Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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UnitAbout me1

1 Brainstorming
BRAINSTORMING

Brainstorming means coming up with ideas about something. When you
brainstorm, you write as many words or phrases as you can think of; you
don’t have to write your ideas in complete sentences.
Sometimes you can break your ideas down into smaller parts or examples.
This will give you even more ideas to use in your writing.
1 Anna brainstormed a list of things she likes to do. Read what she
wrote. Then brainstorm three things that you like to do.

Things I like to doThings I like to do- take pictures- sing- read
2 Anna broke take pictures into smaller parts and examples. On a separate piece of paper,
write one thing you like to do. Break that into smaller parts and examples.
Take Pictures
Friends

Places I’ve Visited
Barcelona

Lake Kota

Cars

John
Old Cars’87 Saturn

New CarsJaguar Ultima

3 Compare your paper with a partner. Can you add additional information to yourown paper?

Later in this unit . . .
You will write a paragraph about things that you like to do.
You will learn about expository paragraphs andtopic sentences.
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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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2 Analyzing a paragraph
1 Read this student’s paragraph and follow the instructions below.
Things I Don’t Like to Do
There are many things that I don’t like to do, but the most common ones areironing, being in large crowds, and driving in the city. I don’t like ironing at all
because it takes so much time. I would rather spend my time doing somethingelse, like reading or even cleaning my house. Another thing I don’t like isgoing to crowded places. When there are a lot of people around me, I feel
uncomfortable. I would rather be with a small group of friends. Driving in thecity is also something I don’t enjoy. Taxi drivers are aggressive, and they makeit difficult for me to drive. I would rather take trains or buses.

a What is the main idea of this paragraph? Write it on the line below.

b Which sentence states the main idea of the paragraph? Underline it above.
c What are the specific details the author uses to explain the main idea? Finish
the sentences.
I don’t like ironing
because.
I don’t likebecause.
I don’t likebecause.
2 Compare answers with a partner.

Talk about it.
Tell your partner three things
that you don’t like to do.

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Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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3 Learning about organization
EXPOSITORY PARAGRAPHS

Look at the paragraph in Part 2 again. It’san expository paragraph. An expository
paragraph explains a general idea by breaking
it down into smaller, more specific parts. The
more general information describes a big idea,
and the specific information gives details andsupport for that idea.

1 Study the examples. In each column, one phrase has general
information (G) and three phrases have specific information (S).
a G things that irritate meb S run dailyc S free concerts

S late trains

S go to a dance class

G advantages of New YorkS rude store clerks

G how to stay in shape

S interesting people

S traffic jams

S avoid junk foodS excellent museums

2 Look at these lists. In each column, which phrase is general and which phrases arespecific? Write one G and three Ss in the blanks.
areality showsbcommunicate
with friends

sitcoms
TV shows
cooking shows

cexchange ideas on
many topics

get mapsand directions

reasons to have aFacebook pagedo research

improve yourEnglish writing skills

ways to use
the Internet

make friends abroad

3 Now complete these lists with your own ideas. In each column, there should