essential writing skills teaching notes - lesson...

___________________________________________________________________________________________ Essential Writing Skills Lesson 1 Maria College - Maria English Society (Version 2.0 –2008)

Maria English Society Essential Writing Skills

Teaching Notes - Lesson 1

Table of Contents

Section A – Writing Skills

- Assessment test

- The five sentence patterns

- Phrases and clauses

Section B – Proofreading and rewriting

- Personal letters

Section C – Reading

- Some sayings on the Internet


Assessment test Exercise 1 This is an exercise to test whether you can see the difference between good writing and bad writing. Here below are seven sentences similar in meaning and use similar words but written by students with different levels of writing skills. Suppose you were a teacher marking exam papers from your students, give them a mark from grade A to grade G. Grade ___ I am resident near the Victoria Park. I write to show I am unhappy about holding an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live. Grade ___ As a resident of the Victoria Park area, I write to express my view about your holding an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live. Grade ___ I am a resident of the Victoria Park area. I write to express my view on holding an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live. Grade ___ My name is R. Lee. I am form 5 student. I live near Victoria Park. Not hold an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live. Grade ___ My name is R. Lee. I am form 5 student. I live near Victoria Park. I don’t like hold an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live. Grade ___ I live near Victoria Park. I write to express my opinion about holding an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live. Grade ___ Being a resident of the Victoria Park area, I write to show my disappointment about your holding an international pop music festival in an open area very close to where I live.


Exercise 2 This is an exercise to test whether you can see the difference between good writing and bad writing. Here below are five paragraphs written by students with different levels of writing skills. Suppose you were a teacher marking exam papers from your students, give them a mark from grade A to grade H. Grade ___ Apart from the above mentioned, a comfortable environment should be provided for both students and teachers. A teacher-student room can be located in convenient area. For instance, it can be near the teachers’ resting room or near the snack shop. Students and teachers can eat and drink together in the room. They can talk about whatever they like. Activities enhancing student-teacher relationship can be held occasionally in the room. This can improve the relationship between students and teachers. Grade ___ It is truly that Hong Kong economy was declined by the event of ‘Asia Financial Crisis’. In view of such problem, it is hardly for students to find jobs at that time. If the suggestion is adopted, it may lead to unemployment problem in Hong Kong more seriously. Grade ___ In addition, parents always use the mobile phones to supervise their offspring. I had this experience before. I do hate it since it had brought me a lot of troubles. I don’t like it since I think using this method to have supervision is showing that you don’t believe in your children. If you trust your child, it is not necessary for using this way. Grade ___ My name is Chris Wong. I am Form 7 student. Nowaday, I writing a letter to you, I want to change the Hong Kong travelling. Tourism in Hong Kong has suffered badly since the latter half of 1987. I think the Economics was bad in the world. Many place ecomlonics not very well in 1987. So the tourism did not come to Hong Kong. Grade ___ With the development of technology and fierce competition among the telecommunication firms, mobile phones have become more convenient to bring along with as they have reduced significantly, both in size and weight. Manufactures have paid more attention to their designs, and therefore, they look more ‘streamlined’ and ‘handsome’. Also, with the enhancement of information technology, mobile phones today are ‘multi-functional’. The prices of mobile-phone services have dropped sharply with the establishment of more service supplies in the territory.


Section A: Writing Skills

The six building blocks of a sentence Building sentences is in a way like putting together Lego parts. There are six building blocks we can use. S = Subject V = Verb O = Object C = Complement ( ) = Phrase [ SV ] = Clause The subject, the verb, the object and the complement are the four basic elements. When putting them into a sentence, we have to follow certain patterns. They are called the five sentence patterns.

The five sentence patterns No matter how complicated a sentence is, we can still reduce it to one of the following patterns. Pattern No. 1: Subject - Verb (S V) / S V (A) In the most basic sentence pattern, the subject is followed by its verb. No additional words are needed for the sentence to make sense and be complete. The verb in this case is called the intransitive verb. SUBJECT VERB (ADVERB) I sleep. I sleep in my bed. Someone is knocking. at the door. We listened. to the radio. I am here. He might have called. All of the witnesses are being investigated. Pattern No. 2: Subject - Action Verb - Object (S V O) In this kind of sentence, the subject is followed by an action verb and its direct object. The object usually answers the question what? or whom? The verb in this case is called the transitive verb. SUBJECT ACTION VERB OBJECT Marta ate chocolates. Her brother played tennis. Employees send email messages.


