Chuyên đề Writing a paragraph, an essay

With around 200 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions on the solutions to the commuting problems among people who live in the country to drive to work in the city.. SAMPLE WRITI[r]

CHUYÊN ĐỀ WRITING A PARAGRAPH, AN ESSAY - VIẾT ĐOẠN

VĂN, BÀI VĂN

I What is a paragraph? Thế nào là một đoạn văn?

• Definitions: Định nghĩa – Một đoạn văn là một loạt câu phát triển, ủng hộ, chứng minh

một ý nào đó, và ý này thường là câu chủ đề (topic sentence) của đoạn văn Các câu

còn lại (supporting sentences) phát triển, giải thích, minh họa cho câu chủ đề Câu kết

luận (concluding sentence) của đoạn văn là câu khẳng định lại câu chủ điểm, tóm tắt lại các ý chính của đoạn văn

• A paragraph is a group of sentences that deal with a single topic with the length (as

required in the GCSE) of around 150 words Đoạn văn trong tiếng Anh là một tổ hợp câu với độ dài (yêu cầu trong các đề thi) chừng 150 từ, diễn tả hay bàn thảo về một chủ đề

nhất định

• Normally (but not always), the first sentence introduces the topic Other sentences give

the definitions, examples, information, reasons, restatements, and summaries

Thông thường (không phải là luôn luôn), câu đầu tiên diễn tả chủ đề Các câu còn lại là sự giải trình, dẫn chững, tái khảng định, thêm thông tin và tóm lược

• The parts of the paragraph are linked together by the phrases and conjunctions

They guide the readers through the argument presented Xuyên suốt đoạn văn, các cụm từ,

liên từ được sử dụng để kết nối và dẫn dắt độc giả theo chủ đề được bàn thảo

2 Parts of a Paragraph: Các phần của đoạn văn

2.1.Topic Sentence: Câu chủ đề – đưa ra chủ đề để bàn thảo

2.2.Supporting Details: Các câu văn bổ trợ cho câu chủ đề – là sự giải trình, dẫn chững, tái

khảng định, hay thêm thông cho câu chủ đề, hay chủ đề

2.3.Closing Sentence: Câu kết – là tóm lược lại hay tái khảng định lại chủ đề

II How to Write a Paragraph: Kĩ năng viết một đoạn văn

1 Prewriting Paragraphs: Chuẩn bị trước khi viết

The prewriting stage is when you think carefully and organize your ideas for your paragraph

before you begin writing Là quá trình ta động não suy nghĩ, tìm và sắp xếp các ý tưởng cho

đoạn văn sẽ được viết quá trình này tuân theo 6 bước cơ bản sau: Six

2 Prewriting Steps: 6 bước chuẩn bị viết một đoạn văn:

Step 1 Think carefully about what you are going to write Hãy tự hỏi các câu hỏi:

• What question am I going to answer in this paragraph or essay?

• 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 or essay interesting?

• Do I need more facts on this topic?

• Where can I find more facts on this topic?

Step 2 Open your notebook Hãy trả lời cho các câu hỏi ở bước 1

Không cần phải sử dụng quá nhiều thời gian để thực hiện bước này, thay vì thế hãy liệt kê

những ý tưởng quan trọng (2-3 ý chính)

Step 3 Collect facts related to your paragraph or essay topic

Tìm và liệt kê các ý tưởng sẽ giúp bạn trả lời các câu hỏi và là ý cho bài viết, hãy chắc chắn

rằng những điều bạn liệt kê ra trùng khớp hoàn toàn với chủ đề được yêu cầu

Step 4 Write down your own ideas Để viết các ý chính hãy tự hỏi các câu hỏi sau:

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

Hãy chọn câu chủ đề cho đoạn văn, viết câu chủ đề một cách hoàn chỉnh

Step 6 Organize your facts and ideas in a way that develops your main idea Sắp xếp các

