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UNIT 1: DESCRIPTIVE ESSAYS Lesson aims: On completion of this unit, students will be able to be aware of the purpose of descriptive writing in communication get knowledge of the features of a descriptive essay know how to produce an effective descriptive essay Lesson focuses: Definition Descriptive organization Languages features Tips to write a good descriptive essay Time allocation table: periods Order Contents Time THEORY & PRACTICE( periods) Definition of a descriptive writing 1st period Descriptive organization 1st and 2nd period Language features: 3rd and 4th period - Prepositional phrases - Adjectives - Similes Tips to write a good descriptive essay 4th period EDITING ( periods) Reporting the completed essays 5th to 8th period Evaluating & Editing 1.1 CONTENTS OF THE LESSON: THEORY& PRACTICE 1.1.1 What is a descriptive writing?([1], p.28) Activity 1: Guessing game Within 10 minutes, write sentences about something Do not reveal what you are writing about, but make sure your information is sufficient enough for the others to make a good guessing Then exchange your notes with a partner and the guessing Activity 2: Answer the questions: What is main purpose of a descriptive writing? What kinds of information can be got from the essay? 1.1.2 Descriptive Organization( [1], p.33) Activity 3: Read the essay and then answer the questions that follow it: The Best Pizza in Town and Maybe the World I have suffered a great deal because of a terrible addiction to pizza Basically, I enjoy pizza too much In fact, I enjoy it so much I won’t share it, not even with my mother People in my hometown of Cabimas, Venezuela, laugh at me and call me the Pizza King of Cabimas, but it is a name that I am proud of I have eaten pizza in many places, and none is as good as the pizza of Cabimas Page of 44 The best place to eat pizza in Cabimas is at Papa’s Customers have to wait in line to get a table but the wait is worth it Once they are seated, pizza-lovers can choose from many varieties of pizza, such as pizza with shrimp and smoked oysters or pizza with pine nuts and garlic, but my favorite is the sausage and pepperoni First of all, it is big When the waiter puts it down in front of me, I feel happy because I will get enough to eat It smells of garlic, oil, and spices And it looks delicious enough too The sauce oozes out from under a layer of rich melted cheese The best part is the first bite I sink my teeth into a slightly crunchy crust, thick tomato sauce and gooey cheese, and I am in heaven I can eat two of these pizzas in one night, even though I know I will have a stomachache afterwards Now that I am in the United States, I am trying different kinds of pizzas here I have never seen so many different pizza restaurants! I want to try them one by one So far, some of them are delicious, but I am convinced that the best pizza in the world is still at Papa’s restaurant a couple of blocks from the house where I grew up ([1], pp 33-34) What is the topic of the essay? What does the writer say to introduce the topic? Which word in the first sentence make you impressed? How you think the hook can affect the successfulness of an essay? What the second, third, and fourth sentence in the first paragraph function? Which sentence in the first paragraph conveys the writer’s thesis about the topic? Which paragraph has the most descriptive details? What does the essay ends with? a) More description b) A restatement of the idea mentioned in the introduction c) A story d) An invitation Activity 4: Read the following introductory paragraphs and then State the topic of the essay Identify the word(s) working as the hook Pick out the words or phrases to make the hook clear Underline the controlling ideas (1) Trees are wonderful plants Most of us like to sit under a large tree on a hot summer day Children love to climb trees and artists like to draw them When we look at a tree, we may think only of its beauty, but a tree actually has a complex physical structure The structure of a tree consists of three main parts: the leaves, the branches and trunk, and the roots (2) My family is full of happy, crazy, and talented people My aunt Margarita has a yard full of orphaned pets My brother Jose is an expert tailor, and my mother loves to experiment in the kitchen However, I think the most interesting is my mysterious uncle Patricio (3) My father told me that we should always respect nature and learn where our food comes from He said that food tasted better when you got it yourself and ate it in Page of 44 a natural place To show me this was true, he took me to the ocean, where we caught our own delicious crabs and ate them (4) I don’t really know my father He isn’t easy to get on with He’s quite selfcentered and a little bit vain I think, in some ways, he is quite unapproachable The public must think he is very easy-going, but at home he keeps himself to himself Activity 5: Read each of the following concluding paragraphs and state what it ends with (1) In short, a tree has such a complicated structure with three main parts Each of its parts performs certain functions but cooperates well with each other to maintain and develop the life the tree (2) I love spending time with my uncle Patricio He has an interesting look and a sad and mysterious past He is also a talents musician Someday, I hope that he will tell me about Rosa and how he got the tattoo with her name (3) From that day on, I knew my father was right Food tastes best when it is something that you have caught or grown yourself I have eaten crabs many times since then, but it has never tasted as good as it did that day (4) I never watch my father on television I am not that interested Anyway, he usually forgets to tell me when he is on Activity 6: Fill the blanks in the outline below with sufficient information from the given essay as required Example: The outline is filled with information from the essay in [1], pp 33-34 Introduction: Topic: Pizzas Hook: I am addicted to pizza Background information: don’t share pizza with anyone, called the Pizza King, tried pizza in many places Thesis statement: I have eaten pizza in many places, and none is as good as the pizza of Cabimas Body paragraph: Details: places to eat pizza, Papa’s, Types of pizza, description of size, flavor and taste of sausage and pepperoni Words/ phrases: big, smells of garlic, oil, spices, rich melted cheese, slightly crunchy crust, think tomato sauce and gooey cheese, stomachache Conclusion: Final opinion: The best pizza in the world is still at Papa’s restaurant OUTLINE Introduction: - Topic: …………………………………………………………………………….