English VI Manual

1

Objetivo de la asignatura:

El alumno verificará la información recibida a través de las expresiones lingüísticas y formas gramaticales de nivel intermedio para desarrollar una comunicación efectiva.

Unidad 1

Objetivo

El alumno verificará información, de forma sencilla, con oraciones simples, estructuras básicas y tag questions, para proporcionar información precisa y de acuerdo a las necesidades del interlocutor.

Al término de la unidad el alumno será capaz de describir en forma sencilla a personas, condiciones de vida o trabajo, actividades diarias, cosas que le gustan, o no le gustan, utilizando frases y oraciones sencillas. Identificando el uso de question tags.

'I surf / I am surfing.'

What's the difference between the Present Simple / Present Continuous and how to use them.

We use the present simple tense when we want to talk about fixed habits or routines – things that don’t change.

Present Simple and Continuous

LLI Alicia Ornelas Vargas

Mechatronics Engineering

English VI Manual IMEC 71N

2

We use the present continuous to talk about actions which are happening at the present moment, but will soon finish.

Compare these two statements:

(present simple) I play tennis.(present continuous/ progressive) I am playing tennis.(present simple) ‘I play tennis’ tells us that playing tennis is something the speaker always does. It is part of a routine or habit. We can call this a permanent situation.

(present continuous/ progressive) ‘I am playing tennis’ tells us that the speaker is playing tennis right now. Soon the game will be over. We call this a temporary situation.

With the present simple we say:

I play tennis

You play tennis

We play tennis

They play tennis

He/she/ it plays tennis.

With the present continuous we say:

I am playing tennis

You are playing tennis

We are playing tennis

He/she/it is playing tennis

Frequency Adverbs we use with the Present Simple

With the present simple we use these frequency adverbs:

(Notice that the adverb comes before the main verb in the sentence.)

Always: ‘I always read before I go to bed.’

Often: ‘Her sister often comes shopping with us.’

Frequently:‘Michael frequently visits his family.’

Sometimes:‘You sometimes go to the gym, don’t you?’

Occasionally:‘It occasionally rains in summer.’

Seldom:‘They seldom ask for help.’

Rarely: ‘He rarely goes out without his backpack.’

3

Hardly ever:‘I hardly ever eat pizza.’Never: ‘Japanese people never wear shoes inside.’

Time Expressions we use with the Present Continuous

With the present continuous we use these time expressions:

(Notice that the time expression can come at the start or at the end of the sentence.)

At the moment: ‘I’m watching TV, at the moment.’

These days: ‘Paul’s living in Cardiff, these days.’

Now: ‘What are you doing, now?’

Nowadays: ‘I think you are smoking too much, nowadays.’

4

Complete these sentences below using either the present simple or present

continuous.

(Play) I   golf every weekend.

(Play) The children  outside at the moment.

(Work) Haruka   today.

(Work) You can’t borrow my lawnmower because it doesn’t 

(Make) Smells good! What are you  ?

(Make) My husband never   me breakfast.

(Live) Pauline is   in Hong Kong.

(Live)Do you still   with your parents?

Exercise 2

Present simple or present continuous?

1. Maria ______works______ (work) for a TV station.

2. At the moment she ___is traveling___ (travel) in the Sahara Desert.

3. Dan ___loves___ (love) wild animals.

4. He ___is not visiting___ (not visit) Alaska at the moment.

5. Marta ____does not live____ (not live) in Africa.

6. She ___is staying___ (stay) in Africa at the moment.

7. Dad usually ___cooks___ (cook) dinner.

8. My parents ___go___ (go) to Italy every year.

9. My sister ___walks___ (walk) to school every day.

10. We ___are having___ (have) lunch now.

play

are playing

is w orking

w ork

making

makes

living

live

5

11. I never ___stay in___ (stay in) on Saturday evening.

12. I ___am going___ (go) to the cinema now.

13. My mum ___is not working___ (not work) today.

14. Peter ___does not like___ (not like) rap music.

15. He ___is listening___ (listen) to pop music at the moment.

16. Donna usually ___goes___ (go) shopping on Saturdays.

17. Let´s go out. It ___is not raining___ (not rain) now.

18. Hurry up! Everybody ___is waiting___ (wait) for you!

19. The sun ___rises___ (rise) in the east.

20. Water ___boils___ (boil) at 100 degrees.

21. The water ___is boiling___ (boil). Can you turn it off?

22. I must go now. It ___ is getting___ (get) late.

23. I usually ___go___ (go) to work by car.

24. It ___DOES not rain___ (not rain) very much in the summer.

25. The moon ___ goes___ (go) round the earth.

TAREAhttp://www.language-worksheets.com/present-continuous-simple-elementary.html

