PARAGRAPH WRITING

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PARAGRAPH WRITING

PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATIONWhat is a paragraph?

1. A paragraph is a group of related sentences that develop one main idea. 2. It is made up of three kinds of sentences that develop the writer’s main idea, opinion, or feeling

about a subject. These sentences are: a. Topic sentenceb. Supporting sentencesc. Concluding sentence

3. The number of sentences is unimportant in a paragraph; however, the paragraph should be long enough to develop the main idea clearly.

4. A paragraph may also be one part of a longer piece of writing such as a chapter of a book or an essay.

A.. TOPIC SENTENCE

A topic sentence has several important functions:

A. A topic sentence should always be a complete sentence. The following are not complete sentences.

Driving on freeways. The importance of money.How to register for college classes.

B. A topic sentence supports the idea of the paragraph subject. There are several advantages to growing up in a small town .  

Idea of the paragraph subjectC. It directs the order of the sentences and it briefly indicates what the paragraph is going to discuss

Most US universities require a 550 point TOEFL score for a number of reasons. 

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main idea

sentence

sentence

sentencesentence

Topic Sentence ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Supporting sentences.........................................................................................................................Supporting sentences.........................................................................................................................Supporting sentences................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Concluding sentences........................................................................................................................

the paragraph is going to discussD. It is a complete sentence and has three parts:

1. a subject2. a verb3. a controlling idea

1-2: Subject - Verb Samples:

a. Telephones / intrude into / the privacy of our daily lives. Subject / verb / controlling idea

b. Most adults / find / learning a foreign language difficult. Subject / verb / controlling idea

c. My roommate, John, / helps / me to speak English correctly. Subject / verb / controlling idea

NOTE: The topic sentence is to the paragraph what the thesis statement is to the essay.

3. Controlling Idea:The controlling idea of a topic sentence is a word or phrase that controls the information in the rest of the paragraph. Usually, the topic comes first and the controlling idea comes second in the topic sentence. However, the controlling idea may come first.

a. Violence in Turkey society has several causes. Topic controlling idea

b. There are several causes of violence in Turkish society. controlling idea Topic

c. A good architect is both an artist and a mathematician. Topic Controlling idea

d. Artistic talent and mathematical ability are two qualities of a good architect. Controlling idea Topic

A sample Paragraph:

Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing games

Topic Controlling ideainstead of studying. Therefore, parents should take the responsibility to monitor their studying. They should also remind their children to do their homework at home after school. Moreover, parents can encourage them to study by buying story books with pictures, or they can buy text books or tapes that help children learn to spell or read. The best way to encourage children to study efficiently is to reward them when they get an “A”. As a child, I experienced this. My parents gave me a gift when I got ‘A’ in my math lesson. I was very excited. As result , if parents really want their children to succeed in school, they need to pay attention to their children’s studies and encourage them.

In the paragraph above, the topic sentence is the following:Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them.

The topic of the sentence is how parents can help children succeed in school; the controlling idea is encouraging. The reader might ask the following questions and expect the paragraph to answer them:

How can parents encourage their children?What specific things should parents do to encourage their children?How will this encouragement lead to success?

The topic sentence gives the writer’s attitude, opinion or idea about the topic. In the topic sentence, the writer makes a judgment. PRACTICE: Choose the best topic sentence.a.Too general: My neighborhood is a nice place to live.A good topic sentence: My neighborhood is fascinating because people from many countries live in it. b. Too general: Sports are exciting.Still too general: Watching a soccer game keeps me involved.Much better: Watching 2002 the Istanbul derby between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray kept me

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on the edge of the chair.1. Topic: “My room”a. ………My room is a perfect place for one person to live. b. ……….Many people live in single rooms.2. Topic: “Watching a Movie”a.. ……… The most important influence of watching a movie is that it destroys human’s psychology.b.. ……… Watching movie influence adults, teenagers, and children.

NOTE: Ask yourself questions as you narrow down/restrict the ideas:

Why……….? What………? Which……..? When………? Where……..? How………..?

F. The topic sentence can come at the beginning or at the end of a paragraph. (As a beginning writer, you should write your topic sentence as the first sentence of your paragraph: It will

tell the reader what you are going to say and you can look back at the topic sentence often as you write the supporting sentences.)

1. Here is an example of a paragraph with a topic sentence stated at the beginning. The subject is " The educational systems of Europe and the United States ":

THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS OF EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATESThe educational systems of Europe and the United States are similar in a

number of ways. To begin with, elementary school classes look the same everywhere: There are about twenty to twenty-two pupils per class, and the classes are coeducational *. Also, there is one teacher for all subjects for each grade (except in Scandinavia), and the majority of elementary school teachers are women. In addition, the subjects which are taught at the elementary level are basically the same everywhere: reading and writing, mathematics, introductions to the sciences, music, sports, and art. The only major difference in the elementary curriculum* is that most Europeans study a foreign language in elementary school, but most American children do not.

Coeducational: attended by members of both sexes.

2. Here is an example of a paragraph with the topic sentence found at the end. The subject is "Cancer affects everybody":

CANCER AFFECTS EVERYBODY

My grandfather contracted* lung cancer a few months ago. The doctors now say that he only has a few weeks to live. My family's situation is not unique. Millions of Americans are going through a similar experience. At least three members of every extended family will contract terminal* disease before the age of sixty. At least one out of every three nuclear families will have a member who will die of cancer before the age of fifty. From these statistics and from personal experience it is obvious that no one is unaffected by cancer.

Contract: hastalık kapmak terminal: fatal, ölümcülG. The topic sentence is most general statement and the main idea of the paragraph. It should not be too general, too vague or too specific. You should narrow down your subject.

When you start to write about a very general topic, such as university, vacations, or nuclear power, you must narrow down it down to a limited topic

that can be discussed in one paragraph. For example, there are many specific things about university, such as classes, students, teachers, and the campus, that you can discuss. You may narrow down the subject of college to the more specific subject of her roommate, Murat.

