UNIT 3: WRITING THE SUPPORTING SENTENCES

Lesson focuses:

Identifying the general and specific ideas

Kinds of supporting materials

Patterns of organization

Time allocation table: 8 periods

Order Contents Time

1 - Report on the home work of The Topic

Sentence

1st and 2

nd period

2 - Introduction to the supporting sentences

- Identifying the general and specific ideas

3rd

and 4th

period

3 - Kinds of supports

- Kinds of logical orders

5th

and 8th

period

1.1. Introduction to the supporting sentences([2], p.17 &[3], pp.8)

Supporting sentences add information about the topic and the controlling idea.

Supporting sentences develop or explain the topic sentence by giving reasons,

examples, facts, statistics, and quotations.

Activity 1: Read each of the following paragraphs and say how the topic sentence is

explained.

Gold

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold

has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry,

coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain

beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the

day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is

its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of

industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronaut

wears gold-plated heat shields for protection outside spaceships. In conclusion, gold is

treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

Barefoot Boy

I had a scary experience when I was a young boy. One evening while my parents

were eating dinner, I was playing barefoot in the yard with my toys. Even now, I still

remember the perfume of the flowers and the moisture of the grass. While I was sitting

on the grass and playing with a truck, I looked up at the sky, and my attention was

distracted by the beauty of the stars. Then I felt something cold and smooth slide over my

feet. Then I saw a snake slowly slithering over my toes. I felt terrible and afraid, so my

heart beat very fast. After the snake moved away, I screamed to my parents for help, and

they captured the snake and took it away. The experience frightened me and I never went

outside barefoot again.

1.2. Identifying the general and specific ideas([1], pp.10-15),[2], p.22 &[3], pp.8-9)

Activity 2: Identify topic sentences and supporting sentences

For each set of sentences, write TS next to the topic sentence. Write SS next to the

supporting sentences

1.

……. a Mosquitoes are attracted to heat.

……. b Mosquitoes will fly several miles to find food.

……. c Only the female mosquito bites.

……. d Mosquitoes are interesting insects.

2.

…… a One of my hobbies is listening to international music.

…… b I have a large collection of world music recordings.

…… c My friends and I like to introduce each other to new international artists we

discover.

…… d I enjoy going to concerts by musicians from different countries.

3.

…… a I like the way people decorate their homes and stores.

…… b I enjoy going shopping in cold weather.

…… c I enjoy the parties and celebrations of the winter holiday.

…… d I really like the winter holidays.

4.

…… a My new apartment has big closets.

…… b My new apartment is perfect for my roommate and me.

…… c My new apartment is close to school and work.

…… d My new apartment is not too expensive for students.

Activity 3: The following sentences belong to 2 different paragraphs about San

Francisco. Identify the topic sentence and the supporting sentences of each

paragraph and put them in 2 groups. Write the number of the sentence only.

1. San Francisco is usually warm and pleasant during the day.

2. Some of the country’s most famous restaurants and hotels are in San Francisco.

3. There are many things to see and do in San Francisco.

4. The city has many interesting tourist attractions.

5. There are many excellent art galleries.

6. The weather in San Francisco is very pleasant.

7. It is never too hot, nor too cold.

8. The nightlife is exciting.

9. San Francisco has a ballet company, an opera house, and a symphony orchestra.

10. It is cool and breezy at night.

11. The winters are mild and it rarely snows.

Group 1

Topic sentence:…………………………

Supporting sentences:

…………………………………………..

Group 2

Topic sentence:…………………………

Supporting sentences:

…………………………………………..

Activity 4: Arrange the sentences in each group in a logical order to have a meaning

paragraph.

Activity 5: The following are the supporting sentences of these topic sentences. Read

the supporting sentences carefully and then decide among the supporting ideas,

which ones are general and which ones are specific. In given blanks, write GI for the

general ideas and SI for the specific ones.

1. An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank.

……It enables customers to do several banking transactions twenty- four hour a day.

……In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get a cash advance

on a credit card.

……For example, a customer can use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a limited

amount of cash.

2. Great whites do not usually attack humans, but when they do, they always cause

serious injury and even death.

