Paragraph Writing

PARAGRAPH WRITING
PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION
What is a paragraph?
1. A paragraph is a group of related sentences that develop one main idea.
2. It is made up of three kinds of sentences that develop the writer’s main idea, opinion, or feeling
about a subject. These sentences are:
a. Topic sentence
b. Supporting sentences
c. Concluding sentence
3. The number of sentences is unimportant in a paragraph; however, the paragraph should be long enough to
develop the main idea clearly.
4. A paragraph may also be one part of a longer piece of writing such as a chapter of a book or an essay.
A.. TOPIC SENTENCE
A topic sentence has several important functions:
A. A topic sentence should always be a complete sentence. The following are not complete sentences.
Driving on freeways.
The importance of money.
How to register for college classes.
B. A topic sentence supports the idea of the paragraph subject.
There are several advantages to growing up in a small town.
Idea of the paragraph subject
C. It directs the order of the sentences and it briefly indicates what the paragraph is going to discuss
Most US universities require a 550 point TOEFL score for a number of reasons.
the paragraph is going to discuss
D. It is a complete sentence and has three parts:
1. a subject
2. a verb
3. a controlling idea
2
main idea
sentence
sentence
sentence
sentence
Topic Sentence ...................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Supporting sentences.........................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................
Concluding sentences........................................................................................................................

1-2: Subject - Verb
Samples:
a. Telephones / intrude into / the privacy of our daily lives.
Subject / verb / controlling idea
b. Most adults / find / learning a foreign language difficult.
c. My roommate, John, / helps / me to speak English correctly.
NOTE: The topic sentence is to the paragraph what the thesis statement is to the essay.
3. Controlling Idea:
The controlling idea of a topic sentence is a word or phrase that controls the information in the rest of the
paragraph. Usually, the topic comes first and the controlling idea comes second in the topic sentence. However, the
controlling idea may come first.
a. Violence in Turkey society has several causes.
Topic controlling idea
b. There are several causes of violence in Turkish society.
controlling idea Topic
c. A good architect is both an artist and a mathematician.
Topic Controlling idea
d. Artistic talent and mathematical ability are two qualities of a good architect.
Controlling idea Topic
A sample Paragraph:
Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing games
instead of studying. Therefore, parents should take the responsibility to monitor their studying. They should
also remind their children to do their homework at home after school. Moreover, parents can encourage
them to study by buying story books with pictures, or they can buy text books or tapes that help children
learn to spell or read. The best way to encourage children to study efficiently is to reward them when
they get an “A”. As a child, I experienced this. My parents gave me a gift when I got ‘A’ in my math
lesson. I was very excited. As result, if parents really want their children to succeed in school, they need to
pay attention to their children’s studies and encourage them.
In the paragraph above, the topic sentence is the following:
Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them.
The topic of the sentence is how parents can help children succeed in school; the controlling idea is
encouraging. The reader might ask the following questions and expect the paragraph to answer them:
How can parents encourage their children?
What specific things should parents do to encourage their children?
How will this encouragement lead to success?
The topic sentence gives the writer’s attitude, opinion or idea about the topic. In the topic sentence, the writer
makes a judgment.
PRACTICE: Choose the best topic sentence.
a.
Too general: My neighborhood is a nice place to live.
A good topic sentence: My neighborhood is fascinating because people from many countries live in it.
b.
Too general: Sports are exciting.
Still too general: Watching a soccer game keeps me involved.
Much better: Watching 2002 the Istanbul derby between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray kept me
on the edge of the chair.
1. Topic: “My room”
a. ………My room is a perfect place for one person to live.
b. ……….Many people live in single rooms.
2. Topic: “Watching a Movie”
a.. ……… The most important influence of watching a movie is that it destroys human’s psychology.
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b.. ……… Watching movie influence adults, teenagers, and children.
NOTE: Ask yourself questions as you narrow down/restrict the ideas:
Why……….? What………? Which……..? When………? Where……..? How………..?
F. The topic sentence can come at the beginning or at the end of a paragraph.
(As a beginning writer, you should write your topic sentence as the first sentence of your paragraph: It will
tell the reader what you are going to say and you can look back at the topic sentence often as you write the
supporting sentences.)
1. Here is an example of a paragraph with a topic sentence stated at the beginning. The subject is "
The educational systems of Europe and the United States ":
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS OF EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES
The educational systems of Europe and the United States are similar in a number of ways. To
begin with, elementary school classes look the same everywhere: There are about twenty to twenty-
two pupils per class, and the classes are coeducational*
. Also, there is one teacher for all subjects for
each grade (except in Scandinavia), and the majority of elementary school teachers are women. In
addition, the subjects which are taught at the elementary level are basically the same everywhere:
reading and writing, mathematics, introductions to the sciences, music, sports, and art. The only major
difference in the elementary curriculum*
is that most Europeans study a foreign language in
elementary school, but most American children do not.
Coeducational: attended by members of both sexes.
2. Here is an example of a paragraph with the topic sentence found at the end. The subject is "Cancer
affects everybody":
CANCER AFFECTS EVERYBODY
My grandfather contracted*
lung cancer a few months ago. The doctors now say that he only has a few
weeks to live. My family's situation is not unique. Millions of Americans are going through a similar
experience. At least three members of every extended family will contract terminal* disease before the
age of sixty. At least one out of every three nuclear families will have a member who will die of cancer
before the age of fifty. From these statistics and from personal experience it is obvious that no
one is unaffected by cancer.
Contract: hastalık kapmakterminal: fatal, ölümcül
G. The topic sentence is most general statement and the main idea of the paragraph. It should
not be too general, too vague or too specific. You should narrow down your subject.
When you start to write about a very general topic, such as university,
vacations, or nuclear power, you must narrow down it down to a limited topic
that can be discussed in one paragraph. For example, there are many specific things
about university, such as classes, students, teachers, and the campus, that you can
discuss. You may narrow down the subject of college to the more specific subject of her roommate, Murat.