ý, các giải trình, ví dụ, hay những ý kiến bổ trợ sao cho hợp logic, khoa học, chú ý cách dùng

từ ngữ, các cụm từ, liên từ (tránh lặp lại các từ đã dùng)

II Writing Paragraphs: Kĩ năng viết đoạn văn

1 Writing process: Tiến hành viết

Đây là bước chuyển hóa từ các ý tưởng (đã làm ở phần chuẩn bị trên đây) thành một bài viết

hoàn chỉnh (sản phẩm cuối cùng) Tuân thủ 5 bước sau:

2.1Five Writing Steps:

• Open your notebook and word processor

• Write the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence

• Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning

• Focus on the main idea of your paragraph

• Use the dictionary to help you find additional words to express your ideas

2.2.Editing Paragraphs: Sửa lỗi bài viết gồm 2 bước sau:

a.Grammar and Spelling: Chữa các lỗi ngữ pháp và chính tả

• 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

b.Style and Organization: Chữa các lỗi về hành văn

• 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

• Useful expressions: Những liên từ, hay các cụm từ hữu ích khi viết đoạn văn:

Useful expressions

Sequencing/ Listing First of all, First(ly), Initially, To begin with;

Second(ly); Third(ly); Next; Then; After that

(this); Following this (that); Finally; The first

reason is…/ The second is…; Last but not least…

Adding to what you Also, Furthermore, In addition, Additionally,

have said Moreover, Besides, As well as, Similarly, not

only…but also…, even beside this/ that,…

Contrasting In contrast to this, On the contrary, In contrast,

Conversely, On the other hand, While, Whereas,

However, Despite/ In spite of, Although, Even

though, Otherwise, Nonetheless,…

Expressing similarity Similarly; Likewise, In the same way

Showing results As a result, As a consequence, Consequently,

Hence, Thus, Therefore, So,…

Giving examples For example, For instance, In particular,

Particularly, That is to say, Namely, Such as,…

Restating In other words, That is to say, To put it simply,…

Inferring In other words, In that case, or else, Otherwise,…

Summarizing In summary, To sum up, To conclude, To

recapitulate, In conclusion, In short, In brief, In a nutshell, Lastly, Finally,…

• Definition Paragraph: Đoạn văn để định nghĩa về một sự vật, hiện tượng

e.g Write a paragraph giving the definition of a pest

• Classification Paragraph: Đoạn văn để nhóm, hay phân loại các sự vật, hiện tượng

e.g Write a paragraph discussing two types of energy resources

• Description Paragraph: Đoạn văn miêu tả về một sự vật, hiện tượng

e.g Write a paragraph to talk about your most favorite subject

về các sự vật, hiện tượng

e.g Write a paragraph comparing the weather in Vancouver and Halifax

• Sequence Paragraph: Đoạn văn mô tả một chuỗi, hay một tiến trình ủa sự vật, sự việc e.g Write a paragraph outlining how a person becomes the prime minister

e.g Write a paragraph stating whether you would prefer to play hockey or lacrosse

Explanation Paragraph: Đoạn văn để giải thích

e.g Write a paragraph explaining why so many Europeans moved to Canada during the

nineteenth century

• Evaluation Paragraph: Đoạn văn để đánh gia về sự vật, hiện tượng

e.g Write a paragraph evaluating whether pesticides should be used on farms

Writing an essay: Viết bài luận

Một bài luận là một bài viết dài hơn và thường gồm nhiều đoạn và mỗi đoạn văn thường theo

cấu trúc đoạn văn trình bày trên Tuy nhiên, cách viết đoạn mở đầu (introductory paragraph) và đoạn kết (concluding paragraph) đặc thù như sau:

• The attention getter

• a sentence that gets the reader interested

• The main idea

• the topic or thesis of the essay

• The guide/ thesis statement (the last sentence of the introductory paragraph)

• a list of the points that will be discussed, thus showing the organization of the

composition

e.g There are many things that symbolize the Vietnamese culture Among these is the conical

leaf hat, a symbol of traditional Vietnamese girls The hat is very special because of its physical features and its use

