BBI 2421 General Writing Skills Course Introduction BBI2421/PJJ/[email protected]

BBI 2421

General Writing Skills

Course Introduction

BBI2421/PJJ/[email protected]

Fauziah Hanim Ahmad ShaariB13, 2nd Floor, Sanggar Bahasa,

Faculty of Modern Languages and [email protected] / 019 9329753

Irda HidayahFaculty of Modern Languages and Communication

[email protected]


mailto:[email protected]


Course Content

Sentence Structure

Paragraph Writing

Essay Writing


Sentence Structure

Clauses: dependent & independent

Types of sentences: simple, compound, complexSentence errors: fragment, run on, comma splice & parallel structure

Conjunctions: coordinating & subordinating

Grammar: subject-verb/noun-pronoun agreement

Mechanics: punctuations


Paragraphs

Format of a paragraphTypes of paragraphsParagraph outline

- Topic sentence- Controlling idea- Supporting details- Conclusion

UnityCoherence


Essays

Format of an essayThesis statementsSupporting detailsConcluding paragraphUnity CoherenceCitation formatReferences


Mid semester examination 25 marks

Final examination 30 marks

Coursework 45 marks

Coursework

Writing Assignments 1 (A1) 15 marks

Self Directed Learning Portfolio (SDL) 10 marks

Writing Assignments 2 (A2) 20 marks


Assignment 1

Writing Assignment 1 (A1) - Letter to the Editor Content: Selected newspaper article used Paragraph Outline Draft 1 Peer editing form Draft 2 Self editing form Final Draft (clean copy to be marked)

• Arial 11 or Times New Roman 12, 1.5 spacing, Cover page (Please refer to Tugasan@ppl)

Due Date: 12 August 2011


Self Directed learning (SDL)

Content: Weekly online assignment (to be done throughout the 1st half of the course) - Please refer to Tugasan@ppl

* ensure a proper cover page* please print the exercises that you have done. Photocopied

exercises are not accepted.* ensure the exercises are correctly arranged (Week 1, etc.)* each week SDL work should be clearly separated using a

divider.* to be submitted together with A1 (bind together)

Due Date: 12 August 2011


Writing Assignment 2 – Academic Essay

Content:

Please refer to Lecture 2 (Perjumpaan 2)

* ensure a proper cover page• Arial 11 or Times New Roman 12, 1.5 spacing

Due Date: 23 September 2011


Sentence Structure: Phrases & Clauses

A Phrase?

A group of words without a SUBJECT and a

VERB

In the morning

A long time ago

Several hours later / At the far end of the room

Ten minutes ago / around the corner


Clause?

A group of words containing a SUBJECT

and a VERB

She is here.

When we visited the farm.

The students are listening.

Until I get my salary.

Linda jots down notes during the lecture.


Class practice

Tommy is here.

Several hundreds years ago in Malacca.

When I come home.

Because the nurses care.

Behind my back.

They went scuba-diving.

A beautiful morning.

Rahim and Suzie are planning to attend the party.

Although we managed to escape the fire.


Answer Key

Tommy is here. (C)

Several hundreds years ago in Malacca. (P)

When I come home. (C)

Because the nurses care. (C)

Behind my back. (P)

They went scuba-diving. (C)

A beautiful morning. (P)

Rahim and Suzie are planning to attend the party. (C)

Although we managed to escape the fire. (C)


Types of Clauses

Independent Clause (IC)

a complete sentence

- the sentence contains a S + V + Complete thought / idea

Tommy is here.

They went scuba-diving.

Rahim and Suzie are planning to attend the

party.


Dependent Clause

Dependent Clause (DC)

An incomplete sentence

- The sentence contains a S + V but the thought/ idea

is incomplete

When I come home. (DC)

so what? incomplete idea

Because the nurses care. (DC)

so…? incomplete idea

Although we managed to escape the fire. (DC)


A dependent or Independent Clause?

Tina cries.

Tina and Sam cry.

Tina kissed and hugged me.

Tina and Sam kissed and hugged me.


Answer Key

Tina cries. (IC – a complete sentence)

Tina and Sam cry. (IC- a complete sentence)

Tina kissed and hugged me. (IC – a complete sentence)


(IC- a complete sentence)

An Independent clause = A complete sentence

Sentence: A group of words containing a subject, a verb,

and a complete thought / idea


Type of Sentences

Simple Sentence

S = S + V

Tina cries.

S = S + S + V

Tina and Sam cry.

S = S + V + V

Tina kissed and hugged me.

S = S + S + V + V



Compound Sentence

IC + IC

Anna bought several flowers. S + V (IC) Simple

Anna sent them to her mother. S + V (IC) Simple

Anna bought several flowers and sent them to her mother.

S + V + V (simple sentence)

Anna bought several flowers, and she sent them to her mother.

S + V, S + V (compound sentence)


We cannot wait any longer in this dangerous place.

S + V (IC) simple

We and the rest of the team have to move now.

S + S + V (IC) simple

We cannot wait any longer in this dangerous place, so we and the rest of the team have to move now.

IC + IC (compound)


Using conjunctions to form a

compound sentence

Anna bought several flowers, and she sent them to her mother.

We cannot wait any longer in this dangerous place, so we and the rest of the team have to move now.

so, and

Coordinating conjunctions


Coordinating Conjunctions (CC)

, for

, and

, nor

, but

, or

, yet

, so

FANBOYS (Short Words)*check out your textbook (pg 189) for more examples


Coordinating Conjunctions (Long words)

Conjunctive Adverbs

;therefore,

;however,

;whereas,

;consequently,

;moreover,

;furthermore,

*check out your textbook (pg 189) for more examples


More Examples

I ran very fast. I missed the train.

