Tài liệu Beginning writing 1 part 7 doc

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: WRITING TO INFORM A paragraph that informs shares information with the reader.. Make sure that each definition could serve as a topic sentence for an info

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: WRITING TO INFORM

A paragraph that informs shares information with the reader A paragraph

about the childhood of a famous person, for example, would be informative

A. Remember to limit your topic so you can present

specific details Circle the topic in each pair that would

be most appropriate for an informative paragraph

1 fads of the 1920s / the Roaring Twenties

2 King Tut / mummies

3 diseases / chicken pox

4 the solar system / meteorites

5 nutrition / Vitamin C

One good way to begin an informative paragraph is with a clear definition

EXAMPLES:

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter known for his use of bold, vivid color The garter snake is the most common harmless snake in the United States

B. Write definition statements for five of the topics in the box Make sure

that each definition could serve as a topic sentence for an informative

paragraph (Use a dictionary or encyclopedia if you need help with facts.)

the sea lion the common cold the northern lights palm trees fly-fishing the First Amendment the human heart the snail comets Romeo and Juliet the artichoke Santa Claus Central Park the Mississippi River Charlie Chaplin Paul Bunyan

1

2

3

4

5

CHALLENGE: Choose one of the definition statements you wrote in Part B

On the back of this sheet, write three details you would use to develop

the definition as a topic sentence

my bus stop

1 What do you see?

2 What do you hear?

3 What do you smell?

4 What might you touch?

5 What is one small detail that

is special about the place?

A descriptive paragraph needs specific details to create a picture in the reader’s mind Like other types of paragraphs, a descriptive paragraph must have a topic sentence and supporting details

A. Each topic listed below is too general Narrow it down to a topic suitable

for one paragraph Ask yourself: Could I create a clear picture for my

reader in four or five sentences? The first one has been done for you.

1 my town ➞ _ 4 the ocean ➞

2 Italian food ➞ 5 spring ➞ _

3 my house ➞ 6 trees ➞

Clear description creates not only a visual

picture, but a complete image You can help

your reader understand your experience by

using more than one sense to describe

B. Each word below appeals to one of the

following senses Complete the chart by

writing each word in the correct category

sour beeping sparkling frigid fragrant handsome slimy slender delicious silent sweltering earsplitting

C. Add two descriptive words of your own to each category in Part B

CHALLENGE: Think of a place that you really like or especially dislike Picture yourself there On the back of this sheet, answer these questions:

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: WRITING TO INSTRUCT (HOW TO)
Some paragraphs instruct readers how to do something A how-to paragraph should:

1 State the process in a topic sentence

2 Describe any materials needed

3 Present the steps in chronological order—the order of time

A. Read the following how-to paragraph Then answer the questions below

Spice up your chips with homemade salsa dip Make a quick trip to

the grocery store to get tomatoes, an onion, green chiles, cilantro, fresh lemons, and salt First, chop the vegetables into small pieces (Before

chopping the chiles, you might put on rubber gloves Hot chile juice can

burn Also, don’t touch your eyes when handling peppers, and carefully

wash your hands afterward.) After chopping the vegetables, mix them

well Then add salt and lemon juice to taste Don’t be in a hurry to eat!

The salsa will taste better if it sits for at least 30 minutes Let those

flavors blend! Finally, serve the salsa with tortilla chips.

