Process Writing

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SBLE2103

Process Writing

Nurul Imtiaz Abd Gani

Hana Mulyani Harun
Nurul Akmal Ab Halim
Shahrul Niza Said

Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) Universiti Utara Malaysia
Sintok 2014

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ISBN 978-967-????-??-?

First Published, 2014

Centre for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanically, including
photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the Centre for Professional and Continuing Education
(PACE), Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman.

The Self Module Series is one of the teaching and learning mode under the Off-
Campus Studies of Universiti Utara Malaysia. This Self Module Series is to be
improvised and revised during every teaching activity and the distribution of this Self
Module is restricted within the campus of Universiti Utara Malaysia.

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 CONTENTS
Preface ix
Explanation of Icons xi
Synopsis and Learning Outcomes xiii
How to Use This Module xv

CHAPTER 1 ELEMENTS OF PROCESS WRITING

Learning Objectives 1
1.1 The Writing Process 1
1.2 Process Writing 1

CHAPTER 2 DEVELOPING/ WRITING A PARAGRAPH

Learning Objectives 13
2.1 Paragraph Organisation 13
2.1.1 Topic Sentence 14
2.1.2 Supporting Sentence 15
2.1.3 Concluding Sentence 19
2.2 Unity within a Paragraph 20
2.3 Coherence / Cohesion within a Paragraph 21
2.3.1 Time Order 21
2.3.2 Space Order 22
2.3.3 Order of Importance 22

CHAPTER 3 DEVELOPING THE FIVE-PARAGRAPH ESSAY

Learning Objectives 25
3.1The Writing
What isProcess
a Five-Paragraph Essay 25
3.2 Introduction to Paragraph 26
3.2.1 General Statement / Background Infrormation 27
3.3 Body Paragraphs 30
3.4 Conclusion Paragraph 31
3.5 Transitions 32
3.5.1 Transitions between Sentences 32
3.5.2 Transitions between Paragraphs 33
3.5.3 Transitional Expressions 34

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CHAPTER 4 SUMMARISING AND SYNTHESISING
INFORMATION IN SOURCES

Learning Objectives 37
4.1 Introduction 37
4.2 Avoiding Plagiarism 37
4.2.1 What is Plagiarism 37
4.2.2 In-text Citation 38
4.2.3 Bibliography / Reference / Works Cited List 40
4.3 Paraphrasing 40
4.3.1 Techniques of Paraphrasing 42
4.4 Summarising 43
4.5 Synthesizing 45

CHAPTER 5 APA SYSTEM OF REFERENCING

Learning Objectives 53
5.1 Definition of Referencing 53
5.2 The Purpose of Referencing 53
5.3 Reporting Verbs for In-text Citation 54
5.4 APA System 54
5.4.1 APA Referencing Style 55
5.5 Avoiding Plagiarism 72
5.5.1 What is Plagiarism? 72

CHAPTER 6 WRITING AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY

Learning Objectives 77
6.1 Definition 77
6.2 Characteristics 78
6.3 Organisation 78
6.3.1 Introduction Paragraph 78
6.3.2 Body Paragraphs 78
6.3.3 Conclusion Paragraphs 79
6.4 Steps to Write an Argumentative Essay 79
6.5 Model and Identification of the Parts of the
Argumentative Essay 83
6.6 Writing Opinion Statements 87
6.7 Stating Counter Arguments 88
6.3.1 Writing Refutation/Rebuttal of the Counter
Agreement 89

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CHAPTER 7 PATTERNS OF EXPOSITORY ESSAY
ORGANISATION

Learning Objectives 95
7.1 Exemplification Pattern 95
7.1.1 Definition of Exemplification Pattern 95
7.1.2 Characteristics of Exemplification Pattern 95
7.1.3 Types of Examples 96
7.1.4 Outline of Exemplification Pattern 98
7.1.5 Steps to Write Exemplification Pattern 98
7.1.6 Model and Identification of Parts of
Exemplification Pattern 101
7.2 Comparison and Contrast Pattern 105
7.2.1 Definition of Comparison and Contrast Essay 105
7.2.2 Characteristics and Outline of Comparison and
Contrast Essay 105
7.2.3 Guidelines to Write Comparison and Contrast
Essay 108
7.2.4 Model and Identification of Parts and
Comparison and Contrast Essay 111