Pattern No. 3: Subject - Action Verb - Indirect Object - Direct Object (S V O O) This basic sentence pattern may also employ an indirect object that usually answers the question to whom? SUBJECT ACTION VERB INDIRECT OBJECT DIRECT OBJECT This organization pays workers high salaries. Donna had given him the data. Pattern No. 4: Subject - Linking Verb - Complement (S V C) In the third kind of sentence, the subject is followed by a linking verb and its complement. A complement is a noun, a pronoun, or an adjective that renames or describes the subject. A complement completes the meaning of the subject (subject complement). SUBJECT LINKING VERB COMPLEMENT The manager is Jeffrey. (Noun) These packages are books. (Noun) Your instructor is she. (Pronoun) The callers might have been they. (Pronoun) This monitor looks (is) satisfactory. (Adjective) Tiffany feels (is) bad. (Adjective) Pattern No. 5: Subject - Action Verb – Object - Complement (S V O C) The complement in this kind of sentences completes the meaning of the object. Therefore, it is called the object complement. SUBJECT ACTION VERB OBJECT OBJECT COMPLEMENT They elected him president. (Noun) We made her angry. (Adjective)


The sentences build with S,V,O,C are very basic. If we want to write longer sentences, we have to use clauses and phrases. There are three kinds of clauses:

Noun clauses

A noun clause is used as the subject, the object, or the complement of a sentence.

S V O

I know [that two and two makes four].

S V C

[How the prisoner escaped] is a complete mystery.

S V C

His excuse is [that the bus was late].

Adjectives Clauses

An adjective clause qualifies a noun.

That is the lady [who drives the school bus]

n adj. cl.

Mary bought a safe [where she kept her jewels]

n adj. cl.

People remember Presley [whose songs are very popular].

n adj. cl.


Adverb Clauses

An adverb clause modifies a verb. Sometimes it modifies an adjective.

Adverb clause of manner

The man ran [as if wolves were chasing him].

Adverb clause of time

The thief ran away [when he saw the policeman].

Adverb clause of place

Mary put the meat [where the cat couldn’t reach it].

Adverb clause of condition

[If the rain stops], I’ll go for a walk.

Adverb clause of comparison

He is older [than he looks].

Adverb clause of reason

The thief ran away [because he saw the policeman].

Adverb clause of concession

[Although Richard got up early], he was late in arriving at school.

Adverb clause of result

He was so weak [that he could not speak].

Adverb clause of purpose

We paid him immediately [so that he would go away happily].


Exercise

Use [ ] to mark the clause in each sentence and state whether it is a noun clause, an adjective clause or an adverb clause.

1. Some people buy expensive cars simply because they can.

2. Many people hope that Canada can resolve its economic problems.

3. The bankers need to know what they should do.

4. Which one is the person who stole your car?

5. Wherever there is a large American city, there will be poverty.

6. The books which the professor assigned were very expensive.

7. Canada might give up its marketing boards if the European Community gives up its grain

subsidies.

8. That is the place where Wolfe's and Montcalm's armies fought.

9. Unless the crown can make a better case, the accused murderer will not be convicted.

10. It is important to ask whether the wedding is formal or semi-formal.


Clauses and Phrases

A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb. [ S V ]

A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain a subject and a verb. ( )

Adjective clauses and adjective phrases

An adjective clause can be reduced to an adjective phrase.

Examples:

The girl [ who is sitting next to me ] is Maria.

The girl ( sitting next to me ) is Maria.

The boy [who is playing the piano] is Ben.

The boy ( playing the piano) is Ben.

The books [that are on that shelf] are mine.

The books ( on that shelf) are mine.

The ideas [which are presented in that book] are good.

The ideas ( presented in that book) are good.

Adverb clauses, Reduced clauses, and adverb phrases

An adverb clause can be reduced to a reduced clause or an adverb phrase.

Examples:

[While I was walking to class], I ran into an old friend.

[While walking to class], I ran into an old friend. Reduced clause

[Before I left for work], I ate breakfast.

(Before leaving for work), I ate breakfast. Phrase

[Since Maria came to this country], she has made many friends.

(Since coming to this country), Maria has made many friends. Phrase

His opinion, [whether it is right or wrong], does not concern us.

His opinion, [whether right or wrong], does not concern us. Reduced clause

Come next week, [if it is possible].

Come next week, [if possible] Reduced clause


More about adverb clauses and adverb phrases

1. Cancellation should be made 3 days (prior to the event).

Cancellation should be made 3 days [before the event begins].

