East West University

Department of English

Compilation of ENG102:
Composition and Communication Skills
Course Materials
Edited by
Shamima Akter Shanta
Syeda Shabnam Mahmud
Shahnaz Ameer
 Contents
Correction Symbols 2

1. Descriptive Composition: Developed by Shamima Akter Shanta 5

2. Narrative Composition: Developed by Syeda Shabnam Mahmud 23

3. Paraphrase Writing: Developed by Shamima Akter Shanta & Moumita Hauque 39

Shenjuti

4. Summary Writing: Developed by Syeda Shabnam Mahmud & Anowara Rayhan 48

Arusha

5. Cause & Effect Composition: Developed by Tamanna Sharmin Kabir & Syeda 57

Shabnam Mahmud

6. Compare Contrast Composition: Developed by Shahnaz Ameer 74

7. Response Paper Writing: Developed by Sadia Afreen, Anowara Rayhan & Nazia 89

Perveen Shefa

8. Film Review Writing: Developed by Shazed Ul Hoq Khan Abir 106

9. Process Analysis Composition: Developed by Shuvo Shaha 112

10. Argumentative Composition: Developed by Naushin Nazifa Islam 128

11. Reporting writing Skills: 148

News Report Writing: Developed by Rifat Bin Reza Rafi
Business Report Writing: Will be provided by the course instructor.
Short Lab Report Writing: Will be provided by the course instructor.
Other types of Report Writing: Will be provided by the course instructor.
12. Term Paper 164

13. Email Writing/Memo Writing/Notice Writing: Will be provided by the course -

instructor.

14. Graph/Bar/Pie Chart Description: Will be provided by the course instructor -

1
 East West University
Department of English

Correction symbols

Symbols Meaning Faulty sentences Corrected sentences

Subject verb He never comes to class on

Agr/suv He never come to class on time.
agreement time.

india is a great country with its India is a great country

Cap Capitalization error diverse cultural and ethnic with its diverse cultural and
groups. ethnic groups.

After talking to him, I

After talking to him, the
Dm Dangling modifier clearly understood the
instruction was clear.
instruction.

I appointed a maid for my wife, For my wife I appointed a

MM Misplaced modifier
who gave us trouble. maid, who gave us trouble.

Fragment (The
When he was in the
sentence is not
cafeteria, his friends were
Frag complete. This When he was in the cafeteria.
looking for him in the
group of words is a
library.
fragment.)

The teacher was involved on the The teacher was involved

Pre Preposition
test preparation. in the test preparation.

2
 The chairman needs more times The chairman needs more
Num Number and equipment to complete the time and equipment to
project. complete the project.
Although he was not
Although he was not feeling
P Punctuation feeling well, he came to the
well he came to the party.
party.

Achieving something special is Achieving something

Sp Spelling
important. special is important.

T Tense We will come yesterday. We came yesterday.

He is enrolled in French,
Problems with verb He is enroll in French, and he is
and he is trying to add
use: active, passive, try to added another course. He
V another course. He will
infinitive, gerund will has to spend more time for
have to spend more time
etc. learn.
for learning.

We will become
We will become independence
Wf Word form independent thinkers and
thinkers and writers.
writers.

Ww Wrong word He was very tired that he left. He was so tired that he left.

WO Word order A computer can anything do. A computer can doanything.

Insert the missing My locality ^ situated at the My locality is situated at

^
element(s) heart of the city. the heart of the city.

3
 Parallelism (making
the elements e.g. Winning and lose is part of Winning and losing is part
// verbs, nouns,
playing a game. of playing a game.
infinitives, gerunds,
etc. similar)

These sentences are

Link not well connected.
These ideas do not
seem to be related.

A transition is
needed here. In India, one may find

Transitions include: In India, one may find many many poor people.
nevertheless, in poor people. One will be However, one will be
Tr addition, in fact, surprised to know that several surprised to know that
then, furthermore, as Indians are among the richest several Indians are among
a result, people in the world. the richest people in the
consequently and world.
many others.

These sentences
Comb
should be combined.

Unn Unnecessary element The man he was very talented. The man was very talented.

rep Same ideas repeated

Preposition error
Pr
awkward way of
awk constructing a
sentence

4
 Descriptive Essay

Writing Descriptive Essay

1. Ice Breaking Activity:
Look at the picture below. Choose one of the pictures and describe using descriptive words and
sensory images. The first one is described for you.

5
 2. What is a descriptive essay?
A descriptive essay is an essay that describes something – an object or person, an event or place,
an experience or emotion, or an idea. The goal of this kind of essay is to provide readers with
enough detailed descriptions for them to be able to picture or imagine the chosen topic.
Now watch the video following the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljHlEMJnEsE&ab_channel=EssayPro
Types of Descriptive Essay Topics
i. Formal/Concrete essay topics
A topic about something concrete is something that you can see, touch or taste, hear, or smell –
in other words, something concrete can be described with your senses.

Example:

● Pizza smell the aroma, see the toppings, feel the heat and
taste the sauce, hear the crunch of the crust

● A Day at the Park hear the people and the birds, smell the earth, feel
the shade of a tree or the heat of the sun

***A formal descriptive essay can be about a place that can be broken down into geography,
climate, politics, religion and culture. Exploring a historical event chronologically, beginning
with a paragraph on what caused it, proceeding to a description of the event itself, and
concluding with its consequences can also be termed as descriptive essay. A news story with a
summary of the event, context about the people involved, information about the place where it
occurred and insight into other events it links to can be given as descriptive essay as well.

ii. Personal descriptive essay topics:

The personal essay has much in common with narrative essay as the writer describes something
from his/her personal experience or responses.
Example:

● Describe a place you love to spend time in.

● Describe an object that has sentimental value for you.

iii. Abstract essay topics:

Ideas and emotions are abstract topics that cannot be touched. Therefore, it is difficult to describe
them with our senses. In order to write a descriptive essay of this type, writers often turn to
context – experiences or situations – that point the reader towards understanding the topic.

Example:

● Describe the feeling of envy.

● Describing friendship.

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 iv. Imaginative descriptive essay topics:

Sometimes writers describe something outside his/her experience, in which the writer uses
his/her imagination.

● Describe the experience of a soldier in the trenches of World War I.

● Describe what it might be like to live on another planet.

N.B. Teachers are encouraged to give formal descriptive topics as class activities or as exam
topic for ENG 102 students.

3. Steps of Writing a Descriptive Essay:

i. Select a subject
Observation is the key to writing a good description. For example, if you are writing about a
place, go there and take notes on the sights, sounds, and smells. A descriptive essay paints a
picture for the reader, using descriptive devices and the senses.
ii. Select dominant details
Select only the details that support the dominant impression (your thesis statement). Create a
thesis statement that informs the reader who or what you are describing. Examples: “The white,
sandy beach of Cox’s Bazar is a sight to behold.” “My favourite teacher helped me overcome my
fear of learning English.”
iii. Organize details
The paragraphs in a descriptive essay can be structured spatially (from top to bottom or from
near to far) or chronologically (time order) or from general to specific. Descriptive essays can
also use other patterns of organization such as narrative or exemplification.
iv. Use descriptive words
Do not use vague words or generalities (such as good, nice, bad, or beautiful). Be specific and
use sensory, descriptive words (adjectives). For example:
I had a great snack. ORI devoured a plate of hot, spicy and crunchy fuchka for a snack.
v. Draw a logical conclusion
The conclusion may also use descriptive words; however, make certain the conclusion is logical
and relevant.

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 4. How to Describe something:
When you describe someone or something, you give your readers a picture in words. To make
the word picture as vivid and real as possible, you must observe and record specific details that
appeal to your readers’ senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch). More than any other type
of essay, a descriptive paper needs sharp, colorful details.
Difference between telling and showing with examples:
1. A. “In the window was a fan.”
B. “The blades of the rusty window fan clattered and whirled as they blew out a stream of
warm, soggy air.”
Explanation: In the first sentence, there is almost no appeal to the senses. In contrast, here is a
description rich in sense impressions: Sense impressions in this second example include sight
(rusty window fan, whirled), hearing (clattered), and touch (warm, soggy air).
2. A. I grew tired after dinner.
B. As I leaned back and rested my head against the top of the chair, my eyelids began to
feel heavy, the edges of the empty plate in front of me blurred with the white tablecloth.
Explanation: The first sentence tells that the writer grew tired after the dinner. The second reader
shows the reader that the writer grew tired.
3. A. I had a great snack.
B. Robin devoured a plate of hot, spicy and crunchy fuchka for a snack.

The vividness and sharpness provided by the sensory details give us a clear picture of the
fan and enable us to share the writer’s experience.

More examples on use of sensory details:

● Smells that are in the air (the aroma of freshly brewed coffee)
● Sounds (traffic, honking horns)
● Sights (“The sun scattered tiny diamonds across dew-covered grass as it peeked out from
beyond the horizon.”)
● Touch (“The texture of the adobe hut’s walls resembled coarse sandpaper.”)
● Taste: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, tart (“Giant goose bumps formed on my tongue when I
accidentally bit into a slice of lemon.”)

Now watch the video link:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/descriptive-writing-definition-techniques-examples.html

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Words that can Help you to Write a Descriptive Essay
Here is a list of sensory words for you. Go through the word list:

9
 4. Structure of an Essay: One descriptive essay is analysed in detail for your better
understanding.

A sample descriptive essay with Outline

My University
(Written by Arafat Ibna Wohab & edited by Shamima Shanta)

Outline
Thesis statement: My University is that place where my insights and inner strength augmented
because of its wonderful surroundings, magnificent architecture and skilled management system.

II. Body paragraph 1 Key ideas to develop body paragraphs.

Topic sentence: My university surroundings pleased me at the very first day of my entrance to
the university.

Supporting details:

a) Beautiful location

b) Nearby lakes

c) A place of tranquility

III. Body paragraph 2

Topic sentence: East West University is compared with the Red Fort for its look and elegant
architectural design.

Supporting details:

a) Red building

b) Square shaped

c) Good breathing space

IV. Body paragraph 3

Topic sentence: My University ensures quality education and conducive co-curricular activities
with the help of its excellent management system.

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Supporting details:

a) Follow strict academic calendar

b) Sincere faculties and world class labs

c) Several clubs

V. Conclusion

Concluding line: Finally, it can be said that my university is supporting me to be a better human
being in all respects.

Essay:

My University

I am currently studying at East West University, a very renowned private university in

Bangladesh. The university has made a great contribution in the education sector of our country
as it has been producing skilled graduates and talented human resources throughout the year. My
university is that place where my insights and inner strength augmented because of itswonderful
surroundings, magnificent architecture, and skilled management system.

Thesis Statement

TopicSentence

The wonderful surroundings of East West university pleased me at the very first day of my
entrance at my university. It is located in a suitable place called Aftabnagar near the BTV
headquarters at Rampura. The magnificent Hatirjheel lake is in front of the university, which is
also visible from my campus. This lake is the one of the attractions of beauty for many citizens
of Dhaka, who can also see my university building when they visit this place. Being in the
university campus, a student can find peace and tranquility and can refresh his mind Because of
the less congested Aftabnagar area and beautiful Hatirjheel lake.

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 Topic Sentence

East West University is compared with the Red Fort for its look and elegant architecture. The
beautiful red building always fascinates me. It is square shaped and has a lot of space inside. It is
built on 7.4 Bighas of land. Total floor area of the 9 storied university complex is 4,58,957.04
square feet with modern facilities. My university has a library covering about 11000 sq ft with
maps and journal area, a photocopy corner and newspaper display section. All classrooms,
faculty rooms and other office rooms are well equipped with modern tools. There is also a big
playground with a green meadow, which has enhanced the beauty of our campus.

Topic Sentence

My university ensures quality education and conducive co-curricular activities with the help of
its excellent management system. They very strictly follow a well-organized academic calendar
in order to ensure the punctuality of the students to their studies. The faculties of each
department are highly dedicated to their teaching. Our labs and classes are world class which
never let us fall behind. There are several academic, co-curricular and career development clubs
which bring out the true potential of students. They keep organizing fests and seminars
throughout the year.

Hopefully, I will become a better person after completing my studies here. I will remain forever
grateful to this amazing home of reformation of the life of a student like me. Finally, it can be
said that my university is supporting me to be a better human being in all respects.

Concluding Sentence

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Comprehension Question:

How did the writer describe his university? Can you underline some words of
description from the essay?

Activity 1:
Now the teacher will give a topic to brainstorm. For example, describe “Your most
Favourite Tourist Spot in Bangladesh”. Then fill out the template with thesis statement,
topic sentence and supporting key ideas. Work in pair or group.

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Activity 2:
Read the following essay on “My Most Favourite Tourist Spot in Bangladesh: Cox's
Bazar”. Then find out which ideas you could add from the essay or which ideas the essay
did not mention that you have written.

My Most Favourite Tourist Spot in Bangladesh: Cox's Bazar

Outline:

Thesis statement: Cox's Bazar is not only well known for its stunning view, but also for the
variety of amusements and delicacies it offers to the tourists.

1) Body Paragraph 1
Topic sentence: Within the region of Cox’s Bazar there exist places that are highly
attractive to tourists because of certain specialties.

Supporting details:
a) Tropical forest hills
b) The golden sand of the Inani Beach.
c) Magnificent waterfalls and greenery of Himchori.
d) Marvellous view of sunrise, sunset and moonlight

2) Body Paragraph 2
Topic sentence: Visitors can partake in several activities such as surfing, scuba diving
etc.

Supporting details:
a) Adrenaline rush
b) Relaxation and sunbeds.
c) Sea bath
d) Sea drowning

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 3) Body Paragraph 3:
Topic Sentence: Cox's Bazar has a lot of delicacies and souvenirs to offer to the tourists.

Supporting details:
a) Popular local cuisines
b) Barbequed fish
c) Jewelleries, seashells and corals
d) Memory creation

Conclusion: It is recommended that people should visit Cox’s Bazar at least once in their lifetime

Now Read the introduction of the essay “Cox’s Bazar” and notice the thesis statement and
the ideas that will be developed in detail in the body paragraphs.

Cox's Bazar

Introduction:

Cox's Bazar is a famous tourist spot in Bangladesh. It is not only well known for its stunning
view, but also for the variety of amusements and delicacies it offers to the tourists. The beach
along with the regional tropical forest hills attract millions of tourists a year with its magnificent
sight.

Notice the bold words in the following paragraph and try to understand the use of sensory
images.

Body Paragraph 1:

Within the region of Cox’s Bazar there exist places that are highly attractive to tourists because
of certain specialties. The golden sand of the Inani beach along with the background of
evergreen hills, is a sight that not only pleases the eyes but also exhibits the natural beauty of
the area. Himchari is situated 12 kilometers south of Cox's Bazar. It has the most magnificent
waterfalls and greenery that displays the original essence of the world, untouched by pollution
and filth. Visitors can see the marvelous beauty of sunrise, sunset and the moonlight from the

15
shore of the beach. If one forgets his camera, there are several cameramen available, awaiting to
capture memorable pictures.

Notice the topic sentence in the following paragraph and try to understand how the
supporting details in the outline are developed in detail in the main essay.

Body paragraph 2:
Tourists can also partake in activities such as speed-boat riding, scuba diving, surfing, bike
riding. Many young boys and girls enjoy these activities by increasing their adrenaline rush.
These rides sometimes might seem a bit expensive, but expenses could be reduced by
participating in a group. Several sunbeds are available throughout the beach. These sunbeds
allow the tourists to relax and enjoy the view of the sea. In addition, people of all ages are seen to
take bath in the sea with a joyful mind. Though people should be careful not to go to the deep sea
as news of sea drowning is not that uncommon in Cox’s Bazar.

Try to identify the sensory images that have been used in the following body paragraph.

Body paragraph 3:
Cox's Bazar has a lot of savory delicacies and authentic souvenirs to offer. Several delicacies can
be found in restaurants that are widely scattered around the area. Most of the popular dishes are
made of seafood. The oysters, different varieties of fish and crabs are cooked with various
seasonings that not only pleases the taste buds but also encourages tourists to visit again. There
are several famous local cuisines, for example, Barbequed Pomfret and Roasted Crab. Even
small motels offer such delicacies with bundle packages to their visitors. Tourists can also collect
souvenirs such as jewelry and seashells, corals from local shops that will remind them of their
vacation and all the memories that they have made in Cox's Bazar.

Conclusion:
Overall, it can be said that Cox's Bazar is a perfect destination for a holiday. It is recommended
that people should visit this place at least once in their lifetime.

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Activity 3: Now read the news article on “Pohela Falgun”. After reading these articles,
write an essay with an outline on “One of the Best Seasonal Festivals of Bangladesh.”

Article 1

Pahela Falgun brings colour in life

Pahela Falgun, the first day of Spring in the Bengali month of Falgun, is being celebrated across
the country today in a colourful way with young girls and boys joining various functions wearing
dazzling dresses.

Falgun is the eleventh month in the Bengali calendar and the first month of the season, Spring,
the king of all the six seasons that brings back warm sunshine, budding flowers and dancing of
birds.
The first of Falgun is known as Pahela Falgun and usually falls on February 13 of the Gregorian
calendar. After the dryness of winter, new leaves start to come out again and nature adorns the
branches with new colorful flowers such as shimul, polash and marigold.Clad in yellow, orange
and other bright colours that symbolise the Bangla season Bashanto (Spring), the people are in
line for welcoming the season with a myriad of flowers, poems, songs and dances.

The season spreads through the next month, Chaitra, the last month of Bengali year.The Spring's
flowers such as shimul, polash, marigold is being worn by women, who adorn themselves with
'Bashonti' clothing - mostly in yellow, orange and red.

Dhaka University has always been the cultural heartbeat of the city, hence it is the venue for all
cultural celebrations, and Pohela Falgun this year is no different.Bakultola of the Faculty of Fine
Arts of Dhaka University (DU) is the centre point of the festival.Thousands of young men and
women have gathered from the morning and are celebrating the day singing songs, reciting
poems and dancing.

The entire DU campus and the Ekeushy Boi Mela premises have become the best places to hang
out with friends, family members and beloved ones.Jatiya Boshonto Utshab Udjapan Parishad
has been arranging the main programmes of the day for around two decades.The parishad is
arranging different programmes including songs and recitation of poems except regular
programmes.Band concerts are being held at various points of the campus, where a larger crowd
is being anticipated later in the afternoon.

Different private universities and colleges have also arranged programmes, marking the day.

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 Article 2
Nation celebrates Pohela Falgun

Pahela Falgun, the first day of spring season, a festival at the advent of spring, is being
celebrated amid much enthusiasm and traditional gaiety, in Dhaka and elsewhere throughout the
country.

Bangladesh is known for its distinctive six seasons. The most awaited season of all is Boshonto
or spring. It begins on the first day of Bengali month, Falgun, which is the thirteenth of February
in the Gregorian calendar.

Millions of people celebrate the day as colors blend and the essence of love and happiness is
recreated in the season. Nature explores with its vast variety of beauty. Women wearing
traditional dresses as Sari and setting garlands of orange marigold flowers on hair while young
men in bright Panjabi, come out on the street to welcome the new season.

Different socio-cultural organizations and government institutions have drawn up elaborate

programs like musical functions, colorful marches and street side fairs in the capital as elsewhere
across the country to welcome the spring. Singers, dancers, students and thousands of youths in
traditional costume take part in a festival every year known as Pahela Falgun to mark the
beginning of the spring season.Several cultural functions are chalked out in the city, especially at
the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University to celebrate the much awaited festival.Live music,
poetry, dance and rallies at Bakultala of Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka University will cover
several functions remarking the day.

The Ekushey Boi Mela (book fair) is another popular spot for the day, where many pick their
choice from the best of Bengali literature. Authentic and traditional Bangladeshi foods such as
cakes, sweets and spicy foods are being sold on the street. On the other hand, additional law
enforcers were seen in an alert position in the city to avert any untoward situation and assure the
safety and security of the masses.

However, spring or 'Boshonto' is characterized by the new blooms and the melodies of home-
bound birds, returning to a warmer climate.'Boshonto' provides a respite from the colorless
monotony of winter and from the harsher, longer days of heat and humidity that await us.

Moreover, everyone hopes that the new touch of the weather and environment will bring peace to
the people of the country amid the ongoing political unrest and blockade sponsored by the BNP-
led 20-party alliance.

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One more sample essay is provided below for the students to notify the descriptive words
and sensory images that have been used in the following descriptive essays.
The Diner at Midnight
I. Introduction
Thesis statement: A diner at midnight, however, was not the place I had expected. It was
different - and lonely.
II. Body paragraph 1

Topic sentence: My Toyota pulled to a halt in front of the dreary gray aluminum building
that looked like an old railroad car.
Supporting details:
a) the diner’s building looked old
b) had a half lit neon sign
c) a deserted, rain-drenched parking lot
d) an empty paper cup making sound
e) a heavy glass door

III. Body paragraph 2

Topic sentence: The diner was quiet when I entered.
Supporting details:
a) no waiter on duty to receive the customers
b) humming sound of the refrigerator
c) tables with usual accessories
d) the mysterious kitchen metal doors
e) the counter with the cracked vinyl seats bolted in soldier-like straight lines

IV. Body paragraph 3

Topic sentence: The people in the diner seemed as lonely as the place itself.
Supporting details:
a) two workers sitting on the stools at the counter, eating after the shift
b) a young man with black, curly hair with a blank face
c) a middle aged, pensive couple waiting for their food to arrive

V. Conclusion
Concluding line: Finally, a tired-looking waitress approached me with her thick order
pad. I ordered the coffee, but I wanted to drink it fast and get out of there.

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 The Diner at Midnight
I've been in lots of diners, and they've always seemed to be warm, busy, friendly, happy
places. That's why, on a recent Monday night, I stopped in a diner for a cup of coffee. I was
returning home after an all-day car trip and needed something to help me make the last
forty-five miles. A diner at midnight, however, was not the place I had expected. It was Notice how
different - and lonely. each
My Toyota pulled to a halt in front of the dreary gray aluminum building that looked paragraph
like an old railroad car. A half-lit neon sign sputtered the message, "Fresh baked goods has a main
daily," on the surface of the rain slick parking lot. Only a half-dozen cars and a battered idea and
pickup were scattered around the lot. An empty paper coffee cup made a hollow scraping begins with
a topic
sound as it rolled in small circles on one cement step close to the diner entrance. I pulled
sentence.
hard at the balky glass door, and it banged shut behind me.
The diner was quiet when I entered. As there was no hostess on duty, only the faint
odor of stale grease and the dull hum of an empty refrigerated pastry case greeted me. I looked
around for a place to sit. The outside walls were lined with empty booths which squatted back to
back in their orange vinyl upholstery. On each speckled beige-and-gold table were the usual
accessories. The kitchen hid mysteriously behind two swinging metal doors with round windows.
I glanced through these windows but could see only a part of the large, apparently deserted
cooking area. Facing the kitchen doors was the counter. I approached the length of Formica and
slid onto one of the cracked vinyl seats bolted in soldier-like straight lines in front of it.
The people in the diner seemed as lonely as the place itself. Two men in rumpled
Pay attention work shirts sat at the counter, on stools several feet apart, staring wearily into cups of
to how the coffee and smoking cigarettes. Their faces sprouted what looked like daylong stubbles of
sensory beard. I figured they were probably shift workers who, for some reason, didn't want to go
details are home. Three stools down from the workers, I spotted a thin young man with a mop of
incorporated black, curly hair. He was dressed in brown Levi cords with a checked Western-style shirt
throughout unbuttoned at the neck. He wore a blank expression as he picked at a plate of limp french
the essay. fries. I wondered if he had just returned from a disappointing date. At the one occupied
booth was a middle-aged couple. They hadn't gotten any food yet. He was staring off into
Identify and
space, idly tapping his spoon against the table, while she drew aimless parallel lines on her
underline
paper napkin with a bent dinner fork. Neither said a word to the other.
examples
Finally, a tired-looking waitress approached me with her thick order pad. I ordered
the coffee, but I wanted to drink it fast and get out of there. My car, and the solitary miles
ahead of me, would be lonely. But they wouldn't be as lonely as that diner at midnight.

20
***Teachers can choose any topic to be given in the class or as a portfolio assignment.
However, teachers are encouraged to provide clearly focused topics to write a descriptive
essay instead of vague/broad topics. For example:
Vague/broad topic Clearly Focused topic
The Subway Riding on the Subway during Rush Hour
The Winter The Day after a Big Snowfall when School is Cancelled

After completing the essay, teachers can provide a peer review checklist. The following
checklist can be used.

Peer Assessment Checklist for Descriptive Essay

Writer _________________________________________

Editor _________________________________________

Questions Commen
t

Y /N

Unity Does the essay have a title?

Did the writer include a hook in the 1 paragraph?

st

Does the essay have a clearly stated thesis, including a dominant

impression?

Is there any irrelevant material that needs to be eliminated or

rewritten?

In the introductory paragraph did the writer include points of

description to support the thesis statement?

21
 Support In the 1 supporting paragraph did the writer include one main idea
st

of description?

In the 2 supporting paragraph did the writer include another idea

nd

for description?

In the 3 supporting paragraph did the writer include one more idea
rd

to describe?

In the conclusion did the writer summarize/ reiterate the 3/all ideas?

Does the writer make a commentary/ provide an observation/ a final

thought at the conclusion?

Coherence Do the transitional words in the essay help the readers to follow the
train of thought?

Did the writer use the present tense consistently from the beginning
till the end?

Is there a consistent point of view in the essay?

Sentence
Skills
Has the essay used more specific words than general?

Does the writer use a lot of rich, specific details that appeal to a
variety of senses/ used sensory words/ descriptive words?

Did the writer avoid wordiness and used concise wording?

Are the sentences in the essay varied?

Has the writer proofread the essay for grammar and spelling
mistakes?
References: Literary Terms. (2015, June 1). Retrieved November 3, 2021, from https://literaryterms.net/

22
 Narrative Essay
Ice-breaking Activity: In the orientation class of narrative essay, the teacher may start the
class by presenting a short clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NESGqweSwI
(What is a Narrative? | Introduction to Narratives) of narrative composition in the class.

After watching it, the students will be able to recall the basic traits of narrative writing which
they have learned in their previous course. Then the teacher can divide the class into several
small groups in order to assign them a group activity.

The teacher will distribute different cue cards among different groups. Each cue card will have a
few keywords along with some guided questions on a given topic. These guidelines will help
each group to write a small paragraph within a short time. After the writing session, the student
can share their writing with the class.

Two samples of cue cards have been given here.

Cue Card-A: Topic: A Memorable Wedding

Setting: Where and when did it take place?
Characters: Who were there?
Plot: Problem/Climax:Which incident made it memorable to you?
Any awkward/unexpected moments?
Resolution/End:What happened at last?

Cue Card-B: Topic: The Best Birthday that You Have Ever Had
Setting: Where and when did it take place?
Characters: Who were there? Friends/Family
Plot: Problem/Climax:What made it so special to you? Any surprises or gifts ?
Resolution/End:What happened at last?

After the ice breaking session, the teacher can introduce the elaborate version of narrative
writing to his/her students.

What is a Narrative Essay:

A narrative essay tells a story. In fact, narrative is another word for story. Even though the
narrative essay has the same basic form as most other academic essays, it allows the writer to be
a little more creative than academic essays usually do. Narratives can tell long stories or just a
few minutes’ worth of excitement. While the narrative essay has a particular structure, narrative
ideas are often used in different writing tasks, such as argument or compare-contrast.

23
Elements of a Story:

Several important elements make up a good story:

● Setting: The setting is the location where the action in a story takes place.
● Theme: The theme is the basic idea of the story. Very often the theme will deal with a
topic that is common in life or human nature, such as independence, envy, courage,
failure, and success.
● Mood: The mood is the feeling or atmosphere that the writer creates for the story. It
could be happy, hopeful, suspenseful, or scary. Both the setting and descriptive
vocabulary create the mood in a narrative.
● Characters: The characters are the people in the story. They are affected by the mood of
the story, and they react to the events in which they are involved. Plot The plot is what
happens in the story, that is, the sequence of events. The plot often includes a climax or
turning point at which, the characters or events change.

