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Từ thực tế trên, tôi mạnh dạn viết chuyên đề mang tên “FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY”. Trong bài viết này, tôi tập trung vào việc giúp học sinh hiểu và thực hành cách viết đoạn văn. Từ đó phát triển thành một bài văn hoàn chỉnh. Trên cơ sở đó, học sinh sẽ được thực hành dạng viết luận phổ biến trong viết luận khoa học “argumentative essay”. Tất nhiên, bài viết của tôi sẽ không tránh khỏi các hạn chế. Mong các vị đồng nghiệp góp ý để tôi có thể hoàn thiện chuyên đề của mình.
A PHẦN MỞ ĐẦU Từ năm học 2014 – 2015, việc đổi dạy học kiểm tra đánh giá mơn ngoại ngữ tác động tích cực đến thực tế dạy học tiếng Anh Đặc biệt, việc đưa nội dung viết luận vào thi THPTQG có ý nghĩa tích cực việc đánh giá kỹ sử dụng ngôn ngữ học sinh Tuy nhiên, điều gây số thách thức cho người học Vì kỹ viết ln xem kỹ khó, u cầu học sinh khơng nắm vững ngữ pháp mà hiểu sử dụng thành thạo ngơn ngữ Một thực tế diễn phần lớn học sinh thi THPTQG vừa qua khơng thể hồn thiện phần tự luận Điển hình, hội đồng chấm thi Trường ĐH Công nghiệp TP.HCM thống kê mức điểm chủ yếu phần tự luận thí sinh giao động khoảng từ 0,75 đến điểm, khơng có đạt điểm tuyệt đối Điều phản ánh thực trạng yếu khả viết luận môn ngoại ngữ học sinh Do việc phát triển kỹ viết cho học sinh lại trở nên quan trọng Trong q trình dạy ngoại ngữ, tơi nhận thấy kỹ viết kỹ khó nhất, gây nhiều thách thức cho học sinh giáo viên Thông qua khảo sát nhỏ 67 học sinh lớp 12 trực tiếp giảng dạy, tơi đưa số kết luận có tính tham khảo thực trạng học viết học sinh sau: - Thứ nhất, học sinh ngại kỹ viết chủ yếu không tự tin vào vốn từ vựng Họ thấy khó khăn việc diễn đạt ý tưởng thông qua vốn từ vựng ỏi Điều khơng tránh khỏi việc mắc phải lỗi diễn đạt hay sử dụng sai từ ngữ - Ngoài ra, phần lớn học sinh cách tổ chức biết Học sinh khơng biết viết doạn văn khoa học Các ý thường rời rạc, liên kết với - Nhiều học sinh không nắm bố cục viết khoa học học sinh thường cách viết đoạn mở bài, hay phát triển ý Những thông tin cần đề cập phần kết luận vấn đề khó khăn với học sinh Từ thực tế trên, mạnh dạn viết chuyên đề mang tên “FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY” Trong viết này, tập trung vào việc giúp học sinh hiểu thực hành cách viết đoạn văn Từ phát triển thành văn hoàn chỉnh Trên sở đó, học sinh thực hành dạng viết luận phổ biến viết luận khoa học “argumentative essay” Tất nhiên, viết không tránh khỏi hạn chế Mong vị đồng nghiệp góp ý để tơi hồn thiện chun đề - Số tiết thực dạy: 10 tiết B PHẦN NỘI DUNG Lesson 1: WRITING A PARAGRAPH (Thực 03 tiết) I Writing a paragraph Definitions - A paragraph is a number of sentences grouped together which relate to one topic in a coherent, logical sequence - A paragraph introduces and develops a particular idea pertaining to a topic - Paragraphs can be short or long However, they always have a beginning, middle and an end Paragraphs are useful for a number of reasons They present an idea in a concise and well thought-out manner They can be used to describe a person, a place, or an event They can be used to express some reflection or thought Basic features of a paragraph: - A paragraph usually has a title, topic sentence, supporting sentences and concluding sentence a The topic sentence - The opening sentence or sentences, known as topic sentence, form the introduction of the paragraph - The topic sentence introduces the topic, theme, subject or idea that the paragraph is based on Topic sentence Example 1: Synonyms Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, not always have the same emotional meaning For example, the words stingy and frugal both mean “careful with money.” However, calling someone stingy is an insult, but calling someone frugal is a compliment Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, aggressive but not pushy Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because many so-called synonyms are not really synonymous at all Example 2: My hometown My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep - Here are some examples of sentences that cannot be used as topic sentences Can you figure out why they are inappropriate? #1: My hometown, Wheaton, is famous because it is located by Wheaton River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an unusually steep hill called Wheaton Hill #2: There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission and two reasons why others like cars with manual transmission #3: Clouds are white - The problem with sentence #1 is that it contains too many details Topic sentences are general, and details should appear later in the paragraph A better topic sentence would be like the one mentioned above, “My hometown is famous for several amazing geographical features - Sentence #2 is not appropriate as a topic sentence because it mentions two topics, not just one Paragraphs are usually about one main thing and so their topic sentences should also be about only one main thing - The problem with sentence #3 is that it is too general It is also very boring! Would you like to read a paragraph with this topic sentence? Most people would not We can rewrite sentences #2 and #3 in the following ways to make it better: There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission OR (in a different paragraph): There are two reasons why some people like cars with manual transmission The shapes of clouds are determined by various factors EXERCISES: Exercise 1: Read the following scrambled paragraphs and decide which sentence is the topic sentence Paragraph 1: a Twelve years after Sputnik, the United States caught up by becoming the first nation to land a man on the moon b The Europeans have joined the competition, vowing to land European astronauts on the moon by 2025 and on Mars by 2035 c The number of nations competing in the “space race” has grown since the early days of space exploration d China joined the competition in 2003 when it launched Shenzhou e Initially, the formal Soviet Union took the lead when it sent the first man into Earth orbit in the spaceship Sputnik in 1957 f For most 50 years, the United States and Russia were the only competitiors in the contest to explore space using manned spacecraft Paragraph 2: a Another important change was that people had the freedom to live and work wherever they wanted b The earliest significant change was for farming families, who were no longer isolated c The final major change brought by the automobile was the building of superhighways, suburbs, huge shopping centers, and theme parks such as Disney World in