• Attention getter:

e.g There are many things that symbolize the Vietnamese culture

– Topic/ thesis:

e.g Among these is the conical leaf hat, a symbol of traditional Vietnamese girls

– The guide/ thesis statement:

e.g The hat is very special because of its physical features and its use

Bodies: Các đoạn văn nội dung

Các đoạn tiếp theo sau đoạn mở đầu sẽ phát triển tương ứng các ý được đề cập trong câu chủ

đề của bài luận, và cách viết tuân thủ theo cách viết đoạn văn đã được đề cập trên Ví dụ, đối

với phần mở bài trên, phần thân bài sẽ có 2 đoạn:

Paragraph 1: physical features

Paragraph 2: its use

Là đoạn cuối của bài luận Thường có 3 cách để viết đoạn kết

• A summary repeats the main points of the essay

• A prediction discusses what will happen in the future

• An evaluation compares the main points and states what is best

V.Summary: Tóm lược các bước và cấu truc của bài luận:

Structure of the Paragraph and the Essay

• Main idea (topic sentence or thesis)

• Support for the main idea (a number of supporting details in a paragraph or a number of paragraphs in an essay)

• Conclusion (summary of the main points of support for the main idea)

The writing process for the Paragraph and the Essay

• First steps

• understanding the assignment

• narrowing the topic

• determining the writing context

• formulating a main idea

• Generating ideas

• stating the main idea

• brainstorming

• freewriting

• listing

• clustering

• diving

• Organizing ideas

• Drafting · Revising · Editing

Writing a paragraph , an essay – Viết đoạn văn, bài văn

PHẦN B: BÀI TẬP THỰC HÀNH

Exercise 1 With around 160 words, write a paragraph describing a person you admire most

Your writing should include

• Who the person is?

Why you admire him or her?

• How he/she affects your life and work?

Exercise 194 With around 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions of what makes a

person successful in life Your writing should include:

• What success is?

• The main factors that make people success?

• How you think about success?

Exercise 2 With around 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions of the benefits of

being able to use English Your writing should include:

• What the main benefits of being able to use English?

• What the examples to illustrate your ideas?

Exercise 3 With around 160 words, write a paragraph describing your homeland

Your writing should include:

• What your homeland is like?

• What the main features of your homeland are?

• How you love your homeland?

Exercise 4 With around 160 words, write a paragraph describing your favorite school subject

Your writing should include:

• What your favorite school subject is?

• Why the subject interests you?

• How well you learn that subject?

Exercise 5 With around 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions on the idea of

controlling the access to electronic services

Your writing should include:

• How the electronic services affect people’s life?

• Why the access to electronic services should be controlled?

• How people control the access to electronic services?

Exercise 6 With around 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions about the

formal school education system in Vietnam

Your writing should include:

• How many stages there are?

• The students’ ages, the length of each stage, the examination if there is?

• The tuition fee or other requirements?

Exercise 7 With around 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions on the benefits of

working for an International Organization

Your writing should include:

• How your life will be like when working for an International Organization?

• Why you choose to work overseas?

• How you realize your dream?

Exercise 8 With around 200 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions on the solutions to

the commuting problems among people who live in the country to drive to work in the city

Your writing should include:

• The problems caused by people commute to work?

• Your solutions to offer?

• Your own ideas?

Exercise 9 With around 220 words, write to discuss the issue “Families now are not as

close-knit as they were in the past”

Your writing should include:

• The causes that separate family members?

• The supported ideas or illustrations?

• Your own ideas?

Exercise 10 With around 200 words, write a letter to apply for an overseas university

Your writing should include:

• How you find the information about the university?

• Why you choose to apply for that university?

• What your abilities are?

• Begin with “Dear Sir/ Madam”, ending with “Yours faithfully,”

Exercise 11 With around 200 words, write a letter to apply for a job as a local tour guide

Your writing should include:

• How you find the information about the vacancy?

