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Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Course: Writing Teacher: Tran Vo Thanh Tung Duration: 60 periods Week UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PARAGRAPH WRITING Lesson aims : help students know the following points Definition of a paragraph Structure of a paragraph How to format a paragraph Time allocation table : Number Content Duration Definition + format of a paragraph period Structure of a paragraph Practice exercises period periods Lesson forcuses : Structure of a paragraph How to format a paragraph Warming up activitiy: Read the following paragraph, what is it about ? Smoking cigarettes can be an expensive habit Considering that the average price per pack of cigarettes a day is a bout $2.50, people who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day spend $5 per day on their habit At the end of one year, these smokers have spent at least $1,825.00 But the price of cigarette is not the only expense cigarette smokers incur Since cigarette smoke has an offensive odour that permeates clothing, stuffed furniture and carpeting, smokers often find that these items must be cleaned more frequently than those of non-smokers Although it is difficult to estimate the cost of this additional expense, one can see that this hidden expense does contribute to making smoking an expensive habit Definition of a paragraph A paragraph is a group of related sentences that develops one main idea, which is the topic of the paragraph Structure of a paragraph A paragraph is made up of three kinds of sentences that develop the writer’s main idea, opinion, or feeling a bout a subject These sentences are (1) the topic sentence, (2) supporting sentences, and (3) the concluding sentence The writer may add a final comment after the conclusion Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only 2.1 Topic sentence: The topic sentence is the most general statement of the paragraph It is the key sentence because it names the subject and the controlling idea: the writer’s main idea, opinion, or feeling about the topic 2.2 Supporting sentences: Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence by giving specific details about the topic 2.3 Concluding sentence: This sentence tells the reader that the paragraph is finished, and it completes the development of the subject of the paragraph 2.4 Concluding comment After the concluding sentence of a paragraph, you may add a concluding comment This sentence is the writer’s final comment or thought about the subject of the paragraph The purpose of the final comment is to give the reader something to think about and to remember about the paragraph Practice 1: Read the following paragraph and answer the questions below Barefoot Boy I had a scary experience when I was a young boy One evening while my parents were eating dinner, I was playing barefoot in the yard with my toys Even now I still remember the perfume of the flowers and the moisture of the grass While I was sitting on the grass and playing with a truck, I lucked up at the sky, and my attention was distracted by the beauty of the stars Then I felt something cold and smooth slide over my feet I stayed perfectly still, but I looked down at my feet Then I saw a snake slowly slithering over my toes I felt terrible and afraid, so my heart beat very fast After the snake moved away, I screamed to my parents for help, and they captured the snake and took it away The experience frightened me, and I never went outside barefoot again What is the topic sentence? Write it below ……………………………………………………………………………………… How many supporting sentences are there? In your opinion, the supporting sentences explain the topic sentence? Write the concluding sentence below ……………………………………………………………………………………… Does the concluding sentence repeat the information in the topic sentence in a new way? Practice 2: Put a check () next to the group of sentences that makes a good paragraph Why are the other groups of sentences not good paragraphs? Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only a My best friend has many different hobbies, such as skiing, cooking, and playing the piano, and she is very good at all of these activities For example, she has played the piano for ten years and has won in three piano competitions She also likes to spend time traveling, and she has been to many different countries in the world She grew up speaking Spanish and English, but now she can also speak French and Italian I like my best friend very much b Classes in literature are useful no matter what job you intend to have when you finish university Books are about life People who study literature learn the skill of reading carefully and understanding characters, situations, and relationships This kind of understanding can be useful to teachers and business people alike Literature classes also require a lot of writing, so they help students develop the skills of clear communication Of course, a professional writer needs to have this skill, but it is an equally important skill for an engineer Finally reading literature helps develop an understanding of many different points of view Reading a novel by a Russian author, for example, will help a reader learn more about Russian culture For anyone whose job may bring them into contact with Russian colleagues, this insight can help encourage better cross-culture understanding Studying literature is studying life, so it is relevant to almost any job you can think of c One good way to learn another language is to live in a country where that language is used When you live in another country, the language is around you all the time, so you can learn to listen to and speak it more easily Practice 3: Read this paragraph It is the beginning of an article about Indonesia in a student newspaper Then answer the questions Indonesia – Something Interesting at Every Turn By Ken Jones If you dream of traveling to a country with beautiful tropical islands, wonderful food, beautiful places to go sightseeing, and very friendly people, you should visit Indonesia If you look at the map, the first thing you notice is that Indonesia is made up islands – more than 17,000 of them Traveling between islands by boat is great fun Just like the many islands, there are also many different groups of people living in Indonesia In fact, there are around 300 different ethnic groups! Most Indonesians are Malay, but others are Javanese, Balinese, Chinese, or Indian All these groups make Indonesian culture very interesting Finally, Indonesian has many cities and historical sights to see Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Jakarta, the capital city, is fast becoming a modern center of commerce, yet the ancient temples on the island of Bali show that the country’s old traditions are still alive All the people, places, and things to see make Indonesia a great place for vacation What is the topic of the paragraph? ……………………………………………………………………………………… What is the main idea about the topic? ……………………………………………………………………………………… What ideas help explain the main idea? ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………… Formatting a paragraph 3.1 Margins A paragraph must have a margin on the right and a margin on the left This means that the paragraph begins inch (about 2.5 centimeters) or ¼ inches from the edge of the paper 3.2 spacing A paragraph should be double - spaced 3.3 Indenting The first sentence of a paragraph must be indented This means that it begins five spaces in from the left margin Indenting shows the reader that a new paragraph is beginning On a computer, you can indent with the Tab key 3.4 Connected sentences The sentences in a paragraph should follow each other It is not a paragraph if every sentence begins on a new line A well-supported paragraph has at least sentences and often more 3.5 Title A paragraph by itself usually has a title This is one word or a group of words that tells what the topic is Practice 5: Read the paragraph Then label the formatting elements of the paragraph Use the words in the box a margin b double spacing c indent d title Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Red I love the color red No other color symbolizes so many different emotions and experiences Life would be very boring without the color red Fires would not burn in the same way The sunset would not be interesting, and blood would not be so surprisingly beautiful Red is powerful when it appears in nature, and it is also powerful when it appears in our emotions Red is love Red is anger Red is beauty I like to live life in a strong way, so I think I will always admire the color red Home work: Study each of the following paragraphs to identify its topic Write the topic for each paragraph in the space provided under each one Then choose a suitable title for that paragraph and write it on the space provided above each one ……………………………………… A final examination in a course will give a student the initiative to his or her best work through out the course Students who are only taking notes and attending classes in order to pass a few short tests will not give their best effort For instance, some of my friends in the drama class, in which there is no examination, take poor notes, which they throw away after short test Skipping classes also become popular Imagine the incredible change a final examination would produce Students would have to take good notes and attend all classes in order to be prepared for the final examination This paragraph is about…………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………… Weird stuff seems to go with major comets When a comet appeared in AD 60, the people of Rome assumed it meant the impending death of their still new emperor, Nero He responded by exiling a potential rival When another comet turned up just four years Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only later, ancient historians say he ordered the execution of dozens nobles It is said that Moctezuma II saw a comet in 1517 that foreshadowed the downfall of the Aztec empire In 1910, a wave of hysteria swept over the United States amid reports that Earth was about to pass through Halley’s tail This paragraph is about…………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………… When we attributions about ourselves or about others, we tend to attribute the behavior in question to either internal or external forces When you see some one crash his car into a telephone pole, you can attribute that unfortunate piece of behavior either to internal or external causes You might conclude that the person is a terrible driver or emotionally upset (internal causes), or you conclude that another car forced the diver off the road (external causes) If you fail an examination, you can attribute it to internal causes such as stupidity or a failure to study, or you can attribute it to external causes such as an unfair test or an overheated room This paragraph is about…………………………………………………………………… Week UNIT 2: WRITING THE TOPIC SENTENCE Lesson aims : help students know the following points Definition of a topic sentence Position of topic sentence Parts of a topic sentence Time allocation table : Order Content Duration Definition + position of a topic sentence period Parts of a topic sentence Practice exercises period periods Lesson forcuses: Parts of a topic sentence Definition of a topic sentence: The topic sentence is the most general statement of the paragraph Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Position of the topic sentence: The topic sentence can come at the beginning or at the end of a paragraph You should write your topic sentence as the first sentence of your paragraph for two reasons First, it will tell the reader what you are going to say Second, you can look back at the topic sentence often as you write the supporting sentences It will help you stay on the subject as you write Parts of a topic sentence: A topic sentence has three main parts: a topic (subject), a verb, and a controlling idea 3.1 The topic The topic is the subject of the paragraph It is what the paragraph is about 3.2 The verb The verb is used to connect the topic and the controlling idea in grammatical form 3.3 The controlling idea - The controlling idea is the writer’s idea or attitude about the topic It helps narrow down the topic All the other sentences in the paragraph should relate to and develop the controlling idea Ex: Smoking cigarettes can be an expensive habit Topic verb controlling idea - With the same topic, there can be different controlling ideas Ex: topic controlling ideas an honest person - My friend is - My friend is the funniest person I know - My friend has a terribly dangerous job - A topic sentence must not be a simple fact or a specific detail The controlling idea must say something about the topic that can be supported, developed or demonstrated in the supporting sentences The controlling idea must also not be too general, or the topic sentence will be unclear Ex: - A surprise party is a kind of party (too general) - There were 14 guests at my surprise birthday party (too specific) - My classmates gave me an unforgettable surprise party for my 18th birthday The last topic sentence is effective because it introduces the topic and has a controlling idea that can be developed in the supporting sentences The paragraph will probably tell the story of the party Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Practice 1: In each topic sentence below, circle the topic and underline the controlling idea Hiking is the best way to explore nature closely My uncle had a frightening experience as a young man Text messaging has become popular among teenagers Effective time management requires four easy steps Every college student should take a computer course Another way to reduce the rate of inflation is to balance the federal budget A final advantage Martina Navratilova had on the court was her constant aggressiveness A properly planned science fiction course should include a unit on political implications Einstein’s unsuccessful attempt to get nuclear weapons banned was disappointing to him 10 One of the biggest problems with scholarships in athletics is that more attention is paid to sport than to education 11 Some seeming English-Spanish equivalents are deceptive 12 Another reason air pollution is hazardous is that it damages the earth’s ozone layer Practice 2: In each sentence below, circle the topic and underline the controlling idea If the sentence does not contain an effective controlling idea, write an in the blank For the effective topic sentences, write what you think the supporting sentences will be about 1………My doctor is very kind to his patients The writer will give examples of ways in which his doctor is kind to patients 2.…… Fried rice is easy to prepare if you follow some simple steps ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3.…… I’m going to write about my country ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4.…… I had an adventure in the jungle last year ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5.…… Video games are not bad for children Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Practice 3: Study the following pairs of sentences and check the one you think would be a good, clear topic sentence for a paragraph The first one is done for you Explain your choice Snow skiing on the highest mountainsides requires great skill Snow skiing is fun Exercise is healthful Jogging is healthful for several reasons Camping is a great outdoor activity Camping requires a variety of special equipment The legal age for drinking alcoholic drinks should be 21 for several reasons Drinking is dangerous to your health Small cars are popular 10 Driving a VW Rabbit saves money 11 Hong Kong is an exciting city 12 Hong Kong is a shopper’s dream world 13 The violence on television can affect children’s emotional well being 14 Watching television is a waste of time 15 Smoking is a bad habit 16 It is difficult to quit smoking for three reasons Practice 4: Study each of the following paragraphs Write out the topic sentence for the paragraph, underlining the topic and circling the controlling idea If the topic sentence is implied, write one out Another interesting area this research has to with is the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation We are intrinsically motivated when we something “for the fun of it”, or for no other reason than to perform the behavior We sing in the shower, not because we expect applause or because we are trying to earn money, but merely because we like to it We crossword puzzles, paint pictures, and look at the sunset because it is intrinsically rewarding to so We not expect an external reward Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, refers to situations in which we act because we expect some external reward We may only show up at the office because we need the money Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only We may only go to school to please to please our parents We may be exceptionally polite to a particular individual because we want something from her Topic sentence: ………………………………………………………………………… In 1944, The United States signed a treaty with Mexico guaranteeing that country 1.5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water a year But the big division of the Colorado’s precious water had occurred in 1922 under the Colorado River Compact, signed by the seven states along the river and the federal government What makes the agreement shaky - some describe it as “a house of cards” - is that it is based on an overly optimistic estimate of the river’s average flow About 15 million acre-feet of water was originally apportioned to the states; actually, the average annual supply is only 13.8 million In addition, the Compact did not take into account Mexico’s right to any Colorado River water at all, so the 1.5 million acre-feet later guaranteed to Mexico widens the gap between demand and supply The Colorado is, in short, over booked Topic sentence: ………………………………………………………………………… Tigers are generally believed to have evolved in southern China more than a million years ago and then to have prowled westward towards the Caspian Sea, north to the snow-filled evergreen and oak forest of Siberia, and south across Indo china and Indonesia, all the way to the lush tropical forest of Bali Their modern history is admittedly dispiriting Into the 1940s, eight supposed subspecies persisted in the wild Since then, however, the tigers of Bali, the Caspian region and Java have vanished, and the South China tiger, hunted as vermin during the regime of Mao Zedong, seems poised to follow them into extinction; fewer than 30 individuals may now survive outside zoos, scattered among four disconnected patches of mountain forest, probably too few and far between to maintain a viable population ever again Topic sentence: ………………………………………………………………………… Anyone who saw him once never forgot his nose and his body The first time anyone saw him, they were very surprised The second time, they looked at his nose with admiration, as if it were a valuable treasure His nose, which was longer than Barbra Streisand’s, occupied most of his face When he smiled, nothing but his nose was visible He was recognized by it even in a crowd The treasure made one think that in his previous life he had been a collie or an anteater In addition, his nose was as thin as a razor If he had flown like a jet, he could have divided the clouds His body was also very skinny He looked as if he had not eaten for ten days He was a heavy eater, but one couldn’t imagine where he kept food in his body Finally, on a windy day, he was blown away and gone, like Mary Poppins Topic sentence: ………………………………………………………………………… Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Extended Example 1) What is the difference between an example and an extended example? 