REVIEW
What is a paragraph?
Necessary to write an essay
A paragraph is a group of
sentences that supports,
examines, outlines, explores,
defends, analyzes, describes,
develops, etc. only ONE idea.
PAIR WORK:
TASK
Write a paragraph expressing your
opinion about the influence of TV
upon families.
Although some parents don’t allow their children to watch television, I
believe that television can be good for families. First of all, television is
inexpensive entertainment for families with young children. On a rainy
afternoon, if it is too expensive to take the whole family to the movie theater,
the family can sit in their living room with bowls of homemade popcorn and
watch a movie on television. In the same way, television can be a good
teacher. For example, small children can learn many things, such as the
alphabet and numbers on children’s programs. In addition, nature programs
teach them about earth and how to care for it. Parents can also use television
dramas as a way to start conversations with their children about important
subjects. Finally, television lets children see a bigger picture of the world than
their own small neighborhood. Some families cannot travel all over the globe,
so the news shows them views of other people and places. Television also
brings other cultures into homes through special cultural programs. In a nut
shell, watching TV can be beneficial for families under the right
circumstances.
Discussion:
Look at the paragraph now and identify its
different parts.
Although some parents don’t allow their children to watch
television, I believe that television can be good for families. First of all,
television is inexpensive entertainment for families with young children. On
a rainy afternoon, if it is too expensive to take the whole family to the movie
theater, the family can sit in their living room with bowls of homemade
popcorn and watch a movie on television. In the same way, television can
be a good teacher. For example, small children can learn many things, such
as the alphabet and numbers on children’s programs. In addition, nature
programs teach them about earth and how to care for it. Parents can also
use television dramas as a way to start conversations with their children
about important subjects. Finally, television lets children see a bigger
picture of the world than their own small neighborhood. Some families
cannot travel all over the globe, so the news shows them views of other
people and places. Television brings other cultures into homes through
special cultural programs. In a nut shell, watching TV can be beneficial for
families under the right circumstances.
Topic:
TOPIC SENTENCE
Introduces the general theme.
What subject are you going to write
about?
Although some parents don’t allow their
children to watch television, I believe that
television can be good for families. First of all, television
is inexpensive entertainment for families with young children. On a rainy afternoon, if it is
too expensive to take the whole family to the movie theater, the family can sit in their living
room with bowls of homemade popcorn and watch a movie on television. In the same way,
television can be a good teacher. For example, small children can learn many things, such as
the alphabet and numbers on children’s programs. In addition, nature programs teach them
about earth and how to care for it. Parents can also use television dramas as a way to start
conversations with their children about important subjects. Finally, television lets children see
a bigger picture of the world than their own small neighborhood. Some families cannot travel
all over the globe, so the news shows them views of other people and places. Television also
brings other cultures into homes through special cultural programs. in a nut shell, watching
TV can be a good thing for families under the right circumstances.
Controlling idea:
Controlling idea:
Generates a question
Wh…?
Limits the topic.
What do you want to say about the topic?
Answer the question
generated by the
controlling idea.
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
Although some parents don’t allow their children to
Further
development.
watch
First of all,
entertainment for
television, I believe that television can be good for families.
television is inexpensive
families with young children.
On a rainy afternoon, if it is too
expensive to take the whole family to the movie theater, the family can sit in
their living room with bowls of homemade popcorn and watch a movie on
In the same way, television can be a good
teacher. For example, small children can learn many things, such as the
television.
alphabet and numbers on children’s programs. In addition, nature programs
teach them about earth and how to care for it. Parents can also use television
dramas as a way to start conversations with their children about important
Finally, television lets children see a bigger
picture of the world than their own small
neighborhood. Some families cannot travel all over the globe, so the
subjects.
news shows them views of other people and places. Television also brings other
cultures into homes through special cultural programs. in a nut shell, watching
TV can be beneficial for families under the right circumstances.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Linking sentence
Although some parents don’t allow their children to watch television, I believe that
television can be good for families. First of all, television is inexpensive entertainment for
families with young children. On a rainy afternoon, if it is too expensive to take the whole family
to the movie theater, the family can sit in their living room with bowls of homemade popcorn
and watch a movie on television. In the same way, television can be a good teacher. For
example, small children can learn many things, such as the alphabet and numbers on children’s
programs. In addition, nature programs teach them about earth and how to care for it. Parents
can also use television dramas as a way to start conversations with their children about
important subjects. Finally, television lets children see a bigger picture of the world than their
own small neighborhood. Some families cannot travel all over the globe, so the news shows
them views of other people and places. Television also brings other cultures into homes through
In a nut shell, watching TV can be
beneficial for families under the right
circumstances.
special cultural programs.