……After an attack by a great white shark, 462 stiches were required to sew an

Australian scuba diver.

……Nevertheless, one did just that near a public beach in Australia in 1985.

……Even when they attack humans, however, great whites do not usually eat them.

……It bit in half and totally devoured a young female swimmer.

3. The automobile revolutionized the American way of life.

……Another important change was that people had the freedom to live and work

wherever they wanted.

……The earliest significant change was for farming families, who were no longer

isolated.

……The final major change brought by the automobile was the buildings or

superhighways, suburbs, huge shopping centers, and many theme parks such as

Disney World in Florida.

……The automobile enabled them to drive to towns and cities comfortably and

conveniently.

…….In fact, people could work in a busy metropolitan city and drive home in the quiet

suburbs.

4. The formation of a volcano eruption is a dramatic series of events.

……In time, this melted part rises as magma.

……As the plate sinks, friction and the earth’s heat cause part of it to melt.

……The magma produces heat, steam, and pressure.

……First of all, most volcanoes are formed where two plates collide.

……Then, one of the plates is forced under the other and sinks.

……When the heat, steam, and pressure from the magma finally reach the surface of the

Earth, a volcanic eruption occurs.

1.3. Kinds of Supports([2], pp. 71-97)

In-concrete: Opinions or reasoning that are subjective statements based on a

person’s beliefs or attitudes.

Concrete: Specific or Factual details- examples, statistics, and quotations

Activity 6: The following are to support the idea about smoking. Decide which ones

are more persuasive. Say why.

1. Teenage smoking is on the rise.

2. In 1995, the US surgeon general reported that more than three million teenagers

smoked cigarettes.

3. Smoking can cause lung cancer.

4. The American Cancer Society reports that the number one cause of lung cancer

among men and women is smoking.

Activity 7: Decide whether each of the following statements is a Fact or an Opinion.

Write F for fact and O for opinion.

1. ……Smoking is relaxing and therefore enjoyable.

2. ……Dr. Kathleen Parker, a well-known cancer specialist, recently admitted in an

interview, “Although I see the harmful effects of smoking nearly every day

in my work, I still enjoy relaxing with a cigarette after dinner.

3. ……Early in the next decade, more women than men will die of lung cancer,

according to the American Cancer Society.

4. ……Smoking is attracting more and more adults.

5. ……According to a recent New York Times article, cigarette smoking is

increasing among adults in their forties as well as among the college

educated and those earning more than $ 35,000 annually.

6. ……Red-light runners must take a driver’s education class. Then they will become

safer drivers.

7. ……Red-light runners cause scores of accidents, including deaths and injuries as

well as millions of dollars in damages.

8. ……Nationwide, the number of red-light running accidents increased 18 percent

from 1991 through 1995. In 1991, 2.425 deaths resulted and in 1995, the

number rose to 2.866.

Activity 8: Discuss with your partner which statements need further supporting and

what specific supporting details you might use to support those statements.

1. What is the difference between Facts and Opinions?

2. Which one would be better to be used as supporting details-Facts or Opinions?

3. Which one is more likely to be used as the major supporting idea- Facts or

Opinions?

1.3.1. Examples and extended examples

Example:

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication, or” body language”, is a

communication by facial expressions, head or eye movements,

hand signals, and body postures. It can be just as important to

understanding as words are. Misunderstandings-often amusing

but sometimes serious- can arise between people from different

cultures if they misinterpret nonverbal signals. Take, for

example, the differences in meaning of a gesture very common

in the United States: a circle made with thumb and index finger.

To can American, it means that everything is OK. To a

Japanese, it means that you are talking about money. In France,

Examples

Extended

Example

1) What is the difference between an example and an extended example?

1.3.2. Statistics

In business, engineering and the sciences, the statistics are often used for support.

Usually the statistics are got from charts and graphs

Example:

3

4

5

6

Billions of people

World Population Growth

The World’s Population has been increasing dramatically. According to a United

Nations chart of world population growth, the world’s population suddenly multiplied in

the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. At the beginning of the Christian era, the

estimated world population was 200 to 300 million. It took more than 1.800 years for the

population to reach one billion. Then in less than one hundred years, the figure doubled

to two billion by 1930. By 1975, when it reached four billion, it had doubled again in less

than fifty years. The United Nations has projected an increase to more than six billion by

the year 2000.

