It is true that writing is a very important skill in teaching and learning English especially paragraph writing.. Understanding these problems, I decied to choose " Some experience in h
Trang 1A INTRODUCTION
I THE REASONS FOR CHOOSING THE THEME
English, an international language, has been developing rapidly It is a subject that features regularly on study timetables all around the world Every country does not want to be isolated in international communication, so it puts English in cirriculum of their education at program In Vietnam, English is a cumpulsory subject at schools and it has recently been choosen as a cumpulsory subject in the national examination for the General Certificate of Secondary Education or GCSE for short In learning English, there are four skills to be mastered, they are listening, speaking, reading and writing Listening and reading are receptive skills On the other hand, speaking and writing are productive skills
It is true that writing is a very important skill in teaching and learning English especially paragraph writing Evidently, in GCSE English's test , students have to write a paragraph within 140 words This is not a small challenge for most students in general and for the students at Le Loi high school
in particular In fact, they have difficuly in collecting and rearranging ideas, writing the topic and concluding sentences, using the transitional words, using various structures and vocabulary and so on Moreover, writing skill takes time and regular practice
In the school setting, writing of 11th grade plays an important role because
it prepares needed things for students such as: grammar points, content, vocabulary and especially helps them write well at higher level of 12th grade when they are obligated to sit for important examminations Otherwise, for the last several years, the final and university entrance exam have put high press on writing skill As a result, most students have been widely aware of the necessity for learning and practicing writing skills
Understanding these problems, I decied to choose " Some experience in
helping grade 11 students at Le Loi upper-secondary school to improve their paragraph writing skills " as the topic of my experience initiatives with the hope
that I can help my students to be more confident in writing and practically, they will succeed in their final examinations
II THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PAPER
The study is aimed to serve some main objectives as listed following
- To give teachers an experience in teaching how to write a parapraph by using some effective techniques which are appropriate and effective in teaching writing skill to the grade 11 students
- To give students in grade 11th input to improve their ability and
competence in writing skill
- To equip stdents with the system of writing exercises so that they will
Trang 2have chance to practice paragraph writing skills
As a result, they will have high motivation to write and they will also know how to write a parapraph effectively
III THE SCOPE OF THE PAPER
Based on the background and identification of the theme, the paper is limited on teaching writing skill to the students in grade 11th by using some effective techniques The research was conducted at my workplace- at Le Loi high school The subject consists of 90 students who come from class 11A2, 11A6, school year 2015-2016 All of them are at the age of seventeenth to nineteenth years old They have to take every skill in each period; learning time is
3 periods per week
IV THE METHODS OF THE PAPER
The writer did some steps to do this research, they are as follows;
- surveying the literature relating to do the problem;
- defining the problem;
- constructing an experimental plan by writing the research design;
- design the research instrument;
- doing the instrument try-out;
- giving the test to the students;
- practicing teaching
- collecting the data through the posttest;
- analyzing the data;
- drawing conclusions;
- proposing suggestions;
- writing the report as subject
- Exchanging experience with colleagues
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In short, the definitions of writing are various However, writing is characterized with some basic features, i.e being linguistics, creative, progressive and interactive Besides, the word “writing” itself may imply an act,
a process, or a skill, which needs practice and study to develop It requires both
physical and mental powers from the writers
2 Writing a paragraph
2.1 What is a paragraph ?
A paragraph is a group of sentences that fleshes out a single idea In order for a paragraph to be effective, it must begin with a topic sentence, have sentences that support the main idea of that paragraph, and maintain a consistent flow It often
ends with a concluding sentence
2.2 Parts of a Paragraph
2.2.1 Topic Sentence
What is the topic sentence?
The topic sentence is often the first sentence in a paragraph A topic sentence is
an introductory line that addresses what the main idea or thesis of the paragraph
is going to be It should contain the most important and relevant point you wish
to make regarding your topic, thus summarizing the paragraph as a whole
Example:
There are various reasons why many people think that friendship plays an important role in their life The most important reason can be that everyone
needs at least a friend to share everything regardless of sadness or happiness For
me, I like chatting with my friends about what happened every day and discussing personal problems Furthermore, our friends will be ready to help us out of our troubles They will give us some good advice and support when we are in dificulty Finally, thanks to friendship, we will have fun and enjoy a
Trang 4meaningful life In conclusion, in my opinion, without friends, life would be dull and boring
2.2.2 Supporting Details
What are supporting sentences?
