\WRITING ASSIGNMENT (PART 1) 15%

OPINION PARAGRAPH

Task
You are required to create a portfolio of an opinion paragraph on one of the
suggested topics given. Your portfolio should contain the following items:

1. Paragraph outline
2. First draft
3. Peer-feedback Form
4. Second draft
5. Self-editing Form
6. Final draft

Marks will be deducted if the portfolio is incomplete.

Instructions

1. Write your opinion paragraph based on ONE of the suggested titles below.

2. Use the given TEMPLATE to write your paragraph.

3. Your OUTLINE should be written in full sentences.

4. Your assignment should only be HANDWRITTEN.

5. Your paragraph should be at least 300-350 words.

6. Your paragraph should have a topic sentence, several supporting sentences

and a concluding sentence.

7. Support your opinion with relevant explanation and appropriate examples.

 8. This assignment is DUE in WEEK 10.

Suggested titles (Choose only ONE)

1. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as well as blogging

have destroyed communication between friends and family. Do you agree?

2. At present, the number of educational institutions both public and private has
increased tremendously. However, many students still prefer going abroad for
studies. What is your opinion on this issue?

3. Holding a part-time job while studying disrupts a students studies. What is

your view?

The Writing Process

i. Brainstorm for ideas/points according to your chosen topic.

ii. Prepare an outline in complete sentences (using the template given below).

iii. Develop the first draft by connecting your ideas in the outline into coherent
sentences and expand the sentences to include specific details. Use appropriate
transitional words (e.g.: Therefore, Moreover, In addition, Firstly, In short etc.)

iv. Exchange your first draft with a peer. Your peer will then provide feedback on
your draft by filling in the Peer-feedback Form. This completed feedback form is
one of the items that needs to be included in your portfolio for submission.

v. Write the second draft of your paragraph based on the comments that were given
in your Peer-feedback Form.
 vi. Edit your second draft yourself using the Self-editing Form. This completed Self-
editing Form is one of the items that need to be included in your portfolio for
submission. Thoroughly revise your paragraph for coherence, relevance, unity
and language use.

vii. Based on the revision from the Self-editing Form, write the final draft of your
paragraph.

viii. All the required items should be submitted together as the Writing Assignment
portfolio.

Template 1

PARAGRAPH OUTLINE

TITLE:
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Topic Sentence:

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Supporting Sentence 1:

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 Supporting Details 1:____________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:
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Supporting Sentence 2:

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Supporting Details 1:____________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:
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Supporting Sentence 3:

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Supporting Details 1:____________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:
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Concluding Sentence:
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Template 2

PARAGRAPH: DRAFT 1

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 PEER-EDITING FORM

Peer-editor: Date:
Writers name: Number of words:

TOPIC SENTENCE YES NO

1. Is there a topic sentence? Write the sentence number. ______
2. Is the topic sentence well-focused and makes clear the writers stand on the topic?
3. Make a prediction about what you expect to read in the rest of the paragraph based on the topic
sentence.

SUPPORTING SENTENCES YES NO

4. Has the writer provided adequate and specific support throughout the paragraph?
5. Has the writer related the supporting details to the topic sentence?
6. Does the information follow a logical order?
7. Are there any supporting details that require more explanation to relate it to the topic
sentence?

CONCLUDING SENTENCE YES NO

8. Is there a concluding sentence?
9. The concluding sentence summarises/paraphrases the writers stand.

COHERENCE AND UNITY YES NO

10. Do all the supporting points discuss the topic?
11. Is there any irrelevant sentence? Sentence No. __________
12. Are the ideas ordered in a way that is logical, clear, and easy to follow?
13. Does the writer use consistent nouns and pronouns throughout the paragraph?
14. Does the writer use adequate transition signals?

LANGUAGE AND SENTENCE STRUCTURES YES NO

15. Is there a variety of sentence structures?
Identify at least one of the following.
a) Simple b) Compound c) Complex
Sentence No. ____ Sentence No.___ Sentence No. ___
16. Is there any spelling error?
Circle on the draft if any.
17. Is there any error in subject-verb-agreement?
On the draft, underline and write SVA above it.
18. Identify any wrong usage of tenses.
Underline on the draft if any.
19. Are the sentences punctuated correctly?
20. Does the writer use correct capitalization?
Template 3

PARAGRAPH: DRAFT 2

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SELF-EDITING FORM

Writers name: Date:

Number of words:

YES NO
1. My paragraph has a topic sentence that states a stand/offers a
perspective of importance that I would like to discuss.