UNIVERSITY-F.University-dormitory living-roommates- my roommates - Murat
Samples:
1. Topic Sentence: "Many television cartoons contain an unhealthy amount of violence."
Notice that this sentence clearly identifies that the key topic of the paragraph is violence in television
cartoons. It also indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will discuss how much violence cartoons
typically contain, and how/why this violence is unhealthy for viewers.
2. Topic Sentence: "An increasing number of people in the world are enjoying the benefits of
organically grown fruits and vegetables."
This topic sentence indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will cover the trend in the world toward
eating organic foods. The reader can also expect learning more in this paragraph about the specific benefits
of organic foods.
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PRACTICE: Narrowing Subjects from General to Specific
Fill in the space in each funnel until you arrive at a specific subject. Try to add at least three or four ideas
to each group.
ENTERTAINMENT-singers - rock singer – superstar - Madonna
1. FRIENDS - my best friend…………………………………………………………….………………………
2. SPORTS - individual sports …………………………………………………………………….…..…………
3. DIVORCE – children ……………………………….…………………………………………..……………..
4. CLASSES - my best/worst class …… …………….……………………………………..……………..
5. VACATIONS……………………………….……………………………………..……………….……………
6. MUSIC……………………………….……………………………………..………………………………….
G. Don’t begin paragraphs with “ I’m going to write about....” or “This paragraph is about....”
PRACTICE a.
Read the following topic sentences and then write your own topic sentence.
1. COMPUTERS
Computers are unnecessary and make our life complicated.
Computers save us time and make our lives easier.
Computers are a necessary part of modern life.
Your Topic Sentence______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. MUSIC
Playing a musical instrument helps children to develop in discipline and self confidence.
Music can teach children to understand their own culture as well as other culture.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. TELEVISION
Television gives free and interesting entertainment to people of all ages.
Television advertising is far more effective than advertising in magazines or newspapers.
Television has enormous influence on politics.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
PRACTICE b: Write specific topic sentences for possible paragraphs on the following
topics. Be sure to provide both the subject and the key word(s).
Example: Teenagers and drugs
Topic sentence: Drug addiction has caused a huge increase in crimes of violence which is committed/done by
teenagers.
1. Writing
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
2. Television
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
3. Movie
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
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4. A favorite teacher
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
5. Attending summer courses.
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
6. Using mobile phones
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
7.Getting married
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
8. Shopping by TV.
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
9. Learning a foreign language
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
10. Being wealthy
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
11. Being a famous person
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
12. technology
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
13. Credit cards
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
14. benefits of being young
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
15. Benefits of watching TV
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
16. Owning a car
Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________
PRACTICE 1:
A. Write a topic sentence for the following paragraphs.
1. Topic: Using Internet
____________________________________________________________________________________________. Firstly, all of the
latest information is available to you; in your home, at any hour of the day or night. Also, on-line shopping makes it
possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, so you can save both time
and money. By joining a newsgroup or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and perhaps
make friends all over the world. Finally, e-mail is popular because it is faster than sending a letter and cheaper than
a telephone conversation.
2. Topic: Divorce
____________________________________________________________________________________________. This leads some
conflicts in family life. Due to difficult life conditions, people are more aggressive towards each other. Couples do not
tolerate a few mistakes. In addition, women think that life is always difficult unless they have their own economics
independence. Being economically independent is the desire of many women. They want to earn money and
spend it as they wish. Nowadays, there are many women working outside their homes and are independent. As a
result, some regard divorce as the best way to get this independence. They hope to be free and stand without one’s
help.
Conflict: struggle, argument regard: consider, think about stand: resist, position
3. Topic: My Father’s Death
____________________________________________________________________________________________. First of all, I felt great
sadness and loneliness. For the firs few months, my loneliness was so great that I often dreamed that my father would
miraculously return. In addition, throughout the rest of my childhood, I was afraid of losing someone else whom I
loved. Whenever my mother was away from home, I was nervous until she returned. Finally, the loss of my father
caused me to develop a greater sense of responsibility. For example, I believed that with my father gone I was
responsible for helping my mother with her chores. My father’s death, therefore, left me lonely, frightened, and
responsible – a young child with adult feelings.
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4. Topic: Teenagers Smoking
____________________________________________________________________________________________. Teenagers tent to be
curious about new things. They smoke for the sake of knowing how it feels. Unfortunately, once they started to smoke
their first cigarette, they would have the second, the third, and then become accustomed to it eventually! Just like
the addiction of taking drugs. (mere: only, sake: cause)
5. Topic: Space Technology
____________________________________________________________________________________________. Firstly,
telecommunication satellites have greatly improved global communications. Meteorological satellites also provide
advance information. Furthermore, some special satellites register the earth’s resources and military information.
Scientists are working to develop space technology to use in different areas.
7. Topic: Tourism
____________________________________________________________________________________________. Nearly three million
people depend, directly or indirectly, upon tourism for their jobs. Tourism employs twenty times as many people as
the car industry, and earns four as much money as agriculture. We need tourists’ money in fact they provide more
jobs for all of us.
UNITY and COHERENCE in WRITING:
A good paragraph and essay has the elements of unity and coherence
COHERENCE
Coherence means that your paragraph is easy to read and understand because (1) your supporting sentences are
in some kind of logical order and (2) your ideas are connected by the use of appropriate transition signals. (3)
Coherence in writing means that all the ideas in a paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next sentence.
With coherence, the reader has an easy time understanding the ideas that you wish to express.