UNIVERSITY-F.University-dormitory living-roommates- my roommates - MuratSamples:

1. Topic Sentence: "Many television cartoons contain an unhealthy amount of violence."

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Notice that this sentence clearly identifies that the key topic of the paragraph is violence in television cartoons. It also indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will discuss how much violence cartoons typically contain, and how/why this violence is unhealthy for viewers.

2. Topic Sentence: "An increasing number of people in the world are enjoying the benefits of organically grown fruits and vegetables."

This topic sentence indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will cover the trend in the world toward eating organic foods. The reader can also expect learning more in this paragraph about the specific benefits of organic foods.

PRACTICE: Narrowing Subjects from General to SpecificFill in the space in each funnel until you arrive at a specific subject. Try to add at least three or four ideas

to each group.

ENTERTAINMENT-singers - rock singer – superstar - Madonna

1. FRIENDS - my best friend…………………………………………………………….………………………2. SPORTS - individual sports …………………………………………………………………….…..…………3. DIVORCE – children ……………………………….…………………………………………..……………..4. CLASSES - my best/worst class …… …………….……………………………………..……………..5. VACATIONS……………………………….……………………………………..……………….……………6. MUSIC……………………………….……………………………………..………………………………….

G. Don’t begin paragraphs with “ I’m going to write about....” or “This paragraph is about....”

PRACTICE a. Read the following topic sentences and then write your own topic sentence.

1. COMPUTERS Computers are unnecessary and make our life complicated. Topic Controlling ideaComputers save us time and make our lives easier. Topic Controlling ideaComputers are a necessary part of modern life. Topic Controlling idea

Your Topic Sentence___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. MUSICPlaying a musical instrument helps children to develop in discipline and self confidence. Music can teach children to understand their own culture as well as other culture. Your Topic Sentence___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. TELEVISIONTelevision gives free and interesting entertainment to people of all ages. Television advertising is far more effective than advertising in magazines or newspapers. Television has enormous influence on politics. Your Topic Sentence___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRACTICE b: Write specific topic sentences for possible paragraphs on the following topics. Be sure to provide both the subject and the key word(s).

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Example: Teenagers and drugsTopic sentence: Drug addiction has caused a huge increase in crimes of violence which is committed/done by teenagers.

1. Writing Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________ 2. Television Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________ 3. MovieTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________4. A favorite teacherTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________5. Attending summer courses.Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________6. Using mobile phonesTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________7.Getting marriedTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________8. Shopping by TV. Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________9. Learning a foreign language Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________10. Being wealthyTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________11. Being a famous personTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________12. technology Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________13. Credit cardsTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________14. benefits of being youngTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________15. Benefits of watching TVTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________16. Owning a carTopic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________

PRACTICE 1: A. Write a topic sentence for the following paragraphs. 1. Topic: Using Internet

____________________________________________________________________________________________. Firstly, all of the latest information is available to you; in your home, at any hour of the day or night. Also, on-line shopping makes it possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, so you can save both time and money. By joining a newsgroup or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and perhaps make friends all over the world. Finally, e-mail is popular because it is faster than sending a letter and cheaper than a telephone conversation.

2. Topic: Divorce____________________________________________________________________________________________. This leads some conflicts in family life. Due to difficult life conditions, people are more aggressive towards each other. Couples do not tolerate a few mistakes. In addition, women think that life is always difficult unless they have their own economics independence. Being economically independent is the desire of many women. They want to earn money and spend it as they wish. Nowadays, there are many women working outside their homes and are independent. As a result, some regard divorce as the best way to get this independence. They hope to be free and stand without one’s help.Conflict: struggle, argument regard: consider, think about stand: resist, position

3. Topic: My Father’s Death____________________________________________________________________________________________. First of all, I felt great sadness and loneliness. For the firs few months, my loneliness was so great that I often dreamed that my

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father would miraculously return. In addition, throughout the rest of my childhood, I was afraid of losing someone else whom I loved. Whenever my mother was away from home, I was nervous until she returned. Finally, the loss of my father caused me to develop a greater sense of responsibility. For example, I believed that with my father gone I was responsible for helping my mother with her chores. My father’s death, therefore, left me lonely, frightened, and responsible – a young child with adult feelings.

4. Topic: Teenagers Smoking____________________________________________________________________________________________. Teenagers tent to be curious about new things. They smoke for the sake of knowing how it feels. Unfortunately, once they started to smoke their first cigarette, they would have the second, the third, and then become accustomed to it eventually! Just like the addiction of taking drugs. (mere: only, sake: cause)

5. Topic: Space Technology____________________________________________________________________________________________. Firstly, telecommunication satellites have greatly improved global communications. Meteorological satellites also provide advance information. Furthermore, some special satellites register the earth’s resources and military information. Scientists are working to develop space technology to use in different areas.

7. Topic: Tourism____________________________________________________________________________________________. Nearly three million people depend, directly or indirectly, upon tourism for their jobs. Tourism employs twenty times as many people as the car industry, and earns four as much money as agriculture. We need tourists’ money in fact they provide more jobs for all of us.

UNITY and COHERENCE in WRITING:A good paragraph and essay has the elements of unity and coherence

COHERENCECoherence means that your paragraph is easy to read and understand because (1) your supporting sentences are in some kind of logical order and (2) your ideas are connected by the use of appropriate transition signals. (3) Coherence in writing means that all the ideas in a paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next sentence. With coherence, the reader has an easy time understanding the ideas that you wish to express. Consider the following paragraph:

My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features.  First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. On either side of this river, which is 175 feet wide, are many willow* trees which have long branches that can move gracefully in the wind.  In autumn the leaves of these trees fall and cover the riverbanks like golden snow.  Second, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep.  Even though it is steep, climbing this hill is not dangerous, because there are some firm rocks along the sides that can be used as stairs.   There are no trees around this hill, so it stands clearly against the sky and can be seen from many miles away.  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. Willow: söğüt ağacı gracefully: charmingly, büyülüyeci

Analyzing the paragraph:

Major Connectors

Look at the words in bold font. Do you see how they help guide the reader? For example, consider the words, First, Second, and The third amazing feature. We can call these words major connectors. Major connectors help organize the main parts of your paragraph. This paragraph has three main parts: (1) a part about the Wheaton River, (2) a part about Wheaton Hill, and (3) a part about the Big Old Tree. Another way of saying this is that this paragraph has three main points which are indicated by the major connectors. Using such major connectors is an important way of providing coherence in a paragraph.

