Week1_Writing
Week1_Writing
3. To get from Vancouver to Victoria, you can fly _____ you can ride the ferry.
a. because b. while c. yet d. or
5. _____ my wife likes to travel abroad, I prefer to stay at home for my vacations.
a. As a result b. Because c. Whereas d. So
6. The waiter was not very nice, _____ the food was very delicious.
a. so b. despite c. because d. but
8. They managed to win the match _____ they played really badly.
a. so b. even though c. as d. despite
9. John couldn’t buy any Christmas presents _____ he didn’t have any money.
a. and b. yet c. so d. because
10.Patrick did very well in most of his exams. _____, he failed his German exam.
a. Therefore b. However c. In addition d. As a result
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PART B: INTRODUCTION TO PARAGRAPH
A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped together. This group of sentences together
discusses one main topic. In academic English, paragraphs consist of three main parts.
topic sentence
body sentences
o supporting sentences
o details and examples
concluding sentence
Topic Sentence
English is only one of the world’s 6800 languages, but it is rapidly becoming
a truly international language. First of all, English is the native language over 400
million people scattered across every continent. In fact, English is used in some way
by one out of seven human beings around the globe, making it the most widely
spoken language in history. Approximately, 50 percent of the world’s books are
Supporting
published in English. In addition, three-quarters of all mail, faxes and electronic
Sentences
messages are written in English. Secondly, English is also the main language of
science, technology and international business. More than half of all scientific and
technical journals are written in English, and over 80 percent of the information
stored in computers around the world is in English. Over half of all business deals in
Europe are conducted in English, and many more are negotiated in English in other Details and
Examples
parts of the international business community. Finally, English is the language of
sports and entertainment. For example, it is the official language of both the
Olympics and the Miss Universe Pageant. English is the language of over 60 percent
of the world’s radio and TV programs. All in all, more than ever before, English is
now the most widely used and studied language of the world.
Concluding
Sentence
A topic sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph; that is, it is usually
the first sentence in a formal academic paragraph. More importantly, it is the most
general sentence in a paragraph.
What does "most general" mean? It means that there are not many details in the sentence, but
that the sentence introduces an overall idea that you want to discuss later in the paragraph.
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A- CHOOSING A TOPIC SENTENCE
Choose the best topic sentence for each of the following paragraphs. Here is an example.
EXAMPLE:
a. The city needs the money.
b. The city needs money to fix the buses.
c. The state has lots of money.
The city needs money to fix the buses. Many of the buses need repair work. City officials say there is
not enough money to fix them. They will borrow money from the state.
2. a. Shopping is difficult.
b. The stores are crowded at Christmas.
c. It is better to do your Christmas shopping early.
__________ . It will be more difficult for you if you wait until just before Christmas. Many stores run out of
the more popular items, so it will be harder for you to find what you want. The stores are also more
crowded, and the lines are much longer.
3. a. Skiing is expensive.
b. Skiing is a popular sport.
c. Skiing has many disadvantages.
__________ . Many people enjoy it even though it is expensive and dangerous. A lot of people spend every
winter weekend skiing, and many families go on winter ski vacations. Neither the high cost of
equipment nor the severe cold keeps skiers away from the slopes.
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5. a. It is expensive to attend a university in the United States.
b. There are many things to consider when choosing a university.
c. A good education is important.
__________ . First of all, you must consider the quality of the university's academic program. The
university's size and location should also be given careful thought. Finally, you must always be sure to
consider the tuition before you decide which university to attend.
EXAMPLE:
Miami is a nice place to take a vacation. It is always sunny and warm.
The beaches are gorgeous with soft, white sand and beautiful, blue water. There are many fine
restaurants in the Miami area, and most of the big hotels offer terrific entertainment every night.
1.
He has collected stamps and coins
ever since he was a child. He is very proud of his valuable collections. He also enjoys painting and
drawing. Recently he has become interested in gardening. Out of all his hobbies, Paul's favorite one is
reading. He tries to read at least one book every week.
2.
First of all, the plumbing doesn't
work properly and the landlord refuses to fix it. I also have noisy neighbors who keep me up every
night. Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my apartment that I could start an insect collection.
3.
Some people hijack airplanes for
political reasons. Others do it for financial reasons. Still others hijack airplanes because they want to be
famous.
4.
To me, books are the most
wonderful things in the world. I can pick up a book and be in another place or another time without
leaving my room. I could spend my whole life reading books.
5.
I can't wait to come home from
school to eat the delicious meals she has prepared. She is always experimenting with different
ingredients and recipes. No one in the world can cook the way my mother does.
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6.
It never starts in cold weather and uses
too much gasoline. The horn and the left turn signal don't work properly. I wish I could get a new car.
7.
First of all, the work is very interesting. I
learn new things every day, and I get to travel a lot. Secondly, my boss is very nice. He is always willing
to help me when I have a problem. I have also made many new friends at my job. And last, but not least,
the salary is fantastic.
8.
