BBI3421

BBI3421EXPOSITORY WRITING1ObjectivesAt the end of the course, students should be able to:use a variety of techniques to generate ideas for writing (P4)write unified paragraphs with appropriate supporting pointsand details(C5)compose coherent essays using different rhetorical modes (A3)evaluate essays critically (A3), and1234SynopsisThis course involves experiencing the processes of creating and criticising; content generation; organisation and rhetorical ordering; sentential skills; proof reading and editing; interaction of writer, text, and audience; and feedback in the process of revision and evaluation.3Required Texts:

Oshima, A and Hogue, A. (2006, 4th ed.). Writing Academic English. New York: Pearson Longman.To get the book, you need to contact Mr Tan Yun Chun (012-2808241/tanyunchun@ymail.com) Please take note that exercises for the course assignment are taken from the prescribed textbook.

4EvaluationMid-Semester40%Assignments: -Task Portfolio 20%-Personal Reflection 10%Final Examination30%

Total100%5Format of EvaluationMid-Semester Test: Structured Questions and MCQs (Topics covered from Week 1- Week 7)- Identifying topic sentences- Writing topic sentences- Writing supporting sentences- Identifying Types of sentences- Coherence devices- Outlining-Writing an extended paragraph

6Assignments: Task Portfolio and Reflection ExerciseWeekBBI3421 expository WritingTask Portfolio (20 marks)Reflection Exercise (10 marks)1The Writing ProcessRead pp. 265- 270 (Textbook)Do the following practices as found in your textbook (pp.266-270).practice 1practice 2 practice 3(* you dont have to submit the above exercises in your task portfolio)2*1) Think of a topic of your own interest and narrow it. *2) Use one brainstorming technique that you learnt to generate your ideas.3Paragraph Structure and Topic SentenceRead Chapter 1 (pp.2 -11)Work on the following exercises as found in your textbook.*Practices 1 A (p.6-8): Group 4-5*Practice 1B (p.6-8): Paragraph 3-4*Practice 2 (p.9): Q9-13*Practice 3 (p.10-11): Paragraph 1-34Supporting Sentences and Concluding Sentence (pp. 11-17)*Practice 4 (p.11-12): Paragraph BModel (paragraph supported with examples: Language and Perception (p.13)*Practice 5 (15-16): Paragraph 1-2Read The writing Process, Step 2: Planning (Outlining) (pp. 271-272)*Based on a topic of your own interest, write an extended paragraph outline. Your outline should have a topic sentence, main supporting points, supporting details and a concluding sentence.5Unity and Coherence Read Chapter 2 (pp. 18-19).Work on the following practices as found in the textbook.*Practice 1 A(pp. 19-20): Para graph 1-3*Practice 1 B (pp. 19-20): Paragraph 2*Practice 1C (pp. 19-20): Paragraph 2*Practice 2 (p.23):B*Practice 4 (p.25)*Practice 6 (p.29-30)*Practice 7A(p.30-32): Q4-6*Practice 7 C (p.30-32)*Practice 9 (p.33)6Types of SentencesBefore you write your paragraph, it is important to know that to make your paragraph interesting, you need to use a variety of sentences. Read Chapter 10 (pp. 162-178) on Types of Sentences and work on the following practices.*Practice 1 (pp.163-164): Q8-15*Practice 3 (p.167)*Practice 4 A & C (p.167-168)*Practice5 B, & C (pp. 170-171)*Practice 7 (p.171)*Practice 8 A (pp.172-173):Q6-11*Practice 8B(pp.172-173):Q2-6*Practice 9 (p. 174)Q1-3*Writing an extended paragraphBased on the outline that you have done on the topic of your interest, write the first draft of your extended paragraph.Make sure your sentences are correctly written. 7Sentence ProblemsWork on the following practices as found in the textbook.*Practice 2 A (pp.184):Q1-6*Practice 3 (pp.186-187):Q4-6*Practice 4 B (pp. 189-190):Q2-7*Practice 4C (pp. 189-190)*Practice 5 (p.191):Q3-5*Writing an extended paragraphEdit your written work using the Self-editing Worksheet 2 (p. 319) Then, write your final draft of your extended paragraph.8Essay WritingRead Chapter 4 on the structure of an essay (Introduction, Body and Conclusion.Introductory paragraph*Practice 1 A (p.62-63) Types of Introductory paragraphs*Practice 2 B (p.64: A and B ) Thesis statementsBody ParagraphsRead pp. 64-66*Practice 3B (p.66-67): Q4-6 *Practice 3C (p.66-67):Q4-8*Practice 4 (p.68):Q3-5Concluding Paragraph (p.72)*Practice 6 (p.73-74) Concluding paragraph*Practice 7 (p.74-75) Writing concluding paragraphs9Outlining an Essay *Practice 8 (p.76-77) Essay outliningWriting an Argumentative EssayRead p: 142 on Argumentative Essays*Practice 2 (pp.148-149):Q4-6*Practice 3 (p. 149):Q2-4Choose a topic of your interest for the writing of an argumentative/persuasive essay. Then, select a brainstorming technique to explore your ideas.10Writing an Argumentative EssayWrite an outline of the essay.Write your first draft of your essay.11Writing an Argumentative EssayUse Self-Editing Worksheet 9 (p.329) to edit your work.Then, write your second draft of your essay.11Writing an Argumentative EssayUse Self-Editing Worksheet 9 (p.329) to edit your work.Then, write your second draft of your essay.12Reflection Exercise (10 marks)Write your reflection on your process of learning how to write an essay. Look at the handout on Reflection Exercise and use the questions as a guide on how to write your reflection.*Submit your Assignment (Task Portfolio) to PPL together with your reflection exercise.13Revision14Revision

