Engl 155
Course Textbook: Great Writing 5: from great essays to research
Course Specifications HERE, Student Course Outline HERE
Detailed guide for students on course coverage and assessment, Presentation by Dr. Yasser Gomma HERE
My ELT Login page HERE
Assessments: 1 common midterm (30 marks), 2 in-class tests (15 x 2, 30 marks), Final exam (40 marks)
Textbook Minimal Coverage: page numbers (updated in Feb. 2019)
YOUR 60%, Sections 2 and 3 HERE updated on 23 May 2019
Essay Structure
(Lessons according to textbook units)
Unit 1 & 2:
a. Structure of a paragraph (detailed explanation) video HERE (almost 50 mins.)
A shorter video HERE (8 mins) with some different focus.
* شرح تركيب المقال باللغة العربية (video, 4 mins, HERE)
b. Seven Tips for Writing an Essay (article HERE)
c. Five paragraph essay components (in short, 5 mins video HERE)
General Structure of an essay (an image HERE) added 24 March 2018
d. Thesis statement (video HERE and the difference between topic sentence and thesis sentence in a video HERE)
The difference between thesis statement and topic sentences. A lesson in a PDF HERE
e. Writing a hook video, less than 3 mins HERE
f. Outlining an essay (video HERE)
g. Topic sentence for the body paragraphs
About topic sentences (lesson with examples HERE)
h. How to Start Your Introduction and how to Write your Conclusion: HERE (video, 4 mins.) New, added 3 Nov. 2018
i. More on Writing a Conclusion- detailed explanation. (video, 11 minutes) HERE.
Sample vocabulary in context exercise for Units 1, 2 and 4 HERE (find more on the textbook webpage by logging in MyELT)
Unit 4: Process Essay
Lesson (HERE video 3 mins)
Suggested topics for process essay:
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how to change a bad behavior
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how to succeed in college
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how to lose weight
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how to kick a bad habit
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how to quit smoking
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how to save the environment
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how to prepare for the final exams
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how to make friends and become a popular person
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how to settle a dispute between two friends
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how to plan and prepare for vacation
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how to create your own website
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how to get top score in a course
Sample Process Essay: How to Make and Effective Presentation HERE
Unit 3:
a. Paraphrasing (video, 11 mins HERE)
b. Paraphrasing Exercises (Word doc) HERE
c. summarising (video, 3 mins HERE)
d. A long detailed lesson with many exercises to practise on Paraphrasing and Summarising HERE (The beginning is out of focus but then it gets clear. Duration: more than one hour. Use to practise too.)
e. Two passages to practise summarizing and paraphrasing HERE.
f. Longer article to practise summarising (summarise in 70-80 words). HERE newly added
f. Webpage with many links on summarising and writing main ideas (with links to sample answers) HERE
g. Synthesying (video, 22 mins HERE)
Sample vocabulary in context exercise for Units 1, 2 and 4 HERE
Unit 5: Comparison/Contrast Essay
a. Lesson (video HERE and then this video HERE
b. Important notes + Sentence Examples for all the connectors mentioned on pp. 115-116 HERE
c. Parallel Structure: See textbook pp. 106, 122-123 and also lesson and exercises on Grammar Links.
d. Suggested topics for comparisons and contrast essay:
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paper book and e-book
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school and university
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reading a novel and reading a textbook
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Arabic language and English language
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Football and basketball
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compare two athletes
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compare two teams
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compare two relatives
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compare and contrast two cities or two countries
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Would you rather live in a house or an apartment? Why?
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Compare and contrast two of your favorite restaurants?
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compare and contrast two sports teams. Which one do you think will win the championship this year? Why?
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Use Venn diagram on p. 108 to write an essay comparing Malaysia and Thailand.
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Use the guidelines on p. 105 or 106 to write an essay comparing a car and a bicycle.
d. SAMPLES of students essay with comments :
e. How to structure your Comparison Essay- Dr. Lamya's guidelines. HERE
Chapter 6: Cause and Effect Essay
a. Lesson (video HERE )
b. Sentence Examples for all the connectors on p. 145 HERE
c. Suggested topics for cause and effect essay:
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effects/ causes of divorce
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effects/causes of pollution
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effects of bullying at school
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effects of social media on family relationships
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effects of social media on students' performance
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causes/effects of traffic in Bahrain
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causes of obesity among children and teenagers
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What are the effects of overcrowding in cities?
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Why do many people prefer foreign goods?