1.3.3. Quotations

There are two kinds of quotation: direct and indirect.

Direct quotation

Example:

Drugs and the Olympic Games

It is no secret that performance-enhancing drugs have been used by Olympic

athletes for decades. In 1993, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s medical

commission, Prince Alexandre de Merode of Belgium, stated,” I believe that as many as

10% of all Olympic athletes are regular users of performance-enhancing drugs”(qtd in

Bamberger and Yaeger 63). Despite rigorous drug testing of Olympic athletes, the use of

banned performance-enhancing substances has become more widespread than ever . It is

clear that if athletes want to win, they must consider using drugs. In a 1977 article in

Sports illustrated magazine, Dutch physician Michel Karsten is quoted as saying,” There

may be some sportsmen who can win gold medals without taking drugs, but there are

very few.” According to Dr. Karsten, who says he has prescribed anabolic steroids to

hundreds of world-class athletes over the last twenty-five years,” If you are especially

gifted, you may win once, but from your experience you cannot continue to win without

drugs. The field is just too filled with drug users”( qtd in Bamberger and Yaeger 62)

Indirect Quotations

Seeking a Spouse on the Web

1

2

1 A.D year

500 1000 1650 1900 2000

World population growth.( Source: United States estimates)

The global reach of the Internet is helping expatriate citizens of India find marriage

partners. Most Indians prefer their partners to come from the same region of India as they

and to have similar religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. For young Indians who

live abroad, searching for a suitable wife or husband becomes quite difficult. They often

must depend on their families back home in India to find them mates. However, computer

scientist Raj Baronia, who lives and works in Sillicon Valley in California, has developed

a site on the World Wide Web to help called Indolink. In an interview, Baronia said that

he had developed Indolink to allow Indians living abroad to take responsibility for

finding their own marriage partners rather than having their parents do it for them. He

estimated that half of Indolink ads were placed by marriage seekers themselves rather

than by family. Baronica also said Indolink allowed them to search not only in India but

also in expatriate communities around the world( qtd in Banley). For example, Sandeep

Gupta, a young computer programmer from Toronto, is seeking a wife through Indolink.

He is looking for intellectual women and, according to Gupta, anyone he meets on the

Internet will probably be professional and educated. He revealed that he was planning to

fly to New York soon to meet a young woman he met through Indolink(qtd in Bentley)

1) What are the similarities and differences between direct and indirect quotation?

Changing a direct quotation to an indirect quotation

- Omit the quotation marks

- Add subordinator That if necessary

- Change the verb tense if necessary

- Change pronouns if necessary

Activity 9: Rewrite the following direct quotations as indirect quotations.

1. Television channel KSA General Manager Jim Burns said, “Not everyone can

attend college in the traditional way; therefore, taking courses via television will

offer many more students the chance to earn a college degree.”

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

2. Pre-med student Alma Rodriguez said, “I miss being on campus, but I have to

work and take care of my family.”

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

3. Other students said, “Last year, we spent several hours a day commuting to and

from school. Now, we don’t have to do that.”

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

4. Computer engineering student Amir Mehdizadeh stated, “I can choose when to

study and how to study without pressure.” He also said, ”I will take two more

telecourses in the fall.”

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

………………………………………….........................................................................

1.3.4. Paraphrases

Paraphrasing is a writing skill in which you rephrase or rewrite the information from

an outside source is rephrased or rewritten in your own words without changing its

meaning.

When paraphrasing, it is important to avoid plagiarizing; that is, the paraphrase is too

similar to the original.

