English Speaking & WritingEnglish Speaking & WritingMarch 24, 2010March 24, 2010

Warm UpWould you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather? It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject. “We found this so interesting, because it could have gone the other way — it could have been, ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ — as long as you surf on the shallow level of life you’re happy, and if you go into the existential depths you’ll be unhappy,” Dr. Mehl said. But, he proposed, substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons: both because human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives, and because we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people. “By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world,” Dr. Mehl said.-Roni Rabin, The New York Times

Warm UpWould you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather?It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject.“We found this so interesting, because it could have gone the other way — it could have been, ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ — as long as you surf on the shallow level of life you’re happy, and if you go into the existential depths you’ll be unhappy,” Dr. Mehl said.But, he proposed, substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons: both because human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives, and because we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people.“By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world,” Dr. Mehl said.-Roni Rabin, The New York Times

Which one was easier to read?

Welcome!Today’s agenda: Paragraphs Paragraphs Activities

What is a paragraph?

ParagraphsBased on your definition, are the

following examples paragraphs? In the middle of a terrifying desert north

of Tibet, Chinese archaeologists have excavated an extraordinary cemetery. Its inhabitants died almost 4,000 years ago, yet their bodies have been well preserved by the dry air.-Nicholas Wade, The New York Times

ParagraphsBased on your definition, are the

following examples paragraphs? Within each boat coffin were grave goods,

including beautifully woven grass baskets, skillfully carved masks and bundles of ephedra, an herb that may have been used in rituals or as a medicine.-Nicholas Wade, The New York Times

How many sentences are in a paragraph?

Paragraphs A paragraph is a sentence or group of

sentences that develops one idea.

Characteristics of a paragraph: Unified Coherent

Paragraphs

When do we start a new paragraph? Introduce a new idea Emphasize a point Transition between ideas Indicate a new speaker in dialogue

Paragraphs

Paragraphs

Remember: A paragraph is not an

individual unit, but a small part of a larger body.

Paragraphs ActivityPart 1

Excerpt from

The Trumpet of the Swan.

By E.B. White

Page 5.

Let’s take a break.

Paragraphs ActivityPart 2

Elevator Experiment Activity

Assignment:

In your journals, write one paragraph about what the video illustrates.

NOTE: Don’t just explain what happened.

Groups must decide on a group name by next week.

Homework assignment

Announcements

Have a good week.

Fredrick, Tim. (2005, October 27). Teaching students how to paragraph. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://timfredrick.typepad.com/timfredrick/2005/10/teaching_studen.html.

Paragraph Development. (2007). The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved November 2, 2009 from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/paragraphs.html .

Rabin, Roni Caryn. (2010, March 17). “Talk Deeply, Be Happy.” The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/talk-deeply-be-happy/?emc=eta1.

Teaching Paragraphs. (2010, January 14). University Writing Center. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://uwc.tamu.edu/?p=836.

References