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph
What do they do?
They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph
How do I write them?
You should give supporting facts, details, and examples
Example:
There are various reasons why many people think that friendship plays an
important role in their life The most important reason can be that everyone needs at least a friend to share everything regardless of sadness or happiness For me, I like chatting with my friends about what happened every day and discussing personal problems Furthermore, our friends will
be ready to help us out of our troubles They will give us some good advice and support when we are in dificulty Finally, thanks to friendship, we will have fun and enjoy a meaningful life In conclusion, in my opinion, without
friends, life would be dull and boring
2.2.3 Closing Sentence
What is the closing sentence?
The closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph
What does it do?
It restates the main idea of your paragraph
How do I write one?
Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words
Example:
There are various reasons why many people think that friendship plays an important role in their life The most important reason can be that everyone needs at least a friend to share everything regardless of sadness or happiness For
me, I like chatting with my friends about what happened every day and discussing personal problems Furthermore, our friends will be ready to help us out of our troubles They will give us some good advice and support when we are in dificulty Finally, thanks to friendship, we will have fun and enjoy a
meaningful life In conclusion, in my opinion, without friends, life would be dull and boring
2.3 Kinds of Paragraphs
2.3.1 Definition Paragraph
When writing a definition paragraph, you take a thing or an idea and explain what it is
Trang 5Example: Write a paragraph giving the definition of a pest
The following words can help you to write a good definition paragraph: -"is defined as"
Example: A pest is defined as any animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or
property
- "is a kind of"
Example: A pest is a kind of animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or
property
2.3.2 Classification Paragraph
When writing a classification paragraph, you group things or ideas into specific categories
Example: Write a paragraph discussing two types of energy resources
The following words can help you to write a good classification paragraph:
is a kind of/can be divided into/is a type offalls under/belongs to/is a part
of/fits into/is grouped with/is related to/is associated with
Example: Coal is a kind of non-renewable resource
Energy resources can be divided into two types
Coal is a type of non-renewable resource
Describe where Canada's industry is located
The following words can help you to write a good description paragraph:
Properties Measurement Analogy Location
near north/east/south/west
Example: Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec
2.3.4 Compare and Contrast Paragraph
Trang 6In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas
Example: Write a paragraph comparing the weather in Vancouver and Halifax
The following words can help you to write a good compare and contrast paragraph:
on the other hand
Example: On the other hand, winter is much colder in Halifax
first, second, third, etc recently
in the beginning previously
Trang 7first, second, third, etc
Example: First, you need to become a leader of a political party Second, you need to win a seat in the House of Commons Third, your party must have a
Example: After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure
you have a majority of seats
2.3.6 Choice Paragraph
In a paragraph where you have to make a choice, you need to choose which object, idea, or action that you prefer Often, you will need to give your opinion
on a choice of actions or events
Example: Write a paragraph stating whether you would prefer to play hockey
or lacrosse
The following words can help you to write a good choice paragraph:
Example: Write a paragraph explaining why so many Europeans moved to Canada during the nineteenth century
The following words can help you to write a good explanation paragraph:
Trang 8is due to / was due to
Example: The large influx of people to Canada was due to economic pressures
in Europe
Effect
therefore
Example: Living conditions in Europe were terrible Therefore, many people
moved to Canada for a better life
thus
Example: Living conditions in Europe were terrible Thus, many people moved
to Canada for a better life
2.3.8 Evaluation Paragraph
In an evaluation paragraph, you make judgments about people, ideas, and
possible actions You need to make your evaluation based on certain criteria that you develop In the paragraph, you will state your evaluation or recommendation and then support it by referring to your criteria
Example: Write a paragraph evaluating whether pesticides should be used on farms
The following words can help you to write a good evaluation paragraph:
Criteria for Evaluation Recommendation
correct / incorrect recommend
Trang 9right / wrong
Example: It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the environment Recommendation
suggest
Example: I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests
2.4 How to Write a Paragraph
2.4.1 Prewriting Paragraphs
What is the prewriting stage?