Examples:

Original passage

Language is the main means of communication between peoples. But so many

different languages have developed that language has often been a barrier rather than an

aid to understanding among peoples. For many years, people have dreamed of setting up

an international, universal language which all people could speak and understand. The

arguments in favor of a universal language are simple and obvious. If all people spoke the

same tongue, cultural and economic ties might be much closer, and good will might

increase between countries.(Kispert)

Unacceptable Paraphrase

Language is the principle means of communication between people. However,

because there are numerous languages, language itself has frequently been a barrier rather

than an aid to understanding among the world population. For many years, people have

envisioned a common universal language that everyone in the world could communicate

in. The reasons for having a universal language are clearly understandable. If the same

tongue was spoken by all countries, they would undoubtedly become closer culturally

and economically. It would probably also create good will among nations. (Kispert)

Acceptable Paraphrase

Humans communicate through language. However, because there are so many

languages in the world, language is an obstacle rather than an aid to communication. For

a long time, people have wished for an international language that speakers all over the

world could understand. A universal language would certainly build cultural and

economic bonds. It would also create better feelings among countries(Kispert)

Activity 10: Read the examples above carefully. Discuss with your partner what you

think are the reasons for a paraphrase to be unacceptable.

Steps to write a good paraphrase

- Step 1:

Read the original passage several times until you understand it fully. Look up

unfamiliar words and find synonyms for them. If you need to take notes, write

down only one or two words for each idea- not complete sentences. It may be

helpful to make a brief outline of the main points.

Example:

Language- main means of communication

Too many languages- barrier to understanding

Universal language needed

Reasons for a universal language

Increase cultural economic bonds

Increase good feelings between countries

- Step 2:

Write your paraphrase from memory. Include as much of the information as you

remember. Don’t look at the original while you are reading.

- Step 3:

Check your paraphrase against the original for accuracy and completeness.

- Step 4:

Name the source of the original passage in parentheses at the end of the

paraphrase.

Activity 11: Work with your partners. Follow the same four steps and paraphrase

these passages.

1) Americans

Despite its ethnic diversity, the United States has managed to absorb bits and pieces

of many cultures and weave them into a unique culture that is strikingly consistent and

distinct. You can pick out Americans any place in the world, often very quickly, because

of their behavior. Among their most observable traits are openness, friendliness,

informality, optimism, creativity, loudness, and vitality.( Hall and Hall 140)

2) The Work Ethnic of Americans and Europeans

Europeans often observe that Americans schedule everything except time for

relaxation. This is particularly true of American executives, who drives themselves hard,

often at the expense of their families and their health. Americans have fewer holidays and

take shorter vacations than Europeans do. In the opinion of many German and French

executives, American executives are obsessed with work; they are workaholics. Most

Europeans do not accept working on weekends or holidays; they reserve these times for

themselves and their families ( Hall and Hall 145)

1.3.5. Summaries

Steps to write a good summary

- Step 1: the same as that of writing a paraphrase

- Step 2: Write your summary from memory, including the main points and

excluding the details.

- Step 3: Check the summary against the original for accuracy.

- Step 4: the same as that of writing a paraphrase

Example:

Original passage

Language is the main means of communication between peoples. But so many

different languages have developed that language has often been a barrier rather than an

aid to understanding among peoples. For many years, people have dreamed of setting up

an international, universal language which all people could speak and understand. The

arguments in favor of a universal language are simple and obvious. If all people spoke the

same tongue, cultural and economic ties might be much closer, and good will might

increase between countries.(Kispert)

Summary

People communicate mainly through language; however, having so many different

languages creates communication barriers. Some think that one universal language would

bring countries together culturally and economically and also increase good feelings

among them. (Kispert)

Activity 12: Read the example of acceptable paraphrase and the example of

summary. With your partners, list the similarities and differences between a

paraphrase and a summary.

Activity 13: Write a separate summary of each of the following paragraphs.

Owning a Car

Should a person own a car? This is an important question. In a large urban area,

there are some good reasons for owning a car. First, a car allows a person to move around

freely. With a car, there is no need to check a bus schedule or wait for a train. Second, a

car is a comfortable way to travel, especially in the wintertime. In bad weather, the driver

stays warm and dry, while the poor bus or train rider might have to stand in the rain.

Finally, a driver is usually safe in a car at night. The rider might need to walk down a

dark street to get to a stop, or wait on a dark corner.

There are, on the other hand, many good reasons against owning a car. First, it can

be very expensive. The price of fuel continues to rise and car insurance can cost three or

four hundred dollars a year. In addition, it is expensive to maintain and repair a car. A

simple tune-up can cost $ 50. In an urban area, it might also be expensive to park the car.

