Context
Writing is frequently viewed as the final skill to master, following listening, speaking, and reading Engaging in essay writing helps students hone transferable skills that benefit them during their academic journey and in their future professional careers.
An essay is a concise writing piece that conveys information and the author's viewpoint, commonly assigned in high schools and colleges In the business realm, similar writings are referred to as "reports." Today, students, particularly those in gifted high school programs, are eager to learn how to craft effective essays.
Reasons for choosing the topic
Students majoring in English at Luong The Vinh High School, particularly those in the selected English team (grade 12) preparing for the National English Examination, require strong writing skills However, the national curriculum established by the government does not adequately meet these needs.
Over the past few years, I have focused on assisting gifted students in enhancing their writing skills, particularly in academic writing, which many of them show a keen interest in Despite their enthusiasm, their essays often contain various errors, from minor spelling mistakes to significant issues with sentence structure and overall organization Therefore, it is essential to implement strategies that will help these students overcome their writing challenges, enabling them to develop coherent, effective, and academically sound writing abilities.
2 The scope of the research download by : skknchat@gmail.com
The research focuses on how to help gifted students find essay writing easy, how to improve high school students’ writing skill and how to help them write more effectively.
The participants of the study
Students majoring in English from two 12th-grade classes at Luong The Vinh High School participated in an innovative program This initiative was implemented during the writing sessions across both semesters of the academic year.
The reason why the students of the two English classes (grade12) were chosen as the participants of the study were that:
- They are gifted students They usually have to write essays.
- They are interested in writing.
- They often have to sit exams of English around the year.
- How to teach gifted students some basic academic writing skills
- How to help them write well and effectively
- How to help them find essay writing easy
- How to help them develop more confidence in their ability to write
- How to help them show their skills in organising their ideas systematically.
Acquiring strong writing skills is crucial for high school, gifted, and college students, as effective communication is a key component of a college education To ensure students develop these abilities, many colleges require the completion of various composition and reading courses as part of their general education prerequisites before graduation.
Writing serves as a powerful means of communication, allowing students to articulate their emotions and ideas on paper It helps them organize their knowledge and beliefs into persuasive arguments, ultimately conveying meaning through well-structured text At its highest level, written expression can be as expressive and impactful as a piece of art.
Therefore, writing is never a one-step action: it is a process that has several steps.” (Oshima and Huge 1997: 2)
II./ RESEARCH CONTENTS a./ Reality of teaching writing at the school
In my opinion, the writing tasks included in English textbooks are not systematically organized, making it challenging for students to improve their essay writing skills Additionally, these tasks often fail to incorporate essential skills needed for crafting effective essays.
In order to write an academic essay effectively, it is a good idea to follow a number of important steps in the essay writing process.
To effectively present a logical argument, students should master essential skills such as systematically organizing their ideas, selecting relevant information related to the topic, and demonstrating proficiency in English grammar and vocabulary These foundational rules empower students to showcase their abilities and articulate their thoughts clearly.
The teacher gave students handouts which contain these rules. download by : skknchat@gmail.com
I./ The Basics of Sentence Construction
1 PHRASES a./ Noun phrases e.g : The bright blue dress was Helen’s favourite dress b./ Prepositional phrases (phrases that start with a preposition.
Prepositional phrases work to modify nouns or verbs) e.g.: The man near the door is talking with Nathan.
Verbal phrases, which begin with a gerund, infinitive, or participle, function similarly to adjectives and adverbs, serving as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs within sentences For example, "Working in a factory had left him broken in body and spirit" illustrates how a verbal phrase conveys a complete idea Additionally, appositive phrases, such as "My uncle Jack, a diligent and serious man, taught me the value of hard work," provide additional information about a noun, enhancing the sentence's meaning.
Exercise 1: Read the following sentences Underline all the noun phrases and circle the prepositional phrases Then draw an arrow to the word that each prepositional phrase modifies.