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Discuss how people's childhood experiences affect their lives.
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What are the effects of sudden wealth (such as when a person wins the lottery)?
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What are the effects of poverty?
Sample vocabulary in context exercise for Units 5 and 6 HERE
Unit 7: Argumentative Essay
a. What is an argumentative essay (video, 5 mins HERE)
b. Detailed lesson on argumentative essay with examples (video, 1 hr HERE)
c. Suggested topics for argumentative essays:
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Is global warming caused by humans?
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Should animals be used for research and lab tests?
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Should science and IT be taught in Arabic (or your first language) instead of English?
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Should recycling be compulsory?
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Should fathers get paternity leave from work?
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Should we not buy from countries that endorse child labour?
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Are cameras in public places an invasion of private privacy?
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Should lawyers work hard to defend a client they think is guilty?
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Should public libraries have filters on computers that limit the kinds of Internet sites that patrons can access?
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Most countries offer free education though high school. Should university education also be free?
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Should junk food manufacturers be allowed to advertise their products to children?
Useful Words and Phrases
1. Transition words (list HERE)
Punctuations with Transition words (comma, full stop or 0) HERE
Lesson and exercises on Transition words HERE
2. General Service List (most frequently used words in English language): For Engl155, you should at least cover 14 pages (full list as a PDF HERE)
Grammar
Find Grammar links for points 1 and 2 are HERE
1. Lessons that you should have learnt in Engl154, so make sure you understand them and apply them properly: Lessons highlighted in green and yellow.
2. New Lessons you need from the Grammar Links for Engl 155: Lessons 12: Definite and indefinite articles (the, a/an, 0)
17: Simple, compound and complex sentences
19: Linking words
22: Adjectives
23: Adverbs of Frequency
24: Determiners (four links)
25: Comparing and Contrasting
27: Passive Voice Rules
31: Modal Verbs
34: Adverbs of degree
35: Suffixes (for midterm)
36: Cause and Effect connectors and transition words
37: Parallel Structure (for the final exam)
38: Run-ons and Comma Splices
Exams and Tests
Dr. Lamya's essay grading scheme (HERE)
Coverage of Tests and Exams
Mid-semester Test (30 marks) 1 hr 30 mins. Common Test for all the sections
1 hr 30 mins, a common test (all sections together). Based on Units 1, 2 and 4.
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10 marks:
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suffixes (textbook pp. 90-91) plus the handout HERE
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terminology (key words about different parts and features of essays and paragraphs). The definition or explanation will be provided and student will be required to write the term in the gap. A list is provided HERE
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transition words (see Exercise link under Useful Words and Phrases)
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20 marks:
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Writing a five-paragraph process essay (based on Unit 4, the book and the website)
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Midterm sample and layout is provided HERE.
Writing Test 1 (15 marks) - in class
50 minutes, in-class test
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10 marks- writing a comparison essay on a topic provided by instructor (based on Unit 5)
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5 marks - Vocabulary lists of Units 1, 2 and 4
Layout of T1 and T2 HERE
Writing Test 2 (15 marks) - in class
50 minutes, in-class test
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10 marks- writing a cause and/or effect essay on a topic provided by instructor (based on Unit 6)
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5 marks- Vocabulary lists of Units 3, 5 and 6
Layout of T1 and T2 HERE
Final Exam (40 marks) 2 hrs- Hall 18, 3 June 2018, 8:30
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Final Exam structure of Semester 1, 2018-19 HERE
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Final Exam structure of Semester 2, 2018-19 HERE new
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An exercise on finding mistakes is HERE new
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Writing Practices
For all of the upcoming assignments:
1. In the top left corner, write your name, ID number, ENGL 155 (your section number), date.
In the middle, Write the assignment number and title. For example:
Ali Hassan
201112345
ENGL 115 (5)
20 March 2018
Assignment A: Writing an Introduction
2. It will be best if you work in groups, and each student chooses a different topic in order to cover more topics. Check each other's drafts before writing the final copy.
3. Use a Word doc with the following format:
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Line and Paragraph Spacing : 1.5 spacing
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Margins: 1 inch (2.5 cm) each side
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Font type: Times New Times or Arial. Font size: 12. Only title centred and in bold. The rest: Left-aligned and normal.
See sample HERE
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Assignment A
Preparation
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Study the videos and links under Essay Structure: Unit 1 and 2
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Revise Grammar links related to the five verb tenses you have studied in ENGL 154.