2.1.2 Statistics In business, engineering and the sciences, the statistics are often used for support Usually the statistics are got from charts and graphs Example: Billions of people 1 A.D year 500 1000 1650 1900 2000 World population growth.( Source: United States estimates) World Population Growth Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only The World’s Population has been increasing dramatically According to a United Nations chart of world population growth, the world’s population suddenly multiplied in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries At the beginning of the Christian era, the estimated world population was 200 to 300 million It took more than 1.800 years for the population to reach one billion Then in less than one hundred years, the figure doubled to two billion by 1930 By 1975, when it reached four billion, it had doubled again in less than fifty years The United Nations has projected an increase to more than six billion by the year 2000 2.1.3 Quotations There are two kinds of quotation: direct and indirect Direct quotation Example: Drugs and the Olympic Games It is no secret that performance-enhancing drugs have been used by Olympic athletes for decades In 1993, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s medical commission, Prince Alexandre de Merode of Belgium, stated,” I believe that as many as 10% of all Olympic athletes are regular users of performance-enhancing drugs”(qtd in Bamberger and Yaeger 63) Despite rigorous drug testing of Olympic athletes, the use of banned performance-enhancing substances has become more widespread than ever It is clear that if athletes want to win, they must consider using drugs In a 1977 article in Sports illustrated magazine, Dutch physician Michel Karsten is quoted as saying,” There may be some sportsmen who can win gold medals without taking drugs, but there are very few.” According to Dr Karsten, who says he has prescribed anabolic steroids to hundreds of world-class athletes over the last twenty-five years,” If you are especially gifted, you may win once, but from your experience you cannot continue to win without drugs The field is just too filled with drug users”( qtd in Bamberger and Yaeger 62) Indirect Quotations Seeking a Spouse on the Web The global reach of the Internet is helping expatriate citizens of India find marriage partners Most Indians prefer their partners to come from the same region of India as they and to have similar religious and socioeconomic backgrounds For young Indians who live abroad, searching for a suitable wife or husband becomes quite difficult They often must depend on their families back home in India to find them mates However, computer scientist Raj Baronia, who lives and works in Sillicon Valley in California, has developed a site on the World Wide Web to help called Indolink In an interview, Baronia said that he had developed Indolink to allow Indians living abroad to take responsibility for finding their own marriage partners rather than having their parents it for them He estimated that half of Indolink ads were placed by marriage seekers themselves rather than by family Baronica also said Indolink allowed them to search not only in India but also in expatriate communities around the world( qtd in Banley) For example, Sandeep Gupta, a young computer programmer from Toronto, is seeking a wife through Indolink Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only He is looking for intellectual women and, according to Gupta, anyone he meets on the Internet will probably be professional and educated He revealed that he was planning to fly to New York soon to meet a young woman he met through Indolink (qtd in Bentley) What are the similarities and differences between direct and indirect quotation? ? - Changing a direct quotation to an indirect quotation Omit the quotation marks Add subordinator That if necessary Change the verb tense if necessary Change pronouns if necessary Activity 9: Rewrite the following direct quotations as indirect quotations Television channel KSA General Manager Jim Burns said, “Not everyone can attend college in the traditional way; therefore, taking courses via television will offer many more students the chance to earn a college degree.” ………………………………………… ………………………………………… ………………………………………… Pre-med student Alma Rodriguez said, “I miss being on campus, but I have to work and take care of my family.” ………………………………………… ………………………………………… ………………………………………… Other students said, “Last year, we spent several hours a day commuting to and from school Now, we don’t have to that.” ………………………………………… ………………………………………… ………………………………………… Computer engineering student Amir Mehdizadeh stated, “I can choose when to study and how to study without pressure.” He also said, ”I will take two more telecourses in the fall.” ………………………………………… ………………………………………… ………………………………………… 2.1.4 Paraphrases Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Paraphrasing is a writing skill in which you rephrase or rewrite the information from an outside source is rephrased or rewritten in your own words without changing its meaning When paraphrasing, it is important to avoid plagiarizing; that is, the paraphrase is too similar to the original Examples: Original passage Language is the main means of communication between peoples But so many different languages have developed that language has often been a barrier rather than an aid to understanding among peoples For many years, people have dreamed of setting up an international, universal language which all people could speak and understand The arguments in favor of a universal language are simple and obvious If all people spoke the same tongue, cultural and economic ties might be much closer, and good will might increase between countries (Kispert) Unacceptable Paraphrase Language is the principle means of communication between people However, because there are numerous languages, language itself has frequently been a barrier rather than an aid to understanding among the world population For many years, people have envisioned a common