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Paragraph Writing

The document is a course pack for Semester One students in the Department of English Studies, focusing on paragraph writing skills. It outlines course objectives, learning outcomes, content structure, and includes practice exercises on various writing techniques such as coherence, unity, and punctuation. The course aims to develop students' abilities to write clear and effective paragraphs suitable for college-level work.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
14 views47 pages

Paragraph Writing

The document is a course pack for Semester One students in the Department of English Studies, focusing on paragraph writing skills. It outlines course objectives, learning outcomes, content structure, and includes practice exercises on various writing techniques such as coherence, unity, and punctuation. The course aims to develop students' abilities to write clear and effective paragraphs suitable for college-level work.

Uploaded by

tasnime.chergui
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Paragraph Writing:

Lessons, Practice & Writing


Course Pack for Semester One Students

Department of English Studies, FLDM.


Department of English Studies

1
Table of Contents
Course Description....................................................................................................................3
Mechanics of Writing ...............................................................................................................4
Paragraph Coherence .............................................................................................................5
Paragraph Unity ..................................................................................................................11
Capitalization ......................................................................................................................12
Punctuation .........................................................................................................................13
Sentence Errors: Run on Sentences & Comma Splice.........................................................16
Paragraph Writing..................................................................................................................18
Paragraph Structure ...............................................................................................................18
Topic Sentences ................................................................................................................19
Supporting Sentences .......................................................................................................24
Concluding Sentences .......................................................................................................26
Process Writing.......................................................................................................................28
Lesson ...................................................................................................................................28
Practice and Writing 1 ..........................................................................................................33
Practice and Writing 2 ..........................................................................................................35
Opinion Writing .....................................................................................................................36
Lesson ...................................................................................................................................36
Practice and Writing 1 ..........................................................................................................40
Practice and Writing 2 ..........................................................................................................41
Descriptive Writing................................................................................................................42
Lesson ...................................................................................................................................42
Practice and Writing 1 ..........................................................................................................44
Practice and Writing 2 ..........................................................................................................46
Revision and Mock Exam .....................................................................................................47
2
Course Description

Objective of the course


The purpose of this course is to initiate students to writing skills by writing small paragraphs.
The focus is on basic components of writing, such as the word, the sentence, the punctuation,
the capitalization, and the paragraph as a constitutive part of the essay.

Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
• Write clear topic sentences and concluding sentences.

• Write paragraphs considered appropriate for the college level in a variety of


rhetorical modes.
• Exhibit effective unity, support, coherence, and mechanics in paragraphs. •
Use punctuation and capitalization effectively.
• Understand the patterns of organization, the structures and the discourse
markers involved in process writing, argumentative writing and descriptive
writing.
• Evaluate their own and others' writing.

Course requirements
• Regular attendance is advised

• Active participation is advised

• Regular practice of writing is advised

Course content
Content

Introductory session

Sentence and paragraph structure 1- Topic sentences

Sentence and paragraph structure 2- Supporting sentences+


Paragraph coherence + Transitions

Sentence and paragraph structure 3- Concluding sentenceS +


Paragraph unity

Process writing 1+ punctuation and capitalization 1

Process writing 2+ punctuation and capitalization 2

Opinion writing 1+ Sentence errors (run on sentences)

Opinion writing 2+ Sentence errors (the comma splice)


Descriptive writing 1+ Sentence errors, transitions, punctuation
and capitalization

Descriptive writing 2+ Sentence errors, transitions, punctuation


and capitalization

Revision and Mock exam

Textbooks & references


Imhoof, M., & Hudson, H. (1979) From Paragraph to Essay. Longman Jupp, TC., &
Milne, J. (1972). Guided Paragraph Writing: A first Course in English Composition with
structural Practice. Rep. in 1979.Heinemman Educational Books.

MECHANICS OF WRITING:
COHERENCE & UNITY
CAPITALIZATION &
PUNCTUATION SENTENCE ERRORS
4
PARAGRAPH COHERENCE

Coherence is achieved when sentences and ideas are connected and flow together smoothly.
An essay without coherence can inhibit a reader’s ability to understand the ideas and main
points of the essay. Coherence allows the reader to move easily throughout the essay from one
idea to the next, from one sentence to the next, and from one paragraph to the next. Following
are several methods that can be used to achieve coherence in writing:
1 : DIRECT REFERENCES :
The most natural way to achieve coherence in a paragraph is by using direct references. Direct
references link sentences by referring the reader to a noun or an idea mentioned earlier. a. Use
Repetition to Link Ideas, Sentences, and Paragraphs
Repeating key words or phrases helps connect and focus idea(s) throughout the essay.
Repetition also helps the reader remain focused and headed in the right direction. Example:
Most students are intimidated by the works of William Shakespeare. They believe
Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays are far to complicated to read and understand. None of us
recognized the Young actor who played the part of Tony. The actor could sing and dance
well but apparently had never become famous
b. Use Pronouns to Link Sentences
Pronouns are used to link or connect sentences by referring to preceding nouns and pronouns.
Pronouns can also help create paragraphs that are easy to read by eliminating wordiness and
unnecessary repetition.
Example: Mr. Thompson agreed to meet with members of the worker’s union before he
signed the contract. He was interested in hearing their concerns about the new insurance
plan. Eva spent Saturday cleaning out the garage. This did not seem to her to be a proper use
of the Holiday, but it had to be done.
c. Use Synonyms to Link Ideas and Create Variety
Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. They
provide alternative word choices that can add variety to an essay and can help eliminate
unnecessary repetition.
Example: Teenagers face an enormous amount of peer pressure from friends and
schoolmates. As a result, many young adults are exhibiting signs of severe stress or
depression at an early age.

2. USE PARALLEL STRUCTURES TO LINK IDEAS, SENTENCES, AND


PARAGRAPHS
Parallelism is the use of matching words, phrases, clauses, or sentence structures to express
similar ideas. Parallel structures allow the reader to flow smoothly from one idea, sentence, or
paragraph to the next and to understand the relationships and connections between ideas.
Example: Usually, the children spend the summer weekends playing ball in park, swimming
in the neighbor’s pool, eating ice cream under the tree, or camping in the backyard. At the
museum, the class attended a lecture where the speaker demonstrated how the Native
Americans made bows and arrows. They also attended a lecture where a sword smith
demonstrated how the Vikings crafted swords.
3. USE TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSIONS TO LINK IDEAS, SENTENCES, AND
PARAGRAPHS
Transitional expressions, such as however, because, therefore, and in addition, are used to
establish relationships between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. They serve as signals to let
the reader know the previous idea, sentence, or paragraph is connected to what follows. For a
list of the most commonly used transitional expressions, refer to the Southeastern Writing
Center’s handout Useful Transitional Words and Phrases.

5
Example: Many students believe they cannot write a good essay because they are not writers.
However, as they practice writing and work on developing their writing skills, most students
are able to gain the needed confidence to start thinking of themselves writers.

Type of linker examples broad meaning example


accordingly, thus, introduces a reason wait because, it was
cause and effect consequently, hence, and shows result raining.
because, so, therefore, as We had to
comparison similarly, time at once, immediately, Life is difficult in extreme
likewise, whereas, but, on the identifies similarities between polls;similarly, it is horrible
other two ideas near the
hand, except, by Equatorial regions.
comparison, when
compared to, equally, in Raj did not perform well in
the same way the
contrast but, however, yet, identifies differences between exam; nevertheless, he got a
still, even though, two ideas distinction in English.
nevertheless,
on the other hand,
otherwise, after all, for all
of that, on the contrary,
notwithstanding, in The bell rang and the
contrast, unlike, whereas,
instead of, alternatively,
although indicates time and
meanwhile, at length, in the then, as, before that, after
frequency of events that
meantime, at the same students
time, in the end, when, left immediately.
and, also, even, again, It is very hot
moreover, further, today; moreover, there
furthermore, similarly, is a power outage.
in addition, as well as
adds ideas in support
addition of the main idea
introduces illustrations in
for example, such as, I think he is very
situation, in this rich; for example, he
manner, to illustrate gave a hundred rupee
example sequence note to a beggar.
first, second, third,
next, then, following,
now, at this point, shows the importance
after, after this, of the ideas by listing There is a students’
subsequently, according to the procession
for instance, in this eventually, finally, priority today; therefore, they
case, in another case, previously diverted the traffic.
on this occasion, in support of the main
this idea draws conclusion by It is a love story, the
thus actors performed well, the
summaryin brief, on the summarizing the ideas direction is
whole, in sum, to sum up, excellent, the settings
6
are beautiful; in brief,
it is a good film.

CONJUNCTIONS AND PUNCTUATION


KIND HOW USED PUNCTUATION

1. Coordinating (CO) Must join equal units such In a series of three or more items joined
as nouns, adjectives, in parallel form by commas, a comma
Fanboys - for, and, adverbs, prepositional goes between each of the items and
nor, but, or, yet, so phrases, predicates, before the conjunction.
clauses, or main clauses
Ex. Dogs, children, and clowns were in
the parade.

When joining two main clauses, always


use a comma before the coordinating
conjunction.

Ex. We went on home, for it was clear


that Jerry was not going to appear.

Do not use a comma before the


conjunction if you are only joining two
predicates.

Ex. He went into the water and sank to


the bottom.