CHAPTER 8 GRAMMAR

Learning Objectives 119

8.1 Subject-Verb Agreement 119
8.2 The Passive Voice 124
8.2.1 The Fundamental Ruling 124
8.2.2 Recognizing Passive Voice 125
8.2.3 Passive Sentences with Two Objects 127
8.3 Compound Sentences 129
8.4 Complex Sentences 132
8.5 Parallelism 134
8.5.1 Parallelism in Words and Phrases 134
8.5.2 Parallelism in Clauses 135
8.5.3 Parallelism in Lists after a Colon 136
8.6 Run-on Sentences and Sentence Fragment 138
8.6.1 The Fundamental Ruling 138
8.7 Relative Clauses 142
8.7.1 Restrictive Relative Clauses 143
8.7.2 Non-restrictive Relative Clauses 144
8.8 Noun Clauses 146
8.8.1 Forming Noun Clauses 147
8.9 Adverbial Clauses 148

ANSWER KEY 157

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 PREFACE

This module has been developed with the aim of guiding learners with
their academic goals, especially in relation to writing. This module caters
for intermediate and upper intermediate learners by exposing them to
an integrated process-product approach to writing from topic and
audiences considerations to planning, organizing and developing texts.
Among the writing skills students will be exposed to in the module are
writing expository and argumentative essays, summarising texts, proof
reading and editing. Students are also exposed and guided to the writing
activities according to different rhetorical structures.

As writing skills require good command of English language use and

structures, we have allocated selected grammar items at the end of the
module. Some explanation and exercises are also provided. The
grammar section gives the learners the opportunity to refine not only
their writing skills but also their language accuracy and appropriateness.

It is hoped that the learners will be interested and inspired to improve

their second language writing since being able to express well in writing
is one of the valuable communicative skills in their future careers.
Finally, we would like to extend our gratitude to PACE and the Director
of Language Centre for their support in developing this module.

Nurul Imtiaz Abd Gani

Hana Mulyani Harun
Nurul Akmal Ab Halim
Shahrul Niza Said

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 EXPLANATION OF ICONS

You will notice that there are a number of icons used in this module.
They are there to highlight specific information for you. Each icon has
a purpose:

Practices

This icon highlights the various practices of the unit.

These activities have answer keys at the back of each
unit for you to check your answers.

Check Your Answers

This icon indicates that the learners should check their

answers before proceeding to the next section. It also
serves as an indicator for answer keys.

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 SYNOPSIS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This upper intermediate level course aims at helping students with their
academic goals, especially in relation to writing. The course offers a
comprehensive approach to the process of writing from topic and
audience considerations to planning, organizing and developing
texts. The genre approach to writing will also be used in the teaching or
argumentative texts. Among the writing skills students will be exposed
to in the course are writing a variety of expository essays, using evidence
effectively in developing arguments, using proper citations, proof
reading and editing. Students in the course will be given the
opportunity to orally share their views about their writing in progress
and their final products.

This module is divided into several parts.

A. Elements of Process Writing

B. Developing/Writing a Paragraph
C. APA Referencing
D. Patterns of Essay
E. Grammar Exercises

Upon completing of the course, students will be able to:

1. Summarise and paraphrase information contained in reading texts.

2. Communicate using appropriate language structures.
3. Distinguish between the various strategies and elements involved in
essays and write 5 paragraph expository and argumentative essays.
4. Analyse debatable topics and orally presents the pros and cons in a
debate.

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 HOW TO USE THIS MODULE

This is a distance-learning course and thus, the module is self-

instructional. Being familiar with the content of the module may help
you in using the module effectively. The units are sequenced
progressively according to important stages in writing. At the
beginning, you will be exposed to the elements of process writing
followed by some explanation and exercises on developing paragraphs
and essays. At the end of each unit, you will have the opportunity to
enhance your grammar skills by reading the explanation and examples
and later by doing some exercises. If you have problems and require
assistance, refer to the answers given in the ANSWER KEY. If you still
have any problems on how to use this module, do not hesitate to ask
any of the course instructors.

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