Summary of Task PortfolioYour Task Portfolio consists of three sections: Section A: The process writing of an extended paragraph and an argumentative paragraphSection B: PracticesSection C: Reflection exercise

*Compile your Task Portfolio according to the above sections. A contents page should precede the three sections.

Reflection Exercise (10 marks) In about 150 words, write your reflection on your learning experience of writing an essay. You can use the questions below to guide you in writing your reflection.

Now that you have completed writing your essay, did you face any challenges while writing it? Explain the challenges that you had faced.While writing your essay, did you consciously follow the steps of the writing process?Did you consciously use some of the coherent devices to make your essay coherent? If yes, what were they?

In writing your essay, did you consciously use varied sentence patterns? What types of sentence patterns did you use most of the time?When editing your own work, what aspects of writing did you normally edit? Ideas? Sentence constructions? Grammar? How do you feel about your edited piece of work?Other comments?

Final Examination: MCQ and Structured Questions (All topics but pay particular attention to topics covered from Week 8-Week 13)Identifying sentence problemsIdentifying and/or writing thesis statementIdentifying and/or writing topic sentenceWrite selected paragraphs (Introductory, body paragraphs or concluding paragraphs)Cohesive devices

Send your Task Portfolio and Reflection Exercise to PPL.

For any enquiries, contact:Pn Helen TanJabatan Bahasa InggerisFakulti Bahasa Moden dan KomunikasiUniversiti Putra Malaysia43400 Serdang(helen@fbmk.upm.edu.my)Tel: 03-8946871120 What is writing?a complicated cognitive processrecursive involves several activities; setting goals, generating ideas, organising information, selecting appropriate language, making a draft, reading and reviewing it, then revising and editing. Hedge, T. (2003) Teaching and learning in the classroom.

21What good writers do? They consider purpose and audience. They consult their own background knowledge. They let ideas incubate. They plan. As they write, they read back over what they have written. Contrary to what many textbooks advise, writers do not follow a neat sequence of planning, organising, writing and then revising. For a while a writers product the finished essay, story or novel is presented in lines, the process that produces it is not linear at all. (Raimes 1985:229)

22Audience Awarenesssuccessful writers are aware of their readers and seek to produce reader-based prose (Flower and Hayes 1980).