The prewriting stage is when you think carefully and organize your ideas for
your paragraph before you begin writing
Six Prewriting Steps:
Step 1 Think carefully about what you are going to write Ask yourself:
What question am I going to answer in this paragraph ?
How can I best answer this question? What is the most important part of my answer?
How can I make an introductory sentence (or thesis statement) from the most important part of my answer?
What facts or ideas can I use to support my introductory sentence?
How can I make this paragraph interesting?
Do I need more facts on this topic?
Where can I find more facts on this topic?
Step 2 Open your notebook Write out your answers to the above questions
You do not need to spend a lot of time doing this; just write enough to help you remember why and how you are going to write your paragraph or essay
Step 3 Collect facts related to your paragraph or essay topic Look for and
write down facts that will help you to answer your question Timesaving hint: make sure the facts you are writing are related to the exact question you are going to answer in your paragraph or essay
Step 4 Write down your own ideas Ask yourself:
What else do I want to say about this topic?
Why should people be interested in this topic?
Why is this topic important?
Step 5 Find the main idea of your paragraph or essay Choose the most
important point you are going to present If you cannot decide which point is the most important, just choose one point and stick to it throughout your paragraph
Trang 10you have written Look at your own ideas on the topic Decide which facts and ideas will best support the main idea of your paragraph Once you have chosen the facts and ideas you plan to use, ask yourself which order to put them in the paragraph Write down your own note set that you can use to guide yourself as you write your paragraph or essay
2.4.2 Writing Paragraphs
What is the writing stage?
The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences
Five Writing Steps:
Step 1 Open your notebook and word processor
Step 2 Write the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence Step 3 Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning
Step 4 Focus on the main idea of your paragraph
Step 5 Use the dictionary to help you find additional words to express your
ideas
2.4.3 Editing Paragraphs
What is the editing stage?
The editing stage is when you check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them
Grammar and Spelling
Check your spelling
Check your grammar
Read your essay again
Make sure each sentence has a subject
See if your subjects and verbs agree with each other
Check the verb tenses of each sentence
Make sure that each sentence makes sense
Style and Organization
Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence
Make sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea
Make sure you have a closing sentence
Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea
See if your paragraph is interesting
2.4.4 Publishing Paragraphs
What is the publishing stage?
The publishing stage is when you produce a final copy of your paragraph to hand
in
Three Publishing Steps:
Trang 11Step 1 Make a paper copy of your paragraph
Step 2 Show your work to your teacher, tutor, or parents
Step 3 Ask them for hints on how to improve your writing
II PRACTICAL BACKGROUND
1 The writing objectives and required writing tasks listed for students in English textbook 11, Education Publishing House
The aim of the course is to equip students with English writing skill for basic communication For grade 11 students, the objective is to develop students‟
abilities to provide 100 - 130 word paragraphs on familiar topics
In order to realize the course objectives, the writing section focuses on daily and popular topics The required competences and objectives of the writing lesson in each unit are detailed in the following table:
1 Friendship Writing about a friend
2 Personal experiences Writing a personal letter to describe a past
experience
3 A Party Writing an informal letter of invitation
4 Volunteer work Writing a formal letter expressing gratitude
5 Illiteracy Describing information in a table
6 Competitions Writing a letter of reply
7 World Population Interpreting statistics on population from a chart
8 Celebrations Describing a celebration‟s activities
9 The Post Office Writing a formal letter to express satisfaction or
dissatisfaction
10 Nature in danger Describing a location
11 Sources of energy Describing information from a chart
12 The Asian Games Describing the preparations for the coming Asian
Games
13 Hobbies Writing about a collection
14 Recreation Describing a camping holiday
15 Space Conquest Writing a biography
16 The Wonders of the
world
Writing a report on a man- made place
2 The teacher’s and students’ attitudes towards the teaching and learning of writing paragraphs
It is a matter of fact that writing is not highly appreciated by the students and even the teachers do not take the importance of writing seriously This is because of the main purpose of teaching and learning English at Le Loi high