Just like other types of essays, an effective narrative essay also includes these elements:

• a thesis that sets up the action in the introduction

• transition sentences that connect events and help the reader follow the story
• a conclusion that ends the story action and provides a moral, prediction, or revelation

Structure of A Narrative Essay:

A. The Introduction: The introduction of a narrative essay is the paragraph that begins your
story. In the introduction, you describe the setting, introduce the characters, and prepare
youraudience for the action to come. Of course, the introduction should have a hook and a
thesis.

The Hook is the first sentence of the essay. The purpose of the Hook is to get readers’ attention.
● Shocking statement
● Interesting fact
● Statistics
● Quotation
● Rhetorical Questions

Exercise a: Below is the introduction of a narrative essay. Read the paragraph and underline the
hook.

I cannot live without pizza. If I go very long without eating a hot delicious slice of pizza, I
become sick. When I lived in the United States, I ate a whole pizza every week. But when I
started living in Japan, I forgot about eating pizza. I was happy eating delicious Japanese foods at
first, but I eventually began to crave a hot slice of bread, sauce, and cheese. After living in Japan
for six months, I ordered Japanese pizza for the first time.

24
1. What type of hook do you think is used? ___________________________________________
2. Why do you think a good hook is important?_______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

The Thesis: In most types of essays, the thesis states the main idea of the essay and tells what
the organization of the information will be. However, in a narrative essay, the thesis introduces
the action that begins in the first paragraph of the essay. The thesis statement does not tell the
reader what happens. They only give hints of the actions that will follow. The paragraphs in the
body will develop the story.

Exercise A: Can you identify the thesis from the above given paragraph?

B. The Body: The body of your narrative essay contains most of the plot—the supporting
information. The action in the plot can be organized in many different ways. One way is
chronological or time order. In this method, each paragraph gives more information about the
story as it proceeds in time—the first paragraph usually describes the first event, the second
paragraph describes the second event, and so on.

C. Transitional Sentences: In an essay with chronological organization, each paragraph ends

with a transitional sentence. Transitional sentences have two purposes: (1) to signal the end of
the action in one paragraph, and (2) to provide a link to the action of the next paragraph. These
sentences are vital because they give your story unity and allow the reader to follow the action
easily. The following example is from Sample Essay-1, Paragraphs 2 and 3. Notice how the
ideas in the last sentence of Paragraph 2 (the transitional sentence, underlined) and the first
sentence of Paragraph 3 (underlined) are connected.

2 This was my first visit to the international terminal of the airport, and nothing was familiar. I
could not make sense of any of the signs. Where was the check-in counter? Where should I take
my luggage? I had no idea where the immigration line was. I began to panic. What time was it?
Where was my plane? I had to find help because I could not be late!

3 I tried to ask a passing businessman for help, but my words all came out wrong. He just
scowled and walked away. What had happened? I had been in this country for a whole semester,
and I could not even remember how to ask for directions. This was awful! Another bus arrived at
the terminal, and the passengers stepped off carrying all sorts of luggage. Here was my chance! I
could follow them to the right place, and I would not have to say a word

D. The Conclusion: Like academic essays, narrative essays need to have concluding ideas. In
the conclusion, you finish describing the action in the essay. The final sentence can have two
functions:

Like academic essays, narrative essays need to have concluding ideas. In the conclusion, you
finish describing the action in the essay. The final sentence can have two functions:

25
1. It can deliver the moral of the story by telling the reader what the character(s) learned from the
experience.
2. It can make a prediction or a revelation (disclosure of something that was not known before)
about future actions that will happen as a result of the events in the story

Moral: The little boy had finally learned that telling the truth was the most important thing to do.
Prediction: I can only hope that one day I will be able to do the same for another traveler who is
suffering through a terrible journey.
Revelation: Every New Year’s Eve, my wife and I return to that magical spot and remember the
selfless act that saved our lives.

Storytelling Tip: If you describe the sights, smells, and sounds of the story, you will bring the
story alive for the reader. Try to include a few adjectives in your sentences. The more descriptive
the information, the more the reader will connect with the story you are telling. Make readers
feel that they are there with you as you experience what you are describing. In the following
example, the writer uses adjectives (underlined) to add depth to the story by giving additional
information.

I walked into the noisy classroom and looked for a place to sit down. In the back of the well-lit
room, I saw an old wooden desk and walked toward it. After a few moments, the anxious
students quieted down when they observed the prim English teacher enter the room.

Studying A Narrative Essay:

Pre-reading Task: Discuss the Preview Questions with a classmate. Then read the essay and
answer the questions that follow.
Preview Questions
1. Have you ever had trouble getting from one place to another while traveling? Where were you
going? What happened that made this travel difficult?
2. Can everyday people be considered heroes? What do you consider to be a heroic act?

Sample Essay 1:

Frustration at the Airport

I had never been more anxious in my life. I had just spent the last three endless hours trying to
get to the airport so that I could travel home. Now, as I watched the bus driver set my luggage on
the airport sidewalk, I realized that my frustration had only just begun.

This was my first visit to the international terminal of the airport, and nothing was familiar. I
could not make sense of any of the signs. Where was the check-in counter? Where should I take
my luggage? I had no idea where the immigration line was. I began to panic. What time was it?
Where was my plane? I had to find help because I could not be late!

I tried to ask a passing businessman for help, but my words all came out wrong. He just scowled
and walked away. What had happened? I had been in this country for a whole semester, and I

26
could not even remember how to ask for directions. This was awful! Another bus arrived at the
terminal, and the passengers came out carrying all sorts of luggage. Here was my chance! I could
follow them to the right place, and I would not have to say a word.

I dragged my enormous suitcase behind me and followed the group. We finally reached the
elevators. Oh, no! They all fit in it, but there was not enough room for me. I watched in despair
as the elevator doors closed. I had no idea what to do next. I got on the elevator when it returned
and gazed at all the buttons. Which one could it be? I pressed button 3. The elevator slowly
climbed up to the third floor and jerked to a stop. A high, squeaking noise announced the
opening of the doors, and I looked around timidly.

Tears formed in my eyes as I saw the deserted lobby and realized that I would miss my plane.
Just then an elderly airport employee shuffled around the corner. He saw that I was lost and
asked if he could help. He gave me his handkerchief to dry my eyes as I related my predicament.
He smiled kindly and led me down a long hallway. We walked up some stairs, turned a corner,
and, at last, there were customs! He led me past all the lines of people and pushed my luggage to
the inspection counter.

When I turned to thank him for all his help, he was gone. I will never know that kind man’s
name, but I will always remember his unexpected courtesy. He helped me when I needed it the
most. I can only hope that one day I will be able to do the same for another traveler who is
suffering through a terrible journey.

Post-Reading Task 1:

1. Do you think the hook is effective? In other words, did it grab your attention? Why, or why
not?
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Read the final sentences in paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 5. How does each one prepare the reader
for the action to come?

__________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

27
 3. What do you think the mood of the story is? What feeling or atmosphere does the writer
create?

_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

4. List the characters in this essay.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

5. What verb tense is used in “Frustration at the Airport”? Write five verbs that the writer uses.

_____________________________________________________________________________

6. This essay is arranged in chronological order. In a few words, describe what happens first,
second, third, and so on.

____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

7. Underline the transitional sentences.

____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

8. Does the story end with a moral, prediction, or revelation?

___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

28
Post-Reading Task 2:Outlining Practice in Detail:

Below is an outline for “Frustration at the Airport.” Some of the information is missing. Reread
the essay and complete the outline.

Title: ___________________________________________

I. Introduction (Paragraph 1)

A. Hook: I had never been more anxious in my life. I had just spent the last three endless hours
trying to get to the airport so that I could travel home.
B. Tie-up Sentence:___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

C. Thesis statement:
________________________________________________________________________

II. Body

A. Paragraph 2

(Event 1) topic sentence: This was my first visit to the international terminal of the airport, and
nothing was familiar.
Supporting Detail:
1. The signs were confusing.
2. I began to panic.
3. Transition sentence: ________________________________________________________

B. Paragraph 3(Event 2) topic sentence:____________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

1. He scowled and walked away.

2. I could not remember how to ask for directions.
3.___________________________________________________________________________

4. Transition sentence:___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

C. Paragraph 4 (Event 3) topic sentence: I dragged my enormous suitcase behind me and

followed the group.
Supporting Detail:

1. _________________________________________________________________________

29
2. I got on the elevator and looked at the buttons.

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. Transition sentence: _________________________________________________________

D. Paragraph 5 (Event 4) topic sentence: Tears formed in my eyes as I saw the deserted lobby
and realized that I would miss my airplane.
Supporting Detail:

1. An airport employee offered to help.

2.________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________

4. Transition sentence: He led me past all the lines of people and pushed my luggage to the
inspection counter.
Supporting Detail:

III. Conclusion (Paragraph 6)

A. Close of the action:
B. I will never know his name, but I will always remember his unexpected courtesy.
C.___________________________________________________________________

D. Final sentence (moral, prediction, or revelation): _________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

30
Sample Essay 2: Student’s Write-up:

Topic:An Involvement in Extracurricular Activities in Your Educational Institution that You

Have Enjoyed Thoroughly

Outline:

Hook/Topic Sentence: Extracurricular activities are important for our educational life as there
are many things to learn from there.

Thesis Sentence: The annual debate competition organized by our school debating club is the
best extra-curricular activity I have ever enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to learn new
things, exposed me towards a new ambiance and helped me to meet new people.

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence: The debate competition gave me the opportunity to learn new things

Supporting Detail 1: had to study on various topics

Supporting Detail 2: helped me to improve my communication skills

Supporting Detail 3: boosted my confidence

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic Sentence: The competition lasted for 3 days and it exposed me towards a new ambiance.

Supporting Detail 1: started on time

Supporting Detail 2: beautifully decorated

Supporting Detail 3: volunteers were helpful

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic Sentence: Active participation in the competition helped me to meet new people.

Supporting Detail 1: debaters came from different institutions

Supporting Detail 2: created a bond with seniors

Supporting Detail 3: announcement of the result

Conclusion: interesting, memorable and effective.

will always cherish the memory

Essay:

31
Instruction: Read the essay and fill up the blank spaces by writing down the supporting
details in paragraph 2 and 3. Make sure you write down the ideas/incidents
chronologically. Make readers feel that they are there with you as you experience what you
are describing.

Extracurricular activities are important for our educational life as there are many
interesting things to learn from there. I always love debating and last year I got an opportunity to
be a member of our debating club since they recruited new members. I was recruited by the
president of the club and came to know that the annual debating competition would be held in
December. I started taking preparation and took part in the competition. The annual debate
competition organized by our school debating club is the best extracurricular activity I have ever
enjoyed as it gave me the opportunity to learn new things, exposed me towards a new ambiance
and helped me to meet new people.

The debate competition gave me the opportunity to learn many things and helped me to
improve my communication skills._________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

The competition lasted for 3 days, and it exposed me towards a new ambiance.

____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Besides, active participation in the competition helped me to meet new people. In my

group there were 5 members who were from different sections of our schools. We became good

32
friends. Moreover, there were people from different institutions, and it was great to come to
know about them too. A bond between seniors and juniors was created. Finally, when the
moment of truth arrived, we all wished “all the best” to one another. Towards the end of the day,
the organizers announced the names of the champion and the runner up teams. As our team
became the champion, everyone cheered and applauded for us. We felt like “over the moon” at
that time.

The memory of attending a debate was great and interesting. It was an effective activity
and has helped me in different sectors. As my SSC exam was near and I had to study hard, I
couldn’t take part in the next debate competition. I will always cherish the memory of my club
days and memories of this event.

Essay is written by: Jarin Tasnim Prioty

Sample Essay 3: Student’s Write-up:

Instruction:Read the essay “Most Memorable trip of my life” and write down an outline by
taking information from the given essay. But at first write down the topic sentences that
match with the supporting incidents of each paragraph.

Most Memorable Trip of My Life

Taking the weekend off from work and going on a long road trip with Marzia and Lisa
was the best decision to unwind and create incredible memories. Having a job that demands my
presence on most weekends had me craving for some laid back adventure and normalcy. We
usually used to go backpacking to nearby woods and would camp a lot in our teenage years, but
since graduation, we barely had time for anything spontaneous, and being daredevils. As I
looked at their beaming faces in the early morning light, it brought back nostalgia-from the drive
to the destination and activities, and food.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________ It was too early but not for us as we

sang our hearts out with the music that blasted from the speakers. The windows of the Jeep were
rolled down letting the wind comb our hair away from our faces and sometimes into our faces as
the first rays of light peaked through the clouds in the horizon. When our vocal cords couldn’t
take anymore screaming, we turned to drinks and snacks to regain our energy. The lemon tarts
that Marzia made for the trip were absolutely delectable and Lisa could not help but stuff her
face with them as she maneuvered the car along the hillside. I laughed lightly at her crumb
covered mouth and concentrated on the scenic beauty outside. I was in a trance as the tree-tops
rushed past us and the sun emerged from the clouds. I allowed my head to rest against the
window-pane, letting the sun warm my skin and soon enough succumb into a peaceful slumber.

33
 “Wake up, Anna”, Lisa shook me, “We’re here!”, she practically screamed before bouncing off
toward Marzia, who was stretching.

_____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ I
stretched too and got out of the car, rubbing away the sleep from my eyes. As my eyes adjusted, I
realized we were on a cliff and there were a few other groups of people. We used to come here
often for cliff diving. I looked at my friends quizzically as this was not our destination. We were
supposed to visit the retirement home in that locality but seeing my friends taking off their tops
had me taking off mine too and not questioning them. My veins were filled with adrenaline as we
prepared ourselves to dive but I could not stop taking in the beauty of my surroundings. The
weather was warm and humid under the canopy of the leaves. There was green everywhere
interrupted by brown trunks here and there. The usual quiet was broken now and then by the
divers’ shrieks of fear and excitement. Looking down I could see the people who had already
jumped and were swimming around. They looked tiny.

“Come on!”, Marzia’s exhilaration was rolling off of her.

________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________. Fear gripped me but it

only fueled my adrenaline more and I was filled with strange euphoria. Backing up a little bit, we
ran towards the edge and soon we were soaring towards the water. For a second, it almost felt
like flying but we broke into the water surface too soon. As we surfaced again, we were laughing
and trying to catch our breath. We swam around the warm water until our stomachs rumbled.
Getting dressed we drove to the retirement home to meet Agnes and Martha who we kept in
touch with over the phone as we got busy with our lives. Whenever we visit, they always have
food and cards ready so that we can play and eat while we catch up. Martha would cook up the
most delectable dishes like shepherd’s pie or lasagna. This time she cooked us cream pasta that
she had seen on food network. The flavors were heavenly. We played and gossiped till evening
and then we left for the motel room we booked.

As I laid there next to Marzia and Lisa’s sleeping forms, exhausted from the day, my
eyes welled up as it dawned on me that we all had to go back to our regular lives and that day
would only be a memorable trip we took.

Essay is written by: Anika Yasmin Mobasshira

34
Outline:
Hook/Topic Sentence:

Thesis Sentence:

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Detail 1:

Supporting Detail 2:

Supporting Detail 3:

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Detail 1:

Supporting Detail 2:

Supporting Detail 3:

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Detail 1:

Supporting Detail 2:

Supporting Detail 3:

Conclusion:

35
Sample Essay 4: Read the following outline and the essay. Evaluate the essay on the basis of the
provided checklist. (Find the checklist at the end of the essay)

Outline: An Unforgettable Memory of My Childhood

Thesis Statement:
One of the most memorable incidents dealing from my childhood involved my ten-year-old self
joining a family reunion programme, watching people perform on the stage while I sat clutching
to my cousin, and ending up participating in a segment dedicated for children.

Main Idea 1:
programme venue

Sub Idea a: Had trouble walking in a gown

Sub Idea b: Could not find a seat

Main Idea 2:
Watched people perform

Sub Idea a: Impressed by the performers’ confidence

Sub Idea b: Occasionally giggled at ridiculous displays

Main Idea 3:
Participated in a children’s segment

Sub Idea a: Presented a joke

Sub Idea b: Received a prize

Conclusion:
a. Surprised by the discovery of my potential
b. Learnt not to be afraid of trying something new

An Unforgettable Memory of My Childhood

Memories resemble occasional winks from the sun on a cloudy day; despite being mostly
lost amidst the crowd of diverse thoughts, they show up from time to time and often leave a
varying impression on our mood. One of the most memorable incidents of my childhood
involved my ten-year-old self joining a family reunion programme, watching people perform on

36
the stage while I sat clutching to my cousin, and ending up participating in a segment dedicated
for children.

The programme took place under the night sky that was adorned with countless stars.
However, the delight was impeded as I was having trouble walking in the ornate gown and the
unsmooth village road was not really helping. Although the spot was a short walk away from my
maternal uncle’s residence, my cousin and I got late and could not find any seat until a couple of
ladies sacrificed theirs.

I was reticent and remained glued to my cousin as we watched people perform on the big
stage set at the front. Because most of the guests were distant relatives whom I did not know. I
could barely imagine performing before all those curious strangers. So, I was highly impressed
by the vivid display of the performers’ confidence. However, the occasional ridiculous
performances made me giggle.

The timidity eventually abated, and I began to wonder why I could not give the
opportunity a shot. The sudden desire to be on the stage was further fueled by the announcement
about a children’s segment. As I waited for my turn in the line, my heart continued to race. At
last, the mic was handed over to me and I presented a joke that I recalled from my school
magazine. Fortunately, I did not mess up and my performance was punctuated by a round of
applause. I received a beautiful pen as I got down from the stage and I was escorted back to the
seat by my astounded brother who was standing close by.

I was indeed amazed by the unexpected discovery of my potential. The beautiful memory
comes along with a reminder of the lesson I learned that day; we should never allow
apprehension to hold us back from diving into something new.
(Written by: Afifa Alam Raisa)

Checklist:

● Does the essay have a proper hook? Is it relevant and successful to grab the
attention of the readers?
● Does it have some tie in sentences followed by a proper thesis statement?
● Does the essay have topic sentences in each paragraph?
● Is the whole experience written in a series of events maintaining chronological
order?
● Does it clearly explain who was involved and when and where the incident
occurred?
● Did it use precise descriptive details to make the narrative interesting and
convincing?
● Does it have a climax and a resolution?
● Did it use clear transitions, especially time signals to make the narrative
interesting and convincing?

37
 ● In conclusion, does it clearly explain the particular significance of the experience
related to the essay?

Task: Since the students get to know the pros and cons of narrative essay, now they can
independently write a narrative essay along with an outline on any given topic.

Topic ideas: First Day at EWU Campus

Pohela Boishakh During the Pandemic Phase

Links of the Materials:

https://sites.google.com/view/guidelines-for-writing/narrative-essay/frustration-at-the-
airport

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NESGqweSwI

https://www.thoughtco.com/checklist-for-a-narrative-essay-1690527

38
 Paraphrase

Paraphrasing is an essential skill that helps learners to develop their communicative ability
beyond their existing knowledge of language. In other words, it is an empowering skill that
enables learners to keep learning new words or phrases similar to the ones they already know.
Paraphrasing involves taking a passage from an original source and restating it in your own
words while keeping the main idea and important details the same.

Why paraphrase?

1. To Demonstrate Understanding

Paraphrasing can demonstrate your understanding of a text, including its more complex details
and connections between its main points, and can also help you double-check the depth of your
understanding of a text.

2. To Provide Support

You might paraphrase a section from a source (unlike summary, it is unlikely that you will ever
need to paraphrase an entire source) when an idea or point in that source is important to an
assignment you are working on and you feel it needs to be included, but you can rephrase it in a
way that fits your work without losing any key information.

Ice Breaking Activities:

Instruction:

This icebreaker is easy to prepare – all you need are four sentences targeting vocabulary and
structures previously learnt in class. Put learners into groups of four and give each group a piece
of paper that has a different sentence. Tell learners they need to change one word in the message
so that it still has the same meaning then pass the message to another member of the group. Keep
passing and rephrasing the messages until the teams run out of ideas of how to paraphrase the
sentences. Finally, have each team read out their final sentence to compare the types of
paraphrases they came up with. The team with the most paraphrases that still reflects the
meaning of the first sentence wins.

For example:
I rarely have enough time to clean my room.
I hardly ever have enough time to clean my room.
Only on rare occasions do I have time to clean my bedroom.
Only on rare occasions do I have time to tidy up my bedroom.
39
6 Steps to Effective Paraphrasing:

1. Reread the original passage until you understand its full meaning.
2. Set the original aside and write your paraphrase on a note card.
3. Jot down a few words below your paraphrase to remind you later how you envision using
this material. At the top of the note card, write a key word or phrase to indicate the
subject of your paraphrase.
4. Check your rendition with the original to make sure that your version accurately
expresses all the essential information in a new form.
5. Use quotation marks to identify any unique term or phraseology you have borrowed
exactly from the source.
6. Record the source (including the page) on your note card so that you can credit it easily if
you decide to incorporate the material into your paper.

(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/619/1)

Tips for Paraphrasing

1. Although paraphrasing techniques are used in summary writing, paraphrasing does not
aim to shorten the length of a text, but merely to restate it.

For example:
Evidence of a lost civilization has been found off the coast of China.
Could be paraphrased:
Remains of an ancient society has been discovered in the sea near China.

2. A good paraphrase is significantly different from the wording of the original, without
altering the meaning at all.

Read the text below and then decide which is the better paraphrase, (a) or (b).

Ancient Egypt collapsed in about 2180 ac. Studies conducted of the mud from the river
Nile showed that at this time the mountainous regions which feed the Nile suffered from
a prolonged drought. This would have had a devastating effect on the ability of Egyptian
society to feed itself.

a) The sudden ending of Egyptian civilization over 4000 years ago was probably caused
by the changes in the weather in the region to the south. Without the regular river
flooding there would not have been enough food.

40
 b) Research into deposits of the Egyptian Nile indicate that a long dry period in the
mountains at the river’s source may have led to a lack of water for irrigation around 2180
ac, which was when the collapse of Egyptian society began.

3. Techniques
Changing vocabulary:
studies> research society > civilization
mud>deposits
NB Not all words and phrases can be paraphrased. For example, economics, socialism or
global warming have no effective synonyms.
Changing word class:
Egypt (n.) > Egyptian (adj.) mountainous regions (adj. + n.) > in the mountain (n.)
Changing word order:
Ancient Egypt collapsed > the collapse of Egyptian society began.

Examples of Paraphrasing Individual Sentences:

Original: Her life spanned years of incredible change for women as they gained more rights
than ever before.
Paraphrase: She lived through the exciting era of women's liberation.
Original: Giraffes like Acacia leaves and hay, and they can consume 75 pounds of food a
day.
Paraphrase: A giraffe can eat up to 75 pounds of Acacia leaves and hay daily.
Original: Any trip to Italy should include a visit to Tuscany to sample the region's exquisite
wines.
Paraphrase: Be sure to make time for a Tuscan wine-tasting experience when visiting Italy.
Original: Symptoms of influenza include fever and nasal congestion.
Paraphrase: A stuffy nose and elevated temperature are signs you may have the flu.
Original: The price of a resort vacation typically includes meals, tips and equipment rentals,
which makes your trip more cost-effective.
Paraphrase: All-inclusive resort vacations can make for an economical trip.
Original: He has tons of stuff to throw away.
Paraphrase: He needs to get rid of a lot of junk.
Original: It has long been known that Cairo is the most populous city on earth, but no- one
knows exactly how populous it was until last month.
Paraphrase: Although Cairo has been the world’s most heavily populated city for many
years, the precise population was not known until four weeks ago.

41
 Original: Besides being a theory about the basis and origin of knowledge and the contents of
our minds in general. Empiricism is also sometimes a methodology.
paraphrase: Not only is empiricism a theory about the basis and origin of knowledge and the
contents of our minds in general, it is also sometimes a methodology.

Warm- Up Task 1:
Write a sentence that describes each of the following words in sensory, descriptive terms. Try to
use at least 2 adjectives. Then note whether you are describing the word through sight, hearing,
smell,touch, or taste.

1.stone ___I picked up a smooth, shiny stone. (touch/sight) ______________________________

2.milk_______________________________________________________________________
3.wrapping paper ______________________________________________________________
4.sunlight_____________________________________________________________________
5. crowd of people _____________________________________________________________
6. coi________________________________________________________________________
7.french fries _________________________________________________________________
8. voice______________________________________________________________________
9. leaves _____________________________________________________________________
10. bark (tree or dog’s, your choice)_____________7___________________________________

Paraphrase Practice:
1. Paul Ekman from the University of California has conducted a long series of experiments
on how nonverbal behaviour may reveal real inner states.
2. There are reckoned to be over 4,000 plant species used by forest dwellers as food and
medicine alone.
3. Memory is the capacity for storing and retrieving information.
4. Similarly, the muscles will not grow in length unless they are attached to tendons and
bones so that as the bones lengthen, they are stretched.
5. Many invertebrates, on the other hand, such as snails and worms and crustacea, have a
spiral pattern of cleavage.
6. In 1851 the average family size was 4.7, roughly the same as it had been in the
seventeenth century, but the 1 ½ million couples who married during the 1860s, which
the historian G.M Young described as the best decade in English history to have been
brought up in, raised the figure to 6.2.

42
Example of Paraphrasing Passages:
Example 1:
Original Passage:

In The Sopranos, the mob is besieged as much by inner infidelity as it is by the federal government. Early
in the series, the greatest threat to Tony's Family is his own biological family. One of his closest
associates turns witness for the FBI, his mother colludes with his uncle to contract a hit on Tony, and his
kids click through Web sites that track the federal crackdown in Tony's gangland.

Paraphrased Passage:
In the first season of The Sopranos, Tony Soprano's mobster activities are more threatened by
members of his biological family than by agents of the federal government. This familial
betrayal is multi-pronged. Tony's closest friend and associate is an FBI informant, his mother
and uncle are conspiring to have him killed, and his children are surfing the Web for information
about his activities.
Example 2:

Original Passage:
Web sites also vary regarding the type of information journalists can use. IN most cases,
journalists will use the site for background. That background can help the reporter ask more
pointed questions in subsequent interviews.
Paraphrased Passage:
It’s a good idea for journalists to visit company web sites for background information. This will
help them ask better questions when they interview their source.

Comparing Examples of Paraphrased Passages:

Example 1:

The Original Passage:

Students frequently overuse direct quotation in taking notes, and as a result they overuse
quotations in the final [research] paper. Probably only about 10% of your final manuscript
should appear as directly quoted matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit the amount of exact
transcribing of source materials while taking notes. (Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers.
2nd ed., 1976, pp. 46-47).

43
A Legitimate Paraphrase:
In research papers, students often quote excessively, failing to keep quoted material down to a
desirable level. Since the problem usually originates during note taking, it is essential to
minimize the material recorded verbatim (Lester 46-47).

An Acceptable Summary:
Students should take just a few notes in direct quotation from sources to help minimize the
amount of quoted material in a research paper (Lester 46-47).

A Plagiarized Version:
Students often use too many direct quotations when they take notes, resulting in too many of
them in the final research paper. In fact, probably only about 10% of the final copy should
consist of directly quoted material. So it is important to limit the amount of source material
copied while taking notes.

Example 2
For the pairs of text below, identify if they are a good/bad paraphrase and then check why with
the explanation that follows:
Source text
“The potential benefits of the Internet are numerous and range from the simple improvement of
communications to a revolution in commerce and an increased potential for increasing the
democratic involvement of citizens whether in the nation state or in some level of political
engagement.”

The potential benefits of the Internet are numerous and range from the simple improvement of
communications to a revolution in commerce and an increased potential for increasing the
democratic involvement of citizens whether in the nation state or in some level of political
engagement. Initial benefits of the Internet are numerous and range from the simple
improvement of communications to a revolution in commerce and an increased potential for
increasing the democratic involvement of citizens whether in the nation state or in some level of
political engagement.”

Is the paraphrase good?

No.
Explanation:
This example is a direct copy of the source text, so is an example of plagiarism and is completely
unacceptable.

44
Example 3
Source text
“The Internet is an international medium and although views will differ on how it should be
managed in other ways, all countries should be able to agree on legislation for child abuse and
pornography. Balancing the need to protect minors with the need to maintain freedom of
expression is continuing to prove difficult.”

Paraphrase
The Internet is an international form and opinion might differ on how it should be regulated in
some ways, but everyone should be in agreement on child abuse and pornography laws.
Assessing the need to safeguard minors with the requirement to preserve freedom of expression
is a difficult problem.