Florida d The automobile revolutionized the way of life in the United States e The automobile enabled them to drive to towns and cities comfortably and conveniently f In fact, people could work in a busy metropolitan city and drive home to the quiet suburbs Paragraph 3: b In time, this melted part rises as magma c The formation of a volcanic eruption is a dramatic series of events d As the plate sinks, friction and Earth’s heat cause part of it to melt e The magma produces heat, steam, and pressure f First of all, most volcanoes are formed where two plates collide g Then one of the plates is forced under the other and sinks h When the heat, steam, and pressure from the magma finally reach the surface of Earth, a volcanic eruption occurs Exercise 2: Write good topic sentences for the following paragraphs Remember to include both a topic and a controlling idea Paragraph ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… English speakers relaxing at home, for example, may put on kimonos, which is a Japanese word English speakers who live in a warm climate may take an afternoon siesta on an outdoor patio without realizing that these are Spanish words In their gardens, they may enjoy the fragrance of jasmine flowers, a word that came into English from Persian They may even relax on a chaise while snacking on yogurt, words of French and Turkish origin, respectively At night, they may shampoo their hair and put on pajamas, words from the Hindi language of India Paragraph ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… In European universities, students are not required to attend classes In fact, professors in Germany generally not know the names of the students enrolled in their courses In the United States, however, students are required to attend all classes and may be penalized if they not Furthermore, in the European system, students usually take just one comprehensive examination at the end of their entire four or five years of study In the North American system, on the other hand, students usually have numerous quizzes, tests, and homework assignments, and they almost always have to take a final examination in each course at the end of each semester Paragraph ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… For example, the Eskimos, living in a treeless region of snow and ice, sometimes build temporary homes out of thick blocks of ice People who live in deserts, on the other hand, use the most available materials, mud or clay, which provide good insulation from the heat In Northern Europe, Russia, and other areas of the world where forests are plentiful, people usually construct their homes out of wood In the islands of the South Pacific, where there is an abundant supply of bamboo and palm, people use these tough, fibrous plants to build their homes b The supporting sentences - The main body of the paragraph consists of supporting ideas Supporting ideas provide more information about the main topic presented in the topic sentence: using examples, statistics, and quotations However, these ideas must not stray from the topic mentioned in the opening of the paragraph The sentences that form the body of the paragraph must be closely related to each other Variety in the body of the paragraph should be brought about using different types and kinds of sentences - Thus, the sentences in a paragraph must follow the principle of unity - All the sentences must be presented in a logical order or sequence Since they develop the idea, they are often arranged in the order of importance Exercise 1: Read Paragraphs A and B about red-light running and as follow: Notice the different specific supporting details that have been added to Paragraph B Locate the topic sentence in Paragraph B Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea Which supporting sentences in Paragraph B contain the kinds of details listed below? Give the sentence numbers of each kind An example: ………………………………………………………………… A statistic: ………………………………………………………………… A quotation: ………………………………………………………………… Paragraph A: Paragraph without Support Red-Light Running Although some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking it can, in fact, become a deadly crime Red-light runners cause accidents all the time Sometimes people are seriously injured and even killed It is especially a problem in rush hour traffic Everyone is in a hurry to get home, so drivers run red lights everywhere The police not much about it because they are too busy The only time they pay attention is when there is an accident, and then it is too late In conclusion, running a red light is a serious offense Paragraph B: Paragraph with Support Red-Light Running Although some people think red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime Red-light runners cause hundreds of accidents, including deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars in damages Each year more than 900 people die, and nearly 200,000 are injured in crashes that involve red-light running Motorists run red lights all the time, or example, in Fairfax, Virginia, a five-month-long survey at five busy intersections revealed that a motorist ran a red light every 20 minutes Red-light runners are seldom caught According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, “Communities don’t have the resources to allow police to patrol intersections as often as would be needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights” Exercise 2: Read Paragraph about Language and Perception and as follow: Language and Perception Although we all possess the same physical organs for sensing the world- eyes for seeing, ears for hearing, noses for smelling, skin for feeling, and mouths for tasting— our perception of the world depends to a great extent on the language we speak, according to a famous hypothesis proposed by linguists Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf They hypothesized that language is like a pair of eyeglasses through which we “see” the world in a particular way A classic example of the relationship between language and perception is the word snow: Eskimo languages have as many as 32 different words for snow For instance, the Eskimos have different words for falling snow, snow on the ground, snow packed as hard as ice, slushy snow, wind-driven snow, and what we might call “cornmeal” snow The ancient Aztec languages of Mexico, in contrast, used only one word to mean snow, cold, and ice Thus, if the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is correct and we can perceive only things that we have words for, the Aztecs perceived snow, cold, and ice as one and the same phenomenon Writing Technique Questions What is the main idea of this paragraph? Underline the part of the topic sentence that expresses the main idea ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… What examples does the writer use to support this idea? Put brackets [ ] around them ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… What words and phrases introduce the examples? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… c The concluding sentence - The concluding or closing sentence must sum up the entire paragraph It is a reflection of the idea presented in the topic sentence - Signals for ending a paragraph: End-of-Paragraph Signals Followed by a Comma Finally, In brief, Therefore, In conclusion, Thus, Indeed, In short, To sum up, Lastly, End-of-Paragraph Signals Not Followed by a Comma The evidence suggests that There can be no doubt that These examples show that We can see that Exercise 1: Read the paragraphs follow; determine which concluding sentence summarizes the main points and which concluding sentence repeats the topic sentence in different words Paragraph 1: Greeting Cards Have you noticed how many different kinds of greeting cards you can buy these days? In the old days, the local drugstore had one rack displaying maybe five or six basic kinds of cards You could walk into the store and choose an appropriate card in five minutes or less Nowadays, however, the display space for greeting cards is as big as a soccer field, and it may take an hour or two to hunt down exactly the right card with exactly the right message There are at least 30 categories of birthday cards alone: birthday cards for different ages, from different ages, for different relatives, from different relatives, for different genders, from different genders, from a couple, from the office, for dog owners, for cat owners, and so on There are cards for getting a job, for retiring from a job, for acquiring a pet, for losing a pet, for becoming engaged, for breaking up There are also greeting cards to send for no reason—“Thinking of you” or “Just because” cards The newest type of card is the “encouragement card.” An encouragement card offers comforting thoughts and helpful advice to someone who is sad or distressed in these troubled times In short, there is now a greeting card for every possible life event and for a few nonevents as well Paragraph 2: A Hawaiian Legend Native people create legends to explain unusual phenomena in their environment A legend from the Hawaiian island of Kauai explains how the naupaka flower, a flower that grows on beaches there, got its unusual shape The flower looks like half a small daisy—there are petals on one side only The legend says that the marriage of two young lovers on the island was opposed by both sets of parents The parents found the couple together on a beach one day, and to prevent them from being together, one of the families moved to the mountains, separating the young couple forever As a result, the naupaka flower separated into two halves; one half moved to the mountains, and the other half stayed near the beach This story is a good example of a legend invented by native people to interpret the world around them Exercise 2: Read the paragraphs and as follow: Underline the topic sentence in each paragraph Add a good concluding sentence to each paragraph You may either paraphrase the topic sentence or summarize the main points Practice using end-of-paragraph signals by starting each concluding sentence with one Paragraph You can be a good conversationalist by being a good listener When you are conversing with someone, pay close attention to the speaker’s words while looking at his or her face Show your interest by smiling and nodding Furthermore, not interrupt while someone is speaking; it is impolite to so If you have a good story, wait until the speaker is finished Also, watch your body language; it can affect your communication whether you are the speaker or the listener For instance, not sit slumped in a chair or make nervous hand and foot movements Be relaxed and bend your body slightly forward to show interest in the person and the conversation ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Paragraph Modern communication technology is driving workers in the corporate world crazy They feel buried under the large number of messages they receive daily In addition to telephone calls, office workers receive dozens of e-mail and voice mail messages daily In one company, in fact, managers receive an average of 100 messages a day Because they not have enough time to respond to these messages during office hours, it is common for them to so in the evenings or on weekends at home ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Note: - A paragraph must be brief and one must avoid excessive or unnecessary details Do not present new ideas in the paragraph Title e.g Man’s best friend It is often remarked that throughout history, a dog is man’s best friend For centuries, man has kept dogs by his side – as pets, as guards, and as friends Dogs have proven to be very loyal A dog will never abandon its master and will often anything to protect him The bond shared between dog and man is deep While a dog depends on man for food, water and affection, man depends on dog for protection and companionship This bond is so strong that some dogs not eat or drink if their master is unwell There are several books and movies that document this unique relationship between man and dogs Scores of years pass by and things change; yet dog remains man’s best friend Su ppo rtin g sen ten ces - Do not repeat the same point over and over again The topic sentence of a paragraph attracts the attention of the reader, while the concluding sentence must leave the reader with a sense of satisfaction These are the important points covered in this part A good topic sentence is a complete sentence with a subject, a verb, and a controlling idea is neither too general nor too specific It clearly states the main idea of the paragraph but does not include specific details is usually the first sentence in the paragraph Good supporting sentences explain or prove the topic sentence are specific and factual can be examples, statistics, or quotations A good concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph summarizes the important points briefly or restates the topic sentence in different words Concluding sentence LESSON 2: FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY (Thực tiết) II From paragraph to