UNIVERSITY OF DALAT

Faculty of Foreign Languages

---//---

Writing 3
Selected and Compiled by Nguyễn Tất Thắng

Core course material

For students only, not for sale

Dalat – 2019
 ĐỀ CƯƠNG HỌC PHẦN
NN 2115 – VIẾT 3
(WRITING 3)

Mã học phần NN 2115

Tên học phần Viết 3 (Writing 3)

Loại học phần Kiến thức giáo dục chuyên nghiệp – Kiến thức cơ sở - Học phần
bắt buộc

Số tín chỉ 3 (Lý thuyết: 2,0 – Bài tập: 1,0)

Số tiết học 45 (Lý thuyết: 30 – Bài tập: 15)

Điều kiện tham gia học phần

- Học phần tiên quyết:

+ Sinh viên phải tham gia và thi đạt các học phần Viết 1 và Viết 2
- Các điều kiện khác:

+ Sinh viên phải có kỹ năng sử dụng các phần mềm soạn thảo văn bản.
+ Sinh viên phải có kỹ năng sử dụng máy chiếu.
+ Sinh viên phải có kỹ năng sử dụng Internet và liên lạc qua Email.

II. TÀI LIỆU PHỤC VỤ HỌC PHẦN

Giáo trình chính:
[1] Writing 3
Tài liệu tham khảo:
[2] Jordan, R. R. (1990). Academic Writing Course. Collins ELT

[3] Cory, H. (1999). Advanced Writing. Oxford University Press.

[4] Folse, K. S., Vokoun, A. M, Solomon, E. V. (1999). Great Paragraphs – An Introduction

to Writing Paragraphs. NY: Houghton Mifflin Company.

[5] Lane, J., Lange, E. (1999). Writing Clearly – An Editing Guide. Heinle & Heinle

[6] Langan, J. (1996). College Writing Skills. McGraw Hill.

[7] Reid, J. M. (1994). The Process of Paragraph Writing. New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Regents.

[8] Sarada, M. (2006). Paragraph to Essay Writing. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
III. MÔ TẢ HỌC PHẦN

Học phần tiếp tục rèn luyện kỹ năng viết đoạn văn trong môi trường học thuật. Sinh viên
thực tập cách viết hiệu quả dàn bài một đoạn văn và các thể loại đoạn văn khác nhau. Mục
tiêu của học phần là sinh viên có thể viết một đoạn văn theo chủ đề cho sẵn có cấu trúc phù
hợp, với sự đa dạng về từ vựng và cấu trúc câu.

IV. MỤC TIÊU HỌC PHẦN, CHUẨN ĐẦU RA

Mục tiêu học phần
Học phần nhằm trang bị cho sinh viên kiến thức về phương pháp viết một đoạn văn phù hợp
với môi trường học thuật. Sinh viên thực tập cách làm dàn bài một đoạn văn và viết hiệu quả
các thể loại đoạn văn khác nhau bao gồm : thể loại phân tích nguyên nhân, kết quả, thể loại
giải thích, chứng minh, và thể loại biện luận.

Chuẩn đầu ra học phần

Sau khi hoàn thành việc học học phần này, sinh viên có thể:

1. Nắm vững cấu trúc một đoạn văn.

2. Nắm vững cách viết dàn bài một đoạn văn.

3. Nắm vững phương pháp viết các đoạn văn theo các thể loại được học: phân tích
nguyên nhân, kết quả, thể loại giải thích, chứng minh, và thể loại biện luận.

4. Viết hiệu quả một đoạn văn thích hợp với môi trường học thuật, sử dụng đa dạng từ
vựng và cấu trúc câu.

Các chuẩn đầu ra học phần trên phù hợp với các chuẩn đầu ra chương trình như sau:

Chuẩn đầu ra Chuẩn đầu ra chương trình

học phần
C01 C02 C03 C04 C05 C06 C07 C08 C09 C10

1 X

2 X

3 X X

4 X X
V. ĐÁNH GIÁ KẾT QUẢ HỌC TẬP

Kết quả học tập của sinh viên đối với học phần được đánh giá như sau:

Bài tập Ngày thực hiện Điểm đánh giá

Bài tập 1: cá nhân Thông báo sau 15%

Bài tập 2: cá nhân Thông báo sau 15%

Tham gia các hoạt động trong lớp Thông báo sau 20%

Thi cuối kỳ Thông báo sau 50%

FORMAT ĐỀ NGHỊ CHO PHẦN ĐÁNH GIÁ 50% CỦA WRITING 3

Phần 1: 20% feedback tests (không báo trước): hình thức tùy mỗi giáo viên.
(2 điểm)
Phần 2: 02 bài kiểm tra, mỗi bài 15% = 3 điểm

1- Thời gian làm bài: 90 phút , sinh viên KHÔNG được sử dụng từ điển giấy,
không dùng máy tính, từ điển điện tử lạc việt và internet, điện thoại.

2- Dạng thức ra đề cho mỗi bài kiểm tra:

Yêu cầu sinh viên viết 02 đoạn văn trong số 04 đề cho sẵn, mỗi đoạn văn được đánh giá
trên 7.5%, cụ thể theo các tiêu chí sau đây:
1-Về cấu trúc viết đoạn văn: 1.5%

2-Về câu chủ đề của đoạn văn: 1.5%

3-Về ý tưởng của đoạn văn: 2.0%

4-Về kết cấu thống nhất, sử dụng từ nối: 1.0%

5-Về ngữ pháp và chính tả: 1.5%

3-Nội dung định hướng:

Bài kiểm tra lần 1 kiểm tra các dạng: paragraphs presenting causes/effects, expository
paragraphs presenting explainations and examples.

Bài kiểm tra lần 2 kiểm tra các dạng: paragraphs presenting opinions/argumentations.

Format bài thi cuối khóa: 50% = 5 điểm, thời gian làm bài 90 phút

Yêu cầu sinh viên viết 02 đoạn văn trong số 04 đề cho sẵn, mỗi đề tài thuộc 1 loại.

Thí sinh KHÔNG được sử dụng bất kỳ dạng tài liệu nào, kể cả từ điển.
Mỗi đoạn văn được đánh giá trên 25 % (tương đương 2.5 điểm), chi tiết như sau:

1-Về cấu trúc viết đoạn văn: 0.5%

2-Về câu chủ đề của đoạn văn: 0.5%
3-Về ý tưởng của đoạn văn: 0.5%
4-Về kết cấu thống nhất, sử dụng từ nối: 0.5%
5-Về ngữ pháp và chính tả: 0.5%

Chú ý: Những trường hợp sau đây bị đánh giá là phạm quy và cho điểm 0 toàn bài.

1-Sai nghiêm trọng về cấu trúc viết đoạn văn: ví dụ viết xuống hàng.

2-Viết lạc đề, không đúng với nội dung yêu cầu của câu hỏi đề thi 3-Sử dụng tài liệu trong
phòng thi

4-Làm bài giống nhau hoàn toàn, cho điểm 0 cả hai bài giống nhau.

5-Vẽ bậy trong bài thi

6-Viết hai màu mực hoặc viết bằng mực đỏ, hoặc bút chì trong bài thi.

Các đánh giá trên nhằm kiểm tra việc đạt các chuẩn đầu ra học phần sau:

CĐR học phần Bài tập 1 Bài tập 2 Hoạt động trong lớp Thi cuối kỳ

1 X X X X

2 X X X X

3 X X X X

4 X X X X

VI. KẾ HOẠCH GIẢNG DẠY (đề nghị)

Buổi học Nội dung Hoạt động dạy và học

(4-5T/buổi)

1 Chương 1 - Giáo viên: báo sinh

viên đọc trước chương 1.
• Ôn tập cách viết câu hiệu quả Trên lớp: phân nhóm làm
việc. Ôn tập cách viết
• Ôn tập các lỗi thông thường trong viết câu. câu hiệu quả, các lỗi
thường gặp khi viết câu.
• Giới thiệu cấu trúc cơ bản của đoạn văn qua một Giới thiệu cấu trúc một
số đoạn văn mẫu. đoạn văn. Đưa ra và
giám sát các hoạt động
 ➢ Hình thức đoạn văn làm theo cặp, làm nhóm,
thảo luận chung cả lớp,
➢ Độ dài đoạn văn sửa bài.

➢ Các thể loại đoạn văn - Sinh viên: thực hành

sửa lỗi câu, viết câu hiệu
quả. Làm theo cá nhân,
cặp hoặc nhóm, thảo luận
chung, lên bảng viết bài
hoặc trình bày bằng máy
chiếu.

Chương 2: đoạn văn nguyên nhân và kết quả - Giáo viên: giới thiệu
cấu trúc đoạn văn nguyên
• giới thiệu chung nhân-kết quả. Hướng dẫn
cách viết outline.
• Tìm hiểu cấu trúc của đoạn văn thông qua các
đoạn văn mẫu.
- Sinh viên: xem xét cấu
➢ Bắt đầu và kết thúc đoạn văn trúc một đoạn văn
nguyên nhân – kết quả.
➢ Các từ nối Thực hành cách viết
outline.
• tìm hiểu cách làm dàn bài
- Sau giờ học: viết một
➢ Hoạch định và tổ chức ý
dàn bài về nguyên nhân
➢ Hình thức và các yếu tố của outline hoặc một dàn bài về kết
quả. Làm theo nhóm.
➢ Ứng dụng của outline Gửi bài cho giáo viên
• Bài tập qua email.

2 Chương 2: đoạn văn nguyên nhân và kết quả (tt) - Giáo viên: dùng máy
chiếu sửa bài tập outline
• luyện tập viết dàn bài của đoạn văn chỉ nguyên của sinh viên đã gửi.
nhân. Nhận xét, đánh giá,
khuyến cáo về bài làm
• luyện tập viết đoạn văn chỉ nguyên nhân. của sinh viên. Hướng dẫn
cách viết một đoạn văn
• chú ý mối liên kết giữa các ý. chỉ nguyên nhân. Yêu
cầu sinh viên lên bảng
• sử dụng từ vựng và cấu trúc câu đa dạng. viết, hoặc dùng máy
chiếu. Sửa bài.

- Sinh viên: làm việc

theo nhóm, thảo luận
outline cho một đoạn văn
chỉ nguyên nhân theo đề
tài cho sẵn. Sau đó viết
một đoạn văn chỉ nguyên
 nhân, theo nhóm hoặc cá
nhân.

3 Chương 2: đoạn văn nguyên nhân và kết quả (tt) - Giáo viên: Sửa bài của
sinh viên. Nhận xét, đánh
• luyện tập viết dàn bài của đoạn văn chỉ kết quả. giá, khuyến cáo. Tiếp tục
hướng dẫn cách viết một
• luyện tập viết đoạn văn chỉ kết quả.
đoạn văn chỉ kết quả.
• chú ý mối liên kết giữa các ý. Yêu cầu sinh viên thực
tập, và sửa bài.
• sử dụng từ vựng và cấu trúc câu đa dạng.
- Sinh viên: Thảo luận
nhóm để hình thành
outline cho một đoạn văn
chỉ kết quả. Viết một
đoạn văn chỉ kết quả dựa
trên dàn bài đã làm.
Trình bày và được giáo
viên nhận xét, đánh giá.

- Sau giờ học: Đọc thêm

các đoạn văn về nguyên
nhân-kết quả. Nghiên
cứu chương 3 về đoạn
văn giải thích – chứng
minh.

4 Chương 3: đoạn văn giải thích – chứng minh - Giáo viên: yêu cầu sinh
viên phân tích cấu trúc
• dàn bài một số đoạn văn mẫu
theo các thể loại nhỏ,
• cấu trúc đoạn văn, các thể loại nhỏ: cung cấp
chi tiết, giải thích một tiến trình, đưa ví dụ, phân loại đoạn văn, đánh
thông tin, giải thích một khái niệm. giá cách sử dụng từ
vựng, cấu trúc câu ở mỗi
• tính thống nhất và liên kết giữa các ý thể loại, hiểu outline của
mỗi đoạn. Đưa ra một
• cách sử dụng từ vựng và cấu trúc câu đa dạng
nhóm chủ đề để sinh viên
thực tập thảo luận và viết
outline.

- sinh viên: làm việc theo

nhóm, phân tích các đoạn
và viết dàn bài cho mỗi
đoạn.
 Chương 3: đoạn văn giải thích – chứng minh (tt) - Giáo viên: cho chủ đề.
• thực hành viết đoạn văn giải thích-chứng minh. Giúp đỡ, hướng dẫn sinh
• Thể loại trình bày chi tiết/ giải thích một tiến
viên làm bài. Sửa bài,
trình.
đánh giá, nhận xét,
khuyến cáo.

- Sinh viên: làm việc

theo nhóm. Làm dàn bài
và viết đoạn văn. Trình
bày ở bảng hoặc sử dụng
máy chiếu.

- Sau giờ học: làm dàn

bài cho một đoạn văn
nêu ví dụ/ thông tin/ giải
thích một khái niệm, theo
một số chủ đề cho sẵn.
Gửi cho giáo viên qua
email. Làm theo nhóm.

5 Chương 3: đoạn văn giải thích – chứng minh (tt) - Giáo viên: sửa bài tập
dàn bài của sinh viên.
• thực hành viết đoạn văn giải thích-chứng minh. Yêu cầu sinh viên viết
đoạn văn dựa trên
• Thể loại nêu ví dụ, thông tin, giải thích một khái
niệm. outline. Quản lý thảo
luận chung. Yêu cầu cả
lớp cùng nhận xét về một
số bài làm. Đánh giá,
khuyến cáo.

- Sinh viên: thảo luận,

viết đoạn văn, trình bày.

- sau giờ học: tiếp tục

thực tập viết outline và
đoạn văn theo một số chủ
đề cho sẵn.

6 Chương 3: đoạn văn giải thích – chứng minh (tt) - giáo viên: tiếp tục đưa
ra các chủ đề thuộc các
• Luyện tập dạng khác nhau của thể
loại giải thích-chứng
minh để sinh viên thực
hành. Nhận xét và đánh
 giá bài làm của sinh viên.

- Sinh viên: luyện tập, cải

thiện phương pháp viết,
nhận biết các lỗi sai về
phương pháp, cấu trúc,
cách dùng từ, v.v...

Chương 3: đoạn văn giải thích – chứng minh (tt) - Giáo viên: ôn lại các
chủ điểm của chương 2
• Ôn tập chương 2 và chương 3. và 3. Nhấn mạnh các lỗi
thường gặp trong quá
- Bài tập 1.
trình sửa bài. Nhắc lại
các điểm cần lưu ý trong
hai chương. Quản lý sinh
viên làm bài tập 1.

- Sinh viên: Nêu ý kiến

và nhận xét về hai
chương, các khó khăn và
vướng mắc. Làm bài test
1.

- Sau giờ học: sinh viên

nghiên cứu chương 4:
đoạn văn biện luận.

7 Chương 4: đoạn văn biện luận - Giáo viên: hướng dẫn,

quản lý thảo luận và giải
• giới thiệu đoạn văn mẫu, outline, cấu trúc đoạn đáp thắc mắc.
văn
- sinh viên: thảo luận,
• các bước viết một đoạn văn biện luận.
nêu ý kiến về outline, cấu
trúc đoạn văn, gợi ý một
số đề tài. Thực hành viết
outline.

Chương 4: đoạn văn biện luận (tt) - Giáo viên: Hướng dẫn
sinh viên viết đoạn văn
• thực hành viết dàn bài và đoạn văn. dựa trên dàn bài. Tổ chức
thảo luận đánh giá bài
làm của một số nhóm.

- Sinh viên: thực hành

viết đoạn theo outline.
 Trình bày và nhận phản
hồi từ giáo viên và bạn
cùng lớp.

- Sau giờ học: luyện tập.

8 Chương 4: đoạn văn biện luận (tt) - Sinh viên tiếp tục luyện
tập, giáo viên nhận xét và
• thực hành viết dàn bài đánh giá.
• thực hành viết đoạn văn. - Sử dụng máy chiếu.

9 Chương 4: đoạn văn biện luận (tt) - Sinh viên tiếp tục luyện
tập, giáo viên nhận xét và
• thực hành viết dàn bài đánh giá.
• thực hành viết đoạn văn. - sử dụng máy chiếu.

10 Luyện tập chung: - Giáo viên: cung cấp đề

tài, hoặc yêu cầu sinh
• ôn tập các trọng điểm của mỗi thể loại. viên giới thiệu đề tài.
Đánh giá ý kiến của sinh
• Thực hành ba thể loại trong giáo trình.
viên qua đó nhận xét về
mức độ tiếp thu của sinh
viên thông qua các hoạt
động lớp.

- Sinh viên: phân tích và

xếp loại từng đề tài theo
các thể loại trong chương
trình. Luyện tập viết dàn
bài và đoạn văn cho một
trong các thể loại.

11 Luyện tập chung - Giáo viên: ôn tập trọng

tâm của chương trình.
Ôn tập Đánh giá mức độ tiến bộ
của sinh viên thông qua
Thông tin về hình thức và thời lượng của kỳ thi cuối kỳ.
các hoạt động luyện tập.
Bài tập 2 Đưa ra khuyến cáo về
những điểm chưa đạt.

- Sinh viên: làm bài tập

2.
CÁC QUI ĐỊNH CHUNG

Qui định về tham dự lớp học

Các qui định về tham dự lớp học như sau:
- Sinh viên có trách nhiệm tham dự đầy đủ các buổi học. Nếu sinh viên chính khóa (chính quy) vắng
25% số tiết học (có phép hay không phép) thì sẽ không được làm bài kiểm tra của môn học đó. Cụ
thể như sau:
- Sinh viên vắng 3 buổi (12 tiết) thì sẽ bị cấm kiểm tra.
- Đối với SV vắng 2 buổi (8 tiết) trước bài kiểm tra số 1 thì vẫn được làm bài kiểm tra số 1, nếu SV
này vắng thêm 1 buổi nữa sẽ bị cấm làm bài kiểm tra số 2.
- Sinh viên không thực hiện làm bài tập bị coi như không có điểm, ngoại trừ lý do chính đáng được
giảng viên chấp nhận và cho làm bài thay thế.

Qui định về hành vi trong lớp học

Các qui định về hành vi trong lớp học như sau:

• Môn học được thực hiện trên nguyên tắc tôn trọng người học và người dạy. Mọi
hành vi làm ảnh hưởng đến quá trình dạy và học đều bị nghiêm cấm.
• Sinh viên phải đi học đúng giờ qui định. Sinh viên đi trễ quá 5 phút sau khi giờ
học bắt đầu sẽ không được tham dự buổi học.
• Tuyệt đối không được ăn uống, nhai kẹo cao su, sử dụng các thiết bị như điện
thoại, máy nghe nhạc để làm việc riêng trong giờ học.
• Máy tính xách tay, máy tính bảng chỉ được sử dụng cho mục đích ghi chép bài
giảng, không được dùng để làm việc riêng trong giờ học.
• Sinh viên vi phạm các qui định trên sẽ bị mời ra khỏi lớp và bị coi là vắng buổi
học đó.

