WEEK 1 SESSION 2

Objectives:
Students will be able to:
define what academic writing is.
identify topic sentences for a variety of
paragraphs.
write topic sentences.
identify and use rules of capitalization.

WHAT IS ACADEMIC
WRITING?
Watch Jennifer Brights video on Academic
Writing:
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Qe1i9BGnM
Summarise the information in the video in a
graphic organiser.
Spokepeople report their findings.

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE

OF A PARAGRAPH?

WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?
A paragraph is a group of related
sentences that develop a main
thought, or idea, about a single
topic.
In terms of format, a paragraph
shows NO BLANK SPACES between
sentences.

PARAGRAPH: ITS
STRUCTURE
A paragraph has three major structural
parts:
1. A topic sentence
2. Supporting sentences
3. A concluding or re-statement sentence

PARAGRAPH: ITS PARTS

It states the main idea of a paragraph.

A bridge sentence may also be
added separately.
They explain the topic sentence by
giving
reasons,
examples,
and
explanations through quotations,
factual information i.e. statistics, etc.
It briefly re-states the main points
presented by referring back to the Topic
Sentence

1. TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentence tells the reader
what the paragraph is going to be
about.
TIP: If you have a question for paragraph
writing, your topic sentence will be the
ANSWER to that question.
Example

QUESTION:
Regarding the Peruvian society, do you think that it
belongs more to a high or a low masculinity
dimension?

I think the Peruvian society

belongs to a high masculinity
dimension. I will support my view
with the following two reasons.
Which is the TOPIC SENTENCE and which one is the
BRIDGE SENTENCE?

1. TOPIC SENTENCE
It helps you keep your writing under
control. This is why a topic sentence is
sometimes called the "controlling idea"
of a paragraph.

http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/oaa/act/ACTtransformreasons.htm

1. 1 BRIDGE SENTENCE
With the bridge sentence you clearly
show your reader the number of
points/reasons/arguments that you will
use to support your point of
view/position.
In other words, you show how the
paragraph will be structured.

1. 1 BRIDGE SENTENCE

I think the Peruvian society

belongs to a high masculinity
dimension. I will support my
view with the following two
reasons.

2. SUPPORTING SENTENCES
They explain the topic sentence by giving
reasons, examples, and explanations
through quotations, factual information e.g.
statistics, etc.
TIP: Keep at least 2 sentences per supporting
point: Reason 1 + Example/Explanation 1.
Example

2. SUPPORTING SENTENCES
Regarding the Peruvian society, do you think that it belongs more
to a high or a low masculinity dimension?
I think the Peruvian society belongs to a high masculinity
dimension. I will support my view with the following two reasons.
Firstly, it is common practice that Peruvian men tend to stress facts and
not rely on emotions. For instance, this tendency is clearly seen in
everyday activities such as assertiveness in car-driving or toughness for
some physical jobs which women may take towards the more emotional
side. My second reason falls into the field of family structure.
Definitely, Peruvian men do feel pleasure in being the breadwinners and keeping the traditional structure in which the father is
the one who imposes respect to the rest of the family members or
has the last word when it comes to taking an important family
decision.

3. CONCLUDING or RE-STATEMENT
SENTENCE
It briefly re-states the main points presented
by referring back to the Topic Sentence.
TIP: Paraphrase the Topic Sentence, i.e. use
synonyms where possible.
Example

3. CONCLUDING or RE-STATEMENT
SENTENCE
Regarding the Peruvian society, do you think that it belongs
more to a high or a low masculinity dimension?
I think the Peruvian society belongs to a high masculinity
dimension. I will support my view with the following two
reasons. Firstly, it is common practice that Peruvian men tend to
stress facts and not rely on emotions. For instance, this tendency is
clearly seen in everyday activities such as assertiveness in cardriving or toughness for some physical jobs which women may take
towards the more emotional side. My second reason falls into the
field of family structure. Definitely, Peruvian men do feel
pleasure in being the bread-winners and keeping the traditional
structure in which the father is the one who imposes respect to
the rest of the family members or has the last word when it
comes to taking an important family decision. All in all, Peru is
a society which still embraces a high masculinity role for the
reasons supported above.

Is there a FORMULA for the

construction of a PARAGRAPH?
Topic sentence (answers the given question)
Bridge sentence (structures the n of reasons
to be presented)
Connector 1, + Reason 1 + Connector 2, +
Example/Explanation 1
Connector 3, + Reason 2 + Connector 4, +
Example/Explanation 2
Connector 5, + Re-statement (paraphrases
the Topic Sentence)

The COMPLETE PARAGRAPH would look like this:

Regarding the Peruvian society, do you think that it belongs more to a
high or a low masculinity dimension?
I think the Peruvian society belongs to a high masculinity dimension. I will
support my view with the following two reasons. Firstly, it is common practice that
Peruvian men tend to stress facts and not rely on emotions. For instance, this tendency
is clearly seen in everyday activities such as assertiveness in car-driving or toughness
for some physical jobs which women may take towards the more emotional side. My
second reason falls into the field of family structure. Definitely, Peruvian men do
feel pleasure in being the bread-winners and keeping the traditional structure in
which the father is the one who imposes respect to the rest of the family members
or has the last word when it comes to taking an important family decision. All in
all, Peru is a society which still embraces a high masculinity role for the reasons
supported above.
150 words
Topic sentence (answers the given question)
Bridge sentence (structures the n of reasons to be presented)
Connector 1, + Reason 1 + Connector 2, + Example/Explanation 1
Connector 3, + Reason 2 + Connector 4, + Example/Explanation 2
Connector 5, + Re-statement (paraphrases the Topic Sentence)

What are CONNECTORS?