Successful writers think about what the reader needs to know, how to make information clear and accessible and what is an appropriate style (for example, formal, friendly, or persuasive).

23How to begin writing?Meyer,A. (2005) 6 stagesExplore ideasConsider subject, purpose, audiencePrewriteBrainstorming, clustering, freewritingOrganiseSelect, Outline

24Write a first draftWrite quickly to record your thoughtsPut notes and new ideas in the marginsRevise the draft- Read aloudAdd or omit material, and move materials aroundProduce final copyEditCopy over, or print a clean copyRead carefully for errors, and then print another clean copy

25Stage 1:Exploration of ideasConsider subject, purpose, audienceSubjectWhat do I know about the subject?What do I want to say about the subject?PurposeWhy am I saying about the subject?Is it to persuade, to inform, etc.

26Choosing and Narrowing a TopicEnvironment

Pollution

Air pollution

Effects on peoples health

27Stage 2: Generation of ideasBrainstorming Techniques

ListingClusteringFreewriting

28

ListingWrite down the general topic at the top of your paper.Make a list of every idea that comes into your mind about the topic. Keep the ideas flowing. If you write down information that is completely off the topic, dont worry about it because you can cross it out later.Use words, phrases, or sentences, and dont worry about spelling or grammar

29 Freewriting- Write the topic at the top of your paperSimply write about the subject without worrying about sentence structure, spelling, logic, and grammar.Write as if you are speaking so that you can get your ideas down fast.

30ClusteringWrite your subject in the middle of the page and then circle it.Write related ideas around the circle as they occur to you.Circle the ideas and connect them to you subject circle.31Stage 3: Organize/ OutlineFrom your brainstorming notes:Identify relevant pointCommunication Problems1. Poor verbal skills 2. Americans difficult to understand lack vocabulary use incomplete sentences new language unclear expressions poor pronunciation Americans talk too fast lack confidence use slang and idioms32Categorize your ideas into sub categories. For example:1. poor verbal skills - lack vocabulary - poor pronunciation2. Americans difficult to understand - use incomplete sentences - use unclear expressions - talk too fast - use slang and idioms 33Stage 4: Write your draftA Paragraph : What is it?

A basic unit of organization in writingConsists of a group of related sentences that develop one main idea

34An Extended Paragraph: What does it contain?Introduction -Topic sentenceBody -Main Supporting Sentences -Supporting detailsConclusion Summary

Additional ElementsUnityCoherence35What is a Topic Sentence?Presents the main ideaSuggests how the remaining sentences will develop that ideaGives the paragraph a directionIs the most general statementMakes a claim about the topicExpresses an opinion/judgement

Position of topic sentence in a paragraph - usually but not always at or near the beginning of paragraph36How to write a Topic Sentence?Topic + controlling idea

Eg: Learning to outline will improve your writing for three reasons. Topic: Learning to outline Controlling idea: will improve your writing for three reasons37Examples of a Good Topic Sentence1. People can avoid burglaries by taking certain precautions. (The precautions for) 2. There are several advantages to growing up in a small town. (The advantages of) 3. Most US universities require a 550 point TOEFL score for a number of reasons. (The reasons for) 4. Fixing a flat tire on a bicycle is easy if you follow these steps. (The steps for) 5. Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop. (The qualities (or characteristics or traits) of)

Functions of Supporting PointsDevelop the topic sentence through:

giving explanations andproviding examples39Examples of supporting pointsTS: Learning to outline will improve your writing for three reasons. It will help you organize your ideas.It will help you write more quickly.It will help you improve your grammarImproved organization, speed, and grammar make learning outline well worth the effort.