Summarizes or restates
the main idea as
expressed in the topic
sentence.
In an essay:
It often links the current
paragraph to the following one.
It may anticipate the topic
sentence of the next paragraph.
TRANSITION WORDS
Make the flow of
Make the flow of
ideas smooth and
ideas smooth
easy to read.
Although some parents don’t allow their children to watch television, I believe
First of all,
that television can be good for families.
television is inexpensive
entertainment for families with young children. On a rainy afternoon, if it is too expensive to
take the whole family to the movie theater, the family can sit in their living room with bowls
In the same way,
of homemade popcorn and watch a movie on television.
television can be a good teacher. For example, small children can learn many things, such as
the alphabet and numbers on children’s programs. In addition, nature programs teach them
about earth and how to care for it. Parents can also use television dramas as a way to start
Finally,
conversations with their children about important subjects.
television lets
children see a bigger picture of the world than their own small neighborhood. Some families
cannot travel all over the globe, so the news shows them views of other people and places.
Television also brings other cultures into homes through special cultural programs.
nut shell,
In a
watching TV can be beneficial for families under the right circumstances.
ACTIVITY 1
Read the topic sentences carefully.
Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea.
ACTIVITY 2
Read the supporting sentences and choose the best
topic sentence.
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 favorite 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
money 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.
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) You should consider getting a good education.
c) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to
attend.
Session 3 goal
Students will be able to recall
how to write an opinion essay,
identifying and discussing its
main parts.
So this is a paragraph
Now
What is an essay?
This is an essay
An essay is a group of
paragraphs that supports,
examines, outlines, explores,
defends, analyzes, describes,
develops, etc. only ONE idea.
What is the difference between a paragraph and an essay?
A matter of size
Writing an ECCE
opinion essay
Prompt:
Newspaper article:
Information not to be taken
People concerned with violence in the city.
into account for the essay.
LA INDUSTRIA INTERNATIONAL
Following meetings with members of the Town Council, the Mayor has announced that he has in mind to start an aggressive
plan in order to deal with the sky rocketing number of crimes in the area. This would imply reducing certain individual rights
in order to stop this massive wave of violence, like setting curfews for example. Local residents are divided on this issue. Many
believe it to be an excellent idea as it will finally put an end to a situation that is stifling the citizens. Others are concerned
about the unpleasant consequences that may arise from such measures. The editor would like to know more about readers’
views on this proposal.
Task A:
Not to be taken into account
Task A: LETTER
Task B:
You have read this article in your local newspaper. Write a letter to the editor of the city times expressing your opinion on the issue.
Do you agree with the Mayor’s proposal? What effects do you think this plan to reduce violence in your area will have? Start your
letter: “Dear editor,”
Asks the student to express an
opinion on a general issue.
Task B: ESSAY
Not necessarily related to the article.
Due to the recent economic growth of the region, Trujillo is now
receiving not only a great influx of visitors, but also a number of
people who have decided to settle down in the area because they
believe it is a great place to live and raise a family. What’s your
opinion about Trujillo? Is it actually a good choice to bring up a
family? Write an essay expressing your opinion.
Do you like living in the city?
What aspects do you (not) like about Trujillo?
Writing a paragraph
Write a paragraph expressing your opinion
about the city where you live.
Controlling idea:
Why?
Even though Trujillo has a lot of things to
offer, in my opinion, it is one of the least desirable
places to live. First of all, it has a chaotic traffic.
This negative situation makes people waste a lot
of time, especially at rush hour where you can be
trapped for more than half an hour. Another
problem affecting this city is the increasing rate of
crime. People feel really insecure with the many
crimes happening everyday. If these problems are
not solved, they will affect people’s economy,
development and stability.
AN ESSAY
A PARAGRAPH
Controlling idea:
Everyone is always talking about Why?
the fantastic things Trujillo has to offer.
Many tourists praise the wonderful tourist sites like Chan-Chan or the well-known
Huanchaco beach for example. But, actually, I think that Trujillo is one of the least
desirable places to grow up. I consider this to be true not only because of the
intense and heavy traffic, but also due to the rising rate of crime. Let’s take a deep
look at this issue.
Nowadays, one the most negative things Trujillo has is its chaotic traffic.
