3. Each section of the paragraph
becomes a whole paragraph
• Topic Sentence
becomes…
• Introduction Paragraph, with:
– Background Information
– THESIS STATEMENT (last)
• Each supporting
section (2 or 3)
becomes…
• Concluding
Sentence and
Closing Comment
become…
• A whole paragraph, with:
– Topic Sentence
– Supporting Ideas/Details
– Conclusion
• Concluding paragraph, with:
– Conclusion that rephrases the
THESIS STATMENT
– Closing Comment
4. Do you remember this paragraph?
Watching television is a good way to improve one’s English. First of all,
you can learn new vocabulary words by watching news broadcasts on
TV. Watching news is a good way to pick up words about current
events and world issues. After watching English news channels, you
can use the words in your own conversations about current events.
Secondly, by following series such as “Lost”, “Prison Break”, and “The
Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken expressions and English
slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this
is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. Finally, while watching
TV, it is possible to improve your listening skills. Even though you may
not understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with
the sounds of English and the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the
more you listen, the more you will understand. In short, TV helps us to
improve our English in an enjoyable way.
(157 words)
5. Here it is again, broken into its parts.
• Topic Sentence: Watching television is a good way to improve one’s
English.
• First Supporting Sentence and supporting details: First of all, you can learn
new vocabulary words by watching news broadcasts on TV. Watching news is a
good way to pick up words about current events and world issues. After watching
English news channels, you can use the words in your own conversations about
current events.
• Second Supporting Sentence, and supporting details: Secondly, by following
series such as “Lost”, “Prison Break”, and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common
spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually
taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases.
• Third Supporting Sentence, and supporting details: Finally, while watching
TV, it is possible to improve your listening skills. Even though you may not
understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the sounds of
English and the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the more you listen, the more
you will understand.
• Conclusion: In short, TV helps us to improve our English in an enjoyable
way.
6. Let’s make the Topic Sentence into an
Introductory Paragraph
• First, start GENERAL.
If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it.
• Then, gradually get more specific.
Many people take courses, try to learn from books, or even
pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the
best ways to learn English is from TV.
• Your background info should be ONLY 2-3 sentences.
• Finally, end with your THESIS STATEMENT, which clearly
states the 2-3 ideas you will include in your paragraph.
You can improve your English by watching news, popular
series, and music videos.
7. Compare them side-by-side
Original Topic Sentence
Watching television is a good
way to improve one’s English.
New Introduction
If you want to learn
English, there are many ways
to do it. Many people take
courses, try to learn from
books, or even pay for
expensive private tutoring.
But actually, one of the best
ways to learn English is from
TV. You can improve your
English by watching news,
popular series, and music
videos.
8. It MUST BE CLEAR from your THESIS
STATEMENT exactly what topics you
will discuss in your essay.
You can improve your English by
watching news, popular series,
and music videos.
We will do lots of practice writing
thesis statements.
9. Let’s make the First Supporting Section
into a complete paragraph.
• First, start with a topic sentence.
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching news
broadcasts on TV.
• Notice the sentence includes the SIGNAL PHRASE.
• Then, add the details.
Watching news is a good way to pick up words about current events and
world issues. After watching English news channels, you can use the
words in your own conversations about current events.
• This is your opportunity to write more. You should include more
details and examples than you would in a paragraph.
For example, last night on BBC I saw a news story about elections in the
United States and I learned vocabulary which I can use to talk about
elections in my own country.
• Finally, end with a brief concluding sentence (but no comment).
In brief, TV news is useful for learning language about current events.
10. Compare them side-by-side
Original Supporting
Section
First of all, you can learn
new vocabulary words by
watching news broadcasts
on TV. Watching news is a
good way to pick up words
about current events and
world issues. After
watching English news
channels, you can use the
words in your own
conversations about
current events.
New Supporting Paragraph
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary
words by watching news broadcasts on
TV. Watching news is a good way to pick
up words about current events and world
issues. After watching English news
channels, you can use the words in your
own conversations about current events.
For example, last night on BBC I saw a news
story about elections in the United States
and I learned vocabulary which I can use to
talk about elections in my own country. In
brief, TV news is useful for learning
language about current events.
11. Let’s make the concluding sentence
and comment into a complete
paragraph.
• Rephrase the THESIS STATEMENT, USE a CONCLUSION
SIGNAL PHRASE.
– You can improve your English by watching news, popular series,
and music videos.
– In brief, watching news, TV series, and music videos are great
ways to develop different skills with English.
• Add a closing comment.
– If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice
improvement within a few weeks. It will be especially helpful if
you take notes while you watch, and try to practice what you
learn with other people as well.
12. Compare them side-by-side
Original Conclusion
In short, TV helps us to
improve our English in an
enjoyable way.
New Concluding Paragraph
In brief, watching news, TV series,
and music videos are great ways to
develop different skills with English.
If you do it for at least an hour
every day, you should notice
improvement within a few weeks.
It will be especially helpful if you
take notes while you watch, and try
to practice what you learn with
other people as well.
13. Checking your Structure PT 1
• First, look at your thesis statement and remember each of the ideas you
wanted to mention. MAKE SURE that your supporting paragraphs
discuss these ideas, in the same order, and NOTHING ELSE.
– Thesis statement included: news, series, music videos.
– Three paragraphs should be about news, series, and music videos, IN
THE SAME ORDER.
• Make sure your supporting paragraphs have a good topic sentence that
describes the topic of the paragraph.
– First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching news
broadcasts on TV.
– Secondly, you can learn common slang and idioms by following TV
series.
– Finally, watching music videos is a great way to improve listening and
pronunciation skills.
14. Checking your Structure PT 2
• Check that your conclusion mentions the same ideas as the THESIS
STATEMENT, but that the phrasing is DIFFERENT.
– In conclusion, watching news, TV series, and music videos are great
ways to develop different skills with English..
• This structure may seem strict and inflexible, but it will help
you to organize your ideas and write clearly. The creativity
comes in the ideas and examples that you give.
• Also remember that, during grading, HALF your points will
come from following this structure. This part is easier to
master than the grammar part, so help yourself by learning
it!
15. Let’s look at the whole thing!
If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it. Many people take courses,
try to learn from books, or even pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the best
ways to learn English is from TV. You can improve your English by watching news, popular series,
and music videos.
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching news broadcasts on TV.
Watching news is a good way to pick up words about current events and world issues. After
watching English news channels, you can use the words in your own conversations about
current events. For example, last night on BBC I saw a news story about elections in the United
States and I learned vocabulary which I can use to talk about elections in my own country. In
brief, TV news is useful for learning language about current events.
Secondly, you can learn common slang and idioms by following TV series. By
following series such as “Lost”, “Prison Break”, and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common
spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually taught in
school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. If you watch with a friend you can
practice saying the phrases to each other during commercial breaks.
Finally, watching music videos is a great way to improve listening and pronunciation
skills. Even though you may not understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with
the sounds of English and the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the more you listen, the more
you will understand. If you see the same video several times, you can try to sing along with it
once you are familiar with it.
In brief, watching news, TV series, and music videos are great ways to develop
different skills with English. If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice
improvement within a few weeks. It will be especially helpful if you take notes while you
watch, and try to practice what you learn with other people as well. (349 words!)
