Portfolio Writing Skills In English I

Lillian Lagos Writing Skills in English I Miss Isabel Vasquez Class 01 2010

Index

Tables of contents
COURSE PROGRAM .................................................................................................................. 3-4 CONTENT ............................................................................................................................. 5-15 INDEPENDENT STUDY ..................................................................................................... 16-18 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................ 19-23 ASSIGNMENTS .................................................................................................................... 24-25 SELF EVALUATION ................................................................................................................ 26

Course program
Writing Skills in English I is a theoretical-practical subject which articulates the basic structures of English through writing and comprehension of brief texts in English providing the student with learning experiences in effective writing in this second language. OBJECTIVES GENERAL o To be able to properly write brief compositions, letters and texts in English.

SPECIFIC o o o o o o To be able to identify the main idea and main details of the texts. To be able to contrast different points of view. To be able to synthesize the extracted information. To be able to build the different language structures. To be able to expand the vocabulary through contextualized writing. To be able to create a story.

UNIT I: PERSONALITY, CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

Terminal Objectives: At the end of the unit the student should be able to build complete phrases Edit incomplete and/or incorrect phrases write brief compositions elaborate a questionnaire for interviews write personal and business letters Contents: - Paragraph form - Punctuation - Capitalization - Joining compound sentences with and, but, or or - Writing topic sentences - Writing supportive - Using before and after to show time order - Writing a dependent time clause with before and after

UNIT II: CURRENT AFFAIR

Terminal Objectives: At the end of the unit the student should be able to Properly use the interrogative form summarize the extracted information evaluate the persuasive information Use the correct punctuation Write about any celebrity either from the present or from the past Write an article about natural disasters Write about the advantages and disadvantages of any invention from the present or from the past. Contents: - Unity and irrelevant sentences - Punctuation: the comma with time and place - Transitions for giving reasons, using because - Transitions for giving reasons using so and therefore - Transitions showing addition: in addition and moreover - Transitions showing contrast: however

UNIT III: BUSINESS AND LITERATURE

Terminal Objectives: At the end of the unit the student should be able to Analyze contexts Write letters of persuasion Write simple business letters Recognize the poetry and narrative styles

Contents:
- Transitions showing similarity: similarly and likewise - Business letter - Recognizing features of a poem - Recognizing stylistic features of a folktale

METHODOLOGY The methodology of the Course will be covered starting from the following procedures: - Expositive Lessons - Directed readings - Individual or Group Research Project - Teacher Student Interaction Specialized websites Workshops

CONTENT

COURSE LEARNING MATERIAL

The four basic skills in English are: y Writing what is the purpose of your writing?

When planning your writing you need to think about these: Why are you writing: the purpose What situation you are writing for: the context W - Who you are writing to: the audience

There are lots of different reasons for writing something. The reasons you write are called the purpose. For example, the purpose of your writing could be: 1. To write a sick note about your child for their school. 2. To send a postcard to a friend about your holiday. 3. To write a complaint about a train being delayed. The purpose of your writing affects: 1. The content: the ideas and information you write. 2. The format: the layout of your writing. 3. The style, or language, used: how formal or informal you are.

Reading:

Different types of text

When you are reading any text think about the purpose of the text or why it has been written.

What might the purpose of a text be? An advert might be trying to persuade you to buy something. A letter from school might be to inform you about something. A novel might describe somewhere or someone to you. A car manual might instruct you how to do something to your car.

Depending on the purpose of the text, different methods will be used to get the message across to the reader.

Listening

what is listening?

Listening and hearing are not the same. We hear all sorts of noises in the world around us, but we do not listen to them all.

Listening is a form of communication and is an active process. When you listen you must get meaning from what is being said before you can respond.