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UNITYUnity is a very important characteristic of good paragraph writing. Unity means that you discuss only one main idea in a paragraph. That is, all the sentences -- the topic, supporting sentences, the detail sentences, and (sometimes) the concluding sentence -- are all telling the reader about ONE main topic. If your paragraph contains a sentence or some sentences that are NOT related to the main topic, then we say that the paragraph "lacks unity," or that the sentence is "off-topic."

Look at the following paragraph, which is similar to the paragraph that we have studied above. Does it have perfect unity? Try to find the sentence that is off-topic:

Each of the Russian carried out space exploration projects had specific major goals. For example, the Vostok project was designed to test whether or not human beings could survive and function in outer space. For another example, the Voshkhod project was intended to find out whether people could work in the weightless environment of space. One Voshkhod cosmonaut experimented with weightlessness by taking a "spacewalk." That is, he floated in a spacesuit outside his Voshkhod spacecraft, connected to it by a tether. The cosmonaut to do this was Alexei Leonov. Several weeks later, Leonov's spacewalk was followed by that of U.S. astronaut Ed White. Finally, the Soyuz project, with three cosmonauts, had goals of testing spacecraft and space flight skills so that people could fly long missions in Earth orbit.

This paragraph is generally good, but the sentence, Several weeks later, Leonov's spacewalk was followed by that of U.S. astronaut Ed White, does not have anything to do with the major goals of the various Russian space projects. That is, it is an "off-topic" sentence, so we can say that the paragraph somewhat lacks unity. In order to improve the paragraph, we should omit this sentence, even though it is historically accurate.

THE CONCLUDING SENTENCEIn formal paragraphs you will sometimes see a sentence at the end of the paragraph which summarizes the information that has been presented.  This is the concluding sentence. You can think of a concluding sentence as a sort of topic sentence in reverse. You can understand concluding sentences with this example. 

Consider a hamburger that you can buy at a fast-food restaurant.  A hamburger has a top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese, lettuce, and other elements in the middle of the hamburger, and a bottom bun. Note how the top bun and the bottom bun are very similar.  The top bun, in a way, is like a TOPIC SENTENCE, and the bottom bun is like the CONCLUDING SENTENCE.  Both buns "hold" the meat, onions, and so on.  Similarly, the topic sentence and concluding sentence "hold" the supporting sentences in the paragraph.  Let's see how a concluding sentence (in bold font) might look in our sample paragraph about Wheaton:

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.

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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Not all academic paragraphs contain concluding sentences, especially if the paragraph is very short.  However, if your paragraph is very long, it is a good idea to use a concluding sentence.

PARAGRAPH TITLESingle paragraphs do not usually have titles. Giving your practice paragraphs titles, however, may help you to organize and limit your thoughts. For longer essays or reports, though, the use of titles will become more necessary

TIPS FOR WRITING A PARAGRAPH

What is the prewriting stage? The prewriting stage is when you think carefully and organize your ideas for your paragraph before you begin writing. Six Prewriting Steps: 1. Think carefully about what you are going to write. Ask yourself:

What question am I going to answer in this paragraph or essay? How can I best answer this question? What is the most important part of my answer? How can I make a topic sentence (or thesis statement) from the most important part of my answer? What facts or ideas can I use to support my introductory sentence? How can I make this paragraph or essay interesting? Do I need more facts on this topic? Where can I find more facts on this topic?

2. Open your notebook. Write out your answers to the above questions. You do not need to spend a lot of time doing this; just write enough to help you remember why and how you are going to write your paragraph or essay.

3. Collect facts related to your paragraph or essay topic. Look for and write down facts that will help you to answer your question. Timesaving hint: make sure the facts you are writing are related to the exact question you are going to answer in your paragraph or essay.

4. Write down your own ideas. Ask yourself: What else do I want to say about this topic? Why should people be interested in this topic? Why is this topic important?

5. Find the main idea of your paragraph or essay. Choose the most important point you are going to present. If you cannot decide which point is the most important, just choose one point and stick to it throughout your paragraph or essay.

6. Organize your facts and ideas in a way that develops your main idea. Once you have chosen the most important point of your paragraph or essay, you must find the best way to tell your reader about it. Look at the facts you have written. Look at your own ideas on the topic. Decide which facts and ideas will best support the main idea of your paragraph. Once you have chosen the facts and ideas you plan to use, ask yourself which order to put them in the paragraph. Write down your own note set that you can use to guide yourself as you write your paragraph or essay.

WRITING PARAGRAPHSWhat is the writing stage? The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences. Five Writing Steps:

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1. Open your notebook and word processor.2. Write the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence.3. Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning.4. Focus on the main idea of your paragraph.5. Use the dictionary to help you find additional words to express your ideas.

EDITING PARAGRAPHSWhat is the editing stage?The editing stage is when you check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them. Grammar and Spelling

1. Check your spelling.2. Check your grammar.3. Read your essay again.4. Make sure each sentence has a subject.5. See if your subjects and verbs agree with each other.6. Check the verb tenses of each sentence.7. Make sure that each sentence makes sense.

Style and Organization 1. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence.2. Make sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea.3. Make sure you have a closing sentence.4. Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea.5. See if your paragraph is interesting.

Publishing ParagraphsWhat is the publishing stage?The publishing stage is when you produce a final copy of your paragraph to hand in.

Three Publishing Steps: 1. Make a paper copy of your paragraph.