Consider the following paragraph:
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton
River, which is very wide and beautiful. On either side of this river, which is 175 feet wide, are many
willow*
trees which have long branches that can move gracefully in the wind. In autumn the leaves of
these trees fall and cover the riverbanks like golden snow. Second, on the other side of the town is
Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. Even though it is steep, climbing this hill is not
dangerous, because there are some firm rocks along the sides that can be used as stairs. There are no
trees around this hill, so it stands clearly against the sky and can be seen from many miles away. The
third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably
about six hundred years old. These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a
famous place. Willow: söğüt ağacı gracefully: charmingly, büyülüyeci
Analyzing the paragraph:
Major Connectors
Look at the words in bold font. Do you see how they help guide the reader? For example, consider the words,
First, Second, and The third amazing feature. We can call these words major connectors. Major connectors help
organize the main parts of your paragraph. This paragraph has three main parts: (1) a part about the Wheaton River,
(2) a part about Wheaton Hill, and (3) a part about the Big Old Tree. Another way of saying this is that this
paragraph has three main points which are indicated by the major connectors. Using such major connectors is an
important way of providing coherence in a paragraph.
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UNITY
Unity is a very important characteristic of good paragraph writing. Unity means that you discuss only one main
idea in a paragraph. That is, all the sentences -- the topic, supporting sentences, the detail sentences, and
(sometimes) the concluding sentence -- are all telling the reader about ONE main topic. If your paragraph contains
a sentence or some sentences that are NOT related to the main topic, then we say that the paragraph "lacks unity,"
or that the sentence is "off-topic."
Look at the following paragraph, which is similar to the paragraph that we have studied above. Does it have perfect
unity? Try to find the sentence that is off-topic:
Each of the Russian carried out space exploration projects had specific major goals.
For example, the Vostok project was designed to test whether or not human beings could
survive and function in outer space. For another example, the Voshkhod project was intended
to find out whether people could work in the weightless environment of space. One Voshkhod
cosmonaut experimented with weightlessness by taking a "spacewalk." That is, he floated in
a spacesuit outside his Voshkhod spacecraft, connected to it by a tether. The cosmonaut to
do this was Alexei Leonov. Several weeks later, Leonov's spacewalk was followed by
that of U.S. astronaut Ed White. Finally, the Soyuz project, with three cosmonauts, had
goals of testing spacecraft and space flight skills so that people could fly long missions in
Earth orbit.
This paragraph is generally good, but the sentence, Several weeks later, Leonov's spacewalk was followed by that
of U.S. astronaut Ed White, does not have anything to do with the major goals of the various Russian space
projects. That is, it is an "off-topic" sentence, so we can say that the paragraph somewhat lacks unity. In order to
improve the paragraph, we should omit this sentence, even though it is historically accurate.
THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE
In formal paragraphs you will sometimes see a sentence at the end of the paragraph which summarizes the
information that has been presented. This is the concluding sentence. You can think of a concluding sentence
as a sort of topic sentence in reverse.
You can understand concluding sentences with this example.
Consider a hamburger that you can buy at a fast-food restaurant. A hamburger has a
top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese, lettuce, and other elements in the middle of
the hamburger, and a bottom bun. Note how the top bun and the bottom bun are very
similar. The top bun, in a way, is like a TOPIC SENTENCE, and the bottom bun
is like the CONCLUDING SENTENCE. Both buns "hold" the meat, onions, and
so on. Similarly, the topic sentence and concluding sentence "hold" the supporting
sentences in the paragraph. Let's see how a concluding sentence (in bold font) might
look in our sample paragraph about Wheaton:
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural
features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful.
Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is
very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two
hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old. These three
landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a famous place.
Notice how the concluding sentence, These three landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a
famous place, summarizes the information in the paragraph. Notice also how the concluding sentence is similar to,
but not exactly the same as, the topic sentence.
Not all academic paragraphs contain concluding sentences, especially if the paragraph is very short. However, if
your paragraph is very long, it is a good idea to use a concluding sentence.
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PARAGRAPH TITLE
Single paragraphs do not usually have titles. Giving your practice paragraphs titles, however, may help
you to organize and limit your thoughts. For longer essays or reports, though, the use of titles will become
more necessary
TIPS FOR WRITING A PARAGRAPH
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:
1. Think carefully about what you are going to write.
Ask yourself:
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 a topic 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?
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.
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.
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?
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 or essay.
6. Organize your facts and ideas in a way that develops your main idea.
Once you have chosen the most important point of your paragraph or essay, you must find the best way to
tell your reader about it. Look at the facts you 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.
WRITING PARAGRAPHS
What is the writing stage?
The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.
Five Writing Steps:
1. Open your notebook and word processor.
2. Write the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence.
3. Write clear and simple sentences to express your meaning.
4. Focus on the main idea of your paragraph.
5. Use the dictionary to help you find additional words to express your ideas.
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EDITING PARAGRAPHS
What is the editing stage?
The editing stage is when you check your paragraph for mistakes and correct them.
Grammar and Spelling
1. Check your spelling.
2. Check your grammar.
3. Read your essay again.
4. Make sure each sentence has a subject.
5. See if your subjects and verbs agree with each other.
6. Check the verb tenses of each sentence.
7. Make sure that each sentence makes sense.
Style and Organization
1. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence.
2. Make sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea.
3. Make sure you have a closing sentence.
4. Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea.
5. See if your paragraph is interesting.
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:
1. Make a paper copy of your paragraph.
2. Show your work to your teacher, tutor, or parents.
3. Ask them for hints on how to improve your writing.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PARAGRAPH
• Topic sentence, which includes the topic and a controlling idea.
• Supporting ideas (usually 3 - 6), which support the topic sentence
• Reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses give details for and further explain the supporting ideas.
• Optional concluding sentence, which leaves the reading with something to think about and may summarize
the supporting ideas if the paragraph is long.
• Unity, which means that all sentences in the paragraph directly support the topic sentence.
o Coherenence, which means that all the information of the paragraph is well-organized, logically ordered and
easy to follow.
Process of Writing a Paragraph:
1. Compose your topic sentence. Think of a topic and a controlling idea that will narrow the topic enough to
support it well in one paragraph.