Since Trujillo is a relatively small city, the excessive number of cars transforms its
main streets into an endless and a stressing snake of smoke and loud noise. The
obvious outcome we have to put up with is the incredible amount of time people
waste. Sometimes, especially at rush hour, you can be stuck in traffic for up to forty
five minutes. But unfortunately, that is not the most serious issue.
The other problem affecting this city, probably the most dangerous one, is
the rising rate of crime. Every day, newspapers display news about a murder,
shooting, or assault. This situation is creating a sense of insecurity among people
and is seriously damaging the city image. People are really concerned and do not
know what to do to cope with and solve the problem.
Even though Trujillo has once been considered one of the best cities in
Peru, these two negative factors have made it one of the least desirable places to
settle down. If they are not solved, they will end up damaging the city image even
more, thus affecting people’s economy, development and stability.
Topic:INTRODUCTION OUTLINE
Introduces the general theme.
What subject are you going to write about?
Controlling idea:
Limits the topic.
What do you want to say about the topic?
Two sentences
introducing
the topic
INTRODUCTION MODEL
Thesis
Statement
Everyone is always talking about the
fantastic things Trujillo has to offer. Many
tourists praise the wonderful tourist sites
like Chan-Chan or the well-known
Huanchaco beach for example. But,
actually, I think that Trujillo is one of the
least desirable places to grow up. I consider
this to be true not only because of the
intense and heavy traffic, but also due to
the rising rate of crime. Let’s take a deep
look at this issue.
Concluding
(Linking)
sentence
What is
your
opinion?
What are the main ideas you will
to support
your
opinion:A &
useuse
to support
your
opinion:
AB
& B
Introducing the topic (2 sentences)
Background Example 1
Describing the past and present.
Thirty years ago there were only a
handful of cars in the dusty town of Abu
Dhabi. Today, the streets are bumper-tobumper with modern 4WD vehicles, luxury
saloons, and taxis. Thesis Statement.
Introducing the topic (2 sentences)
Background Example 2
Give one side (+) and the other side (-)
Abu Dhabi is probably one of the
most highly developed cities in the Arab
world. However, its traffic congestion is
a serious problem. Thesis Statement.
Introducing the topic (2 sentences)
Background Example 3
Describe the current situation
Abu Dhabi is a modern city, but it
faces a modern problem. Every morning
and evening, the streets are crowded with
cars, taxis and trucks. Thesis Statement.
BODY OUTLINE
BODY MODEL 1
Take the first
supporting
key word &
put it in a
topic
sentence
Take the
second
supporting
key word &
put it in a
topic
sentence
Nowadays, one the most negative things
Trujillo has is its chaotic traffic. Since Trujillo is a
relatively small city, the excessive number of cars
transforms its main streets into an endless and a
stressing snake of smoke and loud noise. The
obvious outcome we have to put up with is the
incredible amount of time people waste.
Sometimes, especially at rush hour, you can be
stuck in traffic for up to forty five minutes. But
unfortunately, that is not the most serious issue.
The other problem affecting this city,
probably the most dangerous one, is the rising
rate of crime. Every day, newspapers display news
about a murder, shooting, or assault. This
situation is creating a sense of insecurity among
people and is seriously damaging the city image.
People are really concerned and do not know what
to do to cope with and solve the problem.
Development
of topic
sentence
(Concluding)
Linking
sentence
Concluding
sentence
CONCLUSION OUTLINE
CONCLUSION MODEL
Conclusion: restate
opinion and main points
Even though Trujillo has once
been considered one of the best cities in
Peru, these two negative factors have
made it one of the least desirable places
to settle down. If they are not solved,
they will end up damaging the city
image even more, thus affecting
people’s economy, development and
stability.
Concluding
sentence
Practice 1
Pair work:
Choose one of the following
conclusions.
In pairs, write an introduction to match
the conclusion chosen.
All in all, it is clear that the increase of
tourism in our region will enhance the quality of
life for all concerned both from a financial and
cultural point of view.
In short, we all know that there is a good
number of people who continue reading books
and newspapers . However, we can not deny that
there is a future possibility that the Internet will
replace printing reading materials because the
former is not only easy to use but it is also
inexpensive.
Practice 2
Group work
Write the paragraph of the essay
your instructor asks you to.
INTRODUCTION
Because of the current economic
situation people are facing nowadays, and
because of the necessity they all have to make
ends meet at the end of every month, not few
of them have opted for working more, or
working in two different places. As far as I am
concerned, having two jobs can be dangerous
not only for people’s health, but also for their
relationships. Let’s take a deep look at this
issue.