Writing VII (Modifying Words and Phrases)

There are a number of words and phrases that can help express your opinion. These words and phrases are common in creative writing, writing reports, and other types of writing intended to persuade.
 
Giving Your Opinion

Using a modifying word can help you express your opinion when making a statement. For example: Investing in high-tech stocks is risky. You could agree or disagree with this statement. Using a word such as undoubtedly expresses your own opinion about the statement. Here are some other modifying words and phrases that can help:

(most) assuredly + adjective: These investments will most assuredly help to build equity.
without a doubt + clause: Without a doubt, this investment is risky.
It is doubtful that + clause: It is doubtful that we will succeed with this attitude.
 
Qualifying Your Opinion

Sometimes, when giving an opinion it is important to qualify what you say by leaving room for other interpretations. For example: There is hardly any doubt that we will succeed. leaves room for other interpretations (hardly any doubt = a little room for doubt). Here are some other modifying words and phrases that can help qualify your opinion:

almost / nearly + adjective: It's nearly impossible to make a mistake.
largely / mainly + noun: It's largely a matter of getting the facts right.
many ways / some ways + it/this/that, etc: In many ways it's a sure bet.
 
Making a Strong Assertion

Certain words mark strong opinions about something you believe. For example: It is not true that I implied you were wrong. is strengthened by adding the word 'just': It is just not true that I implied you were wrong. Here are some other modifying words and phrases that can help strengthen an assertion:

simply / just + adjective: It is simply wrong to believe that about John.
mere + noun: That is mere distraction from the main point.
merely / only + the + first, last: This is merely the last in a number of problems.
sheer / utter + noun: The sheer idiocy of the project speaks for itself.
 
Emphasizing Your Point

When stating that an action is increasingly true, these phrases help to emphasize. For example: We have decided over and over again that we need to continue down this path. Here are some other phrases that help to emphasize your point:

more than + adjective: It is more than likely he will fail.
more and more + adjective: I'm afraid it is becoming more and more difficult to believe you.
 
Giving Examples

When stating your opinion it is important to give examples to support your statements. For example: It is more than likely he will fail. In the case of Mr Smith, he failed to follow-up and caused us to pay heavy fines. The following phrases are used to give examples to back up your opinion.

such as + noun: Critics of this policy, such as Jack Beam of Smith and Sons, say that ...
This is an example of + clause: This is an example of our need to diversify investments.
In the case of + noun: In the case of Ms Anderson, the company decided to ...
 
Summarizing your Opinion

Finally, it is important to summarize your opinion at the end of a report or other persuasive text. For example: In the end, it is important to remember that ... These phrases can be used to summarize your opinion:

All in all,: All in all, I feel we need to diversify due to ...
In the end,: In the end, we must decide quickly to implement this plan.
In conclusion,: In conclusion, let me repeat my strong support for ...

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Writing VI (Sentence Patterns)

What are Sentence Patterns?

Sentence patterns can be understood as the way sentences are usually structured. It is important to learn the most common sentence patterns in English, as most of the sentences you will hear, write, and speak will follow these basic patterns.
There are a number of common sentence patterns used to write most sentences in English. The basic sentence patterns presented in this guide to sentence patterns will help you understand the underlying pattern in even the most complex English sentences. Parts of speech are put together to create sentence patterns in English. Quickly, the eight parts of speech are as follows:

Noun
Pronoun
Adjective
Verb
Adverb
Conjunction
Preposition
Interjection

Six Sentence Patterns

Sentence Patterns #1 - Noun / Verb

The most basic sentence pattern is a noun followed by a verb. It's important to remember that only verbs that do not require objects are used in this sentence pattern.

Examples:
People work.
Frank eats.

This basic sentence pattern can be modified by adding a noun phrase, possessive adjective, as well as other elements. This is true for all the sentence patterns that follow.

Examples:
People work. -> Our employees work.
Frank eats. -> My dog Frank eats.

Sentence Patterns #2 - Noun / Verb / Noun

The next sentence pattern builds on the first pattern and is used with nouns that can take objects.

Examples:
John plays softball.
The boys are watching TV.

Sentence Patterns #3 - Noun / Verb / Adverb

The next sentence pattern builds on the first pattern by using an adverb to describe how an action is done.

