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51 EXERCISE 4. For the paragraphs below, choose the sentence that would make the best topic sentence. 1 . First, fruits and vegetables have the vitamins and minerals you need. For example, Vitamin A, in mango and carrot, is good for eyes. Vitamin C, in orange and broccoli, keeps teeth healthy. According to scientific studies, when people do not eat much vegetables and fruits, they have depression, anxiety and anger. In addition, fruits and vegetables have carbohydrates, so they give energy. You can stay active for a longer time after eating fruits and vegetables. Finally, many scientists believe people don’t have illnesses when they eat fruits and vegetables. When you eat them, you may not have heart diseases, muscle cramps and high blood pressure. To conclude, eat fruits and vegetables to be healthy. a) It is important to eat fruits and vegetables and to do exercise to be healthy. b) When we eat fruits and vegetables, we may not have illnesses. c) Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet. 2 . Firstly, Ken does not give up when he fails in his studies. He wanted to enter a good university, but the first time he took the university entrance exam, he did not do well. However, he knew he wanted to study at a good university, so he studied more. Next year, he took the exam again and did very well. Moreover, Ken does not give up on his hobbies. He is not good at everything he does, but he keeps on practicing. For example, he started to play the guitar last year. Everyone thought that he had not talent and even advised him to quit, but he did not. Now he plays it much better. Furthermore, he does not get discouraged when he has problems in his relationships. He had arguments with his girlfriend, but he did not end his relationship. He tried to make his girlfriend happy in different ways. They have a very good relationship now. Ken taught me that never giving up is the best way to succeed.

52 a) One of my closest friends, Ken is good at everything. b) My friend Ken is a very successful student. c) I admire my friend Ken because he doesn’t give up. EXERCISE 5. Write a topic sentence for each of the paragraphs below. 1 . First, many people begin learning to play football when they are very young. You can often see children playing in their schools or on the streets around their houses. In high school, students play football on a team and compete in tournaments. Secondly, people in my country love watching football on television. Football matches have higher ratings than TV series in my country. Everyone loves talking about matches and competitions. After watching a football match, people love commenting on the match and discuss the goals. Finally, people in my country go to football matches whenever they can. It is one of their favourite activities. To conclude, football is like a national sport in my country. 2 First of all, it saves time. I don’t have to spend time picking out my clothes. I can simply grab and wear my uniform every morning. Next, wearing a uniform saves money. It’s cheaper to buy a uniform than buying a lot of clothes for school, so I can use my money on books and social activities. In addition, when I wear a uniform, I don’t have to keep up with the latest styles. I don’t have to worry that my clothes are not good enough. Everybody looks like each other, so nobody is more stylish than the other. Most importantly, wearing a school uniform gives me a sense of belonging. I feel like a student when I have my uniform on me. All in all, I prefer wearing a uniform to school.

53 Supporting Sentences The supporting sentences develop the main idea stated in the topic sentence. Their purpose is to help readers understand more about your main idea. The supporting sentences are more specific than the main idea. In the major supporting sentences, you develop and support your controlling idea, or point of view, by giving explanations. After each major supporting sentence, you should write one or two minor supporting sentences, in which you can give more details, provide examples and quotations, or give facts and statistical information. Look at the pattern below: Topic Sentence Major supporting sentence 1 • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 2 • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 3 • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Concluding Sentence Look at the supporting sentences below: 1st major supporting sentence ⇨ First of all, learning English can help you get a job. Minor supporting sentences ⇨ English is the language of science, computers, trade and tourism, so you can easily find a job when you know English well. You can work in a foreign company or abroad. 2nd major supporting sentence ⇨ Next, learning English can help you meet new people. Minor supporting sentence ⇨ You can communicate in English with people in many other countries because English is the most widely spoken language in the world. You can interact with people using social media by commenting on their posts and become friends. 3rd major supporting sentence ⇨ Finally, traveling is easier with a good knowledge of English. Minor supporting sentences ⇨ In most countries, signs, menus and maps are in English. You can easily ask for directions or prices of souvenirs, order food and chat to the locals.

54 EXERCISE 6. Write three major supporting sentences for each topic sentence below. A. It is a good idea to learn English for several reasons. 1.________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.________________________________________________________________________________________ B. My hometown is an interesting place to visit. 1.________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.________________________________________________________________________________________ C. Playing video games is good for you. 1.________________________________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.________________________________________________________________________________________ EXERCISE 7. Choose one of the topics given in EXERCISE 6 and write minor supporting sentences for the major supporting sentences you have written. 1st major supporting sentence ⇨ _____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ _____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ 2nd major supporting sentence ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ ______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ 3rd major supporting sentence ⇨_____________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ ___________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

55 The Concluding Sentence This sentence restates the main idea of the paragraph using different words. It summarizes the main points of the paragraph or makes a final comment on the topic. Look at the concluding sentence below: Learning English is important for many different reasons. First of all, learning English can help you get a job. English is the language of science, computers, trade and tourism, so you can easily find a job when you know English well. You can work in a foreign company or abroad. Next, learning English can help you meet new people. You can communicate in English with people in many other countries because English is the most widely spoken language in the world. You can interact with people using social media by commenting on their posts and become friends. Finally, traveling is easier with a good knowledge of English. In most countries, signs, menus and maps are in English. You can easily ask for directions or prices of souvenirs, order food and chat to the locals. In conclusion, learning English helps you find a job, meet people and travel easily. Concluding Sentence EXERCISE 8. For the paragraphs below, choose the sentence that would make the best concluding sentence. 1 Like most German people, I love Spaetzle, a kind of pasta made with eggs, flour, salt and a hint of fizzy water. Firstly, Spaetzle is one of the most popular dishes in Germany. In fact, in German restaurants, Spaetzle is served both as a side dish to meaty dishes like Schnitzel or it can be a main dish on its own. Secondly, there are different ways to have Spaetzle. You can have this delicious food alone or you can mix it with different ingredients such as cheese. Finally, Spaetzle is very easy to make. You do not have to knead and roll the dough like when you make pasta. To make Spaetzle, you only need to mix the ingredients and then drop little lumps of the batter into the boiling water and they will be ready in just a few minutes. ________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________.