2. Brainstorm supporting ideas. Choose 2 - 6 supporting ideas that do a good job supporting your topic sentence.
3. Write your paragraph in topic outline form as follows. Don't actually write sentences in the outline, except for
the topic sentence.
Topic sentence:
A. Supporting idea 1.
1.
3.
B. Supporting idea 2.
1.
3.
C. Supporting idea 3.
1.
3.
Concluding sentence:
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4. Put your supporting ideas in a logical order.
5. For each supporting idea, think of reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses that further explain the idea.
For balance, each supporting idea should have about the same amount of reasons, examples, names, numbers, and
senses.
6. Think of a concluding sentence.
7. Write your paragraph using sentences. Use the coherence strategies to make your paragraph easy to follow.
Here is an example:
We came up with a good topic sentence and supporting ideas:
Topic sentence: Choosing a college or university can be difficult.
Supporting ideas: 1. Good Location, 2. Affordable, 3. Good preparation for major
We decided to order these supporting ideas according to importance as shown in the outline below.
Now we put this information into outline form and added some reasons, examples, names, numbers, and senses for
each supporting idea.
Topic sentence: Choosing a college or university can be difficult.
A. Good preparation for your major
1. Hard curriculum
2. Qualified professors
B. Affordable
1. be able to pay tuition and living expenses
2. Possibility of scholarships
C. Good Location
1. Study environment
2. Possibilities of part-time job in your major
Concluding sentence: You should consider these points carefully so you can choose the most appropriate college
or university for you.
Finally, we wrote the paragraph using sentences and trying to make the paragraph coherent using different
coherence strategies.
CHOOSING A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
Choosing a college or university can be difficult. The most difficult part is finding a
university that prepares you well for your future career. In order to get a good job, the curriculum
that is taught must be thorough and up-to-date. In addition, the professors must be highly qualified
and respected in their fields. Another difficulty in choosing a university or college is affordability.
You need to be able to pay the tuition fees and living expenses. Some institutions might be able to
offer you scholarships if you cannot afford the fees. A good location is also very important when
choosing a school. The environment should be safe and quiet to facilitate studying. Moreover, there
should be possibilities near the school for part-time or summer jobs in your major, so you can get
some practical work experience. You should consider all of these points carefully so you can
choose the most appropriate college or university for you.
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PRACTICE 2:
By using information, please write a well-organized paragraph. Note: You
don’t need to use all notes
A. Topic: The Value of a University Education
Questioning whether you should go to university? Here are five ways that a college education will make you a
better person:
1. It will likely make you more successful.
2. It will give you a better quality of life.
3. It will give you the power to change the world.
4. It will be something you can pass on to your children.
5. It makes you a major contributor to the greatest nation on earth.
6. It provides you greater economic strength and security
7. It will give you more prestigious employment and greater job satisfaction
8. It will give you greater knowledge of the world events
9. It will give you more self-confidence
10. It will give you more money and greater quality of lifer.
The Value of a University Education
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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B. TOPIC: BASKETBALL
1. Basketball is attractive.
2. Basketball is fast, exciting, and unpredictable
3. Basketball team has few members; you can become familiar with each player's personality.
4. Basketball is a fast moving game that can be played on both indoor and outdoor courts.
5. Basketball is an excellent conditioning sport that can be enjoyed by both boys and girls alike.
6. Participation in athletic sports like basketball, improves physical fitness, coordination and self-discipline
7. Basketball gives children valuable opportunities to learn about teamwork.
8. Basketball games can be played on school playgrounds, home driveways, and indoor gyms.
9. One major advantage about basketball is that the skills needed for the game can be practiced
individually. Many families purchase portable basketball nets for home use.
10. Jumping rope at home is another great way to prepare to play basketball.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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PRACTICE 3: Choose three of the following topics and write well organized paragraphs.
PARAGRAPH TOPICS
1. Attending summer courses.
2. Custom union
3. Using mobile phones
4. Being single
5. Getting married
6. Having a job while attending college
7. Shopping by TV.
8. Learning a foreign language
9. Boys and girls should attend separate schools.
10. Tourism
11. Being wealthy
12. Using nuclear energy.
13. Computers in the workplace
14. Being a famous person
15. Technology
16. Credit cards
17. Benefits of being young
18. Benefits of watching TV
19. Owning a car
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3___________________________________________________________________________________________
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MORE PARAGRAPH SAMPLES
Copy and write… Read and copy the following paragraphs exactly…
A. ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES
1. Advantages
Advantages of Using Computers
There are several advantages of using a computer. First of all, it is especially beneficial in the workplace,
where employees can do their work far faster that they could in the past. In addition to this, computers can be
educational and fun. From a very young age, children can gain basic computer skills by the help of programs which
help them to learn, draw, paint, and play. As a result, in today’s technological world, this knowledge can only help
them in the future. To sum up, computers are useful for our fast-fast moving world of high technology.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Disadvantages
Disadvantages of Using Computers
There are various negative aspects to using computers. Primarily, many jobs have been lost because computers
can do a lot to tasks more efficiently than humans. This has led to high unemployment in many countries. What is
more, computers can actually cause health problems. Endless hours in front of a screen can cause eyestrain and
headaches. These are serious side effects. As a result, computers should be used carefully and they should not
replace people.
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6. Advantages
7. Advantages of Living in a Village
There are many advantages to living in a village. First of all, one is much closer to nature and can
enjoy more peace and quiet. In addition, life in the country is much slower and people tend to be more
open and friendly. A further advantage is that there is much less traffic, and as a result it is much safer
place to bring up young children. In conclusion, it can be seen that village life is suitable for retired and
those who want to have more peace and less stress.
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14

5. Disadvantages
3. Disadvantages of Living in a Village
There are certain drawbacks (disadvantage) to life outside the city. Firstly, because there are fewer people, one
has a smaller number of friends. Therefore, entertainment, particularly in the evening, is difficult to find.
Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services often means that there are fewer employment
opportunities. As a result, one may have to travel long distances to work elsewhere, and this can be extremely
expensive.
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6. Advantages
Advantages of TV Commercials
Ads on television give consumers a lot of information. They let consumers know what products look like, how
much they cost, and where they are available. For example, a Toyota dealer wants to sell the Toyota Camry. The
dealer’s ads will show the new Camry over and over again and tell the consumer that the Camry has power
windows, six cylinders, and so on. In addition, the ads may compare the Camry with the Mercedes. They may say
that the Camry runs as well as the Mercedes but the Camry’s price is much cheaper. The ads may also tell where to
buy the Camry. When consumers see these ads, they think about all this information about the Camry. Then
they can decide if it is the car they want.
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7. Disadvantages
Disadvantages of Watching Television w
Watching movie can destroy human’s psychology and imagination in some ways. For example, when you
watch a horror movie your psychology is affected by this movie badly. Mostly, you may want to be a monster or a
murder. Another example would be science fiction movies. As we know, science fiction movies have full of
imagination. When people watch this kind of movies, they think whatever they watched it could be in real life. As
a result, because of its some bad effects people should choose movies carefully and they should never forget that
they are not just watching a movie
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8. Disadvantages
Disadvantages of Watching Television w
Watching movies especially American movies cause to change people’s life views and life styles for number
of reasons. Almost in every American movie you can easily see a beautiful house which has a garden or it is
constructed seashore. Moreover, most American movies, you see that people eat simple food. They do not have
any eating culture. Therefore, it causes people’s eating habits. What is more, people use movies in order to
change history. They easily change an event which occurred in the past in the direction of their ideas. For that
reason most countries life style can be changed by movies.
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9. Advantages
Advantages of Watching Television w
TV is a good teacher for everyone for several reasons. There are several programs for preschool children, for
example Sesame Street and Tarchın and his friends.. These are well-organized programs that teaches children to
count and to say the alphabet. They also have interesting characters that they tell stories and sing songs. Also,
television has programs for students. When I was a high school student, there were many kinds of learning
programs, like foreign language and math education programs. These programs help students with their studies.
Furthermore, thedre are some programs for adults about how to garden, how to make delicious dishes, how to fix
things around the house and so on. In conclusion nowadays, television teaches us all kinds of things.
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10. Advantages
Advantages of Tourism
There are several advantages to tourism. To begin with, tourism brings a lot of money into a country and it also
creates a lot of employment for people of the area. In addition, if there are a lot of tourists in the area, it makes the
locals stay rather than leave to get jobs elsewhere. Lastly, tourism helps people to learn about other cultures and
ways of life. As a result, we should give enough importance to tourism.
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11. Disadvantages
Disadvantages of tourism
There are some disadvantages to tourism. Firstly, in many cases the natural beauty of a place can be spoilt.
Apart from this, tourism often brings more air, water and noise pollution. Also, places sometimes lose their
character and traditions. Moreover, sometimes people’s language can suffer. As a result, if tourism is not
controlled properly, it can be bad for a country.
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2. Advantages
Advantages of Wearing the Same Uniform
Wearing uniforms give all students equality, identity and pride. Primarily, uniforms give students equality. All
students do not have the same financial resources and can't afford expensive clothes. Therefore, uniforms make it
more equal among the rich and poor students. For example, student may want to wear designer clothes which some
can afford but others can't. Secondly, uniforms give identity. Students feel a sense of belonging when everyone has
the same uniform. Students can tell who is from their school and who is not according to the uniform. Others can
tell which students are from which schools and if someone is not behaving well, others will know which school that
person is from. Moreover, uniforms give pride. If a sports team does well, students can feel proud together of that
accomplishment. In addition to this, if a student is a good musician, others can feel proud that they are his/her
classmates. Hence, students can "advertise" their school just by wearing their uniforms and be proud of the school
they attend. Overall, I think wearing uniforms is a good thing. Students can feel equal to one an other. They can
fee[ a sense of identity and pride that they wouldn't be able to feel as well if they didn't wear uniforms.
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13. Advantages
Advantages to Living at a Dorm
I would prefer to live in an apartment for a number of reasons. First of all, you don't have to cook for yourself.
The most important one is that there are always a lot of people around so you won't feel lonely. Moreover, there is
usually a laundry room in the basement so you don’t have to go anywhere else to do laundry. Furthermore; the
dormitory is usually very safe since almost all dormitories have security guards. Overall, I prefer to live at a
dormitory because I do not need to cook and wash my clothes for myself and there will be a lot of people around
me.
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B. CAUSE and EFFECT PARAGRAPH SAMPLES
1. Effect
1. Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the world today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also
their family, friends, and co-workers strangers. Alcoholics may become angry and argumentive, or quiet and
withdrawn or depressed. They may also feel more anxious, sad, tense, and confused. As a result, the effects
alcoholism can have on the different aspects of a person's life. Therefore, we should help the number of alcoholics
in Turkey and all over the world.
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2. Cause
Alcoholism
There are some reasons of using alcohol. First of all, the cause of alcoholism can be biological. It is often
associated with a family history of manic-depressive illness. If parents are alcoholics, children may take
alcohol later on. The second reason is alcoholism has psychological reasons. It can be related to emotional
changeability. For example, alcoholics often drink hoping to drown their depressed feelings. Some of them also
want to reduce strong negative feelings. Moreover, social and cultural factors play important roles in development
of alcoholism. In some cultures, there is conflict between refusing and accepting the use of alcohol to be a social
person. As a result, it is extremely important that whatever the reasons are we should avoid drinking alcohol.