Examples:
Thomas drives quickly.
Anna doesn't sleep deeply.

Sentence Patterns #4 - Noun / Linking Verb / Noun

This sentence pattern uses linking verbs to link one noun to another. Linking verbs are also known as equating verbs - verbs which equate one thing with another such as 'be', 'become', 'seem', etc.

Examples:
Jack is a student.
This seed will become an apple.

Sentence Patterns #5 - Noun / Linking Verb / Adjective

This sentence pattern is similar to sentence pattern #4, but uses linking verbs to link one noun to its description using an adjective.

Examples:
My computer is slow!
Her parents seem unhappy.

Sentence Patterns #6 - Noun / Verb / Noun / Noun

Sentence pattern #6 is used with verbs that take both direct and indirect objects.

Examples:
I bought Katherine a gift.
Jennifer showed Peter her car.

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Writing V (Paragraph Writing)

There are two structures to learn in English that are important in writing: the sentence and the paragraph. Paragraphs can be described as a collection of sentences. These sentences combine to express a specific idea, main point, topic and so on. A number of paragraphs are then combined to write a report, an essay, or even a book. This guide to writing paragraphs describe the basic structure of each paragraph you will write.
In general, the purpose of a paragraph is to express one point, idea or opinion.
 
For example: Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class.
This main idea is expressed through three sections of a paragraph:

1. Beginning - Introduce your idea.
2. Middle - Explain your idea.
3. End - Make your point again, transition to next paragraph.

Here is a paragraph taken from an essay on various strategies required for an overall improvement of student performance:
 
Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class. In fact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period. Clinical analysis further suggests that physical exercise greatly improves the ability to focus on academic materials. Longer periods of recess are clearly required to allow students the best possible chances of success in their studies. Clearly, physical exercise is just one of the necessary ingredients for improving student scores on standardized tests.

There are four sentence types used to construct a paragraph:

1. Topic sentence One sentence which states your idea, point, or opinion. This sentence should use a strong verb and make a bold statement.
    
   For example: Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class.
    
   NOTE: Notice the strong verb 'require' which is a call to action. A weaker form of this sentence might be: I think students probably need more recreational time ... This weaker form is inappropriate for a topic sentence.
   
   
2. Supporting sentences Supporting sentences (notice the plural) provide explanations and support for the topic sentence (main idea) of your paragraph.
    
   For example: In fact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period. Clinical analysis further suggests that physical exercise greatly improves the ability to focus on academic materials.
    
   NOTE: Supporting sentences provide the evidence for your topic sentence. Supporting sentences that include facts, statistics and logical reasoning are much more convincing that simple statements of opinion.
   
   
3. Concluding sentence The concluding sentence restates the main idea (found in your topic sentence) and reinforces the point or opinion.
    
   For example: Longer periods of recess are clearly required to allow students the best possible chances of success in their studies.
    
   NOTE: Concluding sentences repeat the main idea of your paragraph in different words.
   
   
4. Transitional sentence The transitional sentence prepares the reader for the following paragraph.
    
   For example: Clearly, physical exercise is just one of the necessary ingredients for improving student scores on standardized tests.
    
   NOTE: Transitional sentences should help readers logically understand the connection between your current main idea, point or opinion and the main idea of your next paragraph. In this instance, the phrase 'just one of the necessary ingredients ...' prepares the reader for the next paragraph which will discuss another necessary ingredient for success

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Writing IV (Capitalization Rules)

Capitalize the first word of a sentence
 
Examples:
There is something wrong with this cheese.
Strange things have happened recently.

 
Capitalize the pronoun "I"
 
Examples:
He asked me where I had bought my jacket.
If I see her, I will give her your message.

 
Capitalize proper nouns
 
Examples:
I visited California on my vacation.
She gave Peter a present for his birthday.

There are many special rules concerning proper nouns. Generally, Proper nouns refer to specific people, places, things, pets, organizations, etc. Remember to always capitalize the name of someone or something. Here are some specific rules to follow:

• Capitalize North, South, East, and West when contained in the name of a place (state, country, etc.) but not when used for giving directions.  
  Correct Examples:
    My friend lives in South Carolina.
  We are planning a vacation in South Africa.
  