Second, owning a car can cause worry and stress. It is exhausting to drive in rush-hour

traffic, or to drive around and around looking for a parking space. If you leave your car

on the street, it might get stolen. That is something else to worry about. Finally, everyone

needs to think about pollution and energy problems. Air pollution and noise pollution

increase as more and more people drive cars. More and more cars also burn more and

more fuel. At present, drivers may have to wait in long lines at filling stations in order to

buy a couple of gallons of gasoline.

1.4. Kinds of logical orders ([1], pp.25-29& [2], pp.56-67)

1.4.1. Logical division of ideas/ Order of importance

In this order, the ideas related to each other are grouped and discussed one after

another.

The order of the ideas is decided according the degree of impact on the readers or the

degree of importance to the subject.

The paragraphs might move from least to most or most to least important.

Common transitional signals

For logical division of ideas

Sentence connectors Others

First, second, third, etc

next, last, finally

In addition, moreover, furthermore, also

For one thing

First of all

For another thing

The first(+noun)

The/ a second(+noun)

One(+noun)

Another(+noun)

An additional(+noun)

The next(+noun)

The final(+noun)

The other(+noun)

For order of importance

Sentence connectors Others

More importantly

Most significantly

Above all

primarily

A more important(+noun)

The most important(+noun)

The second most significant(+noun)

The primary(+noun)

The topic sentence of logical division and order of importance paragraphs often

indicates the number of groups the topic is divided into or what the groups are.

Examples:

1. Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.

2. Inflation has three causes.

3. Gold, a precious metal, is a prized not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

4. Inflation has three causes: an increase in the supply of paper money, excessive

government spending, and unrestrained consumer borrowing.

Activity 14: Read the paragraph and answer the questions.

Life in Space

Living aboard a space station in orbit around the Earth for months at a time poses

problems for astronauts’ bodies as well as for their minds. One major problem is

maintaining astronauts’ physical health. Medical treatment may be days or even weeks

away. As there may not be a doctor on board, illnesses such as appendicitis or ulcers,

routinely treated on Earth, could be fatal in space because of the delay in getting to a

doctor. Furthermore, surgery may be impossible because blood would float around inside

the operating room. Another health problem is the potential for bone deterioration. In a

weightless environment, the body produces less calcium. Astronauts must exercise at

least three hours a day to prevent bone loss. A second major problem is maintaining

astronauts’ metal health. Being confined for long period of time in dark and hostile space

undoubtedly produces anxiety. Loneliness and boredom are other psychological concerns.

Finally, how can astronauts” let off steam” when interpersonal conflicts develop? It is

clear that space station duty will requires astronauts who are not only physically but also

mentally strong.

1. How many groups is the topic of the paragraph divided into? What are they?

2. Do the topic sentence and the concluding sentence tell you main ideas to be

discussed in the paragraph?

3. What transition signals indicate the divisions?

4. Where else in the paragraph the transitional signals are used?

5. In your opinion, would it make any difference if mental health was discussed

before physical health? Do you think one is more important than the other or are

they approximately equal in importance?

Activity 15: Put a check () in the space to the left of every topic sentence that

suggest logical division as a method of organization. Put a double check () if the

sentence suggests order of importance. Some are neither, so leave these unchecked.

………1. My eighteenth birthday was a day I will never forget.

………2. On their eighteenth birthdays, Americans receive two important rights/

responsibilities: they can vote, and they can sign legal contracts.

………3. In the most occupations, women are still unequal to men in three areas: salary,

power and status.

………4. Living in the dormitory offers several advantages to the newly arrived

international student.

………5. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants manufacturer their own food.

………6. Television game shows are boring for the educated viewer because they are

poorly disguised commercials, but more importantly because they require such

a minimal level of knowledge.

………7. Earthquake prediction is still an inexact science although seismologists learn

more each time they monitor a quake.

………8. A computer is both faster and more accurate than a human.

………9. Teenagers demonstrate their independence in several ways.

