Description of Activity: In this lesson the teacher uses a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to introduce students to the organization technique

for the five-paragraph essay known as "The Bing, the Bang, and the Bongo." The presentation, designed for beginning writers, focuses on the introduction, organization, summary, and transitions used to create a well-developed essay. The students will practice this technique by completing an essay template and will conclude by composing an original essay on a chosen topic. Objectives:

To provide students with a method of organizing ideas into clear, well-developed essays To use transitional words to link ideas smoothly between paragraphs To create a well-developed, five-paragraph essay using "The Bing, the Bang, and the Bongo" method of development To use Microsoft Word or another word-processing program to provide practice in the use of technology skills

EXAMPLE.. I am forty years old, rather tall and I have blue eyes and short black hair. I wear casual clothes as I teach students in a relaxed atmosphere. I enjoy my job because I get to meet and help so many different people from all over the world. During my spare time, I like playing tennis which I play at least three times a week. I also love listening to classical music and I must admit that I spend a lot of money on buying new CDs! I live in a pretty seaside town on the Italian coast. I enjoy eating great Italian food and laughing with the likable people who live here.

Exampl.. Paragraph by narration

My Unforgettable Experience
by Hieu Vu

The first year that I set my feet in this country was very difficult and unforgettable. I was new to the environment and my language barriers keep me a distance from communicating and socializing with others. I was not able to associate or interact within the environment, especially in the school. I felt like I was a fish in a new pond with nothing to do and no where else to go. Every time I tried to express an assignment or any kind of activity through dictation, it became a joke to the classroom. People made fun of the way I talked and the way I dressed, knowing I was new in this country, I didnt have enough money to be competing with materials. All the stress, pressure, and disrespect given from other people had forced me to be silent and lonely in public. I did not have anybody to talk to and look up to when I needed. My house was my only playground and entertainment place; my bedroom became my only library. My loneliness and my anger pushed me to study hard and to commit myself to be more successful and to be above those who had put me down. Every time I thought about these incidents, it motivated me to go further in establishing the goals that I desired in life. Finally, I accomplished my communication and socialization, but I will never forget who I was once before.

Cause and Effect::

Cause and Effect Paragraphs

Cause & Effect Conjunctions | Go to the Exercises Sometimes, assigned topics on the written portion of the TOEFL ask you to explain the reasons or causes of something. Other topics will ask you to discuss the results or effects of some cause. Here is an example of a writing topic asking for causes of a particular phenomenon (Note: this is not an actual TOEFL topic, but it is similar to one that may appear on a specific adminstration of the TOEFL):
In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. Explain the causes of this phenomenon. Be sure to give specific details and reasons in your explanation.

Cause/effect paragraphs generally follow basic paragraph format. That is, they begin with a topic sentence and this sentence is followed by specific supporting details. (Click here if you wish to review Lesson 1, "Basic Paragraph Structure.") For example, if the topic sentence introduces an effect, the supporting sentences all describe causes. Here is an example:

In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are several reasons for this occurrence. First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many people from rural areas. Second, there were many schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers. The promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. For many people, these facilities made

city life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them away from rural communities.

Notice how each supporting sentence is a cause that explains the effect mentioned in the topic sentence. In the chart below are the main ideas of the above paragraph, to help you understand the relationships better:

EFFECT (Topic Sentence) Cities have grown very large. [There are several reasons for this.] (Cities have grown very large.)

CAUSES (Supporting Sentences)

Factory jobs attracted people.

Better schools attracted families to move to the city. Places of leisure, entertainment, and culture made city life appear more interesting.

(Cities have grown very large.)

Notice also how the topic sentence is followed by the "focusing" or "prediction" sentence, There are several reasons for this. Such sentences help the reader anticipate the organization of the paragraph or essay. Cause and Effect Conjunctions Here are some common conjunctions that can be used to express cause and effect: since because as a result therefore because of + noun phrase due to + noun phrase

consequently

for this reason

so

There are two things you must be careful of when using these conjunctions. First, you must order the cause and the effect corerctly. For example, in the sentence

Sally closed the window because the weather outside was cold. the CAUSE is the fact that the room was cold, and the EFFECT is Sally's closing the window. The conjunction because is placed in the correct position here, which is right before the cause. Similarly, in the sentence

Because the weather outside was cold, Sally closed the window. the conjunction because is correctly placed before the part of the sentence that expresses the cause, even though the subordinate clause because the room was cold is now at the beginning of the sentence. (Note that the first letter of the conjunction is now capitalized.) However, in this sentence:

??The weather outside was cold because Sally closed the window. even though it is grammatical, it does not make sense because a person's opening or closing a window does not influence the weather. Second, you should be careful when using commas. Conjunctions such as therefore, consequently, as a result, and for this reason are usually followed by a comma, as in these examples:

The weather was cold; therefore, Sally closed the window.

The weather was cold. Therefore, Sally put on her coat. The weather was cold. Consequently, Sally put on her scarf. A blizzard hit the town. As a result, the schools were closed.