https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-games/present-simple-and-present-continuous

http://www.eslgamesworld.com/members/games/grammar/present%20tenses/present%20tenses%20snakes%20and%20ladders.html

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex03

6

Present Perfect

Positive Negative Question

I / you / we / the

y

I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?

he / she / it He has

spoken.

He has not spoken. Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column).

For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example

after a final e only add d love – loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel

or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

admit – admitted

travel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

7

Use of Present Perfect

puts emphasis on the result

Example: She has written five letters.

action that is still going on

Example: School has not started yet.

action that stopped recently

Example: She has cooked dinner.

finished action that has an influence on the present

Example: I have lost my key.

action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of

speaking

Example: I have never been to Australia.

Signal Words of Present Perfect

already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect simple).

1. I (not / work)   today.

2. We (buy)   a new lamp.

3. We (not / plan)   our holiday yet.

4. Where (be / you)  ?

5. He (write)   five letters.

6. She (not / see)   him for a long time.

7. (be / you)   at school?

8. School (not / start)   yet.

8

9. (speak / he)   to his boss?

10. No, he (have / not)   the time yet.

Exercise on Loch Ness

Loch Ness is a lake between the Scottish towns of Inverness and Fort Augustus.

The word loch is Scottish for lake. Loch Ness is about 37 km long and extremely

deep, the deepest part is 226 m.

Loch Ness is famous for its friendly monster, Nessie. Most people think that this is

only a legend, but every year tourists from all over the world come to Loch Ness

and hope that they will see the monster.

Grammar Exercise on the Text

Present Perfect Simple

9

We use the present perfect to express what has (not) happened so far. (Note that

no time in the past must be given – otherwise you have to use simple past.)

Write the verbs in present perfect simple.

1. Tourists from all over the world (be)   to Loch Ness.

2. Most of them (see / not)   Nessie, however.

3. Only very few people say that the Loch Ness Monster (appear)   in front of

them.

4. Even scientists (come)   to Loch Ness to find the monster.

5. And the boss of the Guinness brewery (promise)   to pay 500,000 Pounds to

the person who catches Nessie.

https://www.ego4u.com/en/read-on/countries/uk/tour/loch-ness

More exercises

https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-games/present-perfect-experiences

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/verb-tenses-interactive-grammar-game-for-esl-jeopardy-quiz-game/ ( teams exercise)

The Simple Past Tense, often just called the Past Tense, is easy to use in English.

If you already know how to use the Present Tense, then the Past Tense will be easy.

In general, the Past Tense is used to talk about something that started and finished at a

definite time in the past.

How to form the Past Tense in EnglishThe main rule is that for every verb in English, there is only one form of it in the past tense. 

(The exception is the Past tense of To Be, which has two forms: was and were)

This is totally different from other languages such as Spanish, French, Italian etc. where you

change the verb ending for every subject.

For example: The past tense of the verb want is wanted.

Wanted is used as the past tense for all subjects/pronouns.

I wanted

10

You wanted

He wanted

She wanted

It wanted

We wanted

They wanted

So you just have to learn one word to be able to use it in the past tense. In this case we just

needed to learn the one word wanted which can be used for all subjects (or people).

Past Tense Regular VerbsTo change a regular verb into its past tense form, we normally add –ED to the end of the verb.

play – played

cook – cooked

rain – rained

wait – waited

There are some exceptions with a slight change in spelling which you can see here:

Spelling of words ending in ED.

Examples of sentences using regular verbs in the past tense

Last night I played my guitar loudly and the neighbors complained.

She kissed me on the cheek.

It rained yesterday.

Angela watched TV all night.