Is the paraphrase good?

No.
Explanation
The writer has changed some of the text, but only some: a lot of the sentence structure (word
order), and the order of information is the same as the source text. This is sometimes
called Mosaic Plagiarism and can lead to penalties.

Example 4
In this example, there are 2 paraphrases of the same source text. First, read the source text and
then decide which paraphrase is better and why.

Source text
As performers of the Western classical repertoire, we are acutely aware of the subtle interplay of
our bodies and minds, and of how these elements develop generally through the course of our
life histories, but also, and more specifically, how they function during a music rehearsal
process. The performance of the rehearsed music has different physical, mental, and social
demands, and we react sometimes in a way that heightens and sometimes inhibits the music we
have learned. To date, researchers in music psychology have tended to emphasise the cognitive
growth of the musician, looking at how knowledge of musical structures emerge. The role of the
body in the production of the work has been relatively underplayed. The current paper provides
evidence and discussion to explore the ways in which the body can be regarded as being central
to the formation of musical knowledge and the expression of it. Adapted from Davidson and
Correia (2001)

Paraphrase A
Davidson and Correia (2001) explain how the cognitive growth of the musician has been the
focus of much music psychology research. This has often meant an emphasis on looking at the
development of musical structures. In contrast, they argue that the ‘role of the body in the
production of the work has been relatively underplayed’ (2001:71). Performers of Western
music tend to have knowledge of the inter-relationship between the body and the mind. There is
also an awareness amongst performers of how this relationship may change over a lifetime with
45
 the effect of performing and all the challenges that presents. These could be mental, physical, or
social and the reactions to these challenges can cause both positive and negative reactions in
terms of a given performance.

Paraphrase B
Davidson and Correia (2001) state that as musicians and singers from the Western classical
tradition, we are strongly aware of the subtle connection between our physical state and thinking,
and of how these features change generally through our life, but also, and more exactly, how
they work during a rehearsal. The performance of the practiced music has different physical,
intellectual, and social demands, and we react sometimes in a way that increases and sometimes
inhibits the music we have learned. Until today, researchers in the psychology of music have
tended to stress the cognitive growth of the musician, looking at how knowledge of musical
structures emerges. The role of the body in the making of the work has been relatively
underestimated.

In which text has the writer paraphrased more effectively?

Explanation

Text A is better as it does several things to change not just the language, but also the order of
information from the original.

● The information in the first sentence appears at the end of the source text. However, as it is a
general summary sentence, it fits easily in either position.
● Notice the use of a direct quote: this can draw the reader’s attention to a key concept: it is good
to quote language which you feel cannot be said better i.e. encapsulates a key concept
effectively.
● The sentence structure and style of writing is in the essay writer’s voice, and not in that of the
original author.

Paraphrase practice:

1. Adoption is a ubiquitous social institution in American society, creating invisible

relationships with biological and adoptive kin that touch far more people than we
imagine. While raising a family is inherently stressful, adoption is filled with additional
tensions that are unique to the adoptive relationship.

2. Differentiation as an instructional approach promotes a balance between a student's style and

a student's ability. Differentiated instruction provides the student with options for processing
and internalizing the content, and for constructing new learning in order to progress
academically.

3. The koala is a gentle little animal. It is almost defenseless. Only its color protects it from
enemies. The koala makes no nest. It just sits in the forked branches of a tree. Unlike a

46
 bird, it cannot balance itself with its tail—because it has no tail. It likes gum trees the best
because it loves entirely on the leaves of the tree. Sometimes the supply of its special diet
is used up. The koala, rather than seek food elsewhere, will stay in its own area and starve
to death.

4. The Antarctic is the vast source of cold on our planet, just as the sun is the source of our
heat, and it exerts tremendous control on our climate. Before the last century, no humans
had visited Antarctica. And even today the vast continent has a winter population of
fewer than 200 people. However, a recent report from a New-Zealand government
agency outlines the scale of the pollution problem in the ice and snow.

5. Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head
injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a
bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent.

6. Mirpur residents have to suffer the brunt of traffic congestion on a daily basis, which gets
too unbearable at times. Of late, the problem has been exacerbated by the ongoing metro
rail construction project which has significantly constricted the main roads and led to the
closure of some smaller ones, causing immense sufferings of the commuters. Add to this
the seasonal nuisance that comes with the monthlong trade fair in January, or the
international cricket matches in the Mirpur stadium, which puts additional pressure on the
existing infrastructure. Access to some roads leading to Mirpur is also restricted
sometimes to make way for VIP movement.

Checklist for Peer Review:

1. Does the paraphrase consist entirely of the writer’s own words?

2. Did the writer do more than just substitute synonyms or change the sentence
structure?
3. Did the writer make it clear that s/he is using someone else’s thoughts?
4. Did the writer keep the general meaning and emphasis of the original?
5. Did the writer correctly cite the paraphrase?

References:

https://www.bu.edu/teaching-writing/resources/111paraphrasequotation/

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/quoting_paraphrasing_and_su
mmarizing/paraphrasing.html)

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-paraphrasing.html

47
https://eltc-language-resources.group.shef.ac.uk/lessons/identifying-good-and-bad-paraphrases/

Summary
Ice-breaking activity:
Discuss in pairs and guess the correct alternative for the following:
1) To summarize means-
a. To put information in chronological order
b. To recapitulate the main points in selection
c. To introduce new information
d. to write one’s opinion about selection.
2) The type of summary that consists of a paragraph to express the main idea is-
a. outline
b. report
c. synopsis
d. Written summary.

Definition of a Summary:

A summary is a short retelling of a long-written passage, containing the author’s most important
ideas. Summarizing helps improve both your reading and writing skills. To summarize, you must
read a passage closely, finding the main ideas and supporting ideas. Then you must briefly write
down those ideas in a few sentences or a paragraph.

Difference Between Summary and Paraphrase:

The words ‘paraphrasing’ and ‘summarising’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but usually
they are used to mean two different techniques. It is important to understand the difference
between a summary and a paraphrase.

A summary is a description of the main ideas of a text, so it is shorter than the original text. A
journal article might be summarised in a single paragraph, for example, or a whole book
summarised in a few paragraphs. To summarise something – like a TV show or an article – is to
condense it down to the ‘bare bones’.

A paraphrase, in contrast, is rewriting a piece of text in your own words, while retaining the
meaning. It is usually similar in length to the original text. Both paraphrasing and summarising
are important techniques in academic writing. You’ll use paraphrasing and summarising both

48
when you take notes during your research and when you incorporate evidence from sources into
your own work.

Summary Paraphrase

Can be very short text Should be about the same length as the original

Communicates only the main ideas, More detailed than summary and can include
leaving out supporting ideas and examples supporting ideas and examples

Uses different words to the original text Uses different words to the original text.

Summary Writing Guidelines:

For some of your Fast-Write homework assignments you’ll be asked to summarize an

article.

Guidelines below will help guide your reading and writing:

1. Complete: A summary should include all the ideas that are essential to the author’s thesis.

2. Concise: A summary should be considerably shorter than the passage. Do not include
unimportant information (length depends upon the purpose and your use of the summary. It
could be one-half, one-third or one-eighth the length of the original.)

3. Accurate: A summary should represent the author’s ideas. Do not distort the author’s views.

4. Objective: A summary should recapitulate the author’s points. Do not include your
objections or criticisms in the summary.

5. Coherent: A summary should make sense to someone who has not read the original. It
should not sound like a list of loosely related sentences that have been strung together in
paragraph format.

6. Independent: A summary should be written in your own words. Do not take strings of words
from the source.

49
Pre-writing Phase of A Summary:

Before writing a summary, one has to read the given text following some strategies.

1. Preview the text. Gather the information needed to focus and set goals.
2. Read, think about, and understand the text. Review the material to make sure you know it
well. Use a dictionary or context clues to find the meanings of any important words.
3. Read for the thesis, main idea, and evidence. Annotate as you usually do. If necessary, map
or outline part or all of the text to find the thesis, main ideas and evidence.
4. Identify and paraphrase the thesis or topic sentence (which contains the main idea), or
compose one if the topic sentence is implied. The main idea is the most important information or
concept in a text. The statement that you write should mention the underlying meaning of the
article, not just the surface details.
5. Group the details (minor details). Organize your evidence by grouping the article into
sections. Not all information is equal: some of the information is clearly more important than the
rest.
6. Write a word or phrase that can replace a list of items (avoid using the word “things”) or
individual parts of an action. You can do this in the margin. For example: rose, daisy, and lily
become “flowers.”
7. Use basic signal words. ASK YOURSELF: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
(subject) (action) (location) (time) (reason) (procedure)
8. Change the words but never the meaning. A summary uses paraphrased sentences, with
only occasional quotes from the original text.

Writing Phase of the Summary:

1. Begin your summary with a statement of the thesis. Begin with an introductory sentence
that mentions the author, title, and thesis ( the big main idea or the theme of the text).
2. Write the main idea of each section in one well-developed sentence. Make sure that what
you include in your sentences are key points, not minor details.
3. Follow the order of ideas in the original text. After stating the thesis, you should mention
the first main idea that you come across and then major details that back it up. Then you would
mention the second main idea and so on.
4. After writing down all the main ideas sequentially, give an overall concluding sentence

50
Things to Remember While Writing a Summary:

● The amount of detail you include, if any, depends on your purpose for writing the
summary. For example, if you are writing a summary of a magazine article for a
research paper, it might be more detailed than if you were writing it to jog your memory
for class discussion.
● Summary should be no more than ¼ the original text. It can be one sentence, one
paragraph or multiple paragraphs depending on the length of the original and your
purpose for writing the summary.
● Do not include unnecessary or material that says the same thing as another part of the
passage.
● Do not plagiarize or bring in your personal opinion. Summarizing is about restating
what the author says. Save your own ideas for another time.
● . Make sure that your summary includes the meaning of the original passage and
does not change the author’s purpose or tone. Identify the main idea and double check
that your summary does not change or add to it.

Template of A Summary:

Sample Reading text for Summary: 1

The Great Wall of China:

The Great Wall of China Walls and wall building have played a very important role in Chinese
culture. These people, from the dim mists of prehistory have been wall-conscious; from the
Neolithic period – when ramparts of pounded earth were used - to the Communist Revolution,
walls were an essential part of any village. Not only towns and villages; the houses and the
temples within them were somehow walled, and the houses also had no windows overlooking the
street, thus giving the feeling of wandering around a huge maze.

51
The name for “city” in Chinese (ch’eng) means wall, and over these walled cities, villages,
houses and temples presides over the god of walls and mounts, whose duties were, and still are,
to protect and be responsible for the welfare of the inhabitants. Thus a great and extremely
laborious task such as constructing a wall, which was supposed to run throughout the country,
must not have seemed such an absurdity.

However, it is indeed a common mistake to perceive the Great Wall as a single architectural
structure, and it would also be erroneous to assume that it was built during a single dynasty. For
the building of the wall spanned the various dynasties, and each of these dynasties somehow
contributed to the refurbishing and the construction of a wall, whose foundations had been laid
many centuries ago. It was during the fourth and third century B.C. that each warring state
started building walls to protect their kingdoms, both against one another and against the
northern nomads. Especially three of these states: the Ch’in, the Chao and the Yen,
corresponding respectively to the modern provinces of Shensi, Shanzi and Hopei, over and above
building walls that surrounded their kingdoms, also laid the foundations on which Ch’in Shih
Huang Di would build his first continuous Great Wall.

The role that the Great Wall played in the growth of Chinese economy was an important one.
Throughout the centuries many settlements were established along the new border. The garrison
troops were instructed to reclaim wasteland and to plant crops on it, roads and canals were built,
to mention just a few of the works carried out. All these undertakings greatly helped to increase
the country’s trade and cultural exchanges with many remote areas and also with the southern,
central and western parts of Asia – the formation of the Silk Route. Builders, garrisons, artisans,
farmers and peasants left behind a trail of objects, including inscribed tablets, household articles,
and written work, which have become extremely valuable archaeological evidence to the study
of defence institutions of the Great Wall and the everyday life of these people who lived and died
along the wall.

Sample Summary Following the Suggested Format:

In the text named “The Great Wall of China”, the author has given a brief history of the
emergence and importance of The Great Wall. Firstly, the author mentions that in Chinese
culture, walls hold great importance because people have been using walls for their houses and
temples for a long period of time. He also says that people constructed these walls effortlessly as
they believed that the god of walls and mounts presided over the walled buildings to protect
them. Moreover, walls were also built as a means of protection from enemies. Thus, the Great
Wall was not built by a single dynasty, rather, it took many dynasties to complete the wall.
Lastly, he added that this Wall later contributed in building a strong economic backbone for
China.

52
Sample Reading text for Summary: 2

Great Britain and the Concept of Marriage

As today's bride and groom celebrate their wedding, they have every excuse for being nervous.
They exchange promises of lifelong fidelity and mutual support. However, all around them, they
can see that many people do not and cannot keep these promises. Their own marriage has a one
in three chance of divorce, if present tendencies continue.

Traditional marriage is facing a crisis, at least in Britain. Not only are there more and more
divorces, but the number of marriages is falling. Living together is more popular than
before. The family is now no longer one man, one woman and their children. Instead, there are
more and more families which include parents, half sisters and brothers, or even only one parent
on her / his own.

Although Britain is still conservative in its attitudes to marriage compared with other countries
such as the USA, Sweden and Denmark, the future will probably see many more people living
together before marriage - and more divorce. Interestingly, it is women rather than men who
apply for divorce. Seven out of ten divorces are given to the wife. Also, one of the main
reasons for divorce, chosen by ten times more women than men, is unreasonable or cruel
behaviour. Perhaps this means that women will tolerate less than they used to.

Task 1:

Following the strategies of writing a summary, write down a summary on the given text. In order
to make the task easier, main ideas from the text have been highlighted.

Space For Doing the Task:

Task 2:
Evaluate the summaries. Which summary is most effective for each original paragraph?

1. Original: The equipment is the first major difference between American football and soccer.
In American football, the players need to wear protective clothing because it can be a dangerous
game to play. The players need to wear helmets to protect their head, mouth guards for their
teeth, and large pads for their shoulders and back. The players use a brown ball that is pointed on
the ends. On the other hand, soccer players do not need to wear helmets and lots of protective
pads. The players just have pads to protect their shins, and the goalie wears gloves. The ball they
use in soccer is round. The ball is usually a bright color like white. Soccer and American football
definitely require different equipment to play them.

53
Summary #1: American football and soccer have different clothing, which is the biggest
difference between the two sports when people play them.

Summary #2: The equipment is different.

Summary #3: American football and soccer are different due to the equipment required to play
each one, namely the protective clothing (helmets and pads) and the ball that is used to play.

2. Original: Exercise is important because it improves your mental health. First, exercise is the
healthiest way to deal with stress. When we have too much stress, our mental and emotional
health is affected negatively. Exercise can reduce this impact. Exercise can also influence the
balance of chemicals we have inside our bodies. Exercise releases endorphins into our bodies
and that can help us feel better or not be depressed. These emotional benefits are very helpful.
Exercise also helps us think more clearly because it brings more oxygen to the brain. If you
watch how you feel when you exercise, you will notice that your mood and mental clarity
improve.

Summary #1: Exercise improves your mental health.

Summary #2: Due to mental health benefits like reducing stress, balancing chemicals, releasing
endorphins, and helping us think more clearly, exercise is essential.

Summary #3: Exercise improves your mental health. First, exercise is the healthiest way to deal
with stress. Exercise can also influence our chemical balance. Exercise also helps us think more
clearly because it brings more oxygen to the brain.

Summary #4: Exercise is important because your mental health is more important than your
physical health and exercise is effective at improving your mental health.

Checklist for the Content:

Have you captured the main point of the article?
● Have you included the most important details? Make sure that you have included all the
major details or mentioned all of the events, however briefly.
● Have you written down all the main ideas sequentially?

Checklist for the grammar and Spelling Errors:

Read over your summary edit for grammatical and spelling errors.
● Is the verb tense consistent?
● Are all names spelled correctly and capitalized?
● Have you avoided writing run-on sentences and sentence fragments?
● Is there sentence variety?
● Have you avoided writing short, choppy sentences?

54
 ● Are appropriate transitional words and phrases to connect ideas?
Sample Text: 3

Verbal and Non-verbal Communication

Bimol Chowdhury
Ever since the history of mankind, man wanted to express his thoughts and feelings. He found
many ways to convey his emotions to others. Through the voices in various pitches and tones he
began his communication, which was the earliest form of language. Later he made sounds
through the primitive instruments he invented for far away communications. By the change of
time man and his communication skills had also undergone different changes. The word
communication is defined as the conveying of thoughts, expressions, information and knowledge
through the methods of writing, speaking, signs, behavior and visuals.
Today communication is basically done through languages in different forms. Languages are set
or patterns of gestures. Language has different forms including writing, speaking and actions.
Communication based on speech is termed as verbal communication that is practiced by human
beings all over the world. Verbal communication is practiced from childhood onwards by a
person.
The non verbal communication includes sign language, writing, eye contact, pictures sounds and
signs. There are several forms of communication pertained to disabled people. The blind people
effectively communicate through the Braille system and large prints. Those who are unable to
speak communicate through signlanguage. Body language and sign language are considered as
the most effective nonverbal communication after writing and pictures. Body language is
effectively conveyed in direct communication between the people.
The gestures or movement of the body is a language form termed as body language. Body
language is based on the behavior of a person. An illiterate person or a person who can’t speak
can communicate with others through body language. It is an undeniable fact that without proper
communication survival is difficult. Irrespective of all the physical and mental barriers people
want to communicate with, that helps him in the long run of life.
(Adapted from http//: www.techgo.org)

55
56
Sample Text for Summary: 4

STUDENT APATHY

In every school, while there are hardworking students, there are also lazy students who are not
interested in anything about school. They just come to school, sit at the back of the class, talk
and disturb others. There may be some reasons for such behavior such as family, peer influence
and financial problems.

The most common factor which influences the academic performance of students is family. If
the parents are interested in how their child is doing at school, the student will be more interested
in his lessons too. Educated parents generally show more interest in the academic performance of
their children; however, this should be a practice common to all families, not only to the
educated ones. When the parents are not interested in the success or failure of their children, the
child will not care about school or lessons, and will perform poorly.

In schools, the best-known students are the ones who do everything except for studying. They
seem the coolest students at school and everybody admires their reputation. When the parents
fail to show any interest in their children, they are likely to become one of those students who
look cool but display no academic achievement. Because in these ages teenagers do not
understand the importance of useful things, they do trivial things which seem really important
among their peer group. Their only aim is to be well known at school and have a group.
Studying lessons, then, is not one of the ways to become popular at school.

The most important factor for the lack of interest on part of a student is the financial situation of
his family. There are some students, for example, who think even if they pass the university
exam, their families will not be able to find the money needed for their education. Apart from
this, some students have to work after school; as a result, they cannot concentrate on their
studies. When the difficulty of the lessons is added to this list, school becomes a nightmare for
these students.

It is possible to rescue these underachieving and academically uninterested students from this
fate. The parents and the students themselves may be warned, or the government can give
financial aid to these students. Maybe it is very difficult to completely solve this problem of
student apathy and lack of motivation, but we can at least ameliorate it.

57
 Cause & Effect Essay

1.Ice-breaking Activity: Read the following sentences from column A and column B. Try to
find out the connection between the sentences of two columns.

Column A Column B

1.Mira ate too much candy last night. a. Someone has not been
concentrating on studies for a few
weeks.
2. Rifat has got poor grades in his b. There is a long queue in front of
term exams. the elevator.
3. I have missed the beginning of the c. Someone has stronger bones.
movie.
4. I never go to sleep without drinking d. Someone has got a stomach ache.
milk.
5. I have been staying up too late to e. Someone has diabetes.
watch web series on Netflix.
6. My Uncle takes insulin everyday f. Someone has been feeling too tired
during the class hours.

•Could you find out the connection? Have you noticed that some statements can be labelled as
causes/reasons and others are effects/results/ consequences?

2. Definition:
A cause and effect essay is one that shows how two or more
events are connected. This type of essay is meant to
explain and analyze why something happened or how
something occurred. Phrases you may have heard that are
similar to cause and effect are action and consequence and
chain of events.
(https://literaryterms.net/cause-and-effect)

58
 Follow these steps when writing a cause and effect essay
a. Distinguish between cause and effect. To determine causes, ask, "Why did this
happen?" To identify effects, ask, "What happened because of this?" The following is
an example of one cause producing one effect:
Cause Effect
You are out of gas. Your car won't start.

Sometimes, many causes contribute to a single effect, or many effects may result from a single
cause. (Your instructor might specify which cause/effect method to use.)

The following are examples:

Causes Cause
liked business in high schoolsalaries reduce work hours
in the field are highhave an aunt
who is an accountant Effects
am good with numbers
less
incomeemployer is
Effect irritatedmore time to
choose to major in accounting studymore time for
family

However, most situations are more complicated. The following is an example of a chain reaction:
Thinking about a friend…forgot to buy gas…car wouldn't start…missed math exam…failed math
course.

b. Develop your thesis statement. State clearly whether you are discussing causes,
effects, or both. Introduce your main idea, using the terms "cause" and/or "effect."

c. Find and organize supporting details. Back up your thesis with relevant and sufficient
details that are organized. You can organize details in the following ways:
• Chronological. Details are arranged in the order in which the events occurred.
• Order of importance. Details are arranged from least to most important or vice
versa.
• Categorical. Details are arranged by dividing the topic into parts or categories.

d. Use appropriate transitions. To blend details smoothly in cause and effect essays, use
the transitional words and phrases listed below.

59
For causes (The Why)
because, because of, due to, on cause is, another is, since, for, first, second

For Effects (The What)

consequently, as a result, thus, resulted in, one result is, another is, therefore, accordingly, so,
hence

(https://essayinfo.com/essays/cause-and-effect-essay/)

3. The Structure of a Cause and Effect Essay :

The cause-and-effect essay opens with a general introduction to the topic, which then leads to a
thesis that states the main cause, main effect, or various causes and effects of a condition or
event.

The cause-and-effect essay can be organized in one of the following two primary ways:
•Start with the cause and then talk about the effects.

•Start with the effect and then talk about the causes.

For example, if your essay were on childhood obesity, you could start by talking about the effect
of childhood obesity and then discuss the cause or you could start the same essay by talking
about the cause of childhood obesity and then move to the effect.
Regardless of which structure you choose, be sure to explain each element of the essay fully and
completely. Explaining complex relationships requires the full use of evidence, such as scientific
studies, expert testimony, statistics, and anecdotes.
(https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-englishcomp1v2/chapter/writing-for-success-cause-and-effect/)

60
(https://eslflow.com/creative-and-cool-causeeffect-writing-activities.html)

4. A list of transition words for a cause and effect essay:

The words that are used in your cause-and-effect essay to bring about that transition impacts are
available in different categories. We will look at some of them herein:
Addition
These are words that are used to show that you are adding something more to the statement you
just wrote. They include stuff like:

Furthermore, moreover, too

Also, again, in addition
Besides, lastly, finally
Besides, secondly, and

Time
Transitional words that indicate time are important in the sense that they will in most cases help
you use timestamps to your work, and to add relevancy. Some of them include:

Subsequently, so far, then

Next, during, meanwhile
Sometimes, whenever, always
Never, immediately, while

61
Place
These are words that can be used to indicate a particular location where something happened, or
to refer to a given situation in the context of your paper. They include:

There, nearby, here

Wherever, opposite to, beyond
Below, above, adjacent to

Illustrative
For illustration purposes, these are words that can be used to shed more light or to highlight the
fact that there is something more to the statement, which the reader needs to focus on. They
include:
For example, for instance, to illustrate.
To demonstrate, specifically, as an illustration

Compare and contrast

In the event that you are planning on comparing or contrasting some facts in your essay, it will
be necessary for you to make sure that you use the appropriate words to bring on this effect.
Some of them include the following:

In the same way, likewise, similarly

Nevertheless, otherwise, notwithstanding
In contrast, though, after all

(https://writingrock.net/transition-words-to-use-in-a-cause-and-effect-essay.php)

62
Sample Essay with Outline

Causes and Effects of Smartphone Addiction (Good Sample)

Outline:

Thesis Statement:
The major causes of smartphone addiction are idle lifestyle and easy access to entertainment
through the device while the most detrimental effects of it are poor academic performance and
withdrawal from social life.

Cause 1:
An idle lifestyle is pretty much likely to abet this addiction.

Sub-idea a: reluctance toward seeking knowledge.

Sub-idea b: apathy toward utilizing skills.

Cause 2:
Another vital cause in this case is the easy access to entertainment offered by smartphones.

Sub-idea a: Free recreational elements

Sub-idea b: Immediate admittance to a world of amusement

Effect 1:
The most noticeable effect of smartphone addiction, especially on students, is poor academic
performance.
Sub-idea a: Dearth of enthusiasm in studies
Sub-idea b: Unsatisfactory grades

Effect 2:
Another major effect of this is withdrawal from social life.

Sub-idea a: Insufficient interaction with family

Sub-idea b: Lack of interest in social ceremonies

Conclusion:
1. Massive threat to the young generation
2. Must be dealt with care.

63
 Causes and Effects of Smartphone Addiction
Essay:

The current world stands on the shoulders of modern technology. With the welfare of humanity
in mind, people are toiling every day to keep the flourishing of science undeterred. However, it
can hardly be denied that most technologies are, in fact, a blend of blessing and curse. One of
these is smartphones, an integral part of our daily life, which has given birth to a new issue that
is termed as 'smartphone addiction'. The major causes of smartphone addiction are idle lifestyle
and easy access to entertainment through the device in question while the most detrimental
effects of it are poor academic performance and withdrawal from social life.

An idle lifestyle is pretty much likely to abet this addiction. Since many people are reluctant to
seek beneficial knowledge, they are left with a good deal of time which they spend behind
unproductive activities with their smartphones. Besides, their apathy toward discovering and
utilizing the dormant skills in them for the betterment of society further contribute to the
problem.

Another vital cause in this case is the easy access to entertainment offered by smartphones. As
people receive free recreational elements with a wide range of choices, many of them remain
glued to their phones all day. Moreover, they are awarded immediate admittance into a world of
amusement, which is often way too tempting for human nature.

The most noticeable effect of smartphone addiction, especially on students, is poor academic
performance. They remain busy with intriguing stuff in their phones throughout the day and
consequently, they develop a dearth of enthusiasm in studies. Inevitably, they end up with
unsatisfactory grades.

Another major effect of this is withdrawal from social life. Addicted people prefer to wander in
the virtual world, and as a result, there is insufficient interaction between their families and them.
Due to smartphone addiction, they also lose interest in social ceremonies and like to stay on their
own.

To conclude, the issue is undoubtedly a massive threat to the future of the young generation. Just
like any other addiction, smartphone addiction should be dealt with utmost care and seriousness.

(350 words)

Student Name: Afifa Alam Raisa

64
Activity 1:
Read the following essay. It is to be noted that there is no thesis statement in the
introduction of the following essay. Write the thesis statement in question 2 that follows
next to the essay.

Causes and Effects of the Popularity of Fast-Food Restaurants

Nowadays, many kinds of fast-food restaurants are available in malls and strategic places. The
international branded restaurants such as KFC and McDonalds grow quickly from one city to
another all over the world. It indicates that fast-food restaurants are popular and preferable.
There are several causes and effects of the Popularity of fast-food restaurants and fast food.

The first cause is the needs of modern communities which have intensive activities. In a family,
both husband and wife have a tendency to have a job. Consequently, they do not have enough
time to cook and the frequency of eating takeout is increased. Most people work full days with a
lunch break of limited time, thus practically they need fast food for lunch.

Secondly, efforts of fast-food restaurant companies to improve their products and services are
also the cause of their popularity. Improving products includes food quality in diverse taste. For
example, KFC in Thailand offers a special taste which may not be found in other Restaurants
also provides good services such as quick service, convenience places even for fun and
entertainment. Some restaurants also provide free delivery services which consumers just call to
order. Serving food in many kinds of packages can make consumers choose quickly by pointing
to the appropriate picture and price.

Besides its popularity, fast-food has some effects on human health. Most fast food contains
calories from refined sugar and fats. It is also high in sodium from salt and other additives which
can lead to someone to eat it more and more. Consuming more calories than human need can
cause obesity and also some health problems. The most common problems are hypertension,
diabetes, heart disease and cancer due to the consumption of extra calories.