1 What process is the writer explaining? _

2 What ingredients are needed to make salsa? _ _

3 What is the first step in preparing salsa? _ _

4 What is the final step the writer describes? _ _

5 Do you think you could make salsa after reading these instructions?

Why or why not? _ _

B. You can help your reader follow your instructions by using certain words

Some of these words are before, first, after, next, then, and finally Reread the

paragraph in Part A Circle words that help readers follow the order of the steps

CHALLENGE: Think of a simple activity you do well (serving a tennis ball,

teaching your dog a trick, repairing a bike tire) On the back of this sheet, write a topic sentence for a how-to paragraph Develop the paragraph by listing the materials needed and explaining the steps in chronological order Use at least two clue words that will help your reader follow the steps

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: PERSONAL INTERESTS
What kinds of things do you do well or find interesting? Your

personal interests are good subjects for writing What are your

favorite things to do, read about, or think about? Your personal

likes and dislikes can be used to spark topic ideas

A. Explore your own interests by completing the following statements

1 I think I could teach a class in _

2 If I were in a waiting room, I would

most likely pick up a magazine about

3 If I were in a library, I would most likely go to the _ section

4 When I have a spare hour or two, I like to

5 If I could take a class in any subject, it would be

6 If I could live in any historical period, it would be _

7 When I’m with my friends, we often talk about _

8 If I won a trip anywhere in the world, I’d go to

B. Write three of your statements below Then come up with a list of writing topics that relate to your interest

EXAMPLES:

TOPICS :

1

TOPICS : _ _

2

TOPICS : _ _

3

TOPICS : _ _

When I have a spare hour or two, I like to go shopping.

teen fashions, styles of the ’80s, money-saving tips, weird fads

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
What am I going to write about? As writers begin to work, that’s the big

question they ask Many subjects can be found in your own experiences

Explore your memories—both good and bad This exercise can help you

generate a personal collection of writing topics

Complete each web diagram by listing examples from your own life

1

2

3

CHALLENGE: Use one idea from above as the topic of a narrative paragraph Imagine that someone has asked you, “What happened?” On the back of

this sheet, write a paragraph that answers that

HUMOROUS MOMENTS

THE BEST DAYS

THE WORST DAYS

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: BRAINSTORMING
Try looking at things in a different way! Let your mind

wander from thought to thought until you’ve created

a “storm” of ideas You can brainstorm alone or in a

group The following exercise works well with a partner

Focus on some object in your home or classroom

that you’ve never before looked at carefully View

the object from far away Walk closer to it Touch it

Examine it from all angles If appropriate, smell it

Then answer the following questions

1 What is the object?

2 Which senses can you use to experience it?

3 What is the object’s practical purpose?

4 In what other way(s) might it be used? _

5 Who would be likely to use it?

6 What do you think it would say if it could talk? “ _ _”

7 What tiny detail do you notice about the object that most people would miss?

8 How would life be different if this object did not exist? _

CHALLENGE: Use the object and the ideas it sparked to write a paragraph

You might tell a story, persuade your readers to buy something, compare and contrast two things, or create an image Write your paragraph on

the back of this sheet

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: TONE (FORMAL OR INFORMAL?)
Before you write, think about both your purpose and your audience

This will help you judge how formal the tone of your writing should be

A. Decide what tone best suits each of the following types of writing

Next to each item below, write F for formal or I for informal.

1 _ letter requesting a job

interview

2 _ letter to a pal who has

moved away

3 _ party invitation to a

picnic and hayride

4 _ research paper for

history class

5 _ welcoming speech to a

new second-grade class

6 _ advertisement selling

life insurance

B. Read each of the following items and decide whether the writer’s tone is

formal or informal Again, write F for formal or I for informal.

1 _ The yapping pup had not had a lick of training

2 _ The defiant canine is lacking basic obedience training

3 _ I regret to inform you that you must vacate the premises

4 _ Sorry! You’re out of here!

CHALLENGE: Write formal or informal after each item Then, on the back of

this sheet, rewrite the item so that it has the opposite tone.

2 Dear valued friend,

Ms Margo C McGuire and I would sincerely appreciate your presence at a summer barbecue on the evening

of July the 14th, in the year 2000 Festivities begin promptly at 8 o’clock P M and will continue until guests feel compelled to depart Ms McGuire and I look forward to sharing the evening with you Please respond promptly with your acceptance or regrets Sincerely,

Ms Janine D Lomax

1 Hi there!

Summer’s just around the corner,

and I wondered if you’re hunting for

new camp counselors I’m a whiz with

kids and a super swimmer and hiker.

