CHUYÊN ĐỀ: HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH

Trong thời đại hội nhập toàn cầu đã cho thấy ngoại ngữ là công cụ không thể thiếu đối với con người trong thế kỷ 21. Ở Việt Nam, hệ thống giáo dục quốc dân đã triển khai dạy môn ngoại ngữ như một môn văn hóa cơ bản trong chương trình giáo dục phổ thông. Từ nhiều năm nay tiếng anh đã trở thành môn thi bắt buộc trong kỳ thi cuối cấp giành cho học sinh THPT. Đặc biêt, trong hai năm gần đây, trong đề thi tốt nghiệp và THPTQG môn tiếng anh có thêm phần thi tự luận: viết đoạn văn. Viết đoạn văn là dạng bài tập quen thuộc trong tiết writing trong các bài học chính khóa trên lớp, tuy nhiên đây là phần nhiều học sinh gặp khó khăn. Chính vì vậy tôi chọn chuyên đề này với mục đích cung cấp được cho học sinh một cách đầy đủ nhất về cách viết một đoạn văn, giúp các em có thể đạt được kết quả cao nhất trong kỳ thi THPTQG.

SỞ GIÁO DỤC ĐÀO TẠO VĨNH PHÚC TRƯỜNG THPT ……… - - -*** - - - BÁO CÁO CHUYÊN ĐỀ ÔN THI THPTQG MÔN: TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN ĐỀ: HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH G/v Thực hiện: …………… Năm học: ………… TABLE OF CONTENT CONTENT PART 1: INTRODUCTION PART 2: CONTENT A PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH Topic Sentence Supporting Details Closing Sentence B HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH Prewriting Paragraphs Writing Paragraphs Editing Paragraphs Publishing Paragraphs C KINDS OF PARAGRAPHS Definition Paragraph Classification Paragraph Description Paragraph Compare and Contrast Paragraph Sequence Paragraph Choice Paragraph Explanation Paragraph Evaluation Paragraph D SOMES NOTES Unity within a paragraph Coherence within a paragraph E PRACTICE EXERCISES F ANSWER KEY PAGE 4 5 5 6 7 7 11 12 13 13 13 14 14 20 PART 1: INTRODUCTION Trong thời đại hội nhập toàn cầu cho thấy ngoại ngữ công cụ thiếu người kỷ 21 Ở Việt Nam, hệ thống giáo dục quốc dân triển khai dạy mơn ngoại ngữ mơn văn hóa chương trình giáo dục phổ thơng Từ nhiều năm tiếng anh trở thành môn thi bắt buộc kỳ thi cuối cấp giành cho học sinh THPT Đặc biêt, hai năm gần đây, đề thi tốt nghiệp THPTQG mơn tiếng anh có thêm phần thi tự luận: viết đoạn văn Viết đoạn văn dạng tập quen thuộc tiết writing học khóa lớp, nhiên phần nhiều học sinh gặp khó khăn Chính tơi chọn chun đề với mục đích cung cấp cho học sinh cách đầy đủ cách viết đoạn văn, giúp em đạt kết cao kỳ thi THPTQG Đối tượng học sinh bồi dưỡng em học sinh THPT đặc biệt em học sinh khối 12 chuẩn bị thi THPTQG đại học Tôi dự kiến dạy chuyên đề 12 tiết PART 2: CONTENT A PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH( cấu trúc đoạn văn) Một đoạn văn bao gồm có phần : câu chủ đề, câu bổ trợ câu kết Topic Sentence( câu chủ đề) • What is the topic sentence? (câu chủ đề - Câu chủ đề câu mang ý toàn đoạn văn, giới thiệu chủ đề đoạn văn - Thường câu Example: There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world First, Canada has an excellent health care system All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price Second, Canada has a high standard of education Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live • How to write one? - Câu chủ đề phải đưa chủ đề đoạn văn - câu mang ý chung - Câu chủ đề bao gồm chủ đề (topic) ý giới hạn đoạn văn (controlling idea) Ý giới hạn từ cụm từ mà người đọc hỏi câu hỏi How? Why? In what ways? What does that mean? Example: The conical leaf hat is one of the typical features of the Vietnamese culture Topic: conical leaf hat Controlling ideas: What is it? (typical feature of the Vietnamese culture), In what way is it typical? Supporting Details( câu bổ trợ) What are supporting sentences? - Là câu đưa ý chi tiết, phát triển ý cho câu chủ đề - Đi sau câu chủ đề, đưa ví dụ, lí do, số liệu, thực tế chứng minh cho ý đưa câu chủ đề tạo nên phần thân cho đoạn văn Example: There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world First, Canada has an excellent health care system All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price Second, Canada has a high standard of education Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live Closing Sentence( câu kết) What is the closing sentence? - Là câu khẳng định lại ý đưa câu chủ đề đoạn văn không lặp lại câu chủ đề - Thường câu cuối cùng, có không Example: There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world First, Canada has an excellent health care system All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price Second, Canada has a high standard of education Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live B HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH Prewriting Paragraphs What is the prewriting stage? The prewriting stage is when you think carefully and organize your ideas for your paragraph before you begin writing.