In conclusion, the popularity of fast-food restaurants is caused by the lifestyle of modern people,
food quality and good service. Besides its popularity, fast food has an effect on human health.
Reducing the frequency of fast-food meals and eating more fresh vegetables and fruits may lead
to reducehealth risk in the future.
(https://www.stumagz.com/in/causes-and-effects-of-the-popularity-of-fast-food-restaurants-and-fast-food/)

65
Question 1: Prepare an outline from the causes and effects mentioned in the essay.

Question 2: Write a thesis statement containing the causes and effects found from the
essay.

Thesis Statement:

_____________________________________________________________________________
_
_____________________________________________________________________________
_
_____________________________________________________________________________
_

Activity 2:The following essay needs to be modified in thesis statement, topic sentences
and organization of the essay. Read the outline and essay and then rewrite the outline
and the whole essay.

66
Causes and Effects of the Popularity of Fast Food Restaurants
1. Introduction:
Thesis statement: There is one of the most common causes of the popular fast-food restaurants in
Bangladesh, namely –preferences of various tastes for food; along with few effects.

2. First Body Paragraph:

Topic sentence: First of all, there are some good causes of fast-food restaurants such as- people
tend to have various preferences of taste in food.
Supporting Details:
a) Preferences of various taste
b) Increasing food demand
c) Home delivery service

3. Second Body Paragraph:

Topic sentence: Secondly, a fast-food restaurant is an aid to working people who tend to remain
busy without any choice but to buy food from outside.
Supporting Details:
a) Less time consuming
b) Easy management
c) Food diversity

4. Third Body Paragraph:

Topic sentence: However, there are also some negative impacts of eating fast food on a daily
basis.
Supporting Details:
a) Unhealthy
b) Obesity
c) Cardiovascular dysfunction

5. Conclusion:

67
Concluding line: In this world, all things have positive and negative sides. Therefore, the
customers should be encouraged to become more conscious about consuming fast food on a daily
basis.
Causes and Effects of the Popular Fast-Food Restaurant in Bangladesh

The restaurant business is one of the most ancient businesses in the world. Most of the
restaurants are launched due to the growing demand of public preferences in food. Likewise, in
Bangladesh, many restaurants have been launched according to public demand. The fast-food
restaurant is one of them. Fast food refers to food that is easily and quickly prepared, however, it
refers mainly to the food that is prepared from precooked or preheated ingredients then packed
and sold in stores or restaurants. Also, it is an up- growing restaurant business in Bangladesh.
There is one of the most common causes of the popular fast-food restaurants in Bangladesh,
namely –preferences of various tastes in food; along with few effects.

First of all, there are some good causes of fast-food restaurants such as- people tend to have
various preferences of taste in food. There are many examples of fast food such as Pizza, French
Fries, Burgers, hotdogs, and fried food. These foods are very light and tasty. Many working
people in our country tend to have a desire to eat various foods although they can’t afford to
cook due to the lack of time. With this in mind, people from any background can order their
preferred food in fast-food restaurants without even getting worried about anything. Nowadays,
the younger generation wants to hang out with their family and friends in a restaurant where they
can have some delicious fast-food. Even corporate people prefer restaurants for their meetings
with clients where they can meet the required demand for the client's preferred food. The
thrilling part is they can order food from home or office and the restaurant will deliver it
according to the preferred address.

Secondly, a fast-food restaurant is an aid to working people who tend to remain busy and who
have no other choice than buying food from outside. In this modern age, everybody is very busy.
Most people don’t have time to cook for themselves. In general, nowadays we live a very fast
life; people have no time to cook healthy food so they choose the easier way which is fast food.
As fast-food refers to food that is easily and quickly prepared, then packed, and sold in stores or
restaurants. That’s why office people buy food from fast-food restaurants for their quick
breakfast or lunch. Moreover, they can also bring changes in food anytime as fast-food
restaurants offer various types of tasty food. Nowadays fast food restaurants offer a delivery
service which plays a very convenient role to save some extra time for busy people.

However, there are also some negative impacts of eating fast food on a daily basis. Junk food has
many bad effects on health. Fast food contains high amounts of Sodium that lead to high blood

68
pressure. It also contains bad cholesterol. Hence, eating too much junk food results in congestion
of blood vessels and will obstruct the normal blood flow. Moreover, trans fat is considered to be
the worst type of fat which is present in junk food. It was reported that fast food contains 45
percent more trans fats than well prepared food. Also, some people get addicted to fast food in
such extent that they don’t like usual foods. On the other hand, fast-food consumption was
proved to have bad effects on the cardiovascular system. And, it leads to gaining weight and
insulin resistance. In the long run, fast food causes cardiovascular failure and death.

In conclusion, fast-food restaurants are becoming popular nowadays in both developing and
developed countries due to increasing demand of the new generation which has both positive and
negative effects and people should take precaution while consuming fast-food. In Bangladesh,
the government bears high responsibility because it lets people eat what they want to eat with no
restrictions even if it is harmful for their health. Popular fast-food restaurants may deliver a
hygienic product in the name of advertisement but still they might not be selling healthy foods
for us. In this world, all things have positive and negative sides. Therefore, the customers should
be encouraged to become more conscious about consuming fast food on a daily basis.

Activity 3: Read the following essay and answer the following questions.

Causes of Students' Drop out from EWU

Outline:

Thesis Statement: There are a number of reasons for which students get dropped out from
EWU.

• Lack of adaptability
• Family issues
• Lack of self-confidence
• Academic diversity
• Part time jobs

East West University is a very well-known and well established university of Bangladesh.
Students from different corners of the country come here to gain knowledge. But not every
one of them can complete their degrees.
……………………………………………………………..
Students usually struggle to adapt after coming to Dhaka from different districts of
Bangladesh. Most of them have to live on his own. As a result they start to live with some
strangers who are also facing the same problem. They find it difficult to adapt with this new

69
environment which hampers their study sometimes. For this reason many students leave the
university without completing their graduation.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………
… It is very hard for them to continue their study without scholarship for different reasons.
As a result, they start to be involved in many part time jobs, tuitions etc. Most of the
students of EWU are from middle class family. They have other family issues to deal with
which sometimes hampers their mental condition and their study as well.
Besides that, students' lack of confidence is another reason for them being dropped out.
Sometimes students hesitate to ask for help from the teachers even when they're available.
This happens because of a lack of confidence.
Moreover, students who come from the Bangla version find it hard to deal with the books
written in English. As a result, they fail to cope up with others. Because of this, sometimes
they don't get their expected grades and become demotivated. For this reason they drop out
from EWU.
There are many reasons for students' drop out from EWU besides the above mentioned
ones. Sometimes they meet with bad people who can turn their life into ashes. Sometimes
they start to do business of his own and set it as their first priority. Students should be
focused on studies and it should be their first priority. They should try to overcome these
issues in order to reach their goal.
Student name: Sharaf Juhayr

Question:
1. Does the essay have a proper outline? Make an outline for the essay.
2. Make a perfect thesis statement for this essay by reading the given reasons.
3. What is missing in the third body paragraph?
4. Does the conclusion have a proper structure?

70
Good Sample Essay

Causes and Effects of the Popular Fast Food Restaurant in

Bangladesh

1. Introduction:

Thesis statement: There is one of the most common causes of the popular fast-food restaurants in
Bangladesh, namely –preferences of various tastes for food; along with few effects.

2. First Body Paragraph:

Topic sentence: First of all, there are some good causes of fast-food restaurants such as- people
tend to have various preferences of taste in food.

Supporting Details:
a)Preferences of various taste
b)Increasing food demand
c)Home delivery service

3. Second Body Paragraph:

Topic sentence: Secondly, a fast-food restaurant is an aid to working people who tend to
remainbusy without any choice but to buy food from outside.

Supporting Details:
a)Less time consuming
b)Easy management
c)Food diversity

4. Third Body Paragraph:

Topic sentence: However, there are also some negative impacts of eating fast food on a daily
basis.

Supporting Details:
a)Unhealthy
b)Obesity
c)Cardiovascular dysfunction

5. Conclusion:

71
Concluding line: In this world, all things have positive and negative sides. Therefore, the
customers should be encouraged to become more conscious about consuming fast food on a daily
basis.

Causes and Effects of the Popular Fast Food Restaurant in Bangladesh

The restaurant business is one of the most ancient businesses in the world. Most of the
restaurants are launched due to the growing demand of public preferences in food. Likewise, in
Bangladesh, many restaurants have been launched according to public demand. The fast-food
restaurant is one of them. Fast food refers to food that is easily and quickly prepared, however, it
refers mainly to the food that is prepared from precooked or preheated ingredients then packed
and sold in stores or restaurants. Also, it is an up- growing restaurant business in Bangladesh.
There is one of the most common causes of the popular fast-food restaurants in
Bangladesh, namely –preferences of various tastes in food; along with few effects.

First of all, there are some good causes of fast-food restaurants such as- people tend to have
various preferences of taste in food. There are many examples of fast food such as Pizza,
French Fries, Burgers, hotdogs, and fried food. These foods are very light and tasty. Many
working people in our country tend to have a desire to eat various foods although they can’t
afford to cook due to the lack of time. With this in mind, people from any background can order
their preferred food in fast-food restaurants without even getting worried about anything.
Nowadays, the younger generation wants to hang out with their family and friends in a restaurant
where they can have some delicious fast-food. Even corporate people prefer restaurants for their
meetings with clients where they can meet the required demand for the client's preferred food.
The thrilling part is they can order food from home or office and the restaurant will deliver it
according to the preferred address.

Secondly, a fast-food restaurant is an aid to working people who tend to remain busy and
who have no other choice than buying food from outside. In this modern age, everybody is
very busy. Most people don’t have time to cook for themselves. In general, nowadays we live a
very fast life; people have no time to cook healthy food so they choose the easier way which is
fast food. As fast-food refers to food that is easily and quickly prepared, then packed, and sold in
stores or restaurants. That’s why office people buy food from fast-food restaurants for their quick
breakfast or lunch. Moreover, they can also bring changes in food anytime as fast-food
restaurants offer various types of tasty food. Nowadays fast food restaurants offer a delivery
service which plays a very convenient role to save some extra time for busy people.

However, there are also some negative impacts of eating fast food on a daily basis. Junk
food has many bad effects on health. Fast food contains high amounts of Sodium that lead to
high blood pressure. It also contains bad cholesterol. Hence, eating too much junk food results in
congestion of blood vessels and will obstruct the normal blood flow. Moreover, trans fat is
considered to be the worst type of fat which is present in junk food. It was reported that fast food

72
contains 45 percent of trans fats more than well prepared food. Also, some people get addicted to
fast food in such extent that they don’t like usual foods. On the other hand, fast-food
consumption was proved to have bad effects on the cardiovascular system. And, it leads to
gaining weight and insulin resistance. In the long run, fast food causes cardiovascular failure and
death.

In conclusion, fast-food restaurants are becoming popular nowadays in both developing and
developed countries due to increasing demand of the new generation which has both positive and
negative effects and people should take precaution while consuming fast-food. In Bangladesh,
the government bears high responsibility because it lets people eat what they want to eat with no
restrictions even if it is harmful for their health. Popular fast-food restaurants may deliver a
hygienic product in the name of advertisement but still they might not be selling healthy foods
for us. In this world, all things have positive and negative sides. Therefore, the customers
should be encouraged to become more conscious about consuming fast food on a daily
basis.

6. Checklist for Cause and Effect essay:

Checklist for Peer Review
Writer _________________________________________
Editor _________________________________________
Questions Comment
Yes /No
Unity Does the essay have a title?
Did the writer include a hook/general statement in the 1st paragraph?
Does the essay have a clearly stated thesis, including the main causes or
effects?
Is there any irrelevant material that needs to be eliminated or rewritten?
In the introductory paragraph did the writer include a minimum of three
causes/effects to support the thesis statement?
The essay breaks the information into the whole-to-whole, causes or effects or
combination of both.
Organization The paper breaks the information into appropriate sections or paragraphs to
the ideas.
The conclusion synthesizes – or brings together – the causes and effects.
Support The essay points to specific examples to illustrate the cause/effect
In the 1st supporting paragraph did the writer include one cause/effect?
In the 2nd supporting paragraph did the writer include one cause/effect?
In the 3rd supporting paragraph did the writer include one cause/effect?
In the conclusion did the writer summarize/ reiterate the three causes/effects?

73
 Does the writer make a commentary/ provide an observation/ a final thought
at the conclusion?
Coherence Do the transitional words in the essay help the readers to follow the train of
thought?
Did the writer use the present tense consistently from the beginning till the
end?
Sentence Is there a consistent point of view in the essay?
Skills Has the essay used more specific words than general?
Did the writer avoid wordiness and used concise wording?
Are the sentences in the essay varied?
Has the writer proofread the essay for grammar and spelling mistakes?
Does the essay have any fragment or run on sentences?
Does it have any spelling or punctuation errors?

7. Links for Video Material:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnSEFSk5VgQ&t=168s

8.References:
• https://literaryterms.net/cause-andhttps://literaryterms.net/cause-and-
effecteffectessay/#:~:text=A%20cause%20and%20effect%20essay%20is%20one%2
0that%20s hows%20how,consequence%20and%20chain%20of%20events.)
• (https://essayinfo.com/essays/cause-and-effect-essay/)
• (https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-englishcomp1v2/chapter/writing-for-
successhttps://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-englishcomp1v2/chapter/writing-
for-success-cause-and-effect/cause-and-effect/)
• (https://eslflow.com/creative-and-cool-causeeffect-writing-activities.html)
• (https://writingrock.net/transition-words-to-use-in-a-cause-and-effect-essay.php
• (https://www.stumagz.com/in/causes-and-effects-of-the-popularity-of-fast-
foodhttps://www.stumagz.com/in/causes-and-effects-of-the-popularity-of-fast-food-
restaurants-and-fast-food/restaurants-and-fast-food/)
• https://www.yo utube.com/watch?v=OnSEFSk5VgQ&t=168s
• https://www.slideshare.net/yarashokry/cause-andeffect-essay

74
 Compare Contrast Essay
Study the photographs. With a partner, make a list of the ways in which the two
photographs are similar. Make another list of ways in which they are different. Discuss your
lists.

Understanding a Compare and Contrast Essay

A compare and contrast essay analyzes two subjects by either comparing them, contrasting
them or both. It is important to note that compare and contrast essays do not necessarily
require you to include both similarities and differences. Sometimes the focus will be on
either comparing or contrasting, depending on the subjects being compared.

Steps to Follow When Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay

Step 1: Understand your assignment.
You need to look for keywords like similarities, differences, alike, two, parallels, and
disparities to make sure that you need to write a compare and contrast essay. In some cases,
your course instructor may only ask you to compare or contrast.
Step 2:Gather ideas.
The next step in the process is to start to brainstorm ideas. If you are a visual person, a Venn
diagram can facilitate this process. The overlapping part of the circles shows similarities;

75
the outer circles show differences or unique qualities. Here is a very simple example of a
Venn diagram.

Tomato Apple

Step 3:Create a thesis statement.

The thesis statement should clearly state the subjects that are to be compared, contrasted or
both. Introduce your main idea, using the terms "compare" and/or "contrast."
Step 4:Develop an outline.
Next, develop an outline for your essay.
Step 5:Develop paragraphs that support your thesis.
The paragraphs in the body of your essay must support your thesis statement as is stated in
the introduction. Develop your main idea, comprising either one of the subjects or one of
the points of comparison, and provide evidence for the same. Explain how the comparison
or contrast is valid.
Step 6:Use transition devices.
To blend details smoothly, use transitional words and phrases.

The Structure of a Compare and Contrast Essay

There are two most common methods of writing compare and contrast essays:
a) In the point-by-point method, the writer outlines the major points of comparison/contrast
between the two subjects and then addresses both subjects for each major point.

b) In the subject-by subject method, the writer first discusses important aspects of one of
the subjects, then those same aspects for the other subject. This is also known as the
block method.
Suppose you are interested in showing the differences between vacationing in the mountains
and vacationing at the beach. You will then write a contrast essay.

76
 If you use the block arrangement, then you will write about vacationing in the mountains in
one paragraph and vacationing at the beach in the next. If you mention a particular point in
the mountains paragraph, you must mention the same point in the beach paragraph, and in
the same order. Study the following outline, which shows this kind of organization.

Block Arrangement (four paragraphs)

I. Introduction Thesis Statement:
II. Body Paragraph 1 (Mountain): Topic Sentence 1:
Supporting Point 1 (Climate):
Supporting Point 2 (Types of Activities):
Supporting Point 3 (Location):
III. Body Paragraph 2 (Beach): Topic Sentence 2:
Supporting Point 1 (Climate):
Supporting Point 2 (Types of Activities):
Supporting Point 3 (sites to visit):
IV . Conclusion: Concluding Sentence:

If you follow point-by-point method, then discuss a particular point about vacationing in the
mountains and immediately discuss the same point about vacationing at the beach. An
outline of this organization follows:

Point-by-Point or Alternating Arrangement (five paragraphs)

I. Introduction Thesis Statement:

II. Body Paragraph 1 (Climate of Topic Sentence 1:
both mountain and beach): Supporting Point 1
Supporting Point 2
Supporting Point 3
II. Body Paragraph 2 (Types of Topic Sentence 2:
Activities can be done in beach and Supporting Point 1
in mountain): Supporting Point 2
Supporting Point 3
II. Body Paragraph 3 (sites to visit Topic Sentence 3:
in beach and mountain): Supporting Point 1
Supporting Point 2
Supporting Point 3
IV. Conclusion: Concluding Sentence:

Examine the comparison or contrast essay that follows and decide whether the authors used
block arrangement or point-by-point (or alternating) arrangement.

77
 Vacationing at the Beach or in the Mountains
People always look forward to their vacation period. There are many options one can
choose. The two most common places people choose for taking a vacation are the beach and
the mountain. Both places offer a variety of fun activities. The beach offers activities that
the mountain cannot offer and vice versa. The mountain and the beach are different in
respect of climate, types of activities, and locations.
The three aspects of mountains that can be considered at first are climate, types of activities,
and location. Climate is always important to enjoy vacations. If a person dislikes cold
weather, he or she might have a hard time in the mountains. The cold climate in the
mountains is the first barrier to enjoying them, but the climate and the temperature of these
zones also determine the types of activities they offer. Snowboarding, mountain climbing,
mountain biking, hiking, and skiing are some activities people can enjoy when going to the
mountains. Many regions have mountains where people can go and have a great vacation.
Topographically, the Chittagong hill tracts are the largest hilly area in Bangladesh that can
offer some vacation sites for people to visit and have fun.
On the other hand, if we consider the same three aspects such as climate, types of activities,
and location for a beach, we will get a different picture. The warm climate is one of the
most important features that the beach has. Sun and fun are two words that describe the
beach. The temperature in those places is always hot. The sea and the warm climate
determine the activities that are available at the beach. People can swim, play volleyball,
play soccer, and ride water bikes. In most of the coastal sites, there are discos and
restaurants where people can dance or party throughout the night. Mexico offers many
amazing coastal sites to visit. Acapulco and Cancun are two of the most beautiful and
famous beaches in the world.
People often choose one of these two options to spend their vacations depending on their
likes and dislikes. I like the beach more than the mountains, but sometimes it is better to
take a risk and try a different place to enjoy.

A list of transition words:

Compare: likewise, also, both... and..., not only... but also..., neither... nor..., just like (+
noun), similar to (+ noun), to be similar (to), to be the same as, to be alike, to compare
(to/with)
Contrast: however, in contrast, in comparison, by comparison, on the other hand, while,
whereas, but, to differ from, to be different (from), to be dissimilar to, to be unlike,
conversely, still, nevertheless,nonetheless

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 Sample Compare and Contrast Essay

Outline:
University versus School
Thesis Statement: University costs more, presents more academic challenges, and offers a
more social environment than high school.
Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence: First, in terms of cost, the university is more expensive than high school
because of tuition, living expenses, and books. Supporting Point 1: Tuition fees
Supporting Point 2: Rental costs
Supporting Point 3: Cost of learning materials

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic Sentence: Second, the workload in university is more challenging than the workload
in high school.
Supporting Point 1: Number of assignments
Supporting Point 2: Time commitment
Supporting Point 3: Final grades

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic Sentence: Third, in university, there are more activities, sports, and clubs for
students to participate in than in high school. Supporting Point 1: Athletic facilities
Supporting Point 2: Social events
Supporting Point 3: Clubs

Concluding Sentence: These differences need to be considered by those students who are
entering universities.

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Essay:
University versus School
The leap from school to university is a large one. Many students enter the university
expecting the experience to be the same as the one they had while in school. These students
are wrong to make this assumption, and they very quickly realize just how different
university is. University costs more, presents more academic challenges, and offers a more
social environment than high school.
First, in terms of cost, university is more expensive than high school because of tuition,
living expenses, and books. Anyone who wishes to attend university must pay high fees,
whereas it is less costly to attend high school. In addition to tuition, university students must
also worry about the residence or rental costs for living close to the university’s campus. In
contrast, high school students have no living expenses because most high school students
live near their schools with their parents. University is also more expensive than high school
when it comes to the cost of learning materials, such as textbooks. In university, students
must buy textbooks for each course they take. High school students never have to worry
about buying their textbooks because high schools always keep a set of books, which
students use and then return at the end of the year. Not only do university students have to
pay more money than high school students for their education, but they also have much
more work to do once their bills have been paid.
Second, the workload in university is more challenging than the workload in high school.
University students are faced with the task of having to complete an average of three to five
assignments per week, whereas high school students average only one to three assignments
per week. The assignments in university are more challenging and can take up to eight hours
to complete successfully. In contrast, high school students do not have to commit as much
time and effort to their assignments. In addition, university students experience extra
pressure because their final grades are based on each assignment. In high school, however,
an assignment is worth only 5% to 20% of a student’s final grade. In university, an
assignment is worth 25% or as much as 50% of a student’s final grade. University students
are consistently placed under more academic pressure than high school students.

Third, in university, there are more activities, sports, and clubs for students to participate in
than in high school. Universities host social events that are unavailable in high schools.
Examples of these events are orientation programs. University students have both the
benefits of being able to join university sports teams. In contrast, most high schools often
offer non-university sports teams. Furthermore, universities offer more clubs than high
schools do. High schools may have some clubs or groups that students can join; however,
because high schools are smaller with fewer students, the variety of clubs is limited.
Universities are guaranteed to have a club for everyone because the population base is so
large. Social events, athletic facilities and clubs show the university environment to be
much more social than the high school environment.

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Based on financial, academic, and social aspects, university is more costly, more
academically challenging, and more socially stimulating than high school. These differences
need to be considered by those students who are entering universities.

Activities
Exercise 1
Read the following essay:

Adopting Cats versus Adopting Dogs

When considering adopting a pet, a prospective owner may consider certain things before
making a choice. Otherwise, the owners will not be able to care for their pets safely. Cats
and dogs make excellent pets, but an appropriate choice depends on pet management, costs,
and accommodations.

The first difference between cats and dogs is management. Cats don’t have to be watched
during the day. And it is easier to get care if the owner travels. In contrast, dogs shouldn’t
be left alone. They may get in trouble if left by themselves. Also, it is more difficult to find
a good dog resort or someone to look after the dog if the owner travels.
The second difference is cost. Cats are less expensive to own and take care of. Food and
health care costs are usually low. Also, cats are less likely to damage property or hurt
themselves. On the other hand, dogs often chew on furniture, damage gates or fences and
sometimes they get into fights and hurt themselves.
The final difference is accommodations. Cats don’t take up much space. They don’t need a
large area to run around. And they can take care of themselves most of the time. They don’t
cause trouble to their owners or other people. Dogs, however, often need a yard or fence.
And because they like to bark and run around, they need more safety and protective
measures.
When considering adopting a pet, one must consider the management, cost, and
accommodations that the pet would require. Owners who don’t think about these aspects
will often not safely care for their pet.

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Now complete the following outline based on your reading of the essay:
Thesis Statement: Cats and dogs make excellent pets, but an appropriate choice depends on
pet management, costs and accommodations.

Body Paragraph 1:
Topic Sentence: The first difference between cats and dogs is management.
Supporting Point 1:
Supporting Point 2:
Supporting Point 3:

Body Paragraph 2:
Topic Sentence:
Supporting Point 1:
Supporting Point 2:
Supporting Point 3:

Body Paragraph 3:
Topic Sentence:
Supporting Point 1:
Supporting Point 2:
Supporting Point 3:

Concluding Sentence:

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Exercise 2
Read this essay about two brothers. As you read, notice how the divergence between
Eastern and Western lifestyle is used to help the reader envision the differences between the
brothers. Then answer the questions that follow.
My Two Brothers
No two people are exactly alike, and my two older brothers, Nhan and Hung, are no
exceptions. Even though they have the same parents, their considerable differences in looks,
personality, and attitude toward life reflect the differences between Eastern and Western
cultures.
Nhan and Hung are strikingly different in their appearance. Like most Asian men, Nhan is
short, small, and has a full, moon-shaped face. His smooth white skin and small arms and
feet make him look somewhat delicate. Nhan always likes to wear formal, traditional
clothes. In contrast to Nhan, Hung, who is his younger brother by ten years, looks more like
an American boxer. He is tall, muscular, and big-boned. He is built straight as an arrow, and
his face is long and angular like a Western character. Unlike Nhan, Hung has strong feet and
arms. In contrast to Nhan, Hung likes to wear comfortable T-shirts and jeans or sports
clothes.

Nhan and Hung also differ in personality Nhan’s name means “patience,” and his patience
is shown in his smile. He always smiles. He smiles because he wants to make the other
person happy or to make himself happy. He smiles whenever people speak to him. He
smiles when he forgives people who have wronged him. Nhan likes books, of course, and
literature and philosophy. Nhan also enjoys drinking hot tea and singing verses. On the
other hand, Hung’s name means “strength,” but his strength is self-centered. As a result,
unlike Nhan, Hung only smiles when he is happy. As one might expect, Hung does not like
philosophy and literature; instead, he studies science and technology. Whereas Nhan enjoys
tea and classical verses, Hung prefers to sunbathe and drink Coca-Cola while he listens to
rock and roll music.
Concerning their attitudes toward life, they are as different as the moon and the sun. My
eldest brother Nhan is concerned with spiritual values. He is affected by Confucian, Taoist,
and Buddhist theories. These theories suggest that human life is not happy. Therefore, if a
man wants to be happy, he should get out of the competitiveness of life and should not
depend on material objects. My oldest brother is deeply affected by these theories, so he
never tries hard to make money to buy conveniences. In contrast to Nhan, my brother Hung
believes that science and technology serve human beings and that the West defeated the
East because the West was further advanced in these fields. Therefore, each person must
compete with nature and with other people in the world to acquire different conveniences
such as cars, washing machines, and television sets. Hung is affected by the Western
theories of real values; consequently, he always works hard to make his own money to
satisfy his material needs.

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Following the morality of the culture of my country, I cannot say which one of my brothers
is wrong or right. But I do know that they both want to improve and maintain human life on
this earth. I am very lucky to inherit both sources of thought from my two older brothers.

1. What is the thesis statement of the essay? What are its points of comparison?
2. Does the essay focus more on comparison or on contrast?
3. Which pattern of organization does the writer follow? Why was this pattern
selected?
4. Does the essay have topic sentences that state the controlling idea for each point of
comparison? If so, what are they?
5. Is the conclusion logical?
6. Make an outline of the essay.

Exercise 3
Read the outline and essay about summer and winter. Find mistakes in them and correct
them with your partner.
Outline:
Comparing and contrasting summer and winter seasons
1. In summer, the temperature rises at a very high rate and in winter it decreases.
2. People wear cotton clothes in summer and warm clothes in winter.
3. Some seasonal fruits are available in both seasons and both seasons are blessing for
farmers.
4. In winter people suffer from clothing problems and in summer people suffer from heat
problems.
5. Both seasons come with a lot of diseases.

Essay:
Comparing and contrasting summer and winter seasons
Our country has six seasons of which summer and winter are very familiar seasons in
Bangladesh. The seasonal cycle starts with the hottest season, summer. While winter is the
coldest season of that cycle. Each season has its own characteristics but there are some
common and different things between them.