………10.A college degree international business today requires first, a knowledge of

business procedures and second, a knowledge of cultural differences in business

methods.

1.4.2. Comparison/ contrast([1], pp.69-84 & [2], pp.65-67)

Comparison/ contrast involves analyzing the similarities and differences between

two or more items.

The content of a comparison/ contrast paragraph can vary. Some paragraphs

emphasize similarities; some emphasize differences; and some others discuss both

similarities and differences.

Common transitional signals

Comparison transition signals

Sentence connectors Conjunctions Others

Similarly

Likewise

Also

Too

And

Both….and

Not only…but also..

As

Just as…

Like

Just like

Alike

As….as

(be) similar

Similar to

The same(as)

Compare to/ with

Contrast transition signals

Sentence connectors Conjunctions Others

However

On the other hand

On the contrary

In contrast

In(by) comparison

But

Yet

Although

Even though

While

Whereas

Unlike

Differ from

(be) dissimilar

Compare to/ with

Activity 16: Read the paragraphs and do the following:

1. Decide which of the following shows comparison and which of them shows

contrast.

2. State the reason for your choice.

3. State on how many points are the two computers compared and on how many

they are contrasted

4. Underline all the transition signals used in the two paragraphs

PCs versus Macs

Para 1:

Between PCs and Mac, there are some basic similarities. First of all, both PCs and

Mars are composed of the same elements: a CPU, the electronic circuitry to run the

computer; memory(hard and/ or floppy disk drivers) for storing information; input

devices such as a keyboard or mouse for putting information into the computer; and

output devices such as a monitor, printer, and audio speakers for conveying information.

They also have the same uses: Pcs are used to communicate on computer networks, to

write (with the help of word processing and desktop publishing software), to track

finances, and to play games. Macs are likewise used to communicate, write, calculate,

and entertain.

Para 2:

There are some differences, however. Whereas you will find more Pcs in business

offices, you will find more Macs in classroom. Although Macs are the computers of

choice of people who do a lot of art and graphic design in their work, PCs seem to be the

choice of people who do a lot of” number crunching.” Finally, there is a difference in the

availability of software, vendors, and service for the two computers. Furthermore, for a

Mac, you must purchase your machine and get service from a Macintosh-authorized

dealer whereas many different computer stores sell and service Pcs.

1.4.3. Chronological(time) order([1], pp.16-21 & [2], pp.56-60)

Chronological order is a way of organizing the ideas in a paragraph in the order of

their occurrence in time.

Chronological order is used in narrative and process texts.

Common transition signals for chronological order

Transition words and phrases subordinators Others

first, first of all, soon,

second, after that, gradually,

next, finally, meanwhile,

now, last,

then,

after since

as until

as soon as when

before while

In the first step…

In the second step…

On the third day…

During the night….

The topic sentence of a chronological paragraph in some way in some way indicates

the time order.

Examples:

- The worst day in my life was the day I left my family and my friends to come to

the United States.

- You can avoid jet lag after a long flight if you follow these suggestions.

Activity 17: Read the paragraph and answer the questions

Cloning Technology

The cloning of Dolly involved several steps. First, cells that had previously been

taken from Dolly’s mother were starved for five days, which caused them to stop

dividing. This interruption of the cells’ division cycle made it easier for them to

reprogram themselves to start growing a new organism. After five days, the nuclei of

these cells were removed and transferred into unfertilized sheep egg, from which a

natural nucleus had been previously removed. In the next step, the egg was grown in the

laboratory for a period of time. Then the egg was implanted into a different sheep, where

it grew normally. When the sheep finally gave birth, the lamb was an exact genetic copy,

or clone, of the sheep that had provided the transferred nucleus, not of the sheep that had

provided the egg.

1. Which of the two uses of chronological order does the model paragraph

exemplify?

2. Which words or phrases in the topic sentence show the time?

3. What transitional words or phrases are used in the paragraph?

Activity 18: Put a check in the space to the left of every topic sentence suggesting

that a chronological paragraph will follow. Then, in the sentences you have checked,

circle the word or words that indicate the chronological order.

……….1. In the past sixty years, development in the field of electronics has

revolutionized the computer industry.