   
  Incorrect Examples:
  She lives in Southern Europe. SHOULD BE She lives in southern Europe.
  I'm going to visit my friends in Eastern Oregon. SHOULD BE I'm going to visit my friends in eastern Oregon.
   
  
  
• Capitalize the group name of members of an organization  
  Examples:
  The Neighborhood Players are presenting a musical next week.
  Some Washington Democrats would like to see the company up.
   
  
  
• Capitalize company trademarks (product names)  
  Examples:
  My niece loves Converse shoes.
  Do you prefer Siesta or Aloha products?
   
  
  
• Capitalize common names of periods of time in history  
  Examples:
  The Psychedelic Sixties were pretty groovy baby!
  The Dot Com Era lasted far shorter than many people expected.
   
  
  
• Capitalize specific events  
  Examples:
  I went to the Tomato Growers Conference in Salinas last weekend.
  Have you ever attended the Technoland Convergence Festival?
  
  
  
• Capitalize acronyms which refer to specific names  
  Examples:
  I prefer to watch PBS tv whenever possible.
  The ICAM commissioned a study on OBLOG.
  
  
  
• Common nouns may be capitalized when used as names for the entire class of something.  
  Example:
  Some feel that Man is destined for outerspace!
  
  
  
• Names of gods are capitalized, including Allah, Vishnu, and God. The word god is generally not capitalized if it is used to refer to the generic idea of a deity, nor is it capitalized when it refers to multiple gods.  
  Examples:
  Wotan is one of the gods in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
  The paster prayed that God should deliver us from our sins.
  
  

Capitalize days of the week, holidays, and months of the year. Do not capitalize seasons.  
Correct Examples:
She flew to Dallas in September.
Do you have any time on Monday?

 
Incorrect Examples:
I love skiing in Winter. SHOULD BE I love skiing in winter.
They visited Bob last Summer. SHOULD BE They visited Bob last summer.

 
Capitalize countries, languages, and nationalities (adjective form of a specific country)
 
Examples:
I lived in Italy for over 10 years.
Have you ever had any really expensive French wine?
Do you speak Russian?


Capitalize family relationships when used in place of a name
 
Examples:
Have you given Mom her present yet?
I think Dad needs some time off work.

 
Capitalize titles that come before names. Do not capitalize titles that follow names.
 
Correct Examples:
The soldier wrote to General Smith and asked for advice.
Have you spoken to Vice Principal Smithers yet?

 
Incorrect Examples:
George Washington was the first President of the United States. SHOULD BE George Washington was the first president of the United States.
Peter Smith was elected Mayor in 1995. SHOULD BE Peter Smith was elected mayor in 1995.

 
Capitalize letter salutations (openings) and closings
 
Examples:
Dear Mr. Smith,
Best regards,

 
Special Capitalization Issues
 
Capitalize the first word in a quote.
This is true even if the quote occurs in the middle of a sentence.
 
Examples:
The last time I talked to Peter he said, "Study hard and get to bed early!"
Thomas Patterman was a simple man who said, "Give me life, liberty and a bottle of rum!"

 
Capitalize content words in titles.

Remember that content words include nouns, pronouns, principal verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
 
Examples:
Rainy Days and Mondays
How to Win Friends and Influence your Neighbors

 
Capitalize the first word in each line of poetry
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I think I said He's in love with you!

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Writing III (Persuasive Writing - For and Against)

Read the following paragraphs. Notice that this paragraph presents the pros and cons of a shorter work week.

Introducing a short work week may lead to both positive and negative affects on society. For workers, the advantages of shortening the work week include more free time. This will lead to stronger family relationships, as well as better physical and mental health for all. An increase in free time should lead to more service sector jobs as people find ways to enjoy their extra leisure time. What is more, companies will need to hire more workers to keep production up to past levels of a standard forty hour work week. All together, these benefits will not only improve quality of life, but also grow the economy as a whole.
On the other hand, a shorter work week may damage the ability to compete in the global workplace. Moreover, companies may be tempted to outsource positions to countries where longer work weeks are common. Another point is that companies will need to train more workers to make up for the lost productivity hours. To sum up, companies will likely have to pay a steep price for shorter work weeks.
In summary, it is clear that there would be a number of positive gains for individual workers if the work week were shortened. Unfortunately, this move could easily cause companies to look elsewhere for qualified staff. In my opinion, the net positive gains outweigh the negative consequences of such a move towards more free time for all.