John wanted to go to the museum.

Note: There are three different ways of pronouncing the –ed at the end of a verb in the past

tense.

We recommend reading our guide about the pronunciation of –ED at the end of words.

Negative sentences in the Past TenseWe use didn't (did not) to make a negative sentence in the past tense. 

This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English. 

(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the following:

11

Present: They don't live in Canada.

Past: They didn't live in Canada.

The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The

auxiliary DIDN'T shows that the sentence is negative AND in the past tense.

NOTICE: The only difference between a negative sentence in the present tense and a negative

sentence in the past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.

Both don't   and   doesn't  in the present tense become didn't in the past tense.

Compare the negative sentences in the examples below:

Present: You don't need a mechanic.

Past: You didn't need a mechanic.

Present: You don't walk to work.

Past: You didn't walk to work.

Present: He doesn't speak Japanese.

Past: He didn't speak Japanese.

Examples of negative sentences in the Past Tense

I didn't want to go to the dentist.

She didn't have time.

You didn't close the door.

He didn't come to my party.

They didn't study so they didn't pass the test.

We didn't sleep well last night.

Questions in the Past TenseWe use did to make a question in the past tense. 

This is for regular AND irregular verbs in English. 

(Exception is To Be and Modal Verbs such as Can)

Compare the following:

Present: Do they live in France?

Past: Did they live in France?

The main verb (live in the example above) is in its base form (of the infinitive). The

auxiliary DID shows that the question is in the past tense.

12

NOTICE: The only difference between a question in the present tense and a question in the

past tense is the change in the auxiliary verb.

Both Do   and   Does  in present tense questions become Didn't in past tense questions.

Compare the questions in the examples below:

Present: Do you need a doctor?

Past: Did you need a doctor?

Present: Do you ride your bike to work?

Past: Did you ride your bike to work?

Present: Does he live in Italy?

Past: Did he live in Italy?

We can also use a question word (Who, What, Why etc.) before DID to ask for more

information.

Did you study? – Yes, I did.

When did you study? – I studied last night.

Where did you study? – I studied at the library.

Read more about short answers in the past tense.

Examples of Questions in the Past Tense

Did you go to work yesterday?

Did they arrive on time?

Did she like the surprise?

Where did she go?

What did you do yesterday?

What did you say? - I didn't say anything.

Why did we have to come?

Irregular Verbs in the Past TenseIrregular verbs are ONLY irregular in affirmative/positive sentences.

(An exception to this is with the verb TO BE in the Past Tense).

13

For example: The past tense of GO is WENT.

It does not end in –ED so it is considered irregular.

The word went is used for all subjects – I, you, we, they, he, she, it.

I went to the beach

He went to the park.

She went to the zoo.

They went to the library.

BUT, as we mentioned before, it is only in its irregular form (went) in sentences that are

affirmative/positive

Present vs Past Tense Summary Charthttp://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/es/word-games/fill-the-gap/the-greedy-hippo

14

Future tense

Simple Future

15

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a specific time in the future.

FORM Will

[will + verb]

Examples:

You will help him later.

Will you help him later?

You will not help him later.

FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

Examples:

You are going to meet Jane tonight.

Are you going to meet Jane tonight?

You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

Complete List of Simple Future Forms

USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

I will send you the information when I get it.

I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.

Will you help me move this heavy table?

16

Will you make dinner?

I will not do your homework for you.

I won't do all the housework myself!

A: I'm really hungry.B: I'll make some sandwiches.

A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.B: I'll get you some coffee.

A: The phone is ringing.B: I'll get it.

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:

I will call you when I arrive.

If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.

I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

Don't worry, I'll be careful.

I won't tell anyone your secret.

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:

He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.

A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.

I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.

Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.

They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.

Who are you going to invite to the party?

A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.

17

USE 4 "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

Examples:

The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.

John Smith will be the next President.

John Smith is going to be the next President.

The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.

The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Future, it is not always clear which USE the speaker has in mind. Often, there is more than one way to interpret a sentence's meaning.

No Future in Time Clauses

Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used in clauses beginning with time expressions such as: when, while, before, after, by the time, as soon as, if, unless, etc. Instead of Simple Future, Simple Present is used.

