Transcript Topic Sentence

BBI 3421
EXPOSITORY WRITING
Step 1 (Selecting a Subject)
Exercise 1
Identify a potential topic for each of the
following general subject.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Your special interest
๑ Collecting coins/ magnets/match boxes
Things you learned through your readings
๑ Setting your own website
Places you have visited
๑ Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort / The Mines Wonderland
Current, social, political, and environmental issues
๑ The East Asia Summit / Child Abuse / Sex harassment in the work
place
Topics on health, business, sports, arts, and education
๑ Health is wealth / Education opportunities for working Adults
Prewriting Activities
Step 2
After selecting a subject, you need to
develop ideas to support your points. There
are a number of ways you can get ideas to
help you write.
They are as follows:
A. Brainstorming
B. Freewriting
C. Clustering
D. Keeping a Journal
A. Brainstorming
1. Begin with a broad topic.
2. Write down as many associations as you can
in ten minutes.
3. Add more items to your list by answering the
questions what, how, when, where, why, and
who.
4. Group the items on the list that go together.
5. Cross out items that do no belong.
TOPIC: SUPERSTITIONS
Friday 13th
breaking a mirror
always wear pearl
necklace for tests
look for four-leaf clovers
don’t stay on 13th floor in
a hotel
sit in centre of room for
tests
wear lucky t-shirt for
games
finding a penny
eat scrambled eggs for
breakfast on day of
game
don’t walk under ladders
don’t step on cracks
wear green when i fly
use lucky shoelaces in
tennis shoes
switch watch to right
Wrist for tests
never start a trip on
Friday
SUPERSTITIONS
SCHOOL:
◊ always wear pearl necklace
◊ sit in centre of room for tests
◊ switch watch to right wrist
for tests
TRAVEL:
◊ never start a trip on
Friday
◊ don’t stay on 13th floor in
a hotel
◊ wear green when Ifly
SPORTS:
◊ wear lucky t-shirt for
games
◊ use lucky shoelaces in
tennis shoes
◊ eat scrambled eggs for
breakfast on day of
game
B. Freewriting
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Write your general topic at the top of your page.
Start writing, and write as much as you can, as fast as you
can, for 10 minutes.
Don’t stop for any reason. Don’t worry if your mind
wanders away from your original idea. Don’t worry about
mistakes. Just keep writing. You can go back later and
revise. Let your ideas flow.
If you can’t think of anything, write “my mind is blank, my
mind is blank,” or something similar, over and over again
until a new thought comes into your mind.
Read your freewriting and see if there are any ideas you can
develop into a paragraph.
Freewriting
Computers
I love computers. They make my life so
much easier than it was when I had to use
a typewriter every time I wanted to type
something. Back then I had to start all
over again whenever I made a mistake. I
really don’t understand computers very
well. Whenever I have a problem, I have to
get someone else to help me . I’m always
afraid to try to fix it myself. I guess I’m a
computer-phobic. My mind just went blank.
It went blank. Just like my computer screen
does when I have a problem. And I have
Computers
so many problems with my computer.
There are always technical problems
with computers. The whole world
worries about technical problems. They
are so unpredictable and unreliable.
What else can I say about computers! I
only use them for word processing and
e-mail. I enjoy communicating with my
friends by e-mail. That’s all. I know
there are lots of other uses but I’ll never
get involved in them. I don’t
understand computers.
Some suggested sentences to begin your
paragraphs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
There are several reasons why I love computers.
I really don’t understand computers very well.
I guess I’m a computer-phobic.
I have so many problems with my
computer.
5. There are always technical problems with
computers.
6. Computers are so unpredictable and unreliable.
7. I enjoy communicating with my friends by e-mail.
C. Clustering
The Kenex Company
Cheap
Workers
Kenex
Company
Family
Enterprise
Expand
Company
Good
Materials
Good
Reputation
Produce
On Time
Good
Quality
Produce
Everything
From Taiwan
to World
The Kenex Company
There are three reasons that the Kenex Tennis
Company is so successful. First, the company was started
as a family enterprise. The family all worked, so they saved
a lot of money in salaries. That money allowed them to
expand the company rapidly. Second, the Kenex Tennis
Company buys good raw materials, so the products –
tennis shoes, tennis balls, and tennis rackets – are high
quality. That quality makes Kenex’s products marketable
all over the world because the company has a good
reputation. Third, the company produces on time, and it
delivers the products quickly and efficiently. For these
reasons, I believe that the Kenex company will grow even
bigger and better in the future.