56 a) In conclusion, Spaetzle is my favourite food. b) I do not like any other kind of pasta than Spaetzle. c) To conclude, Spaetzle is the easiest food to make. 2 When it comes to animals, dogs are great pets. Dogs can help elderly people and children with their daily life. Dogs can give company to them wherever they go. Especially, children without any sisters or brothers don’t feel alone when they have a dog. Children can play with their dogs and have fun. Next, dogs are also very loyal and obedient. They never forget their owners. The story of Hatchiko, a dog who waited for his owner all his life, is a good example of dogs’ loyalty. Finally, because dogs are very active, they can be great buddies for exercise. Dog owners do not need to exercise on their own. They can lose a lot of weight by just running after their dog. They can even stay active at home by playing with their dog. a) In conclusion, you can train your dog yourself. b) To conclude, dogs are good friends. c) All in all, I love my dog. EXERCISE 9. Write a concluding sentence for each of the paragraphs below. 1 I don’t like wearing a school uniform because of many reasons. To begin with, I don’t like the style of school uniforms. They are mostly very boring and colourless clothes such as a navy blazer and a plaid skirt. Those kinds of clothes are too conservative for me. I like trendy mini skirts more than long plaid skirts. Secondly, the uniform isn’t comfortable. I can’t do different activities comfortably when I wear a skirt and a jacket. I prefer to wear baggy pants and a sweater. I can do different kinds of activities and sports with them. Finally, I want to be free and choose my own clothes. Uniforms are all the same and everybody looks the same wearing them. .

57 2 I love swimming because of many reasons. Firstly, it is very relaxing. Swimming lowers stress levels. There are many scientific studies that show the positive effects of swimming on anxiety and depression. Secondly, swimming is good for health, especially for the lungs and the heart. Swimming for thirty minutes a week can help you breath more easily. It can also prevent heart diseases. In addition, swimming is a fun activity. You can go to the beach with your friends and swim and have fun together. Or, you can go to the pool with your kids and splash some water at each other after swimming. Finally, swimming burns a lot of calories. You can lose weight and get in shape by swimming regularly. . Unity In a good paragraph, all the sentences support the main idea so that the paragraph has unity. Unity is an important element in writing a well-organized paragraph. To achieve unity, the paragraph should have a single focus. A sentence that does not support the main idea of the paragraph is called an irrelevant sentence. It does not belong to the paragraph. EXERCISE 10. Underline the irrelevant sentences in the following paragraphs. 1 There are ways to reduce the spread of pandemics. First thing you can do is to wash your hands after touching things. Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds. Secondly, you can wear a mask or cover your mouth and nose with a cloth. Some people think it can be harmful to wear a mask. Many people do not feel sick when they carry a virus, so you may not know that you have it. Therefore, it is a good idea to cover your nose and mouth to avoid spreading the virus to other people. Next, you can clean the surfaces you often touch. Clean the tables, laptops and phones frequently. Finally, when there is a pandemic, it is necessary to avoid close contact with people. The best thing to do is to stay at home as much as possible. In conclusion, there are many things you can do to reduce the spread of global illnesses.

58 2 I like traveling abroad because of several reasons. Firstly, I meet different people when I go to different countries. I make friends and learn new things from them. Next, I like going abroad because experiences are always better than pictures. When I go to a different country, I can smell the street, taste local food and experience living in a particular place. I can use the public transportation like local people do and eat food from street sellers. Finally, I can practice a foreign language when I am abroad. When I go abroad, I can talk to people all day by asking for directions, ordering food at a restaurant and talking to shop assistants. Furthermore, I can do listening and reading activities using online sources. As a conclusion, I enjoy traveling abroad because I can make friends, experience things and improve a foreign language. Coherence Another element of a good paragraph is coherence. Coherence means establishing a relationship between the ideas presented in a paragraph. In order to have coherence in writing, the movement from one sentence to the next must be logical and smooth. This helps the reader to understand and follow the paragraph easily. You can use transition words to show how one idea is related to the next. Transition Words Listing: First of all, First, Second, Third, Thirdly, Finally, Lastly, Firstly, Next, Then, Also, In addition, Moreover, Furthermore, etc. Illustration: For example, For instance, As an illustration, To give an example, To illustrate etc. Conclusion: To conclude, In conclusion, To sum up, In brief, In summary, All in all, etc. Look at the example below: In my opinion, credit cards are very convenient. First of all, credit cards are useful because you don’t have to carry a lot of cash with you. You can do shopping using a credit card when you do not have cash in your pocket. In addition, credit cards are useful when you do not want to pay for something at once. You can get expensive things and pay for them in the following months. For example, you can buy a mobile phone or a TV. Finally, you can avoid touching germs when you use credit cards. There are lots of viruses and bacteria on cash. There is the ‘contactless payment’ option in credit cards, so you do not even have to touch the credit card machine. To conclude, spending money by using credit cars is useful.

59 EXERCISE 11. Fill in the blanks with the suitable transition words. Social media has a good impact on the society. ______________ (1) it helps us communicate with our loved ones easily. When we don’t have enough time to go and visit our family or friends, we can make a video call using a social media app and see them. ______________ (2) we can make video calls using Skype or Whatsapp. ______________ (3) it is possible to learn a lot of things about people using social media. ______________ (4) we can check people’s Facebook or Instagram account and learn what kind of people they are. We can learn about their personality, hobbies and their friends. ______________ (5) social media is a great source of knowledge. Because many social media sites have many users, they spread information more rapidly than the official media. ______________ (6) we can learn about the latest news when we use Twitter. ______________ (7) social media has many positive effects on us. Stages of Writing STEP 1: Pre-writing First, you need to think of what to write and try to generate ideas. At this step, organization, using correct sentences and spelling are not important. You can use different strategies to generate ideas such as free-writing, listing or brainstorming. Brainstorming involves coming up with ideas using words or short phrases. You should write as many ideas as you can. This is an example brainstorming for the topic: ‘reasons to learn English’: talk to find a language people job of science, learn trade, English tourism meet new people travel widely easily spoken

60 STEP 2: Planning Next step is organizing your ideas. At this step, you should select the ideas you will use in your paragraph and group the similar ideas together. While doing this, you can take some of them out because they are not about the topic, or you can add new ones. You can group or organize the ideas in any way you like, but make sure the grouping is meaningful. Making an outline before starting to write can be helpful. This is an outline example: Topic & main idea ⇨ important to learn English 1st major support ⇨ get a job Minor support/s ⇨ you can find a job in a foreign company or abroad. 2nd major support ⇨ meet new people Minor support/s ⇨ you can talk to people using social media 3rd major support ⇨ travelling is easier Minor support/s ⇨ you can easily ask for directions or prices of souvenirs, order food and chat to the locals. STEP 3: Writing the first draft The first time that you write a paragraph, you produce your first draft. Your work is not finished! Writers usually need to write more than one draft to produce good work. STEP 4: Revising and editing the draft When you revise a paragraph, you add new information, take out some sentences, or change the order of the ideas. Editing means checking for mistakes and making corrections. EXERCISE 12. Look at the paragraph below and underline the mistakes by using the checklist given. I think distance learning has many advantages. Firstly you do not have to travel to school, so save time and money. Many people spends a lot of time and money to reach their schools. In addition you can continue your education when you are not feeling well. You can continue resting and learn at the same time. You can sit under a comfortable blanket and drink a cup of warm tea while listening to your teacher. Finally many times online classes are recorded, so you can watch them later. In formal training, when you cannot go to school, you miss the class and there isn’t anything you can do about it. However, in distance learning, there is the option to watch the classes later. In conclusion distance learning is beneficial because online classes save time, money and energy and you can watch them when you have the time.