……….2. A person’s intelligence is the product of both heredity and environment.

……….3. The tensions that led to last year’s student riots had been building for several

years.

……….4. The life cycle of the Pacific salmon is a fascinating phenomenon.

……….5. There are two main reasons I believe women in the army should not be

allowed in a war zone along with men.

……….6. Surviving a major earthquake is possible if you follow certain procedures.

……….7. American directness often conflicts with Asian modesty.

……….8. Every year, our family celebrates the Muslim holiday Ramadan in the same

way.

……….9. The traditions of Christmas originated in several different countries.

……….10. The preparation of the poisonous puffer fish for eating is not for amateur

chefs.

1.4.4. Spatial order([1], pp.22-24)

In a paragraph of spatial order, the details are organized according to where they are

located in space.

Spatial order is usually used in describing writings.

There are two ways to organize a paragraph using spatial order:

To choose a starting point and give the locations of things in relation to that

place,

Or, to describe things in one area first, and then move on to the next area, and

so forth.

Activity 19: Below are two examples of spatial paragraphs. Read them and state of

which of the two mentioned ways of organization above each paragraph followed.

A poor room

The room is small, measuring 1.5 meters by 3 meters. There is only one small

window in the wall but the panes are all broken. The furniture is old and worm-eaten. The

carpet, which is made of cheap stuff, is torn and dirty. There is no running water. The

light is dim- a dim, yellow light that gives the bedspread a gray, mildewed look. I am sure

nobody would live happily in a room like that.

Laurie’s

Laurie’s is a large department store that sells clothing for the whole family. As you

enter the store through the main entrance, the jewelry department is directly in front of

you in the middle of the store. On your left is the coat department, and the scarf

department is behind the coats. To the right of the jewelry department is the cosmetics

department. The elevators are on the east wall. In the northwest corner you will find the

women’s shoe department. Next to it, on the north wall, are hats and gloves. To the right

of the hat and glove department are the handbags and belts. The children clothes are

between the handbag and belt department and the elevators.

Activity 20: Use information from the paragraph about Laurie’s to fill in the plan of

the store below.

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S

Exercise 1: In the following paragraphs there were used the supports like extended

example, example, statistic and quotation. Find and locate them in the text.

Dad’s New Role

Dr. Elizabeth Lee is the medical director in charge of communicable diseases in the

country where she lives. She enjoys her challenging career and prefers it to staying at

home with her two young children. Both she and her husband, Jack, realize the

importance of parent’s active participation in their children’s lives. Therefore, they

decided that one of them should stay at home to be a full-time parent. Jack became the

primary caregiver because staying home would enable him to spend time developing his

graphic design business.

Jack Lee is one of a growing number of stay-at-home dads. According to a 1996

survey by the Los Angeles Times, 39 percent of the men who responded to the survey

indicated that they would be willing to quit their jobs to take care of their children while

their wives became the primary breadwinners. Furthermore, the U.S Census Bureau

reported in 1997 that approximately two million men across the United States have

primary responsibility for their children.

Other fathers are telecommuting or have part-time jobs that allow them to spend

more time with their kids. For example, telecommuting gives advertising executive Ron

Stemple time to take his children to school and pick them up. He can also give them to

their after-school activities. A 1997 study by job placement agency Executive Search,

Inc. reported that between 57 and 78 percent of men would be willing to reduce their

work hours and their salaries to spend more time with their children.

According to the experts, Dad does just as well as Mom at presenting. As Joan

Grant of the New York Department of Social Services stated, “Men are just as capable as

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women of taking care of their children’s need, including preparing nutritious meals;

dispensing love, discipline, and Band-Aids; and providing a happy home environment.

Exercise 2: Read the following paragraphs and decide which kind of logical order is

used in each: comparison/contrast, chronological order, spatial order, or logical

division of ideas. Discuss the reasons for your choice.

Para 1

Powerful computers capable of translating documents from one language into

another have recently been developed in Japan. The process of machine translation is

complex. To translate a document from English into Japanese, for example, the computer

first analyzes an English sentence, determining its grammatical structure and identifying

the subject, verb, objects, and modifiers. Next, the words are translated by an English-

Japanese dictionary. After that, another part of the computer program analyzes the

resulting awkward jumble of words and meanings and produces an intelligible sentence

based on the rules of Japanese syntax and how the machine understands what the original

English sentence meant. Finally, the computer-produced translation is polished by a

human bilingual editor.

