1 SỞ GIÁO DỤC & ĐÀO TẠO ĐỒNG NAI Trường THPT Chuyên LƯƠNG THẾ VINH SỞ GIÁO DỤC & ĐÀO TẠO ĐỒNG NAI Trường THPT Chuyên LƯƠNG THẾ VINH Mã số (Do HĐCNSK cấp trên ghi) Mã số (Do HĐCNSK cấp trên ghi) SÁNG K[.]
Context
Writing is traditionally viewed as the final skill to be mastered after listening, speaking, and reading However, essay writing plays a crucial role in helping students develop important transferable skills These skills not only benefit students academically but also prepare them for professional success after graduation, where effective written communication is essential.
An essay is a concise piece of writing that presents both information and the writer's personal opinion, making it a versatile form used in high schools, colleges, and even in the business world, where they are often referred to as reports Today, students, especially those in gifted high school programs, have a strong desire to learn how to craft effective essays that communicate their ideas clearly and persuasively.
Reasons for choosing the topic
English-majored students at Luong The Vinh High School, particularly those in the Grade 12 English team preparing for the National English Examination, require exceptional writing skills to succeed However, the current national curriculum established by the government does not fully meet their advanced learning needs.
Over the past few years, I have been dedicated to helping gifted students improve their academic writing skills While many of these students show a strong interest in writing, their essays often contain errors ranging from simple spelling mistakes to more significant issues with sentence structure and overall organization Therefore, it's essential to implement targeted strategies to assist gifted students in overcoming these challenges, enabling them to write more coherently, effectively, and academically.
2 The scope of the research
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
Grade 12 English-major students at Luong The Vinh High School participated in a school-wide writing innovation project This initiative was implemented during the writing classes across both semesters of the academic year, aiming to enhance students' writing skills and foster innovative learning methods.
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.
Developing strong writing skills is essential for high school, gifted, and college students, as effective communication is a core component of higher education College curricula emphasize the importance of clear and efficient expression, which is why students are required to complete various composition and reading courses Mastering these skills prepares students to succeed academically and professionally, highlighting the critical role of effective writing and reading abilities in their overall education.
Writing is a powerful form of communication that enables students to express their feelings and ideas clearly on paper, organizing their knowledge into convincing arguments Well-constructed text allows individuals to convey meaning effectively, transforming writing into a creative and expressive art form.
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
English textbooks often lack a systematic approach to writing tasks, making it challenging for students to improve their essay-writing skills Additionally, these tasks frequently omit essential techniques needed to craft effective and coherent essays, hindering students' ability to develop strong writing abilities.
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.
Enhancing your presentation skills involves mastering key rules and techniques that enable you to present logical, well-structured arguments Focus on organizing your ideas systematically to ensure clarity and coherence in your speech Selecting relevant ideas and information tailored to the topic is essential for effective communication Additionally, using correct English grammar and vocabulary not only improves your credibility but also makes your arguments more convincing Applying these skills will help you demonstrate your ability to convey ideas comprehensively and confidently in any presentation.
The teacher gave students handouts which contain these rules.
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 gerunds, infinitives, or participles, can function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs within a sentence For example, "Working in a factory had left him broken in body and spirit" demonstrates how a verbal phrase acts as the subject and provides descriptive detail Additionally, appositive phrases, such as "My uncle Jack, a diligent and serious man, taught me the value of hard work," effectively add clarification or extra information about a noun Understanding these phrases enhances sentence construction and clarity in writing.
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.
Certainly! Please provide the article or the sentences you'd like me to work on, and I will create the SEO-friendly paragraph as requested.
1 Maintaining a high grade point average is essential to any student 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.
Sure! Please provide the article or the sentences you'd like me to work with.
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 joined by coordinating conjunctions Although they contain complete ideas, they cannot stand alone as complete sentences because starting with a coordinating conjunction makes their thoughts incomplete For example, "He got out of the car, but he left the car running" illustrates how coordinate clauses are linked to form complex sentences Understanding the role of coordinating conjunctions is essential for constructing clear and grammatically correct sentences in English.
- Subordinate clauses always start with a subordinating conjunction.
Subordinate clauses can be joined to independent clauses, coordinating clauses, or other subordinate clauses to form complex sentences For example, "He got out of the car, but he left the car running because he was planning to return quickly," demonstrates how subordinate clauses provide additional detail and context within a sentence Mastering the use of subordinate clauses enhances sentence variety and clarity, making your writing more engaging and grammatically correct Incorporating subordinate clauses effectively improves SEO by creating informative, well-structured content that appeals to both readers and search engines.
Noun clauses function as nouns within sentences, serving as subjects, objects, or complements to provide essential information These clauses are typically introduced by words such as that, which, whichever, who, whoever, whomever, what, whatever, when, whenever, how, however, and whether For example, in the sentence "Mike always buys whatever Mary wants," the noun clause "whatever Mary wants" acts as the object, illustrating its role as a noun Similarly, "Whoever ate the last piece of cake is in big trouble" demonstrates how noun clauses can serve as subjects Incorporating noun clauses enhances sentence complexity and clarity, making them a vital component of effective English communication.
The big question is how we are going to fix the problem.
Identify the independent clause in each sentence and underline any dependent clauses When appropriate, place commas between the independent and dependent clauses to improve 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.
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 a single independent clause, but it is not always short or simple Despite their simplicity, simple sentences can be quite advanced, as they often include numerous phrases and modifiers that add complexity For example, "My dog loves to play fetch" demonstrates how a straightforward sentence can still contain detailed information Understanding that simple sentences can be both concise and complex is essential for effective writing and improves readability.