essay Definition - An essay is a composition made up of several paragraphs Each of these paragraphs has a collection of connected sentences on a given topic - A well-written essay usually has a title and a minimum of three paragraphs Structure of an essay - An essay is divided into three distinct parts: The introduction or beginning The body or the middle The conclusion or the end - The following chart shows how the parts of paragraph correspond to the parts of an essay a The introduction Consist of parts: General statement - Introduce the general topic of an essay - Capture the reader’s interest Thesis statement - State the specific topic - May list subtopics or subdivisions of the main topic or subtopics - May indicate the pattern of organization of an essay - Normally the last sentence in the introductory paragraph E.g In a introductory paragraph, the general statements will be presented right at the beginning Look at the following: General statements When the first Europeans came to the North American continent, they encountered the completely new cultures of the Native American peoples of North America Native Americans, who had highly developed cultures in many respects, must have been as curious about the strange European manners and customs as the Europeans were curious about them As always happens when two or more cultures come into contact, there was a cultural exchange Native Americans adopted some of the Europeans' ways, and the Europeans adopted some of their ways Body paragraph Body paragraph Body paragraph Concluding paragraph another motorist (+ supporting sentences) ……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………… Transition words Another way is to tailgate the other car (+ supporting sentences) ……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………… Transition phrase In addition to cutting off and tailgating other cars, aggressive drivers often use rude language or gestures to show their anger (+ supporting sentences) ……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………… Transition clause Although law enforcement authorities warn motorists against aggressive driving, the number who act out their angry impulses has not declined (+supporting sentences) ……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………… To conclude, aggressive drivers are endangering everyone because they create hazardous conditions by acting and driving foolishly They should control their anger and learn to drive safely After all, the lives they save could be their own ……………………………………………………………… Exercise 1: Check (/) the thesis statements that suggest logical division as a method of organization Teenagers demonstrate their independence in several ways My eighteenth birthday was the most memorable day in my life so far On their eighteenth birthdays, U.S citizens receive two important rights/responsibilities: They can vote, and they can sign legal contracts In most occupations, women are still unequal to men in three areas: salary, power, and status Living in a dormitory offers several advantages to first-year students Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacture their own food A college degree in international business requires (1) a knowledge of business procedures and (2) a knowledge of cultural differences A computer is both faster and more accurate than a human Giving a surprise birthday party requires careful planning 10 Being an only child has both advantages and disadvantages Exercise 2: Analyze the following thesis statements - Draw a box around the topic - Underline the subtopics - Draw a circle around the words or punctuation marks that introduce the subtopics The first one has been done for you as an example Capital punishment should be abolished person of life not only but also because it does not stop crime because it deprives another Women generally live longer than men for two main reasons: They tend to take better care of their health, and they have better resistance to stress Teenagers declare their separateness from their parents by the way they dress and by the way they talk In choosing a major, a student has to consider various factors, such as personal interest, job opportunities, and the availability of framing institutions An architect should be both an artist and an engineer A healthy lifestyle involves eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep at night Exercise 3: Complete the following thesis statements by adding subtopics to them Be sure to check your sentences for parallel form A computer is necessary for college students for three reasons:…………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Students have, a difficult time taking notes in class due to:……………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Successful politicians have the following qualities: :…………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… A generation gap1 exists in my home because of:………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… To survive a major disaster such as an earthquake requires:……………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… My two sisters are as different as day and night not only in:……………………… …………………………………………… but also in ……………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Living in a large city has certain advantages over living in a small town: ……… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Latino culture has enriched North American culture in several areas: …………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Exercise 4: Add transition words, phrases, or clauses to the topic sentences of the paragraphs in this essay Rewrite the topic sentences if necessary Icebergs: A Potential Source of Water In countries where rainfall is very sparse scientists must constantly seek ways to increase supplies of water One method being considered is the use of desalination plants, which would remove salt from seawater Another method being considered is the towing of icebergs According to this method, large icebergs from Antarctica would be wrapped in cloth or plastic, tied to powerful tugboats by strong ropes, and towed to the countries needing freshwater While this plan may have some potential, there are certain practical problems that must be solved The first problem is the expense According to estimates, it would cost between $50 million and $100 million to tow a single 100-million-ton iceberg from Antarctica to, for example, the coast of Saudi Arabia _ is the possibility that the iceberg would melt en route No one knows if an iceberg could be effectively insulated for such a long