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3. Effects
Effects of Parents on Children
Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing
games instead of studying their boring lessons, so parents have to take the responsibility to monitor their studying
and to remind them to do their homework at home after school. Parents should also encourage their children to
study by buying story books with pictures, or they can buy text books or tapes that help children learn to spell or
read. The best way to encourage children to study efficiently is to reward them when they get an “A”. As a child, I
experienced this. My parents gave me a gift if I had studied well, and then I was very excited. So, if parents really
want their children to succeed in school, they need to pay attention to their children’s studies and encourage
them.
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4. Effects
Negative Effects of Televisions
Television negatively influences people's behavior in a number of ways. First of all, advertisements force
people to buy things they may not need. For example, those who buy camping equipment, but they never go
camping. Someone who buys a new car but can't really afford it. Also, someone who buys a new computer even
though his or her old computer works fine. The most important negative effect is that television may lead to
violence. When children see terrible things on TV and sometimes act them out. They may not be able to
understand right from wrong and think that violence is ok. In conclusion, television influences everybody’s
behavior in negative ways. Therefore, people should consider those effects before they start to watch television
programs.
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Question: Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your
answer.
5. Causes
Studying Outside
There are many reasons students choose to do this why students choose to attend schools or universities
outside their home countries. To get a college degree from a university outside their home country may be
prestigious for students. Many people think that students may get a better education outside their home country.
Moreover, students may get more money in their job if they have a degree from outside the country.
Furthermore, some students may get scholarships to study abroad. Therefore, they may pay less to study abroad
and the programs can be better abroad. In short, students study abroad for a number of reasons. Most students get
a good education wherever they go if they are strong-minded to achieve something in their studies.
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Question: Movies are popular all over the world. Explain why movies are so popular. Use reasons
and specific examples to support your answer. .
6. Causes
Watching Movies
There are many reasons why people all over the world enjoy watching movies. To begin with, they offer an
escape. For that reason, some people go to the movies to see how others live. If you are poor, it is a way to escape
that life for a few hours. Next, movies provide entertainment. Because, they are fun to watch andlet you imagine
what other people's lives are like. Finally, movies are available everywhere. Movie theaters can be found in almost
every town, all over the world. If there is no theater, there is usually a video store with movies. As a result,
watching movie is one of the important activities of people.
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Question: Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or dean
water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
7. Causes
World is in Danger
Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water.
First of all, nature is a home for animals. There are thousands of species that live in forests and when the forests
die, they die too. Moreover, rain forests also are habitat of many insects, birds, animals depend on it for survival.
Finally, forests are beautiful to look at, walk through, hike in the forest, and look at all the flowers. Furthermore,
you can take exciting photographs. In short, forests are natural resources that must be saved because they provide
so much good for so many people and animals.
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C. COMPARE and CONTRAST PARAGRAPH SAMPLES
1. Similarity and Differences
Classroom Behavior Rules
There are some similarities and differences in the classroom behavior rules between North America and my country,
Turkey. First, there is the student’s right to speak. In North America, students can ask the teacher questions. They can even
ask questions when the teacher is giving a lesson. Similarly, in my country students have the right to ask questions. However,
they can only ask questions at the end of the class. Next, students respect their teachers. In North America students look up to
teachers and respect them. For example, when the teacher asks them to speak they must look into the teacher’s eyes to show
respect. Likewise, in my country, Turkey, students respect teachers; however, when a teacher asks us to speak we look down
to show respect. We do not look into their eyes. In conclusion, there are both similarities and differences in the way students
behave toward their teachers in the classroom.
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2. Compare and Contrast
Two English Teachers
There are both some similarities and differences between my old English teacher in high school and my present English
teacher. Both my English teachers control the class well. If a student makes trouble in
the classroom, we are all responsible and had extra work. This makes the student
unpopular (alone, without friend) and nobody wants to be unpopular. Both my teachers
know their subject well. They both make sure we know the rules of the language very
well. Although my teachers have these similarities, they also have differences on
these same points. When a student is always troublesome in class, my old teacher
would go to the parents because my school is small and everybody would know each
other in the city. In contrast, my present teacher sends the troublesome student to a
counselor. Then the counselor sends the students to the assistant principal and so
on. Also, the way my two teachers teaching method of English is different. My teacher
back home would teach us a rule of grammar and then give examples. In contrast, my
present if we need a rule we work it out from the examples, teacher gives us examples
first, In conclusion, both my English teachers with their similarities and
differences are excellent teachers.
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3. Compare
Two Different Educational Systems
The educational systems of Europe and the United States are similar in a number of ways. To begin with,
elementary school classes look the same everywhere. There are about twenty to twenty-two pupils per class, and
the classes are coeducational. Also, there is one teacher for all subjects for each grade (except in Scandinavia), and
the majority of elementary school teachers are women. In addition, the subjects which are taught at the elementary
level are basically the same everywhere: reading and writing, mathematics, introductions to the sciences, music,
sports, and art. The only major difference in the elementary curriculum is that most Europeans study a foreign
language in elementary school, but most American children do not. As a result, American and European
educational systems differ in some ways
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C. ARGUMENTATIVE PARAGRAPH SAMPLES
1. Argumentative
Importance of University Education
People attend university to prepare for a career, to attend for personal fulfillment and to make more money in the job
market. First of all, some attend university in order to prepare for a career. They learn about a particular subject in
depth there. In addition to this, employers want employees who have very specific knowledge. Secondly, some
attend for personal achievement. Adults may attend university just for the joy of learning. Students also may feel a
sense of success by learning new things. Finally, some attend in order to make more money in the job market.
Because, If one has specialized skills, one can make more money in the job market. In short, people attend college
for many reasons some of which include desire to prepare for a career, personal fulfillment and financial rewards.