2. Show your work to your teacher, tutor, or parents.3. Ask them for hints on how to improve your writing.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PARAGRAPH

Topic sentence, which includes the topic and a controlling idea. Supporting ideas (usually 3 - 6), which support the topic sentence Reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses give details for and further explain the supporting ideas. Optional concluding sentence, which leaves the reading with something to think about and may summarize the supporting ideas if the paragraph is long. Unity, which means that all sentences in the paragraph directly support the topic sentence. o Coherenence, which means that all the information of the paragraph is well-organized, logically ordered and easy to follow. Process of Writing a Paragraph: 1. Compose your topic sentence. Think of a topic and a controlling idea that will narrow the topic enough to support it well in one paragraph. 2. Brainstorm supporting ideas. Choose 2 - 6 supporting ideas that do a good job supporting your topic sentence. 3. Write your paragraph in topic outline form as follows. Don't actually write sentences in the outline, except for the topic sentence.   Topic sentence:

A. Supporting idea 1. 1. 3.B. Supporting idea 2.

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1. 3.C. Supporting idea 3. 1. 3.Concluding sentence:

4. Put your supporting ideas in a logical order. 5. For each supporting idea, think of reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses that further explain the idea. For balance, each supporting idea should have about the same amount of reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses. 6. Think of a concluding sentence. 7. Write your paragraph using sentences. Use the coherence strategies to make your paragraph easy to follow. Here is an example: We came up with a good topic sentence and supporting ideas: Topic sentence: Choosing a college or university can be difficult.

Supporting ideas: 1. Good Location, 2. Affordable, 3. Good preparation for major

We decided to order these supporting ideas according to importance as shown in the outline below. Now we put this information into outline form and added some reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses for each supporting idea. Topic sentence: Choosing a college or university can be difficult. A. Good preparation for your major

1. Hard curriculum 2. Qualified professorsB. Affordable 1. be able to pay tuition and living expenses 2. Possibility of scholarshipsC. Good Location 1. Study environment 2. Possibilities of part-time job in your major

Concluding sentence: You should consider these points carefully so you can choose the most appropriate college or university for you.

Finally, we wrote the paragraph using sentences and trying to make the paragraph coherent using different coherence strategies.

CHOOSING A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY       Choosing a college or university can be difficult. The most difficult part is finding a university that prepares you well for your future career. In order to get a good job, the curriculum that is taught must be thorough and up-to-date. In addition, the professors must be highly qualified and respected in their fields. Another difficulty in choosing a university or college is affordability. You need to be able to pay the tuition fees and living expenses. Some institutions might be able to offer you scholarships if you cannot afford the fees. A good location is also very important when choosing a school. The environment should be safe and quiet to facilitate studying. Moreover, there should be possibilities near the school for part-time or summer jobs in your major, so you can get some practical work experience. You should consider all of these points carefully so you can choose the most appropriate college or university for you.

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PRACTICE 2:

By using information, please write a well-organized paragraph. Note: You don’t need to use all notes

A. Topic: The Value of a University EducationQuestioning whether you should go to university? Here are five ways that a college education will make you a better person: 1. It will likely make you more successful. 2. It will give you a better quality of life. 3. It will give you the power to change the world. 4. It will be something you can pass on to your children. 5. It makes you a major contributor to the greatest nation on earth. 6. It provides you greater economic strength and security 7. It will give you more prestigious employment and greater job satisfaction 8. It will give you greater knowledge of the world events9. It will give you more self-confidence 10. It will give you more money and greater quality of lifer.

The Value of a University Education____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. TOPIC: BASKETBALL

1. Basketball is attractive. 2. Basketball is fast, exciting, and unpredictable3. Basketball team has few members; you can become familiar with each player's personality. 4. Basketball is a fast moving game that can be played on both indoor and outdoor courts. 5. Basketball is an excellent conditioning sport that can be enjoyed by both boys and girls alike. 6. Participation in athletic sports like basketball, improves physical fitness, coordination and self-discipline7. Basketball gives children valuable opportunities to learn about teamwork.8. Basketball games can be played on school playgrounds, home driveways, and indoor gyms. 9. One major advantage about basketball is that the skills needed for the game can be practiced

individually. Many families purchase portable basketball nets for home use. 10. Jumping rope at home is another great way to prepare to play basketball.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PRACTICE 3: Choose three of the following topics and write well organized paragraphs.

PARAGRAPH TOPICS

1. Attending summer courses.2. Custom union3. Using mobile phones4. Being single5. Getting married6. Having a job while attending college 7. Shopping by TV. 8. Learning a foreign language 9. Boys and girls should attend separate schools. 10. Tourism

11. Being wealthy12. Using nuclear energy.13. Computers in the workplace14. Being a famous person15. Technology 16. Credit cards17. Benefits of being young18. Benefits of watching TV19. Owning a car

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MORE PARAGRAPH SAMPLES

Copy and write… Read and copy the following paragraphs exactly…A. ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES1. Advantages

Advantages of Using ComputersThere are several advantages of using a computer . First of all, it is especially beneficial in the workplace, where employees can do their work far faster that they could in the past. In addition to this, computers can be educational and fun. From a very young age, children can gain basic computer skills by the help of programs which help them to learn, draw, paint, and play. As a result, in today’s technological world, this knowledge can only help them in the future. To sum up, computers are useful for our fast-fast moving world of high technology. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. DisadvantagesDisadvantages of Using Computers

There are various negative aspects to using computers . Primarily, many jobs have been lost because computers can do a lot to tasks more efficiently than humans. This has led to high unemployment in many countries. What is more, computers can actually cause health problems. Endless hours in front of a screen can cause eyestrain and headaches. These are serious side effects. As a result, computers should be used carefully and they should not replace people. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6. Advantages

7. Advantages of Living in a VillageThere are many advantages to living in a village. First of all, one is much closer to nature and can enjoy more peace and quiet. In addition, life in the country is much slower and people tend to be more open and friendly. A further advantage is that there is much less traffic, and as a result it is much safer place to bring up young children. In conclusion , it can be seen that village life is suitable for retired and those who want to have more peace and less stress. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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5. Disadvantages 3. Disadvantages of Living in a Village