2. The order would not be delivered (until the end of this month).

The order would not be delivered [until we received your payment].

3. Procedures must be followed (in case of emergency).

Procedure must be followed [if there is an emergency].

4. No notice should be put up on the doors (without custodian’s approval).

No notice should be put up on the doors [unless the custodian approves].


A summary of the phrases

There are four main kinds of phrases. We can recognized them by looking at the first word or the

first element of the phrase.

Recognizing phrases by their forms

prepositional phrase

(In the morning) we drove the truck (to Los Angeles).

participial phrase

Present participial phrase

Past participial phrase

The car (standing there) costs a great deal.

The child (burnt by fire) is in critical condition.

Infinitive phrase

Our new supervisor asked each person (to bring a notebook).

Gerundive phrase

(Winning the war) is the objective.

Phrases can also be classified by the work it does in a sentence.

By function Phrase Clause

Adjective Candidates (writing on

alternate lines) will lose marks.

He is the man [whom we all respect].

Give me some food [which is hot].

Adverb I went home (after school). [When you have finished you work] you may go home.

I have not been well [since I returned from Madras].

Noun I know (how to swim). [That you should say so] surprises me.

There is no meaning in [what you say]


Exercise

Use ( ) to mark the phrase in each sentence and state whether it is a noun phrase, an adjective phrase or an adverb phrase.

1. The chief lived in a house built of stone.

2. She lived in the middle of a great wood.

3. Without pausing to consider, he struck the bow.

4. The boy wants to go home.

5. We enjoy playing cricket.

6. He failed in spite of his best efforts.

7. I do not know what to do.

8. I have found the key to his secret.

9. I enjoy walking in the fields.

10. Horses prefer living in dark stables.


Section B: Proofreading and rewriting

Error recognition

1. Yesterday the stock market surged to it's third record performance and gained twenty-three A B C

points for the week. D

2. Allowing contributions deductible would encourage about six million more households to invest, A B C

according to our survey. D

3. The appeals court, which have decided to review the case, has agreed that the system did not A B C

violate antitrust laws. D

4. As was the case more earlier in the week, the meeting had to be postponed due to the hazardous weather conditions.

5. We encourage our clients giving our product a trial run; as a result, we are sure of credibility.


Proofreading Exercise Example: Original copy

Revised version

Nice to receive your mail, sound you having good time. Happy to know you coming HK next

week, and my pleasue to help you book a room, I check up one hotel at HK side Wanchai area,

is a three star hotel and the price is around HK$450, is that ok?

My advance diving course at Philippines is on 24 June is great, passed my course, and having

very good time there. fantastic ... big shark, big Tuna, big cuttlefish, lots of lots of pretty pretty

star fish there. I really love it. 24 July I go back singapore for 2 days, visiting my family and go to

Malaysia Pulau Timon Island for 3 day, having 5 dives ... love that island too. Back to work last

week, having a very busy week.

It was nice to receive your mail. It sounds as if you were having a good time. I am very pleased

to hear that you are coming to Hong Kong next week. It will be my pleasure to help you book a

room. I have checked out one hotel, and it is in the Wanchai area. It is a three star hotel and

costs about HK$450. Is that alright?

My advanced diving course in the Phillipines was on the 24th June. It was great. I passed the

course and had a very good time there. Diving in the Malapasua Island of the Phillipines was

really fantastic -- there were big sharks, big tuna, big cuttlefish, and lots of pretty star fish. I

really loved it. On the 24th July I went back to Singapore for two days, to visit my family. After

that I went to the Malaysian Pulau Tipman Island for three days where I made five dives. I love

that island too. Last week I was back to work, and I had a very busy week.


Exercise (Homework) Proofread and rewrite the following paragraph.

I'm very glad to receive your letter. It 's so great if I can visit your factory and Head Office. I

have interested in your advance production methods for a long time. As you say, I'm really a

keen theatre-goer. So I think the West End Play will entertainment me well. But the dates you

suggested are not suitable. Because I have many paper-work by the end of this month. If it is

convenient for you, I prefer to arrange it in the middle or in the end of next month.


Section C: Reading

Some sayings on the Internet

1. I love you not because who you are, but because who I am when I am with you.

2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

3. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

4. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside him knowing you can't

have him.

5. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in

love with your smile.

6. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

7. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

8. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know

someone else and expect them to know you.

9. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

10. Life is a pure flame, and we live by an invisible sun within us.

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