PARAGRAPH WRITING ASSIGNMENT 1:
A. Identifying the purpose of the paragraph that follows logically from each topic sentence below. Circle your choice. (5 points)
1. Almost anyone can get a good grade if they follow these instructions.
a. express an opinion b. tell steps in a process c. narrate a story
2. There are three major causes of obesity in children.
a. compare two subjects b. explain causes / effects c.describe a topic
3. I will always remember a fishing trip that I took with my father when I was 12 years old.
a. compare two subjects b. explain causes / effects c. narrate a story
4. Owls are different from hawks in several significant ways.
a. compare two subjects b. describe a topic c. express an opinion
5. My dog, Sparky, is my best friend.
a. tell steps in a process b. describe a subject c. narrate a story
(From Effective Academic Writing page 6, Oxford Press)
B. Read the following topic sentences. Put a check (√) next to each sentence below that supports the topic sentence. (5 points)
1. There are several reasons why online courses are increasing in popularity.
_____ a. Online courses are flexible in terms of time.
_____ b. Online courses have been available since the 1990s.
_____ c. Online courses are more convenient for students who live far away from the campus.
2. Childhood diabetes has many possible causes.
_____ a. Obesity is a major cause of diabetes.
_____ b. Children who eat too much sugar can get diabetes.
_____ c. Children with diabetes need constant medical care.
3. The best way to reduce traffic in our city is to build a metro subway system.
_____ a. Pollution is very bad in our city.
_____ b. Widening the freeways has not solved the problem of traffic congestion
_____ c. A metro subway system would encourage people to take public transportation to work.
4. I am afraid of dogs because I had a scary experience with one when I was ten.
_____ a. Pollution is very bad in our city.
_____ b. Widening the freeways has not solved the problem of traffic congestion
_____ c. A metro subway system would encourage people to take public transportation to work.
5. Train stations are interesting places to visit.
_____ a. The architecture of each train station is often connected to the history of city.
_____ b. The passengers are frequently more interesting to watch than other types of travelers.
_____ c. Trains are a good alternative for people who are afraid of flying.
(from Effective Academic Writing page 10, Oxford Press)
C. Work by yourself or with a partner. Identity the pattern in the following simple sentences. (5 points)
1. Underline the subjects with one line.
2. Underline the verbs with two lines.
3. Write S or V above each underlined
4. Finally, write the formula for the sentence in the numbered space below.
Example: S V V
My grandfather loves to fish and often takes me with him to his favourite fishing place
Formula: SVV
1) My grandfather is old in years but young in spirit. 2) Everyday, he swims a mile and works in his garden. 3) He and my grandmother were married fifty years ago. 4) They have four children and ten grandchildren. 5) My grandfather loves parties and invites our entire family to his house for a big dinner on his birthday. 6) All twenty of us eat and tell stories half the night. 7) He never gets tired and is always the last to go to bed.
On his last birthday, my brothers and I gave him a present. 9) We all put our money together and bought him a present. We all put our money together and bought him a video game system. 10) Now he wants us to come over to his house every weekend.
1. __________ 2. ____________ 3. _____________ 4. ______________ 5. ____________
6. __________ 7. ____________ 8. _____________ 9. _____________ 10. ____________
(from First steps in Academic Writing page 19, Longman)
PARAGRAPH WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2:
Write a paragraph about the most valuable gift you have ever received. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence that develops one main idea about that item followed by supporting sentences which explain why this item is considered so special.
PART A: Before you write, plan your paragraph by filling in the following chart. (3 points)
Topic sentence
Support sentence 1
Support sentence 2
Concluding sentence
Paragraph Marching Scheme
Content (layout, vocabulary appropriateness and overall impression)
.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
point earned ______
Accuracy (structure, spelling, punctuation and paragraphing)
.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
point earned ______
PART B. Write your paragraph here. Be sure to give specific examples for each supporting sentence. Use transitions to connect your ideas. Edit your paragraph when you have finished.
