FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY ôn thi THPT QG môn Tiếng anh

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 mới dạy và học cũng như kiểm tra đánh giámôn ngoại ngữ đã tác động tích cực đến thực tế dạy và học tiếng Anh Đặc biệt, việcđưa nội dung viết luận vào trong bài thi THPTQG có ý nghĩa tích cực trong việc đánhgiá kỹ năng sử dụng ngôn ngữ của học sinh Tuy nhiên, điều này cũng gây ra một sốthách thức cho người học Vì kỹ năng viết luôn được xem là một kỹ năng khó, yêu cầuhọc sinh không chỉ nắm vững ngữ pháp mà còn hiểu và sử dụng thành thạo ngôn ngữđó

Một thực tế diễn ra là phần lớn học sinh thi THPTQG vừa qua không thể hoànthiện phần tự luận Điển hình, hội đồng chấm thi Trường ĐH Công nghiệp TP.HCM

đã thống kê mức điểm chủ yếu ở phần tự luận của thí sinh chỉ giao động trong khoảng

từ 0,75 đến 1 điểm, hầu như không có bài đạt điểm tuyệt đối Điều này phản ánh đúngthực trạng yếu kém về khả năng viết luận trong môn ngoại ngữ của học sinh hiện nay

Do đó việc phát triển kỹ năng viết cho học sinh lại càng trở nên quan trọng hơn

Trong quá trình dạy ngoại ngữ, tôi nhận thấy kỹ năng viết là kỹ năng khó nhất,cũng như gây ra nhiều thách thức cho cả học sinh và giáo viên

Thông qua một khảo sát nhỏ đối với 67 học sinh lớp 12 do tôi trực tiếp giảng dạy, tôi

có thể đưa ra một số kết luận có tính tham khảo về thực trạng học viết của học sinhnhư sau:

- Thứ nhất, học sinh ngại kỹ năng viết chủ yếu là do không tự tin vào vốn từ vựngcủa mình Họ thấy khó khăn trong việc diễn đạt các ý tưởng thông qua vốn từ vựng ít

ỏi đó Điều này không tránh khỏi việc mắc phải các lỗi về diễn đạt hay sử dụng sai từngữ

- Ngoài ra, một phần lớn học sinh không biết cách tổ chức bài biết của mình Họcsinh không biết viết một doạn văn khoa học Các ý trong bài thường rời rạc, không có

sự liên kết với nhau

- Nhiều học sinh không nắm được bố cục của một bài viết khoa học học sinh thườngkhông biết cách viết đoạn mở bài, hay phát triển ý trong bài như thế nào Những thôngtin nào cần được đề cập trong phần kết luận cũng là một vấn đề khó khăn với học sinh

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

- Số tiết thực dạy: 10 tiết

B PHẦN NỘI DUNG Lesson 1: WRITING A PARAGRAPH

(Thực hiện trong 03 tiết)

I Writing a paragraph

1 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, middleand 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

2 Basic features of a paragraph:

- A paragraph usually has a title, topic sentence, supporting sentences and concludingsentence

a The topic sentence

- The opening sentence or sentences, known as topic sentence, form the introduction

“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

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 Canyou 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 sentencewould be like the one mentioned above, “My hometown is famous for severalamazing geographical features

Topic sentence

- 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 topicsentences 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 5.

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 platesinks, 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 1

………

………

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 2

………

………

In European universities, students are not required to attend classes In fact, professors

in Germany generally do 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 bepenalized if they do not Furthermore, in the European system, students usually takejust one comprehensive examination at the end of their entire four or five years ofstudy In the North American system, on the other hand, students usually havenumerous quizzes, tests, and homework assignments, and they almost always have totake a final examination in each course at the end of each semester

Paragraph 3

………

………For example, the Eskimos, living in a treeless region of snow and ice, sometimes buildtemporary homes out of thick blocks of ice People who live in deserts, on the otherhand, use the most available materials, mud or clay, which provide good insulationfrom the heat In Northern Europe, Russia, and other areas of the world where forestsare plentiful, people usually construct their homes out of wood In the islands of theSouth Pacific, where there is an abundant supply of bamboo and palm, people usethese 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 inthe topic sentence: using examples, statistics, and quotations

 However, these ideas must not stray from the topic mentioned in the opening ofthe paragraph

 The sentences that form the body of the paragraph must be closely related toeach other

 Variety in the body of the paragraph should be brought about using differenttypes 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 theydevelop the idea, they are often arranged in the order of importance.