We listen for different reasons: To take part in conversation exchange news with family and friends, make arrangements. For information the news or weather forecast on the television or radio, or announcements at a station or airport. For instructions so that we know how to carry out a task or operate equipment at work To understand when someone is explaining what is happening, what we have to do, what someone feels - for example, why someone is upset. To get the gist of what is being said We don't always need to hear and understand every word to get the sense of what is being said. We might do this if we are listening to a story or narrative.

Speaking

what are homophones?

Homophones are words that sound the same, but have different spellings and meanings, for example flower and flour. You need to learn these words as there are no spelling rules to help you remember them. Here is a list of common homophones. Homophones allowed aloud Examples You are not allowed to smoke until you are 16. She spoke her thoughts aloud (to say something so it can be heard). A bear is a large furry animal. She walked on the beach with bare feet. To be bored is to have lost interest in something. A board is a flat piece of wood. If you break something you damage it. When you brake the car slows down. He caught a large fish. You play tennis on a tennis court. Did you check that the door is locked? You can write a cheque to pay your bills.

bear bare bored board break brake caught court check cheque

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/

Hand outs
o My father is a teacher o My mother is a teacher o My sister is a student

Paul likes football and table tennis, but he doesnt like watching TV.

Linking words

10

Joining words:
o o o o o o o And But Because As So and Although

EXAMPLE

Im old but I still play football.

TIME Before, after, until, since, when, whenever, while We all went home before a fight broke out. She went to bed after she put the cat out. There will be no peace until somebody says that they are sorry. It has not been the same around here since our friends moved away. They put the television off when the programme had finished. He washes his new car whenever it gets mucky. The children go to the crche while Mum goes to work.

PLACE Where Do you remember that restaurant where you ate a huge steak?

AGREEMENT Though, although, whether He could play the violin though he was only five years old. I would invite you to come in although the place is a mess. It was a great show whether you wanted to join in or just watch.

11

Instructions on Paragraph Form

Used lined paper. Write your name, the date, and the course number in the upper right-hand corner of the paper. Write a title in the center at the top of the page Leave one-inch margin on both sides of the page. Indent the first line of every paragraph. When you write by hand, indent the first line about one inch from the margin. When you type, indent the first line five spaces. In business letters, you do not have to indent the first line of every paragraph. Write on every other line of the paper Capitalize the first word in each sentence and end each sentence with a period.

Punctuation and Capitalization

A sentence always begins with a capital letter and ends with a period (.), an exclamation point (!), or a question mark (?). The first word after a comma (,) begins with a small letter. Here are some rules for using capital letters.

12

Capitalization Rules

a) Capitalize the first word in a sentence. Today, about 15 percent of the population is left-handed b) Capitalize the pronoun I. Paul and I are left-handed

3. Capitalize all proper nouns. Here are some proper nouns:

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h)

Names of people and their titles. Names of places you can find on a map. Names of nationalities, races, languages, and religions. Names of specific organizations (schools, businesses). Names of school subjects with course number. Names of days, months, and special days. Names of special buildings and bridges

How to write a title

A title tells the reader the topic of the paragraph. A title is usually a word or phrase. If it is a sentence, it should not be a long sentence. Remember these points: 1. Capitalize the first word, last word, and all important words in the title. Do not capitalize prepositions and articles. 2. Do not underline the title. 3. Do not use a period (.), a comma (,) or quotations marks (). But you can use an exclamation mark (!) or a question mark (?)

13

Examples of titles:

Stronger Right or Left Brain? The Importance of Having a Friend My first Day in the United States Learning can be Fun, too!

14

TOPIC SENTENCE

TOPIC SENTENCE

Main idea of a paragraph

Two parts

topic Controlling idea.