---o0o---
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 0 - Review ............................................................................................................. 01
Chapter 1 - Causes and Effects Paragraphs ........................................................................ 04
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 04
2. Discovering causes – effects paragraphs ............................................................. 04
2.1. Paragraphs presenting causes ............................................................... 04
2.2. Paragraphs presenting effects................................................................ 06
2.3. Causes and effects in one paragraph ..................................................... 08
3. Practice ................................................................................................................. 09
3.1. Causes paragraphs ................................................................................. 09
3.2. Effects paragraphs ................................................................................. 20
4. Further reading: Organization of causes – effects paragraphs… ......................... 32
Chapter 2 – Expository Paragraphs ...................................................................................... 34
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 34
2. Discovering expository paragraphs… .................................................................. 34
2.1. Paragraphs providing details… ............................................................. 34
2.2. Paragraphs explaining a process ............................................................ 35
2.3. Paragraphs giving examples ..................................................................37
2.4. Informational paragraph.........................................................................38
2.5. Paragraphs explaining a concept ............................................................ 39
3. Practice .................................................................................................................. 40
3.1. Paragraphs providing details .................................................................. 40
3.2. Explaining a process… .......................................................................... 49
3.3. Paragraphs giving examples ...................................................................61
Chapter 3 - Argumentative Paragraphs ................................................................................. 78
1. What is it? .............................................................................................................. 78
1.1. How to Write One Well Developed Argumentative Paragraph ............. 78
1.2. The major points of an argumentative paragraph ................................... 78
2. Exploring argumentative paragraphs .................................................................... 79
3. Practice .................................................................................................................. 80
3.1. Major Steps ................................................................................................. 80
3.2. Topics for practice .................................................................................. 81
Chapter 0. REVIEW - PARAGRAPH WRITING

1. What is a paragraph?

A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to

write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and
revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece of
writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an organized
fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing).

2. The Basic Rule: Keep one idea to one paragraph

The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one paragraph. If you
begin to transition into a new idea, it belongs in a new paragraph. In this course, you are
going to write ONE paragraph only; therefore, you must keep in mind that your paragraph
should be about ONE main idea.

3. Elements of a paragraph

To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: A Topic

Sentence, Adequate Development (often called Supporting sentences or body), A
concluding paragraph. Unity and Coherence are vital factors in writing a paragraph, too.

As you will see, all of these traits overlap. Using and adapting them to your
individual purposes will help you construct effective paragraphs.

3.1. Topic sentence

A topic sentence (also known as a focus sentence) encapsulates or organises an entire

paragraph, and you should be careful to include one in most of your major paragraphs.
Although topic sentences may appear anywhere in a paragraph, in academic essays they often
appear at the beginning. (From http://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/partopic.html)

3.2. Supporting sentences

The supporting sentences are the developing part which improves major idea expressed in
the Topic sentence. While we write supporting sentences, we must keep in mind that all
supporting sentences must support the controlling idea which in turn must be fully explained,
discussed and exemplified.

3.3. Conclusion sentence

In general, a concluding sentence is a restatement of the topic sentence. It provides the

same information as the topic sentence but it is presented in a different way. The
concluding sentence often starts with adverbs such as all in all, consequently, in conclusion,
in short, in summary, etc..

3.4. Unity
The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with one focus or
major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within different ideas.

1
3.5. Coherence

The most convincing ideas in the world, expressed in the most beautiful sentences, will
move no one unless those ideas are properly connected. If the sentences in your paragraph
are not logically connected, your writing is not highly valued.

Providing transitions between ideas is largely a matter of attitude. You must never assume
that your readers know what you know. In fact, it's a good idea to assume not only that your
readers need all the information that you have and need to know how you arrived at the point
you're at, but also that they are not quite as quick as you are. You might be able to leap from
one side of the stream to the other; believe that your readers need some stepping stones and
be sure to place them in readily accessible and visible spots.

There are four basic mechanical considerations in providing transitions between ideas: using
transitional expressions, repeating key words and phrases, using pronoun reference, and
using parallel form.

3.5.1. Using Transitional Tags từ nối

tu
Transitional tags run the gamut from the most simple - the little conjunctions: and, but, nor,
for, yet, or, (and sometimes) so - to more complex signals that ideas are somehow connected -
the conjunctive adverbs and transitional expressions such as however, moreover,
nevertheless, on the other hand.

3.5.2. Repetition of Key Words and Phrases

The ability to connect ideas by means of repetition of key words and phrases sometimes
meets a natural resistance based on the fear of being repetitive. We've been trained to loathe
redundancy. Now we must learn that catching a word or phrase that's important to a reader's
comprehension of a piece and replaying that word or phrase creates a musical motif in that
reader's head. Unless it is overworked and obtrusive, repetition lends itself to a sense of
coherence (or at least to the illusion of coherence). Remember Lincoln's advice:

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the
time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

In fact, you can't forget Lincoln's advice, because it has become part of the music
of our language.

Remember to use this device to link paragraphs as well as sentences.

3.5.3. Pronoun Reference

Pronouns quite naturally connect ideas because pronouns almost always refer the reader
to something earlier in the text. I cannot say "This is true because . . ." without causing the
reader to consider what "this" could mean. Thus, the pronoun causes the reader to sum up,
quickly and subconsciously, what was said before (what this is) before going on to
the because part of my reasoning.

2
We should hardly need to add, however, that it must always be perfectly clear what a pronoun
refers to. If my reader cannot instantly know what this is, then my sentence is ambiguous and
misleading. Also, do not rely on unclear pronoun references to avoid responsibility: "They
say that . . ."

3.5.4. Parallelism

Parallelism is the use of similar patterns of words (or grammatical forms) to express similar or
related ideas or ideas of equal importance. Using parallel structures creates rhythm and
balance and enables the writer to present ideas clearly, concisely, and smoothly. Perhaps even
more importantly, parallelism can help a writer highlight or emphasize information or make a
powerful point. Without parallelism, writing can become clunky, awkward, and needlessly
confusing. With it, reading can become easy to understand, pleasing to the ear, and even
persuasive.

For an easy way to understand parallelism, take a quick look at two sentences written
with structures that aren't parallel:

Golf requires hand-eye coordination, flexibility, and to be able to concentrate.

Jack is responsible for loading the trunk, cleaning the seat cushions, and the engine
check.

In both cases, you can see the basic function of parallelism at work - or more precisely, the
lack of it. In the first example, the first two items of a three-item list are nouns, while the last
item is a verb phrase. In the second example, the first two items are verb phrases, and the
third is a noun. In neither case does the faulty parallelism actually create a factual error or
alter the meaning of the sentence. But notice how the following two parallel versions not only
attain parallelism - thus demonstrating control of the writing and gaining credibility with
readers - but they also become much more smooth, rhythmic, and easy to follow:

Golf requires hand-eye coordination, flexibility, and concentration.

Jack is responsible for loading the trunk, cleaning the seat cushions, and checking the
engine.

(Adapted from http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/transitions.htm and
http://writingcenter.unlv.edu/writing/parallel.html)

3
Chapter 1 – CAUSES - EFFECTS PARAGRAPHS
lý do xảy sự kiện trước sự kiện
1. Introduction
kết quả của sự kiện sau sk
In our real life, what makes something happen is often called a cause. The term
―Cause‖ basically means the source or the reasons why or for something to happen.

An effect is what comes out as a result of the cause. The term ―Effect‖ simply refers to
the result or outcome. Therefore ―cause and effect‖ is the causal relationship between
two or more actions or two events.

Cause and effect paragraphs are not just written for English writing assignments; news
reporters, magazine writers and bloggers also use them. However, writing with the cause
and effect approach usually means separating cause and effect into different paragraphs.

In this course, we are going to analyze three subtypes of cause-effect paragraphs:

causes, effects, and causes & effects.

2. Discovering causes – effects paragraphs

2.1. Paragraphs presenting causes

Sometimes you are asked to present the causes of an event or something that
happens/happened in your life. This is called a causes paragraph.

Let‘s discover the following paragraph to see how a paragraph of this type looks like.

Growing numbers of well-to-do Americans are making the decision to move to more
rural parts of the country. From their point of view, it is impossible to walk the
streets of a big city at night without fear of being raped, mugged, or murdered. They
claim, too, that city is poisonous, more lethal than cigarette smoke, thanks to the
ever-increasing traffic congestion. In addition, they complain that the food, filled
with chemical additives used to preserve the appearance of freshness, grows worse
with every passing day. Last but not least, fugitives from city life claim that the pace
of urban living exhausts them, leaving them without the energy to enjoy the
entertainment a large city supposedly offers. In short, the tendency of leaving cities
for outskirts is not unexplainable due to three major reasons mentioned.

What is the topic of the paragraph? It is the reasons or causes of American people leaving
cities to move to more rural parts of the country.

How many causes are discussed? Three. Can you name them? ………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? …………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

How many supporting sentences are there? …………………………………………………….

How is the paragraph ended? ………………………………………………………………

4
Hereafter are some more paragraphs discussing causes

a. Although people would rejoice if they didn‘t, cockroaches will live for up to seven
days if decapitated. One reason a cockroach can do this is because its brain is not in its
head. Rather, its brain is scattered throughout its body, and it is separated evenly
between its six legs, according to Dr. Wendel of the Discovery Channel. Another reason
a roach can live without its head is because its white colored blood won‘t ooze out of a
cut like human blood. This makes it impossible for it to bleed to death. Instead, a
roach‘s blood is made of special digestive enzymes that clot instantly upon contact with
air. And the final reason a cockroach can live for seven days without a head is because it
doesn‘t need to eat during that time. Surprisingly, it stores up about a week‘s worth of
food in its body in the form of white gunk that squirts out when the roach is stepped on.
Like fat in humans, the gunk stores energy the critter can live on for quite a while
according to Dr. J. Kunkel of the University of Massachusetts. With these mechanisms
all working together to help the roach survive, it‘s easy to see why one could live a
week after being separated from its head.
( http://www.occc.edu/mschneberger/CWParagraph5.htm).

b. There are several possible reasons why my father is in excellent health, even though he is
over eighty years of age. For one thing, he is in excellent condition because he has stopped
smoking cigarettes. He quit smoking cigarettes because whenever he climbed stairs he would
invariably stop several times and cough loudly. His good health is also due to his cutting
down on the wrong kinds of foods. For example, whereas before he would eat fatty red meat
and deep-fried dishes several times a week, nowadays he seldom does so. He has more energy
as a result. He is also in good physical shape as a consequence of his devotion to exercise. He
swims three times a week at the local gym, and on sunny days he prefers to walk home rather
than take the bus. Therefore, my father is in better shape than some of his children are!

c. Many situations can cause a friendship to end. One of those situations occurs when a
friend moves away and makes new friends; as a result, his or her old friends are often
forgotten. In addition, sometimes friendships end because of a lack of communication. If
one friend never calls or e-mails, the friendship ultimately fades and dies. Furthermore,
busy schedules can cause friendships to end. It is hard to spend time with a friend if one is
busy with school, work, and other responsibilities. Eventually, in these situations, the
friends drift apart. Another reason is the two friends no longer have anything in common or
do not like the choices one of them has made. Perhaps one friend is taking drugs or is
spending too much time with a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Unfortunately, some friendships
end as a result of death. Perhaps the main cause is a fight. If two friends fight and do not
make up or cannot forgive each other, there is no reason to be friends anymore. Friends
may come and go in everyone‘s lives, but no matter how long they are in them, friends
leave a lasting impression.

5
d. Courage At A Cost

Many people believe that the act of courage lies within each individual, and these acts of
courage can be brought out by three possible causes. The first cause, and the most obvious,
is provocation. Often times this is seen in movies where the villain kidnaps and threatens to
kill the hero's family. More often that not, the hero finds it within himself to put aside his
fears and overcome near impossible odds to save the day. The majority of the time it is direct
threats such as this one that provoke human nature to acts of courage. The second cause is a
purpose. In 2001, the Twin Towers fell to terrorist attacks. Military enlistments reached all
time highs as many men and women joined the armed forces. For many of these people, the
prospect of serving their country, and gaining revenge for the cowardice acts of the terrorists
were the only reasons necessary for their courage. The third cause is a belief in a higher
power. The presence of God gives many people the courage to do things they would not be
able to do otherwise. His words play clearly in their minds," Be strong and of good courage",
because: "the lord thy god is with thee whithersoever thou goest"(bible reference).
According to God and his followers, his presence is enough cause for courage. For these
people, their courage knows no boundaries. Whatever your inspiration for courage may be,
you can just about bet it was brought on by one of these three underlying circumstances.

~© Kyle Shearin 2005~

Work with your friends/partners to analyze the above paragraphs, discussing the
topic sentences, supporting sentences, concluding sentences, and transitional
devices.

2.2. Paragraphs presenting effects

When something happens, it yields in some consequent effects. For example, when someone
is scared, there are several changes that follow that moment. Let‘s read the following
paragraph to see how an effects paragraph is written.

The emotion of fear sets off many changes in your body. First, when you become
frightened, you breathe more deeply, giving your muscles more oxygen and greater
energy. Also, your hearts beats more powerfully so that your blood circulates faster,
carrying oxygen to all parts of your body. Moreover, your stomach and intestines no
longer contract and all digestive action stops. No saliva flows in your mouth and your
throat becomes dry. In addition, your face becomes pale and the tiny blood vessels
shrink under the skin so that less blood would flow if you were cut. The blood can
clot faster so that there would be less bleeding from a wound. And then the pupils of
your eyes enlarge, admitting more light during the emergency. In brief, when you are
fearful, a lot of physical changes can be noticed.

6
What is the topic of the paragraph? ……………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? …………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

How many effects are discussed? Can you name them? ………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………….

How many supporting sentences are there? …………………………………………………….

How is the paragraph ended? ………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

Here are some examples of an effect paragraph

Smoking
Smoking has many serious effects. The most obvious effect is the deterioration of a smoker's
health. Smoking increases the risk of lung disease, increases blood pressure, increases the risk
of heart attacks, and reduces the flow of oxygen to the brain. Smoking creates respiratory
problems. A smoker's cough expels phlegm, a thick mucus in the nose and the throat that
wants to escape the body. Prolonged use may lead to emphysema and the need to hook up to
a machine to pump enough oxygen into the lungs. Another effect of this habit is that smoking
breeds halitosis; a smoker's breath always smells foul and repulsive. Smoking frequently
results in social isolation because fewer people smoke or want to be in the presence of
second-hand smoke. Friends and acquaintances often bluntly tell their smoking friends that
they don't want the smell in their cars or in their homes. The strong, offensive odor of smoke
clings to smokers' clothing, hair, and skin. The final effect of smoking is that it depletes the
pocketbook. Smoking is now an expensive habit, and the price of cigarettes continues to rise.
The effects of smoking are many, which leaves one wondering why intelligent people do not
find a way to break their harmful addiction.

(http://college.cengage.com/devenglish/wong/paragraph_essentials/1e/students/exercises/ch9_
1.html)

The Positive Effects of Daycare

Since my daughter has been in daycare she has become better at a few different things. To start
off, her vocabulary is much larger and more developed. Before she started daycare, my daughter
had a few select words that she would say like; momma, dada, Cocoa (one of the puppies), and
some other simple words. Now she tries to repeat everything that is said. Another result of her
being in daycare is that she has the ability to interact with other children better. In the past, she
was only around one child. Now she is around about six to eight kids, and she has learned to
share her toys and to play in a group with the other children. Her learning to share has carried
over at home when she tells her daddy or me that it‘s his turn or mommy‘s turn when putting her
socks on. A third outcome of her being in daycare is the fact

7
that she is becoming more self-reliant. Before daycare, she wouldn‘t try very hard to help me
with getting dressed, but now she wants to try to do it all on her own. She puts her pull ups on
and tries to pull on her shirts and pants herself. Socks still go on upside down, but at least her
shoes go on the correct feet I am really glad that I decided to put her in a daycare, for the
benefits have been great. ~© Jessi Johnson 2005~

(http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19006810/cause%20and%20effect%20paragraphs)

Work with your friends/partners to analyze the above paragraphs, discussing the
topic sentences, supporting sentences, concluding sentences, and transitional
devices.

2.3. Causes and effects in one paragraph

Sometimes it is more convincing, or as required, to write a paragraph analyzing both

causes and effects of an event or situation.

In this kind of paragraph, a cause is presented, then an effect is analyzed, which could
possibly result in another cause of another effect. Let‘s read the following paragraph.

There are more old people in the world today because of an increase in medical
services. Today, more people can get medical services from doctors and nurses in
hospitals and clinics. As a result, fewer people get fatal disease such as yellow fever,
malaria, cholera, and typhoid. This decrease in fatal diseases causes a decrease in the
number of people who die from these diseases. Because of this decrease in number of
deaths, people can live longer today. As a result, there has been an increase in the
number of old people living in the world today.

(From http://myreadwritebooster.wordpress.com/writing-3/2-paragraph-
writing/11-paragraphs-of-cause-effect/)

However, in this course, we are not going to focus on this.

2.4. 5. Coherence and diversity of vocabulary

Coherence in a paragraph is the technique of making words, phrases, and sentences move
smoothly and logically from one to the other. In other words, the ideas are so interwoven and
"glued" together that the reader will be able to see the consistent relationship between them.

It is obvious that if a paragraph is not unified, does not have a logical order, and does not
have a consistent point of view, the reader is unlikely to grasp the point of the paragraph. In
addition, there are other devices and techniques that will help you achieve coherence.

In general, the coherence devices most helpful for making your communication clear for
the reader are transitional words and phrases, repetition of key words and phrases, pronoun
reference, and parallel sentence structure.

8
One of the most common methods of establishing coherence in a paragraph is the use of
transitional words and phrases. These devices indicate to the reader the specific relationship
between what was said and what will be said. (From http://www.cameron.edu/~carolynk/par_coherence.html)

To signify a cause-effect relationship, we can use these words/phrases:

Effects: therefore, thus, hence, then, consequently, accordingly, in conclusion, as a

result, for this reason, otherwise

Causes: because (of), due to, owing to, since, as

Diversity of vocabulary

Causes, lead to, result in, bring about, create, is the result of

3. Practice
3.1. Causes paragraphs
Suppose that you are going to write a paragraph explaining the causes of traffic accidents in
Vietnam. First of all, you have to brainstorm what possible causes may be listed. In
brainstorming, you may apply the technique of listing, clustering, or free writing.

For example, you are going to list all possible causes of traffic accidents in Vietnam:

- Roads: narrow, winding, bad surface, bumpy, ……

- Traffic system: not enough traffic lights, bad traffic signs, …
- People: violate traffic rules – run through red light, speeding, use wrong lanes, …
- Others: too many bikes, too many people but not enough public transportation, …

After that, you are going to reorganize your ideas to make a detailed outline for your
paragraph.