61 CHECKLIST YES NO Are there any punctuation mistakes? Are there any capitalization mistakes? Are there any spelling mistakes? Are there any fragments / incomplete sentences? Are there any subject-verb agreement mistakes? EXERCISE 13. Look at the paragraph below and find the problem/s in its organization by using the checklist given. It is a good idea to use an electric car. First of all, electric cars are good for the environment. Electric cars do not run on fuel, so they do not produce harmful gases. The air can be clean when more people drive electric cars. Smoke coming from cars cause health risks. Secondly, you can save time by using an electric car because you don’t have to go to a petrol station to get petrol. You can charge your car at your house at night and wake up the next day and drive without losing any time. Finally, electric cars are cheaper than other cars. Fuel prices are very high, but you don’t have to pay for fuel with electric cars. Also, there are fewer parts in the engine of electric cars, so they do not need frequent repair. It means that you don’t have to pay much for their maintenance. CHECKLIST YES NO Is there a suitable topic sentence? Are there enough details in the supporting sentences? Are the supporting sentences organized in a meaningful way? Are there any irrelevant sentences? Is there a suitable concluding sentence?

62 EXERCISE 14. Write a paragraph of at least 150 words answering one of the questions below. Brainstorm ideas and make an outline before you write. • Which city do you want to live in? Why? • Are mobile phones harmful for teenagers? Why? • What is your favourite TV show / series? Why? OUTLINE Topic & main idea ⇨ ____________________________________________________________ 1st major support ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ Minor supports ⇨ ______________________________________________________________ 2nd major support ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ Minor supports ⇨ ______________________________________________________________ 3rd major support ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ Minor supports ⇨ ______________________________________________________________

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CHAPTER 7 OPINION PARAGRAPH 64 You have already learned how to write a well-organized paragraph. Now, you are going to learn how to write an opinion paragraph. The main idea of an opinion paragraph reflects your opinion about the topic. Here is an opinion paragraph: In my opinion, schools should ban fast food because of several reasons. To begin with, students need a healthy diet while they are growing up. It is not possible to get the necessary vitamins and minerals from fast food. Also, there are unhealthy ingredients in fast food. Fast food includes harmful trans fats and most fast food has food colouring agents in them. Moreover, students are at risk of becoming obese or having health problems when they eat fast food. For instance, they may have a higher risk of heart attacks or high blood pressure. Also, they may have vitamin deficiencies and dental problems. Furthermore, fast food can affect students’ mental growth negatively. Studies show that kids who often have fast food do not have the energy they need for learning. They cannot focus on their lessons or be successful at school as they don’t have enough energy. In conclusion, schools shouldn’t sell junk food to students. A fact is a piece of information that can be strictly defined and proved true. On the other hand, an opinion is a statement that expresses a belief, value, an assumption or feeling. An opinion cannot be proved true or false. For example, a person's age is a fact, but if someone is asked how old they feel, it is impossible to prove the person's answer to be true or false, so it is not a fact.

65 EXERCISE 1. Read the following statements and decide if they are facts or opinions. Write F for fact and O for opinion. e.g. __O__Italian is an easier language to learn than Spanish. 1. _____ In Turkey, smoking in public places is against the law. 2. _____ The most beautiful city in the world is Istanbul. 3. _____ Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities” was published in 1840. 4. _____ Hacettepe University has the best campus. 5. _____ The capital city of India is New Delhi. 6. _____ Running is the most effective way to lose weight. 7. _____ All public schools should ban mobile phones. 8. _____ Milk has more calcium in it than fruit juice. 9. _____ Most TV commercials today are misleading and silly. 10. _____ Nothing is better for a stomachache than chamomile tea. The format of an opinion paragraph is not different than other paragraph types. It starts with a topic sentence, which gives the topic and expresses the main idea, which is the writer’s opinion on the topic. Next, there comes the major and minor supporting sentences, which present details. Finally, the paragraph is completed with a concluding sentence, which restates the main idea, summarizes the major points and may make a final comment on the topic. An opinion paragraph is usually about a controversial issue, something people agree or disagree with. After deciding on whether you agree or disagree on an idea, you should think of your reasons that support your idea. You can generate ideas by brainstorming. As you have learned before, brainstorming involves coming up with ideas using words or short phrases. You should write as many ideas as you can. Out of the ideas you have found, you can choose which reasons are better and include them in your paragraph. You don’t have to include all the ideas that you have come up with in the brainstorming stage. An opinion paragraph follows this pattern: Topic Sentence Major supporting sentence 1 • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 2 • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 3 • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Concluding Sentence

66 EXERCISE 2. First decide on your opinion about the topics given below, then brainstorm and write ideas about your opinion. Example: Topic: Fast food in schools Opinion: Schools should ban fast food health lose energy problems can’t focus Schools should ban not fast food enough nutrition cause trans obesity oils 1. Topic: Keeping animals in zoos Opinion: Animals should be kept in zoos / animals should not be kept in zoos

67 2. Topic: Living in a small town Opinion: Living in a small town is a good idea / Living in a small town is not a good idea The Topic Sentence As you have learned before, the topic sentence should be about the main idea and should be a general sentence. In an opinion paragraph, the topic sentence should include the writer’s opinion. Here are some useful phrases to introduce the topic sentence: To begin the sentence: “In my opinion…”, “I believe (that)…”, “I think (that)…” To express your opinion: “should”, “must”, “good idea” Example: Topic: Junk food in schools Opinion: Junk food should be banned in schools Topic Sentence: In my opinion, schools should ban fast food because of several reasons. / I believe it is very important to ban junk food from schools. EXERCISE 3. Write a topic sentence by using the given topic, opinion, and useful language. 1. Topic: Keeping animals in zoos Opinion: Keeping animals in zoos is a good idea. Useful language: I believe / definitely Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________

