Lecture Six: Descriptive and Process Paragraphs PDF

LECTURE SIX DESCRIPTIVE AND PROCESS PARAGRAPHS 25-32 SUMMARIZING AND PARAPHRASING  PARAGRAPH TYPES Paragraphs can be classified into various types. Classification is due to purpose (function). Types: No matter what the type is, the three sentence types ( topic, support,...

LECTURE SIX DESCRIPTIVE AND PROCESS PARAGRAPHS 25-32 SUMMARIZING AND PARAPHRASING  PARAGRAPH TYPES Paragraphs can be classified into various types. Classification is due to purpose (function). Types: No matter what the type is, the three sentence types ( topic, support, and concluding) should be used.  WHAT IS AN ADJECTIVE? An adjective is a word that modifies a noun. It does so by making its meaning clearer and its referent more limited. Give me a pen. Give me a red new pen.  Types & Position of Adjectives Two types: 1Attributive Adjectives ( comes before the noun in the noun phrase) 2Predicative Adjectives ( comes after the verb within the predicate) Verb is either Be (is, am, are, etc.) or Linking Verb ( seem, look, appear, etc.  The new student is my cousin. I bought a blue shirt. She is a clever student. She is noisy. These students look smart. I thought her (to be)clever.  ORDER OF ADJECTIVES Example: Here is a beautiful, red, cloth flag. Why does beautiful come before red? Why does red come before cloth? Number Opinion Size Age Shape Color Origin Material Purpose Noun small round German red sleeping generou old bed s four metal A description of a place may answer some of these questions: Where is the place? How big is it? How warm or cold is it? How does it make you feel and why? What things can you see in this place? What colors do you see?  PREPOSITIONS A preposition is a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in ‘the man on the platform’, ‘she arrived after dinner’, ‘what did you do it for ?’.  Prepositions Spatial (Place) Temporal (Time) Spatial prepositions are used in descriptive paragraphs Circle the adjectives.  MCQ descriptive paragraph 1.What is the main purpose of a descriptive paragraph? A. To explain a process step by step B. To provide sensory details and describe something vividly C. To argue a point of view D. To present statistics and data 2. Which of the following would most likely be found in a descriptive paragraph? A. A detailed explanation of how to assemble a product B. Sensory details such as sights, sounds, and smells C. A step-by-step guide on how to solve a problem D. A comparison of two different methods 3. Which sentence is the best example of a topic sentence in a descriptive paragraph? A. "To bake a cake, start by preheating the oven to 350°F." B. "The beach was peaceful, with the sound of gentle waves and the smell of salt in the air." C. "There are several key differences between cats and dogs." D. "The results of the experiment were inconclusive." 4. A good descriptive paragraph will typically: A. Focus on abstract concepts B. Use precise sensory details to create a clear picture C. Avoid adjectives and adverbs D. Present data and statistics in a straightforward way 5. Which of the following phrases best fits a descriptive paragraph about a mountain hike? A. "First, gather all your hiking gear." B. "The crisp air filled my lungs as I looked out over the sprawling forest below." C. "Ensure you check the weather forecast before you leave." D. "A total of 10,000 hikers visited the area last year."  Assignment 1 Think of a place you know well. Then brainstorm your ideas, narrow down your topic, and write a descriptive paragraph.  Assignment 2 Think of a person you know well. Then brainstorm your ideas, narrow down your topic, and write a descriptive paragraph.  Process paragraphs A PROCESS PARAGRAPH IS A IT EXPLAINS THE STEPS YOU DESCRIPTION OF HOW TO DO NEED TO FOLLOW TO SOMETHING. COMPLETE AN ACTIVITY.  What is a Process Paragraph? When you explain how to do something (such as how to assemble a bicycle) or how something happens (such as how a glacier moves), you use a process to talk about the steps or events. A process paragraph is a group of sentences that tells this sequence. A process paragraph consists of a series of connected steps. The steps must be logical and are often chronological in order. You can use time words and transition expressions to make the sequence of events or actions clear. Process writing is especially important when you want to explain the steps necessary to complete a task. You are probably familiar with a common kind of process writing: a recipe. For the result to be a success, the steps in a recipe must be clear, in the correct order, and concise. Read this recipe and do the exercises below. a. Underline the topic sentence and the concluding sentence of the paragraph. b. List the steps for making brown rice and vegetables in the order you find them. 1. Cook the rice _______________________________ 2. __________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________ 4. __________________________________________ 5. __________________________________________ 6. __________________________________________ 7. __________________________________________ c. How are the steps in the paragraph connected together? What words do you see that help show the sequence to follow? Underline them.  Transition Expressions In process writing, transition words and expressions are needed specifically to make the Without the appropriate steps in the process clear. transition expressions, the These transition paragraph is just a list of expressions help the ideas steps. or steps in the process flow from one to the next so that the reader can follow them logically and easily. Choose appropriate transition words to connect the steps in this paragraph about preparing for trip.  Ordering sentences 2 Order the 1 steps to form for the Write next to the second step, a process first step, and so on. paragraph. Order the steps to form a process paragraph.  