1. 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. Air pollution in Mexico City is the worst in the world for a number of reasons. (The causes of) or (The effects of) 5. Fixing a flat tire on a bicycle is easy if you follow these steps. (The steps for) 6. There are several enjoyable ways to travel between the US and Queretaro. (The ways to) or (The methods of) 7. Animals in danger of becoming extinct come from a wide range of countries. (The different countries [Parts, kinds, types])

http://www.eslbee.com/topic_sentences.htm

15

Independent study

SOME USEFUL TRANSITIONS

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: Also, in the same manner, likewise, similarly To contrast: 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

16

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

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/paragraphs.shtml

17

What is proofreading? When writing something important, such as a job application or a letter of complaint, it's important to check your work thoroughly for mistakes. This is called proofreading. These are the different stages of writing:
y y y y y

listing ideas (sometimes called brainstorming) writing rough notes first draft proofreading final copy

Proofreading gives you a chance to make sure that no words are missing and that your spelling is correct. It is also a good idea to check that capital letters and punctuation such as question marks, apostrophes, commas and full stops are all in the right place. During the proofreading stage you should refer to a dictionary or a handheld spell checker, or use the spell check and grammar check functions in a word processing program to help you. Many people find it difficult to spot mistakes when reading text on a computer screen, so it's a good idea to proofread the final copy after printing it out on paper as well. It is also a good idea if possible to get someone else to look over what you have written. A fresh pair of eyes can often spot mistakes you may have overlooked.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/

18

Classroom activities
The United Nations Organization

The Security Council which is located in the city of New York, is the most important and prestigious center. In this place is where all the decisions are taken, so they need very capacity people. In this case they have eleven members. This Security Council has the mission to tries to keep the peace in the world.

Key vocabulary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. In common : Population : Number of people who live in a place Logic: Have things in order: Have things in their right place. Punctual: on time; not late Recognize: remember having heard or seen before Exceptions: people or things that do not belong with the others. Message: instruction or news sent to someone or something

19

RIGTH BRAIN OR LEFT BRAIN? What do Leonardo Da Vinci, Paul McCartney, and Julia Roberts have in common? They are all left-handed. Today about 15 percent of the population is left-handed. But why are people left handed? The answer may be in the way the brain works. Our brain is like a message center. Each second, the brain receives more than a million messages from our body and knows what to do with them. People think that the weight of the brain tells how intelligent you are, but this isnt true. Albert Einsteins brain weighed 1,375 grams, but less intelligent people may have heavier brains. What is important is the quality of the brain. The brain has two halves- the right brain and the left brain. Each half is about the same size. The right half controls the left side of the body, and the left half controls the right side of the body. One half is usually stronger than the other. One half of the brain becomes stronger when you are a child and usually stays the stronger half for the rest of your life. The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, so when the left brain is stronger, the right hand will be strong and the person may be right handed. The left half control speaking, so a person with a strong left brain may become a good speaker, professor, lawyer, or salesperson. A person with a strong left brain may have a strong idea of time and will probably be punctual. The person may be strong in math and logic and may like to have things in order. He or she may remember peoples names and like to plan things ahead. He or she may be practical and safe. If something happens to the left side f the brain, the person may have problems speaking and may not know what day it is. The right side of his or her body will become weak. When the right side of the brain is stronger, the person will have a strong left hand and may be left-handed. The person may prefer art, music, and literature. The person may become an artist, a writer, an inventor, a film director, or a photographer. The person may recognize faces, but not remember names. The person may not love numbers or business.

20

The person may like to use his or her feelings, and not look at logic and what is practical. If there is an accident to the right side of the brain the person may not know where he or she is and may not be able to so simple hands movements. This does not mean that all artists are left handed and all accountants are right handed. There are many exceptions. Some right-handers have a strong right brain, and some left-handers have a strong left brain. There are people who learn to do two things at the same time. They can answer practical questions on the telephone (which uses the left brain) and at the same time play the piano (which uses the right brain), but this is not easy to do. Vocabulary Meaning Complete the sentences 1. Leonardo Da Vinci and Julia Roberts have something in common. They are both left-handed. 2. About 15 percent of the population is left-handed 3. Each part of our body sends a message to the brain. 4. Right-handed people may not do something because they feel like it. They may do it because there is logic to it. 5. A right-handed person may like to be neat and have things in order. 6. A left-handed person may look at a face and recognize the person. 7. A right-handed person doesnt like to be late. He or she is punctual. 8. We cannot say that all right-handers have strong left brains and all left-handers have strong right brains. There are exceptions.