68 2. Topic: Keeping animals in zoos Opinion: Keeping animals in zoos is not a good idea. Useful language: In my opinion / shouldn’t Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Topic: Living in a small town Opinion: Living in a small town is a good idea. Useful language: I think / must Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Topic: Living in a small town Opinion: Living in a small town is not a good idea. Useful language: I strongly believe / not a good idea Topic sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ Supporting Sentences In major supporting sentences, you develop and support your opinion by giving and explaining the reasons for your opinion. In minor supporting sentences, you provide examples, details, statistical information or facts to explain your reasons more in detail. You should write one major supporting sentence and one to three minor supporting sentences after each major supporting sentence. Look at the example: Topic sentence: In my opinion, schools should ban fast food because of several reasons. 1st major supporting sentence ⇨ To begin with, students need a healthy diet while they are growing up. Minor supporting sentences ⇨ It is not possible to get the necessary vitamins and minerals from fast food. Also, there are unhealthy ingredients in fast food. Fast food includes harmful trans fats and most fast food has food colouring agents in them. 2nd major supporting sentence ⇨ Moreover, students are at risk of becoming obese or having health problems when they eat fast food. Minor supporting sentences ⇨ For instance, they may have a higher risk of heart attacks or high blood pressure. Also, they may have vitamin deficiencies and dental problems. 3rd major supporting sentence ⇨ Furthermore, fast food can affect students’ mental growth negatively. Minor supporting sentences ⇨ Studies show that kids who often have fast food do not have the energy they need for learning. They cannot focus on their lessons or be successful at school as they don’t have enough energy.

69 Here are some phrases you can use in supporting sentences: Listing: First of all, First, Second, Third, Thirdly, Finally, Lastly, Firstly, Next, Then Addition: Also, In addition, Moreover, Furthermore Illustration: For example, For instance, As an illustration, To give an example Introducing quotation: According to … EXERCISE 4. Complete the following paragraphs by adding a major supporting sentence and minor supporting sentences. 1 The internet has destroyed communication among people. Firstly, people spend a lot of time doing various things on the internet. For instance, they play games, watch videos, listen to music on their own without talking to anybody. . Finally, people do not even see each other when they meet outside because they keep looking at their phones. They keep checking their messages or the number of likes they have on their social media posts. Because of this, people cannot have deep and long conversations. To conclude, overuse of the internet has ended the communication among people.

70 2 Everyone around the world admires Turkish people for their hospitability, generosity, and their respect for their families. . Secondly, Turkish people are very generous. They give gifts to each other in many different occasions. They take a gift with them when they are going to their friends home for a meal. Also, when Turkish people go out to a restaurant, they always fight to pay the bill. Finally, Turkish people always put their families first. A lot of people live with their families and look after the elderly. People visit their relatives often, and take important decisions with them. All in all, Turkish people are hospitable, generous and respectful to their family members. EXERCISE 5. Choose a topic sentence that you have written in EXERCISE 3 and first make an outline and then write major supporting sentences and minor supporting sentences. OUTLINE Topic & main idea ⇨ 1st major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨ 2nd major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨ 3rd major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨

71 Topic sentence: 1st major supporting sentence ⇨ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ 2nd major supporting sentence ⇨ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ 3rd major supporting sentence ⇨ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ The Concluding Sentence The concluding sentence of an opinion paragraph closes the discussion of your point of view. In this sentence, you should restate the controlling idea of the topic sentence.(e.g. In conclusion, schools shouldn’t sell junk food to students.) You can use a concluding strategy to complete the paragraph: • One strategy is to summarize the reasons you have used to support your opinion. (e.g. All in all, junk food should be banned from schools because if it is not banned, students cannot get enough nutrition, may be obese in the future and will not have the energy they need.) • Another strategy is expressing a final thought or recommendation and what might happen if people follow or do not follow it. (e.g. Junk food should be banned from schools because if it is not banned more and more people will die at young ages!) Here are some useful phrases for the concluding sentence: To conclude, In conclusion, To sum up, In brief, In summary, All in all EXERCISE 6. Write a concluding sentence for the draft (including a topic sentence and supporting sentences) you have made in EXERCISE 5. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

72 EXERCISE 7. Read the topic sentences given below and write a concluding sentence for each of them. 1. Topic Sentence: I think part time jobs are beneficial for students in a number of ways. Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Topic Sentence: In my opinion, parents are the best teachers. Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Topic Sentence: I believe students should stay in the campus. Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Topic Sentence: I think students should study alone. Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ EXERCISE 8. Look at the opinion paragraph below and underline the mistakes by using the checklist given. In my opinion children should go to nursery school. First of all nursery schools helps children develop social skills. Children can meet many other children and make friends in the nursery school. They can learn to interact with them, to care about other people and to share. Secondly children can prepare for elementery school when they go to nursery school. Nursery schools teach children different skills with activities and games. Children learn leters and numbers. Some nursery schools even teach foreign languages with songs. Studies show that getting preschool education helps children do better in reading and maths at school. Finally children can have a lot of fun at nursery school. Teachers know many games for young children which parents does not know. They teach games and their rules, so children can take part in them with their friends and have a much better time than at home. To conclude parents should send their children to nursery school. CHECKLIST YES NO Are there any punctuation mistakes? Are there any capitalization mistakes? Are there any spelling mistakes? Are there any fragments / incomplete sentences? Are there any subject-verb agreement mistakes?

73 EXERCISE 9. Look at the opinion paragraph below and find the problem/s in its organization by using the checklist given. In my opinion, wearing a uniform should be optional at high school. First of all, it saves time. Students do not have to waste time choosing which clothes to wear every day. They can wear their uniform and leave home quickly in the mornings. Secondly, wearing a uniform also saves money. It is cheaper to buy a uniform than to go out and buy lots of clothes for school. Students do not feel the pressure of keeping up with the latest styles when they wear a uniform, so they do not need to spend too much money on trendy clothes each season. Most importantly, wearing a uniform makes students feel like they are students. School uniforms are much more formal than everyday clothes, so students who wear them are more disciplined. In conclusion, students do not feel like they are at home or in a shopping centre with their casual clothes. CHECKLIST YES NO Is there a suitable topic sentence? Are there enough details in the supporting sentences? Are the supporting sentences organized in a meaningful way? Are there any irrelevant sentences? Is there a suitable concluding sentence?