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In summer, the temperature of our country rises at a very high rate and on the other hand,
the temperature of our country decreases in winter at a big rate. The poor people suffer a lot
during both seasons because of extreme hot or cold temperatures.
We see the difference between day and night in summer and winter. Longer days and
shorter nights are seen in the summer season, on the other hand in the winter season shorter
days and longer nights are seen in summer people can wear cotton clothes but in winter they
need warm clothes. To avoid heat from summer we should eat and drink cold foods, on the
other hand, to avoid cold from winter we should eat and drink hot foods.
Some seasonal fruits are available in both seasons which are not available throughout the
year. During the summer season, we got a lot of various fruits and vegetables. We got a lot
of various fresh fruits and vegetables also in the winter season. Both seasons are also a
blessing for farmers. The sky becomes clear and the sun shines bright in both seasons so
that farmers can prepare their land for cultivation.
In the winter the poor people suffer from clothing problems and without warming cloth their
life becomes miserable. Old people and children suffer more during the winter season
because of the terrible cold. It also hampered a great deal of the coastal area. During
summer temperatures are so high that people cannot go out to earn money and they need to
stay indoors. We see different diseases in both seasons. Winter comes with a lot of diseases
like the common cold, flu etc.in the summer season most people suffer from dehydration,
heat stroke, etc.

Exercise 4
Choose one of the following topics for writing a comparison and contrast essay:
1. Any Two Famous Restaurants of your Area
2. Traditional Food versus Chinese Food

Student’s Sample Essay

Online Class vs. Physical Class

Written by:K. M. Khaledur Rahman

Outline:

Thesis Statement: Although online classes and physical classes are different due to the
classroom environment and management, they are similar in terms of learning and
workload.

Body Paragraph 1:

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Topic Sentence: Physical class is more formal than the online class on the other hand
online is more flexible and self-directed.
Supporting Point 1: Physical class is more formal
Supporting Point 2: Online class is flexible
Supporting Point 3: Online class is more self-directed

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic Sentence: Secondly, the activities of both classes, for instance, management,
equality, and the relation between teachers and students are completely different from each
other.
Supporting Point 1: Management
Supporting Point 2: Anonymity
Supporting Point 3: Teacher and student relationship.

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic Sentence: Either online or physical class, in both cases learning is compulsory and
there is no chance to avoid assignments, tests and feedback, students get rewarded for the
challenges they take.
Supporting Point 1: assignments
Supporting Point 2: challenges and rewards
Supporting Point 3: feedback

Concluding Sentence: Eventually, online class and physical class both have their good and
bad sides.

Essay:

Online Class vs. Physical Class

The online class system is the latest phenomenon for the students of our county where one
does not require to be physically present in a classroom. On the other hand, in offline or
physical classes teachers conduct classes in a traditional way. The online class method is an
excellent way of learning; however it is unfortunate that we have been failing to utilize this
method due to some obstruction like bad internet and load-shedding. Although online
classes and physical classes are different due to the classroom environment and
management, they are similar in terms of learning and workload.

Physical class is more formal than online class. On the other hand, online is more flexible
and self-directed. Students are entitled to maintain a formal procedure of class such as
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 sitting at their desk in face to face classes. On the other hand, online classes give students
more freedom but the responsibility of learning is much higher.

Secondly, the activities of both classes, for instance, management, equality, and the relation
between teachers and students are completely different from each other. One of the crucial
differences is management in which a physical classroom teacher is free to move the student
around or group them differently. Furthermore, it is easy to know a teacher easily in a
physical classroom rather than in a virtual setting. There is an obstruction toward students
because there is less opportunity to understand their teachers with proper introduction and
vice-versa. The anonymity of not being present physically is a benefit for some learners
who feel hesitant to ask questions.

In either the online or physical classes, learning is compulsory and there is no chance to
avoid assignments, tests, and feedback, So, students get rewarded for the challenges they
take. Online learning and traditional learning both require a great amount of work. They
both have a lot in common when it comes to learning. Course outlines, tests, and
assignments are provided to the students. In both cases, teachers take feedback about the
lectures from students.

In conclusion, online classes and physical classes have major differences between them with
minor similarities. Eventually, online classes and physical classes both have their good and
bad sides.

Checklist for Peer Review

Writer _________________________________________
Editor _________________________________________
Questions Comment
Yes /No
Unity Does the essay have a title?
Did the writer include a hook in the 1st paragraph?
Does the essay have a clearly stated thesis, including a dominant
impression?
Is there any irrelevant material that needs to be eliminated or
rewritten?
In the introductory paragraph did the writer include three reasons to
support the thesis statement?
The essay breaks the information into the whole-to-whole,
similarities-to differences, or point-by-point structure.
Organizatio The paper breaks the information into appropriate sections or
n paragraphs to the ideas.
The conclusion synthesizes – or brings together – the comparison

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 and contrast.

Support The essay compares and contrasts items clearly.

The essay points to specific examples to illustrate the
comparison/contrast
In the 1st supporting paragraph did the writer include one reason?
In the 2nd supporting paragraph did the writer include one reason?
In the 3rd supporting paragraph did the writer include one reason?
In the conclusion did the writer summarize/ reiterate the three
reasons?
Does the writer make a commentary/ provide an observation/ a
final thought at the conclusion?
Coherence Do the transitional words in the essay help the readers to follow the
train of thought?
Did the writer use the present tense consistently from the beginning
till the end?
Sentence Is there a consistent point of view in the essay?
Skills Has the essay used more specific words than general?
Does the writer use a lot of rich, specific details that appeal to a
variety of senses/ used sensory words/ descriptive words?
Did the writer avoid wordiness and used concise wording?
Are the sentences in the essay varied?
Has the writer proofread the essay for grammar and spelling
mistakes?

References
Cats and Dogs. Eslflow. Retrieved November 30, 2020,fromhttps://www.eslflow.com/wp-
content/uploads/2017/11/Cats_and_Dogs_Point-by-
Point_Comparison_Essay.pdf
COMPARISON and CONTRAST ESSAY. (2011 November 30). Retrieved November 30, 2020,
fromhttp://haonly.weebly.com/collections/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit1
Compare & Contrast Essays. EAP.Retrieved November 30, 2020,from
https://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/essays/candc/
COMPARE AND CONTRAST. Humber. Retrieved November 30, 2020,from
https://liberalarts.humber.ca/assets/files/writing_centre/COMPARE%20AND%20CONTRAST%
20ESSAY.pdf
Compare/Contrast Essays. Lumen Learning. Retrieved November 30, 2020, from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-

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engl111/chapter/comparecontrasthttps://courses.lumenlearning.com/ivytech-
engl111/chapter/comparecontrast-essays/ -
:~:text=A%20compare%2Dand%2Dcontrast%20essay%20analyzes%20two%20subjects%20by
%20either,unexpected%20similarities%20between%20two%20subjectsessays/#:~:text=A%20co
mpare%2Dand%2Dcontrast%20essay%20analyzes%20two%20subjects
%20by%20either,unexpected%20similarities%20between%20two%20subjects.
How to Write a Compare and Contrast Essay. EssayTigers. Retrieved November 30,
2020, from https://www.essaytigers.com/how-write-compare-and-contrast-essay
THE COMPARISON AND CONTRAST ESSAY. National Geographic Learning. Retrieved
November 30, 2020,from
https://ngl.cengage.com/assets/downloads/devref_pro0000000156/refining_chapter_8.pdf
TRANSITIONAL WORDS AND PHRASES SHOWING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN
AND BETWEEN SENTENCES. Miami Dade College. Retrieved November 30, 2020,from
https://www.mdc.edu/kendall/collegeprep/documents2/transitional%20words%20and%20ph
rase srevised815.pdf
Writing a Compare and Contrast Essay. Career and College Prep. Retrieved November 30,
2020, from http://ccprephs.com/wp-content/uploads/Writing-a-Compare-and-Contrast-
Essayhttp://ccprephs.com/wp-content/uploads/Writing-a-Compare-and-Contrast-Essay-
v121018.pdfv121018.pdf

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 Response Essay

Writing a Response or Reaction Paper

Look at the following pictures and discuss with your classmates what you think about
them.

Image 1

Image 2

1. What do you think about the images?

2. Do both the images render the same feeling?
3. What are the different reactions that you expressed while taking a close look at both the
images?

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You probably gave a joyful reaction for image 1 since it is a happy picture. If you take a close
look at image 1 and analyze it, you will also understand that it is a mother-daughter picture, who
are having a fun day in a field. What feeling does this image bring in you? What is your
‘response’ to this entire thought of a mother-daughter spending quality time?
On the contrary, Image 2 seems to be a depressing or sad picture. If analyzed closely, you will
see the girl in the front is sad, because her peers are judging her or making fun of her. Does this
thought ring a bell? Do you think laughing at others is a positive deed? How do you ‘respond’ to
this entire thought of judging others?
The way you reacted to both the images, expresses your inner response. Similarly, when you
read a story or an article, you will have certain thoughts, or reactions to it. Following those
reactions up, when you write a structured paper, - what you come up with is the Response Paper.

What is a response essay?

A response paper (also known as a reflection or reaction paper) tends to be the most personal
type of academic writing. Its purpose is to explain to a reader how you think or feel about a
particular text. You may agree or disagree with an author, and in either case you’ll want to
explain to your reader why. You may feel that an author is correct in some ways, but not in
others. For example, perhaps you feel the author has overstated some things or left out something
important. Whichever way you respond, the important thing about a response paper is that you
need to be specific, and provide your reader with enough examples and explanations to be able to
understand your response. Make direct references to your text, but also feel free to bring in
examples from another text, a relevant film or news story, or your own experience.

Response Paper Format

Well, response papers are somewhat informal but they are structured well just like any other
piece of writing. The response essay consists of an introduction, body and finally, conclusion.
Doesn't it look more like your typical college essay? It is. So, what’s the difference? Well, it is
what you will write and the tone of writing. In an introduction, you would have to grab the
attention of the reader(s) by stating your purpose and subject of the response essay. In the next
part, you are going to express your opinion. Surely, there is no reason to be shy about how you
feel and express your opinion in the response paper. You can use phrases of “I believe”, “I
think”, and “In my view” as much as you like. But there’s a catch here. You need to support your
opinions with evidence to back them up. You can either critique or compare, and agree or refute
depending on your own view. You can also write about the degree of persuasiveness of a
response paper. A balance needs to be established between critiquing and discussing the work.
After that, the reaction needs to be presented. In the final part, concluding remarks are
highlighted that tie the responses in response essay to the thesis statement

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Steps in writing a response essay:
The Response paper has four basic components.

● Introduction - The first sentence of the intro contains the title of the work and the
author/creator. The introduction ends with your thesis.

After you have completed writing your outline, you will need to start working on the first draft of
the response essay by using all the key elements for an introductory paragraph. The introduction
part needs to grab the attention of readers by developing a connection with the reader. A strong
introductory sentence is all that is needed to determine the direction of your response essay. Say,
that you are writing a reaction essay on an article or a book, the first and foremost sentence needs
to mention the author’s name(s) along with the title of the work. The last sentence of the
introductory sentence should have a thesis statement. This statement will provide an insight to
the complete essay and your view on the work on which you are writing the response paper.

● Summary the piece - Provide a summary of what the piece is, publication, important
aspects, main points, important quotes, etc. To develop the summary part the essay, do
the following:
1. Write an informative summary of the material.
2. Condense the content of the work by highlighting its main points and key
supporting points.
3. Use direct quotations from the work to illustrate important ideas.
4. Summarize the material so that the reader gets a general sense of all key aspects
of the original work.
5. Do not discuss in great detail any single aspect of the work, and do not neglect to
mention other equally important points. Also, keep the summary objective and
factual. Do not include in the first part of the paper your personal reaction to the
work; your subjective impression will form the basis of the second part of your
paper.
● Reaction to the work - Add your reaction, how the material related to you, how it didn’t
relate to you, whether you agree with the author, whether you disagree, etc. To develop
this part of the essay, do the following:
1. How is the work related to problems in our present-day world?
2. How is the material related to your life, experiences, feelings and ideas? For
instance, what emotions did the work arouse in you?
3. Support any general points you make or attitudes you express with specific
reasons and details. Statements such as "I agree with many ideas in this
article" or "I found the book very interesting" are meaningless without
specific evidence that shows why you feel as you do. Look at the sample
report closely to see how the main point or topic sentence of each paragraph
is developed by specific supporting evidence

92
 4. Did the work increase your understanding of a particular issue? Did it change
your perspective in any way?
5. Evaluate the merit of the work: the importance of its points, its accuracy,
completeness, organization, and so on.
6. You should also indicate here whether or not you would recommend the
work to others, and why.
● Conclusion - Summarize the work and your response and restate your thesis.

The last part of the conclusion outlines the outcome of the responses of the beliefs, values, and
norms. It can include showing the audience how your view and author’s view intertwine with
each other. It can also be how your view contradicts the view and belief of the author or creator
of art. You can either agree or disagree based on your opinions that are supported by evidence.
You can also jot down the conflicting remarks. Even the author’s view can change your
perspective as well. If that happened, you can also mention that as part of the response paper.
The concluding remarks also need to include the reaffirmation of the thesis statement.

Your outline doesn’t have to be neat. But using a keyword or sentence outline structure can
ensure all the thoughts and ideas are in order.

Tips for Writing a Response Essay

All the prep you’ve put in will now pay off! Keep these points in mind as you write.

● Create topic sentences based on the main points.

● Make sure to use statements like 'I felt', 'in my opinion', 'I liked', 'I was moved by', etc.
● Use transition words to flow between paragraphs.
● Double-check your thesis statement to ensure the body of your paper supports it.
● Reread your work after completion to ensure you covered all your main points.
● Run spell check for grammar and spelling errors.

Actions to Take
1. Pay attention to the instructions your instructor provides for the assignment. He or
she may have specific expectations, which you should be careful to take into
account. The prompt may also give you clues that will help you to understand what
you should be getting out of the texts.
2. Explain the key terms, main arguments, and assumptions of each text.
3. Do your best to characterize each text’s arguments fairly and accurately.
4. Evaluate the evidence that each text presents: point out strengths and weaknesses,
both internal to the text and in relation to the others. For example, if one text makes
an argument based on an assumption that another text either confirms or refutes,

93
 then you can use the latter text to evaluate the plausibility of the claim made by the
former.
5. Explain how the texts relate to and “speak” to one another. Synthesize them if you
can, and if you cannot, explain what the barriers preventing such a synthesis are.
6. Consider both sides of issues at stake. If all the texts are on one side of an issue,
consider the other side. If the texts fall on both sides of an issue, consider where
agreements and disagreements lie and what each side’s strengths and weaknesses
are.
7. Include your own voice by weighing arguments, evaluating evidence, and raising
critical questions. If there seems to be something important that none of the authors
addresses, point it out and state what you think its significance is. Try to be as
specific as possible.
8. Be careful to do all parts of the assignment. Accord each text the weight it deserves.
Don’t forget to synthesize your account by showing how the texts relate to one
another. The authors are in a figurative, if not literal, “conversation” with one
another, and you must be able to recognize and explain what is going on in that
conversation.
9. Keep an eye out for authors’ omissions, and raise counterarguments when you detect
authors’ arguments are weak.

Actions Not to Take

1. Do not wait too long to start writing. Remember that reading and understanding the
texts are only the first steps toward putting the paper together.
2. Do not write an autobiographical essay. Reaction/response papers are not about how
you feel— even how you feel about the texts. They are not simply a venue for you to
say whether you like or dislike the texts. Give praise or blame where you think it is
due, but avoid commendation or condemnation for its own sake.

Main article 1 - Negative Influences of Fairy tales,Henry Douglas

Most of us have grown up reading and listening to fairy tales which most people consider to
be necessary in the upbringing of children. It is believed that fairy tales boost children’s
imagination and optimism, while setting their morals and teaching them what is good and
bad. However, often these fairy tales have hidden messages which may influence children in
negative ways, lower their self-esteem and impact the way they think, defectively.

First of all, although these fairy tales are very positive, they usually set unrealistic
expectations of life which induce children for disappointment in the future. They create false
worlds where everything seems to work out perfectly and lead to the distorted ending of
living ‘happily ever after’. Instead of preparing them for reality, this cliché ending often

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causes children to be unaware, oblivious and ignorant towards serious issues, while setting
them up for dissatisfaction with their lives.

Another significant problem with fairy tales is that they are extremely shallow and they
deliver the message of how only good-looking people can find love and happiness while
unattractive people are evil and deserve miserable lives. For instance, one of the most
frequently told fairy tales, Cinderella, features a beautiful and kind girl who has to live with
her cruel and ugly stepmother and stepsisters. By the end of the story, Cinderella marries a
handsome prince whom she claims to fall in love with after one dance, whereas her
stepmother and stepsisters are forced to live unsatisfying lives. The importance of physical
appearance in fairy tales, also reflects the idea of how women are only capable of being
appealing to men and don’t have any other abilities which could support them at becoming
individuals.

Fortunately, newer fairy tales and the more evolved versions of the old classics don’t follow
these clichés as much, and they try to include independent women of different races. Ones
such as Frozen, Mulan and Moana reflect a more feminist society where the women’s
abilities are appreciated and the female characters don’t constantly depend on the males. Or,
stories like Beauty and the Beast and Shrek show the importance of inner beauty rather than
focusing on what is on the outside. This shows the changes that are taking place in the world
today and even though these fairy tales do still contain certain banalities, there is an effort
being made to make a difference, which is necessary.

Substandard response:
Response on Influence of fairy tales

The topic is about Negative Influences of Fairy tales which is written by Henry Douglas.

People think that fairy tales boost children's imagination and optimism but it is absolutely
wrong. It represents unrealistic ideas in our minds. I think the article is not very convincing.
I do not like the article at all.
Fairy tales have a negative way of shaping the thought process. Most of the children love to
listen to fairy tales. So, I feel we should look at the brighter side of the Fairy tales, although
the writer says it has some bad influence on the children’s consciousness. Some of the
points seem valid, like when the writer says by listening to fairy tales, children think only
good-looking people can find love or happiness and unattractive people are evil and it keeps
people away from reality. Overall, I found the article not very interesting.

Most of the children love to listen or write fairy tales.

People believe that fairy tales boost children's imagination and optimism. Sometimes fairy
tales hide some messages which may influence children in negative ways. Though fairy
tales are interesting and very positive, they create unrealistic expectations of life. Those
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children's real thoughts have a bad effect on consciousness. Fairy tales create a false world
for the children. Another thing is that by reading or listening to fairy tales children believe
that only good-looking people can shine in life and unattractive people are evil. For
Example., of the most popular fairy tale 'Cinderella' marries a handsome prince whom she
claims to fall in love with after one dance, whereas her stepmother and stepsisters are forced
to live unsatisfying lives. The importance of physical appearance in fairy tales, also reflects
the idea of how women are only capable of being appealing to men and don’t have any
other abilities which could support them at becoming individuals.

The article is okay, but I did not like it.

Some problems:

● Does not mention the name of the article and the author and only writes what this
article is about
● Both the summary and the reactions are written in the very first para, while the
second para contains only the summary
● The language chosen to give one’s response is also not very academic
● Instead of constructive criticism, the reader can feel a sense of personal attack.
● unnecessary redundancies are present throughout the paper

A criticism is only acceptable when it is constructive.

We need to keep in mind, to write a good response paper we need to be neutral and look at
any piece of work, from a non-judgmental point of view. We also need to be careful in
choosing our words, while critiquing it.

Now, let’s look at a better version of this same response paper.

Response on the article “Negative Influences of Fairy tales”

Summary

The article "Negative influence of fairy tales" written by Henry Douglas has
showed society about the detrimental effects of fairy tales on child
psychology in an appropriate manner. This article states that the new fairy tales
have more quality than the previous fairy tales, which ensures not only the
development of the intelligence of children but also the enrichment of their souls.

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Response

While reading the article, In my opinion, this is a very interesting subject to talk about.
We have been reading fairy tales since childhood, but have we ever questioned those
‘happily-ever after endings’? This article was eye-opening to such a crucial matter that
has been going unnoticed for a very long time. I could relate to the article very much,
because the examples chosen by the writer are very common. Cinderella’s story is a very
popular one and by using such a familiar story as an example, the writer makes the article
relatable to everyone., which makes it much more interesting
Response and Conclusion

Finally, I can say, after reading this article I agree with the author’s words. Fairy
tales and fables written in the early period were deliberated to domesticate the girls
instead of making them independent. This thing is foremost to fetch, is that
providing children fables of girls being unconventional, free-spirited and prepared
to get away from her stereotypical role is benefiting our generation, in seeing
those gender roles don't have to be followed. This is an interesting read and I
would like to recommend this article.

Main article 2 -Unfair and Ugly': Skin Whitening Adverts and Virulent Racism
Saeed Ahsan Khalid

In Bangladesh the popular perception of beauty is associated with fair complexion and
words for 'beauty' and 'fairness' are deemed to be synonymous. Here 'fair' is 'lovely' and
'unfair' is 'ugly'. Having a pale skin denotes a combination of all good attributes and is
equated as a social benchmark of aristocratic lineage, superiority and class allegiance. In
Bangladeshi media- be it electronic or print- the commercial adverts of fairness products
invariably project that a woman's beauty, intelligence, happiness or success solely depend
on the color of her skin. All these adverts unequivocally portray that a dark-skinned girl is
undesirable, unworthy, unwelcomed, unhappy and after using a magical skin whitening
cream all her dreams come true- she gets noticed, gets job, gets success, gets self-
confidence and gets married with another white skinned handsome guy.

Fairness product ads are made on air with slogans like 'Auporup ruper jonno' (for
breathtaking beauty), 'Shottikarer phorsha, ujjol tauk . . . shottikarer bhalobasha (truly fair,
bright skin . . . true love). Interestingly, now-a-days this 'get-fair' campaign is not triggered
to ladies only but some fairness products are launched for men too using the same trick of

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linking success with fairness. An intimate perusal of this skin whitening adverts of the
multinational companies reveal that they do not only sell products but sell attitudes by
slowly indulging the people to believe that fairness is equivalent to beauty, confidence and
success.

Apart from propagating racist attitudes based on coloursim, the adverts of fairness creams
also aptly delineate false and impractical information leading to misguide the prospective
consumers. Most of the skin whitening products contain bleaching agents and ingredients
such as steroids, mercury, salts, hydroquinone etc. Dermatologists confirmed that overuse of
these chemical pigments over months or years can cause detrimental effects on skin called
'ochronosis', which turns the skin black or grayish-black.

In conclusion we can say that the adverts of skin-whitening products in the electronic and
print media of Bangladesh portray a sense of virulent racism promoting the notion that
fairness means superiority and whiteness is equivalent to beauty which is violation of
constitutional pledges of equality, media laws, business ethics and norms of international
human rights. Beauty lies not in the face but in the heart. The expression of greatest Bengali
poet Rabindranath Tagore in his famous poem 'Krisnakali' from the book of poetry
'Khanika' worth reiteration here:
"Dark? However dark she be, I have seen her dark gazelle eyes." (Abridged)

Source: https://www.observerbd.com/2016/06/23/157795.php

Activity 1.

Re-Read the above article and try giving your response using the following phrases.

• I felt that
• In my opinion
• The reader can conclude that
• The author seems to
• I did not like
• The images seemed to
• The author was [was not] successful in making me feel
• I was especially moved by
• I didn’t get the connection between
• It was clear that the artist was trying to
• The sound track seemed too
• My favorite part was…because
Sample response:
Nusrat Jahan
In the article “Unfair and Ugly: Skin Whitening Adverts and Virulent Racism” the author Saeed
Ahsan Khalid has highlighted the bitter truth of our society which advocates the idea that fair is

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beautiful. He has also portrayed how adverts of multinational companies are slowly leading
people to believe that white complexion is equivalent to beauty and dark means ugly. Lastly, the
author has discussed the adverse effects of using skin whitening products and illustrated that true
beauty is defined by people’s heart, not outward appearance.
After reading the article, I totally agree with the author’s perspectives. In our society people
disgrace those who have a dark complexion. They essentially criticize them for something over
which they do not have any control. There is also a misconception that white people are more
intelligent and confident. In my opinion, the author has accurately captured and emphasized all
these details in his article. He has mentioned how adverts are insidiously influencing people’s
thought process by catchy slogans like 'Auporup ruper jonno’ or ‘Shottikarer phorsha, ujjol tauk .
. . shottikarer bhalobasha’. Not only women but also men are falling victims to these advertising
campaigns. To get fair quickly, many people are damaging their skin and are at risk of getting
“ochronosis”. I also appreciate how the author gave examples from Bengali literature to illustrate
that a person's heart is where true beauty can be found. No matter how fair he/she may be, a
person with a bad heart will always be unattractive.
In conclusion, I think the author Saeed Ahsan Khalid has successfully conveyed his perception
of true beauty. I would definitely recommend this article to others so that they can get rid of the
misconception regarding the definition of beauty. (287 words)

Activity 2

Read the following article, followed by the response to it and answer the given Questions.

Inclusive Religious Education

Kohinur Khyum Tithila

Religion education is not only the study of a belief system, but also the study of history,
culture and philosophy. Undoubtedly Religious Study is important to understand a culture
and historical significance of different times and contexts. This subject is no less important
than subjects like Sociology and Psychology. In a country like Bangladesh, where we get to
see religious intolerance every now and then, a single book for all religion can be a tool to
wrestle with communalism. Religion influences almost every sphere of our lives. Our ritual,
culture, behaviors, lifestyle are highly influenced by religion. So, an informative book of
'World Religion' can highly influence our mindset in a positive way and develop mutual
respect among followers of different religions.

Different religious books indeed alienate students from each other. Sourav Talukdar, a
student of East West University, says, “Though we had a Hindu teacher in our school, our
religion studies (on Hinduism) class was never taken. We used to play at the premises
during the class-time. I understood that I am a minority at the age of twelve.” There are lots
of students who encounter the same problem. A common book for every student might draw
an end to this problem. The best outcome of having a common book of religious studies in

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school curriculum is that, it can be a tool for developing religious harmony among students.
In recent years, we have seen the demonic picture of religious intolerance. Needless to say,
religious harmony is one of the most important things that need to be promoted in schools.
In school curriculum, the subject 'Islamic studies' is designed in such a way that students get
to learn only about the Prophets of Islam, Muslim religious leaders and remarkable Muslim
influential persons. Why should Muslim students learn about the history, ritual and
historical characters of Islam only and not of other religions? Similarly, followers of other
religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity should be introduced to Islamic rituals,
ideology and influential persons. One book, combined of the concepts of all the religions
can indeed create a revolution in the education system of Bangladesh. It can work as a
catalyst to construct the notion of religious harmony among young people.

People are not accustomed with this concept of teaching Religious Studies in an
incorporated way. If the young people of our country cannot accept the concept of religious
equality then it is a shame for us. The government should take an initiative to design a
common book of religious studies for students, regardless of their religion. Subjects should
be divided by students' interests and expertise, not by their religion. If there can be a
common book for other subjects like Mathematics, Bangla, History and Sociology, there can
be a common book for Religious Studies as well. We are looking for a generation which
will be free from communalism and the inception of this process can take place in
classrooms.

Response on the article “Inclusive Religious Education”

The article “Inclusive religious education” is written by Kohinur khyum Tithila and it was
published in the opinion segment of a popular newspaper of Bangladesh. The article is
written on the burning topic of the present situation in Bangladesh, which is religious
intolerance. The jt how an informative book of world religion can influence common
peoples’ mindset in a positive way and how it can reduce the amount of clashes caused
religious issues.

While reading the article, I was just wondering how she has portrayed the exact and
effective solution of this huge problem so nicely. I felt like she was just echoing my
thoughts regarding this subject. I believe, not only me but every responsible citizen of the
country would agree with her and support her cause. I was so amazed to see how easily we
can remove the battiness for other religious people and embrace the religious and cultural
diversity. The article made me think about the fact, how pathetic the scenario gets during a
religious intolerance, no matter how silly the issue is. The article also made me think about
the fact that how the people of my generation should get united and stand against this
religious intolerance and find new solutions to change our mindset for other religious people
and embrace every religion and culture with joy and respect. I found the writer very bold
and informative to write something like this in this highly conservative country, where bold
people often get defended with powerful weapons. I have found the writer’s solution very

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effective and I think if this theory is applied, it would be really great for the future
generations and hopefully their mindset would be different from ours in a positive way.

While reading the article, I found an interview of a Hindu student and I was amazed to see
that he has told exactly the same story as mine. Being a Hindu, I never had any religious
study classes and we, the Hindu students, had to stand outside the class as if it was our
punishment. From a very early age, we were bound to understand we were a minority.
Finally I can say, after breading this article, I felt a level of confidence deep inside my heart
as I wondered if the writer can write about this issue on a popular newspaper, why can’t
along with my friends and family members can talk about the change and work
anonymously to change the mindset of ours and our future generations. It is high time we
have taken any measure against religious intolerance and it is time to talk out loud in favor
of change.

Questions:
1. In which paragraph the name of the writer and the name of the article should appear?

2. Once the name of the writer and the article have been introduced what is the next
logical step to writing your response paper?

3. What is the significance of the second paragraph?

4. Can you identify the verbs and phrases the student has used to express his/her
options?

5. How else did the student support his/her reaction to the subject matter?

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 Main article-Mysterious Stranger
Annie McMahon

He really did look like a tourist, with a camera around his neck and a bottle of sunscreen
sticking out of his tote bag.
The portly man sat on the terrace, sipping lemonade and pretending to look at a glossy
cruise brochure. His sunglasses masked his eyes, but I knew he wasn't looking at the
brochure: he hadn't turned a page for the last ten minutes.
As I brought him his clam chowder, he coughed up a "thank you" and looked at me briefly.
I tried not to stare at the tiny scar across his left eyebrow.
I walked back inside with my empty tray, shaking my head. He looked familiar, but I
couldn't quite place him.
Then it hit me. The car accident. The mysterious stranger who helped me out of my
smashed car, just before it exploded. I rushed back to his table.
He was gone.
I moved his saucer and found his tip, along with a card:
I am deeply indebted to you. The night of your car accident, I was on my way to rob a
jewelry store. Saving your life brought things back in perspective. I now live an honest life,
thanks to you. God bless you! Mr. D.
I shivered. The night of my car accident, I was heading for an interview in a shady dance
club. Seeing human kindness through his heroic gesture turned my life around and brought
faith back into my life.
I unfolded the tip he left. Among the singles was a grand with a pen mark underlining "In
God We Trust."
I said a silent prayer for him and got back to work, smiling.
(275 words)
Source: https://letterpile.com/creative-writing/flashfictionforeveryone

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Sample 1
A Response paper on Mysterious Stranger

It is a very interesting story. The short story is written by Annie McMahon and it shows the
change in two people’s life. It is taken from https://letterpile.com/creative-writing/flash
fiction for everyone. In my opinion, it is a thrilling story.

After the incident the robber changed his life. Then he led an honest life. Suddenly, the
teller again saw the stranger and firstly she didn’t recognize him, when she looked at the
stranger and she went back to the table she didn’t find the person. She saw the person put
on some tip and a card where the person wrote about his changed life and he was very
thankful to the teller.

It was a very amazing story in my opinion. because here we saw how two people's life
changed. Afterall, th e robber left all the bad work. Finally, I felt that a small incident can
affect a person's whole life.

Sample 2
A Response Paper on “Mysterious Stranger”
The short story written by Anne McMahon is about an incident that changed the whole life
of two people.{Source:https://letterpile.com/creative-writing/flashfictionforeveryone}. It is
about the night when she was going for an interview in a dance club and on the other way a
robber was going for a robbery and they met up in an accident in which the robber saved her
life. One day they met coincidentally and got to know about how they both inspired each
other to become a good person and also to leave the bad works through that incident.

In my opinion, the story was unique because of that incident regarding which they both took
those life changing decisions. I felt that small moments can also create huge impacts in our
life. The part when the man recognized the lady but didn’t say anything directly to her
seemed interesting to me. My favorite part was their return to the path of faith and honesty
because it is a matter of pleasure seeing people getting rid of their bad paths. The author was
unsuccessful in making me feel that “Everything happens for a reason”. And the story
brought a change in my thinking of taking life more seriously and to take the right decision
at the right time.

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Activity 3
Read the above short story and the responses to it. After looking at the response paper
rubric how would you categorize each of the two responses- excellent, good or incomplete?

Incomplete
Excellent Good

The response paper

The response paper
makes a clear
makes a clear argument Lacks a clear argument
argument, but it might
regarding the most and focus. There is
have been more fully
Argument important theme, based little insight or
developed at points, or
on careful thought and originality in the
it contains some
reasoning. The paper is argument.
contradictions or weak
original and insightful.
points.

Demonstrates a good
understanding of all the
relevant course Several key concepts
materials related to the are unclearly stated or
Generally demonstrates
question, including the omitted. Includes only
a good understanding
reading, lectures, class a few examples or the
of the materials, but a
Content discussion and (when examples are not well
few points are not clear
appropriate) videos. chosen, and do not
or lack specific
Includes several well- show a clear
examples.
chosen examples from understanding of the
the course materials to course content.
illustrate the argument
and key concepts.

Clearly written and

Contains several errors
well-edited for
Mostly well-written or style issues that
grammar and spelling,
Writing with a few errors in detract from the clarity
including complete
grammar or spelling. and readability of the
sentences. Presented in
essay.
your own words.

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 The essay lacks a clear
organization, making
the argument difficult
Mostly well-organized
to follow. Lacks an
but could be improved
Well-organized and introduction and/or
with revision to make
easy to follow, with an conclusion, or the
Organization the argument clearer to
introduction and introduction and/or
the reader. At times the
conclusion. conclusion are overly
paper could have been
brief and do not clearly
more tightly written.
state the argument and
summarize the key
points.

Source: https://www.introtoglobalstudies.com/2013/06/class-assignment-response-paper-and-
rubric/

Activity 4
Write a response essay within 200- 250 words on the following article

Why We Judge Others

By Elizabeth Dorrance Hall

Attributions are thoughts we have about others that help us make sense of why people do
the things they do. Attributions answer the questions “Why did he do that?” and “Why did I
do that?” When we go through the process of answering these questions, our brains are
attempting to understand the causes of social behavior. There are two types of attributions
we make about others’ behavior: When we make situational attributions, we believe their
behavior is due to something in their situation: For example, our coworker might have been
short with us, because s/he is tired or overworked. Personality attributions are more about
the person’s character. When we make these attributions, we believe the behavior is due to
the person’s personality. Assuming that the same coworker who was short with us is
impatient or unkind is making a personality attribution. When I’m walking my dogs around
the neighborhood, I wave and say hi to my neighbors who are in their yards or driving by. I
want to create a friendly neighborhood environment, so I do this as much as I can.
Occasionally I get no response from my neighbors. I could make personality attributions
about them and think they are mean or bad people who are not friendly due to their
personality, or Icould give them the benefit of the doubt and think about situational reasons
they might not wave back at me. Perhaps they are distracted, because they just got a phone
call from their mom and learned she is not doing well. Maybe they are stressed at work and

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therefore distracted at home. Maybe they have earbuds in and literally did not hear me say
hello. Making situational attributions instead of personality ones about my neighbors makes
me feel better, since I do not think my neighbors are jerks, and makes my future
communication with them better for the same reason.

It is a useful exercise to give others the benefit of the doubt by thinking about their situation,
rather than jumping to personality attributions, but there are limitations to this approach. We
do not always have time to get to know another’s situation, so making personality
judgments tends to be quicker and more automatic, even if those types of judgments are less
ideal.

### Course instructors are encouraged to find news articles on current issues and ask
students to write their responses on the news articles.

References

https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/writing/how-to-write-a-strong-response-essay.html

https://owlcation.com/academia/Response-Essay-Example

https://www.introtoglobalstudies.com/2013/06/class-assignment-response-paper-and-rubric/
https://letterpile.com/creative-writing/flashfictionforeveryone

https://www.observerbd.com/2016/06/23/157795.php

106
 Writing a Movie Review

Movie Review is - 'the analysis of the film made by one person or collectively expressing the
opinion on the movie. The peculiarity of movie review is that it does not simply evaluate the
movie but gives very specific opinions which are the foundation of film review. This paper
writing as well as writing essays, research papers, and term papers should entertain the reader
and grab the reader's attention immediately. At the beginning it is vital to mention the reputation
of actors and director and write what your expectations were and whether they were fulfilled.
The reviewer should explain how the story builds without recollecting key moments and ending.
The review should be concise and engaging with the use of metaphors, specific adjectives,
analogies, similes etc.' 1

Purpose of writing a movie review:

The main purpose of a movie review is to inform the reader about the film and its ideas. Seems
simple, right? Reporting all events that happen and stating one’s opinion about them is a
common mistake that many students make. While movie review allows writers to express their
opinions about some film or documentary, there is also the need for the unbiased and objective
approach. An ideal review combines both.

The review determines whether someone will want to see the movie. Even if the professor (or
teacher) assigned a specific title and film to review, one should act like this is the perfect
opportunity to introduce the cinematography work to their lecturer. Always assume they haven’t
seen it before. As a result, it becomes easier to analyze events that happened on the screen.

Film review should be detailed enough to provide assistance in making an honest decision i.e.
whether the reader wants to see it or if they’d like it. Why is this type of paper a common school
assignment? Lecturers want to get more insight into a student’s critical thinking skills and the
ability to report events (one or more of them) in a manner that others understand easily.

In addition, they want to assess the way you analyze plot and characters. After all, movie reviews
also involve the analysis of events that happened in a documentary or “regular” film. Reviews
test writing and vocabulary skills, adapting to different genres and events they portray, and your
capacity to sum up some major work and report it in a cohesive, logical, and interesting manner.
While reviews entail more responsibility than initially thought, students find them fun and with
this guide, you will too.

How to write a Good Movie Review

1
bestessays.com

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 You have to write a movie review for school and now what? Where to start, how to make it look
more “academic”? Today, we have the opportunity to use numerous tools to make every part of
our lives easier, and movie review writing is no exception.
Step-by-Step Guide to How to Write a Movie Review

Beginnings are always the hardest. This is the point where you set the pace and determine how to
approach this assignment in the most efficient manner. Here are some useful tips to kick-start the
movie review writing process:

● Watch the movie or documentary twice and take notes of both major and minor events and
characters. It’s a mistake to rely on the power of your memory only, there’s always something
we overlook or forget

● Carry out a thorough research. Watching the movie isn’t enough, research is equally
important. Look for details such as the name of filmmaker and his/her motivation to make that
film or documentary work, locations, plot, characterization, historic events that served as an
inspiration for the movie (if applicable). Basically, your research should serve to collect
information that provides more depth to the review

● Analyze the movie after watching it. Don’t start working on the review if you aren’t sure
you understand the film. Evaluate the movie from beginning to an end. Re-watch it, if
necessary, if you find some parts confusing. Only when you understand events that happened
on the screen will you find it easier to create the review

● Draft an outline that you will follow to write the review in a concise and cohesive fashion

● Include examples for claims you make about the movie. If the plot has holes, then mention an
example of a situation or scene when that was evident. Also, if the character(s) is poorly
developed or bad casting affected the movie quality, name examples too. Provide examples
when commenting dialogues, locations, plot, everything. If you want the reader to agree with
you, it’s essential to back up your claims with evidence. You don’t want to make it seem like
you’re praising or criticizing the movie without any reason whatsoever

● Consider and comment a movie’s originality and quality of scenes. Explain how the movie
stands out or whether it just uses the same approach that worked for previous works in the
industry

How to organize your movie review

Quality of your paper depends on the level of organization you implement. Never underestimate
the importance of well-structured outline, regardless of the type of paper you have to write.
Outlines help you focus on the subject and contribute to a logical flow.
In addition, getting things organized before you start writing is a great way to save time later on.
Instead of trying to figure out what to include, you’ll have a well-structured plan to follow. It’s
needless to mention you won’t be too stressed out. Here is how to organize your movie review:

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● Introduction (with title, release date, background information)
● Summary of the story
● Analysis of the plot elements (rising action, climax)
● Creative elements (dialogues, characters, use of colors, camera techniques, mood, tone,
symbols, costumes or anything that contributes or takes away from the overall plot)
● Opinion (supported with examples and facts from the story)
● Conclusion (announcing whether the filmmaker was successful in his/her purpose, re-state
your evidence, explain how the motion picture was helpful for providing a deeper understand
of course topic)

Movie Review Elements

● The title of the film/documentary – just because your headline features the name of the
movie or documentary it doesn’t mean should skip mentioning it in the text. Always name the
feature you’ve watched in the introductory paragraph. This may seem like a stupid thing to
point out, but it’s one of the most common mistakes that students make

● Summary – the whole point of the review is to summarize the documentary or movie for
people who haven’t watched it yet. To make this as effective as possible, always assume that
your professor hasn’t seen it either (as mentioned above). Why is this important? You won’t
leave out some important details thinking he/she watched it already so they won’t bother. As a
reviewer, your job is to explain what happened in the film and express whether the filmmaker
failed or succeeded. Again, saying you liked or disliked it isn’t a viable comment. Your
opinion has to be supported by specific reasons and examples from the feature itself

● Filmmaker – do a little research on the person who directed the piece. Is that person a
controversial figure? Is he/she known for a political stance? Does the filmmaker have a
significant background? Devote a paragraph or two to the person behind the movie and their
other works in order to establish the significance of the film you are reviewing for the
director’s career

● Significance to your class – How does the content of the documentary or film fit into your
course topic? Is it important for historical accuracy? If you are watching the motion picture for
history class, make note of over-dramatization. If the motion picture is based on the book
you’ve analyzed in English class, you can mention similarities, differences, or some elements
that film contains, but book doesn’t and so on

● Creative elements – filmmakers work hard to include creative elements into their motion
pictures. How are these elements important to the plot and movie in general? For example,
costumes can either enhance the movie or betray its intent. Colors can be vivid and lift the
atmosphere or mood in the movie or they can be dull and make it seem depressing. Good
sound effects enrich the viewing experience while bad ones only destroy everything.
Moreover, camera movements and angles also add elements to the story. Take notes of
symbols in the story, if any.

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● Actors – let’s not forget the casting! Were the actors realistic? Did they portray the role of a
specific character successfully? Did they have good acting skills? Do you believe that some
particular actor was the right fit for the role?

Checklist / Outline for a Good Movie Review

● Introduction (title, topic, release date, background information)

● Accuracy of depiction
● Use of sources in the documentary
● Creative elements that enhance or tarnish the overall story (quality of script, visual design,
performance, lighting, hair, and makeup, costume, set design, symbolism)
● Your opinion
● Conclusion

Mistakes to Avoid

● Not focusing on the film – while connecting the plot to some specific historical event is a good
idea (when applicable), strive to avoid writing about unnecessary details or introducing
irrelevant information such as the history of cinematography or that particular genre, snacks,
among other things

● Inserting yourself – you’re the one who’s writing the review. The paper reflects your
understanding and opinion of the motion picture you’ve seen and there is no need to write in
first person all the time: I noticed this, I saw that I liked this, I disliked that

● Failing to check facts about movie background and release date, director, casting etc.

● Giving out your opinion without mentioning any reason why you think that way

● Talking about irrelevancies

● Writing a review without a structure

● Writing generalities such as great acting, cool effects, a good movie, it was bad etc.

● Writing a review without substance or analysis of the feature

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 A Movie Review Sample: 1

Doob: A film by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki

When does a man die? When he stops communicating with his loved ones…
As Javed Hasan peeks through the window of what seems like a houseboat resting on a tranquil
lake and gazes at the setting sun casting its orange glow over the still waters, he reflects on these
lines. From the bright glare that it was, his life has mellowed like the evening he spends with
wife Maya, daughter Saberi and son Ahir amidst the verdant greens on a weekend getaway.
There’s a lot to talk about — eloping with Maya, the wedding night, the trials and tribulations
and the life they charted out together — but Javed broods over his past, so much so that his wife
wonders, ‘Don’t we have any present?’

Faraway in Dhaka, a storm brings with it an ominous forecast as Neetu, the heroine of his
abandoned film and friend of Saberi, owns up to the media about the friendship she has
‘developed’ with Javed. As the media blizzard grows into a catastrophic hurricane, the family is
ripped from the foundation of togetherness. What follows is a long, pensive inward journey for
the characters — the pangs of separation and the hungry longing for each other that drowns
them. No wonder, the title of the film is ‘Doob’, which stands for ‘drowning’ in Bengali. So,
Javed, who gets married to Neetu, defends her newly-wed — hailed as a national villain —
during a live show on TV, but secretly nurses the wound of being separated from his first family.

Irrfan as Javed turns in a sublime performance as a man who is hopelessly in love with his past,
but is also accepting of his present. Bangladeshi director Mostafa Sarwar Farooki, who adopts
and adapts a scandal that once shook the conservative Bangladeshi society, walks a tightrope and
sometimes gets caught in the safe zone he creates. Though the film is a linear journey, there are
deliberate time lapses that help avoid the melodrama alright, but the abrupt truncations and
uneven editing leave many things to the imagination. It’s not clear if it’s the Bangladesh Censor
Board that held back the no-objection certificate, the concerns raised by a section of people there
or Farooki’s own inability to take a stance that Javed’s relationship with Neetu is relegated to the
sidelines of what becomes a father-daughter story.

Nusrat Imrose Tisha as Saberi is superlative, while Rokeya Prachy pours her soul into the
melancholic Maya, who fights hard to move on in life. Bengal’s homegrown talent Parno Mittra
has little to do as Neetu, but is in character as the possessive younger wife. The highlight of the
film is a scene where she comes face to face with Tisha aka Saberi at their school reunion, their
eyes telling the story of a friendship gone wrong. In flashback, a little Neetu is seen asking
Saberi why her father always took her in his films, to which she says, ‘I will ask him to take you
in his next’.

Through a background score that evokes pain and the soul-stirring number, Ahare jibon, Pavel
Areen and Chirkutt harp on the philosophy that relationships don’t die, men do. The wake-up-
call-for-the-soul kind of a film is captured beautifully through the camera of Sheikh Rajibul
Islam, who zooms in on the feet of Hasan when the family cat clutches on to it, in a desperate bid
to hold the master back or a brother gauging her sister’s reactions through the reflection in the
mirror.

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Through riveting long shots and lingering close-ups, he compliments Farooki’s requiem-like
treatment of the film. Doob tells us about the conflict of the mind and the body, love and
longing, life and death, delving somewhere in between paradise lost and regained — it’s the
same world, as many would know, that was created out of an author-director’s Fountain Pen.

(The review was written by Zinia Sen of Times of India)

References:

1. https://www.bestessays.com/glossary/movie_review.php

2. https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review

3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movie-reviews/doob-no-bed-of-
roses/movie-review/61274679.cms]

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 Process Analysis Essay

ICE BREAKING ACTIVITY

a)Think of any recent activity/work that you performed, e.g. capturing a photo
using your smartphone, or losing weight, or editing video etc.

b)What was the very first thing you did in performing the work?

c)What did you do next?

d)What did you do after that?

e)How did you conclude the activity/work?

Whatever activity we do in our life or everyday life, that happens in stages. The stages are
sometimes markedly visible, e.g. the stages in cooking noodle. In some other actions the stages
or processes occur so seamlessly that we tend to take those for granted; for example, think of
how a water filter functions to purify water. The commonality between the two types of actions
is that there underlies the process or series of events in both. When the process or series of events
required to complete any action is explained in an essay form, it is called a Process Analysis
essay.

THE PURPOSE OF PROCESS ANALYSIS IN WRITING

Almost everything we do involves a step-by-step process. From riding a bike as children to

learning various jobs as adults, we initially need instructions to effectively execute the task.
Likewise, we have likely had to instruct others, so we know how important good directions are;
and how frustrating it is when they are poorly put together.

The purpose of a process analysis essay is to explain how to do something or how something
works. In either case, the structure for a process analysis essay remains the same. The process is
articulated into clear, definitive steps.

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TYPES OF PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

There are two types of process analysis essays in general: Informational (how something
works)and Directional (how to do something).

Directional Essay: A directional process analysis essay provides directions to achieve a

particular result, e.g. how to get a haircut on your own. It is intended for enabling the reader to
duplicate the process, e.g. how to wash a sweater, how to improve reading comprehension, and
so forth.

Informational Essay: An informational process analysis essay explains for a reader the process
of how something functions, e.g. how a hair dryer works. It is to help the reader understand the
steps and the result more clearly, but is not necessarily intended for the reader to duplicate. To
exemplify, how a bill becomes a law, how an egg becomes a chicken, how a computer’s central
processing unit functions etc.

PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY STRUCTURE

The organization of a process analysis essay typically follows chronological order. The steps of
the process are conveyed in the order in which they usually occur. Body paragraphs will be
constructed based on these steps. If a particular step is complicated and needs a lot of explaining,
then it will likely take up a paragraph on its own; but if a series of simple steps is easier to
understand, the steps can be grouped into a single paragraph. The structure is as follows:

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I. Introduction

§Grabber—begin with a startling question/quotation/anecdote (small scale personal life

story) relevant to the topic

§Transitional sentence—that connects the grabber and thesis statement

§Thesis statement

II. Body paragraph 1

§Topic sentence—identify step 1

§Supporting detail 1

§Supporting detail 2

III. Body paragraph 2

§Topic sentence—identify step 2

§Supporting detail 1

§Supporting detail 2

IV. Body paragraph 3

§Topic sentence— identify step3

§Supporting detail 1

§Supporting detail 2

V. Conclusion

§Summary statement/ concluding sentence—restate/paraphrase the thesis statement

§Suggestions

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TRANSITION WORDS FOR EXPRESSING TIME RELATED SEQUENCE OF
EVENTS

first simultaneously initially primarily

after/afterwards second gradually eventually

next After that later then

finally To sum up at last lastly

SAMPLE PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

How to plan a family get-together

by

Fahima-tus-sadia

Outline

★Introduction

Grabber: Did you ever have some time to think why a family get together is so fascinating? A
family get together gives us a big opportunity to meet our dear ones and also gives immense
pleasure to all. Because of that we always try to grab all the chances of arranging a family get
together.

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Transitional sentence: A proper management is essential for implementing a successful get
together.

Thesis statement: We will be able to arrange a family get together successfully, if we maintain
four necessary steps.

★Body Paragraph 1:

Main idea: Planning

Topic Sentence: Proper planning is one of the most important steps which will make other steps
easier and also estimate the proper budget and the number of guests.

Supporting detail 1: Deciding place and time

Supporting detail 2: Calculating the number of guests

Supporting detail 3: Deciding food menu

★Body Paragraph 2:

Main idea: Organizing

Topic Sentence: Organizing is another important step where we need to distribute the task among
us and also bring all the necessary items to organize this get together.

Supporting detail 1: Inviting all the members.

Supporting detail 2: Distributing task among all

Supporting detail 3: Bringing all necessary items.

★Body Paragraph 3:

Main idea: Monitoring

Topic Sentence: Monitoring is a step that will help to reduce further mistakes and save times.

Supporting details 1: Monitoring guests likes and dislikes.

Supporting details 2: Monitoring how other works are going on

★Body Paragraph 4:

Main idea: Implementing

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Topic Sentence: Implementing is the last step of this procedure which will give us the final
result.

Supporting detail 1: Preparing accommodation for the guests.

Supporting detail 2: Decorating the house.

Supporting detail

★Conclusion

Summary statement/Concluding Sentence: Proper planning, organizing, monitoring and

implementing will finally lead us to make a successful family get together.

Suggestions:

i) Giving full effort

ii) Rechecking every step frequently

Essay

Did you ever have some time to think about why a family gets together is so fascinating? A
family get together gives us a big opportunity to meet our dear ones and also gives immense
pleasure to all. Because of that we always try to grab all the chances of arranging a family get
together. A proper management is essential for implementing a successful get together. We will
be able to arrange a family get together successfully, if we maintain four necessary steps.

Proper planning is one of the most important steps which will make the subsequent steps easier
and also will help estimate the budget and number of guests. Before arranging a family get-
together, at first it is necessary to think when and where the get-together will be organized and
also who will be invited and what the possibilities of their attending is. Afterwards, it is
important to decide the budget and food menu for that day. Figuring out the quantity of food
items that will be purchased for that day is a must. Otherwise, this single mistake can ruin the
whole arrangement if there is a shortage of food. Thus, a proper planning before arranging a
family get together will help reach the other steps easily.

Organizing is the second important step in which the planned tasks are to be distributed among
the volunteers, all the necessary commodities and groceries to organize the get-together are to be
gathered, and all the members who we want us to join are to be invited. To arrange a family get
together, there are a lot of things to do which are impossible to do by one person. That is why
distributing work between volunteers is essential. Also, buying and arranging all the necessary
stuff is important. Otherwise there will be hassle in the last minute before the final arrangement.

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After organizing, we need to implement everything that has been planned and organized. This
will give us the final result in the form of the get-together. To allow this to happen, the get-
together venue has to be decorated. A proper greeting of the guests is the next required thing so
that everyone feels comfortable. When the invitees will join and enjoy all the things arranged, it
will be a successful implementation.

Monitoring is the last step of the entire process which needs to be done throughout the event
time. While executing a big task we sometimes make some minor mistakes that ultimately create
a mess and waste our valuable time as well. Proper monitoring will help us keep track of every
small detail that is related to our function such as: how many people are coming, whether the
number of people are increasing or decreasing, who likes or dislikes what, and so forth. Thus
proper monitoring is a must for executing this type of event to reduce mistakes and times as well.

To encapsulate, sound planning, organizing, monitoring and implementing will lead us to make a
successful family get-together. Since a family get-together is an event with huge members,
sometimes it is difficult to arrange. To make this kind of event memorable, proper management
is necessary. That is why we have to put the best of our efforts as organizers and recheck
everything all again while implementing.

Activity 1:

The transitional words in the box below have a particular function. Choose the appropriate
ones and fill in the gaps (You may need to repeat some of them).

Successful Exercise

Regular exercise is something like the weather - we all talk about it, but we tend not to do
anything about it. Exercise classes on television and exercise programs on videos and CDs- as
well as instructions in books, magazines, and pamphlets now make it easy to have a low-cost
personal exercise program without leaving home. 1. ________ for success in exercise, you
should follow a simple plan consisting of arranging time, making preparations, and starting off at
a sensible pace.

Everyone has an excuse for not exercising: a heavy schedule at work or school; being rushed in
the morning and exhausted at night; too many other responsibilities. 2._____ one solution is

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simply to get up half an hour earlier in the morning. Look at it this way: if you're already getting
up too early, what's an extra half hour? 3._______ that time could be cut to 15 minutes earlier if

you could lay out your clothes, set the breakfast table, fill the coffee maker, and gather your
books and materials for the next day before you go to bed.

4.______prepare for your exercise session.5.______ get yourself ready by not eating or
drinking anything before exercising. Why risk an upset stomach?6._____ dress comfortably in
something that allows you to move freely. 7._______you'll be in your own home, there's no

need to invest in a high-fashion dance costume. A loose T-shirt and shorts are good. A bathing
suit is great in summer, and in winter, long underwear is warm and comfortable. If your hair
tends to flop in your eyes, pin it back or wear a headband or scarf. Prepare the exercise area,
too. Turn off the phone and lock the door to prevent interruptions. Shove the coffee table out of
the way so you won't bruise yourself on it or other furniture. 8._________get out the simple
materials you'll need to exercise with.

9.________use common sense in getting started. Common sense isn't so common, as anyone
who reads the newspapers and watches the world can tell you. If this is your first attempt at
exercising, begin slowly. You do not need to do each movement the full number of times at first,
but you should try each one. After 3 five or six sessions, you should be able to do each one the
full number of times. Try to move in a smooth, rhythmic way, this will help prevent injuries and
pulled muscles. Pretend you're a dancer and make each move graceful, even if it's just getting up
off the floor. 10._______ give yourself five minutes to relax and E cool off you have earned it.
11._______put those sore muscles under a hot shower and get ready for a great day.

Establishing an exercise program isn't difficult, but it can't be achieved by reading about it,
talking about it, or watching models exercise on television. It happens only when you get off that
couch and do something about it. As my doctor likes to say, "if you don't use it, you'll lose it."