universal language that everyone in the world could communicate in The reasons for having a universal language are clearly understandable If the same tongue was spoken by all countries, they would undoubtedly become closer culturally and economically It would probably also create good will among nations (Kispert) Acceptable Paraphrase Humans communicate through language However, because there are so many languages in the world, language is an obstacle rather than an aid to communication For a long time, people have wished for an international language that speakers all over the world could understand A universal language would certainly build cultural and economic bonds It would also create better feelings among countries (Kispert) Activity 10: Read the examples above carefully Discuss with your partner what you think are the reasons for a paraphrase to be unacceptable Steps to write a good paraphrase - Step 1: Read the original passage several times until you understand it fully Look up unfamiliar words and find synonyms for them If you need to take notes, write Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only - - down only one or two words for each idea- not complete sentences It may be helpful to make a brief outline of the main points Example: Language- main means of communication Too many languages- barrier to understanding Universal language needed Reasons for a universal language Increase cultural economic bonds Increase good feelings between countries Step 2: Write your paraphrase from memory Include as much of the information as you remember Don’t look at the original while you are reading Step 3: Check your paraphrase against the original for accuracy and completeness Step 4: Name the source of the original passage in parentheses at the end of the paraphrase Activity 11: Work with your partners Follow the same four steps and paraphrase these passages 1) Americans Despite its ethnic diversity, the United States has managed to absorb bits and pieces of many cultures and weave them into a unique culture that is strikingly consistent and distinct You can pick out Americans any place in the world, often very quickly, because of their behavior Among their most observable traits are openness, friendliness, informality, optimism, creativity, loudness, and vitality.( Hall and Hall 140) 2) The Work Ethnic of Americans and Europeans Europeans often observe that Americans schedule everything except time for relaxation This is particularly true of American executives, who drives themselves hard, often at the expense of their families and their health Americans have fewer holidays and take shorter vacations than Europeans In the opinion of many German and French executives, American executives are obsessed with work; they are workaholics Most Europeans not accept working on weekends or holidays; they reserve these times for themselves and their families ( Hall and Hall 145) 2.1.5 Summaries Steps to write a good summary - Step 1: the same as that of writing a paraphrase - Step 2: Write your summary from memory, including the main points and excluding the details - Step 3: Check the summary against the original for accuracy - Step 4: the same as that of writing a paraphrase Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Example: Original passage Language is the main means of communication between peoples But so many different languages have developed that language has often been a barrier rather than an aid to understanding among peoples For many years, people have dreamed of setting up an international, universal language which all people could speak and understand The arguments in favor of a universal language are simple and obvious If all people spoke the same tongue, cultural and economic ties might be much closer, and good will might increase between countries (Kispert) Summary People communicate mainly through language; however, having so many different languages creates communication barriers Some think that one universal language would bring countries together culturally and economically and also increase good feelings among them (Kispert) Activity 12: Read the example of acceptable paraphrase and the example of summary With your partners, list the similarities and differences between a paraphrase and a summary Activity 13: Write a separate summary of each of the following paragraphs Owning a Car Should a person own a car? This is an important question In a large urban area, there are some good reasons for owning a car First, a car allows a person to move around freely With a car, there is no need to check a bus schedule or wait for a train Second, a car is a comfortable way to travel, especially in the wintertime In bad weather, the driver stays warm and dry, while the poor bus or train rider might have to stand in the rain Finally, a driver is usually safe in a car at night The rider might need to walk down a dark street to get to a stop, or wait on a dark corner There are, on the other hand, many good reasons against owning a car First, it can be very expensive The price of fuel continues to rise and car insurance can cost three or four hundred dollars a year In addition, it is expensive to maintain and repair a car A simple tune-up can cost $ 50 In an urban area, it might also be expensive to park the car Second, owning a car can cause worry and stress It is exhausting to drive in rush-hour traffic, or to drive around and around looking for a parking space If you leave your car on the street, it might get stolen That is something else to worry about Finally, everyone needs to think about pollution and energy problems Air pollution and noise pollution increase as more and more people drive cars More and more cars also burn more and more fuel At present, drivers may have to wait in long lines at filling stations in order to buy a couple of gallons of gasoline Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only 2.2 Kinds of logical orders ([1], pp.25-29& [2], pp.56-67) 2.2.1 Logical division of ideas/ Order of importance In this order, the ideas related to each other are grouped and discussed one after another The order of the ideas is decided according the degree of impact on the readers or the degree of importance to the subject The paragraphs might move from least to most or most to least important Common transitional signals For logical division of ideas Sentence connectors Others First, second, third, etc The first (+noun) next, last, finally The/ a second (+noun) In