• Why you choose to work as a tour guide?

• What your abilities are?

• Begin with “Dear Sir/ Madam”, ending with “Yours faithfully,”

Exercise 12 With around 230 words, write a letter to tell your friend about your family life

Your writing should include:

• What are your family rules?

• What is each member’s responsibility?

• How do you think and live?

• Begin with “Dear Jim”, ending with “Best wishes,”

Exercise 13 With around 250 words, write a letter to a friend to tell her/ him about the one who

influenced you most Your writing should include:

• Who the person is?

• Why you think he/she is the most important to you?

• How he/she influenced you?

• Begin with “Dear Linda”, ending with “Yours,”

Exercise 14 The widespread use of the Internet has brought many problems

What do you think the main problems associated with the use of the web? What solutions can

you suggest?

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The problems related to free access to the internet?

• The harmful effects of surfing websites too much and uncontrollably?

• Your suggested own ideas

Exercise 15 Young people are much more aware of and concerned about the issues like

the environment, poverty, and animal welfare than previous generations What is your own

opinion?

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The issues and the community’s concern?

• The generations’ thinking?

• Your own ideas

Exercise 16 It is important for travelers and business people to understand the cultures they

come into contact with, however briefly What are the main advantages of doing so? What do

you think is the main disadvantage of doing so?

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The importance of culture to visitors and businessmen?

• The advantages and disadvantages?

• Your own ideas

Exercise 17 More and more city workers are deciding to live in the country and travel into work

every day The result is increased traffic congestion and damage to the environment What

measures do you think could be taken to encourage people not to travel much long distance

into work?

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The trend of living in the country and working in the city?

• The advantages and disadvantages?

• Your own ideas

Exercise 18 Write an essay to discuss the benefits of doing exercise

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The importance of doing exercises?

• The benefits of having a habit of taking exercise?

• Your own ideas

Exercise 19 Write an essay to talk about the situations and to offer the solutions to protect the

wildlife from being all disappearing

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The importance of the biodiversity?

• The rights of the wildlife and measures to take to protect the environment?

• Your own ideas

Exercise 20 Write an essay to talk about the reason why people want to have college

or university education

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The main reasons for which people want to have higher education?

• The supporting ideas or illustrations?

• Your own ideas

Exercise 21 Write an essay to talk about the topic “Parents are our first teachers in life”

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The things that we learn from parents?

• How good are parents as teachers?

Your own ideas

Exercise 22 Individuals can do nothing to change society Any new developments can only

be brought about by governments and large institutions How far do you agree or disagree?

Your writing must has a length of over 220 words and includes:

• The things individuals and government can do?

• How do individuals and government cooperate to better the society?

• Your own ideas

BÀI VĂN MẪU

Exercise 1 Within 160 words, write a paragraph describing a person you admire most

SAMPLE WRITING

Of all my acquaintances, the principal of our school is the one who has created the greatest

ever impression on me I must say that I am not only impressed by his good managerial skills

but also his personalities First, this principal is one of the dedicated educational managers who always know how to find new ways to run the school effectively For example, he has initiated

various ideas and programs to improve the school’s educational quality, the teaching staff’s

lives despite limited resources He also knows very well that he cannot do all things by himself Therefore, he tries to motivate all the teaching staff to join him towards better achievements

treating them fairly Secondly, he instantly sets a clear example of a moderate but dedicated

officer who loves to work more than to talks He has led a simple life In short, his leadership

skills and personalities are greatly admired by not only me but by the teaching staff in our

school (164 words)

Exercise 2 Within 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions of what makes a person

successful in life

SAMPLE WRITING

There are many factors that make a person successful, but in my opinion, it is the way people

define “success” that most affects people thinking of success This is because the term

“success” can be interpreted differently by different individuals, and the unclear

definition of this concept may mislead people in their life The result is that each individual may not know how successful he is, even when he achieves what he really wishes to To me,