(1) - Hook: …………………………………………………………………………….(2) - Background information: Page of 44 ……………………………………………………………………………………… (3) - Thesis statement: ……………………………………………………………… (4) Body paragraphs: Paragraph 1: - Main idea:………………………………………………………………………(5) - Details: …………………………………… .(6) Paragraph 2: - Main idea:…………………………………………………………………… (7) - Details: …………………………………… (8) Conclusion: - Summary :…………… .(9) - Final opinion :……………………………………………………………… (10) My Uncle My family is full of happy, crazy, and talented people My aunt Margarita has a yard full of orphaned pets My brother Jose is an expert tailor, and my mother loves to experiment in the kitchen However, I think the most interesting is my mysterious uncle Patricio Patricio is an elderly man now, with white hair sticking up all over his head Beneath his messy hair, he has a wrinkled brown face and powerful dark eyes that show many emotions Patricio is tall and skinny He wears baggy pants and a plaid shirt He has a tattoo of a heart on his arm The heart has the word Rosa written across it in red and black letters, but he has never told me who she is Patricio has an intriguing history He and my mother were born in a small village in the mountains When he was seventeen, he left home to explore the world On one trip, he went to Siberia to look for gold On another trip, he went to Alaska to work on a fishing boat Now he fixes air conditioners in Los Angeles, and during the winter months, he sometimes comes to visit us and play the accordion I love spending time with my uncle Patricio He has an interesting look and a sad and mysterious past He is also a talents musician Someday, I hope that he will tell me about Rosa and how he got the tattoo with her name 1.1.3 Languages Features([1], pp.40-47) 1.1.3.1 Using specific language that can touch the readers’ senses- hear, see, smell, taste, feel (p.39) Activity 7: Make the underlined words in the following sentences as specific as possible by adding more details to the sentence The crabs were good The girl is very pretty We heard a noise He bought a vegetable I entered the room Our guests enjoyed the dinner She walked to the door His study room is convenient Page of 44 ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… Head noun participle material origin color Length/Shape shape age one two … size first second … quality Cardinal Adjectives a/an/ the this/that/ these/those my, your, his/her several/ some certain… Ordinal adjectives Using Adjectives(p 45) Determinatives 1.1.3.2 Examples: - Her first six nice cotton dresses were specially made by the leading fashion designer in our country - There are several small, orange, pickled limes left in the jar Activity 8: Arrange each group of adjectives in the parentheses in the correct order Do you have …………….(book/ new/ telephone) The library has…….(English/ easy/ books/ very/ several) Mrs Jones has…….(suit/ a/ pretty/ green/ very) The church has……(pictures/ very/ old/ some/ Spanish) I like… (two/ silk/ those/ dresses/ blue) (black/ dress/ pretty/ her/ wool) is at the cleaner’s The parents select……(names/ first/ their/ two/ children) (these/ bills/ one-dollar/ new/ five)…… are for you He is………(young/ a/ student/ American) 10 (first/ names/ daughter’s/ her/ two)….are Mary Grant 1.1.3.3 Prepositional phrases in descriptive writing( p 38) Formation: Preposition+Noun/ Noun phrase In a descriptive writing, prepositional phrases are used to show: Page of 44 - the position, location, or direction of objects in space and time, the senses, the manner or attitudes of the object Activity 9: State the supporting meaning of the underlined phrases in the following sentences: The boat slowly sank with the water level until it rests on the bay floor We could walk around the park He held the oyster in his rough fist The pizza smells of garlic and cheese She pulled back in horror 1.1.3.4 Similes(p.40) How to form similes - like +noun( example 1) - as….as+ noun/ noun phrase (example 2) - as+ clause(example 3) Why to use similes - Make things more familiar and creative - Make ideas easier to understand Examples: The sun was like a glowing ball of fire (Shakespeare William (1564-1616), an English poet and play wright) He is as clever as a fox I was young and easy…and happy as the grass was green (Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), a South Wales poet and writer) Activity 10: Match the first half of each sentence with the second half The house a) smells sweet like honey The ocean b) is as solid as a rock The cold wind c) sparkles like a diamond Their friendship d) is as fast as a bullet The train e) cuts sharply like a knife The air f) is as huge as a castle Activity 11: Make your own similes with “like” or “as” and complete the sentences below My best friend usually eats…………………………………………………… The village where I was born is……………………………………………… The hen egg is ……………………………………………………………… Coffee is……………………………………………………………………… Her voice is………………………………………………………………… Page of 44 The little boy is…………………………… when he was given a present She looks………………………………………the heart operation The test is………………………………, so I spent just half of the given time finishing it Last night he slept………………………., so he did not know his house was broken in 10 Her hair is…………………………………………………………………… 1.1.4 Tips to write a good descriptive essay([2], pp.116-117) Decide on the dominant impression- the feeling or mood you want to communicate Decide how much of your description should be objective (factual) and how much should be subjective (personal reaction) Draw on your five senses When describing, try to show rather than tell them what you want them to know Organize the description so that the readers can easily follow it Activity 12: Read the essay and answer the questions Food from the Sea My father told me that we should always respect nature and learn where our food comes from He said that food tasted better when you got it yourself and ate it in a natural place To show me this was true, he took me to the ocean, where we caught our own delicious crabs and ate them I will always remember the taste of the crabs we caught that