74 EXERCISE 10. Write a paragraph of at least 150 words answering one of the questions below. Brainstorm ideas and make an outline before you write. • Everyone in the world should speak the same language. Do you agree or disagree? • It is good to have an extended family. Do you agree or disagree? • University students should live with their families. Do you agree or disagree? OUTLINE Topic & main idea ⇨ 1st major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨ 2nd major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨ 3rd major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨

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CHAPTER 8 CAUSE OR EFFECT PARAGRAPH 76 Most situations, events, and actions have causes and effects. For example, when you explain why something has happened, or why you have made a certain decision, you are describing the causes or reasons. On the other hand, when you explain the results of a situation, or the results of a decision you have made, you are describing the effects. In this chapter, you will learn how to write about the causes or effects of a situation. In this type of paragraph, you should focus on the causes or the effects. You should not write about both the causes and the effects. Here is a cause paragraph: According to statistics, one in every thirty people in the world live outside of their country. Every year, many people move to another country because of three main reasons. To start with, people move abroad to find a job. It might be difficult for people to find a good job in their country, but there may be many employment opportunities in other countries. For example, people go to Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden to get a job in the IT industry because there are many developer and programmer positions available in these countries. In addition, people move to different countries to earn more money. In many countries people earn very little money, but they can earn much more in other countries. For example, monthly wages are low in India, so every year people move out of India to find a job with a better salary. Many Indians move to UAE, and they earn three times more than they do in India. Finally, people move to countries with a better climate. For example, Asian people move to other continents to escape the heat. To conclude, people move abroad for a better life. EXERCISE 1. Answer the following questions according to the paragraph given above. 1. What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? 2. What are three main reasons why people move to another country?

77 Look at the effect paragraph below: Moving to another country affects people negatively in different ways. The first effect is on the psychology. People leave their families and friends when they move to another country. It takes time for them to make new friends, so they might feel lonely. For instance, they may not have anybody to share their problems with. Secondly, when people start living in another country, they experience culture shock. From food to behaviours, everything is different in a new country, and because of this difference, people feel bad. Furthermore, people have difficulties communicating with the local people because of not knowing the language of the country very well. It might be easier to find a location or order food at a restaurant, but it is much more challenging for people to work with other people or to express themselves at times of conflict. In conclusion, moving to another country may lead to loneliness, culture shock and communication problems. EXERCISE 2. Answer the following questions according to the paragraph given above. 1. What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? 2. What are three main effects of moving to another country? EXERCISE 3. A. Work with a partner. Discuss the possible causes and effects of failing the Prep Class. Causes of Failing the Prep Class Effects of Failing the Prep Class

78 B. Read Text A and Text B below. Which of the ideas that you have discussed above are mentioned in the texts? Text A. There are several reasons for the failure of a student in the Prep Class. First of all, students may fail in the Prep class because of psychological problems. Most students stay away from their family for the first time when they start the Prep class, and this may cause anxiety or depression. As a result of this, students may fail. The second cause of failure at the Prep class is not studying enough. After finishing high school and passing the University Entrance Exam, students think they don’t have to study much anymore. They think that the Prep class is easy and they can pass without studying. However, the Prep class is very difficult to pass without adequate study and practice. Finally, students fail because they do not know how to study. At high school, students study for their exams by reading their notes over and over again and memorizing. However, at the Prep Class, students cannot simply study by memorization. It is necessary to practice skills of language in order to pass the Prep Class. In conclusion, being away from family, not studying enough and not knowing how to study result in failing the Prep class. Text B. There are a number of consequences of failing the Prep Class. Firstly, students cannot start studying in their departments. They have to repeat the Prep class which means that they have to study English for one more year and start their departments one year later. In addition, when students of the Prep Class fail, they are very upset and frustrated. They start worrying that they may fail again and this worry affects their performance. In a way, students get into a cycle of failure when they fail once. Furthermore, when students fail in the Prep Class, they might have financial problems. For example, they cannot get any scholarship the following year. Also, they need more money throughout their education because they study for one more year. To conclude, students should know that if they do not pass the Prep Class, they will have to struggle with many problems.

79 A cause / effect paragraph follows this pattern: Topic Sentence Major supporting sentence 1 (Cause 1 / Effect 1) • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 2 (Cause 2 / Effect 2) • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 3 (Cause 3 / Effect 3) • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Concluding Sentence The Topic Sentence When you write a paragraph on causes, your topic sentence should include the situation (or decision, event, etc.) and the number of causes. You can use expressions such as several reasons, three main causes, two major reasons, etc. See the examples below: 1. Every year, many people move to another country because of three main reasons. 2. There are several reasons for the failure of a student in the Prep Class. 3. There are several causes of insomnia. The topic sentence for a paragraph on effects should state the situation (or decision, event, etc) and indicate that you will be discussing its effects. See the examples below: 1. Green tea has several (important) effects / impacts on the body. 2. There are a number of consequences of failing in the Prep Class. 3. The Covid-19 pandemic caused several problems in my country. 4. Insomnia influences / affects a person’s life in many ways. Tip: Before the topic sentence, you can write a ‘hook’ which engages the reader’s interest by personalizing the topic or showing why it is important for the reader to know about it. Look at the example below: Hook According to statistics, one in every thirty people in the world live outside of their country. Every year, many people move to another country because of three main reasons. Topic Sentence

80 EXERCISE 4. Write topic sentences for the following paragraphs. 1 Many people like running more than other kinds of exercises. . To begin with, running regularly benefits the body. Running for just five minutes a day decreases the risk of having heart diseases, increases the amount of muscle in the body, and burns body fat. Moreover, running positively affects the brain. According to some scientific studies, running improves memory and helps you with learning and decision making. Furthermore, running benefits the psychology. When you run, the body produces some hormones which improve your mood. Another way in which running can improve your mood is by getting you outdoors. Studies have demonstrated that simply being exposed to natural environments can make you feel good and increase energy levels. To conclude, running regularly is beneficial to the body, brain and psychology. 2 . First of all, there is a different emotional tone in each movie. For example, Iron Man 2 has a lot of humor, but Thor is much more darker, and has a sad tone. Secondly, directors of the Marvel movies come from different backgrounds, and have knowledge in different types of movies such as spy movies, horror and comedy. This experience makes each movie different. For example, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a spy movie, and Guardians of the Galaxy is a combination of a space opera and a comedy. Finally, Marvel movies raise curiosity. In the end of each movie, there is a scene which gives a hint of the next Marvel movie. Consequently, the audience starts to be curious about the next movie, and waits for it until it is released. To conclude, Marvel movies are successful due to their different tones, their directors’ experience in different genres, and the element of curiosity they have.