D.
Keeping a Journal
Some people find keeping a journal is helpful. When
you are not given a specific subject to write on, you
can refer to your journal for possible topics. If you
decide to keep a journal, start by buying a notebook
and writing in it for a few minutes every day. Use
your journal as a record of your daily thoughts and
activities, as a means of self-expression, or as a way
of understanding yourself better. You will find a
valuable source of material in your future writing and
thinking.
An example of a journal entry
November 19
I just got back from an ice hockey game.
Ray had an extra ticket and asked me if I
wanted it. The Boston Bruins beat St Louis
Blues 5-2. Our seats were really high up,
almost to the roof, but we could still see more
than if we had watched it on television. It’s so
Much easier to see the puck when you are
there than when you watch a game on TV. I
started talking to the old man sitting next to
me about hockey in “the good old Days.” He
went to his first hockey game in 1939
Journal entry
- Cup World Championship! He talked on
and on about the changes he has seen in the
kinds of the game when the Bruins won the
Stanley equipment, rules, and the style of
play since his day. He remembers when
players weren’t required to wear helmets, but
he said that the play was less rough back
then. There weren’t as many fights. I wonder
if that’s really true. Hockey has always been
a pretty physical game, I bet emotions have
always run high among the players. It was a
good game. I hope Ray can get me tickets to
more games this season. It looks
like the Bruins might be good this year.
Some suggested sentences to begin your
paragraphs
1. It’s more interesting to watch an ice
hockey game life at the stadium than
when you watch it on TV.
2. There are some changes in the kinds of
equipment, rules, and the style of play
since the year 1939.
3. An ice hockey game before was less
rough compared to today’s game.
4. Ice hockey has always been a pretty
physical game.
Step 3: Organizing
Careful planning is essential to produce
a well-written piece of work. If you organize
your ideas before you write, they will appear
in a logical sequence.
You can organize your ideas like this:
a) Jot down your ideas in point form.
b) Group your ideas according to categories
and order of importance.
Step 4: Writing the First Draft
☼
☼
Writing a rough draft is a rehearsal.
It gives you an opportunity to explore
various possibilities of expressing your
ideas.
(Notice that it contains many errors)
The time I spend at Sunshine Holiday Camp was
fulfilling because I make new friends, have plenty of
exercise, and learned to be independence. First of all,
make new friends is a good experience. Eventhough the
campers and I lived in different parts of the country, but
all of us found that we shared many things in common.
Many of us like listening pop music and going to
movies. We like also outdoor activities such as hiking,
fishing and canoeing. Finally, the most valuable part of
the camp is learned to be independence. I made my own
bed and tend to my other camping work which include
cooking, washing and clean the floor outside . Another
reason was that we have many exercise. We have
participit in many activities like jungle-treking, hiking
and rowing boat. Every one would be exhausting at the
end of the day. Therefore, make new friends, exercise
daily, and become independence make my stay at the
camp fulfilling.
Edited paragraph
The time I spent at Sunshine Holiday Camp was fulfilling
because I made new friends, had plenty of exercise, and learned
to be independence. First of all, making new friends is a good
experience. Even though the campers and I live in different parts
of the country, all of us found that we share many things in
common. Many of us like listening to pop music and going to
movies. We also like outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing
and canoeing. Finally, the most valuable part of the camp is
learning to be independent. I made my own bed and tended to
my other camping work which includes cooking, washing and
cleaning the floor outside . Another reason is that we had many
exercise. We had participated in many activities like jungletrekking, hiking and canoeing. Every one would be exhausted at
the end of the day. Therefore, making new friends, exercising
daily, and becoming independent made my stay at the camp
fulfilling.
Review
Step 1:
_____________________
Step 2:
_____________________
Step 3:
_____________________
Step 4:
_____________________
Step 5:
_____________________
UNIT 2: SENTENCE SKILLS
Subject-verb agreement
You already know that every English
sentence must have a subject and a verb. In
order for a sentence to be grammatically
correct, the subject and verb must agree
with each other. This means that if the
subject is singular, the verb must be
singular. If the subject is plural, the verb
must be plural.
Compound subjects and collective nouns
Sometimes there may be difficulty deciding whether a subject is
singular or plural, and whether to use a singular verb or plural verb, in
situations such as the following:
1.
With compound subjects
2.
With collective nouns
3.
With nouns that are plural in form but singular in meaning
4.
With indefinite pronouns
5.
With relative pronouns
6.
With titles
7.
