Developing Writing Skills 1

• Developing Writing Skills is a series of four books for secondary students. the program provides paragraph-level writing development, introduction to and use of rhetorical strategies, grammar support, and a rich selection of readings that serve as springboards for writing.

introducing the paragraph

• Reasons for writing people write about their personal experiences

and feelings in journals or diaries for many reasons. Many people, including therapists and their patients, believe writing can reduce stress and help heal some illnesses.

group work

• in group, discuss these questions:

I. a . Do you think writing can help to heal people?

b. How can writing help to heal people?

c. What kinds of illnesses can writing help to heal?

d. Review these terms: “”chronic””, “catharsis”.

con”t

II. a. Do you believe illnesses are caused by a person’s mental health?

b. Do you agree that writing helps to relieve stress or worry? Does it ever cause stress?

c. What are some other reasons for writing in a dairy or journal besides its healing effects?

Reading P 4

• Read the paragraph on page 4 : How I write comprehensionAnswer the questions on p 4Number 1 > 8DiscussionDiscuss these questions with your classmates.Number 1 > 4

Introduction to paragraph

What is a paragraph?.................You know what a word is………a word

represents an idea. It is composed of one or more letters. A word alone, however, is usually not enough to express thoughts. To communicate ideas, writers use sentences. A sentence is a collection of words that expresses a complete thought. A sentence usually consists of a subject and a verb.

The relationship of the writing terms

Letterswords

sentences

paragraphs

esseays

Details

Letters can be combined into a word.Words can be combined into a sentence.Sentences can be combined into a

paragraph.Paragraphs can be combined into an

essay.

Introduction: process writing

When we write, we do more than just put words together to make sentences. Good writers go through several steps to produce a piece of writing.

Pre-writingStep one: Choose a topic. Before you write,

you need to choose a topic yourself or ask your teacher’s comment.

Step two : Gather ideas. When you have a topic . Think about what you will write about that topic.

Step three : Organize. Decide which of the ideas you want to use and where you want to use them. Choose which idea to talk about first, which to talk about next, and which to talk about last.

DraftingStep four : Write. Write your paragraph from start

to finish. Use your notes about your ideas and organization.

Reviewing and revising Step five: Review structure and content. Check

what you have written. Read your writing silently to yourself or aloud, look for places where you can add more information, and check to see if you have any unnecessary information. Getting a reader’s opinion is a good way to know if your writing is clear and effective. Learning to give opinions about other people’s writing helps you to improve your own.

RewritingStep Six: Revise structure and content. Use your ideas

from step five to rewrite your text, making improvements to the structure and content. You might need to explain something more clearly, or add more details. You may even need to change your organization so that your paragraph is more logical. Together, steps five and six can be called editing.

Proofread. Read your paragraph again. This time, check your spelling and grammar and think about the words you have chosen to use.

Make final corrections. Check that you have corrected the errors you discovered in steps five and six and make any other changes you want to make. Now your paragraph is finished!

The parts of a paragraph

• A paragraph is a small unit of writing that focuses on one idea. This one idea is explained and developed in the paragraph( the first line of each paragraph may be indented. The indentation signals the beginning of a new paragraph.)

The three parts of a paragraph

A paragraph has three major structural parts: A topic sentence Supporting Sentences A concluding Sentence

The topic sentence

The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the topic of the paragraph, but it also limits the topic to one or two areas that can be discussed completely in the space of a single paragraph. The specific area is called the controlling idea. Notice how the topic sentence of the model paragraph below states both the topic and the controlling idea.

Gold Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important

Characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside the spaceship. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

Supporting Sentences Supporting sentences of the paragraph explain, describe, or

develop the main idea given in the topic sentence. Note the following

parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing games instead of studying, so parents have to take the responsibility to monitor their children’s activities at home after school and to remind them to do their homework. Parents should also encourage their children by buying for them storybooks with pictures, or textbooks or tapes that help children learn to spell or read. The best way to encourage children to study efficiently is to reward them when they get an “A”. As a child, I experienced this. My parents gave me a reward when I had studied well, and then I was very excited. So, if parents really want their children to succeed in school, they need to pay attention to their children’s studies and encourage them.

the concluding Sentence

this may be found as the last sentence of a paragraph. It can finish a paragraph by repeating the main idea or just giving a final comment about the topic.

example

Smoking is harmful for four reasons. Firstly, it is a very expensive habit. Frequently, the price of cigarettes rises. Secondly, it is bad for the respiratory system. Smokers get colds which last for a long time. As well, they get bronchitis and pneumonia more easily than non-smokers. Thirdly, everyone knows that there is a connection between lung-cancer and smoking. Finally, smoking gives you bad breath. Most non-smokers hate the smell of tobacco and they do not want to sit near someone who will puff smoke all over them. In my opinion, it is better not to start smoking.