81 Supporting Sentences After writing the topic sentence, you need to develop the causes or effects by giving explanations or examples. Use listing signals when you are moving from one major idea to the next. Some of the patterns that you may use are the following: SIGNAL WORDS THAT INTRODUCE EXAMPLES CAUSES I moved abroad because / since / as I because / since / as wanted to find a better job. Because / Since / As I wanted to find a better job, I moved abroad. due to / because of (+ noun / verb + ing) I moved to another country due to / because of the hot weather in my country. Due to / Because of the weather in my country, I moved to another country. SIGNAL WORDS THAT INTRODUCE EXAMPLES EFFECTS therefore / thus / consequently / as a I earned little money. result Therefore / Thus / Consequently / As a result, I quit. so I earned little money, so I quit. cause / results in / lead to Moving to another country may cause / (+ noun / verb + ing) result in / lead to stress.

82 EXERCISE 5. Rewrite the sentences given below in a different way using the words and phrases which have been given. 1. Children watch too much television, so they behave aggressively. (therefore) _______________________________________________________________________________ (because) ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. My wife is generous. She buys gifts for her friends on special days. (since) ___________________________________________________________________________________ (so) ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3. I do exercises in the morning, and I feel better. (as a result) ______________________________________________________________________________ (because of) _____________________________________________________________________________ 4. Global warming causes climate changes. (due to) __________________________________________________________________________________ (lead to) _________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Teenagers lie to their parents because they don't want their parents to punish them. (consequently) ___________________________________________________________________________ (so) ______________________________________________________________________________________ 6. I study for my lessons. Therefore, I succeed. (lead to) _________________________________________________________________________________ (because) ________________________________________________________________________________

83 You can use the following transition words to introduce your supporting sentences: To List and Add The most important cause of / effect of / result of / reason for … is … Points To start with, … To begin with,… Firstly,… Secondly,… Thirdly,… In addition,… Moreover,… Furthermore,… Finally,… To Introduce For example, Examples For instance, … such as / like… EXERCISE 6. Write three major supporting sentences for the topic sentences given below. 1. Watching television can have several positive effects on students’ learning English. a)________________________________________________________________________________________ b)________________________________________________________________________________________ c)________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. There are several reasons why many women wait until they are thirty years old or older to have a baby. a)________________________________________________________________________________________ b)________________________________________________________________________________________ c)________________________________________________________________________________________

84 EXERCISE 7. Write minor supporting sentences in the blanks below. Many university students cannot afford to have a very good life as they do not have much money. University students have little money because of several reasons. The main reason is that they cannot work full-time. . Secondly, university students have other expenses that adults do not have. . Finally, university students may not have much money because their families do not give them enough money. To conclude, there are many reasons why university students have little money. The Concluding Sentence In the conclusion of a cause/ effect paragraph, the writer states the main idea in other words. Another way to write a concluding sentence is by suggesting a solution for the negative causes or effects you have described in the supporting sentences or giving a warning about them. You can use the following phrases to introduce a conclusion: Use Phrase To introduce a conclusion To sum up, All in all, In conclusion, To conclude, Taking everything into account,

85 e.g. In conclusion, there are many reasons why students might fail in the Prep Class. / Taking everything into account, students of the Prep Class should know that they will fail if they don’t make enough effort to pass. EXERCISE 8. Write concluding sentences for the topic sentences given below. 1. Watching television can have several positive effects on students’ learning English. Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________________________ 2. There are several reasons why many women are waiting until they are thirty years old or older to have a baby. Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________________________________________ EXERCISE 9. Look at the effect paragraph below and underline the mistakes by using the checklist given. There are several negative effects of dropping out of high school. First of all, teenagers who give up on their education start working at young ages and cannot find a good job. Many people who drop out of school can only find jobs in factories. It is very difficult to work in places like factories. The second impact of dropping out of school is on the financial situation. People without a good education mostly cannot earn a lot of money and this means that their life standards will also be low. Finally, dropping out of school have a negative effect on the psychology of people. People who does not continue with their education may feel like they have failed. They may think that they cannot succeed in anything they do, so they may not even try to do anything thinking they will fail again. To conclude if you drop out of school, you cannot find a good job and you may not have enough income and confidence. CHECKLIST YES NO Are there any punctuation mistakes? Are there any capitalization mistakes? Are there any spelling mistakes? Are there any fragments / incomplete sentences? Are there any subject-verb agreement mistakes?

86 EXERCISE 10. Look at the cause paragraph below and find the problem/s in its organization by using the checklist given. There are several consequences of having fast food instead of healthy food. First of all, fast food is cheap. Everybody can afford to buy a burger or pizza, but unfortunately not everyone can go to a good restaurant which serves healthy meals. Next, as its name suggests, eating fast food does not take a long time. It is possible to save time by eating fast food quickly. However, yesterday it took me half an hour to finish eating a burger because I was sick. We can buy fast food and eat it while we are travelling, at the break time in school or while we are watching a movie. People can find time to do many other things by eating fast food. Another reason why many people have fast food is that it is delicious. There is a lot of oil and salt in fast food which makes it very tasty. In conclusion, healthy food which is made out of vegetables or grilled meat is not as delicious as fast food. CHECKLIST YES NO Is there a suitable topic sentence? Are there enough details in the supporting sentences? Are the supporting sentences organized in a meaningful way? Are all the sentences relevant? Is there a suitable concluding sentence?