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Also under Online Grammar links, study Lesson 17 (types of sentences)
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Watch the video under Essay Structure: Unit 4.
TASK
Under Essay Structure: Unit 4, there is a list of Process Essay topics. Choose two and write an introduction of 3-5 sentences (Hook, Connecting Information, Thesis statement). Try to use action verbs for your hook.
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Assignment B
Preparation
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Revise lesson on Linking Words used in process essay (in the textbook p. 84).
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Study the following Online Grammar Lessons:
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Lesson 12: Articles;
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Lesson 33: modal verbs;
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Lesson 27: Passive voice.
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Read and study the two sample process essays on pp. 77-79 and 92-93.
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Study thesis statement for process essay on p. 83.
TASK
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Read the general guidelines above.
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Rewrite your introduction (of Assignment A) based on the feedback you have received from your instructor.
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Now plan the two process essays (only planning, something like THIS). Write key words and phrases, not full sentences. Remember to write words for main support sentences and also for detail sentences.
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Then write one full process essay following guidelines and samples in the textbook in Unit 4.
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Before you submit your essay, check the Vocabulary lists we studied and see if there are useful words that can be used in your essay.
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Submit the two plans and the full process essay in a single document.
HERE is a student's first draft with amendments and comments.
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Assignment C
Preparations
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Watch the video +important notes link under Essay Structure: Unit 3, and also in the textbook pp. 57-63.
Task
Read the general guidelines above. Your instructor will assign two paragraphs from the essays you have covered in the previous units and will ask you to summarise one and paraphrase one. Following guidelines in pink above, type the assignment and submit it.
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Assignment D (WORK IN PAIRS!)
Preparations
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Watch the video +important notes link under Essay Structure: Unit 5
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Study the sample comparison and contrast essay in Unit 5 the textbook (pp. 109-111).
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Find two to three good relevant pieces of information related to your topic so that you can quote them in your essay.
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Revise the following lessons from the book:
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Comparative adjectives (in the textbook pp. 120-121);
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Strong Thesis Statements for Comparison (textbook p. 115-116);
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Parallel Structure (pp. 122-123).
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Study Online Grammar Lessons:
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Lesson 22: Adjectives;
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Lesson 23; Adverbs of Frequency;
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Lesson 25: Comparing and Contrasting.
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TASK
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Read the general guidelines on the top of this box.
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Make sure to read all the comments in your old assignments so that you write a better assignment this time.
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Now with one colleague, choose one topic from the topics provided under Essay Structure: Unit 5.
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Plan it together, and then, each of you should write a five-paragraph essay on that topic by himself or herself.
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Meet and read each other's' work. Correct each others' mistake (structure, ideas, grammar, connectors).
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Now use both drafts to type one single essay.
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Make sure your place your references in the right place and use reference words and/or punctuation as you learned. Paraphrase and summarise whenever possible. Remember to add a reference section at the end.
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Before you submit your essay, check the Vocabulary lists we studied and see if there are useful words that can be used in your essay.
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Assignment E (WORK IN PAIRS)
Preparation
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Watch the video under Essay Structure: Unit 6.
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From the textbook, revise the following lessons:
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Study the samples of cause and effect in Unit 5 the textbook (pp. 139-141 and 146-148).
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Study how thesis statement for this type of essays in written in the textbook p. 144.
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Revise lesson on Sentence Fragment (pp. 150-151)
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Find two to three good relevant pieces of information related to your topic so that you can quote them in your essay.
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Online Grammar Lessons:
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Lesson 27: Passive Voice;
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Lesson 31: Modal verbs;
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Lesson 34: Adverbs of degree;
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Lesson 36: Cause and Effect Connectors.
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TASK
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Read the general guidelines on the top of this box.
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Make sure to read all the comments in your old assignments so that you write a better assignment this time.
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Now with one colleague, choose one topic from the topics provided under Essay Structure: Unit 6.
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Plan it together, and then, each of you should write a five-paragraph essay on that topic by himself or herself.
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Meet and read each other's' work. Correct each others' mistake (structure, ideas, grammar, connectors).
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Now use both drafts to write one single essay.
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Following the samples on cause and effect essays in the textbook, Unit 6, write an essay on one of the topics provided under Essay Structure: Unit 6.
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Make sure your place your references in the right place and use reference words and/or punctuation as you learned. Paraphrase and summarise whenever possible. Remember to add a reference section at the end.
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Before you submit your essay, check the Vocabulary lists we studied and see if there are useful words that can be used in your essay.