The topic sentence

Introduction to the topic sentence

Every paragraph has a topic sentence, which clearly states the topic and the controlling idea of the paragraph. It is a complete sentence. It is usually(but not always) the first sentence in the paragraph.

Points about the topic sentence

there are three important points to remember about the topic sentence

A topic sentence is a complete ; that is, it contains a subject, a verb, and (usually) a complement.

The importance of gold.Driving on freeways

Con’’t

A topic sentence contains both a topic and a controlling idea. It names the topic and then limits the topic to a specific area to be discussed in the space of a single paragraph.

Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness.

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.

Con’t

A topic sentence is the most general statement in the paragraph because it gives only the main idea. It does not give any details.

English is a difficult language to learn.Generally, an effective sentence must (1)

identify what the paragraph is about(the topic) and( 2) make a point (an idea) about the topic.

writing topic sentence

when you write a topic sentence, remember these two points.

A topic sentence should be neither too broad nor narrow.

Learning a new skill requires regular practice.Learning keyboarding skills requires regular

practice.

Con’t

do not include too many unrelated ideas in your topic; of you do , your paragraph will not be unified.

Too many ideas: Phnom Penh is famous for its beauty, its many tourist attraction, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Good : Phnom Penh is famous for its cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The two parts of a topic sentence

a good topic sentence has two essential parts: the topic is the subject of your paragraphThe controlling idea makes a specific

comment about the topic

Supporting sentences

The supporting sentences ,which are the next parts of the paragraph, are used to support the topic sentence.

in order to choose details to support the topic sentence, rephrase it as a question, and then answer that question with your supporting sentences.

ExampleSmoking is harmful for four reasonsWhat are the four harmful reasons of

smoking?

1. Firstly, it is a very expensive habit.

2. Secondly, it is bad for the respiratory system.

3. Thirdly, everyone knows that there is a connection between lung-cancer and smoking.

4. Finally, smoking gives you bad breath.

Major and minor supporting sentences

In term of organization, there are two types of supporting sentences: major supporting sentences and minor supporting sentences. The major supporting sentences are the main details that tell us about the topic sentence. The minor supporting sentences tell us more about the major supporting sentences.

Ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve

people in the United States celebrate New Year’s Eve in many ways. The most common way may be going to a big party with lots of friends, music, and dancing. At the stroke of midnight, people at these parties grab their sweethearts and spend the first seconds of the new year kissing them. Another way to spend New Year’s Eve is with the significant other in your life. The New year is greeted with a champagne toast to the relationship. Sometimes, families with children like to spend the evening together, letting the “Kids” stay up until midnight. Finally, some people like to spend the evening by themselves. They use this time to evaluate the past year and to make resolutions and plans for the coming year. It is a time of reflection that can only happen when one is alone. In short, New Year’s Eve is a special time that can be spent with friends, with family or even alone.

The Concluding Sentence

Introduction to the concluding sentenceThe concluding sentence tells the reader that

the paragraph is finished, and it completes the development of the subject of the paragraph.

The concluding sentence is also a general statement, but it is the last sentence and ends the paragraph.

Use the following methods to write the concluding sentence

state the topic sentence in different words. Do not just copy the topic sentence.

Summarize some (or all) of the main points in the paragraph.

A concluding sentence serves three purposes:

• It signals the end of the paragraph• It summarizes the main points of the paragraph• It gives a final comment on the topic and

leaves the reader with the most important ideas to think about.

Begin the concluding sentence

• These are followed by a comma.

Finally, ….. In conclusion, …. In summary,…. Therefore, …. Thus,…. As a result,…. For these reasons,…… Indeed,…. In brief,…. In short,……

• these are not followed by a comma.

we can see that….. It is clear that……These examples show

that…..There can be no doubt

that….The evidence suggests

that…….