addition, moreover, furthermore, also One (+noun) For one thing Another (+noun) First of all An additional (+noun) For another thing The next (+noun) The final (+noun) The other (+noun) For order of importance Sentence connectors Others More importantly A more important (+noun) Most significantly The most important (+noun) Above all The second most significant (+noun) primarily The primary (+noun) The topic sentence of logical division and order of importance paragraphs often indicates the number of groups the topic is divided into or what the groups are Examples: Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics Inflation has three causes Gold, a precious metal, is a prized not only for its beauty but also for its utility Inflation has three causes: an increase in the supply of paper money, excessive government spending, and unrestrained consumer borrowing Activity 14: Read the paragraph and answer the questions Life in Space Living aboard a space station in orbit around the Earth for months at a time poses problems for astronauts’ bodies as well as for their minds One major problem is maintaining astronauts’ physical health Medical treatment may be days or even weeks away As there may not be a doctor on board, illnesses such as appendicitis or ulcers, routinely treated on Earth, could be fatal in space because of the delay in getting to a Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only doctor Furthermore, surgery may be impossible because blood would float around inside the operating room Another health problem is the potential for bone deterioration In a weightless environment, the body produces less calcium Astronauts must exercise at least three hours a day to prevent bone loss A second major problem is maintaining astronauts’ metal health Being confined for long period of time in dark and hostile space undoubtedly produces anxiety Loneliness and boredom are other psychological concerns Finally, how can astronauts” let off steam” when interpersonal conflicts develop? It is clear that space station duty will requires astronauts who are not only physically but also mentally strong How many groups is the topic of the paragraph divided into? What are they? Do the topic sentence and the concluding sentence tell you main ideas to be discussed in the paragraph? What transition signals indicate the divisions? Where else in the paragraph the transitional signals are used? In your opinion, would it make any difference if mental health was discussed before physical health? Do you think one is more important than the other or are they approximately equal in importance? Activity 15 Put a check () in the space to the left of every topic sentence that suggest logical division as a method of organization Put a double check () if the sentence suggests order of importance Some are neither, so leave these unchecked ………1 My eighteenth birthday was a day I will never forget ………2 On their eighteenth birthdays, Americans receive two important rights/ responsibilities: they can vote, and they can sign legal contracts ………3 In the most occupations, women are still unequal to men in three areas: salary, power and status ………4 Living in the dormitory offers several advantages to the newly arrived international student ………5 Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacturer their own food ………6 Television game shows are boring for the educated viewer because they are poorly disguised commercials, but more importantly because they require such a minimal level of knowledge ………7 Earthquake prediction is still an inexact science although seismologists learn more each time they monitor a quake ………8 A computer is both faster and more accurate than a human ………9 Teenagers demonstrate their independence in several ways ………10.A college degree international business today requires first, a knowledge of business procedures and second, a knowledge of cultural differences in business methods 2.2.2 Comparison/ contrast([1], pp.69-84 & [2], pp.65-67) Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Comparison / contrast involves analyzing the similarities and differences between two or more items The content of a comparison/ contrast paragraph can vary Some paragraphs emphasize similarities; some emphasize differences; and some others discuss both similarities and differences Common transitional signals Comparison transition signals Sentence connectors Conjunctions Others Similarly And Like Likewise Both….and Just like Also Not only…but also Alike Too As As….as Just as… (be) similar Similar to The same(as) Compare to/ with Contrast transition signals Sentence connectors Conjunctions Others However But Unlike On the other hand Yet Differ from On the contrary Although (be) dissimilar In contrast Even though Compare to/ with In(by) comparison While Whereas Activity 16: Read the paragraphs and the following: Decide which of the following shows comparison and which of them shows contrast State the reason for your choice State on how many points are the two computers compared and on how many they are contrasted Underline all the transition signals used in the two paragraphs PCs versus Macs Para 1: Between PCs and Mac, there are some basic similarities First of all, both PCs and Mars are composed of the same elements: a CPU, the electronic circuitry to run the computer; memory(hard and/ or floppy disk drivers) for storing information; input devices such as a keyboard or mouse for putting information into the computer; and output devices such as a monitor, printer, and audio speakers for conveying information They also have the same uses: Pcs are used to communicate on computer networks, to write (with the help of word processing and desktop publishing software), to track finances, and to play games Macs are likewise used to communicate, write, calculate, and entertain Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Para 2: There are some differences, however Whereas you will find more Pcs in business offices, you will find more Macs in classroom Although Macs are the computers of choice of people who a lot of art and graphic design in their work, PCs seem to be the choice of people who a lot of” number crunching.” Finally, there is a difference in the availability of software, vendors, and service for the two computers Furthermore, for a Mac, you must purchase your machine and get service from a Macintosh-authorized dealer whereas many different computer stores sell and service Pcs 2.2.3 Chronological(time) order([1], pp.16-21 & [2], pp.56-60) Chronological order is a way of organizing the ideas in a paragraph in the order of their occurrence in time Chronological order is used in narrative and process texts Common transition signals for chronological order Transition words and phrases first, first of all, soon, second, after that, gradually, next, finally, meanwhile, now, last, then, subordinators after since as until as soon as when before while Others In the first step… In the second step… On the third day… During the night… The topic sentence of a chronological paragraph in some way in some way indicates the time order Examples: - The worst day in my life was the day I left my family and my friends to come to the United States - You can avoid jet lag after a long flight if you follow these suggestions Activity 17: Read the paragraph and answer the questions Cloning Technology The cloning of Dolly involved several steps First, cells that had previously been taken from Dolly’s mother were starved for five days, which caused them to stop dividing This interruption of the cells’ division cycle made it easier for them to reprogram themselves to start growing a new organism After five days, the nuclei of these cells were removed and transferred into unfertilized sheep egg, from which a natural nucleus had been previously removed In the next step, the egg was grown in the laboratory for a period of time Then the egg was implanted into a different sheep, where it grew normally When the sheep finally gave birth, the lamb was an exact genetic copy, Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only or clone, of the sheep that had provided the transferred nucleus, not of the sheep that had provided the egg Which of the two uses of chronological order does the model paragraph exemplify? Which words or phrases in the topic sentence show the time? What transitional words or phrases are used in the paragraph? Activity 18: Put a check in the space to the left of every topic sentence suggesting that a chronological paragraph will follow Then, in the sentences you have checked, circle the word or words that indicate the chronological order ……….1 In the past sixty years, development in the field of electronics has revolutionized the computer industry ……….2 A person’s intelligence is the product of both heredity and environment ……….3 The tensions that led to last year’s student riots had been building for several years ……….4 The life cycle of the Pacific salmon is a fascinating phenomenon ……….5 There are two main reasons I believe women in the army should not be allowed in a war zone along with men ……….6 Surviving a major earthquake is possible if you follow certain procedures ……….7 American directness often conflicts with Asian modesty ……….8 Every year, our family celebrates the Muslim holiday Ramadan in the same way ……….9 The traditions of Christmas originated in several different countries ……….10 The preparation of the poisonous puffer fish for eating is not for amateur chefs 2.2.4 Spatial order ([1], pp.22-24) In a paragraph of spatial order, the details are organized according to where they are located in space Spatial order is usually used in describing writings There are two ways to organize a paragraph using spatial order: To choose a starting point and give the locations of things in relation to that place, Or, to describe things in one area first, and then move on to the next area, and so forth Activity 19: Below are two examples of spatial paragraphs Read them and state of which of the two mentioned ways of organization above each paragraph followed A poor room The room is small, measuring 1.5 meters by meters There is only one small window in the wall but the panes are all broken The furniture is old and worm-eaten The Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only carpet, which is made of cheap stuff, is torn and dirty There is no running water The light is dim- a dim, yellow light that gives the bedspread a gray, mildewed look I am sure nobody would live happily in a room like that Laurie’s Laurie’s is a large department store that sells clothing for the whole family As you enter the store through the main entrance, the jewelry department is directly in front of you in the middle of the store On your left is the coat department, and the scarf department is behind the coats To the right of the jewelry department is the cosmetics department The elevators are on the east wall In the northwest corner you will find the women’s shoe department Next to it, on the north wall, are hats and gloves To the right of the hat and glove department are the handbags and belts The children clothes are between the handbag and belt department and the elevators elevators Activity 21: Use information from the paragraph about Laurie’s to fill in the plan of the store below N W E S Main Entrance HOME WORK Exercise 1: In the following paragraphs there were used the supports like extended example, example, statistic and quotation Find and locate them in the text Dad’s New Role Dr Elizabeth Lee is the medical director in charge of communicable diseases in the country where she lives She enjoys her challenging career and prefers it to staying at home with her two young children Both she and her husband, Jack, realize the importance of parent’s active participation in their children’s lives Therefore, they decided that one of them should stay at home to be a full-time parent Jack became the primary caregiver because staying home would enable him to spend time developing his graphic design business Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only Jack Lee is one of a growing number of stay-at-home dads According to a 1996 survey by the Los Angeles Times, 39 percent of the men who responded to the survey indicated that they would be willing to quit their jobs to take care of their children while their wives became the primary breadwinners Furthermore, the U.S Census Bureau reported in 1997 that approximately two million men across the United States have primary responsibility for their children Other fathers are telecommuting or have part-time jobs that allow them to spend more time with their kids For example, telecommuting gives advertising executive Ron Stemple time to take his children to school and pick them up He can also give them to their after-school activities A 1997 study by job placement agency Executive Search, Inc reported that between 57 and 78 percent of men would be willing to reduce their work hours and their salaries to spend