Exercise 1: Read Paragraphs A and B about red-light running and do as follow:

1 Notice the different specific supporting details that have been added to Paragraph

B

2 Locate the topic sentence in Paragraph B Circle the topic and underline the

controlling idea

3 Which supporting sentences in Paragraph B contain the kinds of details listed

below? Give the sentence numbers of each kind

Paragraph B: Paragraph with Support

Red-Light Running

Although some people think red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is noworse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime Red-light runners causehundreds of accidents, including deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars indamages Each year more than 900 people die, and nearly 200,000 are injured incrashes 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 amotorist 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 theresources to allow police to patrol intersections as often as would be needed to ticketall motorists who run red lights”

Exercise 2: Read Paragraph about Language and Perception and do as follow:

Language and Perception

Although we all possess the same physical organs for sensing the world- eyes forseeing, 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 BenjaminLee 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 fallingsnow, snow on the ground, snow packed as hard as ice, slushy snow, wind-drivensnow, 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 theSapir-Whorf hypothesis is correct and we can perceive only things that we have wordsfor, the Aztecs perceived snow, cold, and ice as one and the same phenomenon.

Writing Technique Questions

1 What is the main idea of this paragraph? Underline the part of the topic sentence

that expresses the main idea

c The concluding sentence

- The concluding or closing sentence must sum up the entire paragraph It is areflection of the idea presented in the topic sentence

- Signals for ending a paragraph:

 End-of-Paragraph Signals Followed by a Comma

 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.

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 basickinds of cards You could walk into the store and choose an appropriate card in fiveminutes or less Nowadays, however, the display space for greeting cards is as big as asoccer field, and it may take an hour or two to hunt down exactly the right card withexactly the right message There are at least 30 categories of birthday cards alone:birthday cards for different ages, from different ages, for different relatives, fromdifferent relatives, for different genders, from different genders, from a couple, fromthe 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, forbreaking 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.” Anencouragement 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 Alegend from the Hawaiian island of Kauai explains how the naupaka flower, a flowerthat grows on beaches there, got its unusual shape The flower looks like half a smalldaisy—there are petals on one side only The legend says that the marriage of twoyoung lovers on the island was opposed by both sets of parents The parents found thecouple together on a beach one day, and to prevent them from being together, one ofthe 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 do as follow:

1 Underline the topic sentence in each paragraph.

2 Add a good concluding sentence to each paragraph You may either paraphrase the

topic sentence or summarize the main points

3 Practice using end-of-paragraph signals by starting each concluding sentence with

one

Paragraph 1

You can be a good conversationalist by being a good listener When you areconversing with someone, pay close attention to the speaker’s words while looking athis or her face Show your interest by smiling and nodding Furthermore, do notinterrupt while someone is speaking; it is impolite to do so If you have a good story,wait until the speaker is finished Also, watch your body language; it can affect yourcommunication whether you are the speaker or the listener For instance, do not sitslumped in a chair or make nervous hand and foot movements Be relaxed and bendyour body slightly forward to show interest in the person and the conversation

- A paragraph must be brief and one must avoid excessive or unnecessary details

 Do not present new ideas in the paragraph

 Do not repeat the same point over and over again

- The topic sentence of a paragraph attracts the attention of the reader, while theconcluding 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 indifferent words

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 do 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 do 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

Concluding sentence

Supportin

g sentences

LESSON 2: FROM PARAGRAPH TO ESSAY

(Thực hiện trong 3 tiết)

II From paragraph to 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 anessay

a The introduction

Consist of 2 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.

- The first sentence is about the arrival of Europeans and their encounter with newcultures The next sentence points out that there were large differences betweenEuropean and Native Americans The next two sentences say that two-way culturalexchange happened, but the direction of the exchange and the specific items are notidentified

In general, an introductory paragraph in English is considered as a funnel

Exercise 1: Read sets of following sentences, putting it in correct order and general statements and thesis statement.

Paragraph 1

1 If done properly, a handshake gives the impression of strength and honesty, and if

done improperly, it conveys weakness and dishonesty

2 In some cultures, people bow, and in others, they shake hands.

3 In English-speaking countries, shaking hands is the custom.

4 A proper handshake has four ingredients: pressure, pumps, eye contact, and verbal

message

5 The way people greet each other when they meet for the first time varies from

culture to culture

6 How one shakes hands sends an important message about one’s character.

Answer: ………

Thesis statement: ……….

………

………

Paragraph 2 1 To celebrate the occasion, Mr X decided to throw a big party at the plant 2 Mr X went to Mexico from England to manage a milk pasteurization plant 3 Then one day an impressive new pasteurization unit arrived and was installed 4 The employees did most of the planning and draped the new unit with garlands 5 During the party one of Mr X’s supervisors took him aside and said, “Now we see that you are Buena gente; from now on I am sure everyone will really try to do their best for you.” 6 And so it was—neither punctuality nor quality checks were any longer needed 7 This story illustrates the need to understand that doing business in a different culture demands an understanding of the culture 8 The party was a great success, and everybody had a good time 9 For eight months, he tried every way possible to convince his workers of the importance of punctuality and of checking every detail of their work 10 The response was always, “Yes, yes, we will do our best,” but nothing ever changed Answer: ………

Thesis statement: ……….