( Là bước bạn suy nghĩ xếp ý đoạn văn trươc viết- outline) Các bước thực :six Steps: 1 Suy nghĩ cẩn thận điều bạn định viết Hãy tử hỏi mình: • Mình nên trả lời câu hỏi nào? Phần quan trọng câu hỏi gì? • Mình nên viết câu chủ đề nào? • Ý kiến để bổ trợ cho câu đề tài? • Mình phải viết để đoạn văn hay lơi cuốn? Mình có cần phải bổ sung thêm kiện thuộc đề tài hay khơng? Phải tìm kiện đâu? Mở sổ tay bạn đơn giản tờ giấy nháp viết câu trả lời câu hỏi vào Tuy nhiên không cần phải dành nhiều thời gian cho bước này; đừng viết chi tiết, cần viết ngắn gọn đủ để giúp bạn nhớ mục đích phương thức để viết đoạn văn 1.3 Thu thập việc, kiện liên quan đến đề tài đoạn văn Hãy tìm số việc, kiện phần trả lời câu hỏi bạn viết giấy Viết ý tưởng Tìm ý cho đoạn văn Chọn ý quan trọng mà bạn định trình bày Sắp xếp ý đoạn văn Khi bạn chọn ý trình bày đoạn văn, bạn phải xếp ý theo trật tự phù hợp Writing Paragraphs What is the writing stage? The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.(Đây bước bạn chuyển ý tưởng thành câu ) Five Writing Steps: 2.1 Hãy mở sổ tay file word máy tính 2 Hãy viết câu chủ đề, câu bổ trợ câu kết Hãy ý viết câu đơn giản rõ ràng để bày tỏ ý kiến Hãy cố gắng tập trung vào ý đoạn văn, tránh lệch hướng Có thể sử dụng từ điển để tìm thêm từ giúp bạn bộc lộ ý kiến riêng Editing Paragraphs What is the editing stage? The editing stage is when you check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them.( kiểm tra lỗi sai sửa) Các bước thực Về ngữ pháp tả Các bạn kiểm tra lại phần tả bạn Các bạn kiểm tra lại phần ngữ pháp bạn Đọc lại đoạn văn bạn lần Các bạn câu có chủ ngữ vị ngữ Các bạn kiểm tra lại xem chủ ngữ vị ngữ có tương đồng với hay khơng Các bạn kiểm tra lại câu Các bạn đảm bảo câu câu có nghĩa Văn phong cách tổ chức đoạn văn Các bạn đảm bảo đoạn văn bạn có câu chủ đề Các bạn đảm bảo câu bổ trợ tập trung vào ý Các bạn đảm bảo đoạn văn có câu kết tốt Một lần bạn đảm bảo tất câu nói chủ để, tập trung vào ý Cuối bạn kiểm tra lại xem đoạn văn bạn có thú vị không Publishing Paragraphs What is the publishing stage? The publishing stage is when you produce a final copy of your paragraph to hand in.( Hoàn thiện viết) Two Publishing Steps: viết hoàn chỉnh Nhờ thầy cô giáo kiểm tra nhận xét C KINDS OF PARAGRAPHS- CÁC LOẠI ĐOẠN VĂN Definition Paragraph- đoạn văn định nghĩa Đoạn văn định nghĩa đoạn văn đưa định nghĩa, giải thích cho vật, việc Example: Write a paragraph giving the definition of a pest The following words can help you to write a good definition paragraph: "is defined as" Example: A pest is defined as any animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or property "is a kind of" Example: A pest is a kind of animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or property Classification Paragraph - đoạn văn phân loại Định nghĩa Đoạn văn phân loại đoạn văn dùng để phân chia vấn đề đoạn văn theo nhữngvăn cảnh cụ thể Sự phân loại diễn nhiều mức độ Thứ ngữ nghĩa (so sánh khác nghĩa vật) sau mặt ngơn ngữ ngồi nhiều mặt khác Khi viết đoạn văn phân loại bạn nên nhóm việc ý kiến theo phạm trù cụ thể Điều giúp đoạn văn bạn logic khoa học Những từ hữu dụng : ví dụ tranh luận hai nguồn lượng khac is a kind of: Coal is a kind of non-renewable resource can be divided into: Energy resources can be divided into two types is a type of: Coal is a type of non-renewable resource falls under: Coal falls under the category of non-renewable resources belongs to: Coal belongs to the category of non-renewable resources is a part of: Coal is a part of the category of non-renewable resources fits into: Coal fits into the category of non-renewable resources is grouped with: Coal is grouped with non-renewable resources is related to: Coal is related to other non-renewable resources is associated with : Coal is associated with other non-renewable resources Description Paragraph- đoạn văn miêu tả Định nghĩa Đoạn văn miêu tả đoạn văn dùng để tả người, địa điểm vật, giúp bạn mường tượng đầu số hình ảnh diễn Thơng thường đoạn văn miêu tả có xu hướng tập trung vào hành động (được thể động từ) cảm giác (được biểu đạt trạng từ tính từ) Ngồi đoạn văn miêu tả nên viết cách rõ ràng, chi tiết đưa theo trình tự thời gian Ví dụ: Đoạn văn viết để miêu tả gấu Bắc cực hay đoạn văn viết để tiêu tả vị trí địa lý Canada Những từ sau giúp viết đoạn văn miêu tả tốt: Đặc tính Kích thước Sự tương tự Vị trí size length is like in colour width resembles above shape mass/weight below purpose speed beside near north/east/south/west VÍ DỤ Đặc tính Kích thước Sự tương tự Vị trí Polar bears are big in size Polar bears are usually white in colour Polar bears have a special shape The purpose of the polar bear's fur is to keep it warm The