1 The leopard’s spots help it to hide from its prey.
2 When the right foot of the player touched the foul line, the referee blew the whistle.
3 Average winner temperatures in the Arctic Circle drop below zero.
4 The vast majority of start-up companies fail their first three years
In the following sentences, identify and underline verbal phrases functioning as nouns, while circling those that serve as modifiers Additionally, draw an arrow to indicate the word each phrase modifies.
1 Maintaining a high grade point hoping to go to college.
2 Crying and upset, the witness admitted she had lied to protect her boyfriend.
3 Ned came home to find his door forced open and his belongings scattered on the floor.
4 Planning the trip scheduled for next week is Helen’s responsibility.
Read the following sentences Underline any appositive phrases in them, and put a comma at the beginning and at the end of each appositive phrase Then draw an arrow to the noun modified by the appositive.
1 The Tigers the only team to go undefeated are the favorites to win the championship.
2 The film about King Kong a giant ape who destroys the city was entertaining.
3 The dancer a girl of both beauty and grace was the star of the show.
4 The climbers decided to attempt their ascent of the mountain during the spring traditionally the safest time of year in terms of weather.
(Independent clauses can stand alone as complete sentences Independent clauses can function as sentences because they express complete thought. e.g.: He got out of his car. b./ Dependent clauses
Dependent clauses cannot function as complete sentences because they do not express complete thoughts Dependent clauses come in three forms: coordinate clauses, subordinate clauses, and noun clauses.
Coordinate clauses are independent clauses that cannot stand alone as complete sentences due to their reliance on coordinating conjunctions, which render their thoughts incomplete For students, understanding this concept is crucial for effective communication.
10 e.g.: He got out of the car, but he left the car running.
- Subordinate clauses always start with a subordinating conjunction.
Subordinate clauses can be effectively combined with independent clauses, coordinate clauses, or additional subordinate clauses For instance, in the sentence "He got out of the car, but he left the car running because he was planning to return quickly," the subordinate clause adds context and detail to the main actions.
Noun clauses function similarly to nouns within sentences, acting as subjects, objects, or complements They are introduced by words such as that, which, whoever, what, whenever, how, and whether For example, in the sentence "Mike always buys whatever Mary wants," the noun clause "whatever Mary wants" serves as the object Understanding noun clauses is essential for enhancing sentence structure and clarity in writing.
Whoever ate the last piece of cake is in big trouble.
The big question is how we are going to fix the problem.
Please read the sentences and identify the independent clauses, while underlining the dependent clauses Where necessary, include commas between the independent and dependent clauses for clarity.
1 The city’s air pollution is the result of high number of cars on the road and of its outdated factories but little is being done to solve the problem.
2 Although the modifications to the ship’s design were thought to be minor they had a significant impact on its performance.
3 Most wild animals are afraid of humans but they can still be dangerous when they are threatened.
4 While Mark usually displays excellent sportsmanship he was thrown out of the last game because of his behaviour.
Read the following sentences below Find the noun clause in each sentence and underline it.
1 Last semester our science teacher taught us how batteries work. download by : skknchat@gmail.com
2 That he had committed the crime was understood to be a proven fact.
3 Although Nick is actually from New York, Miami is where his heart is.
4 When Jessica found what Mark had hidden under her book, she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Read the pairs of sentences below Then combine them into one sentence using the type of conjunction indicated in parentheses
1 Most professional sports are seasonal in nature Athletes need time to rest and recover between seasons (subordinating conjunction)
2 The waves in Hawaii are better than in most of California Hawaii is the surfing capital of the US (coordinating conjunction )
3 CD players were released for mass marketing in the late 1980s CD players quickly replaced tape players (subordinating conjunction )
A simple sentence consists of one independent clause, but it can be complex and lengthy Despite their name, simple sentences can incorporate numerous phrases and modifiers, leading to more sophisticated structures For example, "My dog loves to play fetch" illustrates how a simple sentence can convey a clear idea while potentially containing additional elements.