Achieving a Readable StyleClass Activities & Accompanying Notes for Lecture 5.Complete the diagram:

Tick each of the statements that you think are true for good paragraphs:

▢ Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence.▢ The topic sentence summarises the content to come.▢ Include information that is not relevant to the topic sentence.▢ Reports should have very long paragraphs▢ In a paragraph, it does not matter which order your sentences are in. As

long as all the information is there.▢ You should not write too many long paragraphs.▢ Make sure that all paragraphs are enumerated (i.e. They all have, firstly or

secondly, . . . at the beginning).▢ Do not write too many lists when you are writing paragraphs.▢ Ensure that there are no figures, tables or illustrations. Everything you

want to say should be expressed through your writing.

Determine your reader(s)ʼ knowledge of the subject.

Determine if a particular style will

be________________.

Know Your _________________

to your reader and how you want to

sound.

Anticipate your readerʼs _________________ level in a given context.

_________________ the style to the

reader, the purpose, and the context.

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  1

Using Topic Sentences: What is the Process?

Start with the ʻwhatʼ question in your situational analysis

Activity 1: Look at the text below. It is about the hardest language. There are four topic sentences after each paragraph. Decide which one is the correct one. There is a glossary to help you at the end of the text.

The hardest languageFirstly, in a first language the differences are unimportant as people learn their mother tongue naturally, so the question of how hard a language is to learn is only relevant when learning a second language._____________________________________________________________________________

(1) People often ask which is the most difficult language to learn, and it is not easy to answer because there are many factors to take into consideration.

(2) It is difficult to see which language has the most advantages when it comes to using it.(3) There are many famous myths surrounding languages, one of the most famous is

probably the Tower of Babel.(4) Many people find languages difficult to learn.

_____________________________________________________________________________The greater the differences between the second language and our first, the harder it will be for most people to learn. Many people answer that Chinese is the hardest language to learn, possibly influenced by the thought of learning the Chinese writing system, and the pronunciation of Chinese does appear to be very difficult for many foreign learners. However, for Japanese speakers, who already use Chinese characters in their own language, learning writing will be less difficult than for speakers of languages using the Roman alphabet._____________________________________________________________________________

(1) Chinese people are excellent at learning foreign languages.(2) A native speaker of Spanish, for example, will find Portuguese much easier to learn than

a native speaker of Chinese because Portuguese is very similar to Spanish, while Chinese is very different, so first language can affect learning a second language.

(3) Chinese is a very difficult language to learn.(4) There are many differences between learning a first language and learning a second

language.

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  2

Teachers and the circumstances in which the language is learned also play an important role, as well as each learner's motivation for learning. If people learn a language because they need to use it professionally, they often learn it faster than people studying a language that has no direct use in their day to day life._____________________________________________________________________________

(1) There are a number of difficulties people face when learning languages.(2) Educational policy is the key to promoting effective language learning in Europe.(3) Some people seem to learn languages readily, while others find it very difficult.(4) Many people find that learning French is imperative to their work.

_____________________________________________________________________________This does not mean that Hungarian is the hardest language to learn for everyone, but it causes British diplomatic personnel, who are generally used to learning languages, the most difficulty. However, Tabassaran, a Caucasian language has 48 cases, so it might cause more difficulty if British diplomats had to learn it._____________________________________________________________________________

(1) Apparently, British diplomats and other embassy staff have found that the second hardest language is Japanese, which will probably come as no surprise to many, but the language that they have found to be the most problematic is Hungarian, which has 35 cases (forms of a nouns according to whether it is subject, object, genitive, etc).

(2) It was the British who first found that English was recognized as a global language the world over.

(3) In a survey conducted in 1994 of languages around the world. The most difficult language people found difficult to learn was Arabic.

(4) Despite pressures from the world community, the British educational system still does not promote the learning of languages as a priority.

_____________________________________________________________________________In the case of Hungarian for British learners, it is not a question of the writing system, which uses a similar alphabet, but the grammatical complexity, though native speakers of related languages may find it easier, while struggling with languages that the British find relatively easy.No language is easy to learn well, though languages which are related to our first language are easier. Learning a completely different writing system is a huge challenge, but that does not necessarily make a language more difficult than another. In the end, it is impossible to say that there is one language that is the most difficult language in the world._____________________________________________________________________________

(1) Different cultures and individuals from those cultures will find different languages more difficult.

(2) Culture is a very important factor when it comes to learning languages effectively.(3) It is important that the right language culture is established by the teacher in the

classroom.(4) Native speakers of English are notorious for their lack of learning languages.

_____________________________________________________________________________Glossary:

Relevant Closely connected or appropriate to something.

Consideration Careful thought, typically over a period of time.

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  3

Relevant Closely connected or appropriate to something.

Influenced Influence: The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.

Pronunciation The sound someone makes when they say a word.