length of a polar bear's claws is 20 cm The width of a polar bear's head is about 50 cm Polar bears weigh up to 650 kg Polar bears can swim at a speed of 40 km per hour A polar bear is like other bears in shape A polar bear resembles other bears in shape Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec The ceiling is above us Most of Ontario is below Hudson Bay Quebec is located beside Ontario Many companies are located near Toronto Ontario is west of Quebec Compare and Contrast Paragraph- đoạn văn so sánh đối chiếu Định nghĩa Đoạn văn so sánh đoạn văn dùng để đưa điểm tương đồng khác biệt người, địa điểm, vật ý kiến Ví dụ: Đoạn văn viết để so sánh thời tiết Vancouver Halifax Những từ sau giúp bạn viết đoạn văn so sánh tốt: Những từ hữu ích để Điểm tương đồng Điểm khác biệt Những liên từ ngắn Những liên từ ngắn is similar to however Similarly, , but Likewise, the same ., yet in contrast .the same as By contrast, both also too as well Cách biểu đạt dài In the same way, X is similar to Y in that X and Y are similar in that (they) Like X, Y In like manner, One way in which X is similar to Những liên từ phụ thuộc On the other hand, even though although differs from unlike while Another way in which X is similar to Y is whereas (that) nevertheless, VÍ DỤ Spring weather in Vancouver is similar to spring weather in Halifax Both Vancouver and Halifax have rain in the spring Điểm tương đồng Halifax also has a rainy spring season Halifax has a rainy spring season, too As well, Halifax has rainy spring season On the other hand, winter is much colder in Halifax However, winter is much colder in Halifax Vancouver has a mild winter, but Halifax has a cold one Điểm khác biệt In contrast to Vancouver, Halifax has a cold winter Halifax differs from Vancouver by having a cold winter While Vancouver has a mild winter, Halifax has a cold winter Sequence Paragraph- đoạn văn tường thuật Định nghĩa Đoạn văn tường thuật đoạn văn dùng để kể cho người đọc điều diễn câu chuyện Đoạn văn tường thuật dùng phổ biến tiểu thuyết Chúng thường bao gồm tất yếu tố cần thiết cho phát triển hành động như: người giữ vai trò chính, bố trí, đặt, mục đích, mục tiêu, trở ngại, đỉnh điểm giải Chính đoạn văn tường thuật thường yêu cầu người viết xếp kiện theo thứ tự liên tục theo trình tự thời gian Phần thân đoạn văn tường thuật thường gồm nhiều yếu tố viết cách, nét bật đoạn văn hành động khơng phải miêu tả Ví dụ: Một đoạn văn đưa trình người trở thành thủ tướng Những từ sau giúp bạn viết đoạn văn tường thuật tốt: Những từ hữu dụng Theo thứ tự Theo thời gian first, second, recently third, etc in the beginning previously before afterwards then when after after finally at last subsequently VÍ DỤ First, you need to become a leader of a political party Second, you need to win a seat in the House of Commons Third, your party must have a majority of seats In the beginning, you need to become a leader of a political party Before becoming the prime minister, you need to become the leader of a political party Theo thứ tự Then, you must win a seat in the House of Commons After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure you have a majority of seats Finally, after all these steps, you can call yourself the prime minister At last, you can call yourself the prime minister Subsequently, you must make sure you have a majority of seats in the House of Commons She was recently elected prime minister She is the new prime minister Previously, she worked as a lawyer in Toronto Theo thời She won the party leadership last year Afterwards, she won the gian election When she won the party leadership, she was still working as a lawyer After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure you have a majority of seats 10 Choice paragraph - đoạn văn lựa chọn Định nghĩa Đoạn văn lựa chọn đoạn văn mà bạn cần phải định lựa chọn đối tượng, ý tưởng hành động mà bạn thích Thơng thường bạn cần đưa ý kiến bạn lựa chọn (hành động tượng) Ví dụ: Một đoạn văn viết để nói xem bạn thích chơi khúc cầu hay lacrosse (môn thể thao dùng vợt để bắt ném bóng) Những từ sau giúp bạn viết đoạn văn tường thuật tốt: Những từ hữu dụng Quan điểm in my opinion belief idea understanding I think that I consider I believe it seems to me I prefer Quan điểm Ý kiến cá nhân Ý kiến cá nhân like/dislike hope feel In my opinion, hockey is more fun than lacrosse My belief is that hockey is more fun than lacrosse My idea is that hockey is more fun than lacrosse My understanding is that hockey is more fun than lacrosse I think that I would prefer to play hockey and not lacrosse I consider hockey to be more exciting than lacrosse I believe hockey is more exciting than lacrosse It seems to me that hockey is more exciting than lacrosse I prefer hockey over