KOCAELI UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

BASIC ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

2023-2024

WRITING PACK 1

Module 3

Pre-intermediate
 CONTENT TABLE

PARAGRAPH

Brainstorming ………………………………………………………………… 3

Parts of a Paragraph

• Topic Sentence ………………………………………………………………… 5

• Supporting Sentences ………………………………………………………………… 12
• Concluding Sentence ………………………………………………………………… 14

UNITY AND COHERENCE ………………………………………………………………… 16

PARAGRAPH TYPES

• Opinion Paragraph ………………………………………………………………… 18

APPENDICES

Paragraph Checklist ………………………………………………………………… 22

REFERENCES ………………………………………………………………… 23

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 PARAGRAPH

Brainstorming

Before you start writing, brainstorming can help you to find some
ideas, and to rearrange them in your paragraph. Brainstorming is the first
step, and it enables you to write your paragraph more easily. While
brainstorming the ideas, you can make use of words or phrases.

You can arrange your brainstorming as you want. That is, you can
write whatever comes to your mind about the topic, such as;

*my teacher *much info

*new things EDUCATION *a good career
*qualified teachers *useful
*new system *a must

You can use phrases, or words in your brainstorming as you can see above.

*I can make *everybody likes-especially my mother

*the best thing in cafes-tea house TEA *it can have some negative sides-insomnia

*kinds of tea-I prefer green tea-healthy

The second one is an example of brainstorming which is like free writing. You can cut the sentences as
you want, or you can add new information next to the word, or phrase.

Notes:
As you can see in the examples, brainstorming has no limitation because this storm of your
ideas is just a beginning part of your paragraph. You cannot limit your ideas. However, there should
be somewhat a relation between the topic and your ideas.

*pencil-red HEALTH *doctors

*beautiful cities
*pills- I hate *long queues in hospitals

*sick for weeks-my mother took care *important for everybody

The two items in the brainstorming above have no connection with the topic, so you should
be careful while organizing your ideas.

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EXERCISES - PART 1

A. Look at the words and choose which one is the brainstorm of the themes below.

➢ cancer ➢ online ➢ unity ➢ expensive

➢ chemicals ➢ happiness ➢ secrets ➢ factories produce smoke
➢ dangerous ➢ love ➢ habit ➢ knowledgeable individual
➢ wonder ➢ bad teeth ➢ value ➢ magazine
➢ about privacy ➢ language ➢ unhealthy ➢ rubbish everywhere
➢ new information ➢ motivation ➢ plastic bags ➢ polluted atmosphere

B. Look at the themes below and cross out the irrelevant ideas.

screen-sharing diet beach designer vehicles

participants exercise sunbath security subway
camera check-up ski fabric software
tram vitamin pool colour passenger
breakout-room backpack tanned shoe station

C. Look at the themes below and do brainstorming.

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 PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH

I. TOPIC SENTENCE

A topic sentence is the key point of an entire paragraph. It means that topic sentence organizes
all the parts of a paragraph, and it always appears at the beginning of this paragraph.

“My first day at Harvard University was the most interesting life experience for me.”

This is the topic sentence of a paragraph. If you look at this sentence, you can predict that whole
paragraph will be about ‘writer’s first day at Harvard University’. Moreover, when the supporting
sentences are all about ‘the most interesting life experience’, it will be a good sample of an academic
paragraph.

Topic and Controlling Idea

A topic sentence has two parts; a topic and a controlling idea. A topic is the subject of the
sentence, in other words, it is the main point. A controlling idea is the limiting part of the sentence. If
you look at the sentence above, you can see that the main point, the topic, is ‘my first day at Harvard
University’. The limiting part, the controlling idea, is ‘the most interesting life experience for me ‘.

Technology affects us in two important ways.

topic controlling idea

Jenny is one of the most beautiful girls I have ever known.

topic controlling idea

A topic sentence has two main parts: topic and the controlling idea.

Topic Sentence = topic + controlling idea

Caffeine has several harmful effects on health.