Examples:

When you will arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Not Correct

When you arrive tonight, we will go out for dinner. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

18

You will never help him.

Will you ever help him?

You are never going to meet Jane.

Are you ever going to meet Jane?

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/simplefuture.html

Will / Be Going To 

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

1. A: Why are you holding a piece of paper? 

B: I (write)   a letter to my friends back home in Texas. 

2. A: I'm about to fall asleep. I need to wake up! 

B: I (get)   you a cup of coffee. That will wake you up. 

3. A: I can't hear the television! 

B: I (turn)   it up so you can hear it. 

4. We are so excited about our trip next month to France. We (visit)   Paris, Nice and Grenoble.

5. Sarah (come)   to the party. Oliver (be)   there as well. 

6. Ted: It is so hot in here! 

Sarah: I (turn)   the air-conditioning on. 

7. I think he (be)   the next President of the United States. 

8. After I graduate, I (attend)   medical school and become a doctor. I have wanted to be a doctor all my life.

9. A: Excuse me, I need to talk to someone about our hotel room. I am afraid it is simply too small for four people. 

B: That man at the service counter (help)   you. 

10. As soon as the weather clears up, we (walk)   down to the beach and go swimming.

19

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs18.htm

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/future-forms-review-spin/

Question Tags 

We use tags in spoken English but not in formal written English.

They are not really questions but are a way of asking the other person to make a comment

and so keep the conversation open.

Making a tag is very mechanical. To make a tag, use the first auxiliary. If there is no

auxiliary, use do, does or did. With a positive sentence, make a negative tag and with a

negative sentence, make a positive tag.

It's beautiful, isn't it?

He has been, hasn't he?

You can, can't you?

It must be, mustn't it?

You know him, don’t you?

He finished it, didn't he?

He will come, won't he?

It isn't very good, is it?

It hasn't rained, has it?

It can't be, can it?

Jenny doesn't know James, does she?

They didn't leave, did they?

He won’t do it, will he?

Notice these:

There isn't an ATM here, is there?

Let's have a cup of coffee, shall we?

20

To reply, use the same auxiliary:

It's beautiful, isn't it? ~ Yes, it is. I think it's fabulous.

It isn't very good, is it? ~ No, it isn't. In fact, it's terrible.

Although, the rules are very simple and mechanical, in order to use them easily in

conversation, they have to be automatic. So you need to hear and practice them very often.Exercises

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/questionstags/exercise1.html

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/questionstags/exercise2.html

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/questionstags/exercise3.html

Sin preparación previa y a partir de información proporcionada por el profesor de manera verbal:

• Describirá, a una persona, lo que hace, cosas que le gustan y no le gustan, y reafirma información empleando tag questions.

• Realizará una composición, con información adicional escrita, describiendo las actividades de un día cualquiera en la vida de esa persona.

Unit 2

Resultado del aprendizaje

Unidad I

21

Resultado del aprendizaje

Indirect Questions in English

The rules are different for indirect questions!

Direct questions are the “normal” questions that we can ask to friends, family members, and people who we know well. Example of a direct question:

“Where’s the bathroom?”

Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their form is a little different.

Example of an indirect question:

“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”

Phrases for Indirect Questions

Could you tell me…

Objetivo : El alumno empleará las estructuras gramaticales indirect questions y el primer condicional, para expresar hechos que se refieren a algo que es posible que pase en el presente o futuro

El alumno realizará instrucciones o pasos de un proceso, empleando el primer condicional

El alumno desarrollará una presentación sobre una situación hipotética, referente al ámbito ecológico, personal, profesional o familiar.

22

Do you know…

I was wondering…

Do you have any idea…

I’d like to know…

Would it be possible…

Is there any chance…

Direct and Indirect Questions in English: Examples

Direct: Where is Market Street? Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?

In indirect questions with is/are, the verb (is) comes after the subject (Market Street).

Direct What time does the bank open?

Indirect: Do you know what time the bank opens?

In indirect questions, we don’t use the auxiliary verbs do/does/did. Also, you can see that the verb is “open” in the direct question, and “opens” in the indirect question.

Direct: Why did you move to Europe? Indirect: I was wondering why you moved to Europe.