day The beach was quiet and still at six o’clock The tide had just come in, so there were many crabs walking slowly on the white sand We sat a few feet away from my father’s special crab traps The traps were made of bamboo, and they look like round cages, but one side had a small entrance for the crab to go in There were some small, fragrant fish in the trap The fishy smell made the crap hungry, so they crawled into the traps We watched the craps walk into the traps, and I smelled the strong smell of the dark, oily fish Overhead, we heard the sounds of seagulls and pelicans in the sky I think the seagulls wanted to eat the fish, too Once the traps were full, we took off our shoes and threw them over our shoulders so we could walk on the wet sand and feel the water pushing and pulling at the beach Later, we built a fire and ate boiled crabs on the beach We cracked their shells The meat was white and pinkish and tender It tasted sweet and a little salty We did not want to stop eating them We sat on the sand surrounded by crab shells watching the sun go down into the ocean From that day on, I knew my father was right Food tastes best when it is something that you have caught or grown yourself I have eaten crabs many times since then, but it has never tasted as good as it did that day What is the domain impression that the writer creates? Is this description primarily subjective or objective? Explain your answer What senses does the writer touch? Find at least one example from the essay to illustrate your answer to question Find the details from the essay that go beyond telling to show the readers what the writer perceives How does the writer organize the essay? Page of 44 HOMEWORK Choose one of the following topics: a) The third campus of Lac Hong University b) Your house or a room in the house that you like best c) A person you admire most d) Your favorite food or object Task 1: Make a detailed outline on the chosen topic Task 2: Develop the outline into a complete essay Task 3: Exchange your writing with a partner within the group for edition, using the editing checklist Task 4: Share your writing with other members of the group for feedback Task 5: Improve your writing, based on your peer feedback 1.2 EVALUATION & EDITION (in class) Evaluate groups’ writings Identify and locate the mistakes in the writings Correct the identified mistakes References: [1]Alice, A & Patricia, M Effective Academic Writing 2: The Short Essay Oxford University Press 2005 [2]Flachmann, K Mosaics: Focusing on Essays 2nd edition Pearson Education, Inc 2002 Page of 44 UNIT 2: NARRATIVE ESSAYS Lesson aims: On completion of this unit, students will be able to be aware of the purposes of narrative writing get knowledge of the typical features of a narrative essay know the techniques to write an interesting narration Lesson focuses: Definition Narrative organization Languages features in a narration Eliciting details for the essay Time allocation table: periods Order Contents Time THEORY & PRACTICE( periods) Definition of a narrative writing 1st period Narrative organization 1st and 2nd period Adding details to essays 3rd period Language features: 4th period - Showing sequence in a narrative essay - Using tenses in a narrative essay EDITING( periods) Reporting the completed essays 5th to 8th period Evaluating & Editing 2.1 CONTENTS OF THE LESSON: THEORY & PRACTICE 2.1.1 Definition([1], pp.54-55) Activity 1: The following is an example of narration Read it carefully and then answer the questions: What is the purpose of a narrative writing? What could a narration be about? Name the texts you have ever read that you think are of narration Breaking Ground to Be a Man Mopping cotton was a terrible job The molasses attracted swarms of flies and honeybees They covered the barrel, and followed us through the field I usually wore short pants and never underwear or a shirt during the warm months, but for this job I preferred to protect my legs with long pants My pants quickly became covered with the poison, and stuck uncomfortably to my legs In fact, everything about me was sticky With time, my pants dried and the sweet, sticky poison turned to hard sugar, so that at night my stiff pants wouldn’t fold, but stood up alone in a corner or against the furniture They were covered with poison, so they had to be washed separately from the other clothing For this reason, we didn’t change them every day It was terrible to put them back in the mornings (p.55) Page of 44 2.1.2 Narrative organization ([1], p.58) Activity 2: Read the essay below carefully and then answer the questions that follow it An Embarrassing Incident Where I grew up, the rules for family life are very strict I had five brothers and five sisters, and we spent a lot of time with our relatives My parents taught us we should respect grandparents more than anyone in the world because grandparents had lived the longest They had more knowledge about life, and no matter what they said, even if it did not make sense, they were right We were taught that to hug or kiss grandparents were disrespectful and that we should greet them by kissing their hand I was young, and I thought that everyone lived and thought just as I did Well I soon found out this one is not true One day, an American friend invited me to her birthday party I was very excited, but at the same time very nervous I wanted her family to like me, and I wanted to use my best manners Slowly, I walked up to the house and rang the bell My friend ran out with a big smile, telling me she was happy that I came Then she let me in and introduced me to her parents They smiled and said hello Later she said,” Come here! I want you to meet my grandfather.” I followed her into the living room where her grandfather was sitting She introduced us, and he reached out his hand He was going to shake hands, but I thought he was expecting me to kiss his hand, so I did He pulled his hand away and looked at me in a strange way as if he did not like what I had done Everyone else in the room looked at me, and my friend started laughing I was very confused I sat down and tried to figure out what had happened Just then, a little boy ran to my friend’s grandfather and jumped into his lap The little boy started to hug and kiss the grandfather When I saw this, I got up and took the little boy by hand and said, “No.” I guess I said it pretty