Advanced English Writing

Week 11

Lesson plan

1. Announcements – Homework

2. Writing techniques: – Prepositions and relative pronouns and adverbs – Practice #1

3. Writing techniques: Types of phrases – Practice #2

4. Using citations – Practice #3

5. Homework

1. Announcements

• Class cancellation:

– November 23rd to 27th

– Essay #2 will be due that week.

1. Last week’s homework

• Common mistakes:

– Stop using the semicolon in your thesis statement.

– You need to write stronger concluding sentences, see page 87.

– Many of you are misusing *by*.

• Use *due to*

1. Homework

• Please hand in your assignments.

2. Writing techniques

1. Remember the rules of prepositions:

1. They are followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase.

2. They are never followed by a verb.

3. Verbal prepositions are idiomatic expressions. – Laugh at, listen to, capable of, etc.

2. Writing techniques: Practice #1

• Complete part one on the worksheet

2. Writing techniques: Practice #1

1. Examples of verbal prepositions:

1. regarded [as] 5. planning [to,for]

2. Prepare [for] 6. think [about]

3. interested [in] 7. agree [to,with]

4. implies [n/a] 8. demonstrates [n/a]

2. Writing techniques

1. Relative pronouns: – Examples: who, whom, whose [people] - that,

which [things]

– Used after nouns and verbs

– Can be the subject of the clause.

2. Relative adverbs: – Examples: when, where, why, how

– Used after nouns and verbs to provide location, time, reason, or process.

2. Writing techniques: Practice #1

1. Using your vocabulary with relative pronouns and adverbs::

Vocabulary (verbs) Wrong prepositions (common mistakes)

Relative pronouns or adverbs that can be used

1. Concern at

2. Discuss about, that how, why, what, when, where

3. Influence to, for how

4. Determine about that, how, why, which, who, what

5. Consider to that

6. Understand about that

7. Suggest to that

2. Writing techniques: Practice #1

• Complete part two on the worksheet

3. Writing techniques: Types of transition phrases

Main transition phrases:

1. Prepositional phrase

2. Participle phrase

*remember, phrases are not complete clauses. They are followed by independent clauses (S+V+O).

3. Writing techniques: Types of transition phrases

Prepositional phrases:

– preposition + [noun or pronoun]

– preposition + [adjectives] + [noun or pronoun]

– Think of the preposition rules we’ve learned so far:

• Time, location, and direction

3. Writing techniques: Types of transition phrases

1. Participle phrase

– These phrases usually begin with:

• a present participle verb: ending in –ING.

• a past participle verb: having + verb [past]

– These describe the subject of the sentence.

• Working around the clock, the firefighters put out the fire.

• Having been worn down by generations of students, the stone steps needed to be replaced.

2. Writing techniques: Practice #2

• Complete the worksheet

4. Citations

4. Citations

1. The format of your citations in your essay text should be one of the following:

1. The last names of the authors and publication year.

• (Smith, 1985), (Smith and Clarke, 1985), or Smith et al., 1985)

2. Using a number in brackets or superscript.

• (1) or 1

4. Citations

• Referring to information from sources needs to be clear:

As Smith (2004) noted, … McHugh (2003) contrasted this idea…

Jones (2001) concluded…

Moreover, Smith (2004) added…

According to Stevens (2002), …

Elliot and Pruett (2008) argued…

4. Outside sources and citations

1. Paraphrasing to avoid plagiarism:

– Use your notes to write information in your own words.

– Do not refer to the original text while writing your essay.

– Use what you remember.

4. Citations: Practice #3

5. Homework

1. For homework, complete the introduction and first body paragraphs of your argumentative essays (6-8 sentences each).

2. Include at least 3 proper citations in your paragraphs.

3. Post your paragraphs on the class website. – Proper formatting: include your name, ID, and

essay title.

4. Include your reference section. 5. Include the vocabulary