Again, there is no auxiliary verb did in the indirect question. In fact, this indirect question isn’t even a question – it’s more of a statement that invites the other person to give more information.

Direct: How has he managed to get in shape so quickly? Indirect: Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?

The auxiliary verbs have and has can be used in both the direct and indirect questions – but in the direct question, “has” comes before the subject (he), and in the indirect question, “has” comes after the subject.

Direct: How much does this motorcycle cost? Indirect: I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs.

23

To form the indirect question, remove does and change “cost” to “costs.”

Direct: Can you finish the project by tomorrow? Indirect: Would it be possible for you to finish the project by tomorrow?

For direct questions with can, we can use the phrase “would it be possible…” to make it indirect.

Direct: Can we change the meeting to Thursday? Indirect: Is there any chance we could change the meeting to Thursday?

“Is there any chance…” is another option for forming indirect questions with can.

Yes/No Direct Questions –> “If” in Indirect Questions

If the direct question is a “yes or no” question (it has no question word such as what, who, when, where, why, or how), then the indirect question will have if.

Direct: Does Tom like Italian food? Indirect: Do you know if Tom likes Italian food? Direct: Are your parents joining us for dinner? Indirect: Could you tell me if your parents are joining us for dinner? Direct: Do they speak English? Indirect: I was wondering if they speak English. Direct: Has Barbara ever studied abroad? Indirect: Do you have any idea if Barbara’s ever studied abroad? Direct: Do you plan on traveling this summer? Indirect: I’d like to know if you plan on traveling this summer.

24

Exercises

Go to the following links and answer the exercise

First listen to the interview http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/145_gramchallenge36/index.shtml

1. http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/indirectques.html

2. http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/312.html

3.http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/145_gramchallenge36/page2.shtml

4.http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/145_gramchallenge36/page3.shtml

Fur

Further exercises and listening practice here…..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/flatmates/episode46/languagepoint.shtml

25

The first conditional

We use the First Conditional to talk about future events that are likely to happen.

If we take John, he'll be really pleased. If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow. If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them. If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.

The 'if' clause can be used with different present forms.

If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building. If he's feeling better, he'll come. If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.

The "future clause" can contain 'going to' or the future perfect as well as 'will'.

If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am. If we don't get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.

The "future clause" can also contain other modal verbs such as 'can' and 'must'.

If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's. If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.

Watch the following video about first conditional, answer the questions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSDxMaC0QYc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FeIZtbdLnM

1. Who are the characters? _______________________________________

2. What’s the problem?___________________________________________

26

Go to the following links and answer the exercises

1. http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/firstconditional/exercise1.html

2. http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/firstconditional/exercise2.html

3. http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/firstconditional/exercise3.html

4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yjUuX-I0QE Listen to the song and complete

If I ___________ in love with you, Would you ___________to be true

And help me, Understand 'Cause I've been in ______________ before

And I found that love was more Than just Holding ___________

_________I __________ my heart To you, I must _________ sure

From the very _________That you Would ___________ me more than her

If I _____________ in you Oh please Don't ___________ and hide

________ I love you too Oh please Don't ___________ my pride like her

'Cause I couldn't stand the __________And I ______________be sad

If our new love was in vain So I hope you ___________That I _________love to love you And that she _______________ cry When she learns we are two

'Cause I couldn't __________ the pain And I Would be __________

__________ our new ____________ was in vain So I hope you see That I

_________ love to love you , And that she ____________cry When she________ we are two If I ____________ in love with you...

27

Appendix

I. WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?

Paragraphs are a form of written communication which contains a minimum of five sentences. Each sentence in a paragraph "talks about" or develops one single main idea. If your paragraph does this, it is said to have unity. In addition, each sentence in a paragraph must be tied to the one before and after it, like links in a chain, by using special words called transitions. If your paragraph contains these links, it is said to have coherence.

Now you should be ready to write your own definition of a paragraph. Try it in your notebook. Check your definition in the answer key at the end of this module.

EXERCISE 1

Read the paragraph below and then answer the questions that follow.