21

PARAGRAPHS

Chicken feet are a favorite appetizer in China, while in Taiwan turkey feet are a favorite. In Taiwan, people have both chicken feet and turkey feet in their salads. While in Chile people prefer Chicken vegetables as appetizer.

Paragraph Form Left-handed people

Left- handed people have many problems living in a world for right-handed people. First, driving a car may be a problem. All the important things in the car are on the right. For example, the ignition switch, the gear shift, the accelerator, and the brake are all on the right. Second, using a computer may be a problem. Computers are again made for righthanded people, and all the important keys are on the right. These include the delete key, the enter key, the period, the comma, and other important punctuation marks. In conclusion, left-handed people have to work harder than right-handed people to do simple things.

22

Dictation: Join the statements and then support your answer

1. The sea contains a lot of gold 2. All the oil in the world will soon be used up 3. When there is inflation, people earn more money

a) People can buy less b) The gold is not easy to recover c) Many people are against using nuclear power

Joining:

1) The sea contains a lot of gold but the gold is not easy to recover 2) All the oil in the world will soon be up 3) When there is inflation, people earn more money

Linking words:

William Shakespeare a) Shakespeare was a writer b) He was born in Stratford in 1567 c) Stratford is a small town d) It is in the west of England e) Shakespeare wrote many plays f) They are still performed today g) He spent much of his life in London h) He worked in a theatre in London as a writer and actor

23

Assignments.
An unconditional Friend Animals can be a very good partner when you re feeling alone. It has been probed that older people that usually lives alone has in his houses at least one animal, most common are cats, dogs, and birds. They are really good friends. Homework: Write a paragraph using and, but, and so My best Friend My best friend is call Daisy, she is eighteen years old and she is a mom. Her daughters name is Sofia, shes about to turn a year; she is beautiful. My friend is very happy now that she is a Mommy, but she has a lot of responsibilities. She cant do the same things that she use to do when she was only a teenager, but I try to help the best I can so she can have a little time off. I love my friend I obviously a love Sofia. They are a very important part of my life. Celebrating fifteen A quincenera is a special celebration held for many girls in Spanishspeaking communities of the United States and in Latin America on their fifteenth birthday. Topic sentence The celebration may be in different countries. The word Quincenera can refer to the celebration or to the girl. This birthday is special because it celebrates that a girl is not a child anymore and has become a woman. Supporting sentence It is a very important day for many young girls, a day they dream about for a long time. Everyone who knows the girl will celebrate it with a church ceremony and a big party Concluding Sentence

24

Write a short paragraph describing yourself (use and, but, so)

My name is Lillian Lagos, and I m eighteen years old. I live in a small town called Quillota. It s very nice but sometimes I get bored because is always the same routine. So I m thinking on moving to Via del Mar, it s nice and is near the University. But, been so far of my family is hard for me so I don t know what to do.

My Lovely little Tiger

My cat is a very special one, because he does things that no other cat would ever do, for example he sleeps with my dog pelusa, and he likes to eat oranges, a wear thing considering he is a cat! But I still love him, he is my baby. He came to my life eight months ago, when my friends girlfriend brought it to me. I love animals, especially cats, I think that theyre good friends, almost like a dog, they are with you when nobody else is, and they make you laugh even without knowing. Thats why I love my little tiger so much.

25

Self evaluation

I think that my progress has been good, I like English and I enjoy doing this portfolio. Also I love to write, especially in English, I think is my way to express. I have faith in myself and I know that I can be a good teacher. I have a lot to learn and I will study every day. My grades arent the best ones, but they are improving.

26

EVALUATION

27