loudly because the room became very silent and all eyes were on me The next day at school my friend asked me why I kissed her grandfather’s hand and why I told the little boy to get away from his grandfather I explained my customs to her and she explained hers to me Finally, I learned that good manners are not always the same in different countries Fortunately, my friend and I stayed very good friends ([1], pp.59-60) Questions: INTRODUCTION: What is the topic of the essay? How does the writer introduce the story told in the essay? Do you think the middle sentences function well in the essay? Give reasons to support your idea What is the thesis statement? What words in the thesis statement you think prepare the reader for the story? BODY: Is the information about the settings of the story mentioned? Find examples from the essay to illustrate your answer How many events does the story consist of? Describe the events shortly in phrases Page 10 of 44 Before the 17th Century, chairs were so rare that they were symbols of authority A chair was only for a very important person, such as the King Now chairs are so common that we think nothing of them Now we also have many different kinds of chairs…………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Rocking chairs, or rockers, are chairs which rock, of course The legs fit into curved pieces of wood, one on each side Mothers and fathers rock their babies to sleep; old people like to pass the hours in rocking chairs There is something very restful about rocking fro and back Folding chairs are, naturally, chairs which fold The construction of these chairs allows the seat and back to fold together This makes it easy to store them Sometimes the seats and backs are wooden; sometimes they are cloth or plastic Folding chairs of cloth or plastic are favorite lawn chairs for warm weather They are comfortable, yet they can be put away during the cold months Arms are not really the characteristic features of an armchair Rocking chairs and folding chairs may also have arms Armchairs are chairs which are stuffed and have arms Stuffed means that the backs and seats are like pillows; they are full of feathers, or some other soft material Armchairs, therefore, are chairs for relaxation In a home, armchairs are usually in the living room Straight chairs are chairs which not rock, or fold, and are not stuffed! The legs are straight; the seat is flat and the back is straight They may not or may not have arms As a rule, they take up very little space Consequently, people often place straight chairs around the kitchen table or dining room table Straight chairs are also useful as desk chairs……… ([2], p.91) 4.1.5 Steps in producing a classification writing ([1], pp 129-130 & [2], p.93) Sort things into categories Identify proper classification principle Page 30 of 44 Organize the information in a logical order - Importance - Degree - Size Expressions to show importance, degree or size([1], p.130) Give examples that fit the categories Activity 11: Identify the organization pattern of the essays you have read Write it in the given spaces by the title of the essay Skills for Jobs of the Future …………………… Graphic Design Programs …………………… The Fastest Growing Careers …………………… Chairs …………………… 4.1.6 Language Features 4.1.6.1 Compound noun([2], p.97) It is a group of noun which names only one thing or person The last noun of the group, or the head noun, is the thing or the person to be talked about The other noun(s) stands in various relationships with the head noun - Give location of the head noun Ex: a kitchen table - Give material from which the head noun is made Ex: a nylon thread - Give the purpose which the head noun serves Ex: a cake pan - Give the total of which the head noun is a component Ex: a chair leg Activity 12: Give more examples for each of the cases Location:…………………………………………………………… Material:…………………………………………………………… Purpose:…………………………………………………………… The total:…………………………………………………………… 4.1.6.2 Adjective clauses ([2], pp.102-103) Activity 13: Combine the sentences below, using “Which or That” The leg of rocking chairs fit into two pieces of wood These pieces of wood are curved Straight chair are useful around a kitchen table Straight chairs take up very little space Pillows are soft Pillows are full of feathers Chairs are easy to store Chairs fold For the living room, people prefer arm chairs These chairs are comfortable 4.1.6.3 Gerunds ([1], p.135) Exercise 1, 2, and 4([1], pp.134-135) Page 31 of 44 4.1.6.4 Infinitives([1], p.135) Exercise 5, 6([1], p.136) HOMEWORK Choose one of the following topics: a The teachers you have learnt with since the first year of university b Your classmates c Part-time jobs you may take d Books you usually read e Subjects you have studied Task 1: Make a detailed outline on the chosen topic Task 2: Develop the outline into a complete essay Task 3: Exchange your writing with a partner within the group for edition, using the editing checklist Task 4: Share your writing with other members of the group for feedback Task 5: Improve your writing, based on your peer feedback 4.2 EVALUATION & EDITION (in class) Evaluate groups’ writings Identify and locate the mistakes in the writings Correct the identified mistakes References: [1] Jason, D & Rhonda, L Effective Academic Writing 3: The Essay Oxford University Press 2006 [2] Blanton, L.L Intermediate Composition Practice: Book Ho Chi Minh Publishing House 2001 [3], Langan, J College Writing Skills 5th Edition McGraw-Hill Higher Education 2000 Page 32 of 44 UNIT 5: PERSUADING ESSAYS Lesson aims: On completion of this unit, students will be able to know how to arrange time effectively in writing an essay for a graduation examination and for a TOEFL test identify the exact writing task from the question or topic so as to choose the proper text type for their writings know how to develop ideas in an essay equivalent to a writing task Lesson focuses: Writing tasks Essay organization Languages Features Writing each part of the essay Time allocation table: 28 periods Order 10 Contents Time THEORY & PRACTICE (12 periods) Writing tasks 1st period Essay organization 2nd and 3rd period Language Features 4th and 5th period Writing the introductory paragraph 6th and 7th period Writing the body paragraphs 8th and 10th period Writing the conclusion 11th and 12th period EVALUATING & EDITING (16 periods) Practice: making an argument 13th to 16th period Practice: stating a preference 17th to 20th period Practice: agreeing and disagreeing 20th to 24th period Practice: making an explanation 25th to 28th period 5.1 CONTENT OF THE LESSON: THEORY & PRACTICE 5.1.1 Writing tasks ([1], pp.40-44) 5.1.1.1 What is a writing task? The task is what the topic asks you to The first thing to is to read the essay topic carefully so as to address the writing task 5.1.1.2 Why is it necessary to identify the writing task? You must write on the topic; otherwise, you will run off the rail and thus get for your writing 5.1.1.2 Types of tasks There are common types in all: Making an argument Agreeing or disagreeing Stating a preference Giving an explanation MAKING AN ARGUMENT (MA): - Topic: a hypothetical situation Page 33 of 44 - - The writer is required to determine what needs to be done, or make a choice, state the hypothesis, finally support the hypothesis Key words/ phrases: If… How… In your opinion… If you could change (something), what would you change? What is the best way to (do something)? What should be the main focus? Which of the following should you do? Which of the following is most important to you? What would you give to help someone? How would you something?/ choose between two things? What will (something) affect (something else)? AGREEING OR DISAGREEING (AD) - Topic is a controversial statement or a fact - The writer is required to state an opinion and defend his point of view giving reasons for your thinking - The writer discusses only one side of the issue - Key words/ phrases: Do you agree or disagree….? Do you support or oppose…? In your opinion, which is most effective? Why or why not? STATING A PREFERENCE (PR) - Topic mentions two different choices - The writer is required to: state his/ her own preference give reasons to support his/ her choice state what he/ she think someone else’s preference is - The writer can discuss both sides of the issue by comparing or contrasting both sides or giving the advantages and disadvantages of something - Key words and phrases to identify the task Some this; others that/ Some say this; others say that Which opinion you agree with? In your opinion, which is better? Which would you prefer? Would you prefer to…? Compare the advantages and disadvantages Compare these views Which viewpoint you agree with? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages Page 34 of 44 Which is best for you? Compare these attitudes How is (something) different from (other thing)? MAKING AN EXPLANATION (EX) - The topic is a phenomenon or a trend - The writer is required to: describe what something is, how it occurs, or how it is different tell why something is good or bad establish criteria and use those criteria to make a judgment - Key words and phrases to identify the task Describe… Explain… What you consider the most important: (list)? What have you learnt by (doing something)? Why you think (something happens)? What are the qualities of (something)? Choose an event and tell why you enjoyed it How has (something) changed? Why is (something) important? How does (something) affect (something else)? How is (something) different? Activity 1: Decide which of the following is MA, or AD, or PR, or EX Write your answer in the given spaces by the topics (1)…… People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new experience, career preparation, increased knowledge) Why you think people attend college or university? (2)…… Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers (3)…… Nowadays food has become easier to prepare Has this change improved the way people live? (4)…… It has been said,” Not everything that is learnt is contained in books.” Compare and contrast the knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books In your opinion, which source is more important? Why? (5)…… A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position (6)…… If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? (7)…… How movies or television influence people’s behavior? (8)…… Do you agree or disagree with the following statement, “Television has destroyed communication among friends and family”? (9)…… Some people prefer to live in a small town Others prefer to live in a big city Which place would you prefer to live in? Page 35 of 44 (10)… (11)… (12)… (13)… (14)… (15)… (16)…… (17)…… (18)…… (19)…… (20)… (21)… (22)… “Universities should give the same amount of money to their students’ sports activities as they give to their university libraries Do you support or oppose that idea? Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home Which one you prefer- eating out or eating at home? Neighbors are the people who live near us In your opinion, what are the qualities of a good neighbor? It is recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your neighborhood Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Should governments spend more on improving roads and high ways, or should governments spend more money on improving public transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? In general, people are living longer now Discuss the causes of this phenomenon It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city Do you agree or disagree? A person you know is planning to move to your town or city What you think that person would like and dislike about living in your town? In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students Do you think this is a good idea? Some people spend their entire lives in one place Others move a number of times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate Which you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place? What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these qualities changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives Do you agree or disagree? Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think it has changed people’s lives (automobiles, bicycles, airplanes…) What is a writing task? In what way can a good identification of the task affect someone’s writing? What are the common tasks of a persuading essay? What of a topic can help us with the task recognition? What is the similarity and difference between AD and PR? In what way MA is similar and different from PR or AD? 5.1.2 Essay Organization ([1], pp.47-68) Activity 2: Make the outline of the following essays, using the given format OUTLINE: Introduction - Hook (clauses) - Background information (phrases) Page 36 of 44 - Thesis statement (clauses) Body Paragraph(s) - Main idea ( words/ phrases) - Supporting details (phrases) Conclusion - Summary (clauses or phrases) - Or, restatement of the opinion( clauses or phrases) - Or, others( clauses or phrases) Essay 1: Topic: A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to protect the environment Which you think the company should choose? Deciding between supporting the arts and protecting the environment is a difficult choice to make But I think I would choose protecting environment We need a healthy environment in order to survive, so we must protect it We need to protect the environment now to help prevent health problems, to maintain the ecosystem and to preserve the Earth for our children Pollution from factories and cars can cause damage to the environment Breathing this dirty air causes health problems, particularly for children and the elderly We need to control the amount of pollution we produce in order to prevent health problems We also need to pay attention to the ecosystem Plant life, animal life, and people all depend on each other An unhealthy environment disturbs this ecosystem For example, changes in the environment might cause a certain kind of plant to die If that plant is the food for a certain kind of animal, the animal will die, too If people use that animal as a food source, there could be big problems If we not protect our environment now, it will continue to get worse and our children will suffer the sequences The air and water will get dirtier, and more plants and animals will die Our children won’t have as much natural beauty to admire Even worse, their well-being will be threatened Without clean air to breathe, a healthy ecosystem, and a future for our children the human race will not survive That is why protecting our environment is important If we have a healthy environment, we have healthy children who can participate in and appreciate the arts Essay Topic: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement, “A person should never make an important decision alone”? You should never make an important decision alone I completely agree with this statement You should think out your important decision carefully, and you need other people to help you with this People close to you can give you good advice, give you a different prospective, and share their own experiences It is very important to have advice when making decisions When I had to decide which courses to take in high school, I talked to the school counselor He had the knowledge and expertise to help me determine which classes were best for my goals Without his advice, I might have chosen unsuitable course Page 37 of 44 Getting a friend’s perspective on a situation is also usually helpful I have always loved drama, but I thought I was not good enough to act in the school play When a friend of mine found this, she was shocked She was able to provide me with another perspective on myself and my talents I changed my mind and decided to audition for the school play Imagine my surprise when I got an important part When other people share their experiences with you, it can help you in making your decision When I was trying to decide if I should study overseas, I talked with a friend She had studied overseas the year before She really helped me because I was very unsure about my decision After hearing about her experiences, I decided it would be a good experience for me, too I went and it was amazing Whenever I face an important decision, I seek advice from others so that I am well- informed and have the benefit of their experience and perspective It is really hard to make big decision without such kind of help Essay 3: Topic: Some people prefer to work for themselves or own a business Others prefer to work for an employer Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone else or own a business? Many people have dreams of becoming self-employed or starting their own business I don’t understand it I think it is much better to work for someone else When I work for someone else, I don’t have to take risk or make difficult decisions alone I have someone to tell me what to do, someone to evaluate my work, and most important of all, someone to give me a regular paycheck As an employee, I don’t have to decide what to every day My employer gives me work to and she gives me deadlines for it I don’t have to worry about what needs to be done next on a project That is my employer’s job Without this worry, I can just focus on getting the job done right When I have an employer, I never have to wonder if my work is good or bad My employer tells me if I did a good job, or if I need to something over again I don’t have to worry if a client will like my work or if a product is good enough to sell That is my employer’s concern My employer lets me know how my work is and if necessary, I will it again or does it better the next time I know I will get a paycheck every two weeks when I work for someone else I don’t have to worry if the clients have paid or if we have sold enough merchandise If I go to work every day, I get my paycheck on a regular basis I work so I can get paid and I want to be able to be sure of receiving my money Many people want to feel independent and that is why they want their own business However, it is more important to feel secure I feel secure knowing that I have an employer to give me directions, evaluate my work, and pay me regularly That is why I prefer to work for someone else Essay Topic: Describe a custom from your country that you would like people in other countries to adopt Explain your choice In my country, many people in the town still follow an old custom that people in the cities no longer practice This is the custom of taking a big break at noon In the Page 38 of 44 towns, all stores and businesses close from noon till 2:00p.m This not only gives people a needed rest in the middle of the day, it also allows them time with their families and contributes to a slower pace of life In the towns, all workers get a good rest in the middle of the day They go home enjoy a nice meal, take a nap, and then they return to work for the rest of the afternoon They have energy and enthusiasm for the rest of the day’s work Their