With units of measurement, time, and money
8.
With gerunds as subjects
9.
When a verb comes before a subject
10. When words separate subjects and verbs
[Refer to text for examples and exercises. You could also refer to
Blanchard, K. & Root, C. Ready to Write More: From Paragraph to Essay. (2nd.
Ed.)]
Verb Tenses
• The Simple Tense
• The Continuous Tense
• The Perfect Tense
UNIT 3
Sentence Structures
Phrases
◊ a group of words without a subject or a verb
that functions as a single part of speech.
◊ prepositional phrases and verbal phrases
Clauses
A clause is a group of words consisting of
one subject and one verb . There are 2
types of clauses:
◊ Independent clauses and
◊ Dependent clauses
Independent Clauses
An independent or main clause
◊ expresses a complete thought
◊ can stand by itself
A simple sentence is an independent clause.
Examples: I came home late.
Aishah found a new friend.
Dependent Clauses
A dependent or subordinate clause
◊ does not express a complete thought
◊ cannot stand alone as a sentence
◊ usually begins with a subordinating
conjunction or a relative pronoun.
There are 3 kinds of dependent clauses:
◊ adjective clauses
◊ adverb clauses, and
◊ noun clauses
Adjective Clauses
Examples:
1. The man who spoke to you is my uncle.
2. This is the place where he found my money.
3. The computer which I bought yesterday was
stolen.
4. The student who went swimming in the river
was punished.
Adverb Clauses
Examples:
1. When I arrived, Mary greeted me.
2. I called you because I need your help.
3. He came to my house although I told him not to
do so.
4. My parents decided to build a new house when
all of us were grownups.
5. Although the test was difficult, I managed to
answer all the questions.
Noun Clauses
Examples:
1. That he is sincere is doubtful.
2. No one knows who is responsible.
Sentence Types
There are four types of sentences in the
English language:
◊ simple,
◊ compound,
◊ complex, and
◊ compound-complex.
Simple sentences
A simple sentence has
◊ one independent clause consisting of one
subject and one verb
◊ sometimes, two subjects and one verb
◊ can also be expanded by adding prepositional
phrases, verbal phrases, noun phrases,
adjectival phrases, adverbial phrases
Examples
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Students study.
Farah and Aileen study every day. (Compound noun)
They study and play games during weekends. (Compound
verb)
Some students at UPM study for weeks before the final
examination. (Prepositional phrase)
Some students study for weeks before the final examination
to get good grades. (Verbal phrase)
Some hardworking college students study for weeks before
the final examination. (Adjectival phrase)
Some students study conscientiously every day. (Adverbial
phrase)
Compound sentences
A compound sentence:
◊ is made up of two simple sentences
◊ can be joined in 3 ways
- can be connected by a coordinating
conjunction or
- a sentence connector or
- a semicolon
Examples
1. With a coordinating
conjunction
2. With a sentence
connector
3. With a semi colon
• Nurul won the medal,
but Lina won the silver.
• Nurul won the medal,
but Lina won the silver.
• Nurul won the gold
medal; Lina won the
silver.
Using Coordinating Conjunctions to
make a compound sentence (1)
and
but
or
Universities prepare students
for many occupations, and they
prepare students to be
responsible citizens.
Many universities do not have
enough residential colleges, but
they provide housing referral
services.
You can put your money in the bank,
or you can invest it in a property.
Using Coordinating Conjunctions to
make a compound sentence (2)
so
for
nor
yet
We did not attend the annual meeting, so
the Head of Department wanted a show
cause letter.
I slept early last night, for I was
very tired.
I don’t like jogging, nor do I like
swimming.
I have prepared very well for the
interview, yet I am not confident to
face the interviewers.
Using connectors to make a compound
sentence (1)
besides/
furthermore/
moreover/
also
however/
nevertheless/
nonetheless
otherwise
Universities prepare students
for many occupations; besides, they
prepare students to be
responsible citizens.
Many universities do not have
enough residential colleges; nevertheless,
they provide housing referral
services.
You can put your money in a bank; otherwise,
you can invest it in a property.
Using connectors to make a compound
sentence (2)
therefore/
hence/
thus/
consequently/
as a result
We did not attend the annual
meeting; therefore, the Head of
Department wanted a show
cause letter.
however/
nevertheless/
nonetheless
I have prepared very well for
the Interview ;however, I am
not confident to face the
interviewers.
Using a semi colon to make compound
sentences
1. My older sister is fair; my younger sister is
dark.