Tips for Writing a For and Against Argument

• Before you begin, write down at least five positive points, and five negative points for your argument.


• Begin your writing by making a statement about the general statement about outcome of an action, or the overall situation.


• Dedicate the first paragraph to one side of the argument. This can be either positive or negative. Generally, it is the side with which you agree.


• The second paragraph should contain the other side of the argument.


• The final paragraph should shortly summarize both paragraphs, and provide your own general opinion on the matter.

Helpful Language

Expressing Both Sides

pros and cons
advantages and disadvantages
plus and minus

Providing Additional Arguments

What is more,
In addition to ..., the ...
Further,
Not only will ..., but ... will also ...

Showing Contrast

However,
On the other hand,
Although .....,
Unfortunately,

Ordering

First of all,
Then,
Next,
Finally,

Summarizing

To sum up,
In conclusion,
In summary,
All things considered,

Expressing Your Opinion

In my opinion,
I feel / think that ...
Personally,

Exercise

Choose an for and against argument from one of the following themes

Attending College / University
Getting Married
Having Children
Changing Jobs
Moving

• Write down five positive points and five negative points
• Write down an overall statement of the situation (for introduction and first sentence)
• Write down your own personal opinion (for final paragraph)
• Summarize both sides in one sentence if possible
• Use your notes to write a For and Against Argument using the helpful language provided

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Writing II (Writing About Cities)

Read the following paragraphs introducing Portland, Oregon. Notice that each paragraph focuses on a different aspect of the city.

Portland, Oregon is located in the northwest of the United States. Both the Columbia and the Willamette river run through Portland. It is the largest city in the state of Oregon. The city is famous for its proximity to the mountains and the ocean, as well as its relaxed, friendly inhabitants. Approximately 500,000 people live in Portland while the Portland metro area has a population of over 1.5 million inhabitants.
The main industries in the Portland area include computer chip manufacturing and sportswear design. In fact, two famous sportswear companies are based in the Portland Area: Nike and Columbia Sportswear. The largest employer is Intel which employs over 15,000 people in the greater Portland metro area. There are also many smaller technology companies located in downtown Portland.
Portland's weather is famous for its rain. However, the spring and summer are quite lovely and mild. The Willamette valley to the south of Portland is important for its agriculture and wine production. The Cascade Mountains are located to the east of Portland. Mt. Hood has three major skiing facilities and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The Columbia river gorge is also located close to Portland.

Tips for Writing an Introduction to a City

• Discuss one aspect of the city in each paragraph. For example, one paragraph about general facts and population, one paragraph about industries, one paragraph about culture, etc.
• Use resources such as Wikipedia to help you find facts about the city.
• Use 'its' as a possessive when writing about a city (not her, or his). For example, Its main exports are ...
• When using numbers, write out the numbers up to twenty. For larger numbers, use numerals. For example: There are two professional sports organizations ... BUT There are over 130,000 inhabitants in XYZ.
• Use 'million' when expressing very large numbers. For example, 2.4 million people live in the greater metro area.
• Make sure to capitalize specific names of companies and monuments.
• Use both the comparative and superlative forms to make statements relating to other cities and regions. For example: It is the largest producer of apples in the state.

Helpful Language

Location

X is located in the Y region of (ountry)
X lies between the A and the B (mountains, valleys, rivers, etc.)
Located at the foot of the B mountains
Located in the R valley

Population

X has a population of Z
More than (number) people live in X
Approximately (number) people live in X
With a population of (number), X ....
inhabitants

Features

X is famous for ...
X is known as ...
X features ...
(product, food, etc.) is important for X, ...

Work

The main industries in X are ...
X has a number of Y plants (factories, etc.)
The main employers of X are ...
The largest employer is ...

Exercise

• Choose a city you would like to describe.
• Find a research page for reference purposes. You can use sites like Wikipedia, magazines, or other resources.
• Choose three or four broad topics you would like to discuss.
• For each topic, write down a list of specific facts using your reference materials.

 
For example:

Weather

• more than 80 inches of snow on average extremely hot summers etc.
  
• Take each fact and write a sentence about that fact. 
• For example: Boulder receives more than 80 inches of snow on average each winter.
  
