Learning to Write

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Learning to Write
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Lecture Two Writing the essay
Forms of composition The lay-out Required
skills Summary writing
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1. Forms of composition

• Narration (2) Argumentation
• (3) Exposition (4) Description

time, place, character, event
argument (point), supporting facts
point, supporting facts (details)
order, diction
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2. The lay-out
(Cet-4, 2003.6)

Narration
Description
Exposition
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2. The lay-out
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Listen to the following report of summary from VOA
Word Doc
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3. Required skills
Expansion
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Fire! Fire ! !
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condensation in your own words
Summary
central idea paraphrase
Method

topic idea topic sentence
developing sentences expressions
ways to express
Skills
Aim of learning
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4. Summary writing
Original writing
generalize
expand
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Class work 1 Condensation
1. The dining table is covered with a white
cloth. The maid has laid the table in the usual
way and has put the right number of knives,
forks, spoons and glasses for each person. There
is also pepper and salt, oil and vinegar and
mustard. On the left of each person is a
table-napkin and a plate with a roll on it. In
front of the host there is a carving knife and
fork.
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Class work 1 Condensation
A shorter summary The table was laid for dinner.
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tableware
condiment
other things
Class work 1 Condensation
1. The dining table is covered with a white
cloth. The maid has laid the table in the usual
way and has put the right number of knives,
forks, spoons and glasses for each person. There
is also pepper and salt, oil and vinegar and
mustard. On the left of each person is a
table-napkin and a plate with a roll on it. In
front of the host there is a carving knife and
fork.
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Class work 1 Condensation
A shorter summary The table was laid for dinner.
A longer summary The table was laid for dinner
with enough tableware and condiment needed for
each person and other things.
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Class work 1 Condensation
Points of information (1) The ship met a storm.
(2) The radar
went wrong.
(3) The ship struck a reef.
(4) The ship sank.
2.
v
v
v
The shortest telegram The longer telegram The
longest telegram
(4)
(3) (4)
(2), (3) (4)
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Class work 1 Condensation
The housewife reported that the new detergent
cleaned well, that it had a pleasant smell and
that it was sold in a charming pink box.
3.
less important detail
central idea
unimportant detail
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Class work 1 Condensation
The new jet plane was painted scarlet, with a
silver device on each wing and its name in gold
on the fuselage(??). On its first flight it broke
the world air speed record.
4.
less important detail
central idea
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Class work 2 Paraphrase

• He had a good command of English.
• 2. He is not content with his present salary.

He was very good at English.
He is not satisfied with his current salary.
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
3. She has an appreciation of modern art. 4.
Prevention is better than cure.
She has a good understanding of modern art.
It is better to prevent it from happening than
try to put it right afterwards.
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
5. The teacher said, Dont be late again, Bob.
The teacher told Bob not to be late again.
6. Although it rained heavily they went swimming.
They went swimming despite (in spite of) the
heavy rain.
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
7. I had much difficulty in reading this book.
I found this book very difficult to read.
8. Nobody went short of coal that winter.
No one lacked coal that winter.
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
9. Tom goes in for sports.
Tom likes sports.
10. I cannot put up with his laziness any longer!
I can no longer tolerate his laziness!
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
11. Work hard and you will make progress.
If you work hard, you will make progress.
12. We wouldnt have succeeded without their help.
If they hadnt helped us, we wouldnt have
succeeded.
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
13. You have a number of books from which you can
choose.
There are a number of books for you to choose
from.
14. We all expected you for the party last night.
We all waited for you last night because we
thought you would come to the party.
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Class work 2 Paraphrase
15. As he waited for her he became impatient.
He had waited for her for a long time, but she
didnt come. He wanted to leave.
16. I was thinking of making a fresh start the
next term and working hard. I was serious about
it.
I plan to work hard next term and I mean it.
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Class work 3 Write a one-sentence summary
1. The little girl sat on the floor surrounded by
a toy telephone, a rattle, a big plastic ball and
a large number of highly colored building bricks.
Summary The little girl sat on the floor
surrounded by toys.
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Class work 3 Write a one-sentence summary
2. The book contained information about such
subjects as how a radio works, the development of
radar and the splitting of the atom.
Summary The book contained information about
modern science.
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Class work 3 Write a one-sentence summary
3. In the evenings he developed and printed his
own films or amused himself with his
stamp-collection or the radio he was making.
Summary In the evenings, he engaged in his
hobbies.
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Class work 3 Write a one-sentence summary
4. A railway train cannot run until the track has
been laid. Ships need ports and quays. Lories and
cars need roadways. Aero planes need aerodromes
with concrete runways. But a helicopter is free
to go almost anywhere without anything built on
the ground.
Summary All forms of transport except
helicopters need ground installations in order to
operate.
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Class work 3 Write a one-sentence summary
5. The man had plenty of things to occupy him
that morning. He had overslept. The hotel had
forgotten to call him and now he was late for an
important business appointment. He dressed
quickly, shaved hurriedly, grabbed his briefcase
and hurried off down the hotel corridor.
Summary The man was in a great hurry that
morning.