Your detailed outline looks like this

TS. Traffic accidents in Vietnam are the results of three main causes
A. Roads system
a. Narrow, winding / curvy, bumpy
b. Not having enough traffic lights, signs
B. People
a. Low sense of law observation
b. Violation of traffic rules
c. Lack of traffic police
C. Other causes
a. Too many bikes: chances of collision - high
b. Not enough public transportation – private vehicles travelling - increase

TS. In brief, the fact that too many traffic accidents occurring in Vietnam come dominatingly
from the people themselves, the traffic system itself, and lack of public transportation.

9
When you write a paragraph, make sure that the paragraph is about ONE topic only. This
is called unity of the paragraph. It means that you do not add any other ideas into your
paragraph. Also, the connection of the sentences and ideas in your paragraph must be
considered. This refers to coherence.

Some suggestions for coherence of causes paragraphs

is the reason why, because, as, since, for, due to, owing
to, because of, as a result of, result from,

Your paragraph: Based on the detailed above, write a paragraph of about 150 words
about this
……….......................................................................................................................... ...............................................
……….......................................................................................................................... ...............................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
……….......................................................................................................................... ...............................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................................
……….......................................................................................................................... ...............................................
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10
Topics for practice
- Why people go to college or university
- Why more and more students are taking online classes
- Why people keep pets
- Why some people choose not to carry a cell phone
- Why growing numbers of people shop online
- Why so many people eat junk food
- Why some roommates don't get along

Background readings for ideas

3.1.1. Why people go to college or university

For people who have already finished high school, one of the choices they will have to
make is whether to continue to higher education, which means going to college or
university, or to start working and planning their life right away. Different people will have
different choices of their own, but for me, I think there are two main reasons why we should
attend college or university.

The first thing that perhaps anyone would think about going to college is to get a higher level
of education. We may have studied and learned a lot at school, but that‘s just the general
knowledge that anyone should have. If we want to acquire an increased knowledge,
especially the professional knowledge for a particular job or a specialist field of work,
university and college would be the most appropriate place. Of course, going to college is just
an option, besides that there are many ways to prepare for your future career. For instance, for
some reason, namely financial problems, some people can‘t attend college but they can still
study by other means while they‘re working. Still, I think we‘ll get the best and proper
training and education at college.

Another good reason for going to college is that you can get practical and valuable
experiences while studying at college. Going to college is so much different from high
school; it‘s just like living in a new environment. Everyone is grown-up here, and you‘ll also
have to learn to act like a grown-up yourself, learn to adapt and take responsibility for
everything you do. For many students, since they live in the dormitory, away from their home
and family, college will be the new home where they‘ll have an independent life. So, this is
also where they‘ll get to know new people, experience new things and prepare for the life in
the future. So, besides the knowledge, it‘s also important to prepare and learn what it‘s like
living in the real world. And the phase during which you‘ll spend your life at college can
really help you a lot.

Apart from the two reasons above, I think people will find themselves many other good
reasons why they should attend college or university. Although it‘s not always easy to get
through the gate of college or university, the benefit is so obvious and you‘ll have an
advantage, a really good start in your career with all the knowledge, the experiences and
a university or college degree. So if you have a chance, you should really consider
entering university or college.

11
Topic: Why people go to college or university

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3.1.2. Ten Advantages to Taking Online Classes

Taking classes online is a popular way for working professionals to have the chance to earn
a degree at their own pace. People who take online classes usually are looking for career
advancement, career changes, or just want to finish a degree program they started at another
college. There are hundreds of online programs and online schools to choose from, making it
easier than ever before for prospective students to find the right one.

Earning a degree from an online college can possibly lead to a promotion and/or salary
increase, or prepare you for a new career. Even though classroom learning may be
considered more traditional, online education is beneficial in its own right. Below are 10
advantages to online learning.

Degree Programs and Classes Offered

There are a variety of degree programs and single classes offered through online
colleges. Being able to choose from many different programs allows prospective students
to find a program that will suit their needs. These days, programs such as business
management, nursing, computer programming, marketing, communications, and human
resources management are just a few that are available online.

Additionally, students can also choose from various types of degrees depending on previous
educational attainment. Associate, bachelor's, master's, MBA, J.D., and Ph.D. degrees can
all be earned online.

Lower Costs

It is not uncommon for tuition at online schools to be lower than that of a traditional school,
although this is certainly not true of all online programs. In addition, costs associated with
things like commuting or typical classroom supplies are not relevant in an online learning
environment, therefore, lowering overall costs. Furthermore, students might not have to
worry about rising textbook prices as some programs may not require them or provide
reading materials online. Commonly, students are able to download all materials needed for
their classes, including lectures, assignments, additional notes, and other materials.

No Sitting in a Classroom

Since all classes are online, students will not have to attend classes. Lectures and other
materials are electronically sent to the student who will then read them, prepare to take
quizzes, and complete assignments. Students will never have to visit a classroom. For those
working full time, this will save time, simplify studying, and make scheduling events in their
lives much easier. Students will also not have to find parking spaces, leave work early to go
to class, or miss important family time.

Choosing Study Times

Students will be able to plan their study time around the rest of their day instead of the other
way around. It is the student's choice whether or not studying at nighttime or in the morning
is best for them. It is recommended that students try to develop a study routine if they can.

13
Having to work and attend classes at the same time can be very stressful. Online
classes remove the stress by allowing students to learn when it is convenient for them.

Flexibility in Completing Assignments

Schedules may not be as strict when taking classes online. Students can work on and
complete assignments when they are ready and at their own pace. As long as they complete
the assignments required by the deadline, they will be fine. In addition, students usually are
not penalized for turning in assignments early if they wish to work ahead to accommodate a
business trip or family vacation.

Tests and quizzes will likely have to be taken within a week after they are announced, but
students will still be able to choose when they would like to take them. Unlike traditional
students who have set class times, online students are able to review materials until they feel
they are ready to complete assignments or take tests and quizzes.

Options When Returning to the Workplace

For parents who have children, but plan on returning to the workplace in the near future,
earning a degree while taking care of children will help them stay informed about changes
in their former career. If they are trying a new career, they will be able to perform the job
requirements of the related position.

Many times, parents who choose to stay home with their children until they are of age to
attend school lose touch with the workplace. Earning a degree can show prospective
employers that the parent wants to remain informed and be prepared for the new
challenges that may await them once they return to their career.

Balance a Job and Class

Even though someone desires to go back to school, it doesn't mean that they want to leave
their current job. Online degree programs make it so that they don't have to. Students will be
able to go to work during the day and study at nighttime. Many people go to night school
after work to participate in evening classes and are exhausted by the time they get home each
night. Online classes provide the same instruction without the exhaustion, commute, or
unnecessary hassle.

Avoid Adverse Weather Conditions

During snowstorms and thunderstorms, colleges may cancel classes. When colleges cancel
classes, those classes sometimes have to be made up. This may cause the semester to run
longer or the class may run longer in some cases. This can hurt students who are on a tight
schedule and can't afford delays in their schooling. For those who work and have families,
every second counts. People who learn online do not have to worry about cancelled
classes. Even if their Internet service shuts down for the evening, they will still be able to
complete their assignments on time and not have to extend their studies.

Specialized Degree Programs

In many online degree programs, students are not required to take elective classes unless
required by their major. This allows students to focus on and study specifically what they
need to learn for their job. For many students who want to just learn information relevant
to their major, online degree programs work best, as this approach will save time and help
students earn their degree faster.

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Transfer Credits

Students can also choose to earn some of their college credits online and some in a
traditional college setting. For college students who want to attend summer classes, but who
live too far from their colleges or have to work summer jobs, taking online classes from an
accredited college and transferring the credits to their primary college is a good idea.
Students will be able to earn college credit while still enjoying their summer vacation or
fulfilling the responsibilities of their seasonal jobs.

These are just a few of the many advantages of taking online classes. People who enroll in
online degree programs are able to manage their time, learn the materials that are
presented, and complete assignments on their own schedules. While it might not be for
everyone, this type of learning helps many people learn faster, retain more information, and
earn a degree which otherwise would not be possible.

(http://oedb.org/library/distance-vs-local/10-advantages-to-taking-online-classes)

Topic: More and more students are taking online classes. Why?
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3.1.3. Reasons why you should keep a pet

A recent study showed that there are more pets than children in American households.
Amazed? Statistics say that there has also been an increase in the number of Indian families
opting for pets. Keeping pets at home has several benefits â€‖ and if you're among those who
has always wanted to keep a pet, let us convince you to go ahead and get one home!

Pets can enhance your mood

Whether you believe it or not, pets are a great way to improve your mood and temperament.
Research has shown that people who suffer from various diseases have lesser chances of
depression if they keep pets as compared to those who are suffering from similar diseases
and don't keep pets.

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Help to control blood pressure
Health experts say that dog owners have less blood pressure and heart rates. This eventually
reduces the need to take medicines and also helps reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

A source of exercise
Want someone who will accompany you for walks? Dogs can be great companions and will
happily go out for walks, at times even urging you for a walk, when you're too tired,
thereby keeping you active and fit. Other activities related to pets like feeding, bathing,
playing and cleaning are also good ways to exercise.

An antidote for loneliness

No matter how low or lonely you keep, a pet will always be there for you. Whether you want
to pour your heart out to them or tell them your secrets, you know it's all safe with them!
Pets give you unconditional love and are always faithful.

Reduce stress
Stressed out? Pets are known to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Experts say that people can
get relieve from stress and depression, if they spend time with their pets.

Long life
Several studies have revealed that people who tend to spend their time with pets are more
likely to live longer than people who don't.

Better social skills

Want to improve your social skills? It is said that people who keep pets are said to be good
in their social relations. Kids who grow up with pets at home are always respectful towards
living things.

Safety
Having a dog at home is especially good because they also double up as caretakers.
No burglar alarm can be better than a dog at home!

(http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-12/pets/31451613_1_pets-dog-
owners-unconditional-love)

Topic: Why people keep

pets Brainstorming
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More sample paragraphs

Does Every Child deserve their Real Parents?

Many children are placed into foster care because their situation at home is not satisfactory
according to The Department of Family Services. A lot of the situations deal with emotional,
physical, and verbal abuse. A young girl named Tiffany was placed into foster care at the age
of 8. The lack of a father role model in her life had life changing effects on Tiffany. As an
already confused child, she was adopted by a foster home for females. It was run by females
only. As a foster child at the time, when Tiffany would go out into public with either her
―big sister‖ or foster parent, she would begin to understand that she wasn‘t like most
children because all the regular children had their mother and father. She began to develop
insecurities about herself and feel like she just didn‘t fit in with most children. An even more
traumatic effect on Tiffany‘s confusion was she was constantly wondering why she had to go
through all this. Over the last two years Tiffany has been placed back into her home with her
biological mother, but she constantly wonders when she will ever get to meet her real father.
Her mother currently has a long term boyfriend. Tiffany is now starting to accept him as her
father role model, but deep down Tiffany wonders every day if she will ever get to meet her
real father. Tiffany not having her biological father in her life has affected her because she
feels like she doesn‘t have that normal family that everybody else seems to have. Inside she
feels like she is missing something. Overall it hasn‘t ruined her life. Tiffany excels in school,
sports, and in the social life, but she cannot get rid of the empty feeling of not having her real
father in her life. When she gets older she will start to understand what is really going on and
maybe that feeling of loneliness will be gone.
~© 2005 Amy Neill~

The Hard Life of Farmers

The lack of rain and snow has horrible effects on farmers. with no rain their land dries up, and
it is very difficult to grow anything. When the crops fail, the farmers haven't anay choice but
to get a second job in order to make the money they need. Farmong is a full time job and with
a second job, farmers are overworked, stressed and even depressed. Many farmers end up
selling their land. Some farmers have accepted the government program the Conservation
Reserve Program (CRP), which is the land is left idle to let the grass grow and must be left
idle a certian number of years. while the land is in the CRP program, some farmers have
taken outside jobs. That is why when it doesn't rain, you notice that most of the farmers are
very crabby. As a farmer's daughter, I have experienced some good times and some bad
times. I have gained a great respect for farmers everywhere. ~(c)2005 Laura White~

The Effects of Underage Drinking

Underage drinking has many costly consequences adolescents don‘t consider before making
the decision to drink. One costly affect is a criminal record that never goes away, unless
you happen to be under the age of eighteen. With a criminal record job application may be
hindered or employers may see that the other candidate has a clear record; therefore the
employer may choose the other applicant. Other results are the penalties they receive during
court appearances. Depending on the severity of the crime punishment could include,
expensive fines, drivers license revocation, community service, and if you happen to be a
repeat offender, jail time. Jail time, community service, and driver‘s license revocation can

19
interfere with your day-to-day activities putting a damper in your life at that time. Fines are
just payments that could have been avoided; I see them as wasting hard earned money for a
night of fun. A third outcome of underage drinking could result in expulsion from a schools‘
athletic team. If the student is in college the result could be loss of a scholarship. Another
very devastating effect is the loss of respect among peers, parents, and other people associated
with the offender. Even if it is just beer others could assume that you would break the law in
other areas. Although the consequences are always prevalent, some adolescents still choose to
risk it to have what they believe is a good time. ~(c)Ashley Neill 2005~

Dropping Out

For many teenagers, there are numerous negative factors that can lead them to give up on
their education and drop out of school. The first cause is that many teenagers lack positive
role models in their lives. The lack of an encouraging adult in their lives can cause them to
think negatively about themselves and it does not allow them to live up to their full potential.
Also, the lack of a positive role model can cause them to get involved with the wrong kind of
people and activities. When students get involved in these types of negative situations, they
usually don't focus on school. This can lead many impressionable young children to give up
on their education. Another factor that cause a student to give up on school is a lack of
determination. If they're not determined to graduate, it can be very difficult for them to stay in
school. Many students find it difficult to stay focused on school when they when they feel that
getting an education is useless. Some students only attend school because they are forced to
and they are not there to further their education. The third and final factor is peer pressure.
Many students give into pure pressure very easily. If the pure pressure is negative, this can
lead them into drugs and alcohol. The drugs and alcohol can cause them to drop out very
easily because that is the only thing that they are focused on and it can easily ruin a child's
life. ~Copyright 2005 Mike Sullivan~

http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19006810/cause%20and%20effect%20paragraphs

3.2. Effects paragraphs

Almost everything we do results in a certain degree of effects, perceivable or unperceivable.

That is why this kind of paragraph is one of the most important types of paragraphs we
must learn to write well.

Take a look at the following one.

Effects of Alcohol

Letting alcohol take control over your life has many negative effects on a person and the
people around them. One important effect is the damage you can do to your body. Drinking
can lead to severe illness and even eventual death; some health consequences to consider
might be liver disease, kidney failure and, for pregnant women, the loss of their unborn child.
Another detriment is that an addiction could lead to drinking and driving; possibly causing a
fatal car accident for either yourself and/or an innocent by stander. Another concern to
consider is the relationships alcohol can destroy. Alcohol abuse can have very serious affect
on a person‘s temperament, which can lead to spousal and even child abuse. Alcohol often is
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the number one cause in divorce and spending time in jail. It can also affect relationships
outside of the family; many people have lost life long friends whether it is due to foolish
arguments and behavior or possibly death. Lastly, drinking has negative effects on self-
esteem and rational thinking. People become more self-centered, develop low self-esteem,
doing things or behaving in ways that they would not normally. They have little or no regard
to the outcomes of what is said or done when they grow reliant on getting that alcohol high.
The negative effects of alcohol abuse are overwhelming when considering the many
consequences that drinkers and the people around them have to deal with.
~© Racheal Guza 2005~(http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19006810/cause%20and%20effect%20paragraphs)

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There are two major kinds of effects: positive effects and negative effects. Depending on
the question, you may present positive effects only, negative effects only, or both.

Make sure you understand the differences between effects and advantages
and/or disadvantages. The following table shows you how different they are.

Effects Advantages/disadvantages

Something that is produced by an a Any trait, feature or aspect that gives

gency or cause; result; consequence an individual, entity or any other thing a
more favorable opportunity for success.

"The advantages of Mary's plan, compared to

A change that is a result or
consequence of an action or other
cause.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/brows
e/effect)
Bob's plan, were that
it required less money and man power, and
would be completed 5 days sooner." "He had
an advantage over the
other job candidates due to his
personal relationship with the CEO."
(http://www.businessdictionary.com/definitio
n/advantage.html)

From the table, we may say that effects are things that come out after a period of time being
affected by a situation or an event; therefore, when you write a paragraph of this type, you
must think of the consequence or the results that may be brought out of the situation or event;
however, the advantages or disadvantages are the things we may perceive from the reality of
the situation or event, which we could have if we contact that situation or event.

Topics for practice

The effects of poverty on an individual / people

The effects of racial, sexual, or religious discrimination
The effects of computers on our everyday lives
The effects of pressures on students to get good grades
The effects of pollution
The effects of stress on students in high school or college
The effects of the steady increase in the cost of going to college

3.2.1. Effects of poverty on an individual / people

Poverty and crime

Research-proven link
Crime varies over time and space; it‘s high in specific areas and low in others, usually
with huge differences in wealth. This has always led experts to study why and what
happens in those places where there is a concentration of crime.
It‘s unquestionable that crime ranks high among the effects of poverty, and those impoverished
neighborhoods or entire cities show the same problems with uneducated adults

22
and kids that nurture more unemployment and crime, and then leading to chronic, long-
lasting poverty.

Different types of poverty for different crimes

But to solve these issues, it‘s fundamental to have a more detailed and in-depth vision of the
poverty cycle here, and what the precise effects of poverty on crime are in different
communities and environments.
For example it‘s been proved that unemployment is a bigger factor for specific types of crime
than income inequality is. Low incomes on the other side tend to spur property-related
crimes (burglary and all that) but reduce violence. Overall studies have shown very different
effects of poverty, for different types of poverty: from income inequalities, to social
exclusion and unemployment.

Consequences of poverty on people

The vicious cycles of poverty mentioned before mean that lifelong handicaps and troubles
that are passed on from one generation to another.

To name just a few of these hereditary plagues: no school or education, child labor to help
the parents, lack of basic hygiene, transmission of diseases.

Unemployment and very low incomes create an environment where kids can't simply go to
school. As for those who can actually go to school, they simply don't see how hard work
can improve their life as they see their parents fail at the task every day.

Other plagues coming with poverty:

- Alcohol & substance abuse, from kids in African slums to adults in the US, this is a very
common self-destructing habit often taken as a way to cope with huge amounts of stress and...
well, despair;

- Crippling accidents due to unsafe working environments (machinery in factories or

agriculture) as well as other work hazards such as lead poisoning, pesticide poisoning,
bites from wild animals due to lack of proper protection;

- Poor housing, a long-lasting cause of diseases;

- Water and food-related diseases, simply because the poor can't always afford "safe" foods.

Effects of poverty on society as a whole

In the end, poverty is a major cause of social tensions and threatens to divide a nation
because of the issue of inequalities, in particular income inequality. This happens when
wealth in a country is poorly distributed among its citizens. In other words, when a tiny
minority has all the money.

The feature of a rich or developed country for example is the presence of a middle class,
but recently we've seen even Western countries gradually losing their middle class, hence
the increasing number of riots and clashes.

