AVTC2_Unit 6_Before class

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together UNIT 6: DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPHS - PUT IT ALL TOGETHER I. PRE-WRITING 1. Topic sentences  A topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It is usually the first sentence in the paragraph, but not always. The topic sentence can also appear within the paragraph or at the end of the paragraph.  The structure of a topic sentence: A topic sentence = a topic + controlling ideas Example: => From this topic sentence, readers know that the paragraph will contain information and reasons why Paris is a city for fashion and food lovers.  A strong topic sentence should:  introduce the main idea of the paragraph;  not be too general or too specific. Example: The paragraph describes Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam. Topic sentence A: Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam attracts more than 8 million tourists this year. => weak topic sentence (too specific) Topic sentence B: Dragon Bridge in Da Nang is one of the most famous landscapes in Vietnam for many reasons. strong topic sentence (readers know that the paragraph will explain reasons why Dragon Bridge is one of the most famous landscapes in Vietnam.) Task 1. Read the following topic sentences and choose which is the stronger topic sentence? Give reasons for your answers. 1. You want to write a paragraph to describe a famous singer. A. Celine Dion is well-known for her kindness and talent. B. Celine Dion is a famous singer in the world. [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 3

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together 2. You want to write a paragraph to describe a party that you enjoyed. A. My 18th birthday party was unforgettable for several reasons. B. I played piano and sang a song in my 18th birthday party. 3. You want to write a paragraph to describe your favorite book. A. The Call of the Wild is one of the greatest novels of all times. B. The Call of the Wild is my favorite book because it teaches me many lessons in life. 4. You want to write a paragraph about an interesting city in Vietnam. A. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. B. A lot of foreigners choose to visit Hanoi because this city has many interesting attractions. 5. You want to write a paragraph about the most popular national park to visit in Vietnam. C. Bears and deers are two animals that can be seen in Cat Tien National Park. D. Cat Tien National Park is the most popular national park in Vietnam for tourists to visit. (Adapted from: MyELT, n.d. Pathways Reading Writing and Critical Thinking 2 (2nd ed.). National Geographic Learning.) Task 2. Read the following paragraph and then write a good topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph. 1. The Blue River ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ First, fresh clean water is home to a lot of fish and plants. Moreover, the tall trees near the river are green and healthy. Wild animals come to drink the sweet water and rest on the banks of the river. The Blue River is also a source of clean water for people in the area. It is difficult for people and animals in the area to live without the Blue River. (Adapted from: Folse, K. S., Muchmore-Vokoun, A., & Solomon, E. V. (2019). Great writing 2: Great Paragraphs (p. 56). National Geographic Learning.) 2. Supporting sentences  Supporting sentences give information that explains and expands the topic of the paragraph. They answer questions – who?, what?, where?, when,? why?, and how? – and give details. Good writers think of these questions when they write supporting sentences for the topic sentence. [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 4

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together Good supporting sentences have different purposes. Writers use them to:  explain: The family moved from the village to the capital for economic reasons.  describe: She lived in a lovely three-story castle surrounded by a forest.  give reasons: Lukas finally quit his job because of the stressful working conditions.  give facts: More than ten percent of the university's student population is international.  give examples: Oranges and grapefruits grow in California.  define: Many tourists visit Bangkok, which is the capital and largest city in Thailand.  In a descriptive paragraph, supporting sentences help to paint a vivid picture of the person, object, place, or event in the readers’ minds. Supporting sentences for descriptive paragraphs should include:  descriptive language (usually adjectives) to describe the experience of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch (or feel). Note: It is not necessary to always discuss all five senses. Depending on the topic, you should choose which senses are applicable.  the purpose or reason for describing the person, object, place, or event. You must be able to show the reader how and why the person, object, place, or event is important to you. (Adapted from: Folse, K. S., Muchmore-Vokoun, A., & Solomon, E. V. (2019). Great writing 2: Great Paragraphs (p. 76). National Geographic Learning.) Task 3. Read the topic sentence and its supporting sentences below. Decide what the purposes of the supporting sentences are. Topic sentence: Low-fat diets are an excellent way to stay fit and healthy. Supporting sentence: Low-fat diets are recommended by most doctors. (fact) - Supporting sentence 1: The general public prefers these diets because they help to lose weight. (__________________) - Supporting sentence 2: Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and pasta. (________________) - Supporting sentence 3: Low-fat foods are convenient because they are easy to find in stores. (__________________) - Supporting sentence 4: Crispy steamed vegetables, grilled fish, and chicken are all tasty parts of a low-fat, heart-friendly diet. (__________________) [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 5