My plane was six hours late. The hotel
was horrible. On the third day my wallet was stolen, so I lost all my credit cards. It rained every day I
was gone except for one day, and on that day I got a terrible sunburn.
9.
The dog became the first trained animal
and the only creatures that lived with human beings. Stone Age cave paintings in Spain show that
people hunt together with trained dogs as early as 10.000 B.C. Many thousands of years before then,
however, dogs were working with men and women in Europe. The creatures stayed around the
campfires, at garbage, and guarded their human pack.
10.
The ancient Egyptians used their big dogs
to hunt antelope. Some Egyptian kings and wealthy people kept dogs as pets. These dogs were the first
nonworking animals. In fact, one Egyptian ruler made 2.000 slaves take care of his dogs. Later, the early
Greeks used powerful dogs to track lions in Africa. Then, with the development of agriculture, dogs
were taught to guard and herd livestock.
11.
CF (Cystic fibrosis) is inherited as an
autosomal recessive trait and a defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormal amount of very
thick, sticky mucus which clogs the lungs and pancreas, interfering with breathing and digestion. This
mucus builds up in the breathing passages in the lungs and the pancreas and respiratory complications
develop from the blockage of the bronchial passages. Eventually, the cilia which are responsible for
clearing the mucus are destroyed. In addition, the mucus traps bacteria which cause infections and
permanent damage to the lungs, and may also block the ducts of the pancreas which contains enzymes
necessary for the digestion of food.
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PART D: SUPPORTING SENTENCES
The supporting sentences develop the main idea in the topic sentence. The add details
to the topic.
2. I. There are several reasons why many American women are waiting until they are thirty years
old or older to have their first baby.
II. Some women have good jobs and want to continue their careers.
III. Many American couples have two children.
IV. Other women don't want the responsibility of having children until they are older.
V. Still others are waiting until they are financially secure before they start a family.
4. I. The Japanese automobile industry uses robots in many phases of its production process.
II. In fact, one large Japanese auto factory uses robots in all of its production stages.
III. Some Japanese universities are developing medical robots to detect certain kinds of cancer.
IV. Another automobile factory in Japan uses robots to paint cars as they come off the assembly
line.
V. Furthermore, most Japanese factories use robots to weld the parts of the finished car
together.
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B- ORDERING SENTENCES
Put the sentences in order to make a meaningful paragraph
1. a. The use of animals, wagons and sailing vessels enabled people to transport loads farther and
more easily than before.
b. From about 5000 B.C., people began to use animals to carry loads and by 3000 B.C., wagons and
sailing vessels had been invented.
c. But the speed of transportation improved only slightly over the centuries.
d. In prehistoric times, people traveled mainly on foot and transported goods on their backs or
heads or by dragging them along the ground.
e. Throughout most of history, transportation was extremely slow and difficult.
I. _____ II. _____ II. _____ IV. _____ V. _____
2. a. However, as the suburbs grew larger, they developed the same problems.
b. But by the early 1980’s, the rate of suburban growth had decreased for a number of reasons.
c. By 1970, more people in U.S. metropolitan areas lived in suburbs than in central cities.
d. Urban revitalization programs drew some people back to central cities.
e. For example, many people moved to the suburbs to avoid the problems of big cities such as
crime, housing shortages, and racial conflicts.
I. _____ II. _____ II. _____ IV. _____ V. _____
3. a. In the United States and Canada, women have traditionally cared for their children and for
other dependent relatives.
b. Because of these changes, many families no longer have an adult at home during the day, and the
demand for day care has risen.
c. Day care is a service in which children or dependent adults are looked after while the person
who normally cares for them cannot do so.
d. The number of families with only one parent has also increased.
e. But in recent years, more and more women have begun working outside the home.
I. _____ II. _____ II. _____ IV. _____ V. _____
4. a. Some people who remain single may not find a mate with whom they want to share their life.
b. In the United States, about 2,5 million couples marry each year.
c. Still others prefer to stay unmarried because they enjoy their independence.
d. However, many people choose never to marry.
e. Others may not want the many responsibilities required for a successful marriage.
I. _____ II. _____ II. _____ IV. _____ V. _____
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PART E: CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Most of the paragraphs end with a concluding sentence. This sentence states the main
idea of the paragraph again using different words. It summarizes the main points of
the paragraph, or makes a final comment on the topic.
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. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall
and is probably about six hundred years old. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my
hometown a famous place. Concluding
Sentence
Notice how the concluding sentence, “These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown
a famous place”, summarizes the information in the paragraph. Notice also how the concluding
sentence is similar to, but not exactly the same as, the topic sentence.
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TV is good for children TV is bad for children
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Step 2: Outlining:
Use phrases instead of writing sentence except the topic and concluding sentence.
Topic Sentence:
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Supporting Point 1:
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Details:
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Examples
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Supporting Point 2:
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Supporting Point 3:
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Details:
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Concluding Sentence:
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Step 3: Write your paragraph:
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