23
In a society, poverty is a very dangerous factor that can destabilize and entire country. The
Arab Spring is another good example, in all of the countries concerned, the revolts started
because of the lack of jobs and high poverty levels. This has led to most governments
being overthrown).

Child poverty
Powerless victims

Ever since the 1960s, the share of children affected by poverty has only got bigger and bigger.
Children are those who have the least choice and ability to change what happens to them.

There isn‘t much they can do to help their families, nor should they have to. Until they can
stand firmly on their two legs, usually by the age of 6, then they can be enrolled willy-nilly
in child labor.

Nearly all possible effects of poverty have an impact on children‘ lives. Poor
infrastructures, unemployment, lack of basic services and income reflect on their lack of
education, malnutrition, violence at home and outside, child labor, diseases of all kinds,
transmitted by the family or through the environment.

(From http://www.poverties.org/effects-of-poverty.html#sthash.fXcsT8CJ.dpuf )

Topic: Effects of poverty on an individual / people

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Topic 2: Effects of computers

The Impact of Computer Technology in Our Daily Lives

The technology that we have today continuously develops so that it makes our daily living
more and more convenient and comfortable each day. And one of the most important
contributions of computer technology is the enhanced communication technology that we
have today. Check out the GE Fanuc Series of components for example, for example the
90- 30 GE Fanuc is an amazing piece of machinery .

Before, if we liked to send messages to our loved ones overseas, there is no other option but to
send them "snail mail" which would take more than three weeks. But today, with the use of
different communication devices such as computers and mobile phones, communicating with our
loved ones has never been so easy. With just a press of a button or click of mouse, we can
25
instantaneously send and receive messages to our loved ones with the help of internet – we
can even talk to them via video conferencing. We can also send and receive instant
messages on our mobile phones which enable us to connect to our friends, families, and
relatives wherever and whenever we like.

Another important role of computer technology is that it allows us to have a better

understanding of everything such as education. Computers are being used nowadays to
teach children easily and conveniently which develops their thinking and creativity skills at
the same time.

Computer technology arouses the students' creativity as well as their thinking skills.

Computers also help students with learning disabilities to be able to easily understand
their lessons. Also, teachers can use computer technology to improve their teaching skills.

Today, with the use of latest word processing applications, students can improve their
spellings because these applications can tell if certain word is misspelled. Also, people
who have communication disability such as the Mute and Deaf can easily express their
thoughts and feelings with the use of computers.

(From http://technology.ezinemark.com/the-impact-of-computer-technology-in-our-
daily-lives-16d174503a2.html )

A student’s essay about effects of computers

The Effects of Computers on Our Everyday Lives

Nowadays, we use the computers every day. Computers have become essential and we can‘t
live without them. Why computers are so important? Maybe it is easy to use. Computers
can help us do many things. It has a lot of effects on our life. We use computers to get the
information, deal with many things and improve our relationship with our friends.

We can get the information when we use the computer to surf the net. We can get the instant
and latest news. Everything happened just a moment ago. In the next second, it will be post
on the website. How fast the information could we get from the computer. Besides, one of the
most important things about computer is that you are easy to search data or everything you
want to know on the internet. Just type the key words on the websites and you will get many
results. It‘s really convenient. So, try to search everything as possible as you can.

Except getting the information, computer can also deal with many important things. It can
finish your work easier. When we need a complex calculating, we use the computer to
execute it. When we need to write down something, we type the words in the computer. It‘s
more quickly and convenient. Computer can save your data in electronic way, too. All data,
files and even the music can be stored in the computer. You can keep it forever and you don‘t
need to worry about the data will miss. In addition, you can use the computer to go shopping.
Most of the things you want can buy them online. Everyone likes to go shopping online
without leaving home.

We may also use the computer to improve our relationship with our friends. Talking with our
friends online is common in our daily lives. No matter how far he is from you. As long as you
open the computer and you are able to talk to him. Moreover, you can get along with friends

26
or make new friends by joining some community websites. For example, you can use
facebook, twitter, purk or some blogs to share many things with your friends. Sounds like
uploading some photos, keeping the diary, distributing information or playing some
interactive applications and so on. Therefore, they can also response their thoughts and
make comments to you. It‘s a useful way to communicate with your friends and I am sure it
can further your relationship and male many friends.

Computer has lots of effects on our everyday lives. It can get the information, deal with
many things and improve your relationship with your friends. It‘s too important that we need
to use it every day. Computer has become the one part of our lives.

Topic: Effects of computers on people people

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Topic: Pollution Effects

On Humans, Animals, Plants and The Environment

Pollution effects are indeed many and wide-ranging. There is no doubt that excessive levels
of pollution are causing a lot of damage to human & animal health, tropical rainforests, as
well as the wider environment.
All types of pollution – air, water and soil pollution – have an impact on the
living environment.
The effects in living organisms may range from mild discomfort to serious diseases such
as cancer to physical deformities; ex., extra or missing limbs in frogs.
Experts admit that pollution effects are quite often underestimated and that more research
is needed to understand the connections between pollution and its effects on all life forms.
Environmental Pollution Effects on Humans
We know that pollution causes not only physical disabilities but also psychological
and behavioral disorders in people.
We are discussing the effects of air pollution and specific air pollutants in more detail
in our Air Pollution Effects article.
The following pollution effects on humans have been

reported: 28
Air Pollution Effects
- Reduced lung functioning
- Irritation of eyes, nose, mouth and throat
- Asthma attacks
- Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing
- Increased respiratory disease such as bronchitis
- Reduced energy levels
- Headaches and dizziness
- Disruption of endocrine, reproductive and immune systems
- Neurobehavioral disorders
- Cardiovascular problems
- Cancer
- Premature death

Water Pollution Effects

- Waterborne diseases caused by polluted drinking water:
- Typhoid
- Hookworm
- Waterborne diseases caused by polluted beach water:
- Rashes, ear ache, pink eye
- Respiratory infections
- Hepatitis, encephalitis, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach aches
- Conditions related to water polluted by chemicals (such as pesticides,
hydrocarbons, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals etc):
- Cancer, incl. prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin‘s lymphoma
- Hormonal problems that can disrupt reproductive and developmental processes
- Damage to the nervous system
- Liver and kidney damage
- Damage to the DNA

Soil and Water Pollution,

Lead in soil is especially hazardous for young children causing developmental damage to
the brain. Mercury can increase the risk of kidney damage; cyclodienes can lead to liver
toxicity Causes neuromuscular blockage as well as depression of the central nervous system
Also causes headaches, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation and skin rash
Other notes:
Contact with contaminated soil may be direct (from using parks, schools etc) orindirect (by
inhaling soil contaminants which have vaporized)
Soil pollution may also result from secondary contamination of water supplies and
from deposition of air contaminants (for example, via acid rain)
Contamination of crops grown in polluted soil brings up problems with food security
Since it is closely linked to water pollution, many effects of soil contamination appear to
be similar to the ones caused by water contamination

An Extreme Oil Pollution Case

Pollution of pristine Ecuador rainforest by Texaco / Chevron oil corporation
represents perhaps one of the most outrageous cases of oil pollution ever.
Some levels of pollutants left by the company on its sites of oil exploration have been
calculated to exceed the US safety standards by as much as 1,000 times, causing such
side effects as children born with fused fingers and deformed eyes, high cancer rates, etc.

29
For more details, check out the Oil Pollution of Ecuador Rainforest article.

Effects of Pollution on Animals - Air Pollution

Acid rain (formed in the air) destroys fish life in lakes and streams
Excessive ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun through the ozone layer in the
upper atmosphere which is eroded by some air pollutants, may cause skin cancer in
wildlife Ozone in the lower atmosphere may damage lung tissues of animals
Nutrient pollution (nitrogen, phosphates etc) causes overgrowth of toxic algae eaten by other
aquatic animals, and may cause death; nutrient pollution can also cause outbreaks of fish
diseases
Chemical contamination can cause declines in frog biodiversity and tadpole mass
Oil pollution (as part of chemical contamination) can negatively affect development of
marine organisms, increase susceptibility to disease and affect reproductive processes; can
also cause gastrointestinal irritation, liver and kidney damage, and damage to the nervous
system Mercury in water can cause abnormal behavior, slower growth and development,
reduced reproduction, and death
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may cause declines, deformities and death of fish
life Too much sodium chloride (ordinary salt) in water may kill animals (Ref. 7)
Other notes:
We also assume that some higher forms of non-aquatic animals may have similar
effects from water pollution as those experienced by humans, as described above
Effects of Pollution on Animals - Soil Pollution (Ref. 8)
Can alter metabolism of microorganisms and arthropods in a given soil environment; this
may destroy some layers of the primary food chain, and thus have a negative effect on
predator animal species
Small life forms may consume harmful chemicals which may then be passed up the food
chain to larger animals; this may lead to increased mortality rates and even animal
extinction Environmental Pollution Effects on Trees and Plants

Air Pollution
Acid rain can kill trees, destroy the leaves of plants, can infiltrate soil by making it
unsuitable for purposes of nutrition and habitation
Ozone holes in the upper atmosphere can allow excessive ultraviolet radiation from the sun
to enter the Earth causing damage to trees and plants
Ozone in the lower atmosphere can prevent plant respiration by blocking stomata (openings
in leaves) and negatively affecting plants‘ photosynthesis rates which will stunt plant growth;
ozone can also decay plant cells directly by entering stomata
Water Pollution
May disrupt photosynthesis in aquatic plants and thus affecting ecosystems that depend on
these plants
Terrestrial and aquatic plants may absorb pollutants from water (as their main nutrient
source) and pass them up the food chain to consumer animals and humans
Plants may be killed by too much sodium chloride (ordinary slat) in water
Plants may be killed by mud from construction sites as well as bits of wood and leaves, clay
and other similar materials
Plants may be killed by herbicides in water; herbicides are chemicals which are most
harmful to plants

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Topic: Effects of computers on people people
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4. Further reading: Organization of causes – effects paragraphs

The Cause/Effect Paragraph

You can organize a cause/effect paragraph in one of three ways. First, discuss both the
causes and effects of a problem or issue simultaneously or consecutively; second, state an
effect first and then discuss its causes; third, state a cause first and then discuss its
effects. Diagrammed these three methods look like this:

(1) C/E1, C/E2, C/E3

(2) E + C1, C2, C3,
(3) C+ E1, E2, E3

The first method, since you are discussing both ends of an issue, will call for more
development than the other two and should, perhaps, depending on the amount of time you
have and how much you know, be reserved for essays. As for the other two, let's look at
some sample paragraphs illustrating the development of each. Suppose you were to write a
paragraph on "The Causes and Effects of Air Pollution" using the Effect + C1 C2 C3 method.
Your product may look something like this:

Air pollution is perhaps the most devastating form of pollution since it destroys a
resource that every life form as we know it needs to sustain itself. The effects of this
menace, both immediate and far ranging, are easy to summarize: unbreathable air. The
causes, however, need some more inspection. Every citizen who drives a car that is not
properly serviced and that does not have emission control devices is contributing
noxious gases into the atmosphere. Large industries that do not have filtration
mechanisms on their smoke stacks are also contributors. Every government which does
not pass, or passes but does not enforce, strict air pollution legislation is also destroying
the atmosphere. One may wonder why these three aspects of society are so cavalier
about the air they breathe. Well, there is an underlying cause which motivates all three
groups: money.Legislation and enforcement of laws, installation and maintenance of
32
 filtration systems cost money. The majority of these three groups seems content to save
a bit of money now and to sacrifice an invaluable commodity later.

Here is a paragraph using the C + E1, E2, E3 method.

Air pollution is perhaps the most devastating type of pollution because it destroys a
resource every life form as we know it needs to sustain itself. The cause of this
menace is a century or so of unconcern among individual citizens, large corporations,
and governments. The effects of disregarding the warning signs influence present life
styles and determine the future. Now people are only inconvenienced by air pollution.
Large urban areas such as Los Angeles have pollution alerts which warn elderly
people and those with pulmonary diseases to stay indoors. For those intrepid enough
to venture outdoors, alerts mean stinging eyes, irritated sinuses, scratchy throats. Even
though people living outside large urban areas are seldom inconvenienced today, no
one should be complacent about what the future holds. If pollutants keep building up
in the atmosphere at present rates a few years into the 21st century will find the
delicate layers of the atmosphere so damaged as to admit the sun's ultraviolet rays full
throttle, or the atmosphere will be so clogged with pollutants that not enough of the
sun's warming ways will filter through to support life. Whatever happens in the upper
air, the city streets will surely be nonnegotiable without a gas mask, and every home
will have to have special filtration systems to make the air breathable. Without strict
controls on polluters, today's inconveniences will be only a few years into the 21st
century will find the delicate layers of the atmosphere so damaged as to admit the
sun's ultraviolet rays full throttle, or the atmosphere will be so clogged with pollutants
that not enough of the sun's warming ways will filter through to support life.
Whatever happens in the upper air, the city streets will surely be nonnegotiable
without a gas mask, and every home will have to have special filtration systems to
make the air breathable. Without strict controls on polluters, today's inconveniences
will be tomorrow's crises.

Hazards to avoid

In using this pattern the writer must be especially wary of attributing effects to superficial
causes when a bit of reflection will reveal more important ones. For example, it is facile but
rather superficial logic to say that the Arab oil exporting countries keep raising the price of oil
only to make themselves immensely rich and to bring the rest of the world to its knees. One
has only to pause a moment to ponder the Arab Nations' position. It might be reasonable to
conclude that they have a finite supply of an important commodity; one day it will be gone,
and the world will be powered by other sources; and therefore, they must have a hedge
against the future. Cause/effect development may appear easy on the surface when in fact it is
very demanding. ( From http://utminers.utep.edu/ajkline/cause.htm)

33
Chapter 2 – EXPOSITORY PARAGRAPHS

1. Introduction

When you do your readings, such as your textbook, the newspaper, magazine articles, or any
other kinds of publications, you are working with expository writing. When you write
answers for an essay test, you use the expository form.

In an expository paragraph you give information. You explain a subject, give directions, or
show how something happens. In expository writing, linking words like first, second, then,
and finally are usually used to help readers follow the ideas (except for our purposes those
words cannot be used).

An expository paragraph explains information. It may compare, contrast, list, summarize

or discuss different types of information. For instance, you can write a paragraph
explaining friendship or contrasting a book and a movie. Your topic sentence should
clearly state the main point of the paragraph. In the next sentences, support or expound
upon the topic sentence. If you're writing about friendship, for example, you might include
sentences showing how friends are encouraging, uplifting and understanding.

This paragraph, like the others, organizes itself around three parts. A topic sentence allows
the reader to understand what you are writing about. The middle part of the paragraph
contains sentences that follow one another in a logical sequence of steps. The final sentence
closes your subject with an emphasis on the final product or process desired by the topic.

2. Discovering expository paragraphs

2.1. Paragraphs providing details

Many times in our life, we must explain our opinion by providing details about a topic, which
could be the most convincing method in persuading someone to buy or not to buy a car, for
example, or sometimes you would like to prove someone that going to college takes a lot of
money from you.

Remember that all paragraphs should contain a topic sentence. It may be even more important
in the expository paragraph because this is where the main idea of the paragraph is expressed.
This topic sentence lets the reader know what the rest of the paragraph will discuss.

Take a look at a sample below to see how a paragraph providing details looks like.

Going to college can be expensive. First, college tuition and room and board can cost
anywhere from $2,000 to more than $10,000 per semester. Other expenses make going
to college even more expensive. For example, books typically cost between $100 and
$500 each term. Second, materials are also very expensive. Paper, notebooks, writing
utensils, and other supplies required often cost more at the college bookstore than at any
local discount department store. For instance, a package of notepaper costing $2 at a
discount store might cost $5 at a college bookstore. Finally, there are all kinds of special
fees added onto the bill at registration time. A college student might have to pay a $50
insurance fee, a $20 activity fee, a $15 fee to the student government association and
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 anywhere from $500 to $100 for parking. There is another fee if a student decides to add
or drop classes after registration. The fees required to attend college never seem to end.

The topic sentence in the example lets the reader know that the paragraph will talk about the
expenses of going to college. Immediately following the topic sentence is the first supporting
sentence (underlined) and two detail/example sentences. Each support sentence and its two
detail/example sentences are shown in different colors so you can see where one ends and the
next begins. Finally, the closing sentence neatly ties back to the topic sentence by rephrasing
it.

Notice the use of transitional words to help the reader follow the ideas. Also, notice the use of
third person point of view in this paragraph. The third person point of view (he, she, one)
is most commonly used for expository writing, technical writing, and any other sort of writing
that has a business-minded or persuasive intention or purpose. For our purposes in this class,
you will always use third person point of view when writing expository paragraphs,
unless otherwise directed. This means there should be no "I" or "you" words anywhere
in the paragraph.

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?
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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?
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2.2. Paragraphs explaining a process

Many a time, an explanatory paragraph is not only to give information but to explain a
subject thoroughly. This is commonly done in a way that teaches readers about the subject or
informs them on how to do something. For example, recipes and travel guides use
explanatory paragraphs to explain step by step what must be done to accomplish the task.

When you tell someone how to do something in chronological order or in logical steps,
you are telling someone how to complete a process. Writing the process can be completed
in one well developed paragraph.
Once you decide the type, you need to select a topic. You may need to leave your younger
sister written directions on how to cook rice properly. Or, you may need to write down the
instructions for your brother on how to change the oil in his motobike, so he does not forget.
You may even need to write directions on how to sign up for a Facebook account. Your best
friend does not understand the teacher's lesson but understands your instructions. These are
just a few examples of when a process paragraph can be helpful.
Some examples for a paragraph of this type:
how to sign up for a Gmail account
how to
create a MS PowerPoint presentation how to
organize your notebook
Sample paragraph 1: You will now take a look at a paragraph explaining how to make a cup
of tea.

How to Make a Good Cup of Tea

Making a good cup of tea is exquisitely simple. First, the teapot is heated by filling it
with water that has just come to a boil. This water is then discarded, and one
teaspoon of loose tea per cup is placed in the teapot (the exact amount may vary
according to taste). Fresh water that has just come to a boil is poured into the pot. A
good calculation is six ounces of water for each cup of tea. The tea must now steep
for three to five minutes; then it is poured through a strainer into a cup or mug. A
pound of loose tea will yield about two hundred cups of brewed tea. Using a tea bag
eliminates the strainer, but it is still best to make the tea in a teapot so that the water
stays sufficiently hot. The typical restaurant service—a cup of hot water with the tea
bag on the side—will not produce the best cup of tea because the water is never hot
enough when it reaches the table and because the tea should not be dunked in the
water; the water should be poured over the tea. Although tea in a pot often becomes
too strong, that problem can be dealt with very easily by adding more boiling water.

(From: Scarry S. and Scary J., 2011: 422)

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?
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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?
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Sample paragraph 2: Have you ever baked a cake? This is how.