I ran very fast; however, I missed the train.

I ran very fast, but I missed the train.

They should go. They should never return.

They should go, and they should never return.

My children admire me. I feel proud of myself.

My children admire me; therefore, I feel proud of myself.


Complex Sentence

IC + DC

Anna brought several flowers. (IC)

When she visited her mother. (DC)

Anna brought several flowers when she visited her

mother. (IC DC)

When Anna visited her mother, she brought

several flowers. (DC, IC)


Many of the victims died because they did not receive medical attention early.

Because the victims did not receive medical attention early, many of them died.

I will return the books when you return my cds.

Since Rob moved to Canada, Christina has become very temperamental.

We bumped into Ning as we were leaving the café.

When, since, as Subordinating Conjunctions


Subordinating Conjunctions (SC)

As, When, While, Since, Although, Though

Even though, Because, Until

Till, Where, As if, Before, Unless

Whether, Whenever

*check out your textbook (pg 189) for more examples


Sentence Errors

Fragment

When was riding home last night, he saw a strange object.

(missing subject)

People in KL always in a hurry.

(missing verb)

Until I am cured. (incomplete thought / idea)


Repairing Fragments

Add a subjectWhen Rony / He / The man was riding home last night, he saw a strange object.

Add a verbPeople in KL are always in a hurry.

Complete the sentence. Add IC.I will not lose hope until I am cured.


Sentence Errors

Comma-splice

I drove fast, I missed my flight.

I drove fast, I missed my flight.

(Two complete sentences (IC) combined using merely a comma)

Sonia feels hungry, she eats several slices of bread.I have won a car from BSN, I am excited.


Repairing a comma-splice error

Add CC to form a compound sentence.I drove fast, but I missed my flight. I drove fast; however, I missed my flight.

Add SC to form a complex sentence.I missed my flight though I drove fast.Though I drove fast, I missed my flight.

Place a full-stop or a semicolon.I drove fast. I missed my flight.I drove fast; I missed my flight.


Sentence Errors

Run-Ons

I drove fast I miss my flight.

(Two complete sentences (IC) joined as one sentence without a conjunction or proper punctuation) Rita feels thirsty she buys two cans of orange juice.We were lost we were not worried.


Repairing a Run-Ons

We were lost we were not worried.

Add CC to form a compound sentence.We were lost, yet we were not worried.We were lost; however, we were not worried.

Add SC to form a complex sentence.Although we were lost, we were not worried.We were not worried although we were lost.

Place a full-stop or a semicolon.We were lost. We were not worried.We were lost; we were not worried.


Sentence Structure

Parallelism

I enjoy reading and to plant flowers.I enjoy reading and planting flowers.

She is friendly, nice and loves to help others.She is friendly, nice, and helpful.


Paragraph Writing

A collection of 5-12 sentencesFocuses on ONE topic Contains a topic sentence (ts) *a good ts contains a clear controlling ideaContains 2-3 points to support the topic sentence Several sentences to support (explain, elaborate) the pointsUsually ends with a concluding sentence (cs)


How do we a paragraph?

Select An Interesting Topic Create a Focus

Write the Topic SentenceDraw an Outline

Write the ParagraphEdit & Revise the Paragraph


Select a Topic

Dr Mahathir Computer games Exercising Camping


Create a Focus

Dr Mahathir life/ success/ personality/ contributions/ influence/ beliefs

Computer gamesdisadvantages/ types/ software/ cost/ addictions

Exercisingdanger/ reasons/ benefits/ equipment/ types

Campingreasons/ benefits/ difference/ cost/ equipment/ location


Write a clear topic sentence. Include a controlling idea.

Dr Mahathir - influence Dr Mahathir is a very influential man.

Computer games - addictivePlaying computer games can be addictive.There are four causes of addiction to computer games among teenagers.

Jogging – benefitsMany people enjoy jogging to gain these benefits.

Camping - best holidayCamping is the best form of holiday for these reasons.


Draw an outline

Camping is the best form of holiday for these reasons.

P1 P2 P3 Get in touch poor telephone Cheap with nature reception- direct access to -enjoy a truly relaxing -doesn’t cost natural surrounding holiday much to rent-bath in cold river, -no one can call. a camp site breathpure mountain forget work problems - RM100-200 air and listen to for a hotel birds chirping tent =RM10

CS: In short, these are why everyone should go camping.


Draw an outline

Camping is the best form of holiday for these reasons.

P1: Get in touch with naturesd: direct access to natural surroundingsd:. bath in cold river, breathpure mountain air and listen to birds chirpingP2: poor telephone reception Sd: enjoy a truly relaxing holidaySd: No one can call, forget work problemsP3: Cheap Sd: doesn’t cost much to rent a tent and a camping siteSd: RM100 to RM200 for hotel, RM10 or less for a tent

CS: In short, these are why everyone should go camping.


Camping is the best form of holiday for these reasons. Firstly, it allows you to get in touch with nature. Unlike other typical holidays, camping gives you a direct access to the natural surrounding. You can actually bath in the cold river, breath pure mountain air, and listen to birds chirping as you relax in your tent. Next, as telephone reception is poor in many camping grounds, you can enjoy a truly relaxing holiday. No one from the office can call you, so you can forget your work problems for a while. Lastly, it is also cheap. It doesn’t cost much to rent a tent and a camping site. If you normally pay RM100 to RM200 per night for a hotel room, you only need to pay RM10 or less to rent a tent a night. In short, these are why I believe everyone should opt for a a camping trip.


Documents

BBI 2421 General Writing Skills Course Introduction BBI2421/PJJ/[email protected]