journey At the very least, there is the possibility that it would break up into smaller pieces, which would create still other problems _there is the danger that a huge block of ice floating off an arid coast could have unexpected environmental effects The ice could drastically change the weather along the coast, and it would probably affect the fish population _the cost of providing freshwater from icebergs would be less than the cost of providing water by desalinization, according to most estimates It would cost between 50 and 60 cents per cubic meter to get water from an iceberg, as opposed to the 80 cents per cubic meter it would cost to get the same amount by desalinization In conclusion, before icebergs can become a source of freshwater in the future, problems involving cost, overall practicality, and most important, environmental impact must be solved c The conclusion - The conclusion is the final paragraph in an essay It has three purposes It signals the end of the essay To so, begin your conclusion with a transition signal It reminds your reader of your main points, which you can in one of two ways: You can summarize your subtopics or paraphrase your thesis It leaves your reader with your final thoughts on the topic This is your opportunity to convey a strong, effective message that your reader will remember Exercise 1: read the following essay and the two possible including paragraph then answer the questions that follow: Culture Shock Moving to a new country can be an exciting, even exhilarating experience, in a new environment, you somehow feel more alive: seeing new sights, eating new food, hearing the foreign sounds of a new language, and feeling a different climate against your skin stimulate your senses as never before Soon, however, this sensory bombardment becomes sensory overload Suddenly, new experiences seem stressful rather than stimulating, and delight turns into discomfort This is the phenomenon known as culture shock Culture shock is more than jet lag or homesickness, and it affects nearly everyone who enters a new culture—tourists, business travelers, diplomats, and students alike Although not everyone experiences culture shock in exactly the same way, many experts agree that it has roughly five stages In the first stage, you are excited by your new environment You experience some simple difficulties such as trying to use the telephone or public transportation, but you consider these small challenges that you can quickly overcome Your feelings about the new culture are positive, so you are eager to make contact with people and to try new foods Sooner or later, differences in behavior and customs become more noticeable to you This is the second stage of culture shock Because you not know the social customs of the new culture, you may find it difficult to make friends For instance, you not understand how to make “small talk,” so it is hard to carry on a casual, get-acquainted conversation One day in the school cafeteria, you overhear a conversation You understand all the words, but you not understand the meaning Why is everyone laughing? Are they laughing at you or at some joke that you did not understand? Also, you aren’t always sure how to act while shopping Is this store self-service, or should you wait for a clerk to assist you? If you buy a sweater in the wrong size, can you exchange it? These are not minor challenges; they are major frustrations In the third stage, you no longer have positive feelings about the new culture You feel that you have made a mistake in coming here Making friends hasn’t been easy, so you begin to feel lonely and isolated Now you want to be with familiar people and eat familiar food You begin to spend most of your free time with students from your home country, and you eat in restaurants that serve your native food In fact, food becomes an obsession, and you spend a lot of time planning, shopping for, and cooking food from home You know that you are in the fourth stage of culture shock when you have negative feelings about almost everything In this stage, you actively reject the new culture You become critical, suspicious, and irritable You believe that people are unfriendly, that your landlord is trying to cheat you, that your teachers not like you, and that the food is making you sick In fact, you may actually develop stomachaches, headaches, sleeplessness, lethargy, or other physical symptoms Finally, you reach the fifth stage As your language skills improve, you begin to have some success in meeting people and in negotiating situations You are able to exchange the sweater that was too small, and you can successfully chat about the weather with a stranger on the bus Your self-confidence grows After realizing that you cannot change your surroundings, you begin to accept the differences and tolerate them For instance, the food will never be as tasty as the food in your home country, but you are now able to eat and sometimes even enjoy many dishes You may not like the way some people in your host country dress or behave in public, but you not regard their clothes and behavior as wrong—just different Concluding Paragraph A To sum up, culture shock is a very real phenomenon that has been studied for more than 30 years by psychologists and anthropologists Its five phases are (1) positive feelings toward the new culture, (2) awareness of small differences, (3) growing discomfort and need for contact with home culture, (4) negative feelings, and (5) acceptance and adjustment Symptoms may vary, and not all people experience all five phases In the end, however, people who suffer culture shock are stronger from having overcome the difficulties and frustrations of adapting to life in a new land Concluding Paragraph B In conclusion, nearly everyone moving to a new country feels some degree of culture shock Symptoms may vary, and not all people experience all five stages Newcomers with a strong support group may feel at home immediately in the new culture, while others may take months to feel comfortable Staying in touch with friends and family, keeping a positive attitude, and, above all, learning the language as soon as possible are ways to overcome the difficulties and frustrations of adapting to life in a new land Which concluding paragraph is a summary of the subtopics? Which one paraphrases the thesis statement? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Which concluding paragraph gives suggestions? Which one makes a prediction? ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Exercise 2: Write the concluding paragraph for the following essay Studying in Great Britain Introductory Paragraph People come from all over the world to the United Kingdom to pursue education Some come for a year, while others may stay four years or longer to complete a program or earn a degree Of course, the first few weeks in a new country are always a little stressful, but knowledge of a few British characteristics and customs can smooth the path for new arrivals -■ Topic Sentences for Body Paragraphs British people are usually reserved British people are very orderly, so waiting in a queue* for a bus or in a shop is a must The weather is no joke—it rains a lot Cars drive on the left side of the road, and stepping off a curb can be dangerous if you are not used to looking to the right instead of to the left Concluding Paragraph ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… Exercise 3: Making outline Below is an incomplete outline of the model essay “Native American Influences on Modem U.S Culture” Complete the outline by filling in the missing parts Native American Influences on Modem U.S Culture Introduction Thesis statement: Native Americans have made many valuable contributions to modern U.S culture, particularly in the areas of language, art, food, and government Body A Native Americans left a permanent mark on the English language Names of places—cities, towns, rivers, and states a States: Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Alabama b Cities: Chicago, Miami, Spokane Names of animals and plants a Animals: chipmunk, moose, raccoon, skunk b Plants: tobacco, squash B Navajo rugs Silver and turquoise jewelry a Pottery b c C Farming techniques a b _ a. b D _ Iroquois—large tribe with many branches (“nations”) Needed to settle disputes among various branches Five nations formed League of Iroquois a _ b Acted together when dealing with outsiders After independence, 13 colonies adopted similar system a Each colony (future state) was autonomous in managing own affairs b _ Conclusion We can easily see from these few examples the extent of Native American influence on our language, our art forms, our eating habits, and our government LESSON 3: ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING (Thực 04 tiết) III Argumentative essays Definition - An essay of agreement or disagreement with an issue, using reasons to support your opinion - To convince your reader that your opinion is right - Take a stand on an issue, support their stand with solid reasons, and support their reasons with solid evidence E.g Some common questions a The U.S Declaration of Independence states that “all men are created equal.” Agree or disagree with this statement Support your opinion with reasons and examples b The most important element in a friendship is trust Agree or disagree with this statement Support your opinion with reasons and examples Organization of argumentative essay - Two ways to organize: block pattern and point-by-point pattern Block Pattern I Introduction Point-by-Point Pattern I Introduction - Explanation of the issue Thesis statement - Explanation of the issue, including a summary of the other side's arguments - Thesis statement II Body II Body Block A Summary of other side’s arguments A Statement of the other side’s first argument B Rebuttal to the first argument C Rebuttal to the second argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument D Rebuttal to the third argument B Statement of the other side’s second Block E Your first argument F Your second argument G Your third argument III Conclusion—may include a summary of your point of view argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument C Statement of the other side’s third argument and rebuttal with your own counterargument III Conclusion—may include a summary of your point of view Exercise 1: Read the following essay and that follow Separating the Sexes, Just for the Tough Years The middle school years (grades and 8) are known to be the “tough years.” These are the years when the uneven pace of girls’ and boys’ physical, emotional, and cognitive development is most noticeable Girls are ahead of boys on all counts, and both suffer Educators debate whether separating boys and girls during these difficult years might improve students’ academic performance Separate classes are now prohibited in public schools that receive federal funds, but a change in the federal law that prohibits them is under consideration Although some parents and educators oppose same-sex classes, there is some evidence that separating boys and girls in middle school yields positive results Opponents of single-sex education claim that test scores of students in all-girl or allboy classes are no higher than those of students in mixed classes (“Study”) However, the research is inconclusive Despite the fact that some research shows no improvement in test scores, other research shows exactly opposite results (Blum) More important, many psychologists believe that test scores are the wrong measuring sticks They believe that self-confidence and self-esteem issues are more important than test scores In same-sex classes, girls report increased confidence and improved attitudes toward math and science, for example (“Study”) These are results that cannot be calculated by a test but that will help adolescents become successful adults long after the difficult years of middle school are past New York University professor Carol Gilligan is certain that girls are more likely to be “creative thinkers and risktakers as adults if educated apart from boys in middle school” (Gross) Boys, too, gain confidence when they not have to compete with girls Boys at this age become angry and fight back in middle school because they feel inferior when compared to girls, who literally “out-think” them With no girls in the classroom, they are more at ease with themselves and more receptive to learning (Gross) Opponents also maintain that separate classes (or separate schools) send the message that males and females cannot work together They say that when students go into the work force, they will have to work side-by-side with the opposite sex, and attending all-girl or all-boy schools denies them the opportunity to learn how to so (“North”) However, such an argument completely ignores the fact that children constantly interact with members of the opposite sex outside school From playing and squabbling with siblings to negotiating allowances, chores, and privileges with their opposite-sex parent, children learn and practice on a daily basis the skills they will need in