Chocolate cake with vanilla/almond frosting provides a tasty treat for any occasion.
Follow the directions for making any flavor of chocolate cake. While the cake bakes
in the oven, prepare a box of vanilla frosting mix added with roasted and buttered
almond slivers. Evenly coated in melted butter the almond slivers toast in a hot oven
for approximately ten minutes. Thoroughly toast the slivers without turning them
crispy. Cool the toasted almonds and set aside a handful for the final touch. Fold the
almonds into the vanilla frosting, and after covering the cake, sprinkle a handful of
toasted almonds on the top. After serving this desert to your guests then generally ask
for the recipe of your chocolate/vanilla/almond cake. Now you have the opportunity
to smile and...

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?
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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?
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2.3. Paragraphs giving examples

Sometimes, to convince our readers, we find that providing them with specific examples
occurring in our real life is the most persuading method. The examples could be our own,
or one that we know from our real life, or even in what we have read.

The following short paragraph illustrates this (from http://www.fauxpress.com/kimball/w/10.html)

Paragraph 1

A healthy heart is influenced by various factors. For instance, when people get angry,
the heartbeat increases and the chance of clogging the arteries increases as well.
Medical experts such as heart specialists warn against too much drinking of alcohol
like beer or whisky. In this instance, however, not all experts agree. To be specific,
some doctors say that moderate drinking, such as one or two beers a day, can be a
good influence on the heart. Daily exercise like playing tennis exemplifies one
influence that most experts agree is positive for maintaining a healthy heart.

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?

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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?

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Paragraph 2

Sometimes it is necessary to change our habits. Saving energy is one illustration. If we

can save more energy, such as water and electricity, we can help keep the natural
environment safe. Saving water, for example, helps preserve our rivers and reservoirs.
If we usually take 10-minute showers, in this case we should try to take shorter
showers. When we go out, we should remember to shut off electronic like televisions
and computers. Turning off the lights is another example of saving electricity. In short,
remembering to help the environment, such as by saving energy, is one of our most
important responsibilities.

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?
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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?
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2.4. Informational paragraph

An informational process paragraph explains how something works or how something

worked in the past. Its purpose is purely to provide information. Such writing could be found
easily in history books. For instance, if you described how General Diponegoro planned his
battle strategy, this would be informational process writing. The following example explains
the developmental phases of the use of literature in the second or foreign language teaching.
In the paragraph, the transitional words that signal the steps or stages of the process have been
italicized.

The Use of Literary works in Second/Foreign Language Teaching

The use of literary works in the second/foreign language curriculum varies greatly
depending on the method dominating the practice. First, literary works were notable
sources of material when the Grammar Translation Method dominated until the end
of the 19th century. But they were absent from the curriculum until 1970s when the
Grammar Translation Method was successively replaced by Structuralism
Approach, Direct Method, Audio-lingual Method, Community Language Learning,
Suggestopedia, the Silent Way, Total Physical Response, and the Natural Approach
because these methods tend to regard a second and foreign language teaching as a
matter of linguistics.They emphasize more on structures and
vocabulary. Then literary works became even more divorced from language
teaching with the advent of the communicative approach which focuses on the
teaching of ―usable, practical‖ contents for enabling students to communicate
orally. In this period the second and foreign language classrooms were dominated
by dialogues. However, the situation changed quite radically since the 1980s when
literature has found its way back into the teaching of second and foreign language
though not in the way it was used with the Grammar Translation Method.
Afterward, literature undergoes an extensive reconsideration within the language
teaching profession.

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?

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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?

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To write a good process paragraph, you should pay attention to three important things. First,
make sure that the steps in the process are complete. Following a procedure whose steps are
incomplete will fail to produce the expected result. Second, present the steps in the right
sequence. For example, if you are describing the process of cleaning an electric mixer, it is
important to point out that you must first unplug the appliance before you remove the blades.
A person could lose a finger if this part of the process were missing. Improperly written
instructions have caused serious injuries and even death. (Scarry S. & Scary J., 2011: 415).

38
Finally, use correct transitional words to indicate the sequence of the process you are writing.
the followings are transitions commonly used in process analysis.

(From http://myreadwritebooster.wordpress.com/writing-3/2-paragraph-
writing/9-process-paragraph/)

2.5. Paragraphs explaining a concept

In our real life, many times in our communication, we must explain a concept to our
interlocutor(s) who could be a child asking about what ‗worship‘ means, or a friend
asking about a technical term in the class, e.g. mutual benefits, or friend wondering what
‗global warming‘.

This an example of this type.

Integrity
The word evokes the wonder of whether or not our society deserves its value. With
constant whining about one's "rights" there exists the denial of personal responsibility
and the accompanying lowering of personal worth. Where, then, are the individuals
who will stand up to the demands of family unity, a strong work ethic, and a
wholesome participation in the societal framework? These very demanding
environments cry out for mature behavior in everyone, youth as well as adults. It is
when each individual accepts responsibility for truth, honesty, and a job-well-done
that integrity, once again, emerges as a pillar of our national pride.

Can you identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence of
the paragraph?

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Can you detect how the ideas are connected in this paragraph?

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 3. Practice

3.1. Paragraphs providing details

Suppose that you are going to write a paragraph explaining the disastrousness of a storm;
perhaps, the best way to illustrate your ideas is to provide your readers with details. The
outline of your paragraph may go like this.
TS: The storm Linda that hit Vietnam last week was disastrous.

A. People
a. Death toll: 42, of which 23 children
b. Injure: 89, of whom 50 children and 8 elderly
B. Property
a. Buildings: 5 schools completely damaged, 2 hospital tormented
b. Houses: 67 houses destroyed
c. Roads: 39 km of national routs ruined
C. Others
a. 89.000 children had to halt their schooling for 5 days
b. The government had to spend USD 4 million to cover the losses

CS: In brief, the storm Lida sweeping Vietnam last week, was a nightmare to local residents.

Note: - Your outline must have at least three parts: The TS, details (Body), and the
Conclusion.

- There should be 3 major ideas to support the controlling idea. Then within
each major ideas (A, B, and C), there should be details (a, b, or c) to support
these major ideas.
- The diversity and variety of vocabulary should be considered here.

Write a paragraph based on the detailed outline above.

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Coherence: With this type of paragraph, there is no specific for the connection words
you should you. The vocabulary choice depends on how you develop your paragraph.
Hereafter are some devices that may be if use for you in writing this type of paragraph

again, also, and, and then, besides, equally

important, finally, first, further, furthermore, in
addition
addition, in the first place, last, moreover, next,
second, still, too
comparison also, in the same way, likewise, similarly
although, and yet, at the same time, but at the same
time, despite that, even so, even though, for all
contrast that, however, in contrast, in spite of, instead,
nevertheless, notwithstanding, on the contrary, on
the other hand, otherwise, regardless, still, though,
yet
emphasis certainly, indeed, in fact, of course

after all, as an illustration, even, for example, for

example or instance, in conclusion, indeed, in fact, in other
illustration words, in short, it is true, of course, namely,
specifically, that is, to illustrate, thus, truly

all in all, altogether, as has been said, finally, in brief,

in conclusion, in other words, in particular, in short,
summary
in simpler terms, in summary, on the whole, that is,
therefore, to put it differently, to summarize

after a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as

long as, at last, at length, at that time, before,
besides, earlier, eventually, finally, formerly,
time further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place,
sequence in the past, last, lately, meanwhile, moreover, next,
now, presently, second, shortly, simultaneously,
since, so far, soon, still, subsequently, then,
thereafter, too, until, until now, when

Topics for further practice:

- Expensiveness of studying at a big city

- Owning a phone is costly
- The variety of flowers/plants at Dalat
- It is hard working as a waiter/waitress

As a rule of thumb, after select a topic, you must brainstorm to gather ideas for your
paragraph. Brainstorming could be listing, free writing, or clustering. Then, from the ideas
you have got, you make a detailed outline before starting writing your first paragraph.

41
Topic: Cost of living in a big city
Reading: How much does it cost to live in Germany?

Compared to other European countries, Germany is not overly expensive. The price of food,
accommodation, clothing, cultural activities, etc. is equivalent to the EU average. In fact,
the cost of living is relatively low compared to Scandinavian countries.
Be it the room in a dormitory, the pizza in a restaurant or the bottle of beer in a student club
- everything costs money. Prices differ a lot not only in the big cities but all across Germany.
While life and study in Munich is rather expensive, staying in Leipzig for example is much
cheaper.
It's almost the same with Kaushik Narasimhan from Mannheim: "As any help forum would
say, largely depends on individual lifestyles. But if one can cook a bit by themselves, with
reasonable recreation and leisure activities, 550 - 600 Euros is a lot.. Eat out once a day -
Add 100-125 Euros approx. Always eating out - 750 - 800 Euros a month overall.. Thats
estimated with a rent of 250 Euros and health insurance of 75 Euros plus all other costs. I eat
out occasionally and it usually doesn‘t exceed 630-640 Euros for me personally..
For Shankar Nero from Aachen life is a little cheaper: "Well, need to take note that i am sharing
my room with another person.. so ... the break down of the expenses would be as following:
Rental 175 Euros, Insurance 80 Euros, Mobile Phone: 10 Euros, Foods: ca. 100 - 150 Euros (Its
even more cheaper sometimes since i cook together with some other friends),
Misc.: 50€ (inclusive occasional entertainment). Like most students in the state of Northrhine
Westfalia he owns a semester ticket, which allows him to use the public transport systeme
all across the state.
Way up North Nareendran Raja studies in Emden for his masters. "I pay 150 Euros for my
rent and 75 Euros for my insurance. and 80 Euros for cooking and 20 Euros for other
expenses like phone and voip and 30 Euros for leisure time. Totally my expenses are 350
per month."
Usman Ilyas, who studies at the University of Kiel needs a bit more cash in his pocket: "Here is a
little break down of monthly expenses: Rent 167 € (depending on domitory may be upto
240 Euros), Health Insurance ca. 67 Euros, Mobile phone 15 Euros, Food 100-150
Euros enough (with sometimes eating out) in case of self cooking, Misc. (medicines,
occasional entertainment, deutsch book) 50 Euros. So overall 450 € are enough to spend
an average life."
It is difficult to say exactly how much money a student in Germany needs per month. The
cost of living varies from city to city. Generally students can live on less money in smaller
cities than in large cities. And, of course, the amount of money you will need greatly depends
on how economically you live.
Paying the rent
Renting a flat comprises the largest portion of one‘s monthly expenditures. However, the
rental prices in Germany vary greatly. Depending on the city in which you live, you will
likely pay between 185 and 345 euro per month for accommodation. The rental prices in
some large cities like Hamburg, Munich, Cologne or Frankfurt am Main are much higher in
comparison. If you are looking to live cheaply, it might be a good idea to take a room in a
student hall of residence or a shared flat
Average monthly expenses for rent and utilities
Room in a student hall of residence: €
200 Room in a shared flat: € 245
Flat by yourself: € 315
Source: Deutsches Studentenwerk, 18th Social Survey

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Students are eligible for numerous price concessions. With your student ID, you can receive
concessions on tickets and entrance fees to theatres, opera houses, cinemas, museums,
public swimming pools and other cultural venues.

Topic: Expensiveness of studying at a big city

Brainstorming

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Topic: Owing a phone is costly

The Real Cost Of Owning A Smartphone

There's a pretty good chance you either own a smartphone or, according to the stats,
you're going to own one really soon. A recent Nielsen report said that almost half of all
mobile subscribers now have smartphones.

If you already have a smartphone, the reasons are pretty obvious why you'll hold on to it.
You can download apps to organize your work, play games, search Wikipedia, get directions
and connect to the Internet whenever you want.

However, like anything else we buy, there's a cost of ownership that we rarely think
about when we make a purchase.

So, what's the real cost of owning a smartphone?

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What It Really Costs
According to the Wall Street Journal, the average data, texting and minute plan for a
smartphone costs about $2,100 for a two-year contract. However, that's not the real cost.
The average tax on smartphones is about 15% and some can be as high as 20%. On top of
the taxes, you need to factor in costs like overage charges and other fees. When all of these
are added together, the average cost for owning a smartphone is $3,400 over two years.

There are a lot of comparisons out there between iPhone and Android phones, so if you're trying
to decide which one is cheaper overall, keep in mind that according to appleinsider.com, paid
Android apps cost an average of 2.5 times more than paid iPhone apps. Techcrunch.com reports
that 57% of Android apps are free, versus only 28% of iPhone apps. This does not mean that if
you go with an Android phone your bill will definitely be more expensive, but you may want to
keep it in mind when you decide which phone is best for
you.

How to Save Money

There's no real good way to get around owning a smartphone. If you want one,
you're probably going to buy it. Here are some tips to keep the monthly bill lower.

Get Less Data - The average smartphone user only uses about 20% of their data a month.
If you know you are not going to be a power-user, consider the lowest data plan.

Sign Up for Fewer Minutes - A 2009 report by Consumer Reports said that 1/3 of smartphone
users used less than half of their allotted minutes each month.

Watch App Purchases - This is an obvious one, but can be so hard to keep in check.
Compare your app purchases month to month to see how much you're really spending.

Smart Alternatives
The days of having to sign up for a contract are over. There are good smartphones available
through places like Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile that still run Google's Android and
have cheaper data and texting options.

You'll pay more upfront for the phone if you choose a pre-paid carrier, but it could literally
save you thousands of dollars over the course of two years. The best part, besides a cheaper
bill, is that if you don't like the carrier you can always quit with no cancellation fee.

The Bottom Line

There are lots of choices out there and all the information can be overwhelming. If you think
a little outside the box and actually figure out how many minutes, data and texting you're
actually going to use, then you might be able to save some real money. Or, you can sign up
for a pre-paid carrier and kiss those costly contracts goodbye.

From http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0512/the-real-cost-of-owning-
a- smartphone.aspx#ixzz2MFteS1qB

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Topic: Owing a phone is costly
Brainstorming

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Topic: It is a hard to work as a waiter / waitress

How to Work as a Waiter or Waitress

Go to your favorite restaurants or busy restaurants to fill out application to work as a waiter
or waitress. If they really need new wait staffs usually the manager interview you on the spot.

You can work full time or part time as a waiter or waitress. If you have a full time job
during the day than you can request to only work at dinner time and on weekend.

The training term usually for 5 days, they train you from the waiter/ waitress etiquette,
familiar yourself with the computer system and ordering process, learn the menu and
detail information about each cuisine and food tasting.

Within this 5 days they may ask you to follow senior waitress or waiter to see how do they
work. Sometime you do this after you pass 5 days training, whatever your supervisor decide.
Then in the next couple days you can start wait tables and place order in the computer system
with senior waiter or waitress shadowing you. This is the time to ask any question and
familiar yourself with the system.

47
They will start you with a couple tables until you feel comfortable to handle multiple tables and
familiar yourself with the ordering system. Once you feel comfortable handling few tables then
they will gradually increase your tables until you get full section usually 5 tables.

Once you get your full section and if you work in the busy restaurant you can make average
over $100 cash per night shift or during the busy weekend. Sweet extra cash that you can
use to pay off your debt faster or for nice future vacation.

(From http://www.ehow.com/how_4605695_work-as-waiter-
waitress.html#ixzz2MFwbo53A)
Topic: Owing a phone is costly
Brainstorming

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3.2. Explaining a process

Read the paragraph below

How To Be A Good Friend

To be a good friend, an individual has to spend time working on her friendships, or they
will eventually fade. When two people first meet, they both need to be sure they are
acting in good manor, so they don‘t scare the other away. After they meet and start
talking a few times, they will start getting to know each other, calling each other, and
spending more time with each other. That is how a friendship begins. After they call
each other ―friends‖, the friendship has to be made through the effort of more than just
one person, so each has to do her own part. Friendships shouldn‘t take a lot of money
49
 but they do take a lot of time and care. Friends should always listen to what the other
has to say, and then should give advice only when asked for it. No matter how much
friends are alike, everyone has differences, so a friend should be able to accept their
differences. After being a friend to a person for a long period of time, one might get
tired of hearing repeated problems everyday, but a good friend will always be there for
her friend no matter what. ~© Denise Rafferty~
(From http://english120.pbworks.com/w/page/19007022/process%20paragraph)

Sketch an outline based on the previous paragraph

TS: ……………………………………………………………………..........................

A. ………………………………………………………………………………
a. ……………………………………………….……………………..
b. ………………………………………………………………………
B. ………………………………………………………………………..…….
a. ………………………………………………………………………
b. ………………………………………………………………………
C. ………………………………………………………………………………
a. ……………………………………………………………………….
b. .…………………………………………………………………….

CS: ………………………………………………………………………………………...

Coherence: In this type of paragraph, the most common coherent words are as follows

First, second, next, a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long as, at last, at
length, at that time, before, besides, earlier, eventually, finally, formerly, further,
furthermore, in addition, in the first place, in the past, last, lately, meanwhile,
moreover, now, presently, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon, still,
subsequently, then, thereafter, too, until, until now, when

You will find some topics for writing hereafter, select one topic, or you could have one by
your own, brainstorm to get as many ideas as possible, make an outline, then write a
paragraph about it.

How to lose weight without losing your mind

How to find the perfect roommate
How to succeed in (or flunk out of) college
How to plan the perfect party
How to kick a bad habit
How to complain effectively
How to develop self-confidence
How to plan the perfect class schedule

50
Topic: How To Lose Weight Fast

So you‘re wondering how to lose weight fast? This can be done. Look below for the best tips,
ranging from the best workouts to good diets and the foods you should (or shouldn‘t) eat. But
remember, as you shouldn‘t slowly starve yourself to death for a month or so, losing a
significant amount of weight in a healthy way will always be a longer process. However,
there are some things you can do to lose weight a lot faster as you‘re probably being able to
do right now. See below on this page for the fastest tips on how to lose weight fast!

Golden Rule: Never Give Up

If you really want to lose weight fast, you have to be prepared to really do everything in your
power to lose weight. There is no easy way to lose weight fast. If there was, the majority of
people would have a body as slim as they wanted to have. Therefore you need to go where
others don‘t go. You need to be persistent and willing to give up some of the foods you like.
You need to be tough and exercise every day. Only then can you lose weight in a rapid way.

Make Use of Ready-Made Diet Plans

Creating your own diet plan can take a lot of time which is usually something people don‘t
want when they want to lose weight fast. Most people who start their weight loss journey
underestimate the amount of work that goes into the research of creating the perfect weight
loss and diet plan. The research necessary to know what you are doing can be extensive. This
is where ready-made diet plans come in. Aside from some garbage plans, there are several
well-tested weight loss plans out there. The best part about using a widely used weight loss
plan is that there are usually 1000′s of people who follow the same plan available on a
variation of websites(and anywhere in the world) at any time of the day which you can often
share your experiences with. This gives a sense of community and can be strong motivator
for some people.

Get Personal Coaching

For the fastest results – without having to read about weight loss for hours or even days – it
may be a smart idea to consult the help of a professional weight loss coach. A coach will
usually conduct a quick plan and you can usually also ask your coach all kinds of
personalized advice. A lot of people enjoy getting coached because it relieves you of all the
hard work and time that can go into researching and planning the perfect personal weight loss
plan. There are several coaching options online as well as various online support groups.

Create Your Own Diet & Weight Loss Plan

Ready-made diet programs are there for people who do not want the hassle of creating their
own plan. It is however much better to put some time in researching and learning how to
make your own diet plan. Creating your own personal plan really gives you the advantage of
understandingwhy and how you lose weight when you do certain things. WLZine gives you
all the information you need to teach yourself how to lose weight in the fastest and healthiest
way possible.

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Most Important TIP: Stop Eating Calories Your Body Doesn’t Need
It may be a cliché, but most people who are overweight do not realize they are eating slightly,
or in some cases way over the amount of daily calories their body needs. It is the number
one cause of being overweight. The human body uses a particular amount of calories each day
and every calorie intake above that daily amount will result in the body storing fat. A good tip
is to take in account all the food you consume in a week and divide the outcome by 7 (seven
days in a week). Now take this number and visit our how many calories to lose weight page
and see if you are eating too many calories. You can also, perhaps an easier way to calculate
your daily calorie needs, use our calorie needs calculator to calculate it automatically.
Depending on the results of your calculations, it might be time to cut out some food from your
daily diet.

Choose A Diet: Low Calorie Diet

It‘s simple; you lose weight by eating less calories as your daily calorie needs. First go to
this calculator page. After you find out how many daily calories your body needs, you are
going to have to cut down that number severely. DON‘T cut down too much in calorie-intake
though, that is extremely unhealthy. To lose weight in the fastest way you need to cut to about
3/5th of your daily calorie needs. So if your daily calorie needs are 2000 calories, you need to
cut down to about 1200 calories a day. Don‘t go too far below 3/5th of your daily calorie
needs as that is very unhealthy and will result in an unhealthy body, which is not something
you want. Want to learn more about this subject? Visit this page to learn how to lose weight
fast with a low calorie diet. It‘s also important to note that you need to balance your calorie-
intake as much as you can. It is best to never go too high or too low in calories when you are
dieting. Also, go here to get and answer to the question how many calories does a person
burn in a day?

Lose Weight Fast With a Weekly Refeed Day

Note: This tip is extremely effective for people on a low calorie diet, as described in the
above tip
This is one of the most unknown but best tips we can give you; Have one refeed day in the
week for maximum weight loss results. A refeed day is a day where you eat slightly above
your daily calorie needs (so 2000+ for women and 2500+ calories for men, depending on your
daily calorie needs). You might frown upon this thinking it will gain you weight but a refeed
day is extremely effective when you are cutting down in calories severely during the rest of
the week. Because you have a low calorie-intake during the rest of the week, your body will
get used to a low calorie-intake and will slowly adapt to it, meaning it will need lesser calories
to function. This is bad for weight loss since you want to lose fat(which is the bodies‘ energy
source) by eating less calories as your body needs. This is where the refeed day comes in. The
refeed day will set your body back to a higher calorie need, resulting in you losing more
weight when eating low calories during the other 6 days of the week because your body needs
more energy to function.

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Exercise Twice Every Day. Morning Sports, Evening Walk
If you really want to lose weight fast you have to exercise regularly, preferably two times a
day. Do the more heavy sports in the morning and make a long walk in the evening. You can
also take up swimming for weight loss. If you don‘t like exercising you can make it more fun
by doing a different kind of activity every day of the week. Or find someone to team up with,
this will make it a lot easier to maintain a daily exercise schedule. Exercising this way for a
longer time period will result in you losing weight quick. Scientific studies have also shown
exercising regularly is good for health and can even extend your life span. More on exercising
twice a day on our work out twice a day to lose weight page.

Drink Tons Of Water

Drink as much water as your body can handle. Not many people realize that they are missing
out on losing a lot of weight by not drinking enough water every day. Drinking a lot of water
increases the bodies’ metabolism resulting in a high increase in fat loss. Recently, a study by
Virginia Tech was done where for a period of three months, half of a group of 48 people on a
low-calorie diet slowly increased the amount of water they drank every day. The other half
didn‘t. The half that increased their amount of daily water intake lost 4.5 pounds of weight
more as the other half who didn‘t increase their water intake. Learn more about this subject by
reading our does drinking water help you lose weight page or visit this drinking water
information page for more general information about drinking water. Drink water, don‘t miss
out on faster weight loss results. When you gain too much weight for your liking, you can
visit our how to lose water weight page to learn how to lose water weight.

Eat Six Meals A Day

Most people eat three big meals a day; One in the morning, one during the day and one in the
evening. If you are doing that as well you are not losing weight as fast as you could be. It is
better to eat several small meals a day as three big ones. The reason why eating smaller meals
in a higher frequency has a positive effect on weight loss is because it will stimulate
yourmetabolism; Your metabolism will be higher and you will lose more fat. So 6 meals a
day instead of three big ones and don‘t miss out on faster weight loss.

NEVER Reward With “Bad” Food

The fastest way to lose weight? That is to NEVER(did we make that clear enough?) reward
yourself with bad foods that will hinder your weight loss progress. Even after weeks of eating
healthy and exercising. That‘s right, you have to be tough on yourself if you want to lose
weight fast. Do not eat any fatty foods, do not eat sugary foods and do not eat high calorie
foods. Read more about this subject here. An important thing to realize is the importance of
the foods you buy in the supermarket have a direct impact on your weight loss progress.
Whether you buy good or bad foods for weight loss can make a difference of night and day.
Which foods should you buy when shopping?

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Topic: Loosing weight
Brainstorming

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Topic: Finding roommates

3 Steps to Finding the Perfect Roommate

Regardless of your own experiences, you've probably met people who have raved about great
roommate relationships they've had as well as people who have complained about problems
that roommates have caused them.

This shows that having a roommate can be a positive or a negative experience, and it reminds
us of two truths when it comes to finding a roommate:

Roommates aren't for everyone, and they may not be for you at all times of your life.

A great roommate for one person may be a poor choice for another.

Keeping these important points in mind, here's a three-step plan you can follow to find the
perfect roommate:

Step #1: Understand What's Behind a Great Roommate Relationship

You'll greatly increase the chances of finding the right roommate if you learn what great
roommate relationships are made of.

To start, keep in mind that finding a roommate is different than finding a friend. Sure, you and
your roommate should like each other. But it's more aboutcompatibility than likeability.
When roommate relationships don't work out, it's usually because the two people realize that
they're not compatible with each other.

Also, although just about anyone can turn out to be the perfect roommate, some types of
roommate candidates are more promising than others. In fact, it may surprise you to learn, for
example, that someone other than your best friend may prove to be a wiser choice when
selecting an apartment roommate.

Step #2: Decide if Having a Roommate Is Right for You

There are strong, convincing reasons to have a roommate just as there are compelling
arguments why you might want to live alone. Remember that the decision of whether to share

55
your apartment with another person is personal and only yours to make, and you should do it
carefully.

Review and weigh the pros and cons of having a roommate, and then determine for yourself
whether sharing your apartment with another person is the best situation for you.

Finally, if you think you do want to live with a roommate, take a moment to consider whether
you're doing so for the right reasons. Just because you've done it before, for instance, doesn't
mean it's the right answer now -- even if the experience was completely positive.

Step #3: Find the Right Roommate

So, you've decided you don't want to live alone and you know what you're looking for when it
comes to apartment roommates. All you have to do now is find the right person.

Many apartment dwellers look for a roommate at the same time they search for an apartment.
Others already live in an apartment and, for whatever reason, decide at some point that they
want to share it.

Whichever situation you're in, don't despair if you have no idea whom to consider for your
roommate. Some apartment dwellers are lucky because they already know someone who
would make a great roommate.

But if you don't know anyone, you can find a roommate online using Web services. Most
notably, several online roommate-matching services let you create a profile or ad, search a
large database, and meet potential matches.

Once you've found a roommate candidate or two, take the time to get to know more about the
person. Set up roommate candidate meetings so you can meet candidates and ask them
questions that go toward helping ensure that you'll end up rooming with someone with whom
you're compatible. Also, don't forget to make sure you keep safety in mind when arranging
these roommate candidate meetings.

(From http://apartments.about.com/od/roommatesneighbors/a/3-Steps-To-Finding-
The-Perfect-Roommate.htm)

Topic: Finding roommates

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Topic: Success in College

How to Succeed in College

Jeffrey Durso-Finley and Holly Burks Becker are co-directors of college counseling at the
Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J.

Dear High School Graduate:

Whether you and your college-bound classmates are heading to a research university across
the country or a small liberal arts college just up the road, it‘s exciting (and potentially a bit
intimidating) to think about a completely new academic environment.

Accordingly, we have compiled some advice to help guide your success in the next phase of
your life. We‘ve distilled some of our own experiences from working at high schools and
colleges, along with some of the feedback we‘ve received from college students, to give you
the essence of what you need to be successful over the next four years.

Combine these suggestions with your ability and best efforts, and you will succeed brilliantly
over the next four years. We wish you the best of luck.

Live in the Academic Moment

A college education is a classic process-versus-product paradigm. Plenty of students complain

about their work or obsess about their G.P.A., but that‘s just wasted energy and time. Don‘t
get caught up in any academic ennui. Instead, focus on your assignments, papers and projects
for their intrinsic learning value; the grades will come naturally.

Don‘t Study in Your Room

Unless you have a spartan single and concentration powers of steel, your room is the worst
place to study because of the comfort and the distractions.

Given the realities of dorm life, it‘s far too easy to wander across the hall and talk to your
neighbor, or to have Facebook on while you glance back and forth from your book to the
screen.

Find a spot that works for you, and call it your ―homework home.‖ A carrel in the upper
stacks of the main library usually works perfectly; there are no distractions. Oftentimes,
smaller, more lightly used libraries on campus have great study spaces and light traffic.
Unoccupied classrooms or common areas with less traffic can have excellent lighting, privacy
and plenty of space to spread your materials.

Find the Working Side of Academia

Every college has opportunities for undergraduates to do research or to assist in large-scale

academic endeavors, so actively seek them out, even if you haven‘t been on campus very
long. You‘ll be rewarded by the people you‘ll meet and the insight you‘ll gain on the
institution as a whole.

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If your financial aid package includes work-study opportunities, look for employment in
departments and libraries instead of going to dining services or the athletic department. The
connections you‘ll make outside the classroom could even lead to study opportunities.

Choose Professors, Not Classes

It‘s a classic picture of undergraduate life: a student leafing through the course guide, picking
classes for the next term based on what looks interesting and also fulfills curriculum
requirements. Don‘t follow that model.

Find the best professors on campus and take their classes, even if they don‘t seem interesting
at first read. You may find these professors by talking to your adviser, using the school‘s
faculty review resources and asking older students about their favorite faculty members.
Follow their leads.

A good professor will turn neutral subject matter for you into a joy; a poor professor will
blunt your interest in a subject area you love. As a corollary, visit several classes the first
week or two of a term. Most colleges have some sort of shopping period when the class
rosters haven‘t been finalized. Visit 8 or 10 or even more classes during that time before you
settle on your final schedule.

You are only going to take 35 to 40 courses during your time in college. Why waste one on a
poorly designed class or a dry, energy-sapping professor?

Get Connected to Campus Life

Academic clubs, social organizations and professional associations take on a larger, more
applied and energetic meaning in college. You should jump in with both feet, even if it means
getting outside your comfort zone a little bit.

The breadth of opportunity for student interaction is outstanding even at the smallest of
colleges. Getting involved will dramatically increase your enjoyment and experience.

Always Go to Class

It may seem silly to remind you to go to class. But it won‘t be quite so obvious as you settle
into college life, when you realize that there‘s no detention or punishment for missing classes,
when you discover that the professor‘s lecture notes are online and as your roommate pulls
the covers over his head when the alarm clock rings for an 8 a.m. class.

Your class hours drop by more half when you go to college. You have access to some of the
most accomplished experts in their field, and you are paying a tremendous amount of money
to have access to them. Don‘t waste it.

Go to Office Hours

Professors like talking to students. Seriously. If you go to office hours with questions, ideas or
just to find out more about the course material, you‘ll be surprised at how enthusiastic (most)
professors are to sit and talk to you. More important, you may be surprised to learn how
they‘d like to get to know you beyond the paper or lab assignment you‘ve handed in.

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Take advantage of ways to talk to professors outside the classroom. You‘ll learn more, have a
greater appreciation of your academic experience and have more ways to find mentors,
professional and academic references, and employers for research projects.

Take Care of Yourself

Part of college life is learning how to take care of yourself. Regulate your diet by eating
healthy foods and resisting the temptations of the unlimited and unsupervised dining options.
Exercise to maintain your physical health: sign up for a gym class, join an intramural team
and find people who share your athletic interests. Don‘t forget to sleep. Keeping your body
well cared for will help you stay healthier and be more successful academically.

Be Patient

Many students report that their high school experience is both a blessing and a burden as they
make the transition to college. Whether you graduated from a comprehensive public high
school with 3,000 students or a small private school with 35 seniors, you will find that college
life is simply different and that you‘ll need resilience to acclimate to the differences.

This next stage for you is about living and learning independently, skills that develop over
time. Be patient as you and your classmates settle into college life. Don‘t expect to be perfect,
but draw strength and inspiration from your previous learning experiences. Good luck!

(http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/how-to-succeed-in-college/)

Topic: How to succeed in college

Brainstorming

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3.3. Paragraphs giving examples

* Read the following paragraph

My Selfish Brother

My brother is very selfish. The worst thing is that he does not want to share things
with other people. For example, when he buys a chocolate bar, he puts it in a secret
place. Then he eats it all, by himself. Moreover, he never helps anyone. He says he is
busy. For example, a game of Nintendo makes him very busy, which deprives him of
time to do anything for anyone. Last but not least, he does not care if something he
does bothers other people. For instance, last night he played loud rock 'n' roll music

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 until four o'clock in the morning. In conclusion, I think my brother is selfish and will
always be selfish.
(source: http://www.seattlecentral.edu/faculty/dloos/ESL4B/Writing/supportingwithexamples.htm)

What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? …………………………………………….

How is it developed? ……………………………………………………………………..

How many examples are provided? What are they? …………………………………………

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How are ideas connected? ……………………………………………………………………..

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* Read the following paragraph

Sometimes it is necessary to change our habits to protect the environment. Saving

energy is one illustration. If we can save more energy, such as water and electricity,
we can help keep the natural environment safe. Saving water, for example, helps
preserve our rivers and reservoirs. If we usually take 10-minute showers, in this case
we should try to take shorter showers. When we go out, we should remember to shut
off electronic like televisions and computers. Turning off the lights is another
example of saving electricity. In short, remembering to help the environment, such as
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 by saving energy, is one of our most important responsibilities, which could be done
by changing some habits.

What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? …………………………………………….

How is it developed? ……………………………………………………………………..

How many examples are provided? What are they? …………………………………………

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Coherence

Connection between the topic sentence and major ideas, and major ideas and examples
should smooth, which will make your paragraph fluent and more attractive to read.

Hereafter are some instances of the connection devices that you can use.
For example / instance, the word doctor used to mean a learned man.
For example, Smith and Jones (2004) conducted a series of semi-structured
interviews in ......

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 By way of illustration, Smith (2003) shows how the data for .....
A classic / well-known example of this is .......
An example of this is the study carried out by Smith (2004) in which .......
X is a good example / illustration of .......
X illustrates this point / shows this point clearly.
This can be illustrated briefly by .......
Young people begin smoking for a variety of reasons. They may, for example, be
influenced by their peers, or they may see their parents as role models.
The evidence of X can be clearly seen in the case of..…
Another example of what is meant by X is ......

Sentence Patterns and Vocabulary that Specify Examples

Vary your structure in the paragraph is another technique that adds more value to your
paragraph.

The following are some samples of the type:

For example, / For instance, / To be specific, }salmon are kept in ponds. In

this example / In this case / In this instance}fish are transferred to rivers. A
river is{an example / an instance / an illustration} of a habitat.
Keeping fish in ponds{exemplifies / illustrates} how we farm
fish. Fish{like / such as}salmon are cultivated.

Topics for practice: Develop the following topics by illustrating examples

Vital roles of technology in our life
English is difficult
Natural disasters in Vietnam / Vietnam suffer lots of natural
disasters Beautiful sightseeing in Dalat
Diversity of flowers in Dalat

Topic: Vital roles of technology in our life

Why is Technology So Important Today?

Have you asked yourself why technology is so important today? Just look around and you'll
know why. Literally, at every instant of time, you are surrounded by technology. Whether
you are working or resting, you are always using technology. It is used everywhere and all the
time. Its use has made life easy. We need technology. It's important. You ask why? Well then.

Why is Technology Important?

Have you asked yourself why technology is so important today? Just look around and you'll
know why. Literally, at every instant of time, you are surrounded by technology. Whether
you are working or resting, you are always using technology. It is used everywhere and all the
time. Its use has made life easy. We need technology. It's important. You ask why? Well then.

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Why is Technology Important?

Places far away have come closer, thanks to technology. The pace of life has increased,
thanks to technology. Communication is quick, travel is fast, movement is easy, action is
quick, interaction has sped up and so has life. Things that once took hours to complete, can
be done in seconds. The world is smaller and life is fast. Courtesy - technology.

The discovery of electricity drove all the darkness away and the world lit up. If not for the
use of technology, we wouldn't have been able to produce electric power or harness it. Today,
it can be generated through various means because of technology. It has been channeled to
every small household in the farthest of world's corners, thanks to technology. What made it
possible to use renewable sources like hydropower or solar and wind energy to generate
electricity? Application of technology.

How would our basic needs be met so easily if not for technology? Man could meet his needs
even before the birth of technology. But it was so difficult then and so rudimentary. Look at
today's food - fresh, preserved or processed, food of any type is available at your doorstep
just anytime. Clothing? Gosh, there's so much variety and much more comfort with different
clothes for different occasions and seasons. Where does technology come into picture?
Everywhere. From food to fashion, technology has a role to play. How else would so much of
all this be produced? Look at today's shelters - shelters? Tall buildings, big bungalows,
luxurious apartments - how would they be built if not for technology!

How does water reach homes? With the help of robust water storage and transmission
systems. How do homes get the warmth and cold as and when they need? Due to heating
and air conditioning systems. How can food be preserved without getting spoiled? Because
of refrigeration. How can civil structures be built under water? How can skyscrapers stand
so tall? It's owing to advancements in civil engineering and architecture. Earthquake-
resistant and fireproof structures we see today are also a gift of developments in technology.
In short, we owe our luxurious lives to technology.

Businesses, small and big, need technology to thrive. They are growing and expanding across
countries owing to technological advancements. It is technology that gives organizations the
strength to spread their wings. If not for technology, how would complex industrial processes
be carried out? If not for machines, how would large-scale production of goods be possible?
If not for computers, how would the software industry have grown? Growing businesses
create employment opportunities for people and technology plays a big role in business
growth. That's how important technology is.

Technology has changed the way people communicate. Communication systems have
evolved from pigeons carrying messages to emails and instant messages that travel long
distances in seconds. Cellular technology and satellite communication have increased
communication speeds and made 'connecting' easier. The Internet has enabled easy exchange
of information over long distances. Even now, you could be accessing this page from a web
server in some far-off country. Just a few clicks of your computer mouse can take you
anywhere on the Internet. You enter an all new world without even realizing it!

Satellite and radio communication have changed the entertainment industry. Channels from all
over the world are now available on your TV set, thanks to technology. Television shows

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and films can reach the masses within minutes after their release. Radio communication
has made it possible to broadcast programs to the remotest of locations.

The role of computers and Internet in education cannot be ignored. The use of computers in
teaching has made learning more interesting. Computers enable better storage and
presentation of information, thus making the process of teaching easier and more effective.
Educational CDs are available everywhere. Lectures/lessons can be uploaded on websites, as
PDFs or even as videos. This has made information more easily accessible and provided for
better ways of knowledge sharing. Online degrees and training courses have led to spread of
education. Today, people can continue learning even while managing their jobs, because
online education gives them the flexibility to do so. And all the information in the world is
so widely available, thanks to the world wide web.

Technology is as important in the healthcare industry as in any other. Right from easy
communication between healthcare professionals and patients to computer-assisted medical
procedures, it's technology everywhere. In the working of patient-monitoring equipment
and surgical instruments, there's technology. In various diagnostic procedures from scans to
complex therapies, technology has a vital role to play. Many medical procedures are
mechanized. Even surgeries are simulated on and assisted by machines.

Technological development has never stopped. Nanotechnology has gone on to understand

things at their nano level. Space exploration has gone on to explore extraterrestrial life.
Genetic research has revealed how various traits or even hereditary diseases are transferred
across generations. Processes like cloning and genetic engineering are attempting to alter
traits in individuals. Artificial intelligence can make machines learn, thus developing
intelligence in them. Fourth generation technologies in mobile communication have
achieved amazing speeds in voice and video communication on cellular networks. Things
we would never have imagined have come into reality due to application of technology.

At the heart of every piece of technology is automation. Technology automates the most
complex of processes, be it in communication, education, medicine or any other industry. With
the application of technology, critical and time-consuming processes can be executed with ease
and in less time. Laborious and repetitive tasks are best done by machines (without getting
bored!). People do not have to slog as much as they would have had to, if not for technology.
With automation come efficiency and speed. They save human effort and time to a great extent
and make life easy and comfortable. Nothing else has changed living the way technology has.
And that's exactly why technology is so important today and will always be.

(From http://www.buzzle.com/articles/why-is-technology-so-important-today.html)

Topic: Vital roles of technology in our life

Brainstorming

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Topic: English is difficult

Reading 1: What Are the Difficulties to Learning the English Language?

For those who grow up speaking English, it seems as if it is not a very difficult language
to learn. The fact is, English is a language rife with quirks and counter-intuitive elements,
making it quite difficult to learn effectively. There are a variety of aspects in the English
language that make learning more difficult, all of which can be dealt with through a
comprehensive learning program.

Spelling

Unlike many other languages, the spelling system in the English language can be very tricky to
learn. Phonetics are often not as useful in learning English, as similarly spelled words (such as
"through" and "trough") can be pronounced very differently from one another. The fact that many
English words are pronounced differently in certain parts of the world (America, Britain) can
make learning how to pronounce certain English words even more difficult.

Inflection

Depending upon the inflection given to certain words or syllables in English sentences,
their meaning can be altered completely. For example, in the sentence "I ate the pizza,"
stressing the word "ate" tells you what the person did with the pizza, while stressing the
word "pizza" tells you what the person ate. This is one of the biggest hurdles for those
attempting to learn the subtle nuances of the language.

Pronunciation

Pronouncing certain sounds in English is another large obstacle for non-native speakers. For
example, the "ou" sound in the word "south" differs from the "ou" sound in the word "Southern."
Learning the correct way to pronounce similar words such as these is often a matter of trial and
error, and requires quite a bit of practice and experience with the language.

Grammar

Grammatically, English can be a very difficult language to learn. There are more
grammatical nuances in English than languages such as French or Spanish, and learning to be
proficient in grammar is something that even native English speakers struggle with. For
example, many people have issues understanding past and present tense (played and plays) in
English, which can be rather confusing at times. Without a doubt, the best way to internalize
English grammar is to read as much English text as possible.

Reading 2: 10 Reasons Why English Is A Hard Language

THE WORLD‘S CRAZIEST SPELLING SYSTEM

English spelling is extremely counter-intuitive! Why is it that words like ―through‖,

―trough‖, and ―though‖ sound so different? It seems like for virtually every ―rule‖ a
prescriptivist writes down to try and model English spelling, exceptions can be found.

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The fact is, although it‘s possible to make rough guesses at English spellings using
phonetics, in order to really know English spelling, you have to memorize the spelling of
every word. Even words whose spelling seems straightforward and simple, you still
memorize (maybe subconsciously without even trying) just because otherwise when you
wanted to spell it, you‘d have no way to know it was simple and straightforward.

There is a method to the madness of English spelling. It‘s based on etymology. Based on
how a word is spelled, we can make guesses about where the word came from. German,
French, Latin? Maybe somewhere more exotic like Japanese? This is very useful, because it
keeps spelling consistent between different English-speaking nations.

English is pronounced rather differently in the United States, in Britain, in Australia, and in
India. If, as so many people have suggested, spelling reform were attempted, which nation
would be the standard? At most one nation could enjoy perfectly phonetic spelling. The others
would just switch from one bizarre spelling system to another. And even for that one country,
the spellings would become obsolete as the pronunciations of words changed. Even in the
United States, pronunciations vary from dialect to dialect.

So, there‘s good reason for the English spelling system. It‘s one of the most successful
spelling systems in the world, because of its flexibility and its strength across wildly
differing dialects. But that doesn‘t mean it‘s easy to learn! For a foreigner trying to learn
English, spelling is extremely difficult!

THE SOUND SYSTEM IS SO RICH

When you study a foreign language, you‘re liable to run into sounds which aren‘t present in
your native tongue. Part of the challenge is learning, mechanically, how to produce these
sounds. In Japanese, there‘s a different ―R‖ sound, which actually sounds something like a
mix between ―R‖, ―L‖, and ―D‖. In Mandarin, there are a dozen sounds which are all really
hard to learn. German is famous for its hard gutteral sound, which we‘d have to
master if we wanted to get Johann Sebastian Bach‘s name right.

Generally, more exotic new sounds mean more difficulty learning a language. English has
a very rich set of sounds. It has the ability to string consonants and vowels together almost
arbitrarily. Take a look at the word, ―strengths‖. There‘s only one vowel out of six or
seven consonants, depending how you count! Again look at ―squirrel‖. A very difficult
word for foreigners to learn to pronounce.

And this is only made worse by the crazy spelling system. Not only are there a million sounds to
learn, but there‘s small indication from a word‘s spelling which sounds are involved.

And, going the other direction, some foreigners must learn to identify certain sounds which
they consider distinct. For example, English actually has two distinct ―L‖ sounds, but we as
English speakers can‘t hear the difference because we never need to in order to understand the
language. But to, e.g., a native Russian speaker, suddenly there are two sounds floating
around and both are to be considered identical. It‘s similar to learning Japanese, where the
―g‖ of ―go‖ and the ―ng‖ of ―thing‖ are treated as being identical.

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SUBTLE ORDERING

In English, there are subtle ordering requirements which even English native speakers
aren‘t consciously aware of. We get them right every time, because we subconsciously
know about them through practice, but that just makes it all the harder for foreigners, since
these rules are so subtle and hidden.

The best example is adjective ordering. Compare, ―a cute little puppy‖ to ―a little cute
puppy.‖ The first is fine, while the second sounds wrong. How is a foreigner to know which
order to use?
Can you explain it to them? (There is actually a method, but it‘s rather complex and better
to just learn subconsciously)

WHICH SYNONYM TO USE??

Because of its diverse, promiscuous etymological origins, English has lots of synonyms
which, just from a dictionary definition, seem very similar if not identical in meaning. Part
of becoming a master English speaker, is knowing which words to use when. Although
synonyms are grouped up in a thesaurus, that doesn‘t mean the words are identical. Even if
their official meanings are identical, different synonyms convey subtly different moods and
ideas.

You can watch a movie or see a movie, but you can only watch TV, never see it. You
can‘t view either of them, even though when you watch either of them, you become
a viewer (and never a watcher, much less a seer!) Try explaining that to someone who
speaks Arabic!

STRESS

In English, the entire meaning of a sentence can be changed by placing stress on a word.
For example:

I entered my room.
*I* entered my room.
I *entered* my room.
I entered *my* room.
I entered my *room*.

A grammar of English usually only even addresses the meaning of the first, stressless,
version of the sentence, even though a foreigner will hear all variations if they‘re immersed
deeply enough in the language.

For native speakers of stressless languages, it‘s very difficult to even hear the stress at all.
This counter-balances Mandarin‘s dreaded tone system which English speakers always cite
as evidence of Mandarin‘s horrid difficulty.

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POETIC, OLDER ENGLISH IS EVERYWHERE

In order to be really fluent in English, you can‘t just learn modern English, you must also
know a little bit of older, more poetic English. Not actual ―Old English‖, since that‘s a
whole other language entirely, but ―older‖ English.

Here in downtown Columbus, there‘s a church which advertises with the message: ―Which part
of ‗Thou shalt not‗ don‘t you understand?‖ This slogan always makes me laugh, because, having
studied languages, I‘ve come to see how the slogan must be extremely confusing to most ESL
speakers. The truth is that, for a lot of speakers, ―Thou‖ and ―shalt‖ are both unfamiliar. And the
fact that by stringing them together in essentially the same structure as
―You will not‖, you end up creating a command– that‘s even worse!

Older English shows up in literature, plays, poetry… even video games.

WHAT‘S UP WITH THESE QUESTIONS??

In English, it‘s very strange how the whole grammar of a sentence changes when the
sentence is put in question form. ―It is warm‖ becomes ―Is it warm?‖ Notice how the ―it‖
and the ―is‖ are switched. To us, this is totally natural because we‘ve been raised with it. To a
lot of speakers of other languages, the whole device seems needlessly difficult.

Continuing with the ―It is warm‖ example, there actually is a valid question, ―It is warm?‖
It‘s interesting to ponder the difference in meaning between ―It‘s warm?‖ and ―Is it warm?‖
In the latter, the speaker genuinely doesn‘t know whether it‘s warm. In the former, it seems
almost like the speaker thinks it‘s not warm, and is asking for re-confirmation.

These kinds of subtle distinctions make English a pretty difficult language grammatically.

IRREGULAR CONJUGATIONS OF VERBS, AND SIMILAR PHENOMENA

Some people who study Spanish think the verbs there are bad. English is stuffed full of
irregular verbs! How come the past tense of ―buy‖ is ―bought‖, and the past tense of
―sell‖ is ―sold‖, and neither ―buyed‖ nor ―selled‖ are real words?

And that‘s just the ―usual‖ conjugations of verbs, i.e., past tense and third person singular.
There are other verb conjugations, but they‘re just so irregular we don‘t even acknowledge
them as conjugations. For example, taking an adjective and forming its ―-ness‖ quality. As
in, deriving ―swiftness‖ from ―swift‖. This process is as irregular as you can get. ―Strong‖
doesn‘t become ―strongness‖, it becomes ―strength‖, even though its opposite, ―weak‖, does
become ―weakness‖. ―High‖ becomes ―height‖, and if you mess up and say
―highness‖ instead, it sounds like you‘re talking about some bizarre royal bloodline!

Sometimes you can even ―undo‖ a conjugation and end up with a whole new word than what you
started with. The word ―truthiness‖, for example, has recently been popularized. Another
example is ―awesomeness‖. ―Awesome‖ is actually derived from ―awe‖: something is awesome
if it inspires awe (at least, that‘s the original meaning). So in theory, ―awesomeness‖ and ―awe‖
should be the same thing, and ―awesomeness‖ shouldn‘t even be a word since it should be
redundant, and yet, they don‘t mean the same things and ―awesomeness‖ is a word.

71
THE CASE OF THE LEFTOVER CASES

Being derived from German, which has a heavy case system, English originally had its own
heavy case system. English cases have mostly been phased out, but the remnants of a case
system still exist, which almost means in English it‘s the worst of both worlds.

Let me explain what cases are. Cases are different ―forms‖ for words to indicate what
function they serve in a sentence. For example, in the sentence ―the cat ate the fish‖, ―the fish‖
is the ―object‖ (it‘s getting eaten), and ―the cat‖ is the subject (he‘s doing the eating).
There are no cases here; in order to tell who did the eating and who got eaten, we have to look at
word order. If the sentence were ―the fish ate the cat‖, the meaning would be very different!

In a cased language, ―the cat‖ might have different forms, to indicate whether the cat is the
subject, object, or something else (German has four different cases and Russian has even
more). Similarly with ―the fish‖. The advantage of a cased system is that word order is
more flexible. The forms of the nouns tell us what roles they play, so the order of the
sentence is less crucial. The downside of the case system is that it‘s more complicated, and
there‘s more to memorize.

As I said, English is mostly case-free. But, there are leftovers from the old case system. That‘s
why we have ―I‖, ―me‖, ―mine‖ and ―my‖. And why we have ―you‖, ―yours‖ and ―your‖. And
why we have ―he‖, ―him‖, and ―his‖, and ―we‖, ―us‖, ―ours‖ and ―our‖. In each of these groups, it‘s
really the same word, just in different forms- different cases. So, part of learning English is
learning a case system, even though it‘s only used for a handful of words.

And English doesn‘t even get the positive advantages from its case system. Even in a
sentence entirely using cased words, like ―I hit him‖, word order is still important– ―Him
hit I‖ is totally incorrect unless your name is Yoda.

Incidentally, the leftover case system also explains the annoying ―who‖/‖whom‖ dilemma,
which many native English speakers are confused by, not to mention ESL speakers!

WHAT KIND OF WORD IS THIS, ANYWAY??

One of the most difficult things about English, is the fact that there‘s very little in the way of
signals to tell you what kind of word a word is. For example, in Japanese and Spanish, all
verbs have similar endings. Not so in English.

The lone exception is the English adverb, which often ends in ―-ly‖, but even this isn‘t a
universal rule, and adverbs are about the least important words in a language anyway.

In English, the same word can even fall into multiple categories. ―Trust‖ is a noun, but also a
verb. ―Quiet‖ is both a noun and an adjective (even though its opposite, ―loud‖, is only an
adjective). ―Abstract‖ is all three!

In fact, almost any adjective can be used as a noun, just put ―the‖ in front of it: ―The dead
shall walk the earth.‖ And any noun can be used as a verb, like in the famous example, ―I‘ll
cookie you!‖ The possibilities are endless, as long as you‘re creative. All this makes English a
lot of fun- but it also definitely makes the language complicated!

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CONCLUSION: If you ever find yourself stressing out over learning a foreign language,
just be glad you don‘t have to learn English as a second language!!

(http://www.xamuel.com/10-reasons-why-english-is-hard-language/)

Topic: English is difficult

Brainstorming

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Topic: Natural disasters in Vietnam

Reading 1: Natural disasters claim 435 lives in Vietnam last year

Natural disasters, mainly floods, hail, landslide and storms, claimed 435 lives and left
850 others missing or injured in Vietnam last year, Vietnam News newspaper reported
Wednesday.

The disasters that hit 50 localities nationwide in 2007, also damaged 113,000 hectares of rice
and many irrigation works, causing total property losses of some 725 million U.S. dollars, or
one percent of GDP, the paper quoted the country's General Statistics Office as saying.

Consequently, 723,900 families, or a total population of 3,034, 500 in flood-hit areas

faced hunger, said the newspaper.

The Vietnamese government has recently approved the National Strategy on Natural
Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation by 2020.

Natural disasters, including typhoons and hails, killed 339 people, left 274 people missing
and injured 2,065 others in Vietnam in 2006. The estimated losses totaled nearly 1.2 billion
dollars in the year.

(http://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/natural-disasters-claim-435-lives-vietnam-last-year)

Reading 2: Vietnam needs effective strategy on natural disasters

VietNamNet Bridge – Being situated in a tropical monsoon region, Vietnam suffers

from dreadful natural disasters every year. More seriously, the abnormality of weather
and the levels of devastation have increased considerably over recent years.

74
As Vietnam is meteorologically located in the Western Pacific region, which is one of the
two biggest storm centres in the world, it faces between 5-10 storms and tropical low
pressure systems a year. When these storms hit Vietnam, they cause huge losses of human
life and damage to property. Even though not many whirlwinds and hailstorms are recorded
every year, they cause huge damage worth billions of Vietnam Dong.

Natural calamities have proven abnormal in recent years, with many storms changing their
direction to hit the central and southern regions instead of the north, as before. Residents in
provinces such as Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-
Hue have struggled to survive powerful storms and violent floods.

In places where local residents rarely face storms, erratic weather conditions can cause huge
losses of human life and damage to property. It is worth to note that typhoon Linda swept
across the south-western region in 1997, killing more than 3,000 fishermen and sinking over
1,000 fishing vessels. It took the region several years to restore the local fishing industry
due to a lack of personnel.

To minimise the consequences of natural disasters, it is necessary to make accurate

weather forecasts and release early warnings to help communities to prepare for any bad
weather. However, these two tasks have not been done well in the past.

Vietnam‘s forecasting ability remains poor. The historic heavy downpours late last year
with rainfalls measuring more than 500mm cost the capital city of Hanoi more than
VND3,000 billion in damage. The rain – the heaviest in four decades – had been forecasted
as ―slight rain‖.

In another case, due to incorrect forecasts, typhoon Chan Chu in 2006 took the lives of 158
fishermen in Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces and Da Nang City. Several regional
weather forecasting centres had forecasted the exact course of typhoon Chan Chu four
days before it entered the East Sea, but the national hydro-meteorological forecasting
centre did not.

The meteorological sector admitted making mistakes, saying that their equipment was out-
of-date, personnel were not up to standard and their forecasts mostly focused on population
centres.

After the disaster, the sector enhanced its forecasting abilities, and as a result, people were
warned of more accurate forecasts of storms and tropical low pressure systems in time.
However, erratic phenomenon such as whirlwinds and hailstorms remain a big challenge
for the sector.

In addition, the state of preparedness against natural disasters reveals weaknesses,

especially in the management of fishing vessels, communications and public apathy.

Even though Vietnam has adopted measures to cope with natural disasters effectively, this
should be integrated into the national programme on climate change. By doing so,
Vietnam will be able to minimise the consequences of natural disasters.

VietNamNet/VOV - http://www.lookatvietnam.com/2009/03/vietnam-needs-
effective-strategy-on-natural-disasters.html
75
Topic: Natural disaster in Vietnam
Brainstorming

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77
Chapter 3 – ARGUMENTATIVE PARAGRAPHS

1. What is it?

In our real life, many a time, we must convince someone to do or not to do something, or
sometimes to believe or not to believe in something. And writing is one of the best way to
convince him/her if other means of communication does not yield in effectiveness of your
persuasion process. This kind of writing is named ‗argumentation‘. So, what is an
argumentative paragraph?

An argumentative paragraph is a form of writing in which one tries to convince another to

agree with one's own beliefs. Looking at both sides of an issue is certainly the first step in
writing an argument. This will allow a writer to be open minded and will able to decide wisely
on which is the better side. ( http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_argumentative_paragraph)

1.1. How to Write One Well Developed Argumentative Paragraph

Argumentative essays differ from descriptive or expository essays because they must present
evidence to back up your argument. You need to have proven evidence from reliable sources
to reinforce your point. Gather as much verifiable information on the topic as you can to make
your opinion strong and lessen the chance that opposing viewpoints can disprove your
conclusions. The best way to write your argumentative paragraph is to start with a well-
developed introduction and form supporting ideas to support your argument.
(www.ehow.com).

Most successful arguments combine three types of appeals. In order to convince others to
accept our point of view, we must first appeal to their reason, good character and emotions.
Be careful that you don't rely solely on logic in an argument. A combination of different
approaches leads to a more balanced argument. Others may become resistant to an argument
that is based solely on one particular line of reasoning. Especially reasoning that they disagree
with in particular. Convincing evidence, reliable experts, and accurate statistics are the basis
of a well presented argument. (http://www.reference.com/motif/reference/sample-argument-
paragraphs)

1.2. The major points of an argumentative paragraph

Apart from the general structure of a paragraph, including a topic sentence, supporting
sentence, and a conclusion, the format of argumentative paragraph is different from the
formats of other types of paragraph you have learnt in several points.

a. Regarding supporting sentences, you may present your argument by presenting any
kind of development, such as details, examples, causes, effects, similarities,
differences, etc. This means that you may use examples, details (with facts and
figures), causes, effects, or else to support your argument.
b. In your paragraph, you may use different kinds of supporting. This mean that you may
use one example, one effect, and one cause to support your controlling ideas.
c. The most obvious difference is that your paragraph must include your opponents‘
ideas about the topic. And then you refute this idea (by usually two or three
sentences).
78
2. Exploring argumentative paragraphs

Paragraph 1

You should do your own homework. Copying someone else is illegal, and you can get a failing
grade or even be kicked out of school. First, it is clear that if you cheat on your job, for example,
you can be fired or arrested and put into jail; the government will certainly find you if you cheat
on your taxes! Copying someone else's homework also means that you never learn how to do that
work for yourself, so when you need the information later (let's say the teacher actually gives you
a test on it where you can't copy!) then you don't know how to do it and you get another bad
grade. Also, if you don't do your homework, you never learn how to discipline yourself to do
unpleasant things, and when you grow up you will always have trouble making yourself do things
like your job, paying your bills, and saving money. Some people say that copying is to respect the
author‘s idea. To a certain extent, this is right; however, if you copy someone‘s work, you must
cite. In case you have to do the job yourself, copying is not allowed and illegal. Therefore, in
short, doing your own homework is the best
(Adapted from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_write_a_persuasive_or_argumentative_paragraph)

way to go!
What is the topic of the paragraph? ………………………………………………………….

What are two major parts of the body of the paragraph? ………………………………….
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How is the first major idea developed? (by using details, examples, or else)? …………………
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How is the first second idea developed? (by using details, examples, or else)? ………………
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What is the third major idea of the body of the paragraph? What is the purpose of this idea?
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Paragraph 2
I am against smoking Marijuana because it causes paranoia, laziness, and lung cancer. I first
believe that people should not smoke Marijuana because reaching a state of paranoia can
cause a person to act irrational, which can lead to a huge mistake and regret. For example,
one day my friend smoked some weed, and he started complaining about his heart racing, and
he was sweating excessively. Out of panic, he ran down the street crying, and the cops
arrested him. Second, Marijuana causes laziness, which prevents people from living up to
their potential. For instance, I watched a movie about a guy who smoked marijuana regularly.
He became so lazy that he failed out of school, and he was also fired from his job because he
always called in sick when he was really stoned and lazy. I am finally against smoking
marijuana because it causes lung cancer, which shortens the life of a person. An example of a
shortened life due to marijuana is my neighbor who smoked weed every day. At the age of
forty-five, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. If he did not smoke marijuana everyday, then
he probably would have lived a lot longer and raised his family. Some people argue that
79
smoking marijuana is a personal choice and it does not damage others. Regarding personal
choice, it has some merit. However, this is not always true. For example, when a son or a
daughter is in trouble because of smoking marijuana, his/her family members must spend time,
energy, and money to take care of him. Therefore, it is not a personal matter anymore. In
conclusion, marijuana may make some people feel good, but the long term affects for such a
short period of pleasure can be devastating; therefore, I am fully against the smoking of this
drug. (Adapted from http://belajarbahasainggrisonlinegratis.blogspot.com/2012/06/jenis-jenis-paragrap.html)

What is the topic of the paragraph? ………………………………………………………….

What are two major parts of the body of the paragraph? ………………………………….
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How is the first major idea developed? (by using details, examples, or else)? …………………
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How is the first second idea developed? (by using details, examples, or else)? ………………
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What is the third major idea of the body of the paragraph? What is the purpose of this idea?
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3. Practice
3.1. Major Steps

a. The first step is to take a stand. This means that you must decide which side of the
argument you would like to support. Once you decide what you want to argue
about, be sure to think of at least three words that best tell why you are for or
against this issue.
b. Brainstorm, and make a simple outline for your paragraph.
c. Write one very clear topic sentence. This one sentence will be your stand; it will be
the side that you pick for this issue. This topic sentence should tell whether or not you
are against the issue.
d. The body of your paragraph must include two major parts: Your reasons and your
opponents‘ idea & your refutation. Usually, you should have at least 2 reasons of
your own, and then your opponents‘ view point will be added. After that, your
refutation of that view point is presented.

e. For each reason, you develop 2 to 3 sentences to support the reason. Remember that
with this kind of paragraph, you may develop your argument by applying any kind of

80
 support, i.e. you may provide details (with facts and figures), examples,
causes, effects, etc. as long as your argument is convincing.

f. Always take time to edit for organization and content, and be sure to proofread for any
grammatical and mechanical errors within your sentence structure.

g. Coherence: An effective paragraph include smooth transitions of ideas and

sentences. Sine in this kind of paragraph, you may use different ways of supporting
your reason, it is a good idea to have a look back major connective devises.

Words / Phrases Purposes

Likewise, in the same way, similarly, in comparison Shows similarity, comparison,

drawing a parallel
On the other hand, in contrast, despite, Contrasts with what has
nevertheless, despite, in spite of, on the contrary gone before, dissimilarity

First, second, to begin with, at the same time, later, finally Placing in order, showing a
temporal sequence
Thus, accordingly, therefore, because, in consequence, as Shows causality, cause and
a result, because, owing to, since effect
As has been said previously Referring back
For example, for instance, such as, thus, as follows Examples
In other words, namely, to be more precise, that is to say Explanation
Also, for example, in other words, moreover, Addition, reinforcement
more importantly
To a extent extent, this idea has some merits; however, Refutation
Finally, in brief, in conclusion, in short, overall, to In summary, conclusion
conclude, to sum up, this paper has demonstrated

3.2. Topics for practice

a. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement. Parents are the best teachers.

b. Technology and computers have brought us lots of benefits. However, some

people say that they have resulted in more drawbacks. Do you think they have
brought us more of benefits or drawbacks? Why?

c. It has been said, ―Not everything that is learned is contained in books.‖ Compare
and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from
books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?

d. A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your
community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on
your community. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.

81
 e. 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.

Topic 1: Parents are best teachers

Parents, undoubtedly can teach and bring their children up as a duty. Some people think that
parents in their parenthood, can teach their children better than teachers. Others may argue
that parents would not fulfill the job of teachers because of educational methods and
knowledge. This essay will look at if parents can even do better than teachers when they
teach their children.

On the one hand, parents would be better than teachers in educating their children for several
reasons. Firstly, children may strongly believe or listen to their parents because of their nature
relationship. For example, a little boy may naturally happily greet other people everytime he
meets just because their parents teach him to do that. Secondly, it may be easier for parents to
expect their children to obey. For instance, a father can tell his little daughter to get up earlier
everyday which is not easy for teachers. Another reason is that children may find that they
can only share their personal problems to their parents. The closer parents and children are,
the easier parents can educate their children. As a result, parents are ideal people to educate
their children.

On the other hand, teachers would do much better than parents in educating children because
of many reasons. One reason is that teachers are trained for teaching, with their knowledge
and teaching methods, they can help to educate children more effectively. For example,
parents may easily find out a math solution for children, but they find it hard to explain.
Whereas teachers, with their teaching methods, can find it easy to get children to find out the
solution themselves. Moreover, teachers also know how to encourage children to learn more
effectively, while parents probably do not. For instance, teachers always explain why
children need to learn and tell them learning is an important duty. While parents often
mistakenly encourage their children to do homework by a bar of chocolate, or a trip in the
coming weekend. As a result, teachers may do better than parents in educating children.

In conclusion, educating children is not a simple duty. However, if parents and teachers
can work together to fulfill, we have the right to believe that our new generations will be as
expected. (From http://youthvoices.net/discussion/are-parents-best-teachers)

Topic: Parents are best teachers

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Topic 2: Television: benefits and drawbacks

Top 10 Benefits of Watching Television

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you can probably tell that I am a fan of television
and it has played a big role in my family's bonding. When I hear others proclaim that they
don't watch TV or don't let their kids watch TV, as if it is just junk food for the mind, I
realize that they have no idea what quality television is and the benefits it can have. Even
bad television has its benefits.

The Top 10 Benefits of Watching Television:

1. Intelligence - Complex TV series such as Lost, Heroes and Battlestar Galactica require
a great deal of thinking to understand what is happening. In fact, this was the argument of
author Steve Johnson in his book Everything Bad is Good for You: How today's popular
culture is actually making us smarter. See also 8 TV Shows That Make You Smarter.

2. Learn about different people and places - While nothing beats actual travel for this type of
learning, most people are limited in the amount of travel they can do. TV opens up the world,
whether through watching documentaries, or drama series with multicultural characters.

3. Water Cooler effect - TV can often give office mates with little in common, something
to talk about. This is especially so with series that lend themselves to discussion such as
American Idol, Lost or major events such as the finale of The Sopranos.

4. Laughter - Laughing is good for us. As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. It
has been found to increase circulation, lower blood pressure and more. Watching a good
comedy on TV can be a great way to find something to laugh about.

5. How-To - With cable channels such as HGTV and the Food Network, you can actually
learn how to do almost anything to or for your home.

6. Excitement - Contest shows such as American Idol, Survivor and The Amazing Race
give you the fun and excitement of having favorites and rooting for a winner. The benefits
of sports for non-sports watchers.

7. Educational and Informative - With cable channels such as Discover, National

Geographic and the History Channels, watching TV can be as educational as going to
school. Plus, how many times have you learned something while watching a regular TV
series? If it weren't for all the police and lawyer shows on TV, would anybody other than
lawyers know what Miranda rights were?

8. Memory - With all the serial shows on television, from the complex like Lost, to the
soapy, like Grey's Anatomy, we need to remember what has happened from week to week to
enjoy them.

9. Makes exercise easier - When doing a stationary exercise like a treadmill, it can get
very boring. Reading is difficult because of the movement. Music helps but doesn't give
you anything to look at. There must be a reason why there are televisions in most gyms.

10. Gives families something to bond over - my favorite reason. From the time that I watched
Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers with my kids to the current day when we spend hours talking
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about Lost, Chuck, The Big Bang Theory, Heroes and The Office, television has led to
some great conversations. Often, talking about something that occurred in a TV show will
lead to discussions of real life situations. If that isn't a benefit, I don't know what is.

Can you think of any other benefits of watching television that belong in the top 10? If
you don't think any good comes from watching TV, please comment about that also. I'd
love to hear all opinions.

(http://www.connectwithyourteens.net/2009/08/top-10-benefits-of-watching-television.html)

Topic: Television – benefits and drawbacks

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Topic 3: Different ways of learning

Reading 1: The Five Ways of Learning

Have you ever felt that other people seemed to be collecting more information than you,
and learning it faster and retaining it longer? Or maybe that you were the only one
following along, and everyone else seemed to be scratching their heads? Or have you felt
that your explanation was clear and concise, and your readers gave you bad reviews and
your editor lobbed dry cereal at you?

The reason for this is that people learn in different ways. Oh, it‘s not obvious, and teachers
certainly don‘t address all the ways in school. If you don‘t happen to learn the way your
teachers do, you‘re on your own trying to figure out what was covered in class. And if
you‘re one of those people who says: ―I never learned to study until I got to college,‖ it‘s
because you‘re a Verbal learner, as were most of your teachers.

I‘ll talk about the specifics in a minute, but most people are Verbals. That doesn‘t mean that
a Verbal person only learns in one way; it means that their predominant trait is Verbal. I‘m
strongly Verbal, for instance, with a smattering of Tactile. It‘s possible to have one dominant
trait and more than one secondary trait.

You can‘t really change which way you learn and one way isn‘t better than any other,
although sometimes it‘s more convenient to be one way over another. But you CAN use
your knowledge of how you learn and how that differs from how other people learn to write
clearly.

There are five ways that people learn. Here they are, in order of popularity: Verbal,
Visual, Tactile, Kinesthetic, and Aural.

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Verbal people need to put everything into language. These are the copious note-takers (that is,
in college; in earlier schooling, most Verbals‘ needs are addressed in the classroom and they
often seldom study and still manage decent grades) and will even copy their own notes over.
These people are not the ones who put nasty yellow highlighter all over their books, but they
ARE the ones who write (nearly) as much in the margins and on the flyleaves as is on the
pages of the book itself. Verbals tend to paraphrase things back to people, not so much to
verify that they‘ve understood but because they need to translate into their own language in
order to truly understand. Most people are Verbal or have a smattering of Verbal. Verbals can
be found in most professions. You can‘t recognize them by talkativeness, though. Verbalism
is a learning style and not a presentation style.

Visuals make pictures of things in their heads. They draw on the whiteboard while they talk,
they make symbols for things on their notepads, they think in terms of a timeline rather than a
list of dates, and they highlight salient bits in the books they read. Visuals don‘t need to be
told why this bit of code differs from that bit—they can SEE the difference. Visuals find
patterns on pages—that‘s why they use the highlighter and why they don‘t need comparisons
detailed for them. Where Verbals are happy to have something new described to them,
Visuals need to be shown. Visuals give directions by landmarks and don‘t necessarily know
the names of the streets or programs or methods. Visuals can be found dominating
professions where insight is useful, like technical management, marketing, research and
development, and entrepreneurship.

Tactiles need to touch things. These are the risk-takers; it‘s not that they bungee jump, it‘s
that they need to dive right in and try things rather than have it described or shown to them.
Tactiles are quite likely to take things apart in order to see how they work, and they‘ll insist
on ―driving‖ when they want to show you something new on the computer or when you
show them something new. Tactiles often make logical leaps about how a project will evolve
because they find building blocks among the premises and construct the thing in their heads.
Tactiles learn early to be intuitive about how things work because, for the most part, schools
are directed at Verbals and Visuals. The most common trait for mechanical engineers and
those wow-style coders is to be predominantly Tactile. You definitely want the guy who
works on your car to be a Tactile.

Kinesthetics need to manipulate things. These are the people who need to take two things
and add them to two other things to know that there are four things. Kinesthetics don‘t like to
work with theory or hyperbole as much as they like to take physical objects and change
them. Kinesthetics have the hardest time in school because they need to make the changes to
words and objects themselves rather than watching the teacher do it. Kinesthetics who have a
scientific bent are likely to be drawn to the physical sciences where the changes they effect
are apparent. People who are Kinesthetic are almost always also Tactiles.

Aurals remember everything they ever heard or read. These people seem to have an
encyclopedic knowledge, because something their second grade teacher said is still vividly
recollectable. Aurals seldom understand that other people don‘t have this magnificent
memory and often assume that other people are either not as bright as they are or are
deliberately placing obstacles into an obvious path. Aurals often studied hard, even in
grammar school, but once they learn something, they own it forever. You definitely want
your doctor to be an aural.

There‘s no way to tell what style people learn in from listening to them, although you
can sometimes ferret it out by reading their writing or having them teach you something.
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Sometimes, even people who know about the five ways of learning think they‘re one type
but manifest all the indications of another. It doesn‘t matter much, really, unless they‘re
trying to write educational materials.

It‘s useful to identify which way you learn so that you can make sure the other ways are
attended to in your writing. If you‘re a Tactile, for instance, you‘ll write excellent step lists or
code, but you might have trouble providing context for why someone would follow it. If
you‘re an Aural, you‘ll have a hard time providing building blocks so that other people can
follow complex ideas. If you‘re a Verbal, you‘re so used to information being directed at
you, you might have to deliberately remember that other people learn less verbally and
provide contrived interruptions to your text to allow resting places for less verbal people.

Of course, most people are combinations. I‘m a Verbal with a strong Tactile bent. That means
that I‘ll take things apart—that‘s almost the only way I can learn things—but I‘ll reassemble
them verbally. I might quote the professor in the notes I take in class, but when I copy the notes
over, I‘ll put it in my own words and combine it with something else. I usually come up with all
my most interesting questions when I‘m copying my notes over, because I need to interact with
the language to truly understand it. I suppose that‘s why I enjoy editing so much. (From
http://blogs.officezealot.com/spiller/archive/2007/02/10/20130.aspx)

Reading 2: Book Learning Vs. Experience

It‘s a question that has been debated down the ages, one that often has no concrete answer but
which has been argued well and hard nevertheless – do we need book knowledge or is
practical experience enough to taste and enjoy continued success in life? If book knowledge
is all that is needed, why do we need experience to secure a job? And if experience is all that
matters, why go to college at all?

The truth is that there are advantages to both book learning and experience, and life is a
success only when you‘re able to find the right mix of both these vital ingredients. The
combination depends on the kind of person you are and the career you choose to enter.

Books vs experience…

Book learning is advantageous when:

You need to prove what you know, through an exam or a series of
tests. You have to continue to improve and augment your knowledge.
You need new facts and information on subjects that are constantly changing
and where knowledge is being updated continuously.
Practical experience comes in handy:
When you need to do the same things over and over again at your job or
elsewhere. When you need to understand the theory behind the concept.
When you need to become an expert at what you do
When you need to remember what you have read or learned – when you read a recipe
from a cookbook, you tend to forget it soon unless you‘ve actually prepared the dish
a few times. The experience is embedded in your memory and your brain works
automatically after the first few times.
When you want to learn things on your own. It‘s easy to become an expert if you
keep trying out what you want to do. You learn from your mistakes and don‘t repeat
them in the future.

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In today‘s world, it would seem that experience has the edge over book learning. But even so,
most employers would never give you a second look if you haven‘t been formally schooled
or don‘t have a college degree. You may have been working all your life, but the best jobs
often go to those with the best education. So while experience is important, it loses its value
unless built on a solid foundation of book learning, one that has been built brick by brick
through school and college.

Agree? Disagree? Don‘t care either way? Let‘s talk!

(From http://worldsstrongestlibrarian.com/4962/book-learning-vs-experience/)

Topic: Television – benefits and drawbacks

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