2. Correlative (COR) Used in pairs to join equal No punctuation unless joining two
units (noun to noun, independent clauses
either...or adjective to adjective, etc.)
neither...nor Ex. Either your mother or I will pick
both...and you up from school.
not only... but (also)
whether...or Ex. Either your mother will pick you
up from school, or I will pick you up.
3. Subordinating (S) Used to join clauses of When the dependent clause introduces
unequal rank (a dependent the sentence, put a comma at the end of
after provided or subordinate clause to an the dependent clause.
although since independent clause)
as so that Ex. After we went to the show, we
as if than went out to eat.
as much as till
as long as unless No comma is needed if the dependent
as soon as until clause comes after the independent
as though whatever clause.

7
because when Ex. We went out to eat after we went to
before whenever if the show.
where
in order that wherever
lest whether while

4. Conjunctive Used to join independent The conjunctive adverb should be


Adverb (CA) clauses preceded by a semicolon and followed
by a comma.
accordingly moreover
also Ex. My test scores are high;
nevertheless consequently, I should go to college.
consequently
nonetheless
furthermore otherwise
hence then
however therefore
instead thus

Practice 1. Add the appropriate transitions to make the paragraph coherent


The concept of fairness is central to understanding plagiarism. Fairness means being fair both
to yourself and others. Everybody both gives and receives their proper due, and nobody has
anything to complain about. An incident involving unfairness could be taking someone else’s
work and passing it off as your own. The person whose work has been taken receives no
recognition or acknowledgment for their research and thinking. Writers who plagiarize are not
being fair to themselves either because they are not developing their own independent
academic skills. Students who do their own work with due acknowledgement of the work of
others should develop their own academic skills and self-confidence far more than those who
merely misuse the work of others.

Practice 2. Fill in the banks with the appropriate transitions


Animals use various means to protect themselves. Color is one that is widely used as a
protective device. ……………………, some birds display brightly colored feathers
…………………… they are threatened. These are designed to frighten away the enemy.
………………………. to color, some animals emit a peculiar smell for the same purpose.
…………………….., form may be used to conceal the animal. Some insects,
……………………, conceal themselves by making themselves resemble plants of flowers. In
this way, they are hardly visible ……………………… they can merge in to their
surroundings. Other animals adopt regular patterns of behavior whenever they are frightened.
Some pretend to be dead …………………. others just come forward and stand still.

Practice 3. Fill in each blank with an appropriate transition signal


Since my daughter has been in daycare, she has become better at a few different
things.(1) ………………….., her vocabulary is much larger and more developed. Before
she started daycare, my daughter had a few select words that she would say, but now she
tries to repeat everything that is said. (2)……………………, she has the ability to
socialize with other children better. In the past, she was only around one child. Now she is
around about six to eight kids, (3)……………………… she has learned to share her toys

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and to play in a group with the other children. (4)………………………., she is becoming
more self-reliant. Before daycare, she wouldn’t try very hard to get dressed,
(5)……………………… now she wants to try to do it all on her own. She puts her pull
ups on and tries to pull on her shirts and pants herself. Socks still go on upside down, but
at least her shoes go on the correct feet. I am really glad that I decided to put her in a
daycare, for the benefits have been great.

Practice 4 : Process writing


1.The order of the paragraph should be
a. For the command “Sit,” hold the leash in your right hand and gently press on the dog’s
hindquarters with your left hand.
b.At the same time, say “Sit.”
c. Repeat this process, moving farther away from the dog each time. . .
d.When your dog will sit on command without having to be pushed, he or she is ready to
learn “Stay.”
e. When he or she is in the correct position, stroke and praise your dog. f. If
the dog tries to follow, you say “No” firmly and repeat the word “Stay.”
g.Move a couple of feet in front of the dog, still holding on to the leash. 2.The
order of the paragraph should be
a. Next, make sure there is fresh water nearby before pitching the tent.
b.Finally, collect rocks to enclose the fire and sticks to start the fire for supper.
c. The construction of a comfortable campsite involves some important steps.
d.First, select a level place that is relatively free of underbrush so a fire can be
e. safely started.

Practice 5: Narrative writing


1. The order of sentences should be :
a. Leonardo spent years sketching a great charger, eventually sculpting a full-sized model
in clay and leaving notes about how to cast it—the bronze would weigh eighty tons!
b.Made to honor the duke’s father, it was to be twenty-four feet high.
c. For more than four centuries it was lost to history until Leonardo’s sketches were
rediscovered in Spain in 1966.
d.But then the French army threatened and the metal was needed for cannon. e. In 1482,
the duke of Milan commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to create the biggest horse statue
ever.
f. When Milan fell to the French in 1499, French archers used the clay horse for target
practice.
2.The order of sentences should be:
a. One of the most exciting games of the season took place last night.
b.When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Tigers led the Blue Jays by ten points.
c.However, the Blue Jays, full of fire, returned from the locker room and quickly
closed the gap.
d.During the first half, the Tigers controlled the ball and the boards.
e. No one expected the game to end in a tie, so the fans went wild when the
final buzzer sounded.

Practice 6. Order of importance:


Arranging supporting details according to their order of importance.

9
1. But the city’s population rise came about mainly because the railroads carried the promise
of Paris to rural France .
2. Three factors contributed to the population explosion in Paris from 1851 to 1872 , when
the number of Parisians nearly doubled---from 1,242,000 to 2,212,000 . 3. The increase was
also due in part to the general peace and prosperity of the Second Empire .
4. The increase was partly the result of better health conditions

Spatial order : is often used in descriptive paragraphs because it helps the reader visualize
the subject.
Above Before In a corner Outside
Across Behind In back of Over
Against Below In front of To the side
Ahead Beside Inside Toward
Alongside Between In the middle Under
Around Beyond On Underneath

Practice 7: list the words and phrases that indicate spatial order
The farmhouse stood in the middle of a very large yard, and the yard was fenced on three
sides with rails on the rear side with high palings. Against these stood the smoke house ;
beyond the palings was the orchard ;beyond the orchard were the Tobacco fields. The front
yard was entered over a stile made of sawed-off logs of graduated heights. In a corner of the
front yard were a dozen lofty hickory trees and a dozen black walnuts, and in the nutting
season riches were to be gathered there.

My apartment is so small that it will no longer hold all of my possessions. Every day when I
come home from school, I am shocked by the clutter. The wall to my immediate left is
completely obscured by art and movie posters that have become so numerous they often
overlap, hiding even each other. Along the adjoining wall is my sound system: CDs and tapes
are stacked several feet high on two long tables. The big couch that runs across the back of
the room is always piled so high with schoolbooks and magazines that a guest usually ends up
sitting on the floor. To my right is a large sliding glass door that opens onto a balcony at least
it used to, before it was permanently blocked by my tennis gear, golf clubs, and ten speed
bike. Even the tiny closet next to the front door is burst- ing with clothes both clean and dirty.
I think the time has come for me to move.

Practice 8: Indicate the kind of order you would use for each of the following topics.
Your happiest moment
Your school at the first day of the school year
What would happen in your perfect day
How to make your favorite dish
Your newly decorated room
Why you should not miss class

10
PARAGRAPH UNITY
A paragraph in which all the sentences are directly related to the idea has unity any
sentence that does not relate to the main idea as it is expressed in the topic sentence
should be omitted. Such sentences make the writer’s ideas difficult to follow.

Practice. In the following paragraph, identify the sentence (es) that destroy unity

(1) As you use your calendar to manage your time, think about how long certain activities
will take. (2) A common mistake is to underestimate the time needed to do something, even
something simple. (3) For example, when you are planning the time needed to get cash from
the cash machine, remember that there may be a line of people. (4) Last week in line I met a
woman I went to high school with, so we chatted. (5) It turns out she has two children just the
same age as mine. (6) When you are estimating time for a more complex activity, such as
reading a chapter in a textbook, block out more time than you think you will need. (7) If you
finish in less time than you have allotted, so much the better. (8) One should allow for
interruptions because it is better to allow too much time than too little.
11
CAPITALIZATION

Practice: Add capital letters where necessary


1. we were studying robert frost’s poem “the death of the hired man”.
2. all grade 12 students take history and english.
3. usually college classes begin the day after labour day.
4. after graduating from high school, he went to vancouver island university.
5. my cousin plays hockey for simon fraser university.
6.last spring we took a trip through the rocky mountains.
7.his mother bakes the best cookies, but aunt angela makes the best pies.
8.we’re studying about world war II in history now.
9. the team from pearson college was on our campus last weekend.
10. we agreed to go watch the movie titanic at rialto cinema

12
PUNCTUATION
THE COMMA

1. Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more.


Carlos wants to visit Paris, Italy, Germany and China.

2. Use a comma to separate independent clauses (complete thoughts) when they are
joined by coordinating conjunctions:
Note: the comma should come before the conjunction.
Example: I want to buy the new jacket but it is too expensive.
I want to buy the new jacket, but it is too expensive.
In this example, there are two independent clauses:
#1: “I want to buy the new jacket.” (complete thought)
#2 “It is too expensive.” (complete thought) These clauses are separated by a comma before
the conjunction “but”.

3. Use a comma to separate a dependent clause (incomplete thought) from an


independent clause (complete thought).
When I am 17 years old(Dependent), I will be able to get my driving licence (Independent).

4. Use a comma(s)to separate any word or phrase from the rest of the sentence that is
not essential to the sentence's meaning. This phrase usually provides extra information
about the subject.
My brother, a 26 year old male, is watching TV.

5. Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of a sentence.


Example: Hi how are you?
Hi, how are you?
Yes, I would like more water please.
Sorry, we do not have enough room.