“success” is that you achieve what your abilities allow you to In other words, the achievement

within your abilities will give you the sense of success For example, if you are not intellectually good enough to study at universities, but you actually have some innate (in-born) ability for

soccer or other sports, then a choice to become a football player or a sport-man may bring you success So, unless we define “success” clearly in our own way and act upon that

understanding, success will stay out of our reach (166 words)

Exercise 3 Within 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions of the benefits of being

able to use English

SAMPLE WRITING

Obviously, English, in our globalization world, has been considered as the international

passport to enable us to be the global citizen That means the good demand of English helps us live and work well in any corner of the world First, English is an international language that is

spoken everywhere, so if you are able to use English, you can communicate with people all

around the world It is the English language that is used in aviation, international sports, music, commerce, newspapers, periodicals, radio and television stations and other Secondly, we can learn almost all things with the help of English If your English is good enough, you can take full advantages of the internet – the mass media storage and sources of knowledge and

entertainments You can realize your long-harbored dream of working overseas also For

example, you will easily apply for a vacant at an international company, organization,

corporation, or a global group or enterprise so that you have chance to better your life and

work In conclusion, English benefits us various ways including communication, knowledge,

work, entertainment, or even the way we lead our life (187 words)

Exercise 4 Within 160 words, write a paragraph describing your homeland

SAMPLE WRITING

The hidden beauty of my homeland makes it way to impress the residents as well as the

increasing yearly visitors The village, in fact, does not possess any special beautiful

landscapes such as a forested mountain or a romantic river, but nothing can compare with its

rich cultural heritages which are reflected in the villagers’ lifestyles and other well-preserved

artefacts First, it seems that the present market economy does not affect the way the local

people live, work and think By this I can say that unlike the money-driven lifestyle commonly

seen in most of other places, life in my village is still community-oriented Everybody lives for

other else in a harmonious way, describing as “me in others” and “others in me” Secondly,

many rick-in-culture well-preserved heritages such as folk songs and music, old-aged

architectures will certainly give visitors a sense of long-lived customs of a typical past traditional Vietnamese country village which one can hardly see elsewhere After all, we – the village

residents – are always proud of our homeland for both its inner beauty and people lifestyles

(178 words)

Exercise 5 Within 160 words, write a paragraph describing your favorite school subject

SAMPLE WRITING

Personally, I must say that no single school subjects can compare with English in terms of its

interests It is the English language that opens up a new horizon to me due to the status of its

being used globally Undoubtedly, a good command of English will enable me to access new

amount of information which brings me to various new academic and cultural territories In

addition to that, the more I study English, the more I love Vietnamese – my mother tongue This

is because when my English is good enough, I can compare the language with my

mother-tongue, and this helps me understand Vietnamese better My knowledge of other cultures

gained by means of studying English encourages me to learn more about my fatherland For

example, if I am good at English, I can study the other cultures and lifestyles, then I can

compare the things I have learned with our national heritages and I feel more and more

confident and proud of being a Vietnamese As I want to become both a Vietnamese and a

global citizen, English is really a great attraction to me (187 words)

Exercise 6 Within 160 words, write a paragraph giving your opinions on the idea of controlling

the access to electronic services

SAMPLE WRITING

More people now have personal computers and the uses of electronic services such as Internet

is becoming more widespread Some people are concerned about unlimited access to

electronic services and would like this access to be controlled nationally or even internationally

to prevent some certain bad influences on users, especially children The first reason for which

we should control the use of electronic services is that it saves time for users to do other useful things For example, people spend too much time surfing, commenting, liking and do other

wasteful things on social networks, some even become addicted to them Some may forget

their present lives, enjoying their online lives and becoming seriously impractical On the other

side, we should limit the access to the internet so as to prevent users, especially immature one, from being poisoned by harmful websites or forums Uncontrolled access to poisonous sites

may result to crime, immorality, and violence among the youth In fact, we can hear of the

heinous crimes committed by the one who cannot control their thinking and acting after

long-browsing the internet playing violent games or doing other bad things (181 words)