87 EXERCISE 10: Write a paragraph of at least 150 words answering one of the questions below. Brainstorm ideas and make an outline before you write. • Causes / Effects of stress • Causes / Effects of getting married • Causes / Effects of global warming OUTLINE Topic & main idea ⇨ 1st major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨ 2nd major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨ 3rd major support ⇨ Minor supports ⇨

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89 ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE CHAPTER 9 PARAGRAPH An advantage or disadvantage paragraph is written to persuade or inform someone about a topic or to make a decision by analysing something. When you write about advantages or disadvantages, you critically assess a concept, action, or event, and make decisions or recommendations based on this assessment. In this type of paragraph, you should focus on the advantages or the disadvantages. You should not write about both the advantages and the disadvantages. Here is an advantage paragraph: (1) There are several benefits of booking a hotel online. (2) To begin with, it is very convenient. (3) Instead of going to a travel agency, you can use your laptop or phone. (4) You can book a hotel sitting on your comfortable sofa at home. (5) Furthermore, there are so many hotels to choose from on the internet. (6) You can look at the websites of various agencies or websites which specialize in online booking. (7) When you have many options, you can compare and choose the hotel you like or the one with a better price. (8) Finally, you can save time when you book a hotel online. (9) You do not have to lose time by going to a travel agency. (10) You do not have to wait for the other clients. (11) You can quickly access a website and do your reservation in a couple of minutes. (12) To conclude, you should book your hotel online to benefit from these advantages. EXERCISE 1. Fill in the blanks in the outline according to the paragraph given above. Write the number of the sentence(s). Topic Sentence ⇨ _______ 1st major supporting sentence ⇨ _______ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ _______ 2nd major supporting sentence ⇨ _______ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ _______ 3rd major supporting sentence ⇨ _______ Minor supporting sentence/s ⇨ _______ Concluding Sentence ⇨ _______

90 ! Tip: You should write more than 1 minor supporting sentence to develop your ideas. EXERCISE 2. A. Work with a partner. Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of being famous. Advantages of being famous Disadvantages of being famous B. Read Text A and Text B below. Which of the ideas that you have discussed above are mentioned in the texts? Text A. Many people around the world try to find a way to be famous. Being a celebrity has certain advantages. The main benefit of being a celebrity is getting a special treatment. Everybody tries to keep celebrities happy. They get the best rooms at hotels, the best tables at restaurants and the best seats at the theatre. People give them gifts and flowers. Another advantage of being a celebrity is that famous people are generally rich. They live in luxurious houses, drive the best cars and can buy expensive clothes. Some celebrities even have private jets and islands. Finally, celebrities have fans, so they always feel loved. Celebrities get lots of mails from their fans. Some fans devote their life to celebrities, and they do everything possible to please them. To conclude, if you are a celebrity, you will be treated well, probably have a lot of money and never feel lonely.

91 Text B. There are three main disadvantages of being a celebrity. The major drawback of being a celebrity is not having privacy. Celebrities cannot go to the supermarket, walk on a crowded street or go to a local cafe. This is because if they do that, everyone will try to take their pictures and try to talk to them. Another disadvantage of being a celebrity is receiving constant criticism. The media follows celebrities’ every move and reporters judge celebrities’ looks, clothes and behaviour. If you are not famous, you do not have to worry about making a mistake or not looking good on a particular day. However, every detail about celebrities’ life become news. For example, when a celebrity puts on a little weight or is not in good shape, everyone says it out loud. Finally, celebrities may have a lot of fake friends. There are many people around celebrities who want to use their fame for their own benefit. With this aim, people may act like friends, but only few might actually really care. Celebrities may have a lot of friends, but they may find themselves alone when they lose their fame. To sum up, being famous is not advantageous. An advantage / disadvantage paragraph follows this pattern: Topic Sentence Major supporting sentence 1 (Advantage 1 / Disadvantage 1) • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 2 (Advantage 2 / Disadvantage 2) • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Major supporting sentence 3 (Advantage 3 / Disadvantage 3) • 1-3 Minor supporting sentences Concluding Sentence

92 The Topic Sentence The topic sentences of an advantage or disadvantage paragraph should include a topic and a controlling idea, and state that there are several advantages or disadvantages to the topic. The topic sentence should make it clear whether the paragraph is an advantage or a disadvantage paragraph. See the examples below: 1. There are three main advantages / disadvantages of living in the countryside. 2. Living in the countryside offers three main advantages / benefits (to people). 3. Living in the countryside has three main disadvantages / drawbacks (for people). 4. I think / believe / suppose that there are several good / bad / positive / negative aspects of living in the countryside. Tip: Before the topic sentence, you can write a ‘hook’ which engages the reader’s interest by personalizing the topic or showing why it is important for reader to know about it. Look at the example below: Hook Many people around the world try to find a way to be famous. Being a celebrity has certain advantages. Topic Sentence EXERCISE 3. Write topic sentences for the topics given below: 1. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of online shopping Topic sentence:_________________________________________________________________________ 2. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of living in a big city Topic sentence:_________________________________________________________________________ 3. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of attending a private university Topic sentence:_________________________________________________________________________ Supporting Sentences After writing the topic sentence, you need to develop the advantages / disadvantages by giving explanations or examples, or describing results.

93 Use listing signals when you are moving from one major idea to the next. Some of the patterns that you may use are the following: Use Phrase To Introduce or List The main advantage / benefit of … Advantages / Disadvantages One (major) advantage / benefit of… Another advantage / benefit of … The main disadvantage / drawback of … One (major) disadvantage / drawback of… Another disadvantage / drawback of … It is often believed that… To start with, … To begin with,… Firstly,… Secondly,… Thirdly,… In addition,… Moreover,… Furthermore,… What is more,… Besides,… Finally,… To Introduce Examples For example, For instance, … such as / like… EXERCISE 4. Fill in the blanks with suitable linkers. Some people prefer living away from the city, in the beautiful greenery of the countryside. There are many advantages of living in the countryside. ………………. (1), you are much closer to nature and you can enjoy more peace, which has a positive effect on people. When you are outside and listening to the sound of birds and the rain, you cannot have stress or any worry. ………… (2), people who live in the country tend to be more open and friendly. When you are around this kind of people, you can never feel lonely. You can get to know all your neighbours and be there for each other all the time. ………… (3), people in the country face much less traffic. They can enjoy the fresh air without the exhaust gasses of the cars. To conclude, it is a good idea to live in the country.