Trang 12school The results of the final exam and university entrance exam are considered the most importance of teaching and learning English at school so both the teachers and students there focus mostly on grammar and reading skill rather than on other skills such as speaking, listening and writing This certainly affects the students‟ writing competence and prevents the improvement of their writing ability Consequently, most of the teachers and the students think the students‟ writing competence is bad
2.1 Students’ difficulties in learning writing paragraphs
It is clear that the students in my school have to face many difficulties These difficulties are from two causes: (1) from the students themselves, and (2) from the teachers‟ lectures
In terms of the first cause, the majority of the students have trouble with writing because of their low level of English proficiency Their vocabulary and sentence structures are poor Grammar mistakes and spelling are also a common fear for many of them Besides, their low background knowledge also makes them feel stressed when writing Many of the students said they found it hard to generate ideas and make an outline because of their low background knowledge Their low motivation is also a problem These students consider the result of the exams as the most importance of their learning Therefore, they care much about grammar, structures and reading skill
In terms of the second cause, the students do not highly asses their teachers‟ assistance They find their teachers‟ feedbacks are not comprehensive and their teachers‟ instructions are not adequate
2.2 Teachers’ difficulties in teaching writing for grade 11 students
Not only the students but also the teachers cope with numerous problems when teaching writing
The first difficulty I and my colleague are coping with is the low English level of the students Our students often lack vocabulary and have difficulties in word choice The students‟ low motivation and low background knowledge are also other problems encountered by the teachers
The second difficulty is the problem of large and multilevel classes In multilevel classes, we face difficulties in shortening a big gap between our students In the same class, some students who are good at English are active while many others are de- motivated In addition, English classes at Le Loi high school are very large There are at least 45 students in a class Hence, it is difficult for the teachers to give each of the students individual attention and make sure who is on task and who is off task
For the next difficulty, teaching equipment and reference materials are important in the teaching process; however, the teaching condition in my school
is not good Teaching aids such as pictures, sub- board are not equipped
Trang 13Teachers often use only textbook, chalk and board in their lessons To make our lessons more interesting, we had to create teaching aids by ourselves
3 The investigation of the students’ paragraph writing skills
In the process of teaching, I have been given the duty to teach the grade
11 With the awareness of researching and studying the situation of students‟ learning the subject and learning from experience, right since the beginning of the school year, I outlined a specific plan and method to actively investigate the
situation of students‟ learning in my classes by giving them the topic " Write a paragraph about your favourite subject in about 120 words." in 30 mitutes And
the table below shows the result of the investigation
Class Total
number
of students
No % No % No % No % No % 11A2 45 1 2.2 10 22.2 20 44.4 10 22.2 4 8.9 11A6 45 2 4.4 12 26.6 16 35.6 8 17.8 7 15.6
Total 90 3 3.3 22 24.4 36 40.0 18 20.0 11 12.2
From the above table, it is clear that the number of students having good paragraph writing skills is limited (0.3%) Most of them have difficult in developing the main ideas, ordering the ideas logically and using the linking words flexibly Many of them failed to fullfill the task while grammatical and vocabulary mistakes were popular Sadly, there were 11 students (12%) not knowing how to write a paragraph and let the paper blank
These findings would serve as the foundations for further suggestions that
I would like to make in the next part
III THE SOLUTIONS
Basing on the process of writing, I wish to share some experiences including applying effective tecniques to help students get the ideas; providing students with the basic theory and useful exercises to practice writing paragraphs
as well
1 Applying some effective techniques to help students to get the ideas in teaching writing skills to the 11 grade students
1.1 Techniques in pre-writing stage:
Prewriting helps students gather ideas and give them a bank of possibilities for their writing This way, as students write they do not have to make decisions simultaneously about content and language Help your students get a head start before they write with any of these six methods for prewriting The bank of ideas they will generate will be an invaluable resource as they write The techniques I often use for this stage presented below