their future workplaces The final argument advanced by opponents of same-sex education is that it is discriminatory and, therefore, unconstitutional However, research supports exactly the opposite conclusion: that discrimination is widespread in mixed classes Several studies have shown that boys dominate discussions and receive more attention than girls and that teachers call on boys more often than they call on girls, even when girls raise their hands (“North”) Clearly, this is discriminatory It should be evident that the arguments against same-sex classes are not valid On the contrary, many people involved in middle-school education say that same-sex classes provide a better learning environment Boys and girls pay less attention to each other and more attention to their schoolwork (Marquez) As one teacher noted, “Girls are more relaxed and ask more questions; boys are less disruptive and more focused” (“North”) Girls are less fearful of making mistakes and asking questions in math and science; boys are less inhibited about sharing their ideas in language and literature Furthermore, schoolchildren are not disadvantaged by lack of contact with the opposite sex because they have many opportunities outside the school setting to interact with one another Finally, discrimination occurs in mixed classes, so discrimination is not a valid argument Therefore, in my opinion, the law prohibiting same-sex classes in public schools should be changed Answer questions In which paragraph does the writer give background information to help readers understand the issue? Does the diesis statement mention both sides of the issue, or does it give the writer’s point of view only? How many opposing arguments are given? Where are they given? Where does the writer rebut the opposing arguments—in one paragraph or in separate paragraphs? What is the function of the last paragraph? Which type of organization does this essay use—block or point-by-point? Exercise 2: Making outline Separating the Sexes, Just for the Tough Years I Introduction (explanation of the issue) - Thesis statement: _ _ II Body A Opposing argument Opponents of single-sex education claim that test scores show that there is no advantage to all-girl or all-boy classes Rebuttal to argument 1 Research is inconclusive—show opposite results Other results that cannot be calculated a Girls b Boys _ B Opposing argument _ _ Rebuttal to argument a Settling squabbles with siblings b Negotiating with opposite-sex parent C Opposing argument _ _ Rebuttal to argument a _ b Teachers call on boys more often D Own point of view Same-sex classes provide a better learning environment Reasons a Boys and girls b Girls c Boys III Conclusion _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Writing the thesis statement - The thesis statement states clearly which side you are for: E.g Curfew laws are unfair and should be abolished In my opinion, stem cell research should receive the full support of our government - mention the opposing point of view Notice that the writer’s opinion is expressed in the main (independent) clause and the opposing point of view is normally put into a subordinate structure Subordinate clause Despite the claims that curfew laws are necessary to control juvenile gangs, Main clause Curfew laws are clearly unconstitutional Subordinate clause Although there are certainly reasons to be cautious with stem cell research Main clause Or any new technology, I believe that its potential benefits far outweigh its dangers Use expressions such as the following to introduce opposing points of view - Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada’s - Many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment - Smokers say that they have a right to smoke - It may be true that the U.S Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons Then connect the opposing point of view to your own with transition signals of contrast - Some people feel that the United States should have a national health care plan like Canada’s; however, others feel that government should stay out of the health care business - Although/Even though many think that genetically engineered crops are a grave danger to the environment, such crops can alleviate world hunger and malnutrition - Smokers say that they have a right to smoke in spite of the fact that/despite the fact that smoking will kill them - While/ Whereas it may be true that the U.S Constitution gives citizens the right to own weapons, the men who wrote the Constitution lived in a different time Exercise 3: Add an opposing point of view to each of the following thesis statements If necessary, rewrite the part of the sentence that is given to you The first one has been done Doctors or family members should never be allowed to “pull the plug.” _ _ _ _ The sale of CDs with songs containing lyrics that degrade women should be prohibited _ _ _ _ Television is the worst invention of modem times _ _ _ _ Environmental protection laws go too far _ _ _ _ The advertising industry performs many public services _ _ _ _ Exercise 4: Think of two or three supporting arguments for each thesis statement Notice that two of the thesis statements state only the writer’s point of view, and two state both sides of the argument The first one has been done for you as an example Censorship of the arts is always wrong Freedom to express oneself is a fundamental right stated in the U.S Bill of Rights ; Rubljc morality is relative—what is objectionable in some cultures is acceptable in others Many masterpieces—books, sculptures, and paintings—would be banned Violence in video games, movies, and television programs should be censored Despite the fact that education’s primary responsibility is to train minds, not bodies, I believe that schools should require students to practice a sport at least one hour each day a b c Although some people think that curfew laws will help control teenage gangs, they are wrong for several reasons a b c Engaged couples should be required to take marriage preparation classes for one full year before their wedding a b c Exercise 5: This article, from a British weekly news magazine, discusses the reasons that English has become tire dominant language around the world The World Language India has about a billion people and a dozen major languages of its own One language, and only one, is understood—by elite—across the country: that of the foreigners who ruled it for less than 200 years and left 52 years ago After 1947, English had to share its official status with north India’s Hindi and was due to