English Paragraph Writing Elsa Chen Spring 2012 Hours: 2 (weekly) Tuesday: 10:10 am- 12:10 pm
Chapter 7 The Art of Paintball Read an article about how to play the sport of paintball Learn strategies for recognizing repetition of ideas Write an introduction for a process essay Vocabulary words: 1. There was a feeling of anticipation before our college basketball team started its final game of the year. Everyone was waiting for the action to begin. 2. The opposing team had very strong player, but our team performed better.
3. An important element in the game was the weather. Even though it was hot and humid, our athletes scored very well. 4. One aim of basketball is to get control of the ball, and our players succeeded in taking the ball away from the opponents many times. 5. Our team used their strongest players in the front of the court. This strategy prevented the other team from scoring. 6. One of the features of our college gymnasium is that it has large sections of movable seats.
Scan the reading and complete the sentences: 1. Before the game begins, everyone ties pieces or cloth onto their. 2. Opponents try to hit each other with paintballs. Paintballs are balls filled with 3. The balls are propelled from guns made of or. The guns are called. 4. Paintball players must wear the right clothing. In wooded paintball fields, they need clothing and boots to avoid injuries. 5. One day of paintball can cost. 6. In one day, a paintballer usually plays between to and matches and shoots to paintballs.
Recognizing repetition of ideas: Writers often use repetition to emphasize an important idea. Repetition is the writer s ay of making sure that the main idea is understood and remembered. They may repeat complete sentences or parts of sentences. These repetitions often appear in the sentence following the topic sentence or at the end of a paragraph.
Emphatic sentences: Sentence 1: the topic sentence- states the main idea. Sentence 2: it restates a part of the main idea in different words: physical fitness and in good shape. Sentence 6: it restates a part of the main idea with a phrase: mental strategy. Concluding sentence: Sentence 7: repeating the main idea again: physical and mental actions. Concluding sentence: repeating the main idea: Physical fitness and mental strategy.
Writing an introduction for a process essay Begin with a general sentence that includes the topic word. Ex. The game of sudoku, pronounced soo-doe-koo, is quickly becoming the fastest-growing puzzle in the world. Include one or more sentences that become progressively more specific. Ex. It may look like a number game that requires only pencil, paper, and a little time, but it s not so simple. End with the thesis statement. Ex. Here are the ways to play sudoku, an ancient game with different forms to challenge players of all ages.
Chapter 10 Table for Two Read a story about how a couple met Learn how to state and support an opinion about a reading Write a response to a reading Use answers in the writing assignment: 1. Deborah was determined to learn as much as she could. What have you ever been determined to do or accomplish? 2. Joseph had neglected to get Deborah s last name. Have you ever neglected to find out something and later regretted it?
Steps for writing a response: 1. Read the assigned text for main ideas, and then reread it for better understanding. Mark main ideas, major supporting points, and interesting ideas. 2. Read the question(s) or topic(s) of your assignment. Some common types of response assignments: Agree or disagree with a main idea in the reading. Compare and/or contrast wat you read with your experiences. Evaluate a main idea in the reading.
Steps for writing a response (2): 3. Begin your response with one sentence that gives the title and author of the reading (if given) and sates your opinion (the answer to the assigned topic or question). 4. Follow the introduction-body-conclusion format. In the body of your essay, focus on answering the topic question in more detail. Support your opinion with reasons, using ideas from the reading and your own ideas. 5. Use phrases to identify the writer s ideas and yoru ideas. 6. Close with a conclusion that restates your opinion (the idea in your first sentence).
Write a one-paragraph response to Table for Two. Topic 1: in Table for Two, Deborah waited for a telephone call that never came. Compare and/or contrast the woman s situation with one that happened to you. Did you ever wait for a call from someone? Was the ending of your story similar to or different from Deborah s? Topic 2: At the end of Table for Two, we learn that Deborah did not want to read Great Expectations before she came to Europe because of the sad business with Joseph. Do you agree that this was a sad business? Did Deborah have a good reason to feel sad? Explain.