Transition / Linking Words or
Connectors signal the reader what
s/he will encounter while reading:
sequence of events / processes, an
example, an explanation, a
consequence, etc.

Examples of CONNECTORS

List of most common CONNECTORS

FUNCTION
To sequence
your ideas

CONNECTORS
first... second... third...
generally... furthermore... finally
in the first place, next, then, after, last(ly)

To introduce an
example
or illustration

for example, for instance, to illustrate, one

example is , namely, to illustrate

Additional
Support or
Evidence

additionally, again, also, and, as well,

besides,
equally
important,
further,
furthermore, in addition, moreover, then

Conclusion /
restatement

finally, in a word, in brief, in conclusion, in the

end, on the whole, thus, to sum up, all in all.

Expressing an opinion:
Alternatives for the so
common I think

In my opinion,
From my point of view,
As I see it,
In my view,
As far as I am concerned,
It seems to me that
I (strongly) believe that

Write TOPIC SENTENCES for

the following questions

With your teacher, do the following:

QUESTION 0:
Do you think that Internet has had an
enormous effect on the retail industry?

Write the topic sentence.

As far as I am concerned, Internet has
had an enormous effect on the retail
industry.

QUESTION 1:
The mental models discipline states that
through reflective enquiry an organisation can
become more open and transparent. Do you
agree with it? If so, think of 2 reasons.

Write the topic sentence.

QUESTION 2:
The personal mastery discipline states that
through perceptual positions leaders can
increase the quality of interaction. Do you
agree with it?

Write the topic sentence.

QUESTION 3:
The team-learning discipline states that
through action-learning cycles teams of
employees can share experience and
knowledge to develop critical reflection skills.
Do you agree with it? If so, think of 2 reasons.

Write the topic sentence.

QUESTION 4:
The systems-thinking discipline states that
through the use of systems-thinking maps and
feedback leaders can analyse situations with a
long-term aim to facilitate change . Do you
agree with it?

Write the topic sentence.

QUESTION 5:
Do you agree that leaders in learning
organisations can constantly innovate by
expanding the five disciplines?
If so, think of 2 reasons.

Write the topic sentence.

CLASSWORK
Now choose one TS and write a complete
paragraph.
Include a variety of connectors

1. Capitalize the first word of a

sentence and the pronoun I in any
location.
The company bought a big printer,
and I learned how to use it.
2. Capitalize the days of the
week, holidays, months of the
year, historic events, and eras.
Tuesday - Fourth of July
December - American
Revolution - Paleozoic Era

3. Capitalize the names of people and

words associated with the name.
Alicia J. Smith
Frank
Wheeler Jr.
Hodgkins disease
Rockefeller
4. Center
Capitalize words referring to a
specific
religion or deity.
Buddhism
God
Christian Allah

5. Capitalize the first word in a

quotation.
Were
peculiar, he said,
sounding a bit puz.
- But do not capitalize the second
part of a quotation.

Were peculiar, he said, and

you shouldnt deny it.
Do not capitalize partial quotes.
The city mayor emphasized the
need for hopeful and optimistic
employees at all state agencies.

6. Capitalize the names of streets

and dont
avenues.
Why
we meet at Fifth

Avenue?
Some of the best stores are on
Street.
7.Broadway
Capitalize
names of political
divisions (continents, regions,
countries, states, counties, cities
and
towns).architects had been to
The Chinese
Montreal before they travelled to
Chicago, Illinois. However, they had
never been to South America before,
so once they visited Peru, they fell in
love with its culture.

8. Capitalize specific names of

- the
Geographical
sites and places:
following:

Rocky Mountains
Lake Ontario
- Regions:
the Midwest the South
the Middle
East
- Organizations:
American Red Cross
Peace Corps
- Buildings:
Empire State Building Dunbar High
School
- Works of engineering:
Hoover Dam
Great Wall of

9. Capitalize words based on

nationalities or historical
background.
Alaskan Indian
Southerner
Californian
10. Capitalize the important words
in the titles of written works
(documents, books, journals,
etc.) and their contents
(chapters,
The Wealthsections,
of Nationsetc.), music,
and
Themovies.
Declaration of Independence
Whitney Houstons The Greatest
Love of All

Read the following

sentences and correct the
capitalization errors.

1. we will see dr. hunter at sophias

2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.

house.
melanie and i will do the job.
he was born on january 1, 1951.
this class will meet on tuesday and
thursday.
if you want to go fishing, said
uncle Bill, be here at four o'
clock.
the doctor was a native of mexico.
the name of the book is the old
man and the sea.

1.
2.
3.
4.

We will see Dr. Hunter at Sophias house.

Melanie and I will do the job.
He was born on January 1, 1951.
This class will meet on Tuesday and
Thursday.
5. If you want to go fishing, said uncle Bill,
Be here at four o' clock.
6. The doctor was a native of Mexico.
7. The name of the book is The Old Man and
the Sea.

Choose one of the following

questions and write a
paragraph. Colour its different
parts.

1. Do you think that different people are motivated

according to different criteria?
2. Does motivation differ more from job to job or from
person to person?
3. Does it make a difference in motivation if you are
studying or working? Why or why not?
4. Do you think that financial rewards are the most
important motivation factors at work?

Do not forget to use Capitalisation rules.

Use a variety of CONNECTORS.