6. Use a comma to separate the day of the week, the day of the month, and the year.
Example: Today is Thursday April 18 1943.
Today is Thursday, April 18, 1943.

7. Use a comma to separate a non-defining clause from the rest of the sentence
: Example : Souad, who works with her uncle, bought a new car yesterday.

THE PERIOD
The period is used to end a sentence. The period is also used after certain
abbreviations. Examples : Dr. Moussaoui, Pr. Parkinson, U.S.A

THE SEMICOLON
1. To combine closely related complete sentences (independent clauses) which are not
joined by a conjunction.
Example: The man was wet; he was standing in the rain without an umbrella. In this example,
there are two complete sentences (independent clauses):

13
#1: “The man was wet.” (independent clause)
#2 “He was standing in the rain without an umbrella.” (independent clause) These clauses are
separated by a semicolon.
2. To separate complete sentences (independent clauses) that are joined by a conjunctive
adverb.
Here is a list of common conjunctive adverbs:Example: Jane likes fruit; however, she does
not like apples. In this example, there are two complete sentences (independent clauses):
#1: “Jane likes fruit.” (independent clause)
#2 “She does not like apples.” (independent clause) These clauses are separated by a
semicolon and the conjunctive adverb “however”.

THE COLON

The colon is used to indicate that an example, an illustration, or a list is going to


follow. Examples :
I have some bad news for you : John died last night
The tourists visited four major cities : Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago.

EXCLAMATION MARK
Exclamation mark is used to show strong emotion.
Ouch! I hurt my knee
I am so excited because today is my birthday !

QUESTION MARK
Question marks are used after a question.
How much does it cost ?

Practice 1 : Use the right punctuation in the following sentences


1. I will be sixteen on Tuesday the 6th of July 1582.
2. Wait is there another way?
3. Hooray We are finally free
4. Delaware used to be a slave state; however, during the Civil War, it refused to secede.
5. I am hot I am wearing a sweater and a jacket.
6. I just won the lottery
7. Until I reach my goal I will not stop working.
8. Unfortunately we do not have enough time.
9. September 11 2001 is a date that will be remembered.
10. Annette is afraid of the water consequently she had trouble passing the swimming
test. 11. They like chocolate but they like vanilla better.
12. To become an astronaut it takes much hard work and determination.
13. I need to visit my mother wash my car and buy six stamps.
14. Gold watches for example are going on sale today.
15. Amy Rivers my best friend is going to the mall today.
16. When school ends today at 3:15 p.m. we will play soccer.
17. Sorry we do not have enough room.
18. The president was very popular he easily won the election.

Practice 2. Add the adequate punctuation and capitalization to the following sentences:

14
1. the house was clean the table set and the porch light on everything was ready for the
guests' arrival
2. as mr daniel turned around he heard a loud thump for the cat had upset the goldfish
bowl
3. the automobile dealer handled three cars volkswagens porsches and mercedes benz 4.
the office was closed consequently i could not pay my bill
5. i finished reading the nation and then i went to bed

Practice 3. Include the appropriate punctuation and capitalization in the following


paragraph:

Logic which is the basis of rhetoric comes from culture it is not universal rhetoric therefore is
not universal either but varies from culture to culture the rhetorical system of one language is
neither better nor worse than the rhetorical system of another language but it is different
English logic and English rhetoric which are based on anglo european cultural patterns are
linear—that is a good English paragraph begins with a general statement of its content and
then carefully develops that statement with a series of specific illustrations a good English
paragraph may also use just the reverse sequence it may state a whole series of examples and
then summarize those examples in a single statement at the end of the paragraph in either case
however the flow of ideas occurs in a straight line from the opening sentence to the last
sentence furthermore a well structured English paragraph is never digressive there is nothing
that does not belong to the paragraph and nothing that does not support the topic sentence

15
RUN ON SENTENCES & COMMA SPLICE

A. Run on sentence
The term run-on sentence (or fused sentence) describes two independent clauses without any
punctuation between them. Such a sentence can be very confusing and can be misread easily.
Run-on sentences can be corrected by joining the two clauses with a comma and a
conjunction, by placing a semicolon between the two clauses if they are closely related, or by
separating the two sentences by adding a full stop :

Run- on : The fruit pickers walked out of the orchard a meeting had been called to discuss a
possible strike.
Comma and conjunction added :The fruit pickers walked out of the orchard, for a meeting
had been called to discuss a possible strike.

Run-on : Philip wrote steadily for an hour the results were good.
Semicolon added : Philip wrote steadily for an hour ; the results were good.

Run-on : Our first stop was Casablanca there we spent two days shopping. Full
stop added : Our first stop was Casablanca. There we spent two days shopping.

B. Comma splice

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. In other
words it is two independent clauses ‘spliced’ together with only a comma. There are five
ways to correct a comma splice : Change the comma to a full stop ; change the comma to a
semicolon ; change the comma to a semicolon and add a conjunctive adverc ; add a
coordinating conjunction before the second independent clause ; change one independent
clause to a dependent clause.
Examples :
Comma splice : We hiked for three days, we were very tired.

Full stop : We hiked for three days. We were very tired.

Semicolon : We hiked for three days ; we were very tired.

Semicolon and conjunctive adverb: We hiked for three days ; hence, we were very tired.

Comma and coordinating conjunction : We hiked for three days, so we were very tired.

Dependent clause and subordinating conjunction : Because we hiked for three days, we
were very tired.
Practice 1. Correct the following run-on sentences

1. She writes the music he plays the guitar.


2. It was raining Sara went to the party.
3. Ahmed and Nabil recognized each other they had been in primary school together.
4. Her car would not start she was late for class.
5. He prepared well for the exam he got a good mark.

Practice 2. Correct the following comma splices.

16
1. We've seen enough for one night, pack up the equipment.
2. Some club members were late for the meeting for example, Tanya and Scott came in at
9:30
3. Marcellino always knew his way around the woods, this is something he could always
depend on.
4. Throughout history money and religion were closely linked, there was little distinction
between government and religion
5. She ran out of the room, the shadows in the corner had scared her

17

PARAGRAPH WRITING:
- PRAGRAPH STRUCTURE:
TOPIC SENTENCES
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
CONCLUDING SENTENCES -
PROCESS WRITING
- OPINION WRITING
- DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

18
TOPIC SENTENCES
THE MAIN IDEA (effective topic sentences)
A paragraph is a series of sentences that presents and develops one main idea about a topic.
Together, the sentences in a paragraph make one main idea clear. This idea is often stated in a
single sentence. This sentence is usually called “a topic sentence”.
An effective topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph, suggests the writer’s
purpose, and arouses the reader’s interest. When you write a topic sentence, keep the
following four suggestions:
1. A topic sentence should neither be too broad nor too limited
- Water is an important natural resource.
- Water is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen
- Water is a chemical compound that can occur in three different states: liquid, gas, and
solid. 2. A topic sentence should suggest the writer’s purpose
- In this paragraph I am going to try to persuade you to join the North Central Soccer
League - When you become part of the North Central Soccer League, you will receive at
least four benefits
- I am going to tell you about a funny thing that happened to me and Michelle. - Last
Saturday Michelle and I set out to spend the day shopping but instead ended up
organizing the lost and found department in the bus station.
- Should high-school students be required to take four years of English ? - All high school
students should be required to take four years of English for three important reasons
3. A topic sentence should state the main idea of the paragraph directly and
precisely - Bicycling can lead to problems
- Some people wish they had never seen a bicycle
- Whenever you get on your bicycle, keep these three basic rules in mind if you want to reach
your destination safely.
4. A topic sentence should arouse the reader’s interest
- The Manx cat is unusual
- Looking more like a rabbit than a cat, the tailless Manx cat is an object of curiosity

Practice 1. Choose the best topic sentence for each group of supporting sentences. Write
it on the line provided.
Example: ___________b_____________. I usually go skiing every weekend in the winter
even though it is expensive. I love the feeling of flying down a mountain. The views are
beautiful from the top of a mountain and along the trails. Even the danger of falling and
getting hurt can’t keep me away from the slopes on a winter day.
a) Skiing is expensive.
b) Skiing is my favourite sport.
c) Skiing is dangerous.
1.) _________________________________________________. North Americans send cards
for many occasions. They send cards to family and friends on birthdays and holidays. They
also send thank-you cards, get well cards, graduation cards, and congratulation cards. It is
very common to buy cards in stores and send them through the mail, but turning on the
computer and sending cards over the Internet is also popular.
a) Sending cards is very popular in North America.
b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card.
c)It is important to send thank-you cards.
2.) _____________________________________________ . I enjoy summer sports like water

19
skiing and baseball. The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can go to the beach almost
every day. Gardening is my hobby and I spend many summer days working in my garden.
Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in summer.
a) I like to garden in summer.
b) Summer is my favourite season.
c) Summer is to short.
3.) ________________________________________ . First of all, we need money to repair
old roads and build new roads. We also need more to pay teachers’ salaries and to pay for
services such as trash collection. Finally, more tax money is needed to give financial help to
the poor citizens of the city. It is clear that the city will have serious problems if taxes are not
raised soon.
a) We should raise city taxes.
b) City taxes are too high.
c) City taxes pay for new roads.
4.) _________________________________________ . For example, a person can have
breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A businesswoman in
London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax.
Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played
in Los Angeles.
a) Airplanes have changed our lives.
b) Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.
c) The fax machine was an important invention.
5.) ___________________________________________ . One thing you must consider is the
quality of the university’s educational program. You also need to think about the school’s size
and location. Finally, you must be sure to consider the university’s tuition to make sure you
can afford to go to school there.
a) It is expensive to attend a university in the United States.
b) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to attend. c)
You should consider getting a good education.