2. Malaysia obtained its independent
peacefully; it remained a model for other
South East Asian countries.
3. I planned to go to Port Dickson in the
morning; I went there in the afternoon
instead.
4. We reached the camping site; we set up our
tents.
Complex sentences
A complex sentence has one or more dependent
clauses.
Examples:
1. Although students are allowed to register
for the maximum number of credits per
semester, they usually sign up for the
minimum number in order to maintain
their CGPA.
2. Students who do well in their studies have
the chance to enter any local university.
3. Many people believe that the number 13
brings bad luck.
Compound-complex sentences
A compound-complex sentence has two
independent clauses and one (or more)
dependent clauses.
Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.
I wanted to study in UPM after finished schooling; however, I had to go
to work immediately.
After finished schooling, I wanted to study in UPM, but I had to go to
work immediately because I had to support my family.
I wanted to study in UPM after I finished schooling, but I had to go to
work immediately because I had to support my family.
I couldn’t decide where I should study or what I should do, so I ended up
doing nothing.
Formula for the types of sentences
Types
Simple
Independent
Clause
1
Dependent
Clause
-
Compound
2 / >2
-
Complex
1
1 / >1
Compoundcomplex
2 / >2
1 / >1
Unit 4: Paragraph Writing
Paragraph Organization
A paragraph:
☼
is a group of related sentences that develops a main idea
☼
has 3 parts:
- a beginning: Topic sentence
- a middle:
Body (Supporting points)
- an end:
Concluding sentence
☼
the series of sentences comprise logical and
interrelated pieces of information.
A good paragraph
TOPIC
SENTENCE
SUPPORTING
SENTENCES
CONCLUDING
SENTENCE
Superstitions affect several aspects of my life. First of all, I have a lot of
superstitions about school, especially tests. For example, I always wear the
pearl necklace that my grandmother gave me when I have to take a test. I think it
brings me good luck, and I am afraid that I will do poorly if I forget to wear it. When I
get to school, I always find a seat right in the middle of the room, sit down, and then
switch my watch to my right wrist before the test begins. In addition, I am very
superstitious about travelling. I will never start a trip on a Friday because Iam sure it
will bring me bad luck. When I have to stay in a hotel, I refuse to sleep in a room on
the 13th floor. For me, 13 is an unlucky number. In addition, I always wear
something green, my lucky colour, on the first day of the trip. Finally, like many
ther athletes, I am especially superstitious when it comes to my sport, tennis. When
I dress for a match, I always wear the same T-shirt with my initials on it. I also use
the same shoelaces in my sneakers that I have had since I first started playing
tennis. As soon as I buy a new pair of sneakers, the first thing I do is replace the
laces with my lucky ones. I am also superstitious about my breakfast on the day of a
match. I always eat the same things: eggs and muffin. All in all, I am superstitious
about many aspects of my life.
A POORLY CONSTRUCTED PARAGRAPH
Japan is a nation of workaholics. Japan has more national holidays than
the United States or Germany. The average worker uses only nine of his or her
eighteen days of paid vacation every year. Many Japanese are uncomfortable
taking vacation days when their coworkers have to be at work, according to
Japanese sociologists who have studied the problem. “I wish I could take more
than a week,” said office worker Masako Tanaka, “but the environment at work
doesn’t really let you do that.” Americans who work for Japanese companies
quickly learn to put in the same long hours as their Japanese colleagues.
Japanese schoolchildren go to school every other Saturday, and they spend
most evenings, weekends, and holidays attending study clubs or cram schools.
The Japanese government wants government workers to take more time off
because people spend more money on vacation, which would help the
Japanese economy. Many Japanese enjoy hark work and long hours; if they
didn’t, they wouldn’t do it. Japanese get used to working long hours when
they are schoolchildren.
Topic Sentences
A topic sentence comprises 2 parts:
☼
☼
a subject
a controlling idea / focus
A topic sentence must be a complete sentence.
An effective topic sentence must fulfill 2 things:
☼
☼
specific enough to narrow down a subject into an idea
general enough to be expanded and elaborated by the rest of the
sentences in the paragraph
Examples:
1. Keeping wild animals in captivity is cruel.
2. Preparing Maggie Mee is simple.
3. There are sevral reasons why I hate to go shopping during weekends.
Supporting Points
After you have stated your point in a topic
sentence, you need to support it with reasons,
facts, and examples. As a writer, it is your job
to provide enough support to prove the point
you made in your topic sentence. Your
supporting sentences should be as specific as
possible.