lacrosse I like the sport of hockey because it is fast and exciting I hope that I can play hockey in the future I feel that hockey is my favorite sport Explanation Paragraph - đoạn văn giải thích Định nghĩa 11 Đoạn văn giải thích đoạn văn mà bạn cần phải giải thích đưa lý xảy việc Thơng thường chun ngành nghiên cứu xã hội bạn cầu phải tìm hiểu nguyên nhân kết kiện Ví dụ: Một đoạn văn viết để giải thích có nhiều người Châu Âu di cư đến Canada khoảng kỷ 19 Những từ sau giúp bạn viết đoạn văn giải thích tốt: Những từ hữu dụng Nguyên nhân Kết because therefore since thus as a result of consequently is due to hence it follows that if then VÍ DỤ Nguyên nhân Kết People moved to Canada from Europe during the nineteenth centurybecause they had poor living conditions in Europe Since living conditions in Europe were terrible, many people moved to Canada People moved to Canada from Europe as a result of poor living conditions in Europe The large influx of people to Canada was due to economic pressures in Europe Living conditions in Europe were terrible Therefore, many people moved to Canada for a better life Living conditions in Europe were terrible Thus, many people moved to Canada for a better life Living conditions were terrible in Europe Consequently, many people moved to Canada Living conditions were terrible in Europe Hence, many people moved to Canada Living conditions were terrible in Europe It follows that many people moved to Canada If living conditions were better in Europe, then fewer people would have moved to Canada 12 Evaluation Paragraph - đoạn văn đánh giá Định nghĩa Đoạn văn đánh giá đoạn văn mà bạn đưa lời nhận xét, đánh giá bạn người, ý kiến hành động xảy Bạn cần phải đánh giá dựa tiêu chuẩn định Khi viết dạng đoạn văn bạn đưa lời đánh giá gợi ý trước củng cố ý kiến cách đưa hệ tiêu chuẩn bạn Ví dụ: Một đoạn văn viết để đánh giá xem có nên sử dụng thuốc trừ sâu vào việc trồng trọt hay khơng Những từ sau giúp bạn viết đoạn văn giải thích tốt: Những từ hữu dụng Tiêu chuẩn để đánh giá Sự gợi ý good / bad suggest correct / incorrect recommend moral / immral advise right / wrong argue important / trivial Tiêu chuẩn Sự gợi ý The use of pesticides such as DDT is bad for the environment The belief that pesticides must be used is incorrect The use of pesticides to control pests is immoral because it harms the environment It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the environment The issue of pesticides is an important one because it affects the environment I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests I recommend that pesticides should not be used because they are harmful to the environment I would advise farmers not to use pesticides if possible I would argue that pesticides should not be used because they harm the environment D SOME NOTES - MỘT SỐ LƯU Ý Unity within a paragraph- Tính thể đoạn văn Sự thống đặc tính quan trọng để đánh giá đoạn văn có tốt hay khơng Sự thống có nghĩa đoạn văn nói đề tài Tất câu đoạn phải đề cập đến đề tài đó, khơng lệch hướng Example: The students in the class come from many different parts of the world Some are from European countries, such as France, Spain, and Italy Others are from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel Still other students were born in Asian countries, including Japan and Korea Korean food is delicious The largest number of students is from Latin American countries like Mexico, Venezuela and Peru The class is an interesting mix of people from many different countries 13 => Korean food is delicious: khơng có chút liên quan đến đề tài Đó câu lạc đề, khiến cho đoạn văn thiếu tính thống Vì trường hợp ta nên bỏ câu Coherence within a paragraph- Tính mạch lạc, liên kết đoạn văn - Sự liên kết cách trôi chảy câu yếu tố quan trọng để giúp người đọc dễ dàng hiểu ý mà bạn muốn biểu đạt đoạn văn - Người viết sử dụng trình tự thời gian( time), không gian( space) , mức độ quan trọng việc( importance) để viết Example: space order When you drive into the airport, you will see many signs for the different terminals After you pass the signs, you will drive over a hill The airport is on other side of the hill On your right, you will see the international terminal This terminalis two stories tall The front is all glass On the left, you will see the domestic terminals……… E PRACTICE EXERCISES- BÀI TẬP ÁP DỤNG TOPIC SENTENCE Exercise 1: Read each set of sentences Write the topic and choose the best topic sentence Topic:… a) The rainy season is good b) In the rainy season, there are floods c) The best season for relaxing is the rainy season Topic: _ a) Swimming is popular for many reasons b) You need a good swimming pool to go swimming c) Swimming is fun Topic: _ a) Bangkok is crowded b) People from