afternoons can be as productive as their mornings Without this rest, they might be tired all afternoon and not get much work done In the towns, most families eat their noon meal together They have time to enjoy their food, talk about their morning activities with each other, and just be together It is good for families to have this time together Parents hear about their children’s activities Husbands and wives learn about each other’s daily concerns Without this opportunity, families might not be together until evening They are usually tired then just want to rest In the towns, there is a slower pace of life Nobody can any business at lunchtime They have to wait until the afternoon Because of this, people don’t expect things to be done in a hurry They have more patience If something doesn’t get done today, it doesn’t matter This is much healthier way to live A big rest at noon contributes to a better life In the towns, people don’t worry about getting a lot of work done fast They are more interested in spending time with their families and enjoying their lives I think that in the long run this actually improves work In any case, it is better way to live I think everyone everywhere should follow the custom of taking a big break at noon Activity 3: Basing on your work on the outlines, answer the following questions: What content of the introduction is revealed in the writing topic? Give examples from the essays you have just read What does the writer mention in the middle sentences? What does the writer mention in the thesis statement in the case of each writing task? What are the body paragraphs about? What does the writer use to support or clarify his/ her points of view in the body paragraphs? What information is included in the conclusions of those essays? What information is not mentioned in all of the concluding paragraphs? State the writing task that requires this information 5.1.3 Language Features ([1], pp.78-85) 5.1.3.1 Using Set Phrases to introduce an opinion Key words In my opinion = It is my opinion that According to me = I believe To my way of thinking = It seems to me that To me = It appears that From my point of view/ To my mind = I think Activity 4: Give your opinion about these topics Use the suitable set phrases Example: Page 39 of 44 Reading extensively- in my opinion In my opinion, reading extensively is beneficial to students Students’ working part-time Living in dormitory and in a rent house Internets and teenagers Commercials and children 5.1.3.2 Using verbs to express feelings and personal opinions Key words: Agree Infer Believe Realize Guess Suppose Hope Think Imagine Understand Activity 5: State your opinion about these topics Use the verbs suggested Example: Universities’ checking students’ attendance regularly ( think) I think that it is necessary for universities to check their students’ attendance regularly Working in groups (believe) Being the leader of a group (guess) Being made to what you not enjoy doing (agree) Sharing the room in the dormitory (suppose) 5.1.3.3 Using adjectives to show how strong you feel about something Key words: certain, convinced, positive, sure, e.t.c Activity 6: Give your opinion about the topics Use the suggested adjectives Example: Movies influence people’s behavior- sure I am sure movies influence people’s behavior A shopping center in my neighborhood (will/ will not) be a benefit to our community (positive) Children (should/ should not) spend a great amount of time practicing sports (certain) It (is/ is not) good to have both similar and different friends (sure) Peer-editing activities can help students (convinced) 5.1.3.4 Using adverbials To qualify an opinion or to show how strongly the writer feels about something Key words Seemingly Maybe Almost Conceivably Probably Doubtless Possibly Presumably No doubt Perhaps Certainly Definitely Absolutely Completely To show an idea is not completely true: Page 40 of 44 In a way So to speak More or less For all intents and purposes Practically To some extent Up to a point Examples: - Possibly, individual sports are better than team sports for some students - Individual sports are possibly better than team sports for some students Activity 7: Make the following statement stronger by adding suitable adverbs to them Playing games can teach us about life Daily exercise should be a part of every school day Helping a child to learn to read is important Individual sports are better than team sports for some students Our generation is not different from that of our parents A sense of humor can be helpful in a difficult situation Watching movies is more enjoyable than reading It is better to make no decision than to make a wrong decision 5.1.4 Writing the introductory paragraph ([1], pp.44-45 & pp.135-143) Activity 8: Read the following thesis statements and identify what the main idea of the essay is and what the writer is going to discuss Teachers provide you with a lot more support and knowledge than you can usually get by yourself I feel that a movie theatre would provide more opportunities for entertainment, reduce teenage delinquency, and bring more business to people Moving would expose me to new people, new weather, and new housing The important considerations for companies are an employee’s performance, speed, and ability to change Without progress, there would be not improvements in our economy, our standard of living, or our health Activity 9: Which of the following sentences would be the thesis statement for the essay? Why? Theme Our school should buy more computers instead of more books Point Computers provide access to the latest information Details Books become old quickly The lasts information is on the internet Point Computers provide information more quickly Details You can get information instantly on a computer It takes a long time to find information in a book Point Students need to learn computer skills Details Computers skills are important in the modern world Students learn computer skills by using computers daily A Our school already has books in its library and it already has computers B Computers provide access to more information than books Page 41 of 44 C Every student needs to learn how to use computers skillfully D None of the above Theme Our community should hire a landscape Point We need to make empty land attractive and useful Details Gardens and benches Bike