Topic Controlling Idea

In this example the topic is "caffeine". A specific comment is then made about the topic: "it has several
harmful effects on health". From this topic sentence, the reader immediately knows that the supporting
sentences will explain or prove how harmful caffeine can be.

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e.g. Students who are studying abroad may face many difficulties.
Topic Controlling Idea

e.g. There are two main advantages of working at home.

Controlling Idea Topic

The controlling idea may be found:

• at the beginning of the topic sentence

There are two main advantages of working at home.

Controlling Idea Topic

• at the beginning and at the end of the topic sentence, separated by the topic

The two main advantages of working at home are its flexible hours and its comfort.
Controlling Idea Topic Controlling Idea

• at the end of the topic sentence

Working at home is advantageous because of its flexible hours and its comfort.
Topic Controlling Idea

D. Underline the topic and the controlling idea of each topic sentence below.

1. When people divorce, children often have problems.

2. Walking is good for your heart.

3. Watching TV is a good way to learn spoken English.

4. Technology spoils the traditional way of life.

5. Nuclear power is our greatest hope for solving the energy crisis.

6. Nuclear power is the greatest threat to life on the planet.

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 Guidelines for a Topic Sentence

There are some clear points that you should be careful while writing a topic sentence.

• A topic sentence shouldn’t have two controlling ideas. Two controlling ideas in a sentence
mean two supporting ideas, and you can’t write a unified paragraph with these two
controlling ideas.

Not a topic sentence: My sister has got nice and ugly characteristics.
It has two opposing ideas.

Good topic sentence: My sister has got nice and perfect characteristics.
The sentence above has also two ideas, but they complement each other, it does not have two
different views.

Another example,

Not a topic sentence: Going to university has some advantages and disadvantages.
It has two controlling ideas.

Good topic sentence: Going to university has more advantages than disadvantages.
It has one idea.

• A topic sentence shouldn’t be a fact. A fact is true and real information.

Fact: 23rd April is a national holiday in Turkey.

It is a general fact.
Topic sentence: Last 23rd April had two significant effects on my life.
It is a comment.

Another example,
Fact: Environmental pollution is today’s problem.
This is a fact.

Topic sentence: Environmental pollution is today’s greatest problem.

It is a comment.

• You should state the topic clearly in your topic sentence. That is, you must avoid using
personal pronouns or demonstrative pronouns.

Not a topic sentence: He was the ugliest creature in the movie.

The sentence begins with “he” personal pronoun, but you should explain it in a clearer way,
such as;

Good topic sentence: Freddy was the ugliest creature in the movie.

Another example,
Not a topic sentence: That was wonderful for me.
In this sentence, “that” demonstrative pronoun does not explain anything, so you should
mention it clearly, such as;

Good topic sentence: My last holiday was wonderful for me.

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• A topic sentence is just one sentence, not a combination of two sentences.

Not a topic sentence: My roommate is very valuable for me and he has lots of characteristics.
This example has two sentences, so you should write just one sentence, such as;

Good topic sentence: My roommate must have lots of nice characteristics.

Here, it is a clear topic sentence.

Another example,
Not a topic sentence: I have a sister and she has many abilities.
It has two sentences.

Good topic sentence: I have a sister who has many abilities.

It is just one sentence.

• A topic sentence should be a sentence, not a fragment, in other words, not a phrase or
group of words.

Not a topic sentence: The good sides of living alone.

It is a fragment.

Good topic sentence: There are many good sides of living alone.
This is a sentence, not a fragment.
Another example,
Not a topic sentence: The beauty of the winter.
This is also not a sentence, it is a fragment.

Good topic sentence: The beauty of the winter reminds me many things.
It is a sentence.

• A topic sentence should not be too general. It should limit the topic and it should have a
clear controlling idea.

Not a topic sentence: Everybody loves ice cream.

The sentence above is not a topic sentence because it is too general.

Good topic sentence: Ice cream is a very popular dessert among children.
This is a good topic sentence because the topic is limited.

Another example,
Not a topic sentence: People like McDonald’s very much.
This is not a good topic sentence because it is too general.