many different cultures live in Bangkok c) Bangkok is a very hot city Topic: _ a) Smartphones have many functions b) There are many ways to use a smartphone in the classroom c) Smartphones can be used for translation Topic: _ a) French wines are popular for a number of reasons b) My father drinks French wine c) You can buy French wine at good supermarkets Topic: _ a) An Education is an English movie b) A young woman discovers the real world in An Education c) An Education is an excellent movie with many lessons for young adults Exercise 2: Choosing and using topic sentences Read the paragraph and tick () the best topic sentence Topic sentences: A: Japan is a very beautiful country B: Japan, for example, makes computers C: Japan is a very important country 14 D: Japan makes cars Paragraph: It produces many cars, such as Toyotas and Nissans, which it sells all over the world It also produces electrical goods such as televisions and DVDs Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is one of the biggest and most modern cities in the world What is wrong with the other topic sentences? Match them to the problems Problems: Topic sentence: It is an example It is a smaller idea, not the main idea It is about something different from the other sentences Exercise 3: Choose the best topic sentence for each group of supporting sentences Write it on the line provided 0): I usually go skiing every weekend in the winter even though it is expensive I love the feeling of flying down a mountain The views are beautiful from the top of a mountain and along the trails Even the danger of falling and getting hurt can’t keep me away from the slopes on a winter day a) Skiing is expensive b) Skiing is my favourite sport c) Skiing is dangerous 1.) _ North Americans send cards for many occasions They send cards to family and friends on birthdays and holidays They also send thank-you cards, get well cards, graduation cards, and congratulation cards It is very common to buy cards in stores and send them through the mail, but turning on the computer and sending cards over the Internet is also popular a) Sending cards is very popular in North America b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card c) It is important to send thank-you cards 2.) I enjoy summer sports like water skiing and baseball The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can go to the beach almost every day Gardening is my hobby and I spend many summer days working in my garden Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in summer a) I like to garden in summer b) Summer is my favourite season.c) Summer is to short 3.) First of all, we need money to repair old roads and build new roads We also need more to pay teachers’ salaries and to pay for services such as trash collection Finally, more tax money is needed to give financial help to the poor citizens of the city It is clear that the city will have serious problems if taxes are not raised soon a) We should raise city taxes b) City taxes are too high c) City taxes pay for new roads 4.) _ For example, a person can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris A businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles a) Airplanes have changed our lives b) Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller 15 c) The fax machine was an important invention 5.) _ One thing you must consider is the quality of the university’s educational program You also need to think about the school’s size and location Finally, you must be sure to consider the university’s tuition to make sure you can afford to go to school there a) It is expensive to attend a university in the United States b) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to attend c) You should consider getting a good education SUPPORTING SENTENCES Read the following paragraphs and underline the supporting sentences 1.) Use of the internet has grown very quickly In 1983, there were 562 computers connected to the Internet By the turn of the century, there were 72.3 million computers in 247 countries on-line Experts say that the Internet is now growing at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year As time goes on, the Internet is becoming more and more popular 2.) There are many reasons I hate my apartment The plumbing doesn’t work properly and the landlord refuses to fix it I also have noisy neighbours who keep me up all night Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my apartment that I could start an insect collection I really want to move 3.) Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet First, fruits and vegetables are packed with the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body functioning smoothly In addition, they give you the carbohydrates you need for energy Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber to help your digestive system work properly Finally, many scientists believe that the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help fight diseases If you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you’ll be on the road to better health RECOGNIZING IRRELEVANT SENTENCES There is one irrelevant sentence in each paragraph that follows Find that sentence and cross it out 1.) There are several ways people can conserve natural resources One way is to turn lights off and appliances when they are not in use Another way is to drive cars less My favourite kind of car is convertible People can also insulate their houses better Finally, by reusing things like bottles and plastic bags, people can reduce the amount of waste By practicing these simple guidelines, we can save our natural resources 2.) Cats make wonderful house pets They are very loving and friendly Cats are also clean They don’t eat much, so they are not expensive Unfortunately, some people are allergic to their hair Cats look beautiful and they’re fun to have in your home 3.) The capital city of a country is usually a very important city The government offices are located in the capital city and political leaders usually live there nearby There are many different types of governments in the world The capital may also be the centre of culture There are often museums, libraries, and universities in the capital Finally, the capital city can serve as a centre of trade, industry and commerce, so it is often the financial centre of the country 4.) The Japanese automobile industry uses robots in many stages of its production process In fact, one large Japanese auto factory uses robots in all of its production stages Some 16 Japanese universities are developing medical robots to detect certain kinds of cancer Another automobile factory in Japan uses them to paint cars as they come off the assembly line Furthermore, most Japanese factories use robots to weld the parts of the finished car together CONCLUDING SENTENCES Exercise 1: Underlining the concluding sentence Why are fast-food restaurants so popular? In fact, there are three main reasons First, they are convenient In today’s fast-moving society, the ability to get a quick bite to eat is vital for busy people, and the waiting time in fast-food stores is short In addition, the prices are low A satisfying meal can be bought for a reasonable amount of money Third, standards of hygiene in fast-food chain stores are generally high, and that is important in today’s health-conscious society In sum, fast-food restaurants are popular because they are convenient, cheap, and clean What is Internet addiction? The problem has a variety of symptoms Internet addicts often think about the last time they were on-line or look forward to the next session They feel irritable, and cannot sleep well, if they are trying to cut down on Internet use Most importantly, they may have problems with their work, studies, or personal relationships because of their habit There is no denying the advantages that the Internet has brought to our world, but we need to be careful how we use it Exercise 2: Choosing the most suitable concluding sentence The topic sentence: I usually read the same four sections of a newspaper Supporting sentences: First, I turn to the local news to find out what is going on in the country After that, I look over the comics to cheer myself up after reading all the bad news When I am ready for something serious again, I go back to the news section and look at the international pages Finally, I check the sports pages to see how my favorite teams and athletes have been performing The concluding sentence: a Of course, I also look at my horoscope every day to see what is going to happen b Reading the newspaper thoroughly is something I like to every day c To sum up, I not have a lot of time to read the newspaper, so I only look at the parts that interest me most d All in all, my favorite part of the newspaper is the front page because it is full of important information The topic sentence: High school students spend their summer vacation in a variety of ways Supporting sentences: Many of them use the school holidays to make some money They take temporary jobs in shops, restaurants, or gas stations Others attend study courses in languages or subjects they have been having difficulty with Some just stay home, passing the time by sleeping a lot or watching television The luckiest ones, however, get to go abroad on stuffy tours or vacations The concluding sentence: a Going abroad is something I am really looking forward to doing after I graduate from high school 17 b In