Practice 2. Write a topic sentence for each paragraph. Make sure your topic sentence
expresses the main idea of the paragraph.
Example: Miami is the perfect place to take a vacation. It is always sunny and warm. The
beaches are gorgeous, with soft white sand and beautiful water. There are many fine
restaurants in the Miami area, and most of the hotels offer terrific entertainment nightly. It’s
no wonder that Miami is my first choice for a vacation destination.
1.) ___________________________________________________ . He has collected stamps
and coins ever since he was a child. He is very proud of his valuable collections. Paul also
enjoys painting and drawing. Recently he has become interested in gardening. Out of all his
hobbies, Paul’s favourite one is reading. He usually reads at least one book every week. Paul
keeps busy with all of his hobbies.
2.) _________________________________________________ . I can’t wait to come home
from school and eat the delicious meals she has prepared. She is famous for her desserts like
peach pie and chocolate soufflé. She is always experimenting with new recipes and trying
different ingredients. No one in the world can cook the way my mother does. 3.)
_________________________________________________ . It never starts in cold weather.
The horn and the left turn signal don’t work properly. Worst of all, the radio only gets one
station and the CD player is completely broken. I wish I could get a new car. 4.)
__________________________________________________ . First and most importantly,
the work is very interesting. I learn new things every day and I get to travel a lot.

20
In addition, my boss is very nice. She is always willing to help me when I have a problem. I
have also made many new friends at my job. Last, but not least, the salary is fantastic. 5.)
____________________________________________________ . To start things off, my
plane was six hours late. When I finally got to my hotel, I was very disappointed. It was small
and dirty. On the third day, my wallet was
3stolen, and I lost all my credit cards. It rained very day except one, and on that day I got a
terrible sunburn. All in all, it wasn’t a vacation to remember.
Practice 3. Write a topic sentence for the group of sentences
provided. 1. Crocodiles are grayish green.
Crocodiles have triangular snout.
Alligators like fresh water.
Alligators have a rounded snout.
The fourth tooth is exposed on a crocodile when their mouth is closed.
Topic sentence:
___________________________________________________________________________
___
2. You need to Practicedaily.
You need to eat variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Water is important
Calcium is found in a variety of foods other than milk.
Topic sentence:
___________________________________________________________________________
___
3. Clarion angel fish live in reef waters.
Its thin body helps it slip in and around rocky reefs.
A large Clarion angelfish is eight inches long.
They eat sponges, sea grasses, and algae. Topic sentence:
___________________________________________________________________________
___
4. Butterflies lay their eggs on leaves.
Then, the eggs hatch into small larvae.
The larvae grow and turn into caterpillars.
The caterpillars spin a chrysalis or cocoon.
Topic sentence:
___________________________________________________________________________
___
5. The judge sat with a grim look on her face.
The room was thick with anticipation.
I wish I had that day to do over again.
I will never drink and drive again.
Topic sentence:
___________________________________________________________________________
___

Practice 4. Read the paragraph, and answer the questions:


If you dream of traveling to a country with beautiful mountains, rich culture, wonderful places
to go sightseeing and polite people, you should go visit Switzerland. If you look at the map,
the first thing you notice is that Switzerland has many mountains, including some of the
highest in Europe. Climbing or skiing down the mountains is great fun. Another thing you
will notice is that Switzerland shares its borders with five different countries: France, Italy,

21
Austria and Liechtenstein. In fact, there are four official languages in Switzerland: German,
French, Italian and Romansch. All these groups of people make Swiss culture very
interesting. Finally, Switzerland has many cities and interesting places to visit. Cities such as
Bern have modern buildings like the Paul Klee Zentrum, yet the traditional alpine refuges in
the mountains show that the country’s old traditions are still alive. The culture, the places and
things to see definitely make Switzerland a great place for a holiday.
What is the topic of the paragraph?
What is the main idea about the topic?
What ideas help explain the main idea?
1. Circle the topic sentence, put one line under the supporting sentences, and put two
lines under the concluding sentence

2. Put a tick next to the group of sentences that makes a good paragraph. Why are the
other groups of sentences not good paragraphs?
My best friend has many different hobbies, such as skiing, cooking, and playing, the piano,
and she is very good at all of these activities. For example, she has played the piano for ten
years and has won three piano competitions. She also likes to spend time travelling, and she
has been to many different countries in the world. She grew up speaking Spanish and English,
but now she can also speak French and Italian. I like my best friend very much. Classes in
literature are useful no matter what job you intend to have when you finish university. Books
are about life. People who study literature learn the skill of reading carefully and
understanding characters, situations, and relationships. This kind of understanding can be
useful to teachers and business people alike. Literature classes also require a lot of writing, so
they help students develop the skill of clear communication. Of course, a professional writer
needs to have this skill, but it is an equally important skill for an engineer. Finally, reading
literature helps develop an understanding of many different points of view. Reading a novel
by a Russian author, for example, will help a reader learn more about Russian culture. For
anyone whose job may bring them into contact with Russian colleagues, this insight can help
encourage better cross-cultural understanding. Studying literature is studying life, so it is
relevant to almost any job you can think of. One good way to learn another language is to live
in a country where that language is used. When you live in another country, the language is
around you all the time, so you can learn to listen to and speak it easily.

Practice 5. Circle the topic of the sentence. Underline the main idea about the
topic a.Switzerland is a very interesting country to visit
b. Dogs make excellent pets
c. A really good place to study is the library at my school
d. Learning a foreign language creates job opportunities
e. Football is my favorite sport because it is exciting to watch
Practice 6. For the paragraph below, choose the sentence from the list that would make
the best topic sentence.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………
… ………………………………………………
When Ken wanted to enter a good university, he studied hard to pass the examination. The
first time he took the exam, he did not do well, and he felt very discouraged; however, he
knew he wanted to study at that university, so he studied more. The next year, he tried taking
the exam again. The second time, he did very well, and now he is studying engineering. I

22
believe Ken is a good role model for me, and he has taught me that never giving up is the best
way to succeed.
a. One of my closest friends, named Ken, is a person I can trust
b. My friend Ken is a very successful student.
c. I admire my friend Ken because he does not give up

Practice 7. Write a topic sentence for the following paragraph:

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
First, I went to the wrong classroom for math. I was sitting in the class, surrounded by people
taking notes and paying attention to how to do equations, which would have been okay if I
was supposed to be in an algebra class. In reality, I was supposed to be in geometry, and when
I discovered my error, I had already missed the first twenty minutes of a one-hour class.
When I got to the correct class, all twenty-five students turned and looked at me as the teacher
said, “You’re late.” That would have been bad enough, but in my next class my history
teacher spoke so fast I could not follow most of what he said. The only thing I did hear was
that we were having a quiz tomorrow over today’s lecture. My day seemed to be going better
during botany class, that is, until we visited the lab. I had a sneezing fit because of one of the
plants in the lab and had to leave the room. When I finally finished my classes for the day, I
discovered I had locked my keys in the car and had to wait for my brother to bring another
set. My first day of school was so bad that I know the rest will have to be better.
23
SUPPORTING SENTENCES

Practice 1 : Read the following paragraph and determine the supporting sentences
along with the details used to support them.

Motorists have more reason than ever to buckle up before they leave home. Because seat belt
use is required by law in most states, drivers can be ticketed for failing to use restraining
devices. Those who use seat belts regularly not only avoid being ticketed for breaking the seat
belt law but may avoid other tickets as well because an officer who stops a driver for a traffic
infraction such as speeding is more likely to be lenient if he sees that the driver is wearing a
seat belt. Not only are those who consistently wear seat belts less likely to be ticketed, but
also they are less likely to be injured if an accident should occur. Seat belts prevent
passengers from hitting the dashboard or flying through the windshield when a collision
occurs; therefore, they prevent serious injury and they save lives. The mandatory seat belt
laws in many states have dramatically decreased the number of automobile fatalities in the
United States each year. With ever-increasing numbers of cars on the road and with speed
limits once again rising, motorists have more reason than ever to buckle up before they leave
their driveways.

Practice 2. Write effective supporting sentences using the different points and examples
provided to develop the topic sentence into a paragraph
Facebook.com is an important part of my life.
a. Keep in touch with friends and family
b. Share life’s ups and downs
c. Study with my peers online

Practice 3. Provide supporting sentences to develop each topic sentence into a paragraph

A. Advertisements are often misleading for many reasons.


a.
b.
c.

B. There are several effective ways of improving one’s skills in English


a.
b.
c.

C. Speaking fluent English offers many advantages


a.
b.
c.
Practice 4 : The following paragraph includes a topic sentence and a concluding
sentence. Provide supporting sentences.
Traveling has several advantages……………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
24
……………………….………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
. All these advantages make traveling very beneficial.
25
CONCLUDING SENTENCES
Read the following paragraph and notice how it is concluded:

Parents can help their children succeed in school by getting involved in their studies. They
should get to know their children’s teachers by attending school activities as often as possible.
They should also talk about what their children are learning in school. Another good idea is to
look over children’s homework before they hand it in, and help them with any questions or
problems. In short, by doing these relatively simple things, parents can make a huge
difference.