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Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication
among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
2. Argumentative
Enemy of Communication
Communication between friends and family has been destroyed due to television. Television is such a passive activity
that family and friends often forget what meaningful communication is. Therefore, television makes passive. When
people watch television, they do not talk with one another. People also enjoy the relaxation of watching television,
but forget that communication is important. Although many people watch television in order to relax, they give less
time to family and friends. Moreover, Television often causes arguments. Not only family members argue about what
to watch on TV but also friends do. In addition to this, children argue with their parents to buy them toys they see
advertised on TV. In conclusion, television has destroyed communication between family and friends. People do not
communicate in the same way as they did before television was invented. People spend less time with family and
friends and more time with TV this is destructive.
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Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is better than
other types of communication, such as letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
3. Argumentative
Face to Face Communication
I believe that face-to-face communication is better than other forms of communication. It is more personal, more
effective and more honest. When you talk to a person face-to-face, it is more personal. You see them, their actions,
and their feelings. Besides, when you write a letter or email, you do not get this same kind of experience. Moreover,
face-to-face communication is usually more effective because you can easily see the other people’s expression and
feelings about a topic. That means you can change your conversation to fit the situation. For example, you want to
ask your boss or a raise, but you can see that he is in a bad mood or he is distracted...then you would wait for
another time. Furthermore, body language is more effective than spoken language. Seventy percent of
communication is through gestures. You can't get this with email, letters and telephone conversations. In short, face-
to-face communication is better than other forms of communication. Most people have more personal, effective,
and honest conversations when they meet face-to-face.
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21

SUMMARY
PARAGRAPH WRITING
QUESTION and ANSWER
Topic Sentence
What is the topic sentence?
The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.
What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write one?
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be
about.
Example:
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an
excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price.
Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and
are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a
desirable place to live.
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:
Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are
encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
Conclusion 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:
Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and
are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
22

HELPER WORDS
COMPARE AND CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
In 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 some cities in Turkey.
The following words can help you to write a good compare and contrast paragraph:
Helper Words:
SIMILARITIES DIFFERENCES
is similar to On the other hand
both however
also but
too in contrast
as well differs from
while
unlike
SIMILARITIES
is similar to
Example: Spring weather in Trabzon is similar to spring weather in Rize.
both
Example: Both Trabzon and Rize have rain in the spring.
also
Example: Samsun also has a rainy spring season.
too
Example: Artvin has a rainy spring season, too.
as well
Example: As well, Sinop has rainy spring season.
DIFFERENCES
on the other hand
Example: On the other hand, winter is much colder in Van.
however
Example: However, winter is much colder in Erzurum.
but
Example: Ankara has a mild winter, but Erzurum has a cold one.
in contrast to
Example: In contrast to Ankara, Erzurum has a cold winter.
differs from
Example: Erzurum differs from Van by having a cold winter.
while
Example: While Ankara has a mild winter, Erzurum has a cold winter.
23

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:
Helper Words:
is a kind of
can be divided into
is a type of
falls under
belongs to
is a part of
fits into
is grouped with
is related to
is associated with
is a kind of
Coal is a kind of non-renewable resource.
can be divided into
Energy resources can be divided into two types.
is a type of
Coal is a type of non-renewable resource.
falls under
Coal falls under the category of non-renewable resources.
belongs to
Coal belongs to the category of non-renewable resources.
is a part of
Coal is a part of the category of non-renewable resources.
fits into
Coal fits into the category of non-renewable resources.
is grouped with
Coal is grouped with non-renewable resources.
is related to
Coal is related to other non-renewable resources.
is associated with
Coal is associated with other non-renewable resources.
24

CHOICE / OPINION 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 basketball or football.
The following words can help you to write a good choice paragraph:
Helper Words:
Point of View Personal Opinion
in my opinion like/dislike
belief hope
idea feel
understanding
I think that
I consider
I believe
it seems to me
I prefer
POINT OF VIEW
in my opinion
In my opinion, basketball is more fun than football.
belief
My belief is that basketball is more fun than football.
idea
My idea is that basketball is more fun than football.
understanding
My understanding is that basketball is more fun than football.
I think that
I think that I would prefer to play basketball and not football.
I consider
I consider basketball to be more exciting than football.
I believe
I believe basketball is more exciting than lacrosse.
it seems to me
It seems to me that basketball is more exciting than football.
I prefer
I prefer basketball over football.
PERSONAL OPINIONS
like/dislike
I like the sport of basketball because it is fast and exciting.
hope
I hope that I can play basketball in the future.
feel
I feel that basketball is my favorite sport.
25

SEQUENCE PARAGRAPH
In a sequencing paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of events or a process in some sort of order. Usually,
this order is based on time.
Example: Write a paragraph outlining how a person becomes the prime minister.
The following words can help you to write a good sequence paragraph.
Helper Words:
ORDER TIME
first, second, third, etc. recently
in the beginning previously
before afterwards
then when
after after
finally
at last
subsequently
ORDER
first, second, third, etc.
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 majority of seats.
in the beginning
In the beginning, you need to become a leader of a political party.
before
Before becoming the prime minister, you need to become the leader of a political party.
then
Then, you must win a seat in the House of Commons.
after
After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure you have a majority of seats.
finally
Finally, after all these steps, you can call yourself the prime minister.
at last
Example: At last, you can call yourself the prime minister.
subsequently
Subsequently, you must make sure you have a majority of seats in the House of Commons.
TIME
recently
She was recently elected prime minister.
previously
She is the new prime minister. Previously, she worked as a lawyer in Toronto.
afterwards
Example: She won the party leadership last year. Afterwards, she won the election.
when
Example: When she won the party leadership, she was still working as a lawyer.
after
Example: After winning a seat in the House of Commons, you must make sure you have a majority of seats.
26

EXPLANATION PARAGRAPH
In an explanation paragraph, you need to explain how or why something happens. Very often in social studies
class, you will be asked to explore causes and effects of certain events.