general, most high school students are not able to travel abroad because of the pressure of their studies c Whatever they do, most students agree that summer vacation is the best time of the year d Without a doubt, summer vacation is popular among high school students because of the good weather Exercise 3: Writing a concluding sentence The topic sentence: My first encounter with a snowfall was a memorable experience Supporting sentences: It was on a trip to Mt Jade a few years ago We visited the mountain on Christmas Day, and there was a feeling of magic Just after we arrived, the snow started falling I remember my pleasure and excitement at the sight of the soft snowflakes drifting gently down from the white sky In a matter of hours, the entire landscape was covered by an enchanting white carpet It reminded me of a European fairy tale I had read as a child The concluding sentence _ The topic sentence: There are three reasons why I try to avoid taking taxis whenever it is possible Supporting sentences: First, they are expensive The public transportation system is much cheaper to get around In addition, taxis are far more often involved in road accidents than any other vehicles except motorcycles Finally, the behavior and attitudes of some taxi drivers can make riding in a taxi a dangerous and unpleasant experience The concluding sentence _ KINDS OF PARAGRAPH Decide the kind of these paragraphs The WikiAnswers site is a colorful place Bright oranges, blues, and greens entice the eye and make you want to look around and see what is there Little cartoon aliens decorate the site and point to interesting things Clicking on the buttons and arrows make new pages pop up, or make things change around The writer pauses to consider what the students need to know, then writes another sentence These sentences all lead the reader toward the idea that a paragraph is just a way of communicating After the writer finishes this paragraph, there will be another that needs to be written The writer glances at the clock on the wall Will there be enough time? "Americans can be divided into three groups smokers, nonsmokers and that expanding pack of us who have quit Those who have never smoked don't know what they're missing, but former smokers, ex-smokers, reformed smokers can never forget We are veterans of a personal war, linked by that watershed experience of ceasing to smoke and by the temptation to have just one more cigarette For almost all of us ex-smokers, smoking continues to play an important role in our lives And now that it is being restricted in restaurants around the country and will be banned in almost all indoor public places in New York State starting next month, it is vital that everyone understand the different emotional states cessation of smoking can cause I have observed four of them; 18 and in the interest of science I have classified them as those of the zealot, the evangelist, the elect and the serene Each day, each category gains new recruits." (Franklin Zimring, "Confessions on an Ex-Smoker," Newsweek Paragraphs are like conversations Each conversation is a series of statements, questions, or explanations that pass along information Each paragraph is also a series of sentences that pass along information A paragraph is different from a conversation because a paragraph can be edited and changed after you write it down, and a conversation can't be taken back once you have spoken the words In order to write a paragraph, first you think about what you want to say Pretend that you are explaining things to your friends, or to a younger person Try to explain in simple terms that are easy to follow Once you have thought about it, start writing down what you would say out loud That's all you need to to write a paragraph A definition tells you what a word or term means This paragraph tells you what a defining paragraph is, so this paragraph is a defining paragraph about defining paragraphs! When you define something, you want to use simple words so that your reader will understand what you are saying My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond guitar the first instrument I taught myself how to play It's nothing fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and finger-printed At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye of a silver tuning key The strings are stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished, the wood worn by years of fingers pressing chords and picking notes The body of the Madeira is shaped like an enormous yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping The blond wood has been chipped and gouged to gray, particularly where the pick guard fell off years ago No, it's not a beautiful instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I will always treasure it Paraphrasing is used for different purposes Some paraphrases will be designated to support already existing evidence Others will reinforce argumentation against evidence Still others will help to develop existing arguments and provide back-up for any conclusion drawn in the course of writing Depending on the function, paraphrases will be introduced in accordance with their unique context Quotations require yet another approach They are not self-expressive because every quotation can signify a number of different things in various contexts It is both the introduction and the commentary that follows it which decides about its context and the ultimate meaning of a given citation in an essay Paraphrasing quotations - changing the original words or sense is not allowed Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are strikingly different in many ways For example, the physical size of each state is different Arizona is large, having an area of 114,000 square miles, whereas Rhode Island is only about a tenth the size, having an area of only 1,214 square miles Another difference is in the size of the population of each state Arizona has about four million people living in it, but Rhode Island has less than one million The two states also differ in the kinds of natural 19 environments that each has For example, Arizona is a very dry state, consisting of large desert areas that not receive much rainfall every year However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate zone and receives an average of 44 inches of rain per year In addition, while Arizona is a landlocked state and thus has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic Ocean and does have a significant coastline WRITING PARAGRAPH Write about the ideal world in which you would like to live in the year 2020 Write about the subject you like best Write about your favorite food Write about your favorite pet Write about your favorite season Write about your favorite teacher Write about your hobbies Write about your dream house Write about your memory of a place that you visited as a child 10 Write about your unforgettable experience F ANSWER KEY TOPIC SENTENCE Exercise 1 Rainy season- c Swimming- a Bangkok- c Smartphone- a French wines- a An education- a Exercise 2: c 1-b 2-d 3-a Exercise 2: 0-b 1-a 2-b 3-b SUPPORTING SENTENCES 20 4-b 5-b In 1983, there were 562 computers connected to the Internet By the turn of the century, there were 72.3 million computers in 247 countries on-line Experts say that the Internet is now growing at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year The plumbing doesn’t work properly and the landlord refuses to fix it I also have noisy neighbours who keep me up all night Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my apartment that I could start an insect collection First, fruits and vegetables are packed with the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body functioning smoothly In addition, they give you the carbohydrates you need for energy Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber to help your digestive system work properly Finally, many scientists believe that the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help fight diseases RECOGNIZING IRRELEVANT SENTENCES My favourite kind of car is convertible Unfortunately, some people are allergic to their hair There are many different types of governments in the world Some Japanese universities are developing medical robots to detect certain kinds of cancer CONCLUDING SENTENCES Exercise 1 In sum, fast-food restaurants are popular because they are convenient, cheap, and clean There is no denying the advantages that the Internet has brought to our world, but we need to be careful how we use it Exercise 2: 1-c 2-c Exercise 3: To sum up, I will never forget my first encounter with a snowfall To sum up, I not like to go by taxi KINDS OF PARAGRAPH Description Paragraph Sequence Paragraph Classification Paragraph Compare and Contrast Paragraph Sequence Paragraph Definition Paragraph Description Paragraph Explanation Paragraph Compare and Contrast Paragraph 21 ... Writing Paragraphs Editing Paragraphs Publishing Paragraphs C KINDS OF PARAGRAPHS Definition Paragraph Classification Paragraph Description Paragraph Compare and Contrast Paragraph Sequence Paragraph. .. with a snowfall To sum up, I not like to go by taxi KINDS OF PARAGRAPH Description Paragraph Sequence Paragraph Classification Paragraph Compare and Contrast Paragraph Sequence Paragraph Definition... clean and efficiently managed Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live B HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH Prewriting Paragraphs