Good topic sentence: Children like McDonald’s very much for many reasons.
Here, we can know that the writer will mention the reason of McDonald’s love of people, so it is
a clear topic sentence.

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 • A topic sentence should not be in question form.

Not a topic sentence: Do you know backgammon?

This is not a topic sentence because it is a question.

Good topic sentence: Backgammon is the most enjoyable game for me.

Another example,
Not a topic sentence: Can you play violin?
It is a question, so it is not a topic sentence.

Good topic sentence: Playing violin is easy if you follow three steps.
This is not a question and it is a clear topic sentence.

E. Look at the topic sentences and decide if they are topic sentences or not. If the sentence is not a
topic sentence, state the reason.

Topic
Not a topic sentence because…
Sentence

This sentence doesn’t have a clear

controlling idea and it is toogeneral.
1. I don’t like vegetables. No

2. The weather is hot in summers.

3. Jane has good and bad sides.

4. There are three different places to go

in Rome.

5. Technology is dangerous and useful

for people.

6. Living in London has a lot of

difficulties.

7. She is more intelligent than the others.

8. Marriage is one of the most

important part of people’s lives.
9. University’s education is
important and other activities
are important, too
10. The North Brothers café is the
best one for two clear reasons.

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F. Choose the alternative which might be the best topic sentence.

1. __________________. Blue is a colour that means sadness or coldness to many people. Most people
think of yellow as a bright, cheerful colour. People often say they “see red” when they are angry.

a) People say strange things about colours.

b) To some people the colour red means anger.
c) To many people colours have certain meanings.
d) People’s reaction to colours varies from one moment to another.

2. __________________. The yak is an animal about the size of a small cow. The people of Tibet use it to
carry large and small loads. They drink its milk, eat its meat for food and use its fur to make clothes.

a) The Tibetan people depend upon the yak in several ways.

b) The yak lives in Tibet.
c) The yak is an important means of transportation in Tibet.
d) The yak is adapted to the climate of Tibet.

3. __________________. A small car is inexpensive to operate because it goes 20 to 30 miles on a gallon

of gasoline. The original purchase price of a small car is considerably less than that of thebigger
models. And of course small cars are easier to park.

a) Small cars are quite economical.

b) A small car has several disadvantages.
c) Small cars have some advantages over big ones.
d) There are several reasons why a person shouldn’t buy a big car.

HOMEWORK

G. Write an appropriate topic sentence for the paragraphs below.

1. . First of all, a teacher must be

experienced. S/he must have a good education and life experience so that s/he can be a good guide
for the students. Patience can be another property for a teacher. The more patient s/he is, the less
problems s/he has with his students. Thirdly, a teacher must be interested in his or her students. For
example, when they are bored or sad, s/he can create many activities so that they can enjoy this
time. In short, experience, patience and interest in students’ feelings are important qualities for a
teacher.

2. . In the morning, I went to school

alone. The school was very crowded, but I knew nobody there, so I felt lonely. In the afternoon, new
books were delivered and some information about school was given by the teachers. The books were
very heavy, so I couldn’t carry them, and the information was very strange for me, I understood
nothing. Then, I came back to my dormitory. To sum up, I had a different day on my first day at this
university.

3. . To begin with, his hair is dark and

straight. His eyebrows are thin and thick. His eyes are brown and they are sparkling. His nose is like a
nut. He has got a small mouth. Moreover, the teeth in this little mouth are very clean. Although he has
narrow shoulders, they are muscular. He is neither tall nor short. His hands are small, and thereis a
tattoo on his left hand. Shortly, my dear brother is one of the most attractive men I have ever known.

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4. . It has got a very beautiful beach and
its sea is very clear. Furthermore, it has got nice nature. You can breathe the fresh air and feel the
peace in this nature. If you want to travel, you can find many places here. There are interesting and
wonderful cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, too. The history can also attract visitors. There are many
historical places to visit. In short, perfect beach, sea, nature, many beautiful and historical places make
Palermo a fantastic city to visit.