94 EXERCISE 5. Fill in the blanks with the words from the box below. advantageous advantages drawbacks benefits disadvantageous disadvantage Many people leave cities to go and live in the countryside to escape from the traffic and pollution. However, living in the countryside is not always ………………. (1). There are certain ………………. (2) of living in the country. To start with, because there are fewer people, people who live in the country might have fewer friends. This might be a major ………………. (3) especially for young people in today’s world. Today, teenagers and even adults want to have hundreds of friends. Secondly, social life in the country compared to big cities is limited in the countryside. Away from the city, there is nothing much to do apart from visiting your neighbours’ homes and have a cup of tea with them. Furthermore, the fact that there are fewer shops and services often means that there are fewer employment opportunities. In the country, people can mostly do only farming. Finally, one may have to travel long distances to work elsewhere. This means that the people who live in the country may not find enough time to do different activities on a work day. All in all, living in the countryside is ………………. (4). EXERCISE 6. Read the major supporting sentences about motorcycles and match them with the minor supporting sentences given below. Write the letters (a, b, c…) of the minor supporting sentences in the blanks next to the major supporting sentences. Major Supporting Sentences 1. They are very convenient. ___ 2. There is only space for one passenger on a motorcycle. ___ 3. Motorcycles aren’t as safe as cars. ___ 4. People prefer travelling on motorcycles because they are cheap. ___ 5. Motorcycles can be quite uncomfortable. ___ , ___ 6. You can get to your destination quickly and easily by motorcycle. ___ , ___

95 Minor Supporting Sentences a. They use less fuel and need fewer expensive repairs. b. You can park them easily because they don’t take much space. c. You can’t sit back and relax on them. d. They can go as fast as cars. e. You are exposed to bad weather, which makes you get wet or cold. f. You almost never get stuck in traffic jams, so you can save a lot of time in rush hours. g. You aren’t well protected and you can get badly hurt if you fall down. h. You can’t travel with your friends on a motorcycle. EXERCISE 7. Write three major supporting sentences for the topic sentences you have written in EXERCISE 3. 1. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of online shopping a)________________________________________________________________________________________ b)________________________________________________________________________________________ c)________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of living in a big city a)________________________________________________________________________________________ b)________________________________________________________________________________________ c)________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of attending a private university a)________________________________________________________________________________________ b)________________________________________________________________________________________ c)________________________________________________________________________________________ EXERCISE 8. Write two minor supporting sentences for the major supporting sentence (on the topic of Advantages / Disadvantages of online shopping) you have written in EXERCISE 7. 1. Major supporting sentence: ___________________________________________________________ a)________________________________________________________________________________________ b)________________________________________________________________________________________ The Concluding Sentence In the conclusion of an advantage / disadvantage paragraph, the writer states the main idea by using other words and can give advice based on the three major ideas.

96 You can use the following phrases to introduce a conclusion: Use Phrase To Introduce a Conclusion To sum up, All in all, In conclusion, To conclude, Taking everything into account / consideration, All things considered, On the whole, e.g. In conclusion, / To conclude, while deciding to live in a dormitory on campus or not, students should consider these advantages / benefits / drawbacks / downsides / negative aspects/ positive aspects. EXERCISE 9. Write concluding sentences for the topic sentences you have written in EXERCISE 3. 1. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of online shopping Concluding sentence:_________________________________________________________________ 2. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of living in a big city Concluding sentence:_________________________________________________________________ 3. Topic: Advantages / Disadvantages of attending a private university Concluding sentence:_________________________________________________________________ EXERCISE 10. Look at the advantage paragraph below and underline the mistakes by using the checklist given. There are many advantages of living with a pet. One of the bigest advantages of living with pets is that they help us live longer. People who live with pets live longer because pets reduce stress and anxiety. Also, pets can smell medical conditions. Animals can notice small changes in the human body. Dogs and cats can sense an issue and warn their owners by changing behaviors. This way, people can find out that they have an illness. Second advantage of living with pets is the affection and comfort they provide. When we feel sad, feel it and try to make us happy by being next to us. Finally, pets help us socialize and meet new people. For example people who take their dogs for a walk can meet other people with dogs and make new friends. To conclude, pets help us live longer, feel better and socialize.

97 CHECKLIST YES NO Are there any punctuation mistakes? Are there any capitalization mistakes? Are there any spelling mistakes? Are there any fragments / incomplete sentences? Are there any subject-verb agreement mistakes? EXERCISE 11. Look at the disadvantage paragraph below and find the problem/s in its organization by using the checklist given. Pets are sweet and adorable. Major drawback of living with a pet is the increase in responsibility. Pets are like young children. They always need you to look after them. People who are used to living alone or have busy schedules may have difficulty taking care of a pet. Secondly, some people’s health can be affected negatively when they live with pets if they have an allergy. People with pet allergy may have a fever, sneeze frequently or may have a runny nose. It is uncomfortable to live with these kinds of symptoms. Another drawback of keeping a pet at home is its cost. If you have a pet, you have to take it to the vet for treatment and vaccination, buy pet food and toys. All of these may cost a lot of money. In conclusion, you should adopt a pet. CHECKLIST YES NO Is there a suitable topic sentence? Are there enough details in the supporting sentences? Are the supporting sentences organized in a meaningful way? Are all the sentences relevant? Is there a suitable concluding sentence?

98 EXERCISE 12: Write a paragraph of at least 150 words answering one of the questions below. Brainstorm ideas and make an outline before you write. • Advantages / Disadvantages of travelling alone • Advantages / Disadvantages of distance education • Advantages / Disadvantages of a long-distance relationship OUTLINE Topic & main idea ⇨ ____________________________________________________________ 1st major support ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ Minor supports ⇨ ______________________________________________________________ 2nd major support ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ Minor supports ⇨ ______________________________________________________________ 3rd major support ⇨ ___________________________________________________________ Minor supports ⇨ ______________________________________________________________

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CHAPTER 10 COMPARE OR CONTRAST PARAGRAPH 100 In everyday life, we compare or contrast the neighborhoods we want to live in and the prices of homes we want to buy, or the honesty and policies of political candidates as we decide for whom we will vote. In a comparison or contrast paragraph, we compare or contrast two things or more to show how they are similar or how they are different. In this chapter, you will learn how to write about the similarities or differences between two things. In this type of paragraph, you should either focus on the similarities or the differences. You should not write about both the similarities and the differences. Here is a paragraph which focuses on similarities: Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp are world-wide famous actors whose acting careers are alike in some ways. First of all, both of these actors started their acting career on TV. Johnny Depp acted in the TV series called 21 Jump Street and Leonardo DiCaprio acted in the TV series called Parenthood. Another similarity between these two actors is that both of them acted in a movie with a famous ship. Leonardo DiCaprio rose to fame with the movie Titanic, which perhaps is the most well-known movie about a ship. Similarly, Johnny Depp acted in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which are about adventures that take place on a pirate ship called ‘the Black Pearl’. Finally, both of these actors played the part of real characters. The real-life characters which DiCaprio portrayed were Louis XIV, the King of France and Howard Hughes, the American aviator and movie producer. Likewise, Johnny Depp portrayed many real-life characters such as John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester, and J. M. Barrie, the Scottish novelist and playwright. To conclude, there are similarities between the careers of the two actors. EXERCISE 1. Answer the following questions according to the paragraph given above. 1. What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? 2. What are the similarities between Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp?