Writing 1 - Assignment 3: Pham Thu Trang (MS.)

WRITING 1 – ASSIGNMENT 3
TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
SECTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
WRITING 1 – 001150
Full name: ____________________________
Student Code: __________________________
Date: __________________________________
Activity 1: Predicting Paragraph Content from Controlling Ideas.

Read each topic sentences. Circle the main idea. Underline the controlling ideas. Then
predict the kind of information you will find in the paragraph.
1. Topic Sentence: One of the best cities to visit on the east coast of the United States is
Washington, D.C.
What kind of information do you think is in this paragraph?
→ I think this paragraph will have information about the reasons why Washing, D.C is
the best cities
2. Topic Sentence: If you are searching for an interesting career, think about becoming
a flight attendant.
→ I expect this paragraph will have information about the reasons why flight attendant is
an interesting career
3. Topic Sentence: One of the people that I most admire is my great-grandmother Carla.
→ This paragraph will have information about reasons why the writer’s great-
grandmother Carla is who the writer most admire
Activity 2: Matching Supporting and Topic Sentences
The two topic sentences below talk about two different diets. Read the topic sentences.
Then read the list of supporting sentences. Match each supporting sentence with the
corresponding topic sentence. Then write the correct topic sentence number on each
line beside the supporting sentences. Notice that each sentence is labeled in parentheses
with the kind of supporting sentence that it is.
Topic Sentences:
TS1: Low-fat diets are an excellent way to stay healthy and trim.
TS2: High-protein diets are favored by athletes and competitors.
Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 1

Supporting Sentences:
a. __TS2__ These foods help build muscles and increase stamina. (fact)
b. __TS1__ They are preferred by the general public because they help with weight
reduction. (reason)
c. __TS1__ Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians. (fact)
d. __TS2__Many athletes eat high-protein food, such as meat, beans, and nuts.
(example)
e. _TS1___ Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and paste. (example)
f. __TS1__ Because they are easy to find in store, low-fat foods are convenient. (reason)
g. _TS2___Athletes generally eat high-protein diets to give them more energy. (reason)
h. _TS1___ Crispy steamed vegetables and grilled fish and chicken are all tasty parts of a
low-fat, heart-friendly diet. (description)
Activity 3: Asking Questions about Topic Sentences
Read each topic sentence. What information would you expect the writer to include in
the paragraph? Write a question that the supporting sentences should answer. Use a
who? Where? When? Why? Or how question. The first one has been done for you?
1. Smoking should be banned in all public facilities.

→ Why should smoking be banned?
2. Texas is home to several kinds of poisonous snakes.
→ Why do poisonous snakes like to live in Texas?
3. Classrooms without windows have adverse effects on students.
→ What will adverse effects have if classrooms without windows?
4. Computer technology will one day eliminate the use of libraries.
→ How will computer technology eliminate the use of libraries?
5. Quebec City is a wonderful place to raise children.
→ Why is Quebec City a wonderful place to raise children?
6. I will never forget the day I got married.

→ Why will the writer never forget the day he/she got married?
Activity 4: Identifying Supporting Sentences
Sometimes writers give too much information about topic. When this happens,
the paragraph does not read smoothly, and reader might get confused about the
writer’ meaning.
In this activity, do the following for each paragraph:
 Read the paragraph.
 For each of the underlined, numbered sentences, write good supporting
sentence or unrelated sentences on the corresponding lines below the
paragraph.
 Write reasons for your choice. (One sentence in each paragraph is
unrelated to the topic)
Remember: All the supporting sentences must be related to the topic

sentence. The first paragraph has done for you.

RULES OF CHILDHOOD
Fortunately, my parents were very strict with me when I was a child. I think that they
were protective because I was an only child. However, at that time, it felt like I was in prison.
I had to come straight home after school and immediately do my homework. (1) After I
finished my homework, I was allowed to watch only one hour of television. While my friends
were playing video games or watching cartoons, I was usually doing chores around the house
to help my mother. (2) This included doing some of the laundry and ironing, mowing the
lawn, and helping to prepare dinner. (3) My father was an architect, and my mother was a
housewife. Looking back, I am not sorry that my parents were with me because I benefited
from all the hard work.
1. Good supporting sentence:
→ It is an example of why the writer felt he or she was in prison.
→ It is a list of the chores the writer had to do around the house.
3. Unrelated sentence:
→ The writer’s parents’ occupations are not related to how the writer was treated.
→ There is no relationship between being an architect and being a strict parent.
MAINTAINING YOUR POOL
Swimming pools can be beautiful, but they need to be maintained every day. First,
you must check the amount of chlorine in a swimming pool. (1) If there is not enough
chlorine, the pool might begin to grow algae. In addition, you must check the pH level,
especially after a rainstorm. Certain chemicals can be added to make sure that the pH
level of the pool water is balanced. (2) If you accidentally swallow some of these
chemicals, you have to go to the doctor at once. (3) Finally, you should remove any
leaves and small insects that are in the pool. By doing all these things, you can be certain
that your pool will last a very long time.
→ It is an example of why the swimming pool should be maintained
→ It is an outcome of not maintaining the swimming pool

→ Remove any leaves and small insects that are in the pool is not related to ways
which are previously mentioned
SWEET DREAMS
When people have a hard time falling asleep at night, there are three things they can
do to relax before going to sleep. (1) One of the most pleasant ways to relax is to imagine a
beautiful and peaceful place. This requires a creative mind, but it is very effective. Another
common method is to practice deep-breathing exercises. These rhythmic exercises are good
for getting rid of the tension that causes people to stay awake. (2) A third method is to listen
to relaxing music, such as classical or baroque music. (3) Baroque music is also popular
because it helps students study better. Some people have developed unique ways to help them
fall asleep, but these three methods are extremely effective for the majority of people with
sleep problems.


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WRITING 1 – ASSIGNMENT 3

TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

Activity 1: Predicting Paragraph Content from Controlling Ideas.

What kind of information do you think is in this paragraph?

What kind of information do you think is in this paragraph?

Activity 2: Matching Supporting and Topic Sentences

TS2: High-protein diets are favored by athletes and competitors.

Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 1

c. __TS1__ Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians. (fact)

e. _TS1___ Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and paste. (example)

low-fat, heart-friendly diet. (description)

Activity 3: Asking Questions about Topic Sentences

1. Smoking should be banned in all public facilities.

Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 2

Activity 4: Identifying Supporting Sentences

Remember: All the supporting sentences must be related to the topic

Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 3

1. Good supporting sentence:

→ It is an example of why the writer felt he or she was in prison.

2. Good supporting sentence:

→ It is a list of the chores the writer had to do around the house.

→ There is no relationship between being an architect and being a strict parent.

MAINTAINING YOUR POOL

1. Good supporting sentence:

→ It is an example of why the swimming pool should be maintained

2. Good supporting sentence:

→ It is an outcome of not maintaining the swimming pool

Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 4

1. Good supporting sentence:

2. Good supporting sentence:

Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 5

Pham Thu Trang (Ms.) Page 6

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c. TS1 Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians. (fact)