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:
Helper Words:
Cause Effect
because therefore
since thus
as a result of consequently
is due to hence
it follows that
if . . . then
CAUSE
because
Example: People moved to Canada from Europe during the nineteenth century because they had poor living
conditions in Europe.
since
Example: Since living conditions in Europe were terrible, many people moved to Canada.
as a result of
People moved to Canada from Europe as a result of poor living conditions in Europe.
is 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.
consequently
Example: Living conditions were terrible in Europe. Consequently, many people moved to Canada.
hence
Example: Living conditions were terrible in Europe. Hence, many people moved to Canada.
it follows that
Example: Living conditions were terrible in Europe. It follows that many people moved to Canada.
if ... then
Example: If living conditions were better in Europe, then fewer people would have moved to Canada
27

DESCRIPTION PARAGRAPH
In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is like. Sometimes, you may
describe where a place is located.
Examples: Write a paragraph describing what a polar bear looks like.
Describe where Canada's industry is located.
The following words can help you to write a good description paragraph:
Helper Words:
PROPERTIES MEASUREMENT ANALOGY LOCATION
size length is like in
colour width resembles above
shape mass/weight below
purpose speed beside
near
north/east/south/west
PROPERTIES
size
Example: Polar bears are big in size.
colour
Example: Polar bears are usually white in colour.
shape
Example: Polar bears have a special shape.
purpose
Example: The purpose of the polar bear's fur is to keep it warm.
MEASUREMENT
length
Example: The length of a polar bear's claws is 20 cm.
width
Example: The width of a polar bear's head is about 50 cm.
mass / weight
Example: Polar bears weigh up to 650 kg.
speed
Example: Polar bears can swim at a speed of 40 km per hour.
ANALOGY
is like
Example: A polar bear is like other bears in shape.
resembles
Example: A polar bear resembles other bears in shape.
LOCATION
in
Example: Most of Canada's manufacturing is located in Ontario and Quebec.
above
Example: The ceiling is above us.
below
Example: Most of Ontario is below Hudson Bay.
beside
Example: Quebec is located beside Ontario.
28

near
Example: Many companies are located near Toronto.
north / east / south / west
Example: Ontario is west of Quebec.
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:
Helper Words
Criteria for Evaluation Recommendation
good / bad suggest
correct / incorrect recommend
moral / immoral advise
right / wrong argue
important / trivial
CRITERIA
good / bad
Example: The use of pesticides such as DDT is bad for the environment.
correct / incorrect
Example: The belief that pesticides must be used is incorrect.
moral / immoral
Example: The use of pesticides to control pests is immoral because it harms the environment.
right / wrong
Example: It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the environment.
important / trivial
Example: The issue of pesticides is an important one because it affects the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
suggest
Example: I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests.
recommend
Example: I recommend that pesticides should not be used because they are harmful to the environment.
advise
Example: I would advise farmers not to use pesticides if possible.
argue
Example: I would argue that pesticides should not be used because they harm the environment.
29

ANSWER KEY:
PRACTICE 1:
A. Write a topic sentence for the following paragraphs.
1. Using Internet
Using internet offers you a world of information, entertainment, on-line shopping and e-mail services. Firstly, all
of the latest information is available to you; in your home, at any hour of the day or night. Also, on-line shopping
makes it possible to search through catalogues to find exactly what you want at the best price, so you can save both
time and money. By joining a newsgroup or chat group, you can share your hobbies and special interests, and
perhaps make friends all over the world. Finally, e-mail is popular because it is faster than sending a letter and
cheaper than a telephone conversation.
2. Divorce
Cost of living plays an important role on high divorce rate. This leads some conflicts in family life. Due to difficult
life conditions, people are more aggressive towards each other. Couples do not tolerate a few mistakes. In
addition, women think that life is always difficult unless they have their own economics independence. Being
economically independent is the desire of many women. They want to earn money and spend it as they wish.
Nowadays, there are many women working outside their homes and are independent. As a result, some regard
divorce as the best way to get this independence. They hope to be free and stand without one’s help.
Conflict: struggle, argument regard: consider, think about stand: resist, position
3. MY FATHER’S DEATH
My father’s death, which occurred when I was nine years old, had several important effects on me. First of all, I
felt great sadness and loneliness. For the firs few months, my loneliness was so great that I often dreamed that my
father would miraculously return. In addition, throughout the rest of my childhood, I was afraid of losing someone
else whom I loved. Whenever my mother was away from home, I was nervous until she returned. Finally, the loss
of my father caused me to develop a greater sense of responsibility. For example, I believed that with my father
gone I was responsible for helping my mother with her chores. My father’s death, therefore, left me lonely,
frightened, and responsible – a young child with adult feelings.
4. TEENAGERS Smoking
Dozens of teenagers smoke because of mere curiosity. Teenagers tent to be curious about new things. They smoke
for the sake of knowing how it feels. Unfortunately, once they started to smoke their first cigarette, they would
have the second, the third, and then become accustomed to it eventually! Just like the addiction of taking drugs.
(mere: only, sake: cause)
5. SPACE TECHNOLOGY
Space technology has resulted in numerous applications. Firstly, telecommunication satellites have greatly
improved global communications. Meteorological satellites also provide advance information. Furthermore, some
special satellites register the earth’s resources and military information. Scientists are working to develop space
technology to use in different areas.
7. TOURISM
During the last two years, the number of tourists coming to Turkey has created a large number of jobs.
Nearly three million people depend, directly or indirectly, upon tourism for their jobs. Tourism employs twenty
times as many people as the car industry, and earns four as much money as agriculture. We need tourists’ money
in fact they provide more jobs for all of us.
SOURCE:
1. http://www.uottawa.ca/academic/arts/writcent/hypergrammar/partopic.html
2. http://www.paragraphorganizer.com/inner/about_us.htm
3. http://archive.1september.ru/eng/1999/eng35-2.htm
4.First Steps in Academic Writing, Longman, Ann Hogue, 1995.
5.Writing Academic English, Longman, Ann Hogue, Alice Oshima, 1980.
30

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