The adverbial clause conjunctions since and because are exceptions. These are attached directly at the beginning of CAUSE-sentence without a comma, as in the example above, Because the weather outside was cold, Sally closed the window. The comma here is placed at the end of the subordinate clause. The coordinating conjunction so is also different from the ones above. This conjunction has a comma before it, as in this sentence:

The weather was warm, so Jim turned on the air conditioner. However, in formal academic writing, so may not be used at the beginning of a sentence (although you will often see it in informal writing):

Comparison and Contrast

Paragraph 1 Many Americans feel that there is little difference between the American and British forms of English. However, while the Americans and British share the same grammar and sentence structure, some features of the language like vocabulary, idiom, and pronunciation can be so different that an American listener may not understand a British speaker even though they're technically usComplaining vs. Moaning Paragraph 2

People who listen to and study Beethoven often don't appreciate great rock groups like the Dave Matthews Band. In fact, a comparative analysis of the harmonic and melodic procedures of both these great musicians will reveal many startling similarities. This comparison will indicate that the music of rock groups like Dave Matthews derives from the Western tradition of music. Since rock music is "Visitors to Britain are rarely able to grasp--sometimes composed within this tradition, I will argue after decades of residency--the vital distinction its that classic rock groups like Dave inhabitants make between complaining and moaning. Matthews should be included in the The two activities seem similar, but there is a profound curriculum of western music survey philosophical and practical difference. To complain classes.
about something is to express dissatisfaction to someone whom you hold responsible for an unsatisfactory state of affairs; to moan is to express the same thing to someone other than the person responsible. The British are powerfully embarrassed by complaining, and experience an almost physical recoil from people who do it in public. They do love to moan though. The background music of British life is a running aria of moaning about pretty much everything-our weather, our politics, our permanently underperforming national sports teams, our reality-TVobsessed media, and so on. Moaning, a source of entertainment in its own right, is also an important psychic comfort blanket, a way of venting resentment without taking responsibility for effecting change." (John Lanchester, "Party Games." The New Yorker, June 7, 2010)

European Football vs. American Football "Although European football is the parent of American football, the two games show several major differences. European football, sometimes called association football or soccer, is played in more than 80 countries, making it the most widely played sport in the world. American football, on the other hand, is popular only in the United States and Canada. Soccer is played by 11 players with a round ball. Football, also played by 11 players in somewhat different positions on the field, uses an elongated round ball. Soccer has little body contact between players, and therefore requires no special protective equipment. Football, in which players make maximum use of body contact to block a running ball carrier and his teammates, requires special headgear and padding. In soccer, the ball is advanced toward the goal by kicking it or by butting it with the head. In football, on the other hand, the ball is passed from hand to hand across the opponent's goal. These are just a few of the features that distinguish association and American football."

(student paragraph, "Football and Soccer")

A "Sexist Interlude" by Bill Bryson: Women vs. Men at the Checkout Counter "Although the store had only just opened, the food hall was busy and there were long queues at the tills. I took a place in a line behind eight other shoppers. They were all women and they all did the same mystifying thing: They acted surprised when it came time to pay. This is something that has been puzzling me for years. Women will stand there watching their items being rung up, and then when the till lady says, 'That's four pounds twenty, love,' or whatever, they suddenly look as if they've never done this sort of thing before. They go 'Oh!' and start rooting in a flustered fashion in their handbag for their purse or checkbook, as if no one had told them that this might happen. "Men, for all their many shortcomings, like washing large pieces of oily machinery in the kitchen sink or forgetting that a painted door stays wet for more than thirty seconds, are generally pretty good when it comes to paying. They spend their time in line doing a wallet inventory and sorting through their coins. When the till person announces the bill, they immediately hand over an approximately correct amount of money, keep their hands extended for the change however long it takes or however foolish they may begin to look if there is, say, a problem with the till roll, and then--mark this--pocket their change as they walk away instead of deciding that now is the time to search for the car keys and reorganize six months' worth of receipts." (Bill Bryson, Notes From a Small Island. William Morrow, 1995)

ing the same language.

Clarification::

Of Studies, by Francis Bacon

"Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man"
By Richard Nordquist, About.com Guide

Filed In:

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Of Studies by Francis Bacon

Studies serve for delight, for ornament, and for ability. Their chief use for delight is in privateness and retiring; for ornament, is in discourse; and for ability, is in the judgment and disposition of business. For expert men can execute, and perhaps judge of particulars, one by one; but the general counsels, and the plots and marshalling of affairs, come best from those that are learned. To spend too much time in studies is sloth; to use them too much for ornament, is affectation; to make judgment wholly by their rules, is the humor of a scholar. They perfect nature, and are perfected by experience: for natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning, by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Crafty men condemn studies, simple men admire them, and wise men use them; for they teach not their own use; but that is a wisdom without them, and above them, won by observation. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested; that is, some books are to be read only in parts; others to be read, but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention. Some books also may be read by deputy, and extracts made of them by others; but that would be only in the less important arguments, and the meaner sort of books, else distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things. Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners]. Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a mans wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores [splitters of hairs]. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers cases. So every defect of the mind may have a special receipt.

