplify your point Ask yourself: • What examples can I use to support my point? • What information can I provide to help clarify my thoughts? • How can I support my point with specific data, experiences, or other factual material? The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 12 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination • What information does the reader need to know in order to see my point? Here is a list of the kinds of information you can add to your paragraph: - Facts, details, reasons, examples - Information from the readings or class discussions - Paraphrases or short quotations - Statistics, polls, percentages, data from research studies - Personal experience, stories, anecdotes, examples from your life Sometimes, adding transitional or introductory phrases like: for example, for instance, first, second, or last can help guide the reader Also, make sure you are citing your sources appropriately Step 4: Give Your Paragraph Meaning After you have given the reader enough information to see and understand your point, you need to explain why this information is relevant, meaningful, or interesting Ask yourself: • What does the provided information mean? • How does it relate to your overall point, argument, or thesis? • Why is this information important/significant/meaningful? • How does this information relate to the assignment or course I am taking? Step 5: Conclude After illustrating your point with relevant information, add a concluding sentence Concluding sentences link one paragraph to the next and provide another device for helping you ensure your paragraph is unified Concluding sentence draw together the information you have presented to elaborate your controlling idea by: -Summarizing the point(s) you have made -Repeating words or phrases from the topic sentence -Using linking words that indicate that conclusions are being drawn (e.g., in conclusion, to summary, to conclude ) Step 6: Look over and proofread The last step in good paragraph writing is proofreading and revision Before you submit your writing, look over your work at least one more time to check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 13 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination Grammar and Spelling - Check your spelling - Check your grammar - Make sure each sentence has a subject - See if your subjects and verbs agree with each other - Check the verb tenses of each sentence - Make sure that each sentence makes sense - Check the punctuation Style and Organization - Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence - Make sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea - Make sure you have a closing sentence - Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea - See if your paragraph is interesting Example: Write a paragraph ( about 140 words) about the roles of the internet in our life Step 1: Topic: The roles of the internet in life Step 2: Write the topic sentence: The internet plays an important role in our modern life for three reasons Step 3: Demonstrate your point: Supporting idea 1: a source of information - Read books, articles - See the weather forecasts Supporting idea 2: a source of entertainment - Listen to music - Watch movies - Read stories Supporting idea 3: a means of education - Take part in online- schools, online- lessons - Learn foreign language Step 4: Give your paragraph meaning: Firstly, it is a source of information For example, we can read books, articles or see the weather forecasts with the help of the computer.These are always updated on the internet everyday Secondly, it is used as a source of entertainment We can listen to all songs we like best, watch interesting movies or read funny stories on The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 14 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination some websites It really helps us relax after a hard working day Finally, it is a means of education If we can't go to school, we can take part in many on-line schools, on-line lessons.In addition, we can learn foreign language via the internet effectively Step 5: Conclude The internet plays an integral part in our daily life because of the benefits it brings us Step 6: Look over and proofread Complete paragraph: The internet plays an important role in our modern life for three reasons Firstly, it is a source of information For example, we can read books and articles or see the weather forecasts with the help of the computer.These are always updated on the internet everyday Secondly, it is used as a source of entertainment We can listen to all songs we like best, watch interesting movies or read funny stories on some websites It really helps us relax after a hard working day Finally, it is a means of education If we can't go to school, we can take part in many on-line schools, on-line lessons.In addition, we can learn foreign language via the internet effectively In conclusion, the internet plays an integral part in our daily life because of the benefits it brings us Two elements of a good paragraph In order to write a good paragraph, students need to understand the two essential elements of paragraph writing and how each element contributes to the whole The two elements essential to good paragraph writing are: unity and coherence The examiner will assess your paragraphs on their unity and coherence Element 1: Unity means that you discuss only one main (central) topic area in a paragraph The area that you are going to cover is usually introduced in the topic sentence, and your supporting sentences should only be used to develop that Example: For the topic sentence above, you could discuss only the roles of the internet You could not discuss the disadvantages of the internet If you did, your paragraph would not have unity Even if there is no specific topic sentence (more advanced writers not always have an obvious topic sentence), the paragraph should still have one central topic area so it retains unity The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 15 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination Element 2: Coherence A piece of writing has coherence when all of the ideas are organized and flow smoothly and logically from one to the next When a paragraph or essay has coherence, the reader can follow the main ideas more easily - Two important features of coherence are: • Logical order : It is important to follow a logical order in your writing The next activity will help you to understand the importance of logical order • Use of transitional words and phrases : Transitional words and phrases are essential to maintain the flow and coherence of a paragraph They help establish clear connections between ideas and ensure that sentences and paragraphs flow together smoothly, making them easier to read - Use the following words and phrases in the following circumstances 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 Also, Furthermore, In addition, Additionally, Moreover, said Besides, As well as, Similarly, not only…but also…, even beside this/ that Contrasting In contrast to this, On the contrary, In contrast, Conversely, On the other hand, While, Whereas, However, Despite/ In spite of, Although, Even though, Otherwise, Nonetheless Expressing similarity Similarly; Likewise, In the same way Showing results As a