40Examples of specific detailsTS: Learning to outline will improve your writing for three reasons. It will help you organize your ideas. 1. you will not include irrelevant ideas. 2. You will not leave out important points. 3. Your supporting sentences will be in logical order.It will help you write more quickly. 1. Seventy-five percent of the work is done. 2. You do not worry about what you are going to say.It will help you improve your grammar 1.You will be able to concentrate on writing appropriately. 2. You will have time to self-correct any wrong grammar usedImproved organization, speed, and grammar make learning outline well worth the effort.

41Functions of a Concluding SentenceIt signals the end of the paragraph.It summarizes the main points of the paragraph.It gives a final comment on the topic and leaves the reader with the most important ideas to think about.Eg: In conclusion, improved organization, speed, and grammar make learning outline well worth the effort.

42Coherence and Cohesion43Cohere (Latin): hold together

Repetition of key nounsUse of Consistent PronounsTransition SignalsLogical arrangement 44Repetition of key nounsGoldGold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside spaceships. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility. 45Use of Consistent PronounsHelp establish a clear connection between ideas. Pronouns replaces nouns and refer back to them.

Eg: First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, they are suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. (X)First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. (/)

46Exercise 1: Correct the pronouns used to make the use of pronouns consistentOlympic Athletes

Olympic athletes must be strong both physically and mentally. First, if you hope to compete in an Olympic sport, you must be physically strong. Furthermore, an aspiring Olympian must train rigorously for many years. For the most demanding sports, they train several hours a day, five or six days a week, for ten or more years. In addition to being physically strong, he or she must also be mentally tough. This means that you have to be totally dedicated to your sport, often giving up a normal school, family, and social life. Being mentally strong also means that he or she must be able to withstand the intense pressure of international competition with its attendant media coverage. Finally, not everyone can win a medal, so they must possess the inner strength to live with defeat.47Important Use of Transition SignalsExplains relationships between ideas.(See p. 297-299, Oshima & Hogue) Transition Signals and other Connecting WordsHelps to make your prose engaging to the readers48Compare paragraph 1 and 2Which is easier to understand?Britain withdrew from Singapore in 1971,the tiny island nation at the tip of the Malay Peninsula had no way to support itself. Its resources was people. From the start, the Singapore government determined that the countrys survival would depend on foreign investment and expertise. The government itself would need to play an active role in guiding economic development. Singapore developed one of the most productive economies in the world.49Paragraph 2When Britain withdrew from Singapore in 1971,the tiny island nation at the tip of the Malay Peninsula had no way to support itself. Its resources was people. From the start, the Singapore government determined that the countrys survival would depend on foreign investment and expertise. Furthermore, the government itself would need to play an active role in guiding economic development. As a result of these strategies, Singapore developed one of the most productive economies in the world.

50Logical arrangement

Arrange your ideas in logical sequenceTypes of logical order:Chronological order eg: first, next, after that, finally, before, etc.Logical division eg: The most important, Another important, etc.Comparison/contrast eg: in contrast, unlike, different from/ similarly, as expensive as, just like, etc.51A Sample of a Unified Paragraph(TS) A carefully thought out topic sentence will serve two important functions. First, it will provide you, the author, the means to stay focused on your objective. It is a lot easier to write if you know what you are going to write about! Second, a clearly stated topic sentence will provide readers with the tools they need to clearly understand what you have to say. These are important reasons to carefully consider topic sentences before beginning writing (CS).

Summary of Writing an Extended ParagraphWhat have you learnt?structure of an extended paragraphprocess of writing (choosing and narrowing a topic, idea generation, outlining, drafting, editing, redrafting, proof reading)how to write a good topic sentence, supporting details and concluding sentence outliningcoherence in writingExerciseChoose a topic from the list given.In pairs/or groups of three, brainstorm for ideas.Write one topic sentence.From the topic sentence, outline the paragraph.List of topics: customcelebrationfriends televisionfamilycomputers

54