Slide bài giảng môn Viết 2 Academic Writing 2: unit 1

Unit 1: Paragraph to
Short Essay
Review of Paragraph structure


What is a paragraph?
Reasons for Going to University

- It is a
group of
sentenc
es
about a
topic.

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 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 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 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?
Two parts:
-the topic
-the
controlling
idea.

- 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 discussed.
Example:
Convenience foods are
Topic

easy to prepare.
Controlling idea


Notes to write the topic sentence
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.
+ too specific -> writer may
have nothing to say further.

Example:
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)
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)