result, As a consequence, Consequently, 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 simply Inferring In other words, In that case, or else, Otherwise Summarizing In summary, To sum up, To conclude, To recapitulate, In conclusion, In short, In brief, In a nutshell, Lastly, The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 16 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination Finally Example: Coherence of the paragraph about the roles of the internet above • Logical Order: In the paragraph about the roles of the internet, there are three main ideas: it is a source of information, it is a source of entertainment and it is a means of education Each of these ideas is discussed, one after the other • Transition Signals: The relationship between the ideas is clearly shown by using appropriate transition words and phrases such as :firstly, for example, secondly, finally, in addition,in conclusion.Using such words and phrases will guide the reader through your paragraph, making it coherent and, therefore, easy to understand Some sample writings: Topic 1: Write a paragraph of about 140 words to talk about the subject(s) you like most State your reasons Of all the subjects at school, English is the one I like best because of many reasons First of all, English is an international language, so learning English helps me communicate with people from other countries easily Therefore, I am sure I will not face any difficulty if I study abroad Besides, I can widen my knowledge of the world with the help of English.For example, I can read books, magazines and news to learn about customs and cultures of many other countries because most of them are written in English Finally, I may get a good job in the future thanks to this language In reality, a large number of big companies have the tendency to employ those who speak English well To sum up, English is my favorite subject due to the reasons mentioned above Topic 2: Write a paragraph of about 140 words to talk about the sport(s) you like most State your reasons To my mind, there are a lot of sports that interest me, but the one I like most is swimming because of plenty of reasons First of all, swimming helps me to have good health In fact, swimming everyday not only is good for muscles but also helps me to have strong heart Therefore, I can study long hours and this may lead to a good result In addition, thanks to this sport, I can relax my mind after a hardworking day at school As a result of this, I can avoid being stressed Last but not The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 17 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination least, It helps me to widen my relationship.when I practice swimming, I can make friends with others who have the same interest as I In general, swimming is my favorite sport due to the reasons mentioned above Topic 3: Write a paragraph of about 140 words to state the reasons for many species extinction In my opinion, there are a lot of reasons for species extinction First of all, the habitats of animal and plant species are being destroyed This leads to the fact that animals have no place to live in As a result, they die Besides, lots of species have become extinct because of pollution It is clear that air and water pollution which is caused by haman activities has recently affected to may species negatively Another reason for many species extinction is illegal hunting.In fact, human beings keep hunting animals illegally for fur, skins, food and other valuable body parts Because of this, the number of these animals is getting smaller and smaller day by day To sum up, habitat destruction, pollution and illegal hunting are primary causes of species extinction Topic 4: Write a paragraph of about 120 words to suggest measures/solutions to protect rare and endangered species from extinction From my point of view, there are a lot of measures to protect rare and endangered species from extinction First of all, we should protect wildlife habitats by planting more trees or establishing more reserves This helps these species have safe places to live in Besides, we should raise people’s awareness of the conservation need so that they will be willing to contribute to protecting the species that are in danger Last but not least, governments should enact strict laws to prevent rare and endangered species from being illegally hunted In general, we can take a large number of measures to protect rare and endangered species from becoming extinct PART III :CONCLUSION The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 18 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination “Strategies for writing aparagraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination” has become quite effective for my students, who are previously not good at writing After teaching these strategies to them, they the writing task more actively As a result, they improve writing skills satistactorily and get good marks surprisingly Real numbers are shown by the two following tables My Students’ marks before applying strategies for writing a paragraph Grade Total approximately students 1.5 marks number % 12 A 43 2% 12 B 32 0% 12 G 45 2% approximately 1.0 mark number % 4% 3% 4% approximately 0.5 mark number % 19% 13% 11% Under 0.5 mark number % 32 75% 27 84% 37 83% My Students’ marks after applying strategies for writing a paragraph Grade Total approximately approximately students 1.5 marks 1.0 mark number % number % 12 A 43 9% 14% 12 B 32 6% 13% 12 G 45 9% 11% approximately 0.5 mark number % 20 47% 12 38% 12 27% Under 0.5 mark number % 13 30% 14 43% 24 53% However, it is not easy to get the high score in writing part test whereas this may be the hardest part in the test It depends on many elements such as vocabulary, practise, timing, …It is a long and hard process I hope that “Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination” can help partly the candidates who are preparing for the coming national secondary education exam as well as the students and the other teachers in their teaching and learning English process Because I can not avoid some mistakes in my writing, your opinions will be useful for me to perfect it I would like to thank The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 19 Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination The confirmation of the principle Thanh Hoa, May, 27th 2016 I promise not to have copied Signature Lê Thị Bốn PART IV REFERENCES The illustrative English test for the National Secondary Education Exam-(2015)the Ministry of Traning and Education Practise your writing skills – Hanoi National University The secrets to good paragraph writing- on the internet Tips and trategies for writing a paragraph- on the internet The teacher: Lê Thị Bốn Page 20 ... time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination Strategies for writing aparagraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination has become quite effective for my... Page Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination • Location - in: Ex: Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec - above:... such as vocabulary, practise, timing, …It is a long and hard process I hope that Strategies for writing a paragraph under time pressure on National Secondary Education Examination can help partly