W1-Paragraph (16.10.22)

ACADEMIC WRITING
Dr. Vu Thi Hong Van
Email: vandhm2020@gmail.com
Reference:
Easy writing skill Step-by-step
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WRITING A PARAGRAPH
A paragraph is a group of related sentences abt a
single topic.
A paragraph is a unit of writing in a larger body of

work.
A paragraph expresses a particular topic or theme.
The purpose of a para. is to express a speaker’s

thoughts on a particular point in a clear way that is
unique and specific to that para.
BASIC PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
(4) Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.
(3) First of all, gold as a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.
(1) Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever.
(6) For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25
centuries ago.
(9) Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes.
(2) Another important characteristics of gold is its usefulness to industry and science.
(5) For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as
photography and dentistry.
(8) The most recent use of gold is in astronaut’s suits.
(10) Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection when they go outside spaceship
in space.
(7) In conclusion, gold is treasure not only for its beauty but also for its utility.
(Summarize the topic sentence )
1) Topic sentence (Topic + Controlling idea)
- 1st sentence in the paragraph
- Open the para.
- State the main idea of the para. (= what the whole para is about). It needs to be specific.
- A good topic sentence has controlling idea ( a word / phrases that help guide the
flow of ideas in the para)
-> Soccer is popular for many reasons.

-> Convenience food is easy to prepare.
-> Immigrants have contributed many delicious food to US cuisine.
-> Indie films are characterized by experimental techniques, low production costs,
and provocative themes.
too broad for a para. (for essay)
Controlling Topic Sentence
idea
Participating in class discussion is a problem for several different groups of
students.
Practice:
1) Students need to prepare some necessary papers and planning a budget in order to
register for college classes. (too specific?)
2) -> Registering for college classes can be a frustrating experience for new students.
2) Indie films are becoming more popular for some reasons. / The rise of Indie film is
due to many factors.
3) English has been influenced by other languages. (Too general for a para.)
-> English has been influenced by Asian language at some points.
Topic Sentence Controlling idea
Participating in class discussion is a problem for several different groups of

students.
Practice:
Many English words are influenced by / originate from many other languages.
The English language contain many foreign words.
Words of foreign origins enriched English.
Education system in European countries and the US is different.

Education system varies in many regions of Europe and the US.
There are significant differences in education between Europe and the US.
The European and North American university systems have several important
Topic Sentence Controlling idea
Practice:
The ways people build their house + Use different materials
All over the world, people use a variety to materials to build their house.
Different materials are used to construct houses all over the world.
2) Supporting sentence (Explanation + Examples + Statistic + Quotation)
- Support the topic sentence (Explain and elaborate the point of the paragraph)
-> One of the best cities to visit on the east coast of the United States is
Washington, D.C.
Controlling idea
Main
idea
3) Concluding sentence
- Last sentence – signal the end of the para. (Finally / In brief / In conclusion, / Indeed, / In
short, /
- Summersizing / Paraphrasing
-> In brief, you will be a great communicator if you know how to listen to the others.
-> Gestures, attitudes and words while conversing with someone can make you become a
great communicator.
-> Listening attentively is an essential skill for a good communication.
-> In summery, meaningful communication means using both good facial expression and body
language as well as showing interest in the speaker’s words.
-> Labors in modern companies are stressed by today’s communication technology.

-> Advanced communication technology may be putting great pressure on employees. / may
create stressful working load for employees.
Write 200 – 300-word paragraph about the topics:
(1) In your opinion, why do so many people want to learn English? Give a few strong
examples to support your answer.
(2) In your opinion, is English easy or difficult to study? Why do you think so? Give
two or three strong reasons to support your opinion.
Make an outline for your paragraph.
Write a draft.
Rewrite your paragraph.
(1) In your opinion, why do so many people want to learn English? Give a few
strong examples to support your answer.
Outline Globalization – English is an essential tool.
+ Job:
a. Higher job opportunity / chance of promotion at some companies.
b. Understand + work better.
c. Be confident to work with expat colleagues
+ Get to know new cultures.
+ For entertainment: US and UK are the two largest music industry in the world. Their music genres
and songs have been developed and popular for a very long time.
-> somehow it get into people’s awareness (tiềm thức) and find the reasons to understand things
they like.
+ English is spoken regularly in developed countries. Students need Eng to study abroad.
+ Developing countries absorb developed ones’ curriculums, Eng is the common use.
+ (Opinion) it’s easier to learn compared to the other languages: Latin roots, grammar isn’t too
complicated and have genders’ roles.
(1) In your opinion, why do so many people want to learn English? Give a few
strong examples to support your answer.
English has become a must-have language for some reasons.
Globalization is the main factor that promote the need of learning English. Even Chinese is known as
the largest spoken language due to its highest population, English; however, is still well-known for its
wider usage. Many countries open business and attract foreign investors from all over the globe,
multinational corporations prefer recruiting employees who have English as the second language.
Companies also create professional development or business trip abroad for those who are good at
their working field and have fine English skills. A majority of international students choose to study in
developed countries where subjects are taught in English, that also contributes the need of learning
English at the early age. Another group of people choose to learn English for exploring Western
cultures, music, cuisines, and lifestyles. For example, US and UK are the two largest music industry.
Their music genres and songs have been developed and become popular for a very long time,
knowing English become the need of the audience to help them understand the lyrics and read
articles related to their favourite singers and bands. In my opinion, English is somewhat easy to learn
because my mother tongue language is also rooted in Latin words, and the grammar is not too

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Dr. Vu Thi Hong Van

A paragraph is a unit of writing in a larger body of

A paragraph expresses a particular topic or theme.

The purpose of a para. is to express a speaker’s

-> Soccer is popular for many reasons.

Participating in class discussion is a problem for several different groups of

Education system in European countries and the US is different.

-> Labors in modern companies are stressed by today’s communication technology.

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