A concluding sentence serves two purposes:


1. It signals the end of the paragraph
2. It leaves the reader with the most important ideas to remember.
It can do this in two ways:
a. By summarizing the main points of the paragraph
b. By repeating the topic sentence in different words.
End of paragraph signals followed by a comma
Finally, in brief, in conclusion, indeed, in short, lastly, therefore, thus, to sum up,
…. End of paragraph signals not followed by a comma
The evidence suggests that, there can be no doubt that, for all these reasons, these examples
show that, we can see that…..
Practice 1. For each of the following paragraphs, choose the correct concluding
sentence.
Morning walk is a simple but excellent exercise. It enhances the flow of oxygen in blood and
relieves us of a lot of stress. It helps us to get rid off laziness and also induces good sleep in
the night. Another additional benefit is that morning walk exposes us to fresh air which keeps
us in touch with nature.
1. Thus morning walk does a lot of good to us.
2. Morning walk helps relieve stress.
Happiness and life style go together. Some people constantly complain about petty things.
They hunger after luxuries which they cannot afford. They become frustrated and
sick;whereas some others take things easy and keep themselves happy, cool and poised. In
other words, happiness can be experienced by cultivating healthy thinking. 1. Happy are
those who take life easy.
2. It is always advisable to make a habit experiencing happiness naturally. Play is usually
associated with children. Many people consider it to be a waste of time and as something
unproductive. In fact, in early years of one’s life, play plays an important role in the process
of learning. Children should be provided with opportunities to play. 1. Children who play
grow up to be intelligent.
2. For children play is another way to observe, participate and learn.
Practice 2. For each of the following paragraphs, write a concluding
sentence. Paragraph 1
Domestic tasks include three distressing jobs for me. One chore I dislike is going to the
laundry shops because there are never enough driers of hot water. Preparing meals is another
duty that makes me cringe. I spend hours following recipes only to burn the entire dish. Third,
I dread the job of grocery shopping. I spend as much time in the long lines as I do choosing
all the items on my list…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Paragraph 2

26
Although Queenstown, New Zealand, is a small town, it has many attractions for
visitors. It’s a paradise for sports-lovers, where you can go sailing, hiking, mountain biking,
or whitewater rafting. You can visit an old gold mine, or a modern art gallery. For scenic
beauty, the boat trip on Milford Sound is unforgettable. Queenstown has hotels in every price
range, and there are more than 100 restaurants to choose from.. ………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Paragraph 3
Kids who grow up in a bicultural family have a lot of advantages. For one thing, they are
able to learn a second language with almost no effort at all, and they will have a perfect
accent when they speak. They will also have contact with two different countries and might
travel internationally when they are very young. But, the most important advantage is that
they become more open to other cultures and other ways of doing things. ….…………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

27
PROCESS WRITING- LESSON

There are two types of process paragraphs. The first type is the how to paragraph gives the
reader directions on how to do something. The explanation paragraph/process analysis is the
second type, and it tells the reader how a particular event occurred or how something works.

Some “how to paragraphs” are instructional. They give a series of steps that must be
followed in a precise order to accomplish a task. For example, in writing about the process of
taking a photograph using a 35-millimeter camera, linear (chronological order) is crucial. The
writer would instruct the reader to (1) adjust the focus, (2) change the setting to allow the
proper amount of light through the lens, (3) push the shutter button to take the photograph.
The photograph would turn out well only if the steps were performed in the order given.
The second type of how to paragraph is advisory. The steps need not be followed in a precise
order, but the best way to explain the process in to speak of it as a series of pieces of advice.

TRANSITIONS:
1. When writing instructions, you will find the transitions below especially useful
Beginning Continuing Ending

Begin by After, after that Eventually


First As (subject+verb) Finally
The first step As soon as The final step
The first thing At the same time The final thing
Initially Before Last
During The last step
Immediately The last thing
Later
Meanwhile
In the meantime
Next
The next step
Now
Once you have done
Second, third
The second step
Soon
Subsequently
Then
Until
When, whenever
While

2. When writing advisory process, you might arrange your ideas in simple enumeration or in
order of importance (from most to least important, or from least to most important) - Simple
enumeration: Also, besides, equal, equally, first, second, third…etc, final, finally, further,
furthermore, in addition, next, last, one…another…still another/yet another, too. - Order of
importance: important, more important, even more important, still more important, most
important

28
TRANSITIONS AND LINKING WORDS: USE AND PUNCTUATION NOTE
Transitions Conjunctions Prepositio Adjectives
ns

Linking Words Subordinating After The first (thing)


(Time/Logical Order) Coordinating
Before The second
First (of all) After And
In addition The third
To begin with Before
to Prior to The next
At first Since
Since The last
Second When
The final
Third While

Next Until

Then

After that

At this point

Later on

At last

Last (of all)

In the end

Finally

* Firstly, Secondly,
Thirdly, Lastly are also
possible in British
English.

After common linking words like first, second, third, next, finally, etc., use a comma.
However, comma is not necessary with then.

Example: First/Second/Third/Next, boil the eggs.

Then peel the potatoes.


29
First can come at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. When it is at the
beginning, use a comma. When it is in the middle or at the end of a sentence, comma is not
necessary.

Example: First, the chef boiled the eggs.

The chef first boiled the eggs.

The chef boiled the eggs first.

Next can come at the beginning or at the end of a sentence. When it is at the beginning, use a
comma. When it is at the end, comma is not necessary.

Example: Next, the chef peeled the potatoes.

The chef peeled the potatoes next.

Then can come at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence. Using then after the subject
and before the verb is more formal. In both cases, comma is not necessary.

Example: Then the chef set the timer for 10 minutes.

The chef then set the timer for 10 minutes.

Finally can come at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence. When it is in the
middle and at the end, the meaning is “at last”, not the final step/process. Use a comma when
it is at the beginning. Comma is not necessary when it is in the middle or at the end.

Example: Finally, serve the meal with yoghurt.

The students finally came.

She smiled finally.

After adjectives like the first/second/third/next/last/final + step/thing, comma is not


necessary.

Example: The first step is to boil the eggs.

The next thing you should do is to peel the potatoes.

Examples of process paragraphs:


Example 1

1. There are some specific steps involved in writing a good paragraph. 2. The first step is
brainstorming. 3. Writers should use techniques like free-writing, mind- mapping and
outlining/planning to help them brainstorm. 4 In the first stage it is important for writers not
to edit but to let ideas flow and to simply get them down on paper. 5. After brainstorming
comes the first draft. 6.This is the step where the writer’s ideas start to come together and take
shape.7 There may be some grammatical errors or other small mistakes in the first draft, since
30
many writers just try to put their ideas on paper before editing their mistakes.8 The first draft
is also where writers should develop a topic sentence to guide the structure of their paragraph.
9. Finally, there is the last step, which is the final draft. 10.This is when writers edit their
work. 11 Writers should take care at this stage that all sentence structure and punctuation is
correct, and that their work is formatted correctly (typed, double spaced, etc.). 12. To
conclude, writing a good paragraph is not easy, but everyone can be a successful writer by
following some basic steps.

Paragraph analysis :

Organization and structure :


o Notice how the topic sentence (1) introduces the steps in the process.
o The next sentence (2) introduces the first step, which is the first supporting sentence.
The next series of sentences (3) to (4) provide details to support and explain the first
step.
o Sentence (5) provides the second step (the second supporting sentence), and
sentences (6) and (7) and (8) illustrate and explain the step.
o Sentence (9) provides the third step(the third supporting sentence), and sentences
(10) and (11) illustrate and explain the step.
o The paragraph ends with a general statement (12) about how following the steps
can help writers procude a good paragraph.

Transitions :
The following transitions help guide the reader through the paragraph : the first step…,
after…, finally....

Example 2
1. There are several important steps of taking effective notes in class. 2. First, filter what
you hear in class. 3. Do not try to write everything; instead, concentrate on recording
information that is new to you or that you are unsure of. 4. Notice when your instructor uses
words like important, vital, crucial, and so on; these are important clues. 5. Second, keep your
notes as neat and orderly as possible. 6. Some students discover, after a class, that they can't
even read their own notes.7. One way to help avoid this is to write only on every other line of
your paper. 8. Focus on definitions and material the instructor repeats or presents in sequence
using words such as first, second, third…etc. 9. Finally, use abbreviations or your own personal
shorthand system. 10. Reread your notes an hour or so after the class is over and add details,
clarify ideas, and tie together the information. 11. If you carefully filter what you hear in class,
keep your notes organized and use abbreviations, be sure that you will be able to take effective
notes in class.
Paragraph analysis :

Organization and structure :


o Notice how the topic sentence (1) introduces the steps in the process.
o The next sentence (2) introduces the first step, which is the first supporting sentence.
The next series of sentences (3) to (4) provide details to support and explain the first
step.
o Sentence (5) provides the second step (the second supporting sentence), and
sentences (6) and (7) and (8) illustrate and explain the step.
o Sentence (9) provides the third step(the third supporting sentence), and sentence (10)
31
illustrates and explains the step.
o The paragraph ends with a sentence (11) that summarizes the major steps that
are recommended for taking effective notes.

Transitions :
The following transitions help guide the reader through the paragraph : First…, Second…,
finally....
The use of the imperative :
One of the characteristics of process writing is the use of the
imperative filter
Do not try
Notice
keep
Focus
use
Reread
clarify
add
tie
32
PROCESS WRITING- PRACTICE & WRITING 1
Practice 1. Read the following paragraph and complete the tasks.