Riding a bike can give you lots of good exercise every day. I use my bike to get to work every day. I take my bike to get groceries. When somebody stole my bike, I was heartbroken, but the police found it two days later. I often ride my bike out to the country on week-ends just for a change of scene. Without my bike, I wouldn’t get any exercise at all.

1. Does this paragraph have unity? Explain your answer.

2. Does this paragraph have coherence? Explain your answer.

3. What changes would you make to improve this paragraph?3

II. PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

Of course, every good paragraph has to have unity and coherence, but it must also have structure. an interesting beginning......called an introduction a middle with specific details.........called the body a satisfying ending.........called the conclusion

28

If you write a paragraph that contains these three sections, you have written a paragraph with good structure.

Now write a more complete definition of a paragraph in your notebook.

A. The Introduction

The introduction (one or two sentences) mentions the topic or main idea. In other words, the writer will tell the reader what he/she is about to be told.

German shepherds are good pets.

The introduction, sometimes called the topic sentence, must also catch the reader's attention so that he/she will want to finish reading the whole thing. The sentence above states the topic clearly, but it could be reworded.

German shepherd dogs make an ideal family pet.

If you are looking for a great family pet, consider a German shepherd dog.

Copy the information in this box into your notebook.

The topic is bike riding and the opinion is that “Riding a bike is good exercise.” As a reader, do you know what the paragraph is going to be about? Do you know the writer's opinion? The answer to these questions is "yes". This is a good introduction to a paragraph that will try to persuade you, the reader, that German shepherds make good pets.

What is the topic in the paragraph about bikes? What is the writer’s opinion?

Topic: German shepherds

Main idea: They are good pets.

29

B. The Body

The middle sentences of the paragraph are called the body. This is the part of the paragraph that develops and supports the main ideas presented in the introduction. Readers are not likely to be persuaded to change their minds about something just because someone else says so. They need solid proof and convincing reasons. It’s here, in the body of the paragraph, that the writer can explain in detail all his/her reasons for preferring German shepherds as pets. In other words, now the writer will tell the reader

what he/she really wants to tell.

The body presents supports (convincing reasons) for the writer’s opinion.

Read the body of the paragraph below and find the reasons the writer uses to support his/her opinion. Check to see if the supports are convincing and interesting. Also check to make sure the body has unity and coherence.

First, German shepherds are intelligent. In addition, they are dedicated to their owners. Finally, they are usually suspicious of all strangers.

The body of this paragraph contains three reasons to supports the writer’s opinion that German shepherds make good pets. Each support is placed in a separate sentence.

In your notebook, write one word that describes each reason. The body of the paragraph has unity because each sentence deals with the topic, and it contains transitions which give it coherence.

Transitions are an essential part of good paragraph structure. When a writer adds a new idea begins to develop a new support, he/she often includes a word or phrase to signal the reader that a new section is about to start. These “cues” also show the reader how one idea is logically linked to the next one. Reread the body of the sample paragraph on German shepherds once more and see if you can find words that act as clues to the start of each new support and glue the ideas together.

In your notebook, add these transitions at the appropriate place in your list of supports.

If you identified first, in addition, and finally, you have found the three transitions in this paragraph. Be sure you have put these in the appropriate place in the notes you are making. These three transitions show the reader that they are part of a list of supports the writer is presenting.

30

There are many "cue words" or transitions. Think of some other groups of words that you could use to get coherence into a paragraph and that will indicate to the reader that a new support is about to be added to the list of reasons. Here are just a few of them to get you started.

First,.... Second,..... Third,....

Firstly, ... Secondly,.... Finally

Another reason,.... A final reason

Most importantly....

Consult any textbook on writing to discover others to add to this list.

The paragraph on German shepherds has unity and coherence, but it needs to be more persuasive. To make this paragraph more convincing, the writer needs to add more details and examples.

First, I have never met a German shepherd whose intelligence wasn’t above average. They can learn how to turn door knobs, follow a trail, or identify illegal substances. In addition, German shepherds are dedicated to their owners. My dog Max waits patiently at the end of the driveway every night until I come home. Not even a juicy bone will tempt him to move. Finally, he is usually suspicious of all strangers, so he barks or growls when anything or anyone unknown is near his family.

Now the body is longer than the minimum three sentences, but it is much more convincing.

