Context
Writing is typically viewed as the final skill acquired after mastering listening, speaking, and reading Engaging in essay writing enables students to hone transferable skills that are essential not only during their academic journey but also in their future professional careers.
An essay is a concise written work that conveys information and reflects 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 effective essay-writing techniques.
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 exceptional writing skills However, the national curriculum established by the government falls short of meeting these essential needs.
In recent years, I have focused on assisting gifted students in enhancing their writing skills, particularly in academic writing, which many of them are passionate about However, I have noticed that their essays often contain various errors, from minor spelling mistakes to significant issues with sentence structure and overall organization Therefore, it is crucial for me to implement strategies that will help these students overcome their writing challenges, enabling them to improve their skills and produce coherent, effective, and academically sound work.
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
Students majoring in English from two grade 12 classes at Luong The Vinh High School participated in an innovative project during their writing sessions throughout 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 can express themselves clearly and efficiently, general college education requirements include a variety of composition and reading courses that must be completed prior to graduation.
Writing serves as a powerful communication tool that enables students to express their emotions and ideas on paper, organize their knowledge and beliefs into persuasive arguments, and convey meaning through well-structured text In its most refined state, written expression can be as impactful and vivid 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
Many English textbooks fail to present writing tasks in a systematic manner, making it challenging for students to improve their essay-writing skills Additionally, these textbooks often do not include 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 must master key skills, including systematic organization of ideas, the selection of relevant information, and the use of correct English grammar and vocabulary.
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, function similarly to adjectives and adverbs, serving as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs within a sentence For example, "Working in a factory had left him broken in body and spirit" illustrates how a verbal phrase can convey a complete idea Additionally, appositive phrases provide further detail about a noun, as seen in the sentence "My uncle Jack, a diligent and serious man, taught me the value of hard work." These grammatical structures enhance sentence clarity and depth.
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 this exercise, identify verbal phrases acting as nouns by underlining them Additionally, circle the verbal phrases that function as modifiers and draw an arrow pointing to the corresponding word they modify.
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.
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 essentially independent clauses However, they cannot function as complete sentences because they begin with coordinating conjunctions, and this makes the thoughts they express incomplete.
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 example, 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 provides essential context and reasoning for the action taken.
Noun clauses function like nouns within sentences, acting as subjects, objects, or complements They are introduced by words such as that, which, whoever, what, when, how, and whether For example, in the sentence "Mike always buys whatever Mary wants," the noun clause "whatever Mary wants" serves as the object, while "Whoever ate the last piece of cake is in big trouble" uses the noun clause "Whoever ate the last piece of cake" as the subject.
The big question is how we are going to fix the problem.
Read the following sentences, and identify the independent clause in each one Underline the dependent clause in each sentence, and where necessary, place commas between the independent clause and any dependent clause.
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 can be complex and lengthy Despite their name, simple sentences can incorporate numerous phrases and modifiers, making them more sophisticated than one might expect For example, "My dog loves to play fetch" illustrates how a straightforward structure can convey a clear idea while still allowing for depth.
My beautiful and playful Labrador puppy loves to play fetch in the park near my house on sunny afternoons I take him to the park almost every day, and despite his age, he still enjoys the game Even though he is very old now, my dog remains enthusiastic about playing fetch, which brings us both joy and strengthens our bond.
I take him to the park almost every day.
Read each of the following sentences and indicate whether it is a simple sentence, a compound sentence , a complex sentence , or a compound-complex sentence.
1 Justin apparently misplaced all his textbooks, or at least most of them, during the ride from the library to his house.
2 The hurricane caused severe hardship for working class members of society, but the rich, having access to far greater resources, viewed the storm as little more than an inconvenience.
3 Even though the Constitution guarantees all citizens the same essential rights, in practice, many groups have been denied the full rights and benefits of citizenship.