Keeping a good friend does not happen automatically; there are several steps that help good
friends stay together. First of all, be generous with your time and money. If your friend needs
you to help him fix his motorcycle or study for a test he is nervous about, do not keep looking
at your watch. If you have some extra dirhams and your friend has no money for a cup of
coffee, pay for both of you. Even more important than generosity is being a good listener.
Listen to your friend’s concerns, hopes, and fears without interrupting. Try to imagine his
situation. Most important of all, keep your friend’s secrets. Many friendships have suffered
great damage because one friend confined in another and later heard his confidential story
repeated by others in public. Respecting your friend’s privacy is one of the best ways to
establish and maintain trust. If you are generous, a good listener, and respectful of your
friend’s privacy, you will not lose your friend

Topic sentence ___________________________________________________


Step 1 __________________________________________________________
Concrete details __________________________________________________
Step 2 __________________________________________________________
Concrete details __________________________________________________
Step 3 __________________________________________________________
Concrete details__________________________________________________
Concluding sentence_____________________________________
COHERENCE
Transitions ______________________________________________________ Repeated
key terms/synonyms ______________________________________ The use of the
imperative___________________________________________________

Practice2. Fill in the blanks with the following transitions: next, one way, the next step,
after, the first step, when, another way. Then provide the topic and concluding sentences
for the following paragraph.
Topic sentence:……………………………………………………………………………….
…………………. is to choose several universities that interest you. …………… , research
those schools. …………. to carry out this research is to write to each school, asking for a
catalogue and application form. ……………. to research a university, if you have access to a
computer, is to visit the Web site of each university you have selected. ………… you have
researched several universities, narrow your list to two or three. This is important not only to
save time, energy, and postage, but also to save money, since almost all American universities
charge an application fee. ……………..is to make a list of all the information required by
each of the universities you have focused on. This list will include a completed application
form and a transcript from your secondary school or college in Morocco; it will probably
include some of these items: an international money order for the amount of the admission
fee, letters of recommendation written for you by school officials and teachers, and a record
of your score on the TOEFL test. ………….. you have obtained all the required items, send
them to the universities you have selected.
Concluding sentence: …………………………………………………………………………
Writing. Careful preparation before an interview is the key to getting the job you
want List the steps and the details, then write a coherent and unified paragraph. Step
1:
-

33
-
Step 2:
-
-
Step 3:
-
-
Step 4:
-
-
Step 5
-
-
Conclusion:
34
PROCESS WRITING- PRACTICE & WRITING 2

Practice1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate transition words.


Planning a holiday abroad? Here are some suggestions to make your trip successful. ________
find out if you need a visa for the country that you want to visit. Make sure you have enough
time to apply for it ______________ you buy your ticket. ___________you've found out about
visas, you should research airfares and timetables. ____________ look for the best flight for
you. Remember, the cheapest flight may stop over in several cities and reduce the amount of
time you have to spend at your destination. You might want to fly direct.
_______________you're researching flights, you can also ask your travel agent about getting a
good deal on a hotel. It's a good idea to book your flight and hotel early if you're sure of your
destination. If you haven't already done it, the ______________ step is to learn about places to
visit, the weather, the food, and other details about the country. The Internet can be a very useful
source of information. __________________ on the day of your flight, make sure you go to the
airport at least two hours before your flight. Now you are ready to start enjoying your holiday!

Brown rice and vegetables is a simple and delicious meal to make.______, cook the rice,
following the directions on the packet. ________, cut the vegetables into one-inch pieces.
_______, heat the ail, chilli sauce, and garlic in a frying pan. _________, add the vegetables
and fry them until they are so ft, but still a little bit crunchy. Now its time to stir in the cooked
rice. _________ stirring the rice and vegetables together, add salt and pepper to your own taste.
_________, put the rice and vegetables into a large bowl and serve it with freshly chopped
tomatoes anal spring onions on top. Now you are ready to enjoy your delicious brown rice
and vegetables!

Practice2. Order the steps to form a process paragraph.

• If the car drives well and looks good, arrange to have your mechanic inspect it. Never
omit this step.
• Used car lots will give you an idea of price, but they can be expensive and full of used
car salesmen.
• Finding a reliable used car at an affordable price requires both planning and persistence.

• When you finally track down what looks like the perfect car, the last step is the test
drive and inspection.
• The internet can help you pick out the high maintenance turkeys.

• After your mechanic gives the car the OK, all that’s left is to haggle over the price. •
Check your local paper, car buyers’ magazines and the internet.
• The next step is finding the model you are looking for.

• You may envision yourself cruising around town in a little convertible, but that won’t
leave much room for the kids.
• Once you’ve settled on the basic vehicle, do some research to find out which vehicles
have good reliability ratings.
• A good starting point is narrowing down the type car you want or need. Be realistic.
Writing. Write a process paragraph about how to avoid anxiety at night before the
exam.

35
OPINION WRITING-LESSON

An opinion paragraph expresses the writer's opinion. A good writer will include not only
opinions, but also facts to support his or her opinions. For example, if a writer says "Smoking
should not be allowed anywhere," the writer must give reasons for this opinion. One reason
could be a fact, such as "Thirty thousand people died in the United States and Canada last
year because of lung cancer-a known result of smoking." This fact supports the writer's
opinion.
An opinion paragraph
. gives the writer's opinions about a topic
. interprets or explains facts
. is often about a controversial issue
. makes the reader think
. considers both sides of an argument
FACTS AND OPINIONS
If you choose helpful supporting facts, your opinion paragraph will be stronger. You might
even convince readers to agree with you. Remember that the reason for writing an opinion
paragraph is to explain your opinion in the most convincing way. You are trying to persuade
the reader that the issue is important and that your view or your solution is the best one'
Readers will remember good, related supporting examples, so be sure to give time and effort
to creating the most convincing examples.
1. TOPIC SENTENCE (Agreement or disagreement.)
For writing a topic sentence you can use any of these patterns.
I totally agree that … (subject -verb)
I disagree that… (subject -verb)
I don’t agree… (subject -verb)
I am for/against the idea that…
There are _____(some ) reasons why …..(marijuana should not be legalized)
I completely agree that marijuana should not be legalized.
There are 3 simple reasons why marijuana should not be legalized. First ….. In my opinion,
as I see it, to my view, I consider (that), I think (that), on my point of view. I am convinced
that, It seems to me that, I feel , I believe (strongly firmly). Example
On the topic “lotteries should be banned: I strongly agree that lotteries should be banned.
2. SUPPORTING SENTENCES AND DETAILS:
REASONS : The reasons explain why you agree or disagree on the topic.
SUPPORTING DETAILS The supporting details are included after the reasons. They
are the arguments that support your reason
To introduce a reason you can you use any of these transition words.
Reason 1: First, Firstly, first of all, to begin with
Reason 2: In addition, Secondly, moreover, furthermore, Another reason is That …
Reason 3 : third, thirdly, Finally.
Example: First, as I see it, lotteries are a waste of money… (Supporting details)
. Secondly, Lotteries are addictive … (Supporting details). Finally,
Lotteries are not really a good chance to make money.
Example:
Reason 1: lotteries are a waste of money
Supporting detail: Less money to buy things we need
To begging with, I strongly believe that lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we buy the
lottery we have less money to buy things we need such as medicines or food.

36
Reason 2: Lotteries are addictive
Supporting detail: If you don’t win, you want more tickets.
Another reason is that playing the lottery is addictive. When we buy a lottery ticket and we
don’t win, we may buy more and more tickets.
Reason 3: lotteries are not really a good chance to make money.
Supporting detail: winning the lottery depend only on luck
Finally, I consider that playing the lottery is not a really good chance to make money because
we can’t use our abilities or skills to win the lottery. Wining the lottery depends only on luck.
3. CONCLUSION
You can use any of these transition words to write your conclusion: To sum up, in brief, in
short, to conclude, al in all, in conclusion.
Example: To conclude, I believe that it is not a good idea to buy the lottery because it is a
waste of money, it is addictive and it is not really a good chance to make money.
COMPLETE PARAGRAPH:
Lotteries should be banned I strongly agree that lotteries should be banned. To begging with, I
strongly believe that lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we buy the lottery we have
less money to buy things we need such as medicines or food. Another reason is that playing
the lottery is addictive. When we buy a lottery ticket and we don’t win, we may buy more and
more tickets. Finally, I consider that playing the lottery is not a really good chance to make
money because we can’t use our abilities or skills to win the lottery. Winning the lottery
depends only on luck. To conclude, I believe that it is not a good idea to buy the lottery
because it is a waste of money, it is addictive, and it is not really a good chance to make
money.
Reference: https://andresteaching.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/writing-an-opinion
paragraph.pdf

Example : Opinion Paragraph


School uniforms

School uniforms should be mandatory for all students for a number of reasons. First, they
make everyone equal. ln this way, the "rich" kids are on the same level as thepoor ones. ln
addition, getting ready for school can be much faster and easier. Many kids waste time
choosing what to wear to school, and they are often unhappy with their final choices. Most
important, some studies show that school uniforms make students perform better. For
instance, the results of those studies have demonstrated that school uniforms promote
students’ sense of belonging, which in turn helps boost their productivity in class. In the end,
many people might say that uniforms take away from personal freedom, but I believe the
benefits are stronger than the drawbacks.