MCQ Process Paragraph Questions: 1.What is the main purpose of a process paragraph? A. To describe a person or place B. To explain how something works or how to do something, step by step C. To persuade the reader to take actions D. To summarize research findings 2. In a process paragraph, which word would most likely be used as a transition? A. "Secondly" B. "In conclusion" C. "However" D. "Therefore" 3.Which sentence is the best example of a topic sentence in a process paragraph? A. "The benefits of exercise are numerous." B. "Here are the steps to clean a coffee machine properly." C. "The sunset over the ocean was breathtaking." D. "There are many ways to improve your writing skills." 4.Which of the following best fits a process paragraph on how to bake a cake? A. "First, gather all the ingredients, including flour, sugar, eggs, and butter." B. "The smell of freshly baked cake filled the kitchen with warmth." C. "The cake was delicious, with a moist center and crispy edges." D. "There are many kinds of cakes, such as chocolate, vanilla, and red velvet." 5.What is a key characteristic of a well-written process paragraph? A. It describes a person in vivid detail. B. It contains a clear sequence of steps or instructions. C. It presents multiple viewpoints. D. It uses metaphors and symbolism.  Read the text and answer the questions How to Make a Cup of Tea Making a perfect cup of tea is a simple process, but it requires attention to detail. First, fill a kettle with fresh, cold water and bring it to a boil. While waiting for the water to heat, place a tea bag or loose tea leaves into your cup. Once the water is boiling, carefully pour it over the tea, ensuring that all the leaves or the tea bag are fully submerged. Allow the tea to steep for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on how strong you like it. During this time, avoid stirring the tea, as this can release tannins, making it more bitter. Once the tea has brewed to your preferred strength, remove the tea bag or strain the leaves. If you like, you can add sugar, honey, or milk for extra flavor. Finally, stir gently and enjoy your perfectly brewed cup of tea.  Read the text and answer the questions 1. What is the first step in making a cup of tea according to the passage? A. Steeping the tea B. Pouring boiling water over the tea C. Filling a kettle with cold water and bringing it to a boil D. Adding sugar or honey to the tea 2. How long should you let the tea steep? A. 1 to 2 minutes B. 5 to 7 minutes C. 3 to 5 minutes D. 7 to 10 minutes 3. What happens if you stir the tea while it’s steeping? A. It will become sweeter B. It will release tannins, making it bitter C. It will brew faster D. It will become weaker 4. After the tea has brewed, what should you do next? A. Stir the tea quickly B. Add sugar and milk before removing the tea bag C. Remove the tea bag or strain the leaves D. Stir in the tea leaves for extra flavor 5. What is the final step mentioned in making tea in the passage? A. Pouring the tea into a cup B. Stirring gently and enjoying the tea C. Adding honey or milk D. Heating the water to a boil  Assignment 3 Write a process paragraph about a topic that you know well. First, brainstorm all the steps that need to be followed. Then write the paragraph. Remember to use transitions. Summarizing and paraphrasing are normally used together in essay writing. Summarizing aims to reduce information to a suitable length, allowing the writer to condense lengthy sources into a concise form, while paraphrasing means changing the wording of a text so that it is significantly different from the original source, without changing the meaning. Both are needed to avoid the risk of plagiarism. What makes a good summary? Summarizing is a common activity in everyday life. It is used to describe the main features of the subject. Stages of summarizing Summarizing is a flexible tool. You can use it to give a one- sentence outline of an article, or to provide much more detail, depending on your needs. Generally, a summary focuses on the main ideas and excludes examples or supporting information. Study the stages of summary writing below, which have been mixed up. Put them in the correct order (1–5). A. B. C. Write the summary Make notes of the Read the original from your notes, key points, text carefully and reorganizing the paraphrasing where check any new or structure if needed. possible. difficult vocabulary. E. D. Check the summary Mark the key points to ensure it is by underlining or accurate and nothing highlighting. important has been changed or lost.  (a) Read the following text and underline the key points. WEALTH AND FERTILITY For most of the past century an inverse correlation between human fertility and economic development has been found. This means that as a country got richer, the average number of children born to each woman got smaller. While in the poorest countries women often have eight children, the rate fell as low as 1.3 children per woman in some European countries such as Italy, which is below the replacement rate. Such a low rate has two likely negative consequences: the population will fall in the long-term, and a growing number of old people will have to be supported by a shrinking number of young. But a recent study by researchers from Pennsylvania University suggests that this pattern may be changing. They related a country’s fertility rates to its human development index (HDI), a figure with a maximum value of 1.0 which assesses life expectancy, average income and education level. Over 20 countries now have an HDI of more than 0.9, and in a majority of these the fertility rate has started to increase, and in some is approaching two children per woman. Although there are exceptions such as Japan, it appears that rising levels of wealth and education eventually translate into a desire for more children.  (b) Complete the notes of the key points below. (i) Falling levels of fertility have generally been found ____ (ii) In some, number of children born __________________ (iii) Two results: smaller populations and _______________ (iv) Recent research claims that _______________________ (v) Comparison of HDI (human development index: life expectancy/income/ education) with fertility rate found that in most highly rated (+ 0.9) countries,  Paraphrasing Paraphrasing and summarizing are normally used together in essay writing, but while summarizing aims to reduce information to a suitable length, paraphrasing attempts to restate the relevant information. For example, the following sentence: There has been much debate about the reasons for the Industrial Revolution happening in eighteenth-century Britain, rather than in France or Germany. could be paraphrased: Why the Industrial Revolution occurred in Britain in the eighteenth century, instead of on the continent, has been the subject of considerable discussion. Note that an effective paraphrase usually: has a different structure to the original has mainly different vocabulary retains the same meaning keeps some phrases from the original that are in common use (e.g. ‘Industrial Revolution’ or ‘eighteenth century’)  Techniques for paraphrasing (a)Changing vocabulary by using synonyms: argues > claims/eighteenth century > 1700s/wages > labour costs/economize > saving (b)Changing word class: explanation (n.) > explain (v.)/mechanical (adj.) > mechanize (v.)/profitable (adj.) > profitability (n.) (c)Changing word order:... the best explanation for the British location of the Industrial Revolution is found by studying demand factors. > A focus on demand may help explain the UK origin of the Industrial Revolution. Note that in practice, all these three techniques are used at the same time. Do not attempt to paraphrase every word, since some have no true synonym (e.g. demand, economy).  Read the following text BRAIN It is widely agreed that men and women think and act in different ways. Women appear to have better memories, better social skills and are more competent at multi-tasking. Men, in contrast, seem to focus better on issues and have superior motor and spatial skills, although clearly many people are exceptions to these patterns. These differences have been explained as behaviour adopted thousands of years ago, when the men went hunting while the women stayed at home and cared for their children. But another approach is to see the behaviour as a result of the way our brain functions. Recent research by Ragini Verma’s team at the University of Pennsylvania has used brain scans to compare 428 men and 521 women. They tracked the pathways of water molecules around the brain area and found fascinating differences. The top half of the brain is called the cerebrum, and it is divided into a left and a right half. The left hemisphere is thought to be the home of logic and the right is the center of intuition. Dr Verma found that with women most of the pathways went between the two halves, while with men they stayed inside the hemispheres. She believes that these results explain the gender differences in ability, such as women’s social competence compared to men’s more intense focus.  Change the word order of these sentences, rewriting the paragraph so that the meaning stays the same. Recent research into brain functioning by Ragini Verma’s team at the University of Pennsylvania has used brain scans to compare 428 men and 521 women. They tracked the pathways of water molecules around the brain area and found fascinating differences.  Answer key The brain functioning of 428 men and 521 women has been compared using brain scans, in recent research by Ragini Verma’s team at Pennsylvania University. Fascinating differences were found by tracking the pathways of water molecules around the brain area.  Combine all three techniques to paraphrase the final paragraph. The top half of the brain is called the cerebrum, and it is divided into a left and a right half. The left hemisphere is thought to be the home of logic and the right is the center of intuition. Dr Verma found that with women most of the pathways went between the two halves, while with men they stayed inside the hemispheres. She believes that these results explain the gender differences in abilities, such as women’s social competence compared to men’s more intense focus on a limited area.  Answer key The brain functioning of 428 men and 521 women has been compared using brain scans, in recent research by Ragini Verma’s team at Pennsylvania University. Fascinating differences were found by tracking the pathways of water molecules around the brain area.  Descriptive Es say About a Person A descriptive essay about a person focuses on describing someone in such a way that the reader can clearly visualize them and understand their characteristics, both physical and emotional. In this type of essay, the goal is to provide a vivid portrayal that helps the reader form a mental picture of the individual being described. Steps to Write a Descriptive Essay About a Person: 1.Choose the Person: Pick someone you know well or someone who has made an impression on you. This could be a family member, friend, teacher, or even a famous figure. 2.Focus on Key Traits: Think about the person’s most defining features. Are they kind? Hardworking? Funny? Their personality, behavior, and physical appearance should all be considered. 3.Use Sensory Details: Describe the person using your senses. What do they look like, sound like, or smell like? How do they act? What emotions do they evoke in you? 4.Use Figurative Language: Enhance your description with similes, metaphors, and other figures of speech. For example, you can say, “Her smile was as bright as the morning sun.” Structure Your Essay: Begin with an introduction to the person, then describe their physical appearance and personality. Conclude with a paragraph that reflects on the person’s importance or the impression they’ve left on you.  