5. . The first one is Turkish folk music. It is

amazing and important for me and for other Turkish people. It includes Turkish custom, cultureand
history. In addition, its melody is so nice. The second one is alternative music. It is very different and
attractive. Moreover, it affects people’s, especially teenagers’, emotions. The last and I think the most
important one is metal music. It is unbelievable and fascinating for me. It contains a lot of things which
other types don’t have. The lyric, sound or theme of the songs are so different that I can’t compare it
with others. Shortly, these three kinds of music affect me very much.

HOMEWORK

H. Write a topic sentence to the subjects below.

1. Computer Games: ________________________________________________

______________________________________________________.
2. Hometown: ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
3. Movie: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
4. Love: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
5. Travelling: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
6. Friends: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
7. English: ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
8. Photography: ______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________.
9. Music: _________________
______________________________________________________.

10.Football: ______________________________________________________
_________________

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II. SUPPORTING SENTENCES

Mostly the topic sentence is at the beginning of the paragraph. The supporting sentences come
after it. They explain the controlling idea. Therefore, the writer must be careful while writing these
sentences since the information must be specific, clear and concrete.
Good and effective supporting sentences support the main idea of the paragraph by giving
details, examples, anecdotes, reasons, facts, statistics, quotations and illustrations.

Here is an example;

Topic: Smoking
Topic Sentence: There are several serious hazards of smoking.
Supporting Points: 1. Major support: Lung cancer
1. Minor support: a high number of diagnosis
2. Major support: Other lung diseases (emphysema, bronchitis)
2. Minor support: their negative impact on quality of life
3. Major support: Risk of heart disease
3. Minor support: an example from the USA
4. Major support: Passive smoking
4. Minor support: effect on others

Hazards of Smoking

There are several serious hazards of smoking. Firstly, there is a direct link
between smoking and lung cancer. A lot of people are diagnosed with lung cancer as a
result of smoking every year. Secondly, smoking is linked to other lung diseases like
emphysema and bronchitis. They have a negative impact on the quality of life. Even
breathing is a big problem for those who have such diseases. Thirdly, smokers have a
greater risk of heart disease later in life. This is evidenced in recent court cases in the USA
where smokers have been awarded damages from tobacco companies. Finally, there is
substantial research that even passive smoking can have long term effects on health. In
short, smoking is a dangerous habit and should be avoided.

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EXERCISES – PART 2

A. Match the major supporting points below with the correct minor supporting point(s).

1. things to consider when choosing a job: 2. ways to keep away from stress:
salary ______ try to keep yourself busy
position ______ exercise on a regular basis
location ______ healthy diet
a/c working conditions ______ get enough sleep

a. regular working hours a. eight hours sleep a day

b. at a particular place b. take up a hobby
c. a day off c. gardening and painting
d. receiving the payment on time d. no alcohol, no smoking
e. strong position e. walking, yoga and running
f. high payment f. well-balanced meals
g. not far away from the city centre

B. Write three major and six minor supporting points according to the topics given
below.

I. Your reasons to choose your department

1. 1a. ______________________________
1b. ______________________________
2. 2a. ______________________________
2b. ______________________________
3. 3a. ______________________________
3b. ______________________________

II. Advantages of having a mobile phone

1. 1a. ______________________________
1b. ______________________________
2. 2a. ______________________________
2b. ______________________________
3. 3a. ______________________________
3b. ______________________________

C. Write supporting sentences for the topic sentence given below. Use the major and
minor supporting points from Exercise B.

There are three main advantages of having a mobile phone. Firstly, ........................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................................

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III. THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE
The conclusion of a paragraph signals the end of the paragraph; summarizes the main points of the
paragraph and relates them to the topic sentence or restates the idea in the topic sentence or gives a final
comment on the topic and leaves the reader with the most important ideas to think about.

Sample Paragraph 1 (Restatement)

My Country
My country is one of the best countries in the world for several reasons. Firstly, it gives an excellent
health service to its citizens. These services are not only perfect but also cheap. Secondly, it provides
people free and good education. Everybody can take lessons from professional teachers without paying
any money. Thirdly, the judicial system works very well. The judges give fair decisions at court. Finally, the
people are very friendly. They help each other and do their best to entertain the tourists. To sum up, my
country is a wonderful place to live.