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Activity 2: Arrange the paragraphs sequentially:

How to Cook Perfect Rice:

1.The next stage is to add the boiling water to the pan (to save time I always pour it into the
measuring jug straight from a boiling kettle). Stock is an excellent alternative particularly if the
rice is to be served with chicken (use chicken stock) or beef (use beef stock), and for fish a fish
stock is particularly good. I don't recommend stock cubes, as I find them too strong, masking
the delicate flavor of the rice. Also don't forget to add salt; about 1 level teaspoon to every 5
floz (150 ml) of rice.
2.The very best utensil for cooking fluffy, separate rice is a frying pan with a lid. Over the years I
have found that the shallower the rice is spread out during cooking, the better. Buying a 10 inch
(25.5 cm) pan with a lid would be a good lifetime investment for rice cooking. Failing that, try to
find a large saucepan lid that will fit your normal frying pan. First cook some onions, which can
provide extra flavor but are not a necessity as rice can be cooked quite simply in water. Then add
the rice, which doesn't need to be washed because it is thoroughly cleaned at the milling stage,
and washing it removes some of the nutrients (anyway the high temperature of the cooking will
purify it). Turn the grains over in the pan until they are nicely coated and glistening with oil. This
helps to keep the grains separate.
3.When the rice is cooked, remove the lid, turn the heat off and place a clean tea cloth over the
pan for 510 minutes. This will absorb the steam and help keep the grains dry and separate. Just
before serving, use the tip of a skewer or a fork to lightly fluff up the grains.
4.The best rice to use for separate, fluffy grains is basmati. This has long, thin; pointed grains,
and is more expensive than others but, since cooking is about flavor, it is the one to buy as it has
a far superior taste. Always measure rice by volume and not by weight: use a measuring jug and
measure 212 floz (65 ml) per person (5 floz/150 ml for two, 10 floz/275 ml for four and so on).
The quantity of liquid you will need is roughly double the volume of rice; so 5 floz (150 ml) of
rice needs 10 floz (275 ml) of hot water or stock.
5.Cover with the lid and turn the heat down to its lowest setting. Leave it alone - once the lid is
on, set the timer and go away! If you lift the lid and let the steam out you can slow down the
cooking process, and rice should always be cooked as briefly as possible. Give white rice 15
minutes and brown rice 40 and use a timer - overcooking is what spoils rice. The best way to
test if it is cooked is simply to bite a grain. Another way is to tilt the pan and, if liquid collects at
the edge, it will need a couple more minutes' cooking.
6.Once the hot liquid has been added, stir once only as you don't want to break the delicate
grains - this releases the starch and results in sticky rice, spoiling it utterly. Because people get
nervous and anxious or because they just have a habit of stirring things, this is the fatal flaw.

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ACTIVITY: 3

1. Read the following outline of a Process Analysis essay and list the areas for improvement
in light of the previous sample outline.

2. Read the following outline of a Process Analysis essay and write topic sentences for three
of the body paragraphs.

How to plan a family get-together

Outline

I. Introduction

Thesis statement: For planning a family get together we need to follow some steps.

II. Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence:

Supporting details:

* Make a plan.

* Picking up a location

III. Body Paragraph 2:

Topic sentence:

Supporting details:

* Select Food menu

* Decoration

* Fun activities

IV. Body Paragraph 3:

Topic sentence:

Supporting details:

*Invite the members

* Serve the food

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 * Ask if someone needs anything

V. Conclusion

Getting together is something that most of us look forward to. With some proper steps we can
organize a perfect family program.

ACTIVITY: 4

1. Read the introduction of the following essay and identify the thesis statement. If
unavailable, include one.

2. Read the rest of the essay and add necessary supporting details.

3. Do you think the essay has a satisfactory closure? If not, write one.

Essay

Getting together is something that most of us look forward to. My first family get-together is my
mom's birthday. No matter what date the week is my siblings and I managed to gather our
families to enjoy our mom for dinner.

So now how to plan a family get-together? Start by picking a date and location. Our best first
step is to send questionnaires to family members to get input when, where and what they want.

If our reunion will be outside, reserve a pavilion that can accommodate all the attendees in case
of unexpected weather. so we need a back up plan.

Cost can be a big factor in attendance. Keep our cost down. I need to set a food menu, decoration
and some fun activities according to my healthy budget.

Activity :5

The following essay explains how to write an essay. Therefore, this is an informational essay.
Note the bold and underlined thesis statement that contains the unifying theme for the essay.
Also, transitions and key words that indicate the process essay development are made bold and
italicized.

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 The Essay Writing Process

Writing is a process that allows ideas to be expressed on paper. Writing an essay can be a task
that requires some time to complete, but if a writer allows preparation time, then the process can
be quite simple. Several steps are involved in the process of writing. Five basic steps will allow
a writer to achieve the best possible outcome when trying to develop an essay.

First, the writer must choose a topic or subject. If the topic is assigned, this step is
unnecessary.But, if the writer must choose, he or she can incorporate two questions into the
selection process. What is my purpose for developing the essay? Who is my audience? When
The answers are clear, and a topic has been chosen, it is time to formulate the thesis statement.

Next, step twoof the writing process is drafting a thesis statement which will make clear the
author's position on the topic. The thesis statement is the central idea that the rest of the essay
will support. It is the main point of the paper and is usually written in one complete sentence. In
the thesis statement, the writer explains, defends, or proves the chosen topic. Usually, the thesis
statement also identifies the writer's method of essay development. Examples of essay
development are cause/effect, definition, compare/contrast, exemplification or illustration,
process analysis, classification, analysis, persuasion or argument, description, and narration.
Oncethe thesis is declared, the writer is ready for the next step, organizing the ideas to support
the thesis.

Step three,organizing ideas, can be accomplished in a variety of ways. The writer can free-write,
that is, begin writing whatever thoughts pop into his or her head, and organize them later. The
writer can also organize ideas in a prearranged fashion. If a writer chooses to brainstorm, he or
she will write down all of his or her ideas in no particular order. Clustering, sometimes called
mapping, is similar to brainstorming; however, it is a more organized way to write ideas because
a diagram is constructed to illustrate how one idea branches off from another. Clustering can also
be utilized as a flowchart. Finally,a writer may choose to include an outline, which will arrange
ideas in a logical order, including the thesis statement, main ideas, and supporting points.
Whatever way a writer chooses to organize his or her ideas, once the ideas are structured, the
writer is ready for step four,writing the rough draft.

After organizing the ideas, all of the ideas are now. formed into complete paragraphs when
writing the rough draft. The introduction paragraph will include the thesis statement, normally
located at the end of the paragraph. The thesis statement is followed by supporting paragraphs
using the organized ideas. Duringthis stage of writing, the writer writes without worrying about
sentence structure or spelling. Paragraphs are constructed as follows: main idea, major
supporting sentences, and minor supporting details. Whenall of the ideas have been exhausted,
and there is no more to write, the writer is ready for the final step,revising the piece of writing.

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Good Sample Essay

PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY

How I got admitted at EWU

by

Debabrata Roy

Introduction:

Grabber: Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”.

Transitional sentence: Education is the gift that nobody can snatch it from you. It helps a man to
discover himself and his surroundings. I also like to learn new things and I think educational
institutes are the best for this purpose. After I got my H.S.C. result, I got admitted to East West
University (EWU).

Thesis statement: I followed some certain steps to get myself admitted to EWU.

Body paragraph 1:

Topic sentence: At first, I started collecting information about university for my admission.

Supporting details:

1) At first I learned about top tier universities names in Bangladesh and checked their
backgrounds and achievements.

2) Learn about the credit prices of different subjects and total cost in those universities.

3) Discussed with my family about financial issues and opportunities

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic sentence: After deciding EWU, I decided to apply online to the University for my
Admission.

Supporting details:

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1) Filled up form with personal details

2) Choose my subject and list of choice

3) Paid 2000 tk

Body Paragraph 3:

Topic sentence: Finally after waiting for about a month, I got a confirmation letter that my
admission request in the EEE department had been accepted.

Supporting details:

1) Filled up bank slip

2) Went to the bank near my house

3) Paid 15000 tk in cash

Conclusion:

Summary statement: By following the above mentioned steps, my admission in EWU became
very easy.

Suggestions:

1) I think everybody should follow proper steps before submitting any request for admission.

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Highlight the transition words used in the essay

Essay

How I got admitted at EWU

Benjamin Franklin said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”. Education is the
gift that nobody can snatch it from you. It helps a man to discover himself and his surroundings.
I also like to learn new things and educational institutes are the best for this purpose. After I got
my H.S.C. As a result, I got admitted to East West University (EWU). I followed some certain
steps to get myself admitted to EWU.

At first, I started collecting information about university for my admission. I searched for the
best universities list in Bangladesh on Google. I got a list of a bunch of universities. After
excluding many universities I selected AUST, BRAC, NSU, AIUB, EWU, and UIU. Then, I did
a background check of those varieties as well as check their achievement. I learnt different
subject’s credit prices and total costs. After discussing it with my family, I decided to get
admitted to EWU.

After deciding on EWU, I decided to apply online to the University for my Admission. I went to
an internet café and filled up a form provided by the university with my personal details. I chose
EEE as the first subject that I wanted and had to give them a list of my preferred subjects so that
they could provide me with the list if EEE seats were not available. I had to pay about 2000 for
this total procedure.

Finally after waiting for like one month, I got a confirmation letter that my admission request in
the EEE department had been accepted. I was provided a bank payment slip. I filled the slip and
went to an instructed bank near my house. I paid 15000 tk for admission purposes and about
50000 tk as course fee to complete the admission formalities.

In the end, I can say, by following the above mentioned steps, my admission in EWU was very
easy. I think everybody should follow proper steps before submitting any request for admission.
It saves a lot of time and money and keeps many troubles away.

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ACTIVITY 6:

1. Prepare an outline for a Process Analysis essay on any of the following topics and then
write the essay. You may include more than three body paragraphs if you have more than three
steps to discuss.

i.Capturing photo using your smartphone

ii.Losing weight

iii.Editing video

iv.Getting a haircut on your own

PROCESS ANALYSIS ESSAY CHECKLIST FOR PEER FEEDBACK

Once you complete writing an essay on one of the topics above, please exchange your writing
with the peer next to you and offer them feedback based on the following checklist.

1. Grabber (in the form of topic related anecdote/quotation/statistics)

2. Thesis statement

3. Body Paragraphs

4. Topic sentence at the beginning of each body paragraph

5. Adequate supporting details with examples/evidence/statistics etc.

6. Sequential organization of ideas

7. Summary statement (through appropriate restatement of thesis statement)

8. Suggestions

9. Use of appropriate transitional devices that clearly identifies the steps

REFERENCES

The purpose of process analysis in writing. (n.d.). Process analysis.

https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_writing-for-success/s14-05-process-analysis.html

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 Argumentative Composition

Organization of the chapter:

1.Brainstorming

2.What is an argumentative composition?

3.Components of an argumentative composition

4.Sample outline structure

5.Sample argumentative composition with outline (colour-coded)

6.Exercises

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Brainstorming:
(This section, with the help of a very common family scenario, will create the foundation for
students. They will be able to grasp the ideas of how to present their own stance; how to deal
with the opposing point of views; how to balance their own and others’ perspectives; and how to
reestablish their opinions.)

Suppose, you want to buy a new mobile phone, and you are going to ask your parents to buy it
for you. Now, what do you think will happen if they do not want to buy you a new phone?

a) How are you going to convince them?

b) What are the reasons you are going to give to convince them?

c) What are the reasons they are going to provide to make you realize that the new phone is not
an absolute necessity right now?

d) Are you going to ignore their opinions completely, or are you going to consider their
perspective as well?

e) Are you going to give it a try again to establish your point of views?

What is an argumentative composition?

The argumentative composition is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a
topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise
manner.

The structure of the argumentative composition is held together by the following:

a) A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the
composition:

In the first paragraph of an argument composition, students should set the context by reviewing
the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why the topic is important or why
readers should care about the issue. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is
essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in
the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the composition, it will be quite
difficult to compose an effective or persuasive composition.

b) Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion:

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the composition together. Without logical
progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the composition’s argument, and the

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structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and
introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.

c) Body paragraphs that include evidential support:

Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for
clarity and direction throughout the composition. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of
readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the
composition must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph.
Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected during
research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis.

However, argumentative compositions should also consider and explain differing points of view
regarding the topic. Depending on the length of the assignment, students should dedicate one or
two paragraphs of an argumentative composition to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic.
Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, students should note
how opinions that do not align with their thesis might not be well informed or how they might be
out of date.

d) Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal):

The argumentative composition requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current

information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual,
logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must
consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a
successful and well-rounded argumentative composition will also discuss opinions not aligning
with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the
student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong outright, but rather to explain how other
positions may not be well informed or up to date on the topic.

e) A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence
provided:

It is at this point of the composition that students may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the
composition that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore,
it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion;
rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the composition. Restate why the
topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include
a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.

f) The five-paragraph composition:

A common method for writing an argumentative composition is the five-paragraph approach.

This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such compositions. If it sounds
straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph

131
(b) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and (c) a
conclusion.

Helpful Weblink:

https://writefix.com/?page

Video Link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2I6N5tsKhc

Components of an Argumentative Composition

Thesis statement:

A principal element of an argumentative/analytical essay is the thesis statement. A thesis

statement is one or two sentences (maybe more in longer essays) typically occurring near the end
of an essay introduction; it shows your position regarding the topic of the statement or your
answer(s) to the question(s) that you are responding to.

Here are some templates that may help you write an effective thesis statement:

● In this composition/essay, I argue that ... because ...

● Although/Even though .......... this composition/essay argues that/I argue/I agree with/I
disagree with ... because ...
● This composition/essay attempts to show that ...
● This composition/essay contests the claim that ...
● This composition/essay argues that ...
● In this essay, I attempt to defend the view that ...

I say:

You need to include your own position on the topic (“I say”). Tell your reader if, for instance,
you agree, disagree, or even both agree and disagree with the given statement.

You can use one of the following templates or samples to bring your voice in:

Using impersonal language

● It could be argued that...

● It is evident/clear/obvious that ...
● Clearly/Evidently, …
● There is no little doubt that ...

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Agreeing with the statement

● I agree (that) ...

● I support the view that ...
● I concur with the view that ...

Disagreeing with the statement

● I disagree (that) ...

● I disagree with the view that ...
● I challenge/contest the view that ...
● I oppose/am opposed to ...

Agreeing and disagreeing simultaneously

● Although I agree with the statement up to a point, I cannot accept the overriding
assumption that ...
● Although I disagree with much that the statement presents, I approve that ...
● Though I concede that ..., I still insist that ...

My critics say:

In a good argumentative essay, in addition to expressing your position and argument, you should
consider possible opposing views to your argument: refer to what your opponents say (“my
critics/others say”) and why they may disagree with your argument.

Including the ideas of those who may disagree with you makes up the counterargument section
of your paper. You imagine what those who disagree with you might say. Remember, a thesis
should be debatable, so you should be able to imagine someone disagreeing you are your
position. Here are some templates that may help you in writing counterargument:

· Opponents of (write your argument briefly here) may call this into question/may question
this and would argue that…

· Some/others, however, might argue that my interpretation overlooks...

· Critics believe that...

· One may offer a contrasting perspective and state that...

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I respond:

After explaining what your opponents say, you have to refute them. This is sometimes called the
rebuttal. Here, you can show your readers that your opponents either fail to provide enough
evidence to support their argument or their evidence lacks credibility and/or is flawed.

· However, I believe that …

· Even though others may have a different opinion, I believe that/I still think that …

· Their argument fails to find/show/demonstrate/account for/acknowledge a (any) benefit

in/a (any) link between/a (any) correlation between/a (any) connection between/a (any) causal
relationship between/a (any) consistent association between ...

Sample Outline Structure

Introduction:

Topic Sentence:

Background information

Thesis Statement: (amalgamating of the main ideas presented in three body paragraphs)

Body Paragraph 1: (first reason/argument in support of your stance)

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Details:

(explaining your point of views with appropriate reasons/logic/supporting evidence)

Body Paragraph 2: (second reason/argument in support of your stance)

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Details:

(explaining your point of views with appropriate reasons/logic/supporting evidence)

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Body Paragraph 3: (counter argument and refutation)

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Details:

(stating other people’s point of views and refuting the opposing point of views)

Conclusion:

Concluding Sentence:

Sample Argumentative Compositions with Outlines

Color codes:

·Green: Topic sentences

·Blue: Thesis statements

·Brown: Transitional words

Sample 1: Our Government Should Allocate More Land for Forestation than Building
Accommodation

(adapted from the writing of Anannya Mukti Nishu, Spring’20)

Outline

Introduction:

Topic sentence: With every passing day, the greeneries around us are decreasing more and more.

Thesis statement: Although other people may have a different perspective, I agree with the given
statement as it would help restore the balance of nature and help create a better place for
everyone to live in.

Body paragraph 1:
Topic sentence: Firstly,mankind has destroyed forests in the name of civilization and it is time to
take steps to help restore the balance of nature.

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Supporting details:
1.Planting more and more trees
2.Avoiding cutting more trees
3.Stopping global warming

Body paragraph 2:

Topic sentence: Secondly,reforestation and allotting more land will ensure a better environment
for everyone to live in.

Supporting details:

1. Having a healthier environment

2. Creating a sanctuary for all the species

3. Ensuring a better climate for the future generation

Body paragraph 3: (counter argument and refutation)

Topic sentence: However, other people may have a different perspective and they can say that
our government should allocate more land for building accommodation.
Supporting details:
1.Ensuring the basic need for accommodation (counter argument)
2.Helping the real estate businesses (counter argument)
3.Having long-term local and global impact (refutation)

Conclusion:

Concluding sentence: In conclusion, it can be said that allocating more land for accommodation
may seem profitable for short-sighted people, but allotting the resources for forestation will turn
out to be more profitable in the long run.

136
Composition

With every passing day, the greeneries around us are decreasing more and more. In the name of
civilization, we are cutting off trees showing different reasons. It is important to have trees and
forests around us if we want to live in a safe environment. Cutting down trees here and there is
showing a negative impact on our environment and climate.Although other people may have a
different perspective, I agree with the given statement as it would help restore the balance of
nature and help create a better place for everyone to live in.

Firstly, mankind has destroyed forests in the name of civilization, and it is time to take steps to
help restore the balance of nature. If the government allocates more land for forestation, it would
be easier to plant more trees to restore the balance. Therefore, everyone should avoid cutting
down more trees at any cost. It would help to spread awareness among the people and encourage
them to participate. Moreover, if everyone around the world participates in the reforestation in
government allotted land, it would help us stop the global warming that mankind caused and help
restore the balance in nature.

Secondly, reforestation and allotting more land will ensure a better environment for everyone to
live in. If the government allocates more land for forestation, it will ensure a healthier
environment for us. There will be less pollution and fresh air with more oxygen to breathe in. All
the species that were almost extinct due to deforestation will have a sanctuary to accommodate
them. Furthermore, it will be helpful not only to mankind but also to all the species of the
ecosystem. That is how we will be able to ensure a better climate for our future generation.

However, other people may have a different perspective, and they can say that our government
should allocate more land for building accommodations. As accommodation is one of the basic
needs, allocating more land for that or clearing the forest to ensure that is a must. Also, the real
estate business being a major part of our economy helps allocate more resources in that sector
rather than planting trees. It is plausible that different people might have diverse opinions
regarding the matter; nevertheless, I believe that our government should allocate more lands for
forestation than building accommodation because it will have a long-term impact locally and
globally.

In conclusion, it can be said that allocating more land for accommodation may seem profitable
for short-sighted people, but allotting the resources for forestation will turn out to be more
profitable in the long run. Our government should think about the consequences and act fast.
Instead of focusing only on the present, it would be a much wiser idea to think about the future
and make decisions accordingly.

137
 Sample 2: All Indian Satellite Channels Should be Banned in Bangladesh

(Adapted from the writing of Mehrab Islam Arnob, Summer’20)

Outline

Introduction:

Topic Sentence: Indian culture is a big part of our own culture.

Thesis Statement: I think all Indian satellite channels should be banned in Bangladesh as they are
often a source of adults’ addiction and airs inappropriate content for children; however, other
people who teach these channels regularly can have a different point of view.

Body Paragraph 1:

Topic Sentence: Firstly, Indian drama and sports channels are a major cause of addiction for the
adult population of Bangladesh and usually transits into other domestic issues.

Supporting Details:

·Causing addiction in adults

·Resulting in loss of motivation and productivity

·Causing domestic issues

Body Paragraph 2:

Topic Sentence: Secondly, children’s channels often air programs that make them violent, and
addicted and teach them inappropriate things.

Supporting Details:

·Making children violent towards peers and parents

·Causing addiction in children

·Teaching inappropriate things to children

Body Paragraph 3: (counter argument and refutation)

Topic Sentence: Nonetheless, the regular viewers of these channels may disagree by saying that
all Indian satellite channels should not be banned.

138
Supporting Details:

·being a major source of income (counter argument)

·being a big source of entertainment (counter argument)

·receiving proper credits for the Bangladeshi channel (refutation)

Conclusion

Topic Sentence: In a nutshell, even though some people might disagree that all Indian satellite
channels should be banned, I stand by my opinion and believe that it will bring a healthy change
to our entertainment section.

Composition

Indian culture has become a big part of our own culture. Many of our necessary products
come from India including entertainment. Indian satellite channels take up a major section of our
television channels. This includes drama, cartoons, music and sports-related content. Some
Bangladeshi people even watch Indian politics. I think all Indian satellite channels should be
banned in Bangladesh as they are often a source of adults’ addiction and airs inappropriate
content for children; however, other people who teach these channels regularly can have a
different point of view.

Firstly, Indian drama and sports channels are a major cause of addiction for the adult population
of Bangladesh and usually transits into other domestic issues. Indian drama channels mostly air
drama serials that air new episodes daily throughout the week. This is the main source of
addiction for female adults. On the contrary, male adults are usually more attracted towards
detective serials, documentaries and sports. Most of these shows have lazy writings and exploit
human emotions cheaply. Thus, this addiction lowers their productivity and motivation. Some
drama from the shows also translates into their life and causes domestic issues.

Secondly, children’s channels often air programs that make them violent, and addicted
and teach them inappropriate things. Children’s channels usually air cartoons and dramas. The
cartoons usually have rebellious protagonists that go on dangerous journeys. Even though the
overall tone is positive, they include a lot of violence. As a result, the violence from these shows

139
makes children violent toward their parents and peers. Children also get addicted to them and
lose motivation to do physical activities. Besides, sometimes the characters also do/say sensitive
things that are not appropriate for children.

Nonetheless, the regular viewers of these channels may disagree by saying that all Indian
satellite channels should not be banned. Indian satellite channels are a major source of income
for some people. Moreover, it is also a big source of entertainment. Besides Bangladeshi content,
Indian contents are the closest thing we can relate to and thus attracts a lot of people. It is
understandable why they support the telecast of the Indian channels, but I still strongly believe
that if those channels are banned, Bangladeshi channels and content creators will start being
appreciated by us.

In a nutshell, even though some people might disagree that all Indian satellite channels
should be banned, I stand by my opinion and believe that it will bring a healthy change to our
entertainment section. People will be more interested in Bangladeshi content creators if they look
for relatable content. Children will also watch Bangladeshi channels which offer more
appropriate programs.

Sample Argumentative Composition with Outline

(adapted from the writing of Anannya Mukti Nishu, Spring’20)

Our Government Should Allocate More Lands for Forestation than Building
Accommodation

OUTLINE

Introduction:

Topic sentence: With every passing day, the greeneries around us are decreasing more and more.

Thesis statement: Although other people may have a different perspective, I agree with the given
statement as it would help restore the balance of nature and help create a better place for
everyone to live in.

140
Body paragraph 1:
Topic sentence: Mankind has destroyed forests in the name of civilization and it is the time to
take steps to help restore the balance of nature.
Supporting details:
1.Planting more and more trees
2.Avoiding cutting more trees
3.Stopping global warming

Body paragraph 2:

Topic sentence: Reforestation and allotting more lands will ensure a better environment for
everyone to live in.

Supporting details:

1. Having a healthier environment

2. Creating a sanctuary for all the species

3. Ensuring better climate for the future generation

Body paragraph 3: (counter argument and refutation)

Topic sentence: However, other people may have a different perspective and they can say that
our government should allocate more lands for building accommodation.
Supporting details:
1.Ensuring the basic need of accommodation (counter argument)
2.Helping the real estate businesses (counter argument)
3.Having long-term local and global impact (refutation)

Conclusion:

Concluding sentence: In conclusion, it can be said that allocating more lands for accommodation
may seem profitable for short sighted people, but allotting the resources for forestation will turn
out to be more profitable in the long run.
Composition

With every passing day, the greeneries around us are decreasing more and more. In the name of
civilization, we are cutting down trees for different reasons. It is important to have trees and

141
forests around us if we want to live in a safe environment. Cutting down trees here and there is
showing a negative impact on our environment and climate. Although other people may have a
different perspective, I agree with the given statement as it would help restore the balance of
nature and help create a better place for everyone to live in.

Mankind has destroyed forests in the name of civilization, and it is the time to take steps to help
restore the balance of nature. If the government allocates more land for forestation, it would be
easier to plant more and more trees in order to restore the balance. Everyone should avoid cutting
down more trees at any cost. It would help to spread awareness among the people and encourage
them to participate. If everyone around the world participates in the reforestation in government
allotted land, it would help us stop the global warming that mankind caused and help restore the
balance in nature.

Reforestation and allotting more lands will ensure a better environment for everyone to live in. If
the government allocates more lands for forestation, it will ensure a healthier environment for us.
There will be less pollution and fresh air with more oxygen to breathe in. All the species that
were almost extinct due to deforestation will have a sanctuary to accommodate them. It will be
helpful for not only mankind but also for all the species of the ecosystem. That is how we will be
able to ensure a better climate for our future generation.

However, other people may have a different perspective, and they can say that our government
should allocate more lands for building accommodation. As accommodation is one of the basic
needs, allocating more lands for that or clearing the forest to ensure that is a must. Also, real
estate business being a major part of our economy helps the point of allocating more resources in
that sector rather than planting trees. It is plausible that different people might have diverse
opinions regarding the matter; nevertheless, I believe that our government should allocate more
lands for forestation than building accommodation because it is going to have a long-term impact
locally as well as globally.

In conclusion, it can be said that allocating more lands for accommodation may seem profitable
for short sighted people, but allocating the resources for forestation will turn out to be more
profitable in the long run. Our government should think about the consequences and act fast.
Instead of focusing only on the present, it would be a much wiser idea to think about the future
and make decisions accordingly.

142
 EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1:

Read the following composition thoroughly.

COVID Vaccination Should be Made Mandatory for Children

Composition

The covid vaccine is one of the tools in the fight against coronavirus. Emphasis is now being
placed on vaccinating adults as well as children, because otherwise, it would not be possible to
create resistance against coronavirus in the majority of the population. Although other people
may have a different perspective, I agree with the given statement as it will protect children from
coronavirus and reduce children's health risks.

First of all, covid vaccination should be made compulsory for children to protect children from
coronavirus. Children can easily get infected with various diseases. Therefore, children are also
at risk of contracting the coronavirus. If children are vaccinated against the coronavirus, they will
not be infected with the coronavirus and the coronavirus infection rate will decrease.

Secondly, none of the reasons for making the covid vaccine mandatory for children is to reduce
the health risks to children. There is no substitute for vaccinating against the virus to reduce the
health risks to children and to ensure the presence of children in educational institutions. The
vaccine also boosts children's immunity against coronavirus.

However, other people may have a different perspective and they can say that there is a risk of
side effects in children due to the covid vaccine. There is a risk of getting a fever for some days
after taking this vaccine. There is also the possibility of pain in different parts of the body. It is
plausible that different people might have diverse opinions regarding the matter; nevertheless, I
believe that covid vaccine should be made compulsory for children considering the good health
of children.

In conclusion, the covid vaccine can cause temporary illness in children, but the covid vaccine
should be made mandatory for children considering their long-term health. As new variants keep
appearing, only the vaccine can protect the children from being infected by this virus.

Now, write an outline incorporating all necessary components based on the above-mentioned
composition.

143
EXERCISE 2:Read the following excerpt from an outline carefully.

Outline Excerpt

Thesis Statement:

Body paragraph 1:

Topic sentence: Firstly, children will be safe from COVID virus if they are vaccinated.