A. Identifying the purpose of the paragraph that follows logically from each topic sentence below. Circle your choice. (5 points)
1. Almost anyone can get a good grade if they follow these instructions.
a. express an opinion b. tell steps in a process c. narrate a story
2. There are three major causes of obesity in children.
a. compare two subjects b. explain causes / effects c.describe a topic
3. I will always remember a fishing trip that I took with my father when I was 12 years old.
a. compare two subjects b. explain causes / effects c. narrate a story
4. Owls are different from hawks in several significant ways.
a. compare two subjects b. describe a topic c. express an opinion
5. My dog, Sparky, is my best friend.
a. tell steps in a process b. describe a subject c. narrate a story
(From Effective Academic Writing page 6, Oxford Press)
B. Read the following topic sentences. Put a check (√) next to each sentence below that supports the topic sentence. (5 points)
1. There are several reasons why online courses are increasing in popularity.
_____ a. Online courses are flexible in terms of time.
_____ b. Online courses have been available since the 1990s.
_____ c. Online courses are more convenient for students who live far away from the campus.
2. Childhood diabetes has many possible causes.
_____ a. Obesity is a major cause of diabetes.
_____ b. Children who eat too much sugar can get diabetes.
_____ c. Children with diabetes need constant medical care.
3. The best way to reduce traffic in our city is to build a metro subway system.
_____ a. Pollution is very bad in our city.
_____ b. Widening the freeways has not solved the problem of traffic congestion
_____ c. A metro subway system would encourage people to take public transportation to work.
4. I am afraid of dogs because I had a scary experience with one when I was ten.
_____ a. Pollution is very bad in our city.
_____ b. Widening the freeways has not solved the problem of traffic congestion
_____ c. A metro subway system would encourage people to take public transportation to work.
5. Train stations are interesting places to visit.
_____ a. The architecture of each train station is often connected to the history of city.
_____ b. The passengers are frequently more interesting to watch than other types of travelers.
_____ c. Trains are a good alternative for people who are afraid of flying.
(from Effective Academic Writing page 10, Oxford Press)
C. Work by yourself or with a partner. Identity the pattern in the following simple sentences. (5 points)
1. Underline the subjects with one line.
2. Underline the verbs with two lines.
3. Write S or V above each underlined
4. Finally, write the formula for the sentence in the numbered space below.
Example: S V V
My grandfather loves to fish and often takes me with him to his favourite fishing place
Formula: SVV
1) My grandfather is old in years but young in spirit. 2) Everyday, he swims a mile and works in his garden. 3) He and my grandmother were married fifty years ago. 4) They have four children and ten grandchildren. 5) My grandfather loves parties and invites our entire family to his house for a big dinner on his birthday. 6) All twenty of us eat and tell stories half the night. 7) He never gets tired and is always the last to go to bed.
On his last birthday, my brothers and I gave him a present. 9) We all put our money together and bought him a present. We all put our money together and bought him a video game system. 10) Now he wants us to come over to his house every weekend. 1. __________ 2. ____________ 3. _____________ 4. ______________ 5. ____________
6. __________ 7. ____________ 8. _____________ 9. _____________ 10. ____________
(from First steps in Academic Writing page 19, Longman)
PARAGRAPH WRITING ASSIGNMENT 2:
Write a paragraph about the most valuable gift you have ever received. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence that develops one main idea about that item followed by supporting sentences which explain why this item is considered so special.
PART A: Before you write, plan your paragraph by filling in the following chart. (3 points)
Topic sentence
Support sentence 1
Support sentence 2
Concluding sentence
Paragraph Marching Scheme
Content (layout, vocabulary appropriateness and overall impression)
.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
point earned ______
Accuracy (structure, spelling, punctuation and paragraphing)
.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
point earned ______
PART B. Write your paragraph here. Be sure to give specific examples for each supporting sentence. Use transitions to connect your ideas. Edit your paragraph when you have finished.