The concluding sentence of the first is restatement. As you see, to make these types of concluding
sentences you should write the topic sentences in other words.

Sample paragraph 2 (Summary)

Frozen Food
I think frozen foods are very useful for people. Firstly, it is very easy to cook them. Even a person
who didn’t cook before can prepare these foods. Secondly, they save time. When you are very hungry and
don’t have enough time, you can cook them in a few minutes. Furthermore, these kinds of foods are very
delicious. They taste just like the fresh foods. Because of all these reasons, more and more people prefer
frozen foods today.

As you see in the second sample paragraph, as a concluding sentence you can make a summary of
the major supporting sentences in a single statement.

D. Which can be the concluding sentence of the paragraph?

1. California is the most wonderful place to visit because of its weather and its beautiful nature. Visitors
to California can find the weather they like; cool temperatures in the summer and warm weather in the
winter. They can also find the nature they like. They can see high mountains and green lands. Visitors can
enjoy a huge forest and a beautiful coast at the same time.

a. So, California's weather and beautiful nature make it a fantastic place to visit.
b. So, you can do different activities in the winter in California.
c. So, the high mountains and forests affect the weather of California a lot.
d. So, the warm weather and beautiful coasts in California help you have the best summer holiday.

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2. New York City is a great place because there is a lot to do there. It is the cultural centre of the USA,
so it attracts many foreign and local tourists. In fact, there are many museums and buildings to visit in New
York. One of them is Metropolitan Museum, and people can find the works of many famous artists there. In
New York visitors can spend a wonderful time at the restaurants and bars. They offer different food from all
over the world. .

a. In short, New York is a cultural and historical city.

b. In short, New York is famous for its museums and parks.
c. In short, New York is a great city with a variety of activities.
d. In short, New York is a great place if you like trying different kinds of food.

3. In my opinion, travelling by plane cannot be compared with any other type of transportation. To
start with, there is no faster way to travel. You can go from one country to another in a few hours. Also, you
always feel well looked after on a plane. You are served drinks and meals and offered newspapers and
blankets, which will make the journey more comfortable. However, air travel can be expensive and there are
often long delays in airports, which can be tiring. What's more, many people are afraid of flying and
turbulence, so they think travelling by plane is unsafe.

a. To sum up, although it has some negative points, air travel will always remain popular because of its
speed and comfort.
b. In conclusion, air travel is not a good choice for people because of its many disadvantages.
c. All things considered, different types of transportation have both good and bad points.
d. In conclusion, few people will continue to prefer air travel because of its cost and turbulence.

E. Write a concluding sentence for the paragraph given below.

Good health requires a balanced diet, plenty of exercise, and a positive attitude. First, to keep the
body strong it is important to have a balanced and nutritious diet. For example, it is important to eat many
kinds of fruit and vegetables. Second, getting a lot of exercise is very important for keeping a strong body and
burning off fat. For instance, swimming is an excellent way to exercise and have fun at the same time. Third,
having a positive attitude is the best way to keep a healthy mind and body. For example, an optimist is usually
healthier than a pessimist. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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 UNITY AND COHERENCE
UNITY
Unity is very important in good paragraph writing. All sentences in the paragraph should be
about ONLY ONE main topic and they should be closely related. Any sentence that doesn’t support
the topic sentence is irrelevant.

EXERCISES – PART 3
A. Cross out the irrelevant sentence in each group.

1. Topic: It is interesting to visit foreign countries.

a. You can meet new people.
b. You can eat different kinds of food.
c. It is expensive.
d. You can see the way other people live.

2. Topic: People prefer small cars for a number of reasons.

a. They are cheaper to buy.
b. They use less gas than bigger cars.
c. They are easier to park.
d. Some small cars do not have enough legroom.

3. Topic: Different people spend their free time in different ways.

a. The price of movies has increased recently.
b. Some people like to read.
c. Many people enjoy sports.
d. Some people prefer to listen to music.