Dudes, you wouldn’t be sorry if you

put me on the payroll! Don’t let me

down, now I’ll be waiting!

Take it easy!

Sam Sibone

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: DECIDING ON POINT OF VIEW
Before writing, you have to decide how you will present your message

Through whose eyes will the reader view the details? Most often, you

will write from one of the following points of view:

1 First-person point of view uses pronouns like I, me, my, we, and our

The first-person point of view is a personal account in which the narrator

takes part

EXAMPLE: In my opinion, our school is best in the state I am proud

to be a Portsmouth Penguin!

2 Third-person point of view uses pronouns like they, he, she, and their

The narrator is not a part of the writing but tells about the subject

EXAMPLE: Students at Portsmouth say their school is number one

They are proud to be Penguins!

Tell whether each sentence is written from the

first-person point of view or third-person point

of view Write 1st or 3rd on the line.

1 _ As I looked into the barber shop mirror,

I knew I could not face my friends!

2 _ The Japanese samurai faced death bravely

because they were highly trained warriors

3 _ One autumn night I found out why the

owl is said to be wise

4 _ We survived the car crash, but it changed

my life forever

CHALLENGE: On the back of this sheet, rewrite this paragraph from a

different point of view

I love the new Greek restaurant on 54th Street Last weekend I ate there for the first time, and I especially enjoyed the lemon-flavored chicken soup.

A garlicky spread turned my plain piece of bread into something special Gobs of sweet honey made my dessert a sticky treat When I returned

there this weekend, I found a line of people waiting for a table It seems

I’m not the only diner who has fallen in love with Dimitri’s.

PREWRITING / IDEAS AND CONTENT: DECIDING ON VERB TENSE

As a writer, you must decide what verb tense to use

in a piece of writing You may write in the past tense

I decided to phone Sarah My fingers twitched

nervously as I punched the buttons

Or you may write in the present tense

I decide to phone Sarah My fingers twitch

nervously as I punch the buttons

Important hint: Whichever tense you choose, stick to it!

Avoid shifting tenses throughout the written piece

A. Rewrite each sentence so that the tenses of the boldface verbs match.

1 The golfer makes her shot and then followed the ball with her eyes.

_

2 The champ entered the ring, goes to his corner, and nodded to the crowd.

_

3 Chico whistled for his dog Ranger, and Ranger bounds to his side.

_

4 Everywhere Chico goes, Ranger followed him _

_

B. Decide whether you will write each item below in the past tense or present

tense Then complete each sentence by adding verbs of that tense The first

one has been done for you

1 _ The snow _ silently and soon _ the ground

with white

2 _ The fans into the stadium and

to their seats

3 _ Dinosaurs huge creatures that

the earth ages ago

CHALLENGE: On the back of this sheet, write a paragraph about an exciting day Make sure you stick to the same verb tense from beginning to end!

LAUGH OUT LOUD! MISPLACED AND DANGLING MODIFIERS
Misplaced modifiers and dangling modifiers can make a mess of

meaning! Sometimes speakers and writers send a very different

message from the one they intended to send These silly errors—

sometimes called bloopers—can make people laugh out loud! Read

each blooper below Then rewrite it to convey its intended meaning

1 Sports announcer at a San Diego Padres baseball game:

Winfield goes back to the wall He hits his head on the wall

and it rolls off! Now it’s rolling toward second base!

2 Line written on an accident report:

The cause of the accident was a guy in a small car with a big mouth!

3 In the classified ads:

For sale: large dining room set perfect for big family made of solid oak.

4 Anther ad:

Holiday bazaar—hundreds of gifts for the hard-to-find person.

5 Sign in a pet store: We will sell goldfish to anyone in a glass bowl.

6 Road sign: Drive slower when wet.

7 Sign in a clothing store: Huge pants sale!