The Process of Writing a Paragraph.doc

The Process of Writing a Paragraph 1. choose a subject that you know aboutExample: Studying Abroad2. identify your audienceExample: Classmates 3. narrow your subject to a topic that will interest you audience. Example: Advantages and Disadvantages of Being a University Student in the United StatesProblems of Living Alone While Studying at a University in the United States Most Serious Problems of Living Alone While Studying at a University in the United States4 Collect some ideas about your topicExample: having to clean the apartment no one to wake me up in the morning having to shop and cook for myselfmissing classes because I dont keep a regular schedulespending my money too quickly having to do the laundryloneliness dont get my studying completed-no one to discipline me 5. list details about some of your ideas that will interest your audienceExample:Waking up: late for class, never time for breakfastHousework: wastes time, looks nice when finishedLoneliness: homesick, no American friends 6. limit the ideas to the most important ones you want to communicate example: housework or choose one - housework loneliness 7. state the main idea of the paragraph in your topic sentence example: since I begin living in an apartment and going to school, my biggest problem has been the housework. Controlling ideas 8. the Point Paragraph Since becoming a student at a university in the United States, the most serous problem of living alone has been my houseworkA. Cleaning the apartment 1. Takes away from my studies 2. Makes the apartment look nice B. Shopping for food1. Dont know the English names 2. Spend time asking for helpC. Cooking my food 1. Food uncooked or overcooked 2. Sometimes made incorrectly D. Doing my laundry 1. Far away- wastes time 2. Instructions are complicated3. Have to sit with the women If I did not have to do these jobs, I would have many more hours to concentrate on my studies 9. Write the paragraph, using the details you have listedSince I began living in an apartment and going to school, my biggest problem has been the housework. Cleaning the apartment is not too bad; although it takes time away from my studies, at least when I finish the apartment looks nice. Shopping for my food is more difficult because I dont know the English names of many foods, and often I have to spend extra time asking for help. Cooking my food is a bigger problem. I have never had to cook before, and usually the results are discouraging. Sometimes the food is burned, sometimes it is not cooked enough, and sometimes I have not measured correctly, so the food tastes terrible. The worst problem is doing my laundry. The Laundromat is far from my apartment, and I waste much valuable time. I also have trouble with the complicated instructions, so occasionally I end up with pink socks or a shirt that is too small. Mostly I am embarrassed as I sit in the Laundromat with all the women, and so I wait until all my clothes are dirty before I do this horrible task. If I did not have to do these jobs, I would have many more hours to concentrate on my studies. Jeong-Shwu Liu (Taiwan)How I Prepare to Come to the U.S.In a refugee camp-wrote letters to countriesA. Immigration interview1. difficult to complete history(a) very young (b) couldnt remember 2. frightened B. Waiting C. Immigration called1. found parents for me 2. arranged my trip D. Worrying 1. about my English 2. about my new family Arrived-nice family HOW DO I PREPARE TO COME TO THE U.S.In 1980, I spent two years in a refugee camp in Thailand, and I decided to write letters to all the countries in the world, asking them if they would accept me into their country. Finally, the Immigration Office of the United States, interviewed me. That test was very difficult for me because I had to complete a history about my parents, my family, and my relatives. Since I was very young, I didnt remember very much about my relatives and my family. After my interview, I waited for a response. I knew that the Immigration Office would decide whether or not I should come to the U.S. I waited for about four months; then they called my name, and they made a photograph for my passport. I was so excited about the trip, but during that time I was worried, too, because I didnt speak English, and I wondered who my new parents would be. I didnt prepare anything for my trip because I didnt know I was going to go to the U.S. until the last minute. When I arrived, my new parents made me feel welcome in their home. They are very friendly and happy all the time. Farid Soeu (Cambodia)TELEVISION ADVERTISEMENTS IN INDONESIA AND IN THE U.S.Although television advertisements in both Indonesia and the United States have the same goal (to attract people to buy products), there are many differences between advertisements in the two countries. In Indonesia, the government has the authority to control the items advertised, and they also control the time those advertisements are presented. Generally, the items advertised are for the basic needs of the people, such as food, clothing, and housing, or for their well-being, such as medical treatment, transportation, and family planning. These ads are presented in half-hour periods. For example, food items are advertised at 6:30 P.M., just before the national news, while advertisements for family planning are broadcast from 8:30 to 9 P.M., just before the international news. In contrast, U.S. advertisements are not controlled by the government, and the advertisement are broadcast throughout the 24-hour programming day. Every kind of product