Paragraph ny Process::

process paragraph
Page historylast edited by PBworks 5 years ago

Two Types of Process Paragraph

Process writing is useful when writing on history, business, the sciences, psychology, and many other areas

How to: This gives the reader steps or directions on how he or she can do something.

Explanation: This tells the reader how a particular event occurred or how something works.

Transitional Expressions: Begining a Process (at)first, initially, begin by Continuing the Process second, third step, until, after(ward), then, next later, before, when, while, as soon as, as, upon, during, meanwhile Ending a Process finally, at last

Checklist
This is a checklist to help you when writing a Process Paragraph * Narrow the topic. Think of who you are writing to * Make a topic sentence that clearly states what your process result will be * Free write or brainstorm some ideas that might help with the process * Drop unnecessary information that are not necessary in the process * Make a outline with the steps of how you will write it. * Write a draft of the process and use transition expressions to indicate order * Revise * Proofread to make sure that you have no errors in grammar or spelling, punctuation, or mechanics

Here are some examples of a process paragraph:

My Most Favorite Dish, You Can Make It Too Today we are going to be making chicken primavera. Before you get started you will need the following things: two or more skinless, boneless chicken breasts; two cans of Cream of Mushroom soup; two cans of Cream of Chicken

soup; milk; butter; vegetable oil, spaghetti noodles (or any noodle of you choice); and finally one very large sized frying pan. First you want to start the water and about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil boiling for the noodles (they take the longest), and then while you have that going, start dicing you chicken breast into about 1 inch cubes. After you get all of your chicken cut up you want to start heating up your pan. Always start on high heat and then once the ingredients are added the heat will get turned down. Once your frying pan is hot put 1 tablespoon of butter into the frying pan, let that melt a little bit, and then add your chicken. You want to make sure that the chicken is browned on all sides, and if you were to cut a cube in half that the middle is white. Any time while you are cooking you chicken, if the water is boiling, then you can start boiling you noodles. When your chicken is done all the way through then we make the sauce. Right there in the same pan that you cooked you chicken in, add your two cans of Cream of Mushroom soup and your two cans of Cream of Chicken soup. After dumping the soup into the pan, you will then need to guess on the amount of milk that you put into the sauce. The more milk that is added the thinner the sauce will be, and the less milk that is added will give you a nicer creamier sauce. It depends on how thick or thin you like your sauces. Make sure to keep stirring the noodles through out their cooking process, or they will all be stuck together. While finishing cooking the noodles turn the heat down on the sauce so that all it is going to do is warm up. You dont want the sauce to boil or else it will take longer to thicken up even if the amount of milk was small. It only takes about 3-5 minutes for the sauce to warm all the way through. Once the noodles are done then you can strain the water off of them. Add about 1 tablespoon of butter to the drained noodles and stir them really good to get that butter mixed in, this will keep the noodles from sticking together until they can be served. Finally, all you need to do now is dish up your plate of chicken primavera and enjoy. This recipe will feed between 8-10 people in one sitting. If you need to make more than that, just double the recipe and follow the same instructions. I hope that this meal was as quick, easy, and delicious for you as it was for me. ~ Jessica Johnson 2005~

This is a great example of a process paragraph for the author is very thorough within all of the steps. This particular paragraph would be easy for anyone trying to make chicken primavera for the first time. She gives great process steps such as before, first, and after. Something that could be considered for the next revision would be not to use the word you. This writer was very successful in creating a how-to paragraph as explained in our text and has explained how to do what was stated in the topic sentence. This is definitely a recipe that gets your mouth watering! ~ 2005 Jessica Johnson~

Ways to make Breaking up Easier Breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend can be easier said than done, but here are five steps that may help the breaking up process. First try to distance yourself by suddenly becoming busier than usual. The next step is to calmly tell the other person that how you are feeling.Then gently let him or her know that you do not want to be together anymore. Then make sure to be sensitive of his or her feelings and answer any questions that he or she may

have. For example, if the person starts to cry, use kind words to help comfort him or her. After everything is said and done, take some alone time for your self because everyone has feelings to sort out after a break up. Finally, go out with friends and meet new people. With these five steps it will make the breaking up process smooth for both parties. ~ Sara Bedwell~

How To Be A Good Friend To be a good friend, an individual has to spend time working on her friendships, or they will eventually fade. When two people first meet, they both need to be sure they are acting in good manor, so they dont scare the other away. After they meet and start talking a few times, they will start getting to know each other, calling each other, and spending more time with each other. That is how a friendship begins. After they call each other friends, the friendship has to be made through the effort of more than just one person, so each has to do her own part. Friendships shouldnt take a lot of money but they do take a lot of time and care. Friends should always listen to what the other has to say, and then should give advice only when asked for it. No matter how much friends are alike, everyone has differences, so a friend should be able to accept their differences. After being a friend to a person for a long period of time, one might get tired of hearing repeated problems everyday, but a good friend will always be there for her friend no matter what. ~ Denise Rafferty~