2. My topic sentence contains only one main idea.

3. I have supported my topic sentence with relevant supporting details.

4. I have made sure all my supporting sentences relate clearly to my

topic sentence.
5. I have written an appropriate concluding sentence calling for an
action or a change.
6. I have used correct punctuation.

7. I have checked for correct capitalization.

8. I have checked my spelling.

9. I have checked my sentences for subject-verb agreement.

10. I have checked for unity and coherence.

11. I have checked for noun pronoun consistency.

Put a tick () in the boxes provided.

12. I have checked my paragraph for

a) fragments
b) run-ons
 c) comma splices
d) parallel structures

13. I have made changes to my paragraph (revised my writing) after

receiving feedback from my peer editor.
14. The 3 most important changes I have made to my paragraph are:

a)
b)
c)
Template 4

PARAGRAPH: FINAL

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WRITING ASSIGNMENT (PART 2) 10%

OPINION ESSAY

Task

You are required to create an opinion essay outline on one of the suggested topics
given.

Instructions

9. Write your opinion essay outline based on ONE of the suggested titles below.

10. Use the given TEMPLATE to write your essay outline.

11. Your OUTLINE for the essay should be written in full sentences.

12. Your assignment should only be HANDWRITTEN.

13. Your essay outline should contain at least 600-850 words.

 14. Your essay outline should be divided into 5 paragraphs; 1 introduction
paragraph, 3 body paragraphs and 1 conclusion paragraph.

15. The introduction paragraph should consist of a brief introduction and

explanation of the topic or general statements (you may include
figures/statistics/ findings/ etc..), a sentence showing your STAND or
OPINION on the topic and the THESIS STATEMENT.

16. Each of your body paragraph should have a relevant TOPIC SENTENCE that
further explains your thesis statement, several supporting sentences that
explains your topic sentence and a concluding sentence (optional).

17. Support your opinion with relevant explanation and appropriate examples.
Use citations (optional) to enhance your stand or opinion.
*Usage of citations requires proper referencing at the end.

18. Your conclusion paragraph should include a summary of the main points/
paraphrased restatement of your thesis statement and your final comment on
the subject ideally asserting your opinion.

19. This assignment is DUE in WEEK 10.

20. Submit together with Writing Assignment PART 1 as part of the

Writing Assignment portfolio.

Suggested titles (Choose only ONE)

4. Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country.

Do you agree?

5. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: Video games are a bad
influence on young people.

6. In your opinion, does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life
better when technology was simpler?
 7. Some people prefer to travel abroad; others say that there is much to be seen
in our own country. What is your opinion?

8. Technology is making communication easier in todays world, but many

believe it is at the expense of personal contact as many people chose to study or
work at home in front of a computer screen. What do you think of a society that
depends on computer screens rather than face- to- face contact for its main
means of communication?

The Writing Process

ix. Brainstorm for ideas/points according to your chosen topic.

x. Develop the thesis statement, topic sentences, supporting sentence and other
details. Connect your ideas into coherent sentences and expand the sentences to
include specific details. Use appropriate transitional words (e.g.: Therefore,
Moreover, In addition, Firstly, In short etc.)

xi. Prepare an outline in complete sentences (using the template given below).

xii. Thoroughly revise your essay outline for coherence, relevance, unity and
language use.

xiii. The essay outline should be submitted together with the Writing Assignment
portfolio.
Template 5

ESSAY OUTLINE

TITLE:

___________________________________________________________________________

Introduction Paragraph

General statements:

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Opinion Statement:

____________________________________________________________________________

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Thesis Statement:

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Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1
Topic Sentence:

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Supporting Sentence 1:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 2:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 3:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Concluding Sentence (optional):

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Paragraph 2
Topic Sentence:

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Supporting Sentence 1:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 2:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 3:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Concluding Sentence (optional):
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Paragraph 3
Topic Sentence:

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Supporting Sentence 1:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 2:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Sentence 3:

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Supporting Details 1:_________________________________________________

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Supporting Details 2:_________________________________________________

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Concluding Sentence (optional):

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Conclusion Paragraph

Summary of points/ Rephrase of thesis statement:

Assertion of Stand:

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