Supporting sentences that are vague or that
merely repeat the point you made in the topic
sentence are not effective.
Exercise 1
Compare the two paragraphs
Paragraph 1
The repairs on my car were
much expensive than I had
anticipated. When I saw the final
bill, I was in shock. It was twice as
much I had planned on. I had to
pay RM395 to get the brakes
repaired and another RM100 to
get the wheels aligned. The
engine oil change was RM30, and
the replacement of the air filter
was another RM20.
Paragraph 2
The repairs on my car were
much more expensive than I had
anticipated. The mechanic did a
good job, but I think I was
overcharged for everything. I
never imagined that the final bill
would be so high. In fact, I had to
borrow some money from my
friend to pay it. The next time my
car needs repairs, I’ll go to a
different garage.
Exercise 2
Compare the two paragraphs
Paragraph 1
Our family trip to Costa Rica
last summer was very exciting. Every
day we saw something new and
different. One day we went hiking,
which was really an incredible
experience. Another day we took a
rafting trip down a river. We saw lots
of unusual plants and animals that
we had never seen before. We did
many things that we will never
forget. Everyone agreed that this was
the best trip we have ever taken.
Paragraph 2
Our family trip to Costa Rica
last summer was very exciting. We
were there for two weeks, and not a
day went by without something
unusual happening. On our second
day, a boa constrictor swam right in
front of us while we were rafting
down the Rio Claro. Another day,
spider monkeys threw branches as us
deep in the rain forest. Hiking on the
primitive trails in Corcovado National
Park, we saw brilliant scarlet macaws
and toucans with huge yellow beaks.
Whenever we look at the pictures
from our trip, we all agree that it was
the most exciting one we have ever
taken.
Positions of topic sentences
A topic sentence is often placed at the
beginning of a paragraph. However, it can also
appear in the middle, or as the first and last
sentences, or as the last sentence. Sometimes,
it is implied and nor clearly stated in the
paragraph itself.
Unit 5: Unity and Coherence
Unity
Every sentence within the paragraph
should relate to the topic and develop the
controlling idea / focus. If a sentence does not
relate to the topic, it is irrelevant and should
be deleted from the paragraph.
A paragraph which has sentences that do
not relate or discuss the controlling idea lacks
unity.
A paragraph which lacks unity
I love the location of my new house. For one thing, it’s a
very safe neighborhood, and I’m not afraid to go out alone.
There’s almost no crime, and most people don’t even lock
their doors. In addition, the neighborhood is in a convenient
location. Lots of stores, schools, and restaurants are nearby.
Within a few miles, there is also a library, health and fitness
center, and movie theater. Most of all, I really like the people
who live in this neighborhood. They’re friendly and helpful
and seem to want to keep our community safe and clean. My
new house is roomy, comfortable, and sunny, but I need to
buy more furniture.
Unit 5: Unity and Coherence
Coherence
Well-constructed paragraphs and essays
should flow smoothly. Each idea is clearly and
logically related to the one that comes before
and the one that follows it.
One way to achieve coherence is to use
transitional words or phrases to show the
connections between paragraphs to show
how one paragraph is related to another.
Unit 6: Introduction to Essay Writing
Basic Plan of a Typical Five-Paragraph Essay
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
Background Information
Gets reader’s attention using one or more of the following:
☺Anecdotes
☺Quotations
☺Questions
☺Facts and statistics
Thesis Statement
States the subject and focus of the essay
1st SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH
Topic Sentence: States first supporting point
Provides supporting details, examples, facts
nd
2 SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH
Topic Sentence: States first supporting point
Provides supporting details, examples, facts
rd
3 SUPPORTING PARAGRAPH
Topic Sentence: States first supporting point
Provides supporting details, examples, facts
CONCLUSION
Makes final comments by doing one or more of the following:
☺Restating main points
☺Asking a question
☺Suggesting a solution
☺Making a recommendation
☺ Making a prediction
Outline of an essay
Why people save books?
Introduction
Thesis Statement: Why do people save their books? There may several reasons, but three
stand out.
Body
Supporting Paragraph
Topic Sentence: One reason people save their books is to use them as reference materials.
Supporting Paragraph
Topic Sentence:
Another reason some people save books is to make a good impression.
Supporting Paragraph
Topic Sentence: While some people may keep books for practical reference and for conveying
an impression, I suspect that there is a deeper reason.
Conclusion
In fact, if you think about it, security is at the bottom of all these reasons. (summarizing)