• Combine your sentences into a paragraph on each broad topic. Make sure to use linking language, pronouns, etc. to link the ideas in your sentences into a logical sequence.
• If you are using a computer, make sure to spell check your work.

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Writing I (He said, She said)

It's common to use the verb 'say' over and over again when reporting conversations. The use of he said she said becomes tiresome after time. Not only is he said she said repetitive, but it is not very descriptive. To better describe the feelings behind the reported speech and other statements in narrative writing, it's important to use vocal verbs and adverbs.
Vocal verbs and adverbs help provide motivation behind statements, questions and replies and convey important information to readers. Each vocal verb and vocal adverb has a short description of typical usage, as well as an example statement illustrating how to replace he said she said with something much more descriptive.

Vocal Verbs

Vocal verbs provide information on the tone of the statement. For example, the vocal verb 'moan' indicates that something is said in a complaining fashion in a low voice. These vocal verbs are grouped by a general indication of the type of statement made.

Say Suddenly

blurt
exclaim
gasp
snap

Examples:

Alison blurted out the answer.
Jack gasped in reaction to the scene.
I snapped a quick response to his question.

Provide Advice / Opinion

advise
argue
caution
note
observe
warn

Examples:

Pete cautioned the children to be careful.
The teacher observed that the exercise was difficult.
The driver warned his passengers about the noise.

Say Loudly

exclaim
bellow
call
cry
scream
shout
yell

Examples:

She shouted out the answer.
The boys screamed as they dived into the cold water.
The mother cried out in disdain when her son was accused of the crime.


Say Softly

The following four vocal verbs are often used as a complaint.
groan
moan
mumble
mutter
whisper

Examples:

Jack mumbled his responses to the questions.
He muttered so badly that they couldn't understand him.
I moaned that I was hurt.

Say with Authority / Command

announce
assert
order

Examples:

The teacher announced the exam at the end of the week.
Jane asserted her rights as a voter.
The police ordered the protesters away from the area.

Vocal Adverbs

Vocal verbs provide information on the manner in which the statement is made. Vocal adverbs are often used to provide additional information on the feeling that the speaker has when making a statement. For example, the vocal adverb 'joyfully' indicates that something is said with great joy. For example: He joyfully exclaimed the news! indicates that the speaker is happy when making the statement. Compare this to: He arrogantly exclaimed the news. which conveys very different information about the speaker.
 
Common Vocal Adverbs

admiringly - indicates: respect for someone
Example:
Alice admiringly noticed his clothes.

angrily - indicates: with anger
Example:
She angrily denounced his crimes.

casually - indicates: without much importance
Example:
She casually conceded her mistake.

cautiously - indicates: in a careful manner
Example:
She cautiously mentioned the extra homework.

cheerfully - indicates: joy, happiness
Example:
Frank cheerfully agreed to do the job.

decisively - indicates: belief in statement made
Example:
Ken decisively replied to the question.

defiantly - indicates: challenge to something
Example:
Peter defiantly taunted his classmates.

formally - indicates: proper, correct
Example:
Josh formally complained to the personnel department.

gloomily - indicates: without much belief in something
Example:
I gloomily remarked that I was aware of the problem.

harshly - indicates: critical judgement
Example:
The teacher harshly scolded the children.

jealously - indicates: wanting something that someone else has
Example:
Mary jealously whined the wanted some of the ice cream.

meekly - indicates: without much conviction
Example:
Jennifer meekly mumbled her apology.

mysteriously - indicates: mystery, unexplained situations
Example:
Susan mysteriously warned us about the town in Utah.

offensively - indicates: rudeness
Example:
Alan offensively argued his point about schooling.

sadly - indicates: sadness
Example:
Thomas sadly observed that his business was bankrupt.

serenely - indicates: peace, complete belief in something
Example:
Alice serenely responded to the investigators questions.

shyly - indicates: without conviction, shyness
Example:
The customer shyly complained about the food to the manager.

sternly - indicates: authority
Example:
The teacher sternly stated that all reports were due on Friday.

thankfully - indicates: gratitude
Example:
Jane thankfully accepted the job offer.

wisely - indicates: wisdom, smart decision
Example:
Angela wisely commented on the situation.

Activity to improve this skill : http://www.4shared.com/office/ZG3Ibl-Pce/improve_storytelling.html 

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