………

………

Paragraph 3 Note\ The order of sentences 2, 3, and 4 can vary. 1 Currently under study are four main methods for predicting when and where the next Big One will occur 2 In 1976, an earthquake in Tangshan, China, killed over 250,000 people 3 In an average year, earthquakes kill 10,000 people worldwide and cause millions of dollars worth of property damage 4 Iran suffered more than 80,000 deaths in two massive quakes in 1990 and 2003 5 Scientists keep trying to find ways to predict earthquakes—so far without much success Answer: ………

Thesis statement: ……….

………

………

b The body

- Give the most amount of detail 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, and discuss each subtopic in a separate paragraph

 Write a thesis statement that indicates logical division

 Use transitions between paragraphs to guide reader from one subtopic to the next

- Inflation has three causes.

 The thesis statement may even name the specific subtopics:

- Native Americans have made many valuable contributions to modern U.S culture,

particularly in the areas of language, art, food, and government.

- Inflation has three causes: excessive government spending, unrestrained consumer

borrowing, and an increase in the supply of paper money.

 Paired conjunctions (both and, not only but also) are an especially effective

way to list two subtopics:

- Young people in my culture have less freedom than young people in the United States not only in their choice of lifestyle but also in their choice of careers.

- Puppies, like children, need both love and discipline to become responsible

members of society.

 A colon (:) is often useful before lists of two, three, or more subtopics in a thesisstatement:

- Young people in my culture have less freedom than young people in the United

States in three areas: where they live, whom they marry, and what their job is.

- The Father of Psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, believed that the human mind had

three separate parts: the id, the ego, and the superego.

 Transition Signals for Logical Division of Ideas

Transition signals for logical division essays include many that you may already know

Transition Words and Phrases first, first of all, second, third, etc next,

In addition, unrestrained consumer

borrowing can cause inflationary tendencies

Finally, an increase in the supply of paper

money gives rise to inflation

Coordinators and

both and

not only but also

Both an increase in the supply of paper money and unrestrained consumer borrow-

ing can cause inflationary tendencies

To lose weight, one must not only exercise regularly but also eat wisely.

Others

the first cause, reason, factor, etc the/a

second problem, result, advantage, etc.

one problem, reason, important factor,

etc

another way, reason, disadvantage, etc

an additional problem, result, etc in

addition to math and science,

A second cause is an increase in the supply

of paper money

Regular exercise is one way to get fit and

lose weight

In addition to government spending,

unrestrained consumer borrowing can cause inflationary tendencies

 Transition signals between paragraphs

- This can be a single word, phrases, or a dependent clause

Introductory

paragraph

Aggressive Drivers

The number of vehicles on freeways and streets is growing at

an alarming rate This increase of motor vehicles is creatinghazardous conditions Moreover, drivers are in such a rush toget to their destinations that many become angry or impatientwith other motorists who are too slow or who are in theirway Aggressive drivers react foolishly toward others inseveral dangerous ways

Body paragraph 1 Transition words One way an angry driver may react is to cut off

another motorist (+ supporting sentences)

………

……… Body paragraph 2 Transition words Another way is to tailgate the other car (+

supporting sentences)

………

……… Body paragraph 3 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)

………

……… Body paragraph 4 Transition clause Although law enforcement authorities warn

motorists against aggressive driving, the number who act

out their angry impulses has not declined (+supporting sentences)

………

……… Concluding

paragraph

To conclude, aggressive drivers are endangering everyone

because they create hazardous conditions by acting and driving foolishly They should control their anger and learn todrive 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.

1 Teenagers demonstrate their independence in several ways.

2 My eighteenth birthday was the most memorable day in my life so far.

3 On their eighteenth birthdays, U.S citizens receive two important

rights/responsibilities: They can vote, and they can sign legal contracts

4 In most occupations, women are still unequal to men in three areas: salary, power,

and status

5 Living in a dormitory offers several advantages to first-year students.

6 Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacture their own food.

7 A college degree in international business requires (1) a knowledge of business

procedures and (2) a knowledge of cultural differences

8 A computer is both faster and more accurate than a human.

9 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

1 Capital punishment should be abolished not only because it deprives another

person of life but also because it does not stop crime

2 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

3 Teenagers declare their separateness from their parents by the way they dress and

by the way they talk

4 In choosing a major, a student has to consider various factors, such as personal

interest, job opportunities, and the availability of framing institutions

5 An architect should be both an artist and an engineer.

6 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.

1 A computer is necessary for college students for three reasons:………

………

………

2 Students have, a difficult time taking notes in class due to:……….

………

………

3 Successful politicians have the following qualities: :………

………

………

4 A generation gap1 exists in my home because of:………

………

………

5 To survive a major disaster such as an earthquake requires:………

………

………

6 My two sisters are as different as day and night not only in:………

……… but also in ………