Paragraph Analysis
Organization and structure :
Topic sentence :School uniforms should be mandatory for all students for a number of
reasons
Supporting sentence 1 First, they make everyone equal
Detail : ln this way, the "rich" kids are on the same level as thepoor ones Supporting
sentence 2 :. ln addition, getting ready for school can be much faster and easier Detail :
Many kids waste time choosing what to wear to school, and they are often unhappy with
their final choices
Supporting sentence 3 : Most important, some studies show that school uniforms make
students perform better

37
Detail : For instance, the results of those studies have demonstrated that school uniforms
promote students’ sense of belonging, which in turn helps boost their productivity in class.
Concluding sentence : In the end, many people might say that uniforms take away from
personal freedom, but I believe the benefits are stronger than the drawbacks.

Transitions :
First, in addition, most important= order of importance

Activity 1 : After reading the paragraph, answer the following questions


: 1. Have you ever wom a school uniform?
2. Do you think wearing uniforms is a good idea or a bad idea ?
3. What is the best type of uniform for female students? For male sudents?

Activity 2 : Read the paragraph and answer the questions :


Always Coca-Cola
No matter how much money Pepsi spends on advertising, Coke will always be better in my
opinion. Some people say that the two soft drinks are the same, but I think Coke is much
better. First of all, Coca-Cola is not as sweet as Pepsi. lt has the right amount of carbonation
or fizz. ln addition, the packaging of the product is unique yet simple. The red can is
recognizable even from a distance. Coke has also played a rich and interesting part in
American history. ln the end, even if famous actors or sports stars go on television and try to
convince me about the greatness of Pepsi, it will not change my mind. For me, it is "always
Coca-Cola."
1. What is the topic sentence ?
2. What are the supporting sentences and the details that illustrate them ? 3. What phrases
from the paragraph show the reader that the writer is giving an opinion and not fact?
4. Do you agree with the observations that the writer makes? Why or why not?

References : Adapted from :


https://cmapspublic.ihmc.us/rid=1JB6T5WKY-SXYB8H
183C/OPINION%20PARAGRAPH.pdf

Sentence Starters
• I would argue that football is the Number 1 sport in the world.

• It seems clear that the Moroccan economy is improving.

• In my opinion,OumKhaltoum was the greatest Arab singer in history. • There


are many reasons why the new TGV train from Tangier to Casa is an
important step in the future of transportation in Morocco
• Because Spain and Morocco share a common history, it is natural that the two
countries should work together.
• Workforce is important for two reasons. First, an educated workforce is important
for economic growth. Second,…
Ways to Counter-argue
• Although Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city, it is not the center of Moroccan
cultural life.
• Even though it seems that Cristiano Ronaldo is the world’s greatest football player, I
prefer to watch Messi play, for two reasons.
• One might argue that Marrakech is Morocco’s most beautiful city; however, I prefer
the quiet charm of Rabat.

38
• It might seem that Ahmed Chawki is Morocco’s most successful singer; however,
much of his fame is due to support from international producers.
• There are many reasons why Chefchaouen may be the most beautiful small town in
Morocco, but my favorite is its blue-and-white buildings.

Ways to conclude:
• Based on these facts, the new TGV train from Tangier to Casa is an important step in
the future of transportation in Morocco.
• All these reasons make Marrakech the best city in Morocco.

• For all these reasons, a careful selection of your major is very important.

NOTE: When you express your opinion in English, it is important to use modal verbs
(can, may, could, should, would) and qualifiers (perhaps; it seems) to avoid over
stating your claims.
39
OPINION WRITING- PRACTICE AND WRITING 1

Practice. Write effective supporting sentences using the different points and examples
provided to develop the topic sentences into a paragraph

A. Riding a bicycle is preferable to driving a car


a. Less expensive to buy
b. Less expensive to maintain
c. Healthier
d. Less pollution
e. Enjoyable activity

B. A child should have a pet.


a. Owning a pet teaches a child to accept responsibilities.
b. Having a pet helps a child learn to respect all animals and their rights.
c. Most pets take very little time to care for.

C. Living in a traditional neighborhood is better than living in a modern neighborhood


a. sense of solidarity
b. safety and security
c. caring for the local environment

Writing. Choose a topic from the previous exercise and write a paragraph about it.
40
OPINION WRITING- PRACTICE AND WRITING 2

Practice and writing. The following paragraph includes a topic sentence and a
concluding sentence. Provide supporting sentences.

Smoking
People should not smoke for many reasons…………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………….………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
. To sum up people should not smoke because it is unhealthy, expensive, and unattractive.
41
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING -LESSON

A. DESCRIBING A PERSON
Adam has been my close friend for two years. I first met him on a school exchange trip to
London. I asked him the way to the library and we started talking. We've been friends ever
since. Adam is quite good-looking. He's tall and slim, with olive skin and curly dark hair.
Like many French people, he has a great sense of style, so he always looks well-dressed even
in casual clothes. Adam is very outgoing. He is always friendly and loves to have fun. He's
got a fantastic sense of humour and he always makes me laugh. However, he can be a bit
immature at times. For example, when he doesn't get what he wants, he acts childishly and
stamps his feet. Adam is very keen on water sports. He likes sailing and he spends a lot of
time on his boat. He enjoys scuba diving, too, and he loves exploring life under sea. All in all,
I'm glad to have him as my friend. It's a pleasure to be with him, and I really enjoy his
company. I'm sure we'll always be close friends.

READ THE PARAGRAPH AND IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING


: Topic sentence
Main ideas
Concluding sentence

Is the paragraph well developed/Is it unified, well organized, coherent/Are there any
adjectives of judgment
Is the concluding sentence effective?

** When you describe someone's physical appearance you start with the general features (i.e.
height, biuld, age) and move on to the more specific ones, such as hair, eyes, nose etc. You
can also add a description of the clothes the person likes to wear. e.g. Laura is a tall, slim
woman in her early twenties. She has got red hair, green eyes and freckles. She usually wears
smart suits.

** When you describe someone's personal qualities you should support your description with
examples and/or justifications. e.g. Wayne is very shy. For example, he finds it difficult to
make new friends. You can also describe someone's personality through their mannerisms by:
a) referring to the way they speak e.g. He speaks in a soft voice as if he were whispering. b)
describing the gestures they use e.g. She constantly uses her hands when she speaks. c)
mentioning a particular habit they have. e.g. Jason always bites his nails when he is nervous.

Note: When you mention someone's negative qualities you should use mild language (seems
to, can be rather, etc). For example, instead of saying Paul is lazy, it is better to say Paul can
be lazy at times.

B. DESCRIBING A PLACE-BUILDING

Paragraph analysis:

Paragraph 1:
Built around a Small peninsula in the south east of China, Hong Kong, now one of the most
densely populated places on earth, is a city of extreme contrasts. The Streets of Hong Kong
are a frenzy of activity and deafening noise. The roads are congested with vehicules, from

42
sparkling limousines to dusty shows, while countless hordes of people Stream past on the
pavements, and in the crowded narrow alleyways, the senses of the pedestrian are bombarded
with a bewildering variety of exotic sights and smells. In contrast, not far from the chaotic,
cramped city center lie parks with cool streams, shrones and chirping birds. Meanwhile,
tranquil mountains form a breathtaking backdrop to the towering skyscrapers of steel and
concrete packed closely around the harbor, where huge modern ships float along side little
Chinese junks.

Paragraph 2 :
On the corner of the street is an old-fashioned ice cream shop where people sit on stools at the
counter and eat big ice cream sundaes. The counter is very high and made out of beautiful
shiny gray marble. Plates of cakes covered with glass rest on top beside jars of candy. In front
of the counter are tall wooden stools in a row. The large containers of many kinds of ice
cream are stored behind the counter along with coffee and tea. On the wall in back of the
counter are large Mirror and wooden shelves. Rows of ice cream glasses are lined up along
the shelves. There are also large glass jars filled with a variety of brightly colored candy. The
Mirror reflects the candy jars and glasses and adds to the cheerful atmosphere of the shop.

A composition describing a place / building should consist of:


a. An introduction giving brief information about the name and location of the
place/building and stating the reason for choosing to write about it (e.g. what is it
famous for, what makes it so special. Etc)
b. A main body giving both general and specific details about the place/building usually
moving from the general features to specific ones
When you describe a place, you should give the overall impression by referring to
landscape, buildings, landmarks,…etc, and particular details (sights to see, places to
go, things to do)
When you describe a building, you should write about its surroundings (e.g. situated in
Oxford Street…etc), then give a detailed description of its exterior and interior. c. A
conclusion in which you express your feelings or opinion concerning the place or give a
recommendation.
Points to consider:
a. A description of places/buildings may include: factual information such as size, color,
materials,…etc (e.g. the temple, with 10 meter tall marble columns, was built in 800
BC, details related to the senses/sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste to suggest mood and
atmosphere (e.g. visitors footsteps on the worn stone echo through the cool, dark
corridors disturbing the tranquil silence), opinions/impressions of the place or building
(e.g. tourists are fascinated by its air of mystery)
b. Each aspect of the description should be presented as a supporting sentence c.
Present tenses are normally used when describing a place for a tourist brochure or a
magazine article. past tenses are normally used when describing a visit to a
place/building. First and second conditionals (will/would) can be used when you
describe your ideal city/house, …etc. note that when we give factual information about
a place our building this is normally given using present tenses (e.g. I flew to Madrid
last Monday. Madrid is situated in the central point of the Iberian Peninsula with a
population of about 3.000.000)

43
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING- PRACTICE AND WRITING 1
Practice 1. Rearrange the ideas in the paragraph
1. Everything else about him was pleasant.
2. His smile was so constant that I even wondered if he smiled while he slept.
3. Mr. Ziani seemed to have a perpetual smile on his face.
4. There was nothing wrong with his teeth none was missing, they were not crooked,
they did not protrude, and the ones on top Meshed well with those below.
5. He smiled as he greeted me, he smiled as I was introduced to him, and he continued to
smile all through our conversation.
6. He had intelligent eyes, a clear complexion, and a strong chin.
7. If it had not been for his ever present smile, I would have been interested in getting to
know him.
8. My first impression of Mr. Ziani was that he was a tall, dark, slender man with teeth.
9. He stood naturally, neither slouching nor rigid.
10. They were in fact, very usual teeth, but they were the first thing one noticed about him
because they were always evident.