B. Read the paragraphs below and cross out the irrelevant sentence in each group.

1. (I) I love the location of my new house for many reasons. (II) First, it is a very safe neighborhood, and
there is almost no crime and most people don't even lock their doors. (III) Second, there are many stores,
schools, restaurants, a library, a health and fitness center and a movie theatre nearby. (IV) Third, I really
dislike the people in the neighborhood because they are unfriendly and have different life styles. (V)
Some people say location is very important when you are looking for an apartment and I agree.

2. (I) Margot is an old woman about 95 years old. (II) She has so many friends and too much money to
spend. (III) Some people have no money problems. (IV) She lives in a big house near Cardiff and she likes
travelling abroad, shopping, visiting and also helping the poor. (V) She will leave all her money to the
people who are in need.

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3. (I) Stress can be put into one of two categories: mental or physical. (II) Mental stress is characterized
by such things as worries over money or a loved one's health, loss of a loved one or losing a job. (III)
Physical stress reasons include lack of sleep, poor diet or the effects of an illness. (IV) If you are
experiencing both of these types, you really need help. (V) Therefore, third category is believed to be
the most dangerous one.

COHERENCE
In order to have coherence in writing, the movement from one sentence to another must be
logical and smooth. There must be no sudden jumps.

To achieve coherence;
• make a simple outline
• arrange your major supports in a logical order
• use linking words or signals
• use reference words (pronouns, determiners or synonyms)

EXERCISES

C. Number the following sentences (1-5) in order to form unified and coherent paragraph.
a. ( ) For example, you do not need many clothes.
b. ( ) However, despite these advantages, some people often prefer a cold climate because it is less
monotonous and offers winter sports.
c. ( ) In addition, you do not have to shovel snow or pay heating bills.
d. ( ) Living in a place where the weather is always warm has its advantages.
e. ( ) You can wear lightweight, inexpensive, and easy-to-clean cotton clothing all year.

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PARAGRAPH TYPES
I. OPINION PARAGRAPH
In an opinion paragraph, we express our ideas or beliefs about a topic with reasons and supports.
Signals Transition Signals

I think The first (second, third) reason is…

In my opinion, Another reason is…
In my point of view, First / Firstly,
Personally I believe that… Second / Secondly,
To me, Third / Thirdly, …
Moreover / Furthermore / In addition,
Finally / Lastly,
The final / last reason is…

Study the first example paragraph below.

Lotteries
I completely agree that lotteries should be banned. Firstly, in my opinion, lotteries are a
waste of money. Every time we buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such
as food or medicine. In addition, I think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy a lottery
ticket, but do not win, we may not want to buy more and more tickets. Finally, in my point of view,
lotteries are not really a good chance to make money. We cannot use our skills and abilities to win the
lottery. The only thing we can depend on is luck. To sum up, I believe that banning lotteries is a good
idea for these reasons.

Study the second example with its topic sentence, concluding sentence and the signal words.

Get Me Out of Here

Although many people say there are great opportunities in a big city, the life here is not good
for me. First, people do not have enough free time because they are too busy with work and
appointments. Parents and their children do not come home to eat lunch together. Some employees
go to work before the sun comes up and return home after dark. Becauseof their schedules, families
only spend time together on the weekend. Second, driving is necessary. Everyone must use a car to
go to school or work or the store. I have to drive my children to school, and after school we go to
soccer practice or to other activities. Because there is usually a lot of traffic, I have a lot of anxiety.
Third, the cost of living is veryexpensive. Like many families, my family lives in an apartment because
we cannot buy a house here. Also, people must spend a lot of money for entertainment. A visit to the
aquarium costs twenty dollars for each ticket. In conclusion, life in big cities does not appeal to me for
these reasons.

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EXERCISES – PART 4

A. Read the paragraph below and answer the questions.

1. How many reasons does the writer give for not having a credit card? Which sentence tells you the
number?
2. Circle the words and phrases that signal each new reason.
3. Find the supporting ideas.