My Grandmother My grandmother, whom I affectionately call “Nana,” is a beacon of warmth and kindness in my life. Standing at just over five feet, she is a small, graceful woman with silver hair that she always ties into a neat bun. Her face is soft and wrinkled with years of laughter and love, and her brown eyes sparkle with a quiet wisdom that only comes with age. Her hands, though rough from years of hard work, are always gentle when she holds mine. Nana’s voice is soft, soothing like the gentle hum of a lullaby, and she always speaks with calmness and patience. She smells of fresh lavender and baked bread, scents that fill her home and comfort anyone who visits. Her kitchen is the heart of her house, and she’s always bustling around, cooking up something delicious. The sound of her stirring pots and humming old songs is a constant background in my memories of her. Her personality is what shines the brightest. She is generous to a fault, always giving more than she receives. Nana has a quiet strength about her; she has weathered many storms in life, but you would never know it from her demeanor. She’s the kind of person who puts others at ease, always ready with a listening ear or a few words of advice. Her laugh is contagious, a joyful sound that fills the room and makes everyone around her smile. But what I admire most about Nana is her kindness. She has a way of making everyone feel special, from her neighbors to complete strangers. Whether she’s baking cookies for the kids in the neighborhood or knitting scarves for charity, she’s always thinking of others. Conclusion Nana is more than just a grandmother to me; she is a source of comfort, love, and endless inspiration. Her gentle spirit, warm heart, and selfless nature have left an indelible mark on my life. Every time I visit her, I am reminded of what true kindness and strength look like, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have her in my life.  Des criptiv e Es s a y A b out a Place A descriptive essay about a place allows the reader to visualize the location through vivid details and sensory experiences. Here’s a guide to writing a descriptive essay about a place: Steps to Write a Descriptive Essay About a Place: 1.Select the Place: Choose a location that holds significance for you or one that you can describe in detail. It could be a favorite vacation spot, a memorable childhood location, or even a place in your neighborhood. 2.Engage the Senses: Think about how the place looks, sounds, smells, and feels. Include as many sensory details as possible to create a vivid picture for your reader. 3.Use Clear and Specific Language: Describe the location with as much detail as possible but avoid being vague. Instead of saying “The garden is beautiful,” say “The garden is bursting with vibrant roses, their petals soft to the touch, and the air is thick with the sweet scent of jasmine.” 4.Create a Structure: Start with an introduction that gives a brief overview of the place, followed by body paragraphs that describe the different aspects of the location (e.g., sights, sounds, activities). End with a concluding paragraph that reflects on your connection to the place. Incorporate Figurative Language: Use similes, metaphors, and personification to add depth to your descriptions. For example, “The beach seemed to stretch endlessly, its golden sand glistening like diamonds under the sun.”  The Tranquil Beach at Sunset There is a place I go to when I need to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life—a quiet beach hidden from the crowds. As the sun begins to set, the golden rays dance across the surface of the ocean, turning the waves into shimmering jewels. The sky above shifts from a pale blue to shades of pink, orange, and purple, as if painted by an artist’s brush. It’s a moment of pure magic. The soft, cool sand squishes beneath my bare feet as I walk along the shoreline. The rhythmic sound of the waves gently crashing against the shore is like nature’s lullaby, calming my mind and soul. I close my eyes and inhale deeply, breathing in the fresh, salty air. The faint scent of the ocean mixed with the earthy smell of seaweed fills my senses. Seagulls call overhead, their cries adding to the symphony of sounds that make the beach feel so alive. To my left, the beach stretches out for miles, with small, jagged rocks scattered along the water’s edge. To my right, the ocean extends endlessly into the horizon, its vastness reminding me of how small we are in this world. Tiny crabs scuttle across the sand, disappearing into the holes they’ve dug as I approach. The cool breeze coming off the water brushes against my skin, making the heat of the day seem like a distant memory. As the sun dips below the horizon, the sky turns a deep shade of purple, and the first stars begin to twinkle in the fading light. The beach becomes even more serene as the day ends, with fewer people and only the sounds of nature to keep me company. I sit on the soft sand, feeling the warmth slowly leave the earth beneath me, and watch as the stars take over the sky. It’s a moment of stillness and reflection, a place where time seems to slow down. Conclusion The beach at sunset is more than just a beautiful sight; it’s a place of peace, solitude, and reflection for me. The sights, sounds, and smells of the beach come together to create a perfect sanctuary, one where I can leave behind the stress of daily life and simply be present in the moment. Every time I visit, I leave feeling renewed, reminded of the beauty that exists in the  SEE YOU THANK NEXT YOU! TIME!