Practice 2. Outline a paragraph about a person of your choice


Who is the person, how does the person look like, how this person makes you feel, what
is so special about the person, what impact does this person have on you ??...etc

Writing. Re-write the following essay into a coherent and unified paragraph including a topic
sentence, supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.

When a person thinks of that old-time, small-town doctor, he usually envisions a mannerly, dignified
gentleman. However, this image did not fit my uncle Rodney, a doctor in the small town of Bandon,
Wyoming. Instead, Dr. Rodney was an obnoxious person because he had an annoying habit of speaking
in crude, incoherent sentences; he had sloppy eating habits, and he was a messy smoker.

Probably Doctor Rodney's most irritating trait was his crude way of speaking. For example, I recall a
particularly embarrassing moment during a family reunion at my mother-in-law's house when Dr.
Rodney was asked to say a blessing before dinner. He managed a 'Hump, bump, grump', or so it sounded,
and almost immediately added 'Goddammit' as he knocked down a bowl of corn he was grabbing. As a
result, my mother-in-law -a very religious woman- was mortified. On another occasion, Dr. Rodney's
nurse said :'It's a good thing I can interpret what Dr. Rodney says and smooth over the rough feelings,
or he would be without patients.'

Additionally, Dr. Rodney bothered many people with his messy eating habits. He shovelled
food into his mouth at such an alarming rate that often he could not catch his breath. My
mother-in-law once remarked : 'When I see Uncle Rodney eat, I think of tigers devouring their
kill.' Furthermore, Dr. Rodney always finished his meal before anyone else; then he would
make a nauseating slurping sound by sucking air and saliva through the gaps of his top front
teeth while he waited for everybody to finish. Because of his atrocious eating habits, none of
his neighbors invited him to dinner.

Dr. Rodney was also disliked because he was an inconsiderate smoker. Everywhere he went, he left a
trail of ashes, a terrible stench, and wet, chewed-up cigar buts. After his death, the office cleaning lady
confided that the town's people used to bet on how many days would pass before anyone saw Dr. Rodney

44
without a spot of tobacco juice on his shirt. Naturally, all the local children learned not to be downwind
from him because no one could easily tolerate his odor of stale tobacco.
Clearly, Dr. Rodney was an obnoxious person whose talking, eating, and smoking habits alienated him
from even his own family. He was indeed lucky that the town had only one doctor, or he might not have
been employed.

45
DESCRIPTIVE WRITING- PRACTICE AND WRITING 2
Practice 1. Add sensory details to the following paragraph. Then provide a topic
sentence and a concluding sentence

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------
Being there is like being in a movie. My soul expands in relaxation and relief as I walk among
the trees waving in the wind. While I am there, I forget the city: its air, its streets, and the
shopkeepers, tourists, and townspeople. In Tarmilate the air is fresh and clear; the only thing I
smell is trees and flowers. The path I walk on is soft, covered with leaves and pine. The only
sounds I hear are my friends, birds, and leaves.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------

Practice 2. Provide a topic sentence and a concluding sentence. Then add sensory details
to the following paragraph

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------
After the host and hostess greeted me, she led me into a salon. It was a room, filled with long
rows of seats covered with fabric, small tables decorated with ivory, and two tea sets. After
nibbling olives and nuts, the other guests and I were led into a second salon, where we were
served a platter of couscous. Not only were there seven vegetables, but they were well
arranged. When it was time for tea and coffee, we were led to a third salon with rugs,
chandeliers, and a series of small tables holding pastries.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------
Writing. Write a paragraph describing your university library

46
REVISION & MOCK EXAM

1. Add the adequate punctuation and capitalization to the following sentences 1. for
our garden rob pulled weeds sarah planted vegetables and i added the mulch 2. she
had been a correspondent for the wire service in london paris rome and madrid 3.
monday’s meeting had gone smoothly yet I felt a controversy brewing 4. mr gerz who
is my english teacher assigned an essay which is due friday 5. either your mother will
pick you up from school or i will pick you up 6. after we went to the show we went
out to eat
7. my test scores are high consequently i should go to college
8. pedro and i will go to the field museum in Chicago
9. what a woderful feeling

2. Fill in the banks with the appropriate conjunctions


In the days before the invention of paper money and strip malls, people had to trade for goods
and services.__________, one could imagine the problems this system produced.
___________, say that Kino, a fisherman living in ancient times, realizes he needs a new coat
to keep him warm at sea. How does he get it? _____________, he takes twenty fish from his
basket so that he can trade for the coat. ____________, he makes the day’s journey to the
coat- maker’s shop. ___________ he arrives, an unforeseen problem arises that makes Kino
shiver: The coat- maker hates fish but loves carrots. _____________, the coatmaker will
supply Kino with a coat for ten bushels of carrots. _____________, Kino walks about the
region—in the cold, as luck would have it— and finally finds a carrot farmer willing to take
the fish. Kino at last returns to the coatmaker and trades the carrots for the coat.
____________, after all of this, another problem that distresses Kino arises: The long journey
has completely worn out Kino’s shoes, and, unfortunately, the shoemaker likes neither fish
nor carrots.

3. Try to unscramble the following paragraph by numbering the sentences in the order
they should appear. Indicate the order of organization
1.The colonists seemed to thrive in their new home.
2.Upon their arrival, 118 men and women, under the leadership of John White, built
shelters and began to fish and hunt for game.
3.However, between 1587 and 1590, something mys- terious happened to the settlers.
4.The original location of the colony was to be in the Chesapeake Bay area, but
unexpected winds caused the ships to veer off course and land at Roanoke Island.
5.When a ship from England arrived at Roanoke in 1590, all of the colonists were gone
without a trace.
6.After an extensive search, the ship returned to England.
7.Once there, the sailors sang English songs in a vain attempt to signal them, but no one
responded.
8.The fate of the original settlers of Roanoke remains a mystery to this day. 9.In 1587, Sir
Walter Raleigh, an ambitious English adventurer, launched a second colony at Roanoke.
10. The only clue to the whereabouts of the colonists was a curious inscription etched on a
tree: the word “Croatoan.”
11. Since Croatoan was the name of a nearby island, the ship set sail for it. 4.

Provide a topic sentence and a concluding sentence to the following paragraph

47
_______________________________________________________. Every day when I come
home from school, I am shocked by the clutter. The wall to my immediate left is completely
obscured by art and movie posters that have become so numerous they often overlap, hiding
even each other. Along the adjoining wall is my sound system: CDs and tapes are stacked
several feet high on two long tables. The big couch that runs across the back of the room is
always piled so high with schoolbooks and magazines that a guest usually ends up sitting on
the floor. To my right is a large sliding glass door that opens onto a balcony—at least it used
to, before it was permanently blocked by my tennis gear, golf clubs, and ten-speed bike. Even
the tiny closet next to the front door is bursting with clothes—both clean and dirty.
_____________________________________________.

5. Revise the following paragraph so it is coherent and unified (cross out the sentences
that destroy the paragraph unity)
[1] Pilots are the primary cause of many aircraft accidents. [2] Ignoring his responsibility, the
pilot fails to perform his duties efficiently, and tragedy has too often been the needless result.
[3] History records that many fatal accidents have occurred, for example, because pilots failed
to listen to the advice of air traffic controllers who were in a position to warn them about
impending disasters. [4] To become an air traffic controller, one must be extremely
intelligent. [5] Sometimes pilots is overtired, and pilots neglects to take the precautions
necessary to avoid accidents. [6] Pilots may even be taking drugs that slow down his physical
reactions. [7] As we all know, statistics indicate that many college students abuse drugs, and
these students should realize that if they continue to use drugs they will never enter careers
such as aviation. [8] Sometimes accidents occur through a malfunction in the plane's
equipment. [9] A door may open during flight, or a tire may blow out as the plane takes off.
[10] Pilots, of course, aren’t responsible for accidents such as these.

6. Identify whether the errors in the following sentences are RUN ON SENTENCES or
COMMA SPLICES; then, correct them in the space provided.
1. We’ve told you about the bombs, the fires, the smashed houses we have told you
about the courageous people.
2. We have the best-looking college kids are working in our store, everyone will want to
shop there.
3. A few managers have objected to hiring inexperienced workers they have been forced
to quit.
4. Elizabeth Nil has been offered jobs at Abercrombie’s three times that’s what happens
because she looks like an Abercrombie model.
5. John and Victoria enjoyed a leisurely afternoon on the boardwalk, they ate salt‐water
taffy, played games in the arcade, and rode through the Tunnel of Lov

7. Paragraph writing
-Write a coherent and unified paragraph describing your grandmother’s house - Write a
coherent and unified paragraph in which you argue either for or against living in the
countryside
- Write a coherent and unified paragraph about the process of moving to a new house

48
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