In your notebook, add the writer’s example beside each of the supports used to make the paragraph on German shepherds more interesting and believable.

C. The Conclusion

The last part of a paragraph is the conclusion. Readers need to know that they are coming to the end of what they are reading, and they need to feel satisfied that they have heard the whole "story". The easiest way to write an acceptable conclusion is to reword the introductory sentence. In other words, look at your introduction and then say it again using other words. In other words, in the conclusion, the writer tells the reader

Remember that when a paragraph, or longer essay, deals with only one subject, it has unity, and when all the ideas on that subject are linked to each other, the paragraph has coherence.

31

what he/she has just been told.

Here is a possible conclusion for the paragraph on German shepherds.

German shepherd dogs make a great addition to any family.

Record the conclusion in your notes. Now turn to the answer key and see how closely your notes correspond to the outline printed there.7

EXERCISE 2

Before you move on to the next concept in learning to write, let's look at another paragraph.

Canoeing is the best way to relax and relieve your stress. Gliding across a still lake on a summer day, nothing but silence and bird songs will break the quiet and interrupt your thoughts. In addition, the slow rhythmic strokes of the paddle can help you unwind so that all your troubles will fade into the background. Canoeing has its most soothing effect when you can lie back in the middle of a deserted lake and stare up at nothing more complicated than a bright cloudless sky. Canoeing always makes you feel comfortable with your life.

1. What is the general topic of this paragraph?

2. What is the main idea? (the writer’s opinion)

3. What are the three things that support the writer’s opinion?

4. What examples strengthen these supports?

5. How does the writer link the supports together? Be specific.

6. What is the conclusion?

7. Make a list of other words in the paragraph that relate to stress and relaxation.

32

8. Your answers may vary slightly. If you are unsure whether you have answered the questions properly, check with your instructor.

EXERCISE 3

For each of the paragraphs below, answer the same questions as you did in the previous exercise.

A

Be kind to the environment; take a hot dog for lunch. The humble wiener makes a great back country meal for hikers. First, because they are light weight and compact, a meal for five or six people weighs under a kilogram and takes up very little space in a backpack. Second, hot dogs can be prepared over a small fast fire. The small amount of firewood required can be gathered near the path without trampling large areas of the delicate forest floor. Perhaps the best part is that hot dogs create very little garbage to pack out, so the temptation to litter is reduced. Take hot dogs on your next hike, and you’ll be doing yourself and nature a big favour.

B.

Three things about my new computer program are going to drive me crazy. The worst thing is the annoying chime that sounds so happy every time I make a mistake. Add to that the frustrating problem of the capital letters that appear even though I haven’t typed them, all because some arrogant programmer thinks that I am too stupid to know when to capitalize. If that’s not enough to drive me to distraction, this program has a glitch that automatically shuts the computer down when some unknown combination of keys are struck. By the end of a day of wrestling with this new word processor program, I’m ready to grab the nearest blunt instrument and do some serious bodily harm to this latest advance in technology.

C.

Is there anything better than homemade bread? When it’s almost baked, the warm, nutty smell fills the house and brings everyone into the kitchen. After it’s out of the oven, the dark, golden crust makes the first crunchy slice a treat to bite into. The third, but most

33

wonderful thing about homemade bread is its soft middle section dripping with lots of butter and fresh strawberry jam. Freshly baked bread is a delicious treat.

D.

My grandfather has always been my favourite person. Since I was very little he has always taken me fishing with him, and he taught me everything I know about catching salmon. When I was just ten, he started to show me how to fix cars, and now I know enough to help him in his garage. Most of all, gramps has always spent lots of time talking to me: he respects what I have to say and listens to my suggestions. I love to be with my grandfather, a man who has a special place in my life.

E.

If it were up to me, I would outlaw three foods. First, there’s oatmeal porridge. It’s thick and sticks to my spoon like glue. Then, there’s spinach, a slimy green goo that makes my mouth feel funny. The food I dislike the most is liver. I can’t stand the smell, and it feels like a cup of sand in my mouth. If I never eat any of these again, I’ll be happy

Consultado en:

http://en.copian.ca/library/learning/academic/english/writing/paragrph/module8.pdf