Supporting details:
a.Making antibody
b.Making body stronger to fight with COVID
c.Reducing chance of getting seriously affected

Body paragraph 2:

Topic sentence: Secondly, children can get back their normal life if they are vaccinated.

Supporting details:
a.Going to school
b.Playing with friends
c.Going outside with parents

Body paragraph 3: (Counter argument and refutation)

Topic sentence: However, other people may have different opinions and they can say that
COVID vaccine should not be mandatory for children.

Supporting details:
a.Affecting by side effects (Counter argument)
b.Worrying about health (Counter argument)
c.Children having happy life (Refutation)

a. Now, write a proper thesis statement based on the above-mentioned excerpt (please
remember your thesis statement cannot be the same as the previous composition’s one).

b. List the arguments presented in the above piece.

1…………………………………………
2…………………………………………
3…………………………………………

144
EXERCISE 3:

Rickshaws should be completely banned in Dhaka city. -Suppose, this is a topic for an
argumentative composition.

Now, write a thesis statement and counter argument if you agree with this topic and a different
thesis statement and counter argument if you disagree with this one.

a) For agreement:

Thesis Statement:

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Counter Argument:

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

b) For disagreement:

Thesis Statement:

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Counter Argument:

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

145
EXERCISE 4:

Write down arguments for and against the following question. You could work in Pairs.

Why do you need to get a certificate at the end of your study in the university?

For Against

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

Exercise 5

Write argumentative composition with an outline on the following topics:

1. Printed books are more convenient than PDFs

2. Parents are responsible for childhood obesity

3. Traveling with family is more enjoyable than traveling solo

4. The use of social media should be banned for children under 13

5. Health care should be made free for everyone in Bangladesh

146
Peer feedback sheet for argumentative essay
First read the entire essay of your friend for a general understanding of the topic. After you have
done that, read the essay a second time and begin to respond. Please give very specific
comments. Remember, you are responding to help the fellow writers improve the quality of their
paper. Begin with a positive comment and then be critical. Use the guidelines below.
1. What is your favorite part of the composition? Why?
2. Are any parts unclear or confusing for you to understand? Write the paragraph
number and the first words and last few words of the unclear section.

Introduction
3. Do you think the introduction is interesting/inviting? If ‘NO’, suggest an
interesting introduction.
4. Is the thesis statement mentioned in the introduction? Does it state the writer’s
opinion? Do you have any suggestions about the thesis statement sentence?

Organization
5. Are all the paragraphs ordered properly? Is there any part that needs to be
rearranged?
6. Has the writer used transition words to connect a new paragraph to the previous
one? Where does the essay need additional transition words?

Body Paragraphs

7. What is the main idea in the second paragraph? Is the idea supported by details,
examples, information, reasons etc.? What information do you want to know that
the writer has not included?
8. Answer question no seven for the third, the fourth and the other paragraphs of the
essay.

Grammatical Accuracy

9. Are there any words that could be changed so the ideas become clearer?
10. Are there any grammar and spelling errors you would like to point out? Be
specific and point out the exact location of the errors.

147
 Conclusion

11. Is there a conclusion that ties together the entire essay? Does it give a summary or
general statement, look to the future, or express a final or related thought? Do you
have any suggestions for improving the conclusion?
12. What question/s do you have after reading the essay?
13. Any other comments that you would like to give to the writer

References

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/argumentative_essa
ys.html

https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/branches-depts/slc/writing/argumentation/templates-structuring-
argumentative-essays

148
 Writing a News Report

What is Report Writing?

It is a systematic and well-organized presentation of facts and findings of an event that has
already taken place somewhere. Reports are also used as a form of written assessment to find out
what you have learned from your reading, research, or experience and to give you the experience
of an important skill that is widely used in the workplace.

Ice breaking activity:

Q. Based on your understanding of the definition of report writing, what do you think about
news report writing? How can we define it?

149
Format of a Newspaper Report
1.Headline: A descriptive title that is expressive of the contents of the report.

2.By line: Name of the person writing the report along with the designation.

3.Place line: Name of the place of report/incident.

4.Opening paragraph: It includes the expansion of the headline. It needs to be short as it is a

general overview of the report.

5.Body paragraph: The account of the event in detail is generally written in two parts: First, a
complete account of what happened in its chronological sequence (preferably) and second, the
witness remarks.

6.Concluding paragraph: This will include the action that has been taken so far or indicate
further steps that will be taken.

The key elements of a News Report are:

1. Headline

Catches your attention

Sums up the story

2. Byline

Writer’s name

Writer’s Specialty, e.g. sports, food,

crime,current events
150
3. Place line

Where the story begins

4. Lead
4.

The opening section

Gives most important information

Should answer most of the 5W's

5. Body

Supplies detail
Most important details come first

Simple true statements

151
 6. Quotation

What someone actually said

Adds accuracy

Adds “at the scene” feeling

Four Elements of a News Report

Facts

You can hardly call it a news story without the facts. Otherwise, it quickly becomes an opinion
piece or a lifestyle article. Not only does the public expect facts over opinions, they also expect
the journalist to follow sound fact-checking procedures.

Context

In news writing, context answers the question, "Why should I care?" or, "Why should I read
this?" But, from the perspective of the newswriter, context helps you decide what the audience
needs to know. Context is a nice way to gain new readers through an entry point they can relate
to. Context provides the circumstances surrounding the facts of the news story.

Impact

Impact touches on the "why should we care?" theme too. News writing is, indeed, an artform.
Once you take something off the official wire, you have to weave it into a story people will
connect with. Impact keeps readers in tune beyond the headline and the lead, or opening
sentence. What are the ramifications or potential consequences of this news story? How will this
series of events affect me and my loved ones?

Emotion

Emotion commands attention and fosters a communal feeling. Evoking emotion is the magic of
news reporting. Writers must walk the fine line between cold, hard facts and a tug on emotional
heart strings. But we must let the readers decide for themselves. For example, we must not
dictate the audience's feelings by writing, "In a shocking, new development…" Rather, we
should let them choose to be shocked on their own.

152
Balancing Facts and Style
Readers want to know the facts and who or what may be affected by them. Related stories and
background information develop context and emotion while humanizing it. Here are some more
tips on writing a compelling and gripping news report:

Facts

The facts answer the 5Ws (and H): who, what, where, when, why, and how. A journalist has a
responsibility to make sure the facts are accurate and reasonably complete. If you have to write a
report before you get all the facts, then say so in the report.

Style

When writing a news report, use the active voice. The active voice is more understandable and
has more impact. Develop short, concise sentences using action verbs. Your language needs to
be simple, without any words that don't contribute to the focus of the story. For example, the
weather or how someone is dressed doesn't need to be included unless it has a bearing on the
overall story. Try to anticipate any questions the reader might have as you write.

153
154
Dissecting a News Report

4 killed, 14 injured in Gopalganj road accident

[This is the Headline]

Manoj Kumar Saha, Gopalganj, November 28, 2020

[This is Byline and Place Line]

A bus of Dola Paribahan overturns after being plunged into a ditch in Malek Bazar area of
Gopalganj's Tungipara upazila killing 4 people on the spot on Saturday, November 28, 2020.

[This first paragraph answers all Wh-questions and provides an overview of the incident that is
being reported, this is the lead]

At least 14 others were injured. The accident occurred in Malek Bazar area on the Gopalganj-
Pirojpur road in Tungipara upazila around 11am, confirmed Tungipara police station Officer-in-
Charge (OC) AFM Nasim.

[This paragraph provides additional details of the event, information here shows credibility by
mentioning a source]

Three among the deceased have been identified as Sanjit Dhar, 40, of Batikamari village in
Muksudpur upazila; Krishna Kirtania, 32, of Hog Dumuria village in Tungipara and Akamuddin
Molla, 50, of Nilfa village in Tungipara.

[This paragraph dives into further details with specific information such as name, age and
address of the victims]

The identity of another deceased is yet to be ascertained.

[However, this paragraph added to the details even with lack of information, paragraphs in a
news report can also be a single sentence like this one]

OC Nasim said a Dhaka-bound Dola Paribahan bus from Pirojpur's Najirpur, while trying to
overtake another vehicle, fell into a roadside ditch killing four people on the spot. Locals, police
and members of Fire Service have admitted 14 critically injured patients to Gopalganj 250 bed
General Hospital, the OC added.

[This paragraph explains the cause and effect of the incident by quoting relevant personnel. It
also provides the latest update and indicates about future concerns which also acts as a
conclusion or ending remarks of a news like this one]

155
Exercises 1

Write a Headline for the following news article

(a)
Ali Shahriyar Amin, Sports Desk, November 28, 2020

Along with his 5,000th run Saturday, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has now achieved
a rare double landmark of scoring 5,000 runs and taking 350 or more wickets.

Shakib is only the second player in the history of T20s to achieve such a feat after the West
Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has 6,331 runs and 512 wickets in 471 T20s.

The left-hander needed three runs to achieve the feat and he scored exactly that for Gemcon
Khulna against Gazi Group Chattogram in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup in Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla
National Cricket Stadium.

Shakib’s third innings in succession since his one-year ban expired ended in disappointing
fashion as he was caught at mid on against spinner Nahidul Islam in the first ball of the fifth over
of the innings.

The 33-year old has played 311 T20s so far, including Saturday's game, and taken 355 wickets.

Apart from Shakib and Bravo, another West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has scored 5,000
or more runs (5,728 runs in 341 T20s) but taken 300 wickets.

(b)

Jamalpur Kacharipara Ekadosh thumped Uttar Banga 7-1 in the Tricotex Women’s Football
League Saturday in Kamalapur’s Bir Sreshtha Shaheed Mostafa Kamal Stadium, riding on an
incredible six goal-haul from Sadia.

Sadia gave her side the lead in just the third minute, before scoring in the 25th and 28th minute
to complete her treble.

She then added three more goals, while Anika completed the rout in added time of second half as
Jamalpur found themselves in third position in the seven-team standing with 16 points from eight
matches.

Uttar Banga, whose consolation goal came from Ruma, are three points behind in fourth.

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In the other game of the day at the same venue, Begum Anwara Sporting Club picked up a 2-1
win over Kumilla United.

Begum Anwara took the lead in the 14th minute before Thuyenu brought parity for Kumilla just
two minutes later.

Eti though grabbed the winning goal to take Begum Anwara’s points tally to nine.

Hapless Kumilla has just one point.

Exercise 2

Identify the “Headline”, “By Line”, “Place Line” and “Leads” in the following news
articles. Make “Wh-questions” from these leads. Discuss the flow of information in these
reports with a partner or in a group.

(a) Rohingya Genocide: Bangladesh gives OIC $500k for legal battle
Niamey Bss, International Desk, November 28, 2020

Bangladesh has disbursed $500,000 to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation as part of a fund-
raising campaign initiated by foreign ministers of the 57-nation group for The Gambia's legal
battle against Myanmar over the Rohingya genocide in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Gambia is also a member state of the OIC.

"We have already disbursed the fund to the OIC in support of The Gambia in its legal battle,"
said Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary, Bangladesh's permanent representative to the OIC and
ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Patwary, who leads Dhaka at the OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Niger, told the
BSS that the OIC General Secretariat has by now opened up a dedicated account for the West-
African country's battle at ICJ, as the nation also signalled its urgent need for funds.

"I call for urgent, voluntary and substantial contribution of the [OIC] member states for the legal
case," The Gambia's Justice Minister Dawda A Jallow said while presenting the latest updates of
the Rohingya case at the CFM, where the crisis appeared to be the key agenda.

He said The Gambia needed approximately US$ 5 million to pay particularly the lawyers to run
the case, as it hired a reputed US-based law firm to stand by the prosecution in the case.

But Jallow said that "unfortunately" the law firm was yet to receive any significant payment for
the legal services it rendered since September 2019 as "it is only this month that a sum of US$
300,000 was paid to the law firm, which is less than 10 percent of the amount owed".

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He further said the case was aimed to seek a conclusive and lasting solution to the Rohingya
crisis and cautioned that all potential OIC interventions to the ICJ regarding the Rohingya cause
should be conducted in coordination with his country for the sake of the cause.

He warned that any uncoordinated OIC intervention could affect the case and "seriously
complicate matters".

OIC General Secretariat officials said apart from Bangladesh, other OIC member states that have
so far provided financial support to The Gambia over the case are Saudi Arabia, Turkey and
Nigeria.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen was scheduled to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the
OIC's two-day crucial 47th CFM session that began on Friday but Covid-19 detection at the last
minute forced him to scrap his scheduled Niger visit.

(b) Gas supply to national grid starts from new well in Comilla
Masud Alam, Comilla, November 28, 2020

Gas supply to the national grid from well number 4 of Srikail-2 gas field located in Comilla’s
Muradnagar upazila has officially begun.

Md Anisur Rahman, senior secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, inaugurated
the process as chief guest on Saturday afternoon.

Previously, this gas field used to supply an average of 5 to 6 million cubic feet of gas per day.

“With the discovery of this new well, it is possible to extract an average of 22 to 24 million cubic
feet of gas per day from here and supply it to the national grid,” said Anisur Rahman.

Earlier, Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Ltd (Bapex) ran tests for
55 days and on November 20, it confirmed reserves of 30-40 thousand billion cubic feet of gas at
the new gas level.

Petrobangla Chairman ABM Abdul Fattah and Energy and Mineral Resources Division
Additional Secretary Gulnar Nazmun Nahar were present at the inauguration event as special
guests. Bapex Managing Director Mohammad Ali and several other senior officials of the
organization were also present.

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Exercise 3

Read the following news report and answer the following questions.

1.Write down the place line, byline.

2.How many questions have been answered in the lead?

3.How did the news end?

Schools, universities closed till May 30

Star Online Report
All educational institutions will remain closed till May 30, on the occasion of Ramadan and Eid-ul-
Fitr, said secondary and higher education secretary Mahbub Hossain.

"We will have an order soon regarding the matter," Mahbub told The Daily Star this afternoon.

All educational institutions have been closed since March 17, and the government has now
extended the closure till May 16, in a bid to contain further spread of Covid-19.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on April 27 said all educational institutions may remain closed till
September if the situation caused by the coronavirus outbreak does not improve.

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Exercise 4
Writing a News Report

Fill in all the elements of the news report based on the previous article:

Element Definition From the Article

Headline • Catches your attention
Son ‘kills’
mother
• Sums up the story
Byline • Writer’s name

• Writer’s Specialty, e.g.,

sorts, food, crime, current
events
Placeline • Where the story begins

Lead • The opening section

• Gives most important

information
• Should answer most of
the 5W’s

Body • Supplies detail Circle the Paragraphs in

• Most important details the Body

come first
Facts • Simple true statements Underline 4 Facts in the

Article

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 Quotation • What someone actually
said
• Adds accuracy
• Adds “at the scene”
feeling

Son ‘kills’ mother

She refused to give money to buy drugs, say family members

The Daily Star, Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi

9 July 2019

Police yesterday arrested a man for allegedly killing his mother in Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila
on Sunday night.

Abdus Salek, 32, was arrested from a restaurant in Kurigram Sadar upazila around 7:00pm, said
Jahangir Alam, OC of Godagari Police Station said.

The victim, Selina Begum, 56, was wife of Md Shahabuddin, a retired school teacher and a
resident of Arijpur area.

According to family members, Salek was a drug addict and often asked for money from his
mother to buy drugs.

They are suspecting that the incident took place in the evening after Selina refused him money.

Police recovered the body from the house around 10:00pm soon after the victim’s husband
informed them about the incident.

Police are suspecting that the accused hit the woman with a hammer before hanging her from the
ceiling.

“We found her hanging from the ceiling and a lot of blood was spilled on the floor as the victim
had a fatal wound in her forehead,” said OC Jahangir, adding that they had recovered a blood-
stained hammer, clothes and a sandal of the accused.

Victim’s husband lodged a case with Godagari Police Station accusing his son, the OC said,
adding that the body was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for an autopsy.

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Exercise 5
Write a lead for the following headline:
East West University is helping Covid 19 affected people.

Sample News Article:1

“Karate Helping EWU Students Being Aware of Self Defense”
Shakib Al Hasan & MD. Imran Hossan Bhuiya, Sports Desk, November 14, 2022
As per the concern of self defense, East West University Sports Club have launched “EWU
School of Karate” in EWU Basement to spread awareness of self defense among their students,
November 14, 2022.
“Karate is not only for self defense but also keeps the human body and mind sound,” said Sensei
Jakir Ullah.
EWUSC is one of the most prestigious clubs which is known for their unique ways to arrange
sports related activities. By following this trend EWUSC have launched “EWU School of
Karate” for the first time in their history to aware their students about self defense.

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 - Facebook page of EWUSC

EWUSC started their trial program at first for 3 days in front of CCC to have proper response
from their students. After having a healthy response they decided to start it permanently which
officially started in EWU Basement from November 14, 2022 along with 28 active students by
maintaining a well regulated schedule.

Moderator of EWUSC, Imrul Kabir said that they were trying to add something new in their list
which had never happened in their history before. The concept of adding something new
influenced them to start “EWU School of Karate” to have more engagement of their students
with Karate. They assured us that they will continue it in future as well.

Sample News Article:2

“Tauhidul Islam earns lakhs of taka every year by selling Fuchka in front of East West
University”

Shakib Mahmud Shuvo, Azmain Islam Abid, January 01, 2023

Tauhidul Islam's handmade fuchka and the special sauce is one of the keys to his success.

45-year-old Tauhidul Islam, who lives in Aftabnagar, earns minimum Tk 50,000 a month by
selling fuchka which stands at Tk 6 lakh at the end of the year. He earns more during occasional
time.

Tauhidul has a Fuchka cart which is his main business stall, opens early in the morning. He sells
fuchka in front of East West University all day long.

Besides, his wife Amena Begum helps him to make those Fuchka stuffing at home. Though
she's a housewife, she helps her husband to make his job easier.

Tauhidul has been doing this business for 18 to 20 years. His father started this business, now he
is continuing it. Touhidul wants to make his business bigger in the future and wants to raise his
children like educated human beings.

163
References
Alam, M. (2020, November 28). Gas supply to national grid starts from new well in Comilla.
Retrieved November 29, 2020,
fromhttps://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/11/28/gas-supply-to-national-grid-
starts-from-new-well-in-comilla

Amin, A. (2020, November 28). Shakib reaches 5,000 runs, achieves rare double in T20s.
Retrieved November 29, 2020, fromhttps://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/2020/11/28/shakib-
achieves-rare-double-in-t20s

Bajaj, S. (2020, July 3). How to write a news report? Retrieved November 29, 2020,
fromhttps://www.tribuneindia.com/news/schools/how-to-write-a-news-report-108029

Bss, N. (2020, November 28). Rohingya Genocide: Bangladesh gives OIC $500k for legal battle.
Retrieved November 29, 2020, fromhttps://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/rohingya-
genocide-bangladesh-gives-oic-500k-legal-battle-2002685

Gupta, R. (n.d.). Report Writing: Report Writing Format, Topics, Example, Sample. Retrieved
November 29, 2020, fromhttps://www.successcds.net/learn-english/writing-skills/report-writing-
format-topics-samples.html

Leigh, V. (2009). How to Write a News Story [PDF]. Rome: European Molecular Biology
Laboratory (EMBL).

Sadia scores six as Jamalpur win big. (2020, November 28). Retrieved November 29, 2020,
fromhttps://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/2020/11/28/sadia-scores-six-as-jamalpur-win-big

Saha, M. (2020, November 28). 4 killed, 14 injured in Gopalganj road accident. Retrieved
November 29, 2020, fromhttps://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/11/28/4-killed-
14-injured-in-gopalganj-road-accident

Taylor, C. (2020, September 18). How to Write a News Report. Retrieved November 29, 2020,
fromhttps://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-News-Report

Tips on Writing a News Report. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2020,

fromhttps://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar-rules-and-tips/tips-on-writing-a-news-
report.html

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 Term Paper
Outline for Term Paper
In
Small Scale Research Paper
Submission Format:
Font: Times New Roman, Font size: 12
Normal, no bold, no underline, no italics
Double space
Paragraph indentation 0.5
Justified
Page no from cover page (header/footer)

1. Cover Page (no ornamentation)

2. Content page
3. Abstract
4. Introduction

5. Significance of the topic/ rationale behind choosing the topic

6. Research questions (1/2)
7. Methodology
8. Findings
9. Discussion
10. Conclusion and/or Recommendation
11. References
12. Appendix (Interview question/Survey Question/questionnaire)

165
 An Extended Essay as Term Paper
Style:

Font: Times New Roman, Font size: 12

Normal, no bold, no underline, no italics
Double space
Paragraph indentation 0.5, Justified.
Page no from the cover page (use header/footer)

1. Cover Page (no ornamentation)

2.Content page
3. Abstract (50-100 words)
4. Introduction

5. Significance of the topic/ rationale behind choosing the topic

6. Literature Review (If applicable)

7. Body Paragraphs
8. Conclusion
9. References
10. Appendix (If applicable): Interview question/Survey Question/questionnaire

Steps to Write a Small-Scale Research Paper

• Introducing the term paper: Overview on the procedure, importance, marks distribution
• Discussion on the topic choice procedure (presenting some sample topics)
• Students can work individually or in a pair or in a group of three. They are asked to
choose term paper topics (in the “title” form)
• Students submit the topic to get teacher’s approval
• After topic selection, students will do a proposal presentation using ppt (optional)/
submit the outline draft to the teacher. They will include research questions, interview
questions/ survey questions on their respective topic in the presentation or in the outline.
The teacher will provide necessary feedback on that. A very brief idea about the research
method will be delivered.

166
 • The teacher will also demonstrate them the procedure of choosing two latest journal
articles and/or newspaper article on their topic by using Google scholar.

The POINTS that the students need to keep in mind for the first draft Submission:

1. TITLE OF YOUR TERM PAPER

2. GROUP MATES
3. RESPONSIBILITY
4. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS TOPIC/ RATIONALE BEHIND CHOOSING THIS TOPIC
5. WHAT ARE THE RESEARCH QUESTIONS?
6. METHOD: QUALITATIVE or QUANTITATIVE
7. INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
8. INTERVIEWEE PROFILE 2 PEOPLE
9. SURVEY QUESTION SAMPLE:
10. SURVEY PARTICIPANTS:
11. THE LINKS OF TWO JOURNALS THAT THEY WILL BE USING IN TERM PAPER

###Teachers can also take an oral presentation. In that case he/she can suggest following
questions to the students when they would give presentations.

Oral Proposal Presentation Outline

1. What is the title of your term paper?
2. Why have you chosen this topic? How is the term paper going to benefit others?
3. How do you intend to proceed with your term paper? What kind of materials are
you going to incorporate in your term paper?
4. What are the probable solutions to your problems that you are going to
address/propose in your term paper?

• The teacher will share his/her insight on the presentations/ outline.

• Guiding the students to conduct their field work (conducting survey/interview
online/offline,
• Giving the students 2 weeks at least to finish these tasks.
• Technique of writing short literature review (how to add direct quotes, and paraphrase
ideas from the chosen journals, introducing the basics of citations, techniques of avoiding
plagiarism.) They will apply their knowledge of summarizing and paraphrasing in the
term paper.

Term paper final copy FORMAT has been given here:

###The teacher may share a good sample of term paper and set a deadline for draft 1
submission.

1. Cover page

167
 2. Table of contents
3. Abstract: Summary
4. Introduction
5. Rationale behind choosing this topic/Significance of the topic
6. Research Questions
7. Methods
8. Findings/Result:
a. Interview Question & Answer or
b. Survey Question & Answer
9. Analysis/Discussion
(On the basis of - Interview, Survey, Literature review)
12. Conclusion and/or Recommendation
13. Limitations (Optional)
14. Reference
15. Appendix
Word limit (+/-10%):
*Individual- 700 words
*2 people - 1000 words
*3 people - 1200 words
• Teacher will provide feedback from time to time. Marks will be given in the final
draft submission.

Some points of the term paper are explained in brief for the benefit of the students:
Abstract:
An abstract is an essential part of any research paper. It is a substantive description that briefly
states the aims and outcomes of a research. This helps the readers know exactly what the paper is
about. Writing a good abstract is vitally important because it provides the researcher with a good
opportunity to create a positive impression about the work. A well written abstract is highly
effective in drawing the readrers’ attention so that they feel interested about reading the entire
research work.

The length of an abstract is broadly around 150 words. However, depending on the specific
requirement set by the respective journal (or the supervisor/instructor in case of an academic
institution), the word range can be smaller and more specific.

Writing a good abstract includes these five steps:

1. Introduction
2. Your research problem and objectives
3. Your methods
4. Your key results or arguments
5. Conclusion

168
As the research work progresses and the paper is developed, the abstract might have to be
revised to keep up with the thematic development of the paper. So, once the paper is finished, the
writer may be in a good position to finalise the abstract.
Sample:
Paper Title: Necessity of Increasing the Number and Quality of TA Room of English
Department
Abstract:
Lack of proper infrastructural facilities has been a problem for the TAs of the Department of
English. In this research, we are trying to find out what types of problems are being faced by TA
and what could be the possible solutions about these problems. For this reason, we did a survey
on 20 UTAs of English department of East West University. Since our working instrument was
through questionnaire, they were asked several types of questions which were related to the
topic. After taking their opinion, we have analyzed the data through Microsoft Excel 2019. After
analyzing the answers regarding these problems, the result was as expected. They think that, the
condition of their room should be improved as soon as possible. If the authorities address the
matter and take it into their account, then it will be a significant step towards getting more
sincere and professional service from the TAs.
Keywords: UTA room of English department, facilities, problems

References:
A bibliography is a list of all of the sources that have been used in the process of researching and
writing a paper. It is required because firstly, the researcher is supposed to acknowledge that
he/she has taken help or borrowed ideas from others writers’ works while conducting the
research. Without proper acknowledgement, any research work is going to be accused of
plagiarism or intellectual theft. Beginning researchers need to feel the importance of academic
honesty and should understand that borrowing someone else’s ideas without giving reference is
an illegal act. Secondly, the bibliography gives the readers a primary impression about the
paper’s quality and depth. Finally, a bibliography is also a excellent source of references related
to a particular topic or field. This can be quite useful for other researchers who are interested in
that particular field.
In general, a bibliography should include:

• the authors’ names

• the titles of the works
• the names and locations of the companies that published your copies of the sources
• the dates your copies were published
• the page numbers of your sources (if they are part of multi-source volumes)

There are a large variety of internationally recognized styles of writing a bibliography. The styles
may vary depending on a particular discipline or a journal. However, among all these, one of the
most frequently used styles of referencing is the MLA (Modern Language Association). To
follow the detail guidelines one can follow the Modern Language Association Handbook for
Writers of Research Papers (MLA) convention or alternatively, can browse through their
website http://www.mla.org/. Following are a set of some common examples:

Book by a Single Author:

169
Ahmed, Humayun. Amar Chhotobela. Dhaka: Onnoprokash, 1999.

An Anthology or a Compilation:
Nichols, Fred J., ed. An Anthology of Neo-Latin Poetry. New Haven: Yale UP, 1979.

Two or More Books by the Same Author:

Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1957.
---, ed. Design for Learning: Reports Submitted to the Joint Committee of the Toronto Board of
Education and the University of Toronto. Toronto: U of Toronto P, 1962.

A Book by Two or More Authors:

Jakobson, Roman and Linda R. Waugh. The Sound Shape of Language. Bloomington: Indiana
UP, 1979.

An Anonymous Book:
Encyclopaedia of Virginia. New York: Somerset, 1993.

An Article in a Scholarly Journal:

Scotto, Peter. “Censorship, Reading, and Interpretation: A Case Study from the Soviet
Union.” PMLA 109 (1994): 61-70.
Weiringa, Saskia. “The Birth of the New Order State in Indonesia: Sexual Politics and
Nationalism.” Journal of Women’s History 15.1 (Spring 2003): 70-91.

Material from Electronic Journals:

Smyth, David. “Suchart Sawatsi: Thailand’s First Man of Letters.” Asiatic 1.1 (2007). Online
address. Internet. Date accessed.

Article from a Website:

“Evolutionary History of Life.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2019,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_history_of_life.

An Article in a Newspaper:
Alam, Fakrul. “Learning from Bangabandhu’s Writings.” The Daily Star 15 August 2018.
(The above are examples only and may not be factually accurate.)

THE END
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