There are certain drawbacks (disadvantage) to life outside the city. Firstly, because there are fewer people, one has a smaller number of friends. Therefore, entertainment, particularly in the evening, is difficult to find. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services often means that there are fewer employment opportunities. As a result, one may have to travel long distances to work elsewhere, and this can be extremely expensive. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6. Advantages

Advantages of TV CommercialsAds on television give consumers a lot of information. They let consumers know what products look like, how much they cost, and where they are available. For example, a Toyota dealer wants to sell the Toyota Camry. The dealer’s ads will show the new Camry over and over again and tell the consumer that the Camry has power windows, six cylinders, and so on. In addition, the ads may compare the Camry with the Mercedes. They may say that the Camry runs as well as the Mercedes but the Camry’s price is much cheaper. The ads may also tell where to buy the Camry. When consumers see these ads, they think about all this information about the Camry. Then they can decide if it is the car they want. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7. Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Watching Television wWatching movie can destroy human’s psychology and imagination in some ways. For example, when you watch a horror movie your psychology is affected by this movie badly. Mostly, you may want to be a monster or a murder. Another example would be science fiction movies. As we know, science fiction movies have full of imagination. When people watch this kind of movies, they think whatever they watched it could be in real life. As a result, because of its some bad effects people should choose movies carefully and they should never forget that they are not just watching a movie____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8. Disadvantages

Disadvantages of Watching Television wWatching movies especially American movies cause to change people’s life views and life styles for number of reasons. Almost in every American movie you can easily see a beautiful house which has a garden or it is constructed seashore. Moreover, most American movies, you see that people eat simple food. They do not have any eating culture. Therefore, it causes people’s eating habits. What is more, people use movies in order to

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change history. They easily change an event which occurred in the past in the direction of their ideas. For that reason most countries life style can be changed by movies.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Advantages Advantages of Watching Television w

TV is a good teacher for everyone for several reasons. There are several programs for preschool children, for example Sesame Street and Tarchın and his friends.. These are well-organized programs that teaches children to count and to say the alphabet. They also have interesting characters that they tell stories and sing songs. Also, television has programs for students. When I was a high school student, there were many kinds of learning programs, like foreign language and math education programs. These programs help students with their studies. Furthermore, thedre are some programs for adults about how to garden, how to make delicious dishes, how to fix things around the house and so on. In conclusion nowadays, television teaches us all kinds of things.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________10. Advantages

Advantages of TourismThere are several advantages to tourism. To begin with, tourism brings a lot of money into a country and it also creates a lot of employment for people of the area. In addition, if there are a lot of tourists in the area, it makes the locals stay rather than leave to get jobs elsewhere. Lastly, tourism helps people to learn about other cultures and ways of life. As a result, we should give enough importance to tourism.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________11. Disadvantages

Disadvantages of tourismThere are some disadvantages to tourism. Firstly, in many cases the natural beauty of a place can be spoilt. Apart from this, tourism often brings more air, water and noise pollution. Also, places sometimes lose their character and traditions. Moreover, sometimes people’s language can suffer. As a result, if tourism is not controlled properly, it can be bad for a country.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Advantages

Advantages of Wearing the Same UniformWearing uniforms give all students equality, identity and pride. Primarily, uniforms give students equality. All students do not have the same financial resources and can't afford expensive clothes. Therefore, uniforms make it more equal among the rich and poor students. For example, student may want to wear designer clothes which some can afford but others can't. Secondly, uniforms give identity. Students feel a sense of belonging when everyone has the same uniform. Students can tell who is from their school and who is not according to the uniform. Others can tell which students are from which schools and if someone is not behaving well, others will know which school that person is from. Moreover, uniforms give pride. If a sports team does well, students can feel proud together of that accomplishment. In addition to this, if a student is a good musician, others can feel proud that they are his/her

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classmates. Hence, students can "advertise" their school just by wearing their uniforms and be proud of the school they attend. Overall , I think wearing uniforms is a good thing. Students can feel equal to one an other. They can fee[ a sense of identity and pride that they wouldn't be able to feel as well if they didn't wear uniforms.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________13. Advantages

Advantages to Living at a DormI would prefer to live in an apartment for a number of reasons. First of all, you don't have to cook for yourself. The most important one is that there are always a lot of people around so you won't feel lonely. Moreover, there is usually a laundry room in the basement so you don’t have to go anywhere else to do laundry. Furthermore; the dormitory is usually very safe since almost all dormitories have security guards. Overall, I prefer to live at a dormitory because I do not need to cook and wash my clothes for myself and there will be a lot of people around me.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. CAUSE and EFFECT PARAGRAPH SAMPLES

1. Effect1. Alcoholism

Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the world today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, and co-workers strangers. Alcoholics may become angry and argumentive, or quiet and withdrawn or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. As a result, the effects alcoholism can have on the different aspects of a person's life. Therefore, we should help the number of alcoholics in Turkey and all over the world.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Cause

AlcoholismThere are some reasons of using alcohol. First of all, the cause of alcoholism can be biological. It is often associated with a family history of manic-depressive illness. If parents are alcoholics, children may take alcohol later on. The second reason is alcoholism has psychological reasons. It can be related to emotional changeability. For example, alcoholics often drink hoping to drown their depressed feelings. Some of them also want to reduce strong negative feelings. Moreover, social and cultural factors play important roles in development of alcoholism. In some cultures, there is conflict between refusing and accepting the use of alcohol to be a social person. As a result, it is extremely important that whatever the reasons are we should avoid drinking alcohol. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. EffectsEffects of Parents on Children

Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing games instead of studying their boring lessons, so parents have to take the responsibility to monitor their studying and to remind them to do their homework at home after school. Parents should also encourage their children to study by buying story books with pictures, or they can buy text books or tapes that help children learn to spell or read. The best way to encourage children to study efficiently is to reward them when they get an “A”. As a child, I experienced this. My parents gave me a gift if I had studied well, and then I was very excited. So, if parents really want their children to succeed in school, they need to pay attention to their children’s studies and encourage them.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4. Effects