Kind of logical order:…………………………………………………………..

Para 2

French and American business managers have decidedly different management

styles. French meetings, for example, are long and rambling and rarely end on time.

Furthermore, meetings often end without closure. Americans, on the other hand, make an

effort to start and stop a meeting on time, and American business meetings typically end

with decisions and action plans. Another difference involves documentation. Americans

adore documentation; they have a procedure manual for everything. The French, in

contrast, think this is childish. French managers find it difficult to stick to a schedule, but

American managers are intolerant of delays. In addition, the French prefers to work

alone, whereas Americans like to work in teams. Another major difference in

management style is that in French companies, authorities come from the top; French

managers do not share information with subordinates and make decisions with little

participation by employees beneath them. In American companies, however, top

managers share information and frequently solicit input from subordinates.

Solicit: ask for

Kind of logical order:…………………………………………………………..

Para 3

The many different calendars used throughout the world are all based either on the

phrases of the moon, on the revolution of the Earth around the sun, or on a combination

of these. The first kind of calendar is the lunar calendar, which is based on the phrases of

the moon. A month is calculated as the time between two full moons, 29.5 days, and a

year has 345 days. The Islamic calendar used in Muslim countries is a lunar calendar. It

has twelve months and a cycle of thirty years in which the 2nd

, 5th

, 7th

, 10th

, 13th

, 16th

, 18th

,

21st, 24

th, 26

th, and 29

th years have 365 days, and the others 354 days. A second kind of

calendar is the solar calendar, which is based on the revolution of the Earth around the

sun. The ancient Egyptians used a solar calendar divided into twelve months of thirty

days each, which left five uncounted days at the end of each year. A very accurate

calendar developed by the Mayan Indians in North America was also a solar calendar. It

had 365 days, 364 of which were divided into 28 weeks of 13 days each. The New Year

began on the 365th

day. Because the solar year is exactly 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes,

and 46 seconds long, however, a solar calendar is not totally accurate, so many cultures

developed a third kind of calendar, the lunisolar calendar. In a lunisolar calendar extra

days are added every so often to reconcile the lunar months with the solar years. The

Chinese, Hebrew, and Gregorian calendar used today are lunisolar calendars.

Reconcile: bring together

Hebrew: ancient Jew

Gregorian: belonging to popes Gregory

Para 4

Marie is as beautiful as any Hollywood starlet. Her thick, wavy, long black hair

gracefully falls down to her shoulders and surrounds exquisite, diamond-shaped face. A

golden suntan usually highlights her smooth, clear complexion. Her lightly arched

chestnut brown eyebrows draw attention to her deep blue eyes, which remind me of a

lake on a stormy day. Her eyes are large, but not too large, with thick eyelashes. Her nose

is straight and neither too neither long nor too short. A small black mole on the left side

of her mouth adds to her beauty. And her mouth! It is small mouth that looks delicate and

feminine. Her lips are rather thin, but not too thin; her light pink lipstick adds another

touch of feminine beauty. When she smiles, which is often, her well-formed and even,

white teeth brighten up her whole face. There is nothing but extraordinary beauty in the

face of Marie.

Kind of logical order:…………………………………………………………..

Exercise 3:

- Things to consider when choosing a university

- How to make an omelet

- Description of your house

- Life in the city versus life in the countryside

1. Decide which kind of logical orders should be used to write on each topic.

2. Choose one of the given topics and write the topic sentence

3. Develop the topic sentence with two main ideas supported by at least 1 specific

detail.

References:

[1]Blanchard, K.& Root, C. Ready to Write.(2nd

ed). Addition-Wesley Publishing

Company. 1994

[2]Oshima, A.&Hogue,A. Introduction to Academic Writing.(2nd

ed). Longman. 1997

[3]Savage.A.& Shafield, M. Effective Academic Writing 1: The Paragraph. Oxford

University Press. 2007