Why I don’t have a Credit Card

There are three reasons why I don’t have a credit card. The first reason is that using a plastic instead of
cash makes it too easy for me to buy things I can’t afford. For instance, last week I saw a $75.00 pair of
pink sandals in my favourite shoe store. Of course, I don’t need pink sandals and I can’t afford them.
With a credit card, however, I would now buy those sandals and be worrying about how to pay for them.
The second reason I don’t have a credit card is that I would end up in debt like my friend Sara, the
shopaholic. Sara got a credit card last year, and she already owes $4,000. She buys things that she
doesn’t really need, such as jewelry and designer sunglasses. Sara makes only minimum payments each
month. Her monthly interest charges are more than her payments, so her balance never decreases. She
will be in debt for years. The third reason I don’t have a credit card is the difficulty in understanding the
fine print in the credit card contract. If I don’t need the fine print, I can be surprised. For example, some
credit card companies will raise my interest rate if I make a payment even one day late. To sum up, credit
cards may be a convenience for some people, but for me, they are a plastic ticket to financial disaster.

B. Read the following paragraph and fill in the blanks with suitable signal words.

The Beautiful Faces of Rio de Janeiro

1
_______________, Rio de Janeiro is the best place on earth because it has something for every
personality. 2_____________, there are the people. Rio is famous because many beautiful people live
there, especially in the beach neighbourhoods, such as Ipanema. The city is very fun during the Carnival
when Brazilians dress up in costumes and dance in the streets and nightclubs. 3___________, Rio is also
beautiful because of its location. The city is on the Atlantic Ocean. There are a lot of beaches, and they
are full of activity every day. The scenery is spectacular as well. You can see great geological formations,
such as the granite mountain called Sugar Loaf, and on another peak named Corcovado. You can see an
enormous statue that looks over the city. 4____________, Brazil has many varieties of music because of
many cultures and traditions. Finally, there is also a place for people who enjoy tranquillity. The botanical
gardens are filled with exotic varieties of plants and animals. 5___________, Rio de Janeiro is a place
with many different faces.

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C. Read the paragraph again. Find out the difference between “because” and “because of”.

D. Write an opinion paragraph by following the steps in the hamburger image.

* Are online games useful or harmful for young people?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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E. Write an opinion paragraph by following the steps in the hamburger image.

* Should students wear school uniform?

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 APPENDICES

PARAGRAPH CHECKLIST

✓
My paragraph begins with a sentence that clearly states the topic.

My paragraph has one idea.

Every sentence in the body of the paragraph clearly supports the topic.

My closing sentence restates the topic sentence.

I have used linkers/ signals/ transitions.

My sentences are arranged in a logical order.

I have checked grammar.

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 REFERENCES

1. Bayram, F., Bozkurt, N. & Okumuş, N., Yuca, E. K., et al. (2008) Milestones of Academic Writing.

2. Blass, L. & Gordon, D. ( ). Writers at work. Cambridge.

3. Cotton, D., Falvey, D., Kent, S. , Lebeau, I. & Rees, G. (2011). Language Leader Coursebook,

Pre-Intermediate. Pearson Longman.

4. Oruç, N. & Yürekli, A. (2007). Towards Essays. Çözüm Eğitim.

5. Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (2007). Introduction to Academic Writing. Pearson Longman.

6. Rees, G. & Lebeau, I. (2011). Language Leader Coursebook, Elementary. Pearson Longman.

7. Savage, A. & Shafiei, M. (2007). Effective Academic Writing1: The paragraph. OUP.

8. Savage, A. & Mayer, P. (2005). Effective Academic Writing2: The short essay. OUP.

9. Velioğlu, A. & Kandiller, B. (1998). Writing Tasks 1. METU.

10. Zemach, E.D. & Stafford, L. (2008). Writers at Work. Cambridge UP.

11. Kocaeli University Writing Worksheets (2007-2008).

12. Yıldız Technical University Writing Pack (2011-2012).

13. www.writing.itü.edu.tr

14. https://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/lsu/content/4_WritingSkills/writing_tuts/paragraphs_LL/model.ht
ml

15. https://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/writingi/unit1/u1_l3.htm

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