Negative Effects of TelevisionsTelevision negatively influences people's behavior in a number of ways. First of all, advertisements force people to buy things they may not need. For example, those who buy camping equipment, but they never go camping. Someone who buys a new car but can't really afford it. Also, someone who buys a new computer even though his or her old computer works fine. The most important negative effect is that television may lead to violence. When children see terrible things on TV and sometimes act them out. They may not be able to understand right from wrong and think that violence is ok. In conclusion , television influences everybody’s behavior in negative ways. Therefore, people should consider those effects before they start to watch television programs.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Question: Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

5. CausesStudying Outside

There are many reasons students choose to do this why students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. To get a college degree from a university outside their home country may be prestigious for students. Many people think that students may get a better education outside their home country. Moreover, students may get more money in their job if they have a degree from outside the country. Furthermore, some students may get scholarships to study abroad. Therefore, they may pay less to study abroad and the programs can be better abroad. In short, students study abroad for a number of reasons. Most students get a good education wherever they go if they are strong-minded to achieve something in their studies.

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Question: Movies are popular all over the world. Explain why movies are so popular. Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer. .

6. CausesWatching Movies

There are many reasons why people all over the world enjoy watching movies. To begin with, they offer an escape. For that reason, some people go to the movies to see how others live. If you are poor, it is a way to escape that life for a few hours. Next, movies provide entertainment. Because, they are fun to watch andlet you imagine what other people's lives are like. Finally, movies are available everywhere. Movie theaters can be found in almost every town, all over the world. If there is no theater, there is usually a video store with movies. As a result, watching movie is one of the important activities of people.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Question: Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or dean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

7. CausesWorld is in Danger

Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water. First of all, nature is a home for animals. There are thousands of species that live in forests and when the forests die, they die too. Moreover, rain forests also are habitat of many insects, birds, animals depend on it for survival. Finally, forests are beautiful to look at, walk through, hike in the forest, and look at all the flowers. Furthermore, you can take exciting photographs. In short, forests are natural resources that must be saved because they provide so much good for so many people and animals.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. COMPARE and CONTRAST PARAGRAPH SAMPLES

1. Similarity and DifferencesClassroom Behavior Rules

There are some similarities and differences in the classroom behavior rules between North America and my country, Turkey. First, there is the student’s right to speak. In North America, students can ask the teacher questions. They can even ask questions when the teacher is giving a lesson. Similarly, in my country students have the right to ask questions. However, they can only ask questions at the end of the class. Next, students respect their teachers. In North America students look up to teachers and respect them. For example, when the teacher asks them to speak they must look into the teacher’s eyes to show respect. Likewise, in my country, Turkey, students respect teachers; however, when a teacher asks us to speak we look down to show respect. We do not look into their eyes. In conclusion, there are both similarities and differences in the way students behave toward their teachers in the classroom. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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2. Compare and ContrastTwo English Teachers

There are both some similarities and differences between my old English teacher in high school and my present English teacher. Both my English teachers control the class well. If a student makes trouble in the classroom, we are all responsible and had extra work. This makes the student unpopular (alone, without friend) and nobody wants to be unpopular. Both my teachers know their subject well. They both make sure we know the rules of the language very well. Although my teachers have these similarities, they also have differences on these same points. When a student is always troublesome in class, my old teacher would go to the parents because my school is small and everybody would know each other in the city . In contrast, my present teacher sends the troublesome student to a counselor. Then the counselor sends the students to the assistant principal and so on. Also, the way my two teachers teaching method of English is different. My teacher back home would teach us a rule of grammar and then give examples. In contrast, my present if we need a rule we work it out from the examples, teacher gives us examples first, In conclusion, both my English teachers with their similarities and differences are excellent teachers.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3. Compare

Two Different Educational SystemsThe educational systems of Europe and the United States are similar in a number of ways . To begin with, elementary school classes look the same everywhere. There are about twenty to twenty-two pupils per class, and the classes are coeducational. Also, there is one teacher for all subjects for each grade (except in Scandinavia), and the majority of elementary school teachers are women. In addition, the subjects which are taught at the elementary level are basically the same everywhere: reading and writing, mathematics, introductions to the sciences, music, sports, and art. The only major difference in the elementary curriculum is that most Europeans study a foreign language in elementary school, but most American children do not. As a result, American and European educational systems differ in some ways________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. ARGUMENTATIVE PARAGRAPH SAMPLES1. Argumentative

Importance of University EducationPeople attend university to prepare for a career, to attend for personal fulfillment and to make more money in the job market. First of all, some attend university in order to prepare for a career. They learn about a particular subject in depth there. In addition to this, employers want employees who have very specific knowledge. Secondly, some attend for personal achievement. Adults may attend university just for the joy of learning. Students also may feel a sense of success by learning new things. Finally, some attend in order to make more money in the job market. Because, If one has specialized skills, one can make more money in the job market. In short, people attend college for many reasons some of which include desire to prepare for a career, personal fulfillment and financial rewards.

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Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.2. Argumentative

Enemy of CommunicationCommunication between friends and family has been destroyed due to television. Television is such a passive activity that family and friends often forget what meaningful communication is. Therefore, television makes passive. When people watch television, they do not talk with one another. People also enjoy the relaxation of watching television, but forget that communication is important. Although many people watch television in order to relax, they give less time to family and friends. Moreover, Television often causes arguments. Not only family members argue about what to watch on TV but also friends do. In addition to this, children argue with their parents to buy them toys they see advertised on TV. In conclusion, television has destroyed communication between family and friends. People do not communicate in the same way as they did before television was invented. People spend less time with family and friends and more time with TV this is destructive.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.3. Argumentative

Face to Face CommunicationI believe that face-to-face communication is better than other forms of communication. It is more personal, more effective and more honest. When you talk to a person face-to-face, it is more personal. You see them, their actions, and their feelings. Besides, when you write a letter or email, you do not get this same kind of experience. Moreover, face-to-face communication is usually more effective because you can easily see the other people’s expression and feelings about a topic. That means you can change your conversation to fit the situation. For example, you want to ask your boss or a raise, but you can see that he is in a bad mood or he is distracted...then you would wait for another time. Furthermore, body language is more effective than spoken language. Seventy percent of communication is through gestures. You can't get this with email, letters and telephone conversations. In short, face-to-face communication is better than other forms of communication. Most people have more personal, effective, and honest conversations when they meet face-to-face.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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SUMMARY

PARAGRAPH WRITINGQUESTION and ANSWER

Topic SentenceWhat is the topic sentence? The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph. What does it do? It introduces the main idea of the paragraph. How do I write one? Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be

about. Example: There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.

