UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

WRITING TASK 2
LEVEL 3, 2019-1

NAME: _________________________________________ CODE: _______________ GROUP: ________

HOW TO WRITE AN OPINION COMPOSITION

AIM: *To identify the structure of an opinion composition.

* To understand how to write a topic sentence.
*To express attitudes towards a non-conventional means of transportation in the world.

Activity 1: The perfect topic sentence (at home)

What are the characteristics of a topic sentence?

Every paragraph should include a topic sentence that identifies the main idea of the paragraph. A topic sentence also states the point the writer
wishes to make about that subject. Pick out the most general statement among the following sentences:

1. Animals differ according to when they sleep.

2. Some animals sleep during daylight while others sleep during darkness.
3. Animals’ sleeping habits differ in a number of ways.
4. Hibernation is another kind of sleep for some animals.

Now, change this list of the 4 sentences into a short paragraph by rearranging the sentences and adding a few connectors.

Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK 2
LEVEL 3, 2019-1

Activity 2: recognizing effective topic sentences (at home)

Tip 1
Read each sentence. Write the topic that the sentences share. Then, put a mark √ on the line next to the best topic sentence. The topic
Be prepared to explain your answers in class. sentence must
catch the reader’s
 General topic: Cellphone usage attention!
___ Almost 90% of people in the planet own cell phones.
√_ People own and use a wide variety of cell phones, depending on their work and personal needs.
___ Cellphones are nice for people because they can make phone calls and many other stuff.

1. General topic: ________________

___ Monolingual dictionaries have only one language.
___ Many language students prefer bilingual dictionaries to monolingual ones
___ Dictionaries that have two languages are called monolingual

2. General topic: ________________

___ Internet crime is increasing.
___ Internet scams are responsible for increases in identify theft among senior citizens in the world.
___ Internet crime causes many problems to people.

3. General topic: ____________________

___ Cats and dogs are nice pets
___ Cats cannot swim well, but dogs can
___ Cats are better pets than dogs for many reasons

Activity 3: Evaluating Topic Sentences (at home)

Evaluate each of the following topic sentences and mark them as follows:

E = effective NE = not effective

___ 1. This paper will discuss the life and politics of Simón Bolívar.
___ 2. Japanese culture is fascinating to study because its family traditions are so different from American traditions.

Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK 2
LEVEL 3, 2019-1

___ 3. The admission test for the police academy includes vocabulary questions.
___ 4. The discovery of penicillin was a great step in the advancement of modern medicine.
___ 5. I will talk about the reasons for the popularity of reality television shows.
___ 6. Each year Americans are the victims of more than 1 million auto thefts.
___ 7. Iraq has a long and interesting history

Activity 4: An opinion composition (at home)

Identify the main point that describe what this type of composition is. Write ideas in your own words!

Paragraph 1 Paragraph 2

Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK 2
LEVEL 3, 2019-1

Activity 5. Differentiating facts and opinions (at home)

Read the following statements and decide if they are supporting ideas or opinions. Write O for opinion or S for supporting ideas

___ Soccer is a much more interesting game to play than golf

___ The Nile River splits into the White Nile and Blue Nile in Sudan
Tip 2
___ The most beautiful city in the world is Paris
___ Citrus fruits include oranges, lemons and grapefruit
___ Security alarms are the most effective way to protect homes A fact is
___ School uniforms should be mandatory for all students information that
can be verified
Activity 6. Analyzing an opinion composition (at home) and prove
Read the composition, identify its components and highlight them.
Circle connectors

We all love school uniforms

School uniforms should be mandatory for all students for a number of reasons. Uniforms make everyone equal. In this way, kids with
a lot of expensive clothes can be on the same level as those with fewer clothes. In addition, getting ready for school every morning
can be much faster and easier. Many ids waste time choosing what to wear to school, and they and their parents are often unhappy
with their final choice. Some studies show that school uniforms make students perform better in school.

However, some people might say that uniforms take away personal freedom. Some laws consider that everyone has the right to freely
express their opinion. Also, students have the most basic right to self-determination. So they can choose to wear what they want. But,
students have many other ways to express themselves and express their individuality. For all these reasons, I believe the benefits of
mandatory school uniforms are really strong that we should require them immediately.

Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK 2
LEVEL 3, 2019-1

Activity 7: Thinking about what to write (in class)

 It is time to think about what you are going to write about.

 This must be about an uncommon means of transportation. Go online and find out some means of transportation from around the
world.
 Identify your opinion about it
 Find information that can help you support your opinion
 Think of an opposite opinion
 Find information that can support it

Your opinion Opposite view

Support 1 (include source) Support (include source)

Support 2 (include source)

Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK 2
LEVEL 3, 2019-1

Activity 8. It is time to write your outline (in class)

 Write short sentences
 Do not use linkers
Name: ______________________________________________ Code: _______________ Group: _______________

Topic
sentence
Opinion
Supporting
idea 1
Supporting
idea 2

Opposite idea
Supporting
idea
Closing
sentence

Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK 2
Grade LEVEL 3, 2019-1
EXCELLENT SUFFICIENT ACCEPTABLE INSUFICIENT POOR
Activity 9. Writing your draft
TASK 1.25 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.25

Name: ______________________________ Group: ______ Code: _________ COHERENCE 1.25 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.25
Use your outline and the audio your teacher recorded to help you write a complete draft. GRAMMAR 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
Check the number of words per paragraph
VOCABULARY 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
Remember to follow the structure studied in class.
MECHANICS 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1
Tittle: ____________________________________________________________________________

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Copyright © 2019. Universidad de La Sabana, Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures. Material adapted from: Great Writing 2 - Cengage by Folse, K., Muchmore, A, Vestri, E. Adapted by Porras, C (2019). All Rights Reserved. No part of this material
shall be reproduced, transmitted, distributed or commercially exploited, except with express written permission from the copyright holders. Enquiries for permission to reproduced all or parts of this material should be directed to fld@unisabana.edu.co