Chapter 11 Generation Broke Read an article about young people and debt Learn strategies for identifying cause and effect Organize and write a proposal for a cause-effect essay Making inferences: 1. I have nightmares, says Heather Schopp, 29, who has $165,000 in student loan debt. 2. Most young people in the previous generation had to get credit cards under their parents names or wait until they had a job. Contrast that with Ryan Peterson, 24. He accumulated $3,200 in credit card debt before he even graduated. What meaning can be inferred from the passage?
Organizing a Cause-Effect essay A cause-effect essay explain why a situation or condition happened (its causes) or the consequences (effects) of such a situation. Ex. She had many adventures related to food and clothing as a result of being broke. Ex. In the book, The Broke Diaries, Angela describes how a lack of money affected her eating habits.
A cause-effect essay Write a thesis statement, proposal, and outline for a cause-effect essay: Step 1 Get ideas. Topic 1: A person s financial situation Topic 2: A person's spending habits Step 2 Organize ideas. a) Make a cause-effect chart like the one shown below to help you focus on either the causes or the effects of your topic.
A cause-effect essay b) Write an effective thesis statement for your topic. c) Next. Make an outline for the essay you will write, using the model on the reading. Include your thesis statement. Step 3 Write a rough draft write a proposal. Use the information from steps 1 and 2. Step 4 Revise your rough draft Read your proposal and organize the supporting points you include.
Chapter 12 The IKEA Success Story Read an article about IKEA stores Learn strategies for using hedging words Write a cause-effect essay Making inferences 1. Kamprad began selling cards and seeds at age 17. in 1955, he decided to design his own furniture so that it would be more useful, attractive, and cost-effective than other furniture.
2. Like other IKEA furniture, the chair is flat packed to keep prices low. Customers don t seem to mind the do-it-yourself assembly, especially since many feel that they can t beat the prices on IKEA designs. 3. Similarly, IKEA s annual catalog draws customers with photos of coordinated room settings and appealing text that asks: Like having friends over but don t have a big home? or What s the secret to fitting all your things into a small space?
Using hedging words Modal auxiliary verbs that limit the strength of verbs: ex. A full-time food store cashier might not be able to support a family on his or her paycheck. Adverbs that limit the strength of verbs and adjectives: ex. IKEA stores are often crowded on the weekends. Quantifiers that limit the strength of nouns: ex. Some countries have one or more IKEA stores.
Writing Checklist Does the introduction introduce the topic and include your thesis statement? Does your essay follow the suggested outline for organizing a cause-effect essay? Does each body paragraph present a cause or an effect of the topic? Did you use hedging words appropriately? Did you use vocabulary from the chapter appropriately?
Chapter 13 The Newest Generation at Work Read an article about the values of Generation Y. Learn strategies to distinguish between generalizations and support Organize and write a proposal and outline for a comparison-contrast essay Discuss the questions in pairs or small groups. What characteristics do you value in a job? Rand these characteristics from 1 to 4. a) meaningful job b) Flexible schedule c) high salary d) friendly workplace
Scan the reading to find Generalization or Supporting detail 1. Generation Y members have strong ideas about what satisfies them. 2. More than half of Generation Yers live with their parents after they finish college, so they have more choices about work than previous generations. 3. Dave has nearly completed his bachelor s degree in history, but he quit a $35,000 job as a customer service representative for a leading insurance company to go back to school. 4. Two-thirds of the people who left Deloitte left to do something they could have done with us, but we made it difficult for them to transition. 5. Friendship is also a strong motivator for Generation Y members.
Organizing a comparison-contrast essay Writers compare subjects to show similarities. They contrast subjects to show differences. Ex. Many companies in these areas think that telecommuting works better than the traditional work model.
Topic 1: Work situations Working in one type of job versus another type Working in one culture versus another culture Working in an English-speaking environment versus a non-english-speaking environment Topic 2: Living situations Living independently versus living with a roommate Living in an apartment versus living in a single home Living in a city versus living in the suburbs