Supporting DetailsWhat are supporting sentences? They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph. What do they do? They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph. How do I write them? You should give supporting facts, details, and examples. Example: There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.

Conclusion SentenceWhat is the closing sentence? The closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph. What does it do? It restates the main idea of your paragraph. How do I write one? Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words. Example:

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There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.

HELPER WORDSCOMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH

In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas. Example:  Write a paragraph comparing the weather in some cities in Turkey. The following words can help you to write a good compare and contrast paragraph: Helper Words:

SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCESis similar to On the other hand

both howeveralso buttoo in contrast

as well differs fromwhileunlike

SIMILARITIES is similar toExample:   Spring weather in Trabzon is similar to spring weather in Rize. bothExample:   Both Trabzon and Rize have rain in the spring. alsoExample:   Samsun also has a rainy spring season. tooExample:  Artvin has a rainy spring season, too. as wellExample:   As well, Sinop has rainy spring season.

DIFFERENCES on the other handExample:   On the other hand, winter is much colder in Van. howeverExample:   However, winter is much colder in Erzurum. butExample:   Ankara has a mild winter, but Erzurum has a cold one. in contrast toExample:   In contrast to Ankara, Erzurum has a cold winter. differs fromExample:   Erzurum differs from Van by having a cold winter.

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whileExample:   While Ankara has a mild winter, Erzurum has a cold winter.

CLASSIFICATION PARAGRAPH

When writing a classification paragraph, you group things or ideas into specific categories. Example:     Write a paragraph discussing two types of energy resources. The following words can help you to write a good classification paragraph:

Helper Words:is a kind of

can be divided intois a type offalls underbelongs tois a part of

fits intois grouped with

is related tois associated with

is a kind of Coal is a kind of non-renewable resource. can be divided into Energy resources can be divided into two types. is a type of Coal is a type of non-renewable resource. falls under Coal falls under the category of non-renewable resources. belongs to Coal belongs to the category of non-renewable resources. is a part of Coal is a part of the category of non-renewable resources. fits into Coal fits into the category of non-renewable resources. is grouped with Coal is grouped with non-renewable resources. is related to Coal is related to other non-renewable resources. is associated with Coal is associated with other non-renewable resources.

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CHOICE / OPINION PARAGRAPH

In a paragraph where you have to make a choice, you need to choose which object, idea, or action that you prefer. Often, you will need to give your opinion on a choice of actions or events. Example:    Write a paragraph stating whether you would prefer to play basketball or football.The following words can help you to write a good choice paragraph: Helper Words:

Point of View Personal Opinionin my opinion like/dislike

belief hopeidea feel

understanding  I think that  I consider   I believe  

it seems to me  I prefer  

POINT OF VIEW in my opinion In my opinion, basketball is more fun than football. belief My belief is that basketball is more fun than football. idea My idea is that basketball is more fun than football. understanding My understanding is that basketball is more fun than football. I think that I think that I would prefer to play basketball and not football. I consider I consider basketball to be more exciting than football. I believe I believe basketball is more exciting than lacrosse. it seems to me It seems to me that basketball is more exciting than football. I prefer I prefer basketball over football.

PERSONAL OPINIONS

like/dislike I like the sport of basketball because it is fast and exciting. hope I hope that I can play basketball in the future.

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feel I feel that basketball is my favorite sport.

SEQUENCE PARAGRAPHIn a sequencing paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of events or a process in some sort of order. Usually, this order is based on time. Example:   Write a paragraph outlining how a person becomes the prime minister. The following words can help you to write a good sequence paragraph. Helper Words:

ORDER TIMEfirst, second, third, etc. recently

in the beginning previouslybefore afterwardsthen whenafter after

finally  at last  

subsequently  

ORDER first, second, third, etc. First, you need to become a leader of a political party. Second, you need to win a seat in the House of Commons. Third, your party must have a majority of seats.

in the beginning In the beginning, you need to become a leader of a political party. before Before becoming the prime minister, you need to become the leader of a political party. then Then, you must win a seat in the House of Commons.

after After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure you have a majority of seats.

finally Finally, after all these steps, you can call yourself the prime minister. at lastExample:   At last, you can call yourself the prime minister.

subsequently Subsequently, you must make sure you have a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

TIME recently She was recently elected prime minister.

previously She is the new prime minister. Previously, she worked as a lawyer in Toronto.

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afterwardsExample:   She won the party leadership last year. Afterwards, she won the election. whenExample:   When she won the party leadership, she was still working as a lawyer.

afterExample:   After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure you have a majority of seats.

EXPLANATION PARAGRAPHIn an explanation paragraph, you need to explain how or why something happens. Very often in social studies class, you will be asked to explore causes and effects of certain events. Example:     Write a paragraph explaining why so many Europeans moved to Canada during the nineteenth century. The following words can help you to write a good explanation paragraph: Helper Words:

Cause Effect

because therefore

since thus

as a result of consequently

is due to hence

  it follows that

  if . . . then

CAUSE becauseExample:   People moved to Canada from Europe during the nineteenth century because they had poor living conditions in Europe.

sinceExample:   Since living conditions in Europe were terrible, many people moved to Canada.

as a result ofPeople moved to Canada from Europe as a result of poor living conditions in Europe.

is due to / was due toExample:   The large influx of people to Canada was due to economic pressures in Europe.

