Unit 1: Paragraph to Short Essay
part 1.
Monday, March 9th, 2009
About Writing…
• Why do you write?
• 2 quotes about writing (p.2)
• Why did these professional writers write? Do
you share their feelings in any way?
Writing: To tighten all ideas
firmly & logically
•
•
•
•
Topic sentence
Unity
Coherence
Cohesion
• Construction of Writings
Essays
Larger units
Paragraphs
Sentences
Words
Smallest units
Start from Writing a Paragraph
• A paragraph is a group of sentences about a topic.
• Topic sentence: to introduce the topic.
• Supporting sentences: to support the idea in the
topic sentence with explanations, reasons, and
other details.
• Concluding sentence: to bring the paragraph to
an end.
• (p.3)
• Exercise: p.4
I. TOPIC SENTENCE
• It introduce the topic. It also contains an
idea/opinion about the topic (controlling idea).
• The topic sentence must contain a specific
idea.
• The topic sentence implies the purpose of the
paragraph.
• The topic sentence usually appears as the first
or second sentence of a paragraph.
• Which of the following sentences is the best for a
topic sentence? Why?
• This paper is about America.
• This paper is about American history.
• My favorite period of American history is the
Revolutionary War.
• The Declaration of Independence was signed on
July 4, 1776.
• Exercise: p.6-7 (ex.5, 8)
II. UNITY
• A paragraph has unity when all the sentences
support one single idea.
• The topic sentence must have one controlling
idea. Otherwise, the paragraph loses focus.
• The supporting sentences must support,
demonstrate, prove, or develop the main idea in
the topic sentence. No irrelevant sentences are
needed.
• The concluding sentences should restate the idea
in the topic sentence.
• Stories o Nepal (p.9)
• The topic sentence?
• The controlling idea?
• One sentence is irrelevant. Find it. Why is it
irrelevant?
• Exercise: p.11 (ex.4)
III. COHERENCE
• A paragraph is coherent if the ideas have a
logical flow.
• The relationship between sentences is clear
and one idea connects to the other.
• Important Rules for Acting On Stage (p.13)
• How many rules does the writer give?
• How does the writer arrange the points?
• Here are some words that can be used to
show the order of the items in your paragraph:
first,
second,
third,
in the morning,
in the afternoon,
in the evening,
at night,
next,
finally,
later,
in the end,
after
and then
after that,
IV. COHESION
• When the relationship btw different sentences or
different parts of sentences are clearly linked to
one another, a passage has cohesion.
Coherence 連貫性
Cohesion 緊密性
Relationship between ideas. Relationships between
sentences, or parts of
sentences.
To use a pattern of
1. Conjunctions
organization.
2. References
3. Structural sentences.
• Ways of reaching cohesion:
A.Using connectives and connective phrases.
B.Using reference to a previously stated word or
phrase by repetition, pronouns, or synonyms.
C.Arranging sentences into structural patterns.
A. Using connectives and connective phrases
The second
The second
sentence gives sentence adds
an illustration another point
or example
For example,
For instance,
For one thing,
To illustrate,
and, also, too,
then, first,
second, next,
Furthermore,
Moreover,
In addition,
The second
sentence
restates,
summarizes,
or shows a
result
so, thus,
In fact,
Therefore,
As a result,
Accordingly,
In other words,
The second
sentence
expresses a
contrast
but, still, yet,
However,
Even so,
Nevertheless,
By contrast,
On the other
hand,
1. Connective words
• Many Americans think that Niagara Falls is the
highest waterfall in the world. Angel Falls in
Venezuela, at 3,212 feet, is roughly twenty
times higher.
• Many Americans think that Niagara Falls is the
highest waterfall in the world. But Angel Falls
in Venezuela, at 3,212 feet, is roughly twenty
times higher.
2. Connective phrases & clauses
• Some arid regions of the world receive an
average of only two- or three-hundredths of an
inch of rain annually and may go for years
without getting a drop. It usually comes in
torrential downpours.
• Some arid regions of the world receive an
average of only two- or three-hundredths of an
inch of rain annually and may go for years
without getting a drop. But when the rain does
come, it usually comes in torrential downpours.
B. Using reference to a previously stated
word or phrase
• Repeat words
• Use pronouns
• Create synonyms
1. Repetition
Topic
sentence
• Agatha Christie earned world renown as the author
of numerous mystery tales. But non of the fictional
takes is more mysterious than the true story of her
own disappearance in 1926. Waves of shock rumbled
throughout the British public when the newspapers
proclaimed that Christie had vanished. Not until
several months later was she discovered, supposedly
afflicted with amnesia, working as a nanny in
Yorkshire manor house. To this day, her fans are
intrigued because she was gone for so long without
being discovered.
Concluding
sentence
• Agatha Christie earned world renown as the
author of numerous mystery tales. But non of the
fictional takes is more mysterious than the true
story of her own disappearance in 1926. Waves
of shock rumbled throughout the British public
when the newspapers proclaimed that Christie
had vanished. Not until several months later was
she discovered, supposedly afflicted with
amnesia, working as a nanny in Yorkshire manor
house. To this day, her fans are intrigued by the
mystery of her disappearance.
2. Pronouns
• Virgos are simple and gentle people, with a
need to serve humanity. Careful and precise
by nature, Virgos make excellent secretaries
ad nurses. Virgos warm, shining eyes and their
bright appearances conceal their burning
desire for love.
• Virgos are simple and gentle people, with a
need to serve humanity. Careful and precise
by nature, they make excellent secretaries ad
nurses. Their warm, shining eyes and their
bright appearances conceal their burning
desire for love.
3. Synonyms
• Landlords usually require a renter to sign a
very complicated contract called a lease. It
stipulates the length of time the person must
stay in the apartment and the amount of rent
he/she must pay. It can limit the number of
people allowed to live in and restrict the
renter from having pets. The agreement also
includes the responsibilities of the landlord,
such as providing adequate heat, garbage
removal, and exterior maintenance.
C. Arranging sentences into structural
patterns
• Place parallel ideas into parallel structures.
• Organize old and new information into proper
sequences.
1. Parallel strucures
• The 1960s brought to American pop music a
fusion of radically different geographic and
cultural influences. The influence of religion
and mysticism which came from the East
made popular such instruments as the table
and the sitar. A Caribbean influence was
southern in origin, branching into such forms
as reggae and calypso, with their steel drums
and marimbas.
• The 1960s brought to American pop music a
fusion of radically different geographic and
cultural influences. From the East came the
influence of religion and mysticism, which
made popular such instruments as the table
and the sitar. From the South came the
Caribbean influence, branching into such
forms as reggae and calypso, with their steel
drums and marimbas.