lose it in 1965 It did not happen: Southern India said no Today, India Tomorrow, unofficially, the world [The spread of English] is well under way; at first, because the British not only built a global empire but settled America, and now because the world (and notably America) has acquired its first truly global— and interactive—medium, the Internet David Crystal, a British expert, estimates that some 350 million people speak English as their first language Maybe 250-350 million or can use it as a second language; in ex-colonial countries, notably, or in English-majority ones, like 30 million recent immigrants to the United States or Canada’s million francophone Quebeckers And elsewhere? That is a heroic guess: 100 million to billion is Mr Crystal’s, depending how you define “can.” Let us be bold: In all, 20-25 percent of Earth’s billion people can use English; not the English of England, let alone of Dr Johnson, but English That number is soaring as each year brings new pupils to school and carries off monolingual oldies—and now as the Internet spreads And the process is selfreinforcing As business spreads across frontiers, the company that wants to move its executives around and to promote the best of them, regardless of nationality, encourages the use of English So the executive who wants to be in the frame or to move to another employer learns to use it English has long dominated learned journals: German, Russian or French (depending on the field) may be useful to their expert readers, but English is essential So, if you want your own work published —and widely read by your peers—then English is the language of choice The growth of the cinema, and still more so of television, has spread the dominant language Foreign movies or sitcoms may be dubbed into major languages, but for smaller audiences they are usually subtitled Result: A Dutch or Danish or even Arab family has an audiovisual learning aid in its living room, and usually the language spoken on screen is English The birth of the computer and its American operating systems gave English a nudge ahead; that of the Internet has given it a huge push Any Web-linked household today has a library of information available at the click of a mouse And, unlike the books on its own shelves or in the public library, maybe four-fifths is written in English That proportion may lessen, as more non-English sites spring up But English will surely dominate The Web of course works both ways An American has far better access today than ever before to texts in German or Polish or Gaelic But the average American has no great incentive to profit from it That is not true the other way round The Web may even save some mini-languages But the big winner will be English Questions Paraphrase paragraph 3, which gives several statistics about the number of people who use English _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ How many reasons are given in paragraphs and for the spread of English throughout the world? List them here _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Copy a sentence from paragraph that best expresses the idea that business helps spread the use of English Include a reporting phrase that names the source of the quoted sentence _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Summarize paragraphs and in two or three sentences _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Exercise 6: Write an essay for each question below Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different Use specific reasons to support your answer Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people who earn a lot of money are successful Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should be required to help with household tasks as soon as they are able to so Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer Schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer “When people succeed, it is because of hard work Luck has nothing to with success.” Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your position It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, email, or telephone calls Use specific reasons and details to support your answer Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should never judge a person by external appearances Use specific reasons and details to support your answer Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Technology has made the world a better place to live Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion 10 It is sometimes said that borrowing money from a friend can harm or damage the friendship Do you agree? Why or why not? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer C KẾT LUẬN Trong trình triển khai chun đề, tơi nhận thấy học sinh có hứng thú với phần kiến thức Nhiều học sinh khơng tâm lý sợ phần viết luận viết số dạng đoạn văn khoa học theo format Học sinh vận dụng vào viết luận cụ thể chương trình sách giáo khoa Tiếng Anh 12 ban Cơ Bản kỹ viết học sinh cải thiện Chuyên đề hồn thành cá nhân tác giả nên khơng thể tránh khỏi sai sót nội dung hạn chế, mong bạn đồng nghiệp, quý thầy cô góp ý xây dựng để ý tưởng ngày hoàn thiện TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue (1998) Writing Academic English Harlow, England: Longman Press Basic Paragraph Structure Retrieved from http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html TOEFL Essay Question Types - Agree or Disagree Retrieved from http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/toefl-writing-topics-agree-or-disagree.html How to write a paragraph Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=NLzKqujmdGk Vanessa Jakeman, Clare McDowell (2004 ) Insight into IELTS extra Cambridge University Press Jeremy Lindeck, Jannette Greenwood, Kerry O'Sullivan (2011) Focusing on IELTS: Reading and writing skills Macmillan Education Australia ... the paragraph summarizes the important points briefly or restates the topic sentence in different words Concluding sentence LESSON 2: FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY (Thực tiết) II From paragraph to essay. .. http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/fwalters/para.html TOEFL Essay Question Types - Agree or Disagree Retrieved from http://www.goodlucktoefl.com/toefl-writing-topics-agree-or-disagree.html How to write a paragraph Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?... about the topic Explain, develop and prove the topic Divided into several paragraphs with one major point being covered in each paragraph Logical division of ideas: Divide topic into subtopics,