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Wednesday 14 July 2010

what is paragraph

 Parts of paragraph

Three parts of paragraph consist of
1. Topic sentence
    -It states the topic and controlling the main  idea of the paragraph.
    -It is the most general and important sentence of the paragraph.
    -It names the topic of the paragraph.
    -It limits the topic to one specific area that can be discussed in one paragraph.
    -Topic is an essential part of a sentence.
    -Controlling idea is a part of topic sentence.
    -It is used to announce the specific area to be discussed.
    -focus or controls the information in the rest of the paragraph.
    -reader can ask questions about the controlling ideas and expect to have them answered.
important:

  1. It is a complete sentence: at least contains one subject and one verb
  2. It contains both Topic  and controlling ideas
  3. General statement and give the main idea-not too general and not specific.

There are generally two parts in a Topic sentence:
    -The topic: It tells what the paragraph is all about.
    -The controlling idea: The writer's attitude or idea about the topic.

examples

topic 


Controlling Idea



  • Receiving an 'F' on my report card was a humiliating experience.
  • When I was a child, my grandfather's backyard was a magical place.
  • One reason I admire Nelson Mandela is that he never gave up.
  • The first step in learning how to do word processing is the hardest.
  • The greatest difference in education between the two countries is the number of subjects students must take.


2. Supporting sentences
    -Develop the topic sentence
    -more specific
    -Explains or prove topic sentence by giving more information.
    -It can be narratives, details, facts, examples, explanations or statistics.
    -It relates and show why the topic sentence is true.


3. Concluding sentence
   -signals the end of a paragraph
   -leave an important point to remember
   -it is customary to write as a stand-alone paragraph.
   -paragraph that are parts of longer piece of writing usually do not need a concluding sentences.

Sunday 11 July 2010

Expository Writing Overview

expository writing

Goal:
Expository writing seeks to inform, explain, clarify, define or instruct.
Characteristics:

The general characteristics of expository writing include:
  • focus on main topic
  • logical supporting facts
  • details, explanations, and examples
  • strong organization
  • clarity
  • unity and coherence
  • logical order
  • smooth transitions
Uses:
Expository writing appears in and is not limited to letters, newsletters, definitions, instructions, guidebooks, catalogues, newspaper articles, magazine articles, manuals, pamphlets, reports and research papers.
Exercises:
  • Write a story about a trip you are going to take and what friend you want to take with you. Explain why this friend would be the best person to go with you.
  • Describe the cause and effects of pollution in the environment. Narrow your topic to one form of pollution, such as something that causes air, water or land pollution.
  • Explain the process of baking a birthday cake.
  • Find an example of expository writing; explain the elements that make this a good example.
Additional
Internet sites:

The Expository Essay
A Think Quest entry, this site explains and offers examples of the different kinds of expository writing.
Expository Writing Prompts
A one-page article that describes this genre while also including links to examples of expository writing.
Expository Writing Resources
Visit this list for additional resources gathered by the Web English Teacher.

Saturday 10 July 2010

WEEKLY SCHEME

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
FACULTY OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND COMMUNICATION
UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

Rancangan Pengajaran Mingguan
Semester I 2010/2011

Kod dan Nama Kursus                :  BBI3421 EXPOSITORY WRITING
                                                                                                                                               
Kredit                                           :   3(2+1)     

Penyelaras/ Pengajar                    :   Yong Mei Fung
                                                                                                                                                                          
Semester                                       :   Pelbagai

Tempat dan Masa Kuliah            :   
                                                                                                                  
Objektif  Kursus                          :   By the end of the course, students will be able to:
                                                         1.   use a variety of techniques to generate ideas for
                                                               Writing (P4),
     2.   write unified paragraphs with appropriate
           supporting points and details (C5),
3.      compose coherent essays using different rhetorical
modes (C5),
4.      evaluate essays critically(A3), and
5.      contribute to the planning and coordinating of group work (TS4)


KANDUNGAN/CONTENT

MINGGU/
WEEK
TAJUK/TOPIC
(KULIAH/TUTORIAL/AMALI
(Lecture/Tutorial/Practical (Lab) )

BACAAN & AKTIVITI
READINGS/ACTIVITIES
1


Introduction to the course
Overview of process writing
- Stages of writing
- Recursive nature of writing
- Focusing a Subject
- Adjusting to audience

Brainstorming Techniques
- Listing
- Free writing
- Clustering

Appendix A

Writing Practice:
Think of a topic of your interest and narrow it.
Use one brainstorming technique to generate ideas.


2
Writing a paragraph 

Structure of a paragraph
- Three parts of a paragraph
- Topic sentence

Chap. 1
Appendix A

Write learning log 1 and send to the dropbox in e-learning platform

3
Paragraph Writing
- Writing supporting sentences
- Writing a concluding sentence


Writing Practice:
Write an outline with the following elements:
- topic sentence
- supporting sentences
- concluding sentence

4
Unity
- Relevance of ideas

Coherence
- Repetition of key nouns pronouns
- Key noun substitutes
- Consistent pronouns
- Transitional signals

Chap. 2
Appendix B, C, D



5
Sentential Skills
- Run-on
- Fragments
- Comma splices
- Parallelism

Chap. 11
Appendix D &  E


6
Writing an essay

- Structure of an essay
- Outlining an essay
- Writing an effective thesis statement
- Writing an introductory paragraph
- Writing the body paragraphs
- Writing a concluding paragraph

Chap. 4


7
Cause and Effect Essay
-Structure
-Language Use

Chap. 6

Send a copy of your extended paragraph to the dropbox and one to your tutor. Also submit a hardcopy of the extended paragraph  as Assignment 1.

8
Comparison and Contrast
-Structure
-Language Use

Chap. 7
9
Argumentative Essay
-Structure
-Language Use

Chap. 9
10
Writing Project

  • Choose a topic of your interest from ONE of these modes of writing:   process, comparison and contrast, cause and effect or argumentative.
  • Plan and write an outline
-       Introduction: Write an appropriate thesis statement and selection attention getting method
-       Body: Introduce each supporting idea in a topic sentence. Develop the idea with details or examples
-       Conclusion: Restate the thesis and summarize the main idea


11
Writing First Draft

  • Draft your essay based on the earlier outline
  • Include appropriate transition markers and make sure the essay has unity and coherence


12
Revising
  • Revise your essay based on your tutor’s feedback
  • Improve the content and essay organization



13
Proofreading

  • Proofread your essay carefully
  • Write the final draft

Write learning log 2 and send to the dropbox in e-learning platform as well as submit the hardcopies of the learning logs as Assignment 1.


14
Revision

Submit final draft as Assignment 2.

* This course schedule is only a guide. The chapters and appendices are based on the textbook.


PENILAIAN           :     Coursework              70%
                                       Final evaluation        30%


BUKU TEKS/          :   Oshima, A., & Hogue, A. (2006). Writing academic English.
TEXTBOOK                New York: Longman.          
           
RUJUKAN              :  1. Fitzpatrick, M. (2005). Engaging writing: Paragraphs and
                                   essays. New York: Longman.
2. Herzfeld-Pipkin, N. (2006). Destinations: Writing for academic
   success 2. Boston: Thomson Heinle.
                                    3. Meyer, A. (2005). Gateways to academic writings: Effective
                                        sentences, paragraphs and essays.  New York: Longman.
                                    4. Reid, J.M. (2000). The process of composition. New York:
   Longman.
5. Starr, A., &  McKusick, D. (2002). Making sense: A guide for
   readers and writers. New York: Longman.
6. Smoke, T. (2005). A writer’s workbook: A writing text with
   readings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.