EFFECT thereforeExample:   Living conditions in Europe were terrible. Therefore, many people moved to Canada for a better life.

thusExample:   Living conditions in Europe were terrible. Thus, many people moved to Canada for a better life.

consequentlyExample:   Living conditions were terrible in Europe. Consequently, many people moved to Canada.

henceExample:   Living conditions were terrible in Europe. Hence, many people moved to Canada.

it follows thatExample:   Living conditions were terrible in Europe. It follows that many people moved to Canada.

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if ... thenExample:   If living conditions were better in Europe, then fewer people would have moved to Canada

DESCRIPTION PARAGRAPHIn a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is like. Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located. Examples: Write a paragraph describing what a polar bear looks like.

Describe where Canada's industry is located.The following words can help you to write a good description paragraph: Helper Words:

PROPERTIES MEASUREMENT ANALOGY LOCATIONsize length is like in

colour width resembles aboveshape mass/weight   below

purpose speed   beside      near      north/east/south/west

PROPERTIES size Example:     Polar bears are big in size. colour Example:     Polar bears are usually white in colour. shape Example:     Polar bears have a special shape. purpose Example:     The purpose of the polar bear's fur is to keep it warm. MEASUREMENT length Example:     The length of a polar bear's claws is 20 cm. width Example:     The width of a polar bear's head is about 50 cm. mass / weight Example:     Polar bears weigh up to 650 kg. speed Example:     Polar bears can swim at a speed of 40 km per hour. ANALOGY is like Example:     A polar bear is like other bears in shape. resembles Example:     A polar bear resembles other bears in shape.

LOCATION inExample:     Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec.

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aboveExample:     The ceiling is above us. belowExample:     Most of Ontario is below Hudson Bay. besideExample:     Quebec is located beside Ontario. nearExample:     Many companies are located near Toronto. north / east / south / westExample:     Ontario is west of Quebec.

EVALUATION PARAGRAPHIn an evaluation paragraph, you make judgments about people, ideas, and possible actions. You need to make your evaluation based on certain criteria that you develop. In the paragraph, you will state your evaluation or recommendation and then support it by referring to your criteria. Example:   Write a paragraph evaluating whether pesticides should be used on farms. The following words can help you to write a good evaluation paragraph: Helper Words

Criteria for Evaluation Recommendationgood / bad suggest

correct / incorrect recommendmoral / immoral advise

right / wrong argueimportant / trivial  

CRITERIA good / badExample:   The use of pesticides such as DDT is bad for the environment.

correct / incorrectExample:   The belief that pesticides must be used is incorrect.

moral / immoralExample:   The use of pesticides to control pests is immoral because it harms the environment.

right / wrongExample:   It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the environment.

important / trivialExample:   The issue of pesticides is an important one because it affects the environment.

RECOMMENDATION suggestExample:   I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests. recommendExample:   I recommend that pesticides should not be used because they are harmful to the environment. adviseExample:   I would advise farmers not to use pesticides if possible. argueExample:   I would argue that pesticides should not be used because they harm the environment.

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ANSWER KEY: PRACTICE 1: A. Write a topic sentence for the following paragraphs.

1. Using InternetUsing internet offers you a world of information, entertainment, on-line shopping and e-mail services. Firstly, all of the latest information is available to you; in your home, at any hour of the day or night. Also, on-line shopping makes it possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, so you can save both time and money. By joining a newsgroup or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and perhaps make friends all over the world. Finally, e-mail is popular because it is faster than sending a letter and cheaper than a telephone conversation.

2. DivorceCost of living plays an important role on high divorce rate. This leads some conflicts in family life. Due to difficult life conditions, people are more aggressive towards each other. Couples do not tolerate a few mistakes. In addition, women think that life is always difficult unless they have their own economics independence. Being economically independent is the desire of many women. They want to earn money and spend it as they wish. Nowadays, there are many women working outside their homes and are independent. As a result, some regard divorce as the best way to get this independence. They hope to be free and stand without one’s help.Conflict: struggle, argument regard: consider, think about stand: resist, position

3. MY FATHER’S DEATHMy father’s death, which occurred when I was nine years old, had several important effects on me. First of all , I felt great sadness and loneliness. For the firs few months, my loneliness was so great that I often dreamed that my father would miraculously return. In addition, throughout the rest of my childhood, I was afraid of losing someone else whom I loved. Whenever my mother was away from home, I was nervous until she returned. Finally, the loss of my father caused me to develop a greater sense of responsibility. For example, I believed that with my father gone I was responsible for helping my mother with her chores. My father’s death, therefore, left me lonely, frightened, and responsible – a young child with adult feelings.

4. TEENAGERS SmokingDozens of teenagers smoke because of mere curiosity. Teenagers tent to be curious about new things. They smoke for the sake of knowing how it feels. Unfortunately, once they started to smoke their first cigarette, they would have the second, the third, and then become accustomed to it eventually! Just like the addiction of taking drugs. (mere: only, sake: cause)

5. SPACE TECHNOLOGYSpace technology has resulted in numerous applications. Firstly, telecommunication satellites have greatly improved global communications. Meteorological satellites also provide advance information. Furthermore, some special satellites register the earth’s resources and military information. Scientists are working to develop space technology to use in different areas.

7. TOURISMDuring the last two years, the number of tourists coming to Turkey has created a large number of jobs. Nearly three million people depend, directly or indirectly, upon tourism for their jobs. Tourism employs twenty times as many people as the car industry, and earns four as much money as agriculture. We need tourists’ money in fact they provide more jobs for all of us.

SOURCE: 1. http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/partopic.html2. http://www.paragraphorganizer.com/inner/about_us.htm3. http://archive.1september.ru/eng/1999/eng35-2.htm4.First Steps in Academic Writing, Longman, Ann Hogue, 1995. 5.Writing Academic English, Longman, Ann Hogue, Alice Oshima, 1980.

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