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together Task 4. Read each topic sentence. Write at least three questions about each topic. Remember to use who? what? where? when? why? or how? questions. 0. I will never forget my summer vacation. a. Why was this vacation so unforgettable? b. Where did you go? c. What did you do? 1. My little cat is very different from other cats in my neighborhood. a. ___________________________________________________________________ b. ___________________________________________________________________ c. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Quebec City is a wonderful place to raise children. a. ___________________________________________________________________ b. ___________________________________________________________________ c. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. I will never forget the day I graduated from high school. a. ___________________________________________________________________ b. ___________________________________________________________________ c. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. A sample paragraph Task 5. Read the sample paragraph about a cat and answer the questions. My cat is so special, from the tips of her small ears to the end of her long tail. She has smooth and soft fur because she cleans herself with her pink tongue every day. Each time this is done, she sits up straight and looks around to be admired. Sometimes, she relaxes on my favorite chair and makes sure that I know that I would not be able to move her anywhere else. If I buy her some new or unusual food, she will examine her dish carefully. She sniffs it and then gives a serious look to show that I should not try to change her diet. In spite of her hard-to-please characteristic, she is always my beautiful and loyal friend. 1. What is the topic sentence? Underline it. 2. How many supporting sentences are there? ___________ [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 6

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together 3. In your opinion, do the supporting sentences give more details to describe the topic sentence? __________ 4. How does the writer paint a picture in the readers’ mind about the cat? ______________________________________________________________________ 5. Complete the following table with the adjectives and adverbs that are used to describe the cat in the sample paragraph: Sight Taste Sound Smell Touch/ Reasons Feel 6. Highlight the concluding sentence. Does it repeat the information in the topic sentence in a new way? __________ (Adapted from: Unit 3 - the descriptive paragraph - lesson 2A descriptive language. Intermediate Writing Course. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2022, from https:/ /web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/writingi/unit3/u3_l2a.htm) Task 6. Complete the outline for the writing topic in Task 6. Topic sentence _________________________________________________________ Supporting Supporting Sentence 1: _____________________________________ sentences ________________________________________________________ Detail 1: ______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Supporting Sentence 2: _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Detail 2: _______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Supporting Sentence 3: _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Detail 3: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 7

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together Concluding ________________________________________________________ sentence 4. Useful language Task 7. Complete the tables below with appropriate descriptive language and some reasons why the person/object/place/event is important to you. Topic: A sunset on the beach Sight Taste Sound Smell Touch/ Feel Reasons Not applicable Topic: A chocolate cake Sight Taste Sound Smell Touch/ Feel Reasons Topic: A market Sight Taste Sound Smell Touch/ Feel Reasons [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 8

������ AVTC2_Unit 6_Put It All Together Task 8. Work with a partner. Look at these nouns. Add adjectives or prepositional phrases to describe the nouns. Example: a street a wide street near my house. 1. a dog _____________________________________________ 2. a door _____________________________________________ 3. the man _____________________________________________ 4. the mountain _____________________________________________ 5. chocolate _____________________________________________ 5. Brainstorm ideas Writing topic: Describe your favorite place to visit during the summer holiday. * Brainstorm ideas: Complete the following mind-map with detailed information about your favorite place to visit during the summer holiday. [FOR INTERNAL USE AT VAN LANG UNIVERSITY ONLY] - page 9