Writing Booklet

CONTENTS
Sentence structure ……Pages 3 - 9  Writing practice

 Subject Essay basics …............Pages 32 – 38
 Verb
 Essay structure
 Exercise - error correction
 Funnel introduction
 Exercise - build up
 Thesis statement
 Substitution
 Supporting paragraphs
 Exercise – vocabulary
 Conclusion
 Exercise - adjectives
 Writing an outline
 Exercise – cloze test
Opinion essay ……..….Pages 39 – 44
Describing people ……Pages 10 – 18
 How to plan your essay
 Parts of speech
 Organisation
 Pronouns
 Practice
 Verbs
 Adjectives References materials and exercises
 Useful vocabulary & adjectives ……………………….…..Pages 45 – 54
 Linking ideas
 Devices and discourse markers
 Opposing qualities
 Exercises
Daily routines ………Pages 19 – 24  Irrelevant sentences
 Exercises
 Parts of speech
 Prepositions
 Adverbs of frequency
 Useful vocabulary Important Notice: For online blackboard
assignments, your essays should be written
 Time order sequence linkers in your own words and do NOT use any
Opinion paragraphs writing reference materials to help you. The
Blackboard system has sophisticated
......................................Pages 25 – 31 software enabling it to detect any type of text
 What is an opinion paragraph? copied from different sources, and this
includes students who share their essays or
 Facts and opinions copy from each other. Therefore, any
 How to write and opinion paragraph assignments which are found to have been
 Connective words shared or copied will not be accepted for
grading.
TMO/ 21-22 WRITING BOOKLET/RH 2

SENTENCE
A sentence is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. In
English, every sentence has a subject and a verb.
I. SUBJECT (S)
The subject tells us who or what is doing something.

e.g. I live in Istanbul.
S
The cat is under the bed.
S
Adele is a singer.
S
II. VERB (V)
The verb tells us what the subject is doing. Remember that the verb ‘TO BE’ is the most
important and common verb in English. Remember also that all sentences have a verb in
English.
e.g. David lives in London.

V
I have got two brothers.
V
The children are in the park.
V
The kitchen is small.
V
Exercise 1: Identify the subject (S) and the verbs (V) in the following sentences.
1. My teacher is very funny.
2. Tom Cruise is an actor.
3. Sera hasn’t got a passport.
4. Our classroom is very big.
5. Will Smith lives in a big house.
6. Bill has got dark brown eyes and a round face.
7. My friends love Turkish pop music.
8. The books aren’t on the table.
9. Have you got a pet?
10. Are their kids lazy?
11. You haven’t got a boyfriend.

12. Sinem and I are classmates.
13. She hasn’t got any children.
14. My aunt isn’t married.
15. Are you single?
Exercise 2: Complete the following sentences with an appropriate subject or a verb. You may use
proper nouns if you wish.
1. Mark ________________ eighteen years old and __________ is from Holland.
2. My sister and I _____________ students. ______________ love English.
3. My house _____________ in the city centre. ___________ ___________ a small garden.
4. Kate _______________ my cousin. ____________ lives with my grandmother.
5. A: Where ___________ the swimming pool?

B: _____ ______ on the left.
6. A: Where ___________ you from?

B: _____ _______ from France.
7. A: _______ Cristiano Ronaldo Spanish?

B: No ______ _______. _________ ________ Portugal.
8. A: ________ you _____________ a computer?

B: Yes,___________ __________
9. A: ____________ there a TV in your room?

B: No, __________ ____________
10. A: _______________ there twelve people in a football team?

B: No, ___________ _________. ____________ __________ eleven people.
EXERCISE - ERROR CORRECTION.

Find the mistake in the following sentences and correct them.
1. She is a single.
2. She is a beautiful.
3. Tom Hanks is famous American actor.
4. Sibel has got three child.
5. There are four peoples in this room.
6. Her hairs are brown.
7. There are a pen on the table.

8. He handsome.
9. I have got twenty years old.
10. My father is a Mercedes.
11. They has got an expensive car.
12. She’s got oval face.
13. There are two sofas in living room.
14. She is a actress.
15. She is a student hardworking.
16. He is a handsome man young.
17. My friend and I am rich.
18. They are five chairs in the classroom.
19. Jane and her brother is very lazy.
20. Ali have got a brother.
21. There are two bedroom in my flat.
22. His brother name’s is Can.
23. Lady Gaga famous American singer.
24. I have got a wonderful a new home in Istanbul.
25. She is married woman.
EXERCISE – BUILD-UP
Buıld up the following words into sentences and add the verbs or the articles if necessary.
1. George Clooney / famous / American / actor
2. her / singers / Sezen Aksu / favourite / Ebru Gündeş
3. my / blue / black / colours / favourite / and
4. you / sisters / brothers / or?
5. Turkish / she?
6. some / on / flowers / table / there
7. Michael Jordan / Russia / not
8. A: from / Serena Williams / where?
B: she / the USA / from

9. I / and / students / Zeynep / at / university
10. two / brother / sisters / one / she / and
11. wonderful / pandas / animals
12. married / children / she / two / and
13. eyes / green / dark / she / two / hair / and / long
14. kids / there / three / in / garden
15. your / best / sister’s / who / friend?
16. green / in / bedroom / there / my / curtains
17. is / dark / untidy / room / it
18. bookcase / between / there / armchair / carpet / and
19. you / single / married / or?
20. Andrew / Jane’s / Paul / sons
21. sister’s / bedroom / my / on / floor / first
22. city / Spain / big / Barcelona / in
23. uncle / you / got?
24. kind / boy / and / friendly / he
25. Sibel / girlfriend’s / is / Ahmet’s / name
26. house / you / computer / in / your?
27. opposite / sofa / fireplace / there
28. my / bag / mobile / I / not / in
29. live / Michael / now / where?
30. Instagram / do / a / you / account?
SUBSTITUTION
Insert or substitute a word in parentheses in the following sentences as in the examples.
e.g. David is a teacher. (lazy)

David is a lazy teacher. (student)
David is a lazy student. (John)
John is a lazy student. (Sara and Paul)
Sara and Paul are lazy students. (hardworking)
Sara and Paul are hardworking students.

1. There is a house in the garden. (big)
______________________________________________________________ (beautiful)
______________________________________________________________ (apartment
building)
______________________________________________________________ (six)
______________________________________________________________ (cars)
______________________________________________________________
2. I have got a skirt in the closet. (black)

______________________________________________________________ (long)
______________________________________________________________ (my sister)
______________________________________________________________ (dress)
______________________________________________________________ (pink)
______________________________________________________________ (shoes)
______________________________________________________________ (my sister and I)
______________________________________________________________ (suitcase)
______________________________________________________________
3. Çağla Şikel is a model (successful)

______________________________________________________________ (Burak Özçivit)
______________________________________________________________ (handsome)
______________________________________________________________ (actor)
______________________________________________________________ (Aras Bulut İynemli

and Çağatay Ulusoy)
______________________________________________________________ (young)
______________________________________________________________

EXERCISES – VOCABULARY
FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO IS_____________________________?
1. Your father’s wife is your ________________________

2. Your father’s son is your ________________________
3. Your sister’s son is your ________________________
4. Your brother’s daughter is your
5. Your sister’s aunt is your ________________________
6. Your daughter’s son is your ______________________
7. Your uncle’s son is your _____________________________
8. Your mother’s father is your _____________________
9. Your cousin’s father is your ____________________________
10. You are a boy. You are your mother’s and/or father’s _________________
11. You are a girl. You are your mother’s and/or father’s _________________
ADJECTIVES
Write the antonyms of the underlined adjectives in the blanks.
1. My sister has got long curly hair. __________________ ____________________

2. I have a clever boyfriend. ______________________________
3. His uncle is very rich. _________________________________
4. Our teacher is single. _________________________________
5. He is tall and thin. _____________ ______________________
6. Ali has got a big nose and full lips ___________ ___________
7. Our Kitchen is dark. ______________
8. My brother’s room is messy. __________________________
9. Their living room is spacious. _________________________
10. We live in an old house. ____________________________
11. He has got a cheap mobile phone. ____________________
12. They are lazy students. _____________________________
13. Mary is a generous woman. __________________________
14. These questions are difficult. _________________________
15. This building is ugly. ________________________________

EXERCISE – CLOZE TEST
Fill in the blanks with any suitable words (nouns, verb, adjectives, etc.)
Emre 1. _____________ my neighbour and my best 2. ________________. He is 3.

______________ Adana. 4. __________________ father is 5. ______________ business man
and his 6. _______________ is a housewife. Emre 7. _____________________ any brothers or
8. ____________________. He 9. __________________ very funny. 10. _____________ is 25
years 11. _____________ with dark hair 12. _____________ brown eyes. Emre 13.
___________ a wonderful person. He is very 14. _______________ and generous. His favourite
15. ________________ is football.
Now – you write about your friend/neighbour or close relative below.
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
DESCRIBING PEOPLE
PART 1 – PARTS OF SPEECH
A – NOUNS (N)
Nouns are names of a person, place or a thing.
PERSON PLACE THING
Ahmet Istanbul board
Kader forest table
Tom London desk
Alice island book
There are two types of nouns: Proper nouns and Common nouns.
I. Proper Nouns
e.g. Maltepe, Paris, Canada, Elif, Burak
II. Common Nouns

e.g. pencil, thief, door, board marker
B – PRONOUNS (PR)
Pronouns replace a noun. I, we, they, he, she are called pronouns.
Adele is a famous singer. She lives in London.
My boyfriend and I are very happy. We love each other.
Our school is in Büyükbakkalköy. It is on a big campus.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith are actors. They are well known all over the world.
C – VERBS (V)
Verbs describe an action, a feeling or a condition. All sentences have a verb in English.
Ebru lives in Turkey.

I teach English.
Ebru has got beautiful eyes.
Aslı loves Tuğbay.
The verb ‘TO BE’ is the most important and common verb in English.
I am a student.
You are a student.
She is a doctor.
He is a chef.
It is sunny today.
We are teachers.
You are swimmers.
They are tired.
Ayşim and Selda are good friends.
Exercise: Identify the nouns (N), the verbs (V) and the pronouns (P) in the following sentences
as in the example.
e.g. He is a famous Turkish writer

P V N
1. What is your name?
2. Is it a pencil?
3. Harry is English.
4. A monkey is an animal.
5. He is Chinese.
6. I have got two sisters.

7. Julia has got blue eyes.
8. Roger lives in London.
9. Leonardo DiCaprio has got blond hair.
10. David has got a very dark shirt.
Part 2 - ADJECTIVES
 Adjectives describe a noun or a pronoun.
e.g. Güzide is tall and thin.

She has long brown hair.
She has blue eyes.
 Adjectives always come in front of nouns, NOT after them.
e.g. She is a beautiful girl.

ADJ N
She has long hair.

ADJ N
 Adjectives can follow the verb “TO BE”.
e.g. He is tall.
They are fat.
She is clever.
 We use “a” or “an” before an adjective with a singular noun.
e.g. My brother is a lazy boy. (boy – singular)

My brother is lazy. (lazy – adjective without a noun)
She is an American actress.
She is American.
A- Find and underline the adjectives.

1. I have wavy black hair.
2. I am not an organized person.
3. Are you a careful driver?

4. I have a British boyfriend.
5. Beyaz is not married.
6. I live in a big house.
7. A Porsche is a fast car.
8. My uncle has two children.
USEFUL VOCABULARY
Height: tall, short, of medium height
Weight: fat, thin, slim, plump, well-built, skinny, slim, chubby, overweight, big
Age: young, middle-aged, old, in his 20s, in her 50s
Face: oval, long, square, round, narrow
Hair style: short, shoulder-length, medium-length, long, straight, curly, wavy, bald, bangs
Hair colour: black, red, brown, blond, grey, white, fair, dark
Eyes: slanting eyes, almond shaped eyes, big eyes, blue, brown, hazel, green
Mouth: wide, full lips, thin lips
Nose: flattish, big, upturned, hooked, small
Complexion: pale, yellowish, dark
General opinion: good-looking, beautiful, handsome, plain, ugly, attractive
Others: beard, moustache, freckles, dimples, mole, wrinkles
B- Put the words in correct order and make sentences.

e.g. dog / Chip / a / is / big
Chip is a big dog.
1. Trig / a / friend / special / is
___________________________________________________________________
2. not / is / Triglon / a / planet / big

___________________________________________________________________
3. town / a / Merton / is / small

___________________________________________________________________
4. is / big / not / grammar book / the

___________________________________________________________________
5. the / very / is / dictionary / thick

___________________________________________________________________
6. are / Jenny / English / and / Nick

___________________________________________________________________
7. Italian / Carlo / and / are / Maria
___________________________________________________________________
8. Greek / is / a / Dimitris / name

___________________________________________________________________
9. is / famous / Mily Cyrus / singer / a

___________________________________________________________________
10. American / is / an / Los Angeles / city

___________________________________________________________________
C - Read the paragraph and complete the sentences.
This is Michael Schumacher. He is a racing driver

and a professional mechanic. He is 43 years old. He
is from Germany. He is German. He is tall and well-
built. He has got short brown hair and blue eyes. He
is married. He has two children, a son and a
daughter. His favorite sport is football. His favorite
hobby is carting. His favorite month is July.
This________ Hidayet Türkoğlu and this _________ İbrahim Kutluay. They ________
international basketball players. İbrahim is 39 years _________. Hidayet is 33 _________ old.
İbrahim is ________ Turkey and Hidayet is __________ Bosnia. __________ are Turkish.
İbrahim is ___________. His wife’s _________ is Demet Kutluay. _________ have a daughter.
Hidayet is married and he _______ a daughter, ______. İbrahim’s ____________ car is Ferrari
and Hidayet’s favourite ___________ is apple juice with mineral water. Hidayet’s nickname
_______ Hido and İbrahim’s nickname ________ İbo.
D- Make sentences. Use “TO BE” or “HAVE/HAS”. Add “a/an” if necessary.

1. short / Cem Yılmaz / plump / and
___________________________________________________________________
2. blue / blond / eyes / and / hair / Michael Schumacher

___________________________________________________________________
3. tall / Heidi Klum / skinny / and

___________________________________________________________________
4. face / dark / long / and / skin / Kenan İmirzalıoğlu

___________________________________________________________________

5. moustache / İbrahim Tatlıses
___________________________________________________________________
6. beard / Sinan Çetin

___________________________________________________________________
7. fair / eyes / Beyaz / and / blue / hair

___________________________________________________________________
8. dark / Will Smith / complexion

___________________________________________________________________
9. mole / Bülent Ersoy

___________________________________________________________________
10. lips / Sezen Aksu / full

___________________________________________________________________
E- Rewrite the sentences.

e.g. He has a long face.
His face is long.
1. She has green eyes. ____________________________________________________
2. He has brown hair. _____________________________________________________
3. Nakata has slanting eyes. ________________________________________________
4. Jennifer’s hair is curly. ___________________________________________________
5. Paul’s nose is flattish. ___________________________________________________
F – Fill in the blanks with the words from the list below.
oval / thin / moustache / short / blue / glasses / dark
This is Dave. He is 47 years old. Dave is _____________ and ________________ with
short __________ curly hair. He has got _____________ eyes and a (n) _____________
face. He has got glasses and a ___________________.
red / medium / slim / wavy / green /
This is Jill. She is 38 years old. She is of ____________ height and she is ___________.
Jill has got ___________ _____________ hair. Her eyes are green.

G - Write a paragraph.
DAVID BECKHAM (1975 / London / married / footballer / tall / well-built / brown
eyes / favourite day – Saturday)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Part 2 - ADJECTIVES
USEFUL VOCABULARY (ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S CHARACTER)

ambitious dependable hardworking messy quiet
artistic energetic helpful neat responsible
boring enthusiastic honest optimistic selfish
brave friendly jealous organised sensitive talkative
competitive funny kind patient serious thrifty
creative generous lazy studious social shy
Exercise: Which of the following adjectives are positive and which are negative. Put them
in the correct boxes.
funny, unreliable, self- confident, caring, imaginative, outgoing, helpful, rude, careful, easy
going, stubborn, cooperative, selfish, shy, disorganised, forgetful, active, ambitious, lazy, loyal,
arrogant, polite, generous, sensitive, decisive, reserved, determined, self-centred, responsible,
bossy
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE

LINKING IDEAS
When you describe people’s character, you can include positive (e.g. polite) and negative (e.g.
rude) qualities.
When you talk about negative qualities, you can use the expressions in bold.
e.g. He tends to/ can be rude at times. He is often aggressive. (NOT: He is rude.)
Look at the ways you can join these sentences.
Similar qualities
She is friendly. She is polite.
She is friendly and polite.
Opposing qualities
He is helpful. He can be arrogant at times.

He is helpful, but he can be arrogant at times.
Exercise: join the ideas using: ‘and’ OR ‘but’
1. Roger is friendly. Roger is caring.

___________________________________________________________
2. John is intelligent. He is self-centred.
___________________________________________________________
3. Andrew is stubborn. Andrew is disorganised.
___________________________________________________________
4. Paul is cooperative. Paul is forgetful.
___________________________________________________________
5. Mıchael is energetic. Michael is bossy.
___________________________________________________________
6. She is friendly. She can be rude at times.
___________________________________________________________
7. Our grandmother is caring. She is patient.
___________________________________________________________
8. Jane is decisive. She can be arrogant at times.
___________________________________________________________
9. Susan is self-confident. She tends to be disorganised.
___________________________________________________________
10. Mike is selfish. He is aggressive.
___________________________________________________________

Exercise: Use the prompts below and write two paragraphs. Don’t forget to add the verbs.
A. this / David
old / seventeen / he / years
and / with / short / slim / he / hair / curly / and / brown / eyes / dark
he / face / round
self-confident / he / generous / but / selfish / stubborn / at times
______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
B. Jane / this
twenty / old / she / years
plump / blond / long / tall / with / hair / she, eyes / Jane / brown
helpful / funny / she / but / forgetful / at times / disorganised / tend to
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
DAILY ROUTINE
PART 1 – PARTS OF SPEECH
A – ARTICLES (A)
Articles make nouns specific or general.
the – (specific)
a – an (general)
e.g. There is a fireplace in the living room.
The children play in the garden.
A little child plays in the garden.
I have an aunt and an uncle.
B – PREPOSITIONS (PREP)
Prepositions show relationship such as:
place,
on, in, next to, under, between, in front of, near, behind

OR time
on, in at, before, after
e.g. My car is in front of the house.

My house is between the cinema and the supermarket.
I play tennis on Sundays.
I wake up at seven o’clock.
My birthday is on 5th May.
I have classes after lunch.
I always have a cup of coffee before class.
C – ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY (ADV)
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often something happens. They go before the main verb but after the
verb ‘TO BE.’
e.g. He always goes home straight after school.

He usually gets up early.
She often rides her bicycle after school.
She is sometimes late for school.
He seldom eats dinner after 8:00 pm.
She never goes to bed late.
Jane rarely goes to bed before midnight.
Exercise 1: Identify the parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, adverbs,
articles) in the following sentences:
11. Models have a busy life.
12. Little children usually go to bed at 8:30 pm.
13. We wash our hands before lunch.
14. He doesn’t always read in the office.
15. Our classes always start at nine o’clock.
16. My teacher never makes mistakes.
17. They never sell cigarettes at the cafeteria.
18. My sister and I sometimes go shopping on Saturdays.
19. Doctors usually marry nurses.
20. My boss rarely arrives at work before eight o’clock.

21. There are lovely colourful flowers on our campus.
22. I usually leave home at seven o’clock.
23. My mother always buys fresh fruits and vegetables.
24. Where do you usually have lunch at school?
25. Do you always brush your teeth in the morning?
26. I don’t have a girlfriend at the moment.
27. My friend always comes and stays with me on Sundays.
28. Buses are always crowded in the mornings.
29. This is the last sentence in the exercise.
Exercise 2: Build up the following sentences using the prompts given below. Add necessary
prepositions or articles or verbs. Put the given verb in the correct tense.
1. go / Peter / bed / 11 o’clock.
2. every / English / Roger / study / evening
3. weekends / sometimes / grandparents / my / visit / I
4. never / sugar / coffee / drink
5. open / usually / 8:30 / morning / banks
6. Sundays / go / we / cinema / often
7. always / get up / 8 o’clock / you?
8. meet / usually / friends / you / your?
9. honey / cheese / have / he / butter / morning / and / breakfast

10. stay / home / parents / weekend / your?
11. snow / always / it / Canada
12. put on / the model / make up / morning
13. leave / 8 o’clock / arrive / I / home / school / 9 o’clock / and
14. sports / Sundays / watch / father / always / my / programs
15. I / computer / and / brother / games / every / my / play / day
16. not / sister / rock / my / music / like
17. dinner / 7 pm / have / we / usually
18. see / my / I / grandparents / not / often
19. your / presents / you / to / give / friends?
20. with / go / holiday / friends / every / I / on / summer / my
PART 2 – WRITING ABOUT DAILY ACTIVITIES

USEFUL VOCABULARY
COMMON PHRASES TO DESCRIBE DAILY ACTIVITIES
wake up go to work
get up go to school
shave leave home for school / leave home for work
have breakfast / lunch / dinner finish school / finish work
take a shower / have a bath arrive at school / arrive at work / get home
from school / get home from work
get dressed
go shopping
put on make up
do homework
make the bed
go to bed

PART 3 – TIME ORDER (SEQUENCE) LINKERS
When you write a paragraph about daily activities, you should put the sentences in time order. Here are
some common linkers used to show time order:
first next / then / after that
second finally
Exercise 1: Underline the time linkers in the sample paragraph given below.
A typical day in the life of Onur Ege

Onur Ege is a famous singer. Onur’s day always starts early. He usually gets up at 7:30. First, he has
breakfast at 8:00. Then he goes to the gym at 8.30. Next, he goes to the swimming pool. For lunch, he
usually eats a sandwich and drinks some orange juice. After that, he goes to the recording studio at 2:30
pm. In the evening, he often has dinner at 7:00 pm. Then, he sometimes checks his twitter account.
Finally, he goes to bed at 11:00 pm. Onur Ege always has a busy day.
Exercise 2: Fill in the text about Henry’s daily routine with the phrases from the list in the present simple.
meet his friends / make a sandwich /
go to bed / do his homework / wake up /
have lunch / start school / brush /
get home from school / watch TV /
get dressed / walk to school
Henry 1. _______________ at 8.00 in the morning on weekdays. He 2. ________________ his teeth

and 3. ______________________. He leaves the house at about 8.30 and
4. _____________________________. 5. _____________________________ at 9 o’clock. Henry 6.
_____________________ in the school cafeteria at 12:30. School finishes at 3:30. Henry 7.
___________________________ at 4 o’clock. He 8. ________________________ then he 9.
___________________________________. After that, he goes to the park and
10._____________________________. Then, he goes home and 11. _________________ for an hour.
He 12. _____________________ at 10 o’clock.

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with the suitable adverbs of frequency and time linkers given below.
always after that (x2) usually
first sometimes then (x2)
finally often
David 1. ______________ wakes up at 8.00 every weekday. 2. ___________ he gets dressed.

3.____________________ he has breakfast. He 4. _____________ leaves home at 9 o’clock. He
starts school at 9.30. He has a break for lunch at 12:00 5. ___________ he
6. ______________ plays football with his friends until 1:00. He has lessons until 3.00. He goes home
at 4 o’clock. He 7. ___________ has a snack. 8. _________________ he studies until 7.00. 9.
__________ he has dinner with his family at 8:00. He watches TV until 9.30.
10. ___________ he goes to bed at around 11 o’clock.
Exercise 4: Use the prompts below to write about Martin Jones. Use adverbs of frequency and time
linkers.
Martin Jones – a computer engineer
6:00 am wake up, have shower

6: 45 am get dressed
7:00 am have breakfast
7:45 am leave the house, catch bus
8:30 am arrive office, check emails
9.00 – 12:00 take back–ups
12:00 – 13: 00 have lunch
13.00 – 17:00 check documents
17.30 leave the office
19:00 have dinner
19:00 – 22:00 watch Netflix
23: 00 go to bed
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Opinion paragraph writing
What is an Opinion Paragraph?
In everyday life, everyone must have a different opinion about a topic / issue and discuss it with others.
Some examples of these issues are:
 Do you agree that school students should wear uniforms?
 Should smoking be allowed everywhere?
Almost all people must have written and expressed their opinion in various ways. You can find a few
paragraphs that contain someone’s opinion of an issue easily in newspapers or on social media.
Expressing opinions can be done anywhere. Even in your class, sometimes you’ll be asked to express
your opinion on something.
What’s the difference between facts and opinions?
Opinions are statements that come from a person’s beliefs/thoughts about something. Expressions
such as, “I believe …“, “I think that …“, or “In my opinion, …” are used to express your opinion.
When you talk about your opinion you can start your sentences with phrases:
I think friends should always be honest.
I don’t think white lies are dangerous.
I believe it is better to upset your friends than to lie.
In my view, it is always safer to lie than to tell the truth.
In my opinion, lying is the same as cheating or stealing.
Opinions are different from facts. Opinion can or cannot be agreed with by other people. One the other
hand, facts cannot be denied because facts are true statements that don’t come from someone’s
thoughts.
Read a few sentences below so you can understand the difference between opinions and facts better:
Facts Opinion
The sunrise was beautiful this

The sun rises in the east
morning
This lake’s temperature is under 10oC The lake is too cold to swim in
Based on the police reports, it is dangerous to use a cell Using a cell phone while driving is
phone while driving. dangerous
It was forbidden for women to vote in the United States until

Everyone should vote
1920
Mr. Smith said, “I am a bad father.” Mr. Smith is a bad father
The above are some sentences of facts and opinions. Even the last sentence – Mr. Smith said, “I am a
bad father.” – is a fact. The sentence is in the form of the fact that he (Mr. Smith) said something about
himself, even what he said – “I am a bad father” – was an opinion.
The sentences in the right column contain several opinion sentences that can be or cannot be
approved by everyone.

When you write an opinion paragraph, you can write about something in your mind, but it will give a
stronger reason for people to believe it if you add some facts that will support your opinion.
Exercise 1: Look at the below sentences and decide whether each statement is a fact (F) or
opinion (O).
1. __________ There is nothing more annoying than a barking dog.
2. __________ Charlotte’s Web is the best book ever written.
3. __________ The human heart consists of four chambers: two atria and two ventricles.
4. ___________ In 2011 a nuclear plant in Japan was damaged by an earthquake.
5. ___________ Sally thinks her grandmother is the most loving grandmother in the world.
6. ___________ A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes behind the earth.
7. __________ Baklava is much better than muhallaebi.
8. __________ He is a talented painter and should do very well selling his work.
9. __________ A sofa is more comfortable for watching TV than a regular chair.
10. __________ Alligators and crocodiles are scary creatures in or out of the water.
11. __________ New York City is a place everyone should try to visit in their lifetime.
12. __________ Algebra and geometry are difficult subjects to pass.
13. __________ Boris Johnson is the current Prime Minister of England.
14. __________ Everyone in Turkey should only buy Turkish-made products.
15. __________ Water boils at 100 degrees
An opinion paragraph is a paragraph that contains a person’s opinion/thoughts about

something which is then used to persuade readers to support their opinions.
How to Write an Opinion Paragraph?
AN OPINION PARAGRAPH SHOULD HAVE:
1. A TOPIC SENTENCE which clearly states your opinion.
2. THREE IDEAS to support your opinion. (supporting sentences)
3. 1 EXAMPLE which can be facts or experiences that you had.
4. A CONCLUDING SENTENCE that restates your opinion using different wording, and
summarises the main ideas.
1. TOPIC SENTENCE:
•State your opinion clearly using any of these expressions:
In my opinion, as I see it, I consider (that), I believe (that), from my point of view, I am convinced
that, It seems to me that, I’m of the opinion (that), I (strongly, firmly) believe that.
2. SUPPORTING SENTENCES AND EXAMPLES:

•They give supporting details, explanations and examples (at least one example should be used).
First of all, ... + main reason + supporting detail + (example)

Secondly, ... + main reason + supporting detail + (example)
Thirdly, ... + main reason + supporting detail + (example)

3. CONCLUDING SENTENCE:
• It is the last sentence of the paragraph. Rewrite your opinion using different words.
•Useful phrases are: in conclusion, finally, to sum up
Most paragraphs have three main parts:
The topic sentence

This sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about.
It usually has an adjective.
It is the first sentence in the paragraph.
The supporting sentences

These sentences use examples and give more information about the topic of the paragraph.
The concluding sentence

This sentence is the last sentence in the paragraph.
It should have the same idea but be different from the topic sentence.
You need all food items to make a complete sandwich. Therefore, you must
have a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a concluding sentence to write a complete
paragraph.

A. ___________________________________________ We can use it to find all kinds of
information quickly. We can also use it to buy things, for example airline tickets. Finally, it
allows us to communicate with each other quickly and cheaply. Everybody should be
connected to the internet.
B. __________________________________________ The countryside has far less traffic

than the city, so it is much quieter and less polluted. Also, the people are friendlier in country
places because they have more time to get to know each other. Finally, the countryside is
usually more beautiful than a city. So, it’s not surprising that more and more people are moving
from cities to the countryside.
C. ____________________________________________ All computers have keyboards, so if

we know how to type we can make better use of computers. Students who can type quickly
can make all their homework assignments and class projects look nicer. Students who learn
how to type quickly have a big advantage over students who don’t know typing.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH:
Read the paragraph and analyse it using the outline below.
I strongly believe that physical education should be mandatory in school as it promotes healthy
living. First of all, physical education promotes healthy living by increasing fitness levels. As you
become more fit, your strength and endurance improves. Secondly, physical education leads to
a healthier life because it encourages students to think about making better food choices such
as increasing the fruits and vegetables in their diet. Finally, physical education promotes healthy
living because exercise helps reduce stress which makes it easier to do well at school. In
conclusion, high schools should make physical education a requirement because it can really
help students become stronger and healthier both physically and mentally.
1) Topic Sentence:
____________________________________________________________
2) First reason and support (& example):

___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
3) Second reason and support (& example):

___________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4) Third reason and support (& example):

___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
5) Concluding sentence:
____________________________________________________________

Useful linking words and phrases: to develop, relate, connect and move
ideas.
USAGE CONNECTIVE WORDS
addition of and, also, besides, further, furthermore, too, moreover, in addition, then, of
ideas equal importance, equally important, another
next, afterward, finally, later, last, lastly, at last, now, subsequently, then,
when, soon, thereafter, after a short time, the next week (month, day, etc.), a
time
minute later, in the meantime, meanwhile, on the following day, at length,
ultimately, presently
order or first, second, (etc.), finally, hence, next, then, from here on, to begin with, last
sequence of all, after, before, as soon as, in the end, gradually
to signal an for example, to illustrate, for instance, to be specific, such as, moreover,
example furthermore, just as important, similarly, in the same way
as a result, hence, so, accordingly, as a consequence, consequently, thus,

results
since, therefore, for this reason, because of this
purpose to this end, for this purpose, with this in mind, for this reason(s)
to summarize in summary, to sum up, to repeat, briefly, in short, finally, on the whole,
or report therefore, as I have said, in conclusion, as you can see
PRACTICE:
Write an opinion paragraph about the given topic. “Life in a big city is difficult.” Do you agree or
disagree?
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ESSAY BASICS
THE STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY
An essay is a group of paragraphs about ONE topic. Every essay has three parts: the introduction,
body (2 or 3 body paragraphs) and the conclusion.
2) The body paragraphs (explanation)
1) The introduction 3) The conclusion

(summary) Body 1:
Main idea with support
General statements Concluding sentences
Body 2:
+
+ Final thoughts,
comments, advice
Thesis statement Body 3:
(This is optional)
(FUNNEL) INTRODUCTION
1. Hook: This is optional (to get the reader's interest, attention)
 Quotation
 Question
 An interesting fact or statistics
2. Background information related to the
essay’s topic
3. A more specific thesis statement
-In short, your introduction should move from

general to specific information which is called
funnel introduction.
-Students’ essays (Opinion, Cause or Effect, Compare
or Contrast) will be assessed on a five-band scale for
CONTENT, ORGANIZATION, VOCABULARY and
GRAMMAR. (see the related assessment criteria sheet
that your instructor has delivered.)
THE THESIS STATEMENT is the most specific statement of the introductory paragraph which gives
the author's opinion or states an important idea about the topic. It is usually the last sentence of the
introduction.
EXAMPLES OF STRONG THESIS STATEMENTS: (Because they can be discussed and

supported in the body paragraphs)
 Keeping a pet at home is a bad idea for three reasons.
 When studying a second language, there are several ways to improve your language skills.

EXAMPLES OF WEAK THESIS STATEMENTS: (You can't discuss or support them.)
 In some countries in the world, the summer months are warmer than the winter months.
 There are advantages and disadvantages to using nuclear power.
 College education is a good investment. (Weak thesis because it is too general.)
 College education is a good investment for four reasons. (Better version because it is
more specific.)
 I'm going to write about sport injuries. (Simple and general announcement)
People should take simple precautions to avoid sport injuries. (Better version)
HOW TO CONNECT THE THESIS STATEMENT AND THE ESSAY

The body paragraphs of an essay should always explain the thesis statement. Each body
paragraph should discuss and support one part of the thesis.
Example:
"Television has a three main negative effects on children."
Body 1 explains the first negative effect for example violence.
Body 2 explains the second negative effect for instance not having a social life.
Body 3 explains the third negative effect such as becoming inactive.
Example of an introductory paragraph:

Topic: Causes of Poor Health
HOOK
In the 20th century, there are many problems in the world. One of the most serious ones is
poor health. Doctors say that we should keep fit and eat properly to be healthy and to avoid
becoming sick or ill. There are several factors and reasons that lead to poor health which are
stress, bad eating habits and lack of exercise.
PRACTICE
Read the following sentences and put them into the correct order to form a paragraph.
1. (1) During this period, children detach themselves from their parents and become separate,
independent people.
(2) Teenagers express their freedom and separateness in their choice of clothes, hairstyles and
vocabulary.
(3) The teenage years between childhood and adulthood are a period of growth and separation.
2. (1) Therefore, anyone who wants to drive must carry a driver’s license.
(2) It is divided into certain steps: studying the traffic laws, taking the written test and practice.
(3) Getting a driver’s license is a complicated process.
(4) Driving a car is important and necessary in today's society.
3. (1) Therefore, workaholics’ lifestyles can have negative effects on their families, social life, and on
their health.
(2) In addition, workaholics may not spend enough time in leisure activities.
(3) Nowadays, many men and women work in law, accounting, real estate, and business.
(4) These people are serious about becoming successful which means that they work long hours
during the week and even on weekends, so they are called “workaholics.”
4. (1) The heavy traffic problem can be solved by building train systems from the suburbs to the cities,
improving public transportation and by limiting parking areas in the city centre.
(2) This is caused by the thousands of cars that come into the cities from the suburban areas as well
as from the cars that are used by the local residents.
(3) One of the most serious problems in big cities is traffic jams.

SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS / BODY PARAGRAPHS
The body of an essay consists of three paragraphs that develop, support and explain the thesis
statement. Each sub-topic should have a separate paragraph and they should be arranged in the
order that they were stated in the thesis statement.
Each body paragraph should have:

1) TOPIC SENTENCE
2) SUPPORTING SENTENCES (explanation of the sub-topic)
3) ONE EXAMPLE
4) CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Example of a body paragraph:

Topic: Causes of Poor Health
One of the most important reasons for poor health is stress. Nowadays work places are larger and
more crowded. There are more people working and living together than in the past. These
conditions can cause stress. Moreover, when people do not have a job or enough money for their
families, they have stress. For example, doctors believe that stress can lead to cancer and heart
problems which can be very dangerous for people. In brief, stress is one of the main causes of a
poor health condition in our century.
THE CONCLUSION
The conclusion is the last paragraph of the essay.
- It summarizes the main points and rewrites the thesis statement in different words.
- The last sentence of the conclusion includes the writer's final thoughts/advice.
- Useful transition signals: in brief, in short, to sum up, in conclusion, as a result, to conclude,
Example of a conclusion:
Topic: Causes of poor health
In conclusion, there are many reasons why people have health problems. The most important causes
of this are stress, bad eating habits and not doing enough exercise. I recommend that people should
avoid stress, they should get some exercise every day and eat properly. In this way, they can be
healthier and live longer.
PRACTICE
Read the thesis statements below and choose the best concluding sentence for each.
1. TS: My greatest problem in learning English is oral communication.
a) To sum up, learning to read and write English is difficult.
b) To sum up, because I do not speak English enough, my listening and speaking skills have not
improved.
c) To sum up, everyone should practice speaking English more.
2. TS: Smoking is unhealthy because it can cause heart and lung disease; moreover, it is expensive.
a) In brief, buying cigarettes is a bad idea.
b) In brief, smoking affects your health, and it is also a waste of money.
c) In brief, smoking is a bad habit.
3. TS: In my opinion, college grades are necessary because they motivate students to do their
homework and to attend class regularly.
a) Therefore, college grades are important.
b) Therefore, students should be graded so that they work more at home and take part in their
lessons.
c) Therefore, college grades are important as they encourage students to be more serious and to try
harder.
4. TS: My major goals are getting a part-time job and mastering the use of the English language.
a) In short, if I do not reach my goals, I will be unhappy.
b) In short, finding a job and using English well are important to me.
c) In short, getting a part-time job and mastering the use of the English language are my major
goals.

PRACTICE
Read the following conclusions and circle the letter of the most appropriate final thought for
each one.
1. In short, television provides many hours of good, free entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.
a) However, television can also take over our lives if we do not know when to turn it off.
Therefore, we should not watch television at the expense of other activities.
b) However, violence on television can have a very negative effect on children because they cannot
separate make-believe from the real world.
c) In fact, I like to watch a couple of hours of television every night with my family because it's fun for
all of us.
2.Smokers on the job make it uncomfortable for their co-workers; furthermore, they are less productive
than non-smokers.
a) Therefore, smoking is bad for everyone’s health.
b) Therefore, smokers should smoke outside the workplace only.
c) Therefore, if smokers want to get along with their co-workers and improve their work
performance, they should stop smoking on the job.
WRITING AN OUTLINE:
1. Brainstorm: Think about your topic and write down several ideas that come to your mind.
2. Choose 3 ideas that are the strongest and you have the most information about.
3. Make a plan:
1. Introduction:
-Hook (optional)
-General/background information
-Thesis statement
2. First main idea:

-Topic sentence
-Support
-Example
-Concluding sentence
3. Second main idea:

-Topic sentence
-Support
-Example
4. Third main idea (optional)

-Topic sentence
-Support
-Example
5. Conclusion:
-Summary of the three main ideas
- Final thought, advice

PRACTICE
Read the following sample essay.
Superstitions in My Country
In Turkey, people believe in some superstitions. Some of these superstitions are so

strong that they are almost customs. These superstitions are about protecting against evil
and bringing good luck. In my opinion three of the most popular superstitions are concerned
with the evil eye, throwing water and the customs of newlyweds.
People believe that they must protect themselves from the evil eye of another person
by putting turquoise beads in various places. A blue bead is pinned on newly born babies
because babies are more vulnerable to an evil spirit and must be protected. Since houses
must be protected too, a blue bead, usually with a horseshoe, is placed near the doorway
for protection against someone with an evil eye. Also, if people have an item of special value
like a car, they must protect it with a blue bead. In brief, people use blue beads to protect
themselves and their possessions from the evil spirit.
Another popular superstition is throwing water, which is done at various times. When
someone leaves on a trip, people throw water out of the window to wish the traveller a good
trip. This is so the person will go and come back like water. Water is also thrown out when
a funeral procession goes by the street, so that death will not come into their homes. The
Armenians as well as Assyrians, who are both Christian citizens, throw water on each other
on a special Saint’s Day in mid-July for fertility and prosperity. To sum up, throwing water is
a custom that people do for various reasons.
Finally, putting salt, sugar and rice in the newlyweds' home is another well-known
superstition in Turkey. People believe that these three ingredients make a marriage better.
Salt is believed to add spice to the marriage while sugar sweetens it and rice brings
prosperity to the couple's home. Therefore, it is very common for couples to put these three
things in their homes just after they get married.
In conclusion, certain superstitions such as the evil eye, throwing water and keeping
rice, sugar and salt in newlyweds' home have become rituals with the purpose of protecting
and bringing good luck. Because people always want to be protected and have good luck,
these age-old superstitions are as strong today as they were ages ago and probably will
continue in the future.

Look at the sample essay and complete the following essay outline.
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__________________________________________________________________________________
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OPINION ESSAY
OPINION ESSAY presents the writer’s point of view on a particular subject supported by
reasons and examples. In a one-sided opinion essay, you either agree (for) OR disagree
(against) with the topic, presenting a clear opinion.
HOW TO PLAN YOUR ESSAY
 Make sure you understand the question.

 Decide whether you agree or disagree with the topic, then make a list of reasons using
brainstorm.
 Choose the 2 or 3 strongest reasons to support your point of view.
Example:
Is hard work the key to success? Do you agree or disagree?
1) I disagree with this statement.
2) Why? Brainstorm your reasons:
-luck
- knowing important people
-family support
-creativity
-education
ORGANIZATION
Introduction
 Hook (Optional)
 Background / general information
 Thesis statement with a clear one-sided opinion
Body 1 (Reason 1)
 Topic Sentence
 Supporting sentences
 One example
 Concluding sentence
Body 2 (Reason 2)
 Topic Sentence
 * One example
Body 3 (Reason 3) – This paragraph is optional
 Topic Sentence
 * One example
Conclusion
 Concluding sentence / Restated thesis statement
 Comment, advice
*There must be one good example in at least one of your body paragraphs

THESIS STATEMENT
Use the following phrases to formulate sentences which represent your opinion.
I (tend to /personally /strongly /firmly) think / believe / feel that…
I am (personally / strongly / firmly / fully) convinced that…
I am (personally / strongly / firmly) of the opinion that…
I (personally / strongly / firmly) hold the opinion that…
To me, …
As far as I am concerned, …
From my (personal) point of view, ...
I think be forbidden /
be banned
In my be legalized
opinion
alcoholic beverages should for some/three /several/many reasons.
(not) be legal
OR
There are many reasons why alcoholic beverages should (not) be banned / be legalized etc.
TOPIC SENTENCE
The first / second / third etc. reason for banning smoking is health / economy.
OR
The first / second / third etc. reason it is very expensive
Another important /major reason for banning smoking is that it is harmful for our health.
The final reason
PRACTICE
Write thesis statements, 3 topic sentences and the conclusion's concluding sentences (restated
thesis statement) for the following topics.
1) Topic: Having a university degree is a must nowadays.
Thesis statement: ___________________________________________________________________
Topic sentences: (2)
_Firstly,___________________________________________________________________________
___Secondly,_______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Concluding sentence: (restated thesis statement for the conclusion)
___________________________________________________________________

2) Topic: There is a lot of violence on television.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_______________
___________________________________________________________________
3) Topic: Wearing a uniform should be compulsory in high schools.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
_______________
___________________________________________________________________
PRACTICE
The paragraphs in the following essay are in the wrong order. Number them from 1 to 5 to show
the correct order. Then, find and underline the thesis statement, topic sentences, examples and
the transition words (linkers).
Why Students Should Eat Breakfast Every Day
_______Another reason for eating breakfast is that you need food to do well in your classes. Your body
and your brain cannot function properly because you have no energy. When you try to listen and learn
new things at school and have nothing in your stomach, you are going to have a lot of trouble
succeeding. Many people think that they should not eat because they may feel tired afterwards but
that’s not true. For example, by eating breakfast, you wake up your metabolism and your body which
will help you focus more. In conclusion, having breakfast can help you to become more successful at
school.
_______The last reason to have breakfast every day is because if you eat more, you weigh less. When
you skip meals, you can become extremely hungry by lunch time and you tend to eat a lot more which is
not good for you. For example, researchers have shown that people who eat breakfast have a better
chance of losing weight. To sum up, having breakfast every day can help you maintain a healthy weight.
_______In conclusion, you have to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and you
cannot skip it without consequences on your health, your school and on your mood. It is better to wake
up earlier and have a good breakfast than to run to school without eating anything. It is time for you to
do something for your health, and eating breakfast is the best way to start your day.
_______A lot of people, especially young people, start the day without having breakfast. Many people
believe that it is not necessary, or they say that they don’t have time for that and begin their day with no
meal. There are three reasons why I believe that everyone especially students should eat breakfast

before going to school or starting their daily activities. These reasons are being in a good mood, becoming
more successful at school and controlling your weight.
_______The first reason why you should eat breakfast is that it can change your mood. When you skip
breakfast, you become hungry therefore moody or unhappy. For instance, studies show that people who
eat breakfast tend to be in a better mood because their stomach is full of healthy and nutritious things.
In short, if you start the day with a healthy breakfast, you set a good mood for the rest of the day.
PRACTICE:
Write a five paragraph opinion essay about the given topic. Do you agree or disagree?
“University education should be free.”
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Devices & Discourse Markers
A. LOGICAL DEVICES
(a) Addition
again equally in fact also furthermore moreover

and in addition (to...) too and then indeed what is
more besides
Examples: The house faces north, so it never gets the sun. Also, it is rather damp.
The children do not like one another. Moreover, they often quarrelled start to fight
She hardly ever goes to the theatre. In fact, she has not been for months.
COHESIVE DEVICES: LIST OF ITEMS FOR WRITING A COMPOSITION

(b) Enumeration
first(ly) (second(ly)) last on top of (that) finally next

to (begin with) in the (first) place more important then
Examples:
His job involves a number of things. First, he is responsible for general administration in the
office. Secondly, he has to look after the financial side of the business... Finally, he has been
asked to build up outside contacts. There were several good reasons for changing the plan.
To begin with, it involved a lot of money. On top of that, it needed too many people. (e)
Exemplification
as (evidence of...) such as for example thus for instance to show what (I
mean) let us (take the case of...)
Examples:
Most countries do not grow enough food for their needs. Let us take the case of the United
Kingdom.
Most people are superstitious in some way. Thus, a lot of people believe that the number 13 is
unlucky...
(c) Inference
If not,... otherwise then in (that) case that implies
Examples:
He left the country the same day. In that case, he must have had his passport with him. You
must get some more petrol. Otherwise, we will not have enough to get us to the next town.
(d) Summary
in all in short on the whole in brief in conclusion to sum up

Examples:
She spends a lot of money on clothes. She is also fond of buying expensive jewellery. In short,
she is extremely extravagant.
The car is not new but it is in good condition. The price too is very reasonable. On the whole, I
think it is quite a good bargain.
The film has a very unusual plot, with plenty of action. Both the acting and photography. To
sum up, this is a film you should not miss.
B. Discourse markers
Below is an article on life on a desert island. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word or
phrase from the box. Use each word or phrase only ONCE. Be careful, there are more words or
phrases than you need.
Optimists and Pessimists
Optimistic and pessimistic people differ in the way they perceive the world.
(1)_________________________, they also differ in the way they build an imaginary world. Some
researchers have studied (2)_________________________ optimistic people and pessimistic people.
They have found that (3)_________________________ some people imagine an island full of tropical
trees, others imagine an island with no trees at all.
Optimistic people; (4)_________________________, people who think positively, imagine that a desert
island is a kind of paradise where the sun always shines. On such an island, life is really good
(5)_________________________ there is nothing that can make you worried.
(6)_________________________, you don’t have to worry about work or traffic. However, pessimistic
people imagine just the opposite. According to them, life on a desert island is not good at all.
(7)_________________________, it is terrible. You (8)_________________________ have nothing to
eat or try to run away from wild animals. (9)_________________________, the weather is awful and it
always rains. (10)_________________________, you spend your days feeling hungry, afraid and cold.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Just imagine a desert island and see…

Transitional Words
Addition
again equally in fact
also further(more) moreover
and in addition (to...) too
and then indeed what is more
besides next finally
Comparison
compared with similarly again
in comparison with likewise also
in the same
way/manner
Contrast
besides naturally still
but nevertheless whereas
however of course while
in contrast on the contrary yet
instead on the other hand although
conversely regardless despite
it may be the case granted it is true that
that like notwithstanding
certainly different from
also Alternatively
likewise
Enumeration
first(ly) secondly etc. last on top of (that)
finally to (begin) with next
in the (first) place more important then
Concession
although it is true that granted that of course
it may appear naturally it may be the case
regardless it is true that that
certainly I admit that
Exemplification
as (evidence of...) such as
for example to show what (I mean)
for instance specifically
thus let us (take the case of...)
to illustrate
Inference
if not, ... otherwise then
in (that) case that implies
Summary/Conclusion
in all in short on the whole
in brief in conclusion to sum up

to summarise therefore basically
in summary In a nutshell
Time and Sequence

after (a while) before (that time) since (then)
afterwards finally so far
at first in the end then
at last meanwhile (up to) (then)
at (the same time) next later
while immediately somewhat earlier
first , second, third... next shortly
thereafter firstly , secondly, over the next (2
concurrently thirdly... days)
soon in the future as long as
as soon as subsequently last
at that time
Result
accordingly for that reason then
as a result hence therefore
consequently thus the ( consequence )
since if...then... of that is...
as ...result(s) in ... ...is due to...
a consequence of... contribute to brought about
caused In consequence by/because...
accordingly lead to...
Reformulation
in other words that is (to say)
rather to put it more (simply)
Briefly basically
put simply
Replacement
again (better) still the alternative is...
alternatively on the other hand
Transition
as far as ... is now with regard to...
concerned to turn to... Concerning...
as for ... with ( reference) to
incidentally
Place/Position
above adjacent below
beyond here in front
in the back near there
nearby there closer to
elsewhere far farther on
opposite to to the left to the right
behind
Miscellaneous - Adverbs may be used at the beginning of sentences to
show how the sentence which follows relates to the rest of the text. Many of
them reveal the writers attitude to the idea they are expressing and so can be
used as an important tool in evaluative writing.

Admittedly Fundamentally Paradoxically
All things considered Generally speaking Potentially
As a general rule Interestingly Predictably
As far as we know Ironically Presumably
Astonishingly In essence Primarily
Broadly In general Probably
By and large In particular Remarkably
Characteristically In practice Seemingly
Clearly In reality Significantly
Coincidentally In Surprisingly
Conveniently retrospect/hindsight Theoretically
Curiously In theory To all intents and
Disappointingly In view of this purposes
Equally More interestingly Typically
Essentially More seriously Ultimately
Explicitly More specifically Understandably
Even so Naturally Undoubtedly
Eventually On balance Unfortunately
Fortunately Obviously With hindsight
On reflection
Overall

Exercises:
Choose the correct word for each sentence - each is only used once.
moreover firstly
on the other hand whereas
at least then
however actually
besides though
1. I had a terrible day at work and lost my umbrella too. I spoke to that nice guy
who works in the coffee shop at last!
2. Television turns people into lazy couch potatoes. , there are some educational
programmes on.
3. , I would like to welcome you all to the conference today.
4. the film was a little boring, we still had a nice evening out.
5. I've always known Caroline as a mean person. , she lent me $10 yesterday
without me having to ask twice!
6. I got up at 9 o'clock yesterday and had a cold shower. , I had breakfast and
left for work.
7. My brother works in a large office I work on my own at home.
8. Why do you think I don't want to go out tonight. , I would be delighted to get
out of the house.
9. You should go to university as it gives you a chance to meet so many new

people. , it gives you the chance to get important qualifications and get a better
job.
10. I don't want to go to the football game. Football bores me and I don't want to pay $40 for a
ticket. , look at the weather! All that rain!

Discourse Markers, Linkers, Conjunctions Rewrite the sentences using the connectors
in parenthesis. Make the necessary changes:
1. Güneş apologized several times. Roger wouldn’t speak to her. (but)
2. We decided to walk even though it was raining. (in spite of)
3. Roger works very hard to help his parents. He’s also a good student. (In addition)
4. I love Ice cream. In addition, I love chocolate. (as well as)
5. I’d love to come. I really haven’t got the time. (However)
6. Rome is a great place to visit, but it has got terrible traffic problems. (despite)
7. Mustafa was very busy yesterday. He helped me. (Even though)
8. Sinem exercises vigorously. She can’t lose weight. (However)
9. Visitors are not allowed to park here. It is a private parking area. (since)
10. Jack can’t lift the box. He is very strong. (But)
11. Angela booked a babysitter because she wanted to go out for the evening. (in order to)
12. Gizem does a lot of exercise. She is fit. (therefore)
13. Mark heard the news on the radio. He was driving home. (while)
14. Despite its popularity, the group hasn’t reached any gold record yet. (In spite of)
15. John bought a couple of exercise-books. He wanted to catch up with the rest of the class. (so as to)
16. My brother doesn’t earn a good wage. My sister-in-law doesn’t earn a good wage. (neither...nor)
17. The accident was very serious but nobody was badly injured.(Even though)

Irrelevant sentences
Irrelevant means not related to the subject at hand. If a rock star becomes irrelevant, it means people
are not relating––or even listening––to his music anymore. It isn't part of what people are thinking or
talking about. The opposite is relevant, meaning related. When it comes to writing a paragraph or
essay – it is important that your sentences are relevant to the topic you are discussing.
Read the following passages and find the irrelevant sentences in each paragraph.
1. Garfield
(I)Garfield is a comic strip featuring the cat Garfield, the pet dog Odie, and their socially inept
owner Jon Arbuckle. (II) The main character is Garfield, who is a lazy, overweight, orange cat.
(III) He considers himself to be more intelligent than humans or dogs. (IV) He was named
Garfield after his grandfather. (V) He hates Mondays and loves lasagne apparently.
I II III IV V
2. Alfred Hitchcock
(I) With more than fifty feature films Alfred Hitchcock remains one of the most popular directors
of all time. (II) Hitchcock's films draw heavily on both fear and fantasy. (III) He began directing
in the United Kingdom. (IV) They often portray innocent people caught up in circumstances
beyond their understanding. (V) The movie Rebecca, which evokes the fears of a young bride,
is a good example of this.
I II III IV V
3. Doping
(I) Doping is the use of drugs to try to improve sports performance. (II) This practice is banned
by sports federations throughout the world. (III) Athletes need to know which substances are
banned in sport. (IV) The use of drugs during athletic festivals is evident. (V) Furthermore, they
must make sure that any product or medication they take does not contain a prohibited
substance.
I II III IV V
4. Everest
(I) May 10, 1996 was the deadliest day in Everest history. (II) A storm stranded many climbers
near the summit and killed eight people. (III) Among those who died were Rob Hall and Scott
Fischer. (IV) Both were experienced guides and were leading paid expeditions to the summit.
(V) Everest can be climbed without supplementary oxygen, but this requires special fitness
training.
I II III IV V

5. Education
(I) At one time in the history of education, one had to be wealthy to attend school. (II) At other
times, women were kept from attending school, despite their standing in finances. (III)
Financial aid was widely available to aid those less fortunate. (IV) Today, this is not the case
because school attendance is obligatory. (V) The law requires students who are between six
and 16 years of age to attend school.
I II III IV V
6. Renaissance Women
(I) During the Renaissance period, all of the women wore a corset. (II) Moreover, a woman
was put to shame if she was found absent of a corset. (III) Corsets resembled a cone, as they
were small at the waist and uplifting at the bosom. (IV) They have been with us for many
centuries. (V) They were used to hide the thick waist since at that period in time, a 15 to 18
inch waist was acceptable.
I II III IV V

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CONTENTS

Sentence structure ……Pages 3 - 9  Writing practice

TMO/ 21-22 WRITING BOOKLET/RH 2

The subject tells us who or what is doing something.

II. VERB (V)

e.g. David lives in London.

1. My teacher is very funny.

2. Tom Cruise is an actor.

3. Sera hasn’t got a passport.

4. Our classroom is very big.

5. Will Smith lives in a big house.

6. Bill has got dark brown eyes and a round face.

7. My friends love Turkish pop music.

8. The books aren’t on the table.

9. Have you got a pet?

10. Are their kids lazy?

11. You haven’t got a boyfriend.

TMO/ 21-22 WRITING BOOKLET/RH 3

13. She hasn’t got any children.

14. My aunt isn’t married.

15. Are you single?

2. My sister and I _____________ students. ______________ love English.

3. My house _____________ in the city centre. ___________ ___________ a small garden.

4. Kate _______________ my cousin. ____________ lives with my grandmother.

5. A: Where ___________ the swimming pool?

6. A: Where ___________ you from?

7. A: _______ Cristiano Ronaldo Spanish?

8. A: ________ you _____________ a computer?

9. A: ____________ there a TV in your room?

10. A: _______________ there twelve people in a football team?

EXERCISE - ERROR CORRECTION.

3. Tom Hanks is famous American actor.

4. Sibel has got three child.

5. There are four peoples in this room.

6. Her hairs are brown.

7. There are a pen on the table.

TMO/ 21-22 WRITING BOOKLET/RH 4

9. I have got twenty years old.

10. My father is a Mercedes.

11. They has got an expensive car.

12. She’s got oval face.

13. There are two sofas in living room.

14. She is a actress.

15. She is a student hardworking.

16. He is a handsome man young.

17. My friend and I am rich.

18. They are five chairs in the classroom.

19. Jane and her brother is very lazy.

20. Ali have got a brother.

21. There are two bedroom in my flat.

22. His brother name’s is Can.

23. Lady Gaga famous American singer.

24. I have got a wonderful a new home in Istanbul.

25. She is married woman.

1. George Clooney / famous / American / actor

2. her / singers / Sezen Aksu / favourite / Ebru Gündeş

3. my / blue / black / colours / favourite / and

4. you / sisters / brothers / or?

6. some / on / flowers / table / there

7. Michael Jordan / Russia / not

8. A: from / Serena Williams / where?

B: she / the USA / from

TMO/ 21-22 WRITING BOOKLET/RH 5

10. two / brother / sisters / one / she / and

2. My sister and I _ students. __ love English.

3. My house _______ in the city centre. _ _______ a small garden.

4. Kate ___ my cousin. lives with my grandmother.

8. A: you _____ a computer?

1. My sister has got long curly hair. __

Emre 1. _ my neighbour and my best 2. ____. He is 3.