more time with their children According to the experts, Dad does just as well as Mom at presenting As Joan Grant of the New York Department of Social Services stated, “Men are just as capable as women of taking care of their children’s need, including preparing nutritious meals; dispensing love, discipline, and Band-Aids; and providing a happy home environment Exercise 2: Read the following paragraphs and decide which kind of logical order is used in each: comparison/contrast, chronological order, spatial order, or logical division of ideas Discuss the reasons for your choice Para Powerful computers capable of translating documents from one language into another have recently been developed in Japan The process of machine translation is complex To translate a document from English into Japanese, for example, the computer first analyzes an English sentence, determining its grammatical structure and identifying the subject, verb, objects, and modifiers Next, the words are translated by an EnglishJapanese dictionary After that, another part of the computer program analyzes the resulting awkward jumble of words and meanings and produces an intelligible sentence based on the rules of Japanese syntax and how the machine understands what the original English sentence meant Finally, the computer-produced translation is polished by a human bilingual editor Kind of logical order:………………………………………………………… Para French and American business managers have decidedly different management styles French meetings, for example, are long and rambling and rarely end on time Furthermore, meetings often end without closure Americans, on the other hand, make an effort to start and stop a meeting on time, and American business meetings typically end Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only with decisions and action plans Another difference involves documentation Americans adore documentation; they have a procedure manual for everything The French, in contrast, think this is childish French managers find it difficult to stick to a schedule, but American managers are intolerant of delays In addition, the French prefers to work alone, whereas Americans like to work in teams Another major difference in management style is that in French companies, authorities come from the top; French managers not share information with subordinates and make decisions with little participation by employees beneath them In American companies, however, top managers share information and frequently solicit input from subordinates Solicit: ask for Kind of logical order:………………………………………………………… Para The many different calendars used throughout the world are all based either on the phrases of the moon, on the revolution of the Earth around the sun, or on a combination of these The first kind of calendar is the lunar calendar, which is based on the phrases of the moon A month is calculated as the time between two full moons, 29.5 days, and a year has 345 days The Islamic calendar used in Muslim countries is a lunar calendar It has twelve months and a cycle of thirty years in which the 2nd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 26th, and 29th years have 365 days, and the others 354 days A second kind of calendar is the solar calendar, which is based on the revolution of the Earth around the sun The ancient Egyptians used a solar calendar divided into twelve months of thirty days each, which left five uncounted days at the end of each year A very accurate calendar developed by the Mayan Indians in North America was also a solar calendar It had 365 days, 364 of which were divided into 28 weeks of 13 days each The New Year began on the 365th day Because the solar year is exactly 365 days, hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds long, however, a solar calendar is not totally accurate, so many cultures developed a third kind of calendar, the lunisolar calendar In a lunisolar calendar extra days are added every so often to reconcile the lunar months with the solar years The Chinese, Hebrew, and Gregorian calendar used today are lunisolar calendars Reconcile: bring together Hebrew: ancient Jew Gregorian: belonging to popes Gregory Para Marie is as beautiful as any Hollywood starlet Her thick, wavy, long black hair gracefully falls down to her shoulders and surrounds exquisite, diamond-shaped face A golden suntan usually highlights her smooth, clear complexion Her lightly arched chestnut brown eyebrows draw attention to her deep blue eyes, which remind me of a lake on a stormy day Her eyes are large, but not too large, with thick eyelashes Her nose is straight and neither too neither long nor too short A small black mole on the left side Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware.com For evaluation only of her mouth adds to her beauty And her mouth! It is small mouth that looks delicate and feminine Her lips are rather thin, but not too thin; her light pink lipstick adds another touch of feminine beauty When she smiles, which is often, her well-formed and even, white teeth brighten up her whole face There is nothing but extraordinary beauty in the face of Marie Kind of logical order:………………………………………………………… Exercise 3: - Things to consider when choosing a university - How to make an omelet - Description of your house - Life in the city versus life in the countryside Decide which kind of logical orders should be used to write on each topic Choose one of the given topics and write the topic sentence Develop the topic sentence with two main ideas supported by at least specific detail References: [1]Blanchard, K.& Root, C Ready to Write.(2nded) Addition-Wesley Publishing Company 1994 [2]Oshima, A.&Hogue,A Introduction to Academic Writing.(2nded) Longman 1997 [3]Savage.A.& Shafield, M Effective Academic Writing 1: The Paragraph Oxford University Press 2007 ... number of red-light running accidents increased 18 percent from 19 91 through 19 95 In 19 91, 2.425 deaths resulted and in 19 95, the number rose to 2. 866 Activity 8: Discuss with your partner which... business methods 2.2.2 Comparison/ contrast( [1] , pp .69 -84 & [2], pp .65 -67 ) Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software http://www.foxitsoftware .com For evaluation only Comparison / contrast... 21 for several reasons Drinking is dangerous to your health Small cars are popular 10 Driving a VW Rabbit saves money 11 Hong Kong is an exciting city 12 Hong Kong is a shopper’s dream world 13
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