and walking paths Point We need to plant shade trees Details Improve appearance Increase property value Point We need a better entrance Details Noticeable Attractive A I believe that hiring a landscaper would be most beneficial to us B Everyone has been debating which specialty would be the best C Our community has only enough money to hire one new employee D None of the above Theme The most important activity is helping a child learn to read Point Open new worlds Details “Travel” to other countries, centuries, and cultures Learn how different people think about things Point Helps form a child’s personality Details Develop preferences for different types of stories Make judgment of the characters’ situations Point Feeds creativity Details See different ways to describe things Increase vocabulary A B C D They learn that there are other ways to view situations I think the most important preparation is helping a child learn to read They will control the world we live in None of the above Activity 10: Write other thesis statements for the essays in activity Activity 11: Choose one of the essay organization in Activity and write a complete introductory paragraph Make sure your introduction including parts: hook sentence, background information and thesis statement 5.1.5 Writing the body paragraphs([1], pp.74-110) 5.1.5.1 Writing the topic sentence for each paragraph Averagely there are topic sentences in an essay These topic sentences are mentioned in the thesis statement and then summarized in the conclusion Learning to write a good topic sentence is important Page 42 of 44 Activity 12: Read the following paragraphs Write the topic sentence for each of the paragraphs Topic sentence:…………… …………………………………………………… We learn about teamwork, if the game involves being on a team We learn how to divide and assign tasks according to each person’s skills We learn how to get people to what we want, and we learn that sometimes we have to what other people want Topic sentence:…………… …………………………………………………… One thing they is help us understand the world more For example, seeing movies can expose us to people of different races and cultures that we don’t see often We can then overcome some prejudices more easily Recently there have been more handicapped people in films, and this also helps prevent prejudice Topic sentence:…………… …………………………………………………… No one can teach us how to get along with others or how to have self-respect As we pass from childhood into adolescence, no one can teach us the judgment we need to decide on how to deal with peer pressure As we leave adolescence behind and enter adult life, no one can teach us how to fall in love and get married, or how to raise our children Topic sentence:…………… …………………………………………………… Strip mining destroys whole regions, leaving bare and useless ground Deforestation removes old growth trees that cannot be replaced Too much fishing may harm fish populations to the point where they cannot recover 5.1.5.2 Developing the body paragraphs Activity 13: Basing on the essay organization you chose in Activity 11, continue to write body paragraphs on the three main ideas given 5.1.6 Writing the conclusion ([1], pp.112-120) The essay can be ended in many different ways: Restatement Generalization Prediction Question Recommendation Activity 14: State which of the above ways is how each of the following conclusions is ended Both eating at restaurants and cooking at home can be satisfying Both can taste good and be enjoyed with family and friends I prefer cooking at home because of the money and health issues I encourage my friends to eat out less, but it is up to them to make the choice that fits their lifestyles best Page 43 of 44 All things considered, I think I’d like to have a lot of acquaintances who are different and a few close friends who are similar to me That seems to be the best of both works I believe that a new movie theatre is a fine idea I support it because of the changes it will bring to our citizens and own town I believe that the reduction in crime, the increase in employment, and the improved infrastructure will make our town a nicer place to live Children should not work all the time A happy life needs balance If children can successfully handle tasks at home, they will handle life better, too They will know the satisfaction of doing a good job, be involved in a family life, and become more confident and responsible adults The most important thing to realize is that we all have many teachers in our lives Where we should be without our parents, teachers, and our peers to guide us? What would we without books, newspapers, and televisions to inform us? All of them are very valuable Activity 15: Continue Activity and 13 Write the conclusion for your essay HOMEWORK Choose of the topics in Activity 1, particularly one for an essay on making an argument one for an essay on agreeing and disagreeing one for an essay on stating a preference one for an essay on making an explanation Task 1: Make a detailed outline on the chosen topic Task 2: Develop the outline into a complete essay Task 3: Exchange your writing with a partner within the group for edition, using the editing checklist Task 4: Share your writing with other members of the group for feedback Task 5: Improve your writing, based on your peer feedback 5.2 EVALUATION & EDITION (in class) Evaluate groups’ writings Identify and locate the mistakes in the writings Correct the identified mistakes References: [1] Lougheed, L How to Prepare for the TOEFL Essay 2nd Edition Statistics Publishing House 2005 [2] Butt, D., Fahey, Rh., at all Using Functional Grammar: An Explorer’s Guide 2nd Edition Macquarie University Page 44 of 44 ... chairs These chairs are comfortable 4 .1 .6. 3 Gerunds ( [1] , p .13 5) Exercise 1, 2, and 4( [1] , pp .13 4 -13 5) Page 31 of 44 4 .1 .6. 4 Infinitives( [1] , p .13 5) Exercise 5, 6( [1] , p .1 36) HOMEWORK Choose one... Editing 4 .1 CONTENT OF THE LESSON: THEORY & PRACTICE 4 .1. 1 Introduction to classification writing( [1] , p .11 7, p .12 1, [2], 93 & [3], p.303) 4 .1. 1 .1 What is classification writing? Activity 1: Read... paragraphs 8th and 10 th period Writing the conclusion 11 th and 12 th period EVALUATING & EDITING ( 16 periods) Practice: making an argument 13 th to 16 th period Practice: stating a preference 17 th to 20th
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