TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN NGÀNH unit 1 part 1

Unit 1: Paragraph to Short Essay
Review of Paragraph structure


What is a paragraph?
Reasons for Going to University

After graduating from high school, many students go on to university, but their reasons for entering higher
education vary. First, many students attend to study a particular subject in depth. Unlike high schools, which require
students to take a wide range of classes, university curriculums allow students to choose a major. In each major, a
number of specialized courses are offered, and they are taught by experts in the fields. Moreover, universities have
various research facilities that help students learn. Another common reason for going to university is that a college
education often leads to a better career in the future. In many countries, people with university degree tend to find

- It is a group
of sentences

better-paying jobs than those without them. In addition, some universities provide students with opportunities to acquire
practical skills that can be useful in the real world, such as accounting, using computer, and speaking foreign languages.
To sum up, students go to university for a variety of reasons: to study a particular field and to find a good job.

about a topic.
(From Chin et al., 2012)


How many parts are there in a paragraph?
Reasons for Going to University

-Three parts:
-Topic sentence
-Supporting

sentences

-Concluding
sentence

After graduating from high school, many students go on to university, but their
reasons for entering higher education vary. First, many students attend to study a
particular subject in depth. Unlike high schools, which require students to take a wide
range of classes, university curriculums allow students to choose a major. In each major, a
number of specialized courses are offered, and they are taught by experts in the fields.
Moreover, universities have various research facilities that help students learn. Another
common reason for going to university is that a college education often leads to a better
career in the future. In many countries, people with university degree tend to find betterpaying jobs than those without them. In addition, some universities provide students with
opportunities to acquire practical skills that can be useful in the real world, such as
accounting, using computer, and speaking foreign languages. To sum up, students go to
university for a variety of reasons: to study a particular field and to find a good job.


What is a topic sentence?
Reasons for Going to University

-It presents the topic and
the controlling idea of
the paragraph.

-It is usually the first

sentence of a paragraph.

After graduating from high school, many students go on to university,

but their reasons for entering higher education vary. First, many
students attend to study a particular subject in depth. Unlike high schools,
which require students to take a wide range of classes, university
curriculums allow students to choose a major. In each major, a number of
specialized courses are offered, and they are taught by experts in the fields.
Moreover, universities have various research facilities that help students
learn. Another common reason for going to university is that a college
education often leads to a better career in the future. In many countries,
people with university degree tend to find better-paying jobs than those
without them. In addition, some universities provide students with
opportunities to acquire practical skills that can be useful in the real world,
such as accounting, using computer, and speaking foreign languages. To
sum up, students go to university for a variety of reasons: to study a
particular field and to find a good job.


What are the supporting sentences?
Reasons for Going to University

- provide several
supporting points that
explain the controlling
idea
- provide supporting
details that explain
each supporting point

After graduating from high school, many students go on to university,
but their reasons for entering higher education vary. First, many students
attend to study a particular subject in depth. Unlike high schools, which

require students to take a wide range of classes, university curriculums
allow students to choose a major. In each major, a number of specialized
courses are offered, and they are taught by experts in the fields. Moreover,
universities have various research facilities that help students learn.
Another common reason for going to university is that a college education
often leads to a better career in the future. In many countries, people with
university degree tend to find better-paying jobs than those without them.
In addition, some universities provide students with opportunities to
acquire practical skills that can be useful in the real world, such as
accounting, using computer, and speaking foreign languages. To sum up,
students go to university for a variety of reasons: to study a particular field
and to find a good job.


What is the concluding sentence?
Reasons for Going to University

- It restates the
controlling idea and
summarizes the
supporting points.

After graduating from high school, many students go on to university,
but their reasons for entering higher education vary. First, many students
attend to study a particular subject in depth. Unlike high schools, which
require students to take a wide range of classes, university curriculums
allow students to choose a major. In each major, a number of specialized
courses are offered, and they are taught by experts in the fields.
Moreover, universities have various research facilities that help students
learn. Another common reason for going to university is that a college

education often leads to a better career in the future. In many countries,
people with university degree tend to find better-paying jobs than those
without them. In addition, some universities provide students with
opportunities to acquire practical skills that can be useful in the real world,
such as accounting, using computer, and speaking foreign languages. To
sum up, students go to university for a variety of reasons: to study a
particular field and to find a good job.


How to write the topic sentence?

- The topic names the subject or the context of the paragraph.
- The controlling idea makes a specific comment about the topic. It also
limits or controls the topic to a specific aspect of the topic to be
Two parts:

-the topic
-the controlling idea.

discussed.
Example:
Convenience foods are
Topic

easy to prepare.
Controlling idea


Notes to write the topic sentence
Example:

1. You shouldn’t include too many
ideas in your topic sentence ->
paragraph will not have unity.
2. A topic sentence should not be
+ too general -> readers cannot know
exactly what the paragraph is going to
discuss about.

Dalat city is romantic and pleasant to live in.

Example:
1. Watson and the Shark is a good painting. (Too
general)
2. In this painting there are some men in a boat. (Too
specific)

+ too specific -> writer may have
nothing to say further.