Characters Printed or written letters or symbols.

Circumstances Facts or conditions connected with or relevant to an event or action.

Motivation The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Policy A course or principle of action adopted or proposed by a government, party, business, or individual.

Readily Without hesitation or reluctance.

Diplomatic To do with the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations.

Caucasian Adjective which refers to a group of languages spoken in the region of the Caucasus, of which thirty-eight are known.

Complexity Something consisting of many parts or elements.

Struggling To try and get free but with great difficulty.

Complete the words in the paragraph:

Transitions:

A paragraph _________________________________ of an idea. In a paragraph

the __________________________ should therefore closely relate to the

______________________ paragraph. This provides a _________________. A

transition in this case is the_________________________________into another.

Activity 2: Compare the texts on the next page. In your groups, discuss how the author has transitioned from one paragraph to the next.

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  4

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  5

Some useful transition / extension words / phrases:

To show addition:again, and, also, besides, equally important, first (second, etc.), further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, moreover, next, too

To give examples:for example, for instance, in fact, specifically, that is, to illustrate

To compare (show similarities):also, in the same manner, likewise, similarly

To contrast (show difference):although, and yet, at the same time, but, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, though, yet

To summarize or conclude:all in all, in conclusion, in other words, in short, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to sum up

To show time:after, afterward, as, as long as, as soon as, at last, before, during, earlier, finally, formerly, immediately, later, meanwhile, next, since, shortly, subsequently, then, thereafter, until, when, while

To show place or direction:above, below, beyond, close, elsewhere, farther on, here, nearby, opposite, to the left (north, etc.)

To indicate logical relationship:accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for this reason, hence, if, otherwise, since, so, then, therefore, thus

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  6

Complete the words in the paragraph:

Clear Sentence Structure:

In English, basic sentence ____________________ follows two patterns:

__________________ __________________ __________________

__________________ __________________ __________________

We can modify and extend sentences with:

w__________________ c__________________ ph__________________

Activity 3: Look at the following sentences. In your groups, discuss ways you could extend / develop the sentences using the transition / extension words and phrases on the previous page. Write your new sentences down.

1. Engineering is a science.________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

2. Ecology has remained the only option for humans to exploit.1

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

3. Education plays a major role in society.________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

4. Culture includes a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices.________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  7

1 Expoit: To make full use of and to benefit from.

Complete the paragraphs:Sentence LengthIf sentences are too long, they can be _________________________ to read.

The length of sentences should ___________________. You should revise

sentences that are over ____________________ words long

Keep subjects and verbs together

Keep the subject of the sentence and the verb close ____________________,

and _______________________ verbs. The more verbs in a sentence, the

___________________________ and more direct the sentence:

Study these groups of words:

Omit Verbiage - Use concrete verbs Instead of: � � � � � � Use:give approval to approvehave a tendency to tend to have an influence on influence give notification of notifyhave a discussion about discuss

Eliminate excessive or redundant words and phrases to eliminate sentence clutter:

Instead of: � � � � � � Use:

at a later date laterat the present time nowby means of bydue to the fact that since/becausefor the purpose of to, for

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  8

for the reason that since/becausein the event that if in the normal course of procedure normally on a daily basis daily we are not in a position to we cannotpursuant to our agreement as we agreedwithout further delay now

Many writers and speakers develop a habit of using two-word patterns. One word will do:

Absolutely freeBackground experienceBasic fundamentalsClose proximityComplete absenceConsensus of opinionExactly identicalFinal endPast experience, very uniqueSummarize brieflyVery complete

Complete the paragraphs:Avoid using is / are verbs too muchDo not begin sentences with there is, there are, there was, or there were.

Avoid beginning _______________________ with phrases such as it is clear that, it is evident that, or it should be noted that.

Choose a ____________________ verb rather than is, was, and were verb forms.

Use the Active Voice for ClarityIf you want to be clear about something in your research paper use the

_______________________ voice and not the ____________________.

In ________________________ writing you need to be _________________.

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  9

We do not usually want to hide the ___________________________.

That does not mean ONLY use the active voice! Remember we are using it here because using the passive would not allow us to be specific.

Define when necessary

Is the reader aware of the _____________________ you use in your document?

If not, ______________________________ that you take time to explain it.

Expand ________________________________ / acronyms on first use.

Remember at the _______________ of technical writing is explanation.

Impersonal Language

Remember that __________________________ exists for human beings, and

few of us enjoy writing that is __________________ to read than it needs to be.

What constitutes “difficult” writing depends on the reader, the topic, and the

_____________________________ of the document.

You can make it __________________________ but have formal elements. Our

goal is to make sure our _____________________ is _____________________.

Homework: Using the knowledge you have acquired in the lecture. Start to form paragraphs for your rough draft in your teams.

ENGLISH 214

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________  10