3. Watson and the Shark, by John Singleton Copley,
shows a dramatic rescue. (Good)

•

(Segal, M.K., & Pavlik, C., 1997, p.19)


How to write supporting sentences?

•

Ask questions:
- What are the categories do I
have to spend on?
- How much money …?
- Why is it so high?
…..

University Costs
The international student needs much money to study at the
university in the U.S. The cost can be divided into three categories.
First is the price of house rent; that expense differs according to the
kind of house. For example, a single basement room with a small
kitchen at one end and a bed at the other costs at least $200 a month,
but an apartment with a separate bedroom and kitchen costs at least
$350 a month. The second expense is the cost of food; this cost is also
various for each person. I spend at least $300 per month, so my daily
cost for food is about $10. The final expense is the cost of tuition. This
cost is especially high. I need $2000 per semester for tuition at this
university because I am an “out – of – state” student. And that doesn’t
even count the expenses for books, clothing, and other expenses.
Therefore, I need at least $4000 for each semester.
(Adapted from Keith S. Folse et al., 2010)


- You can get more information by using these methods and sources:
+ discussing and listening ideas
+ interviewing and taking notes
+ reading reference books, magazines, newspapers and doing research
+ using the information in the Internet

How to write the concluding sentence?
- To restate the controlling idea or summarize the main points of the paragraph
Ex: To sum up, students go to university for a variety of reasons: to study a particular
field and to find a good job.

-

Gives a suggestion, an opinion, a warning or a prediction.
Ex:
- If you follow these steps, you never lose your keys again. (prediction)
- In my mind, it is the most beautiful city in the world. (opinion)
- Students who are not careful with credit card can go into debt quickly. (warning)


Coherence

•

Coherence.
- all the ideas in a paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next sentence ->
help the readers understand the writer’s thought easily.

•

There are two ways to make the paragraph coherent:
1. Organize the supporting sentences in a logical order
2. Use the transitional expressions to show the relationship between sentences

•

The common orders are:

–

Time order: used in narration and describing process. Details are listed as they occur in time.

–

Space order: used in description. When you describe, you should choose one direction and
maintain it.

–

Emphatic order: used when ideas are not equal in weight.
- 02 ways to present your ideas: the most importance -> the least importance or vice verse.
- Notes: the most important idea is often left to the end -> make a greater impact to the readers.


Example
School Uniform Should Receive an A+
School uniform should be mandatory for all students for a number of reasons. First,
they make everyone equal. In this way, the "rich" kids are on the same level as the poor
ones. In addition, getting ready for school can be much faster and easier. Many kids
waste time choosing what to wear to school, and they are often unhappy with their final
choices. The most important reason is that some studies shows that school uniforms
make students perform better. Many people might say that uniforms take away from
personal freedom, but I believe the benefits are stronger than the drawbacks.

(Adapted from Keith S. Folse et al., 2010)


Transitions
Transitions are signals that help readers follow the
direction of the writer’s thought.

• Additional signals: in addition, moreover, furthermore…
• Time signals: first, then, next, after, before, soon, finally...
• Space signals: On the opposite side, next to, to the left…
• Change-of-direction signals: in contrast, on the contrary…
• Illustration signals: for example, for instance…
• Conclusion signals: In conclusion, in a nut shell, last of all

...


Example
University Costs
The international student needs much money to study at the university in the U.S.
the cost can be divided into three categories. First is the price of house rent; that
expense differs according to the kind of house. For example, a single basement room
with a small kitchen at one end and a bed at the other costs at least $200 a month, but
an apartment with a separate bedroom and kitchen costs at least $350 a month. The
second expense is the cost of food; this cost is also various for each person. I spend at
least $300 per month, so my daily cost for food is about $10. The final expense is the
cost of tuition. This cost is especially high. I need $2000 per semester for tuition at this
university because I am an “out – of – state” student. Moreover, that doesn’t even count
the expenses for books, clothing, and other expenses. Therefore, I need at least $4000
for each semester.

(Adapted from Keith S. Folse et al., 2010)


Unity

- Paragraph unity 
about ONLY ONE main
topic.
- One irrelevant
sentence -> Paragraph
does not have a unity.

Smoking cigarettes can be an expensive habit. Smoking is hazardous to
your health. Considering that the average price per pack of cigarettes is 75
cents, people smoke two packs of cigarettes a day spend $1.50 per day on
their habit. At the end of one year, these smokers have spent at least
$547.50. Several years ago, a medical study clearly showed the link of
nicotine found in cigarettes with the development of cancer. However, the
price of cigarettes is not the only expense cigarette smokers incur. Since
cigarette smoke has an offensive odor clothing, stuffed furniture, and
carpet, smokers often find that these items must be cleaned more
frequently than nonsmokers do. Although it is difficult to estimate the cost
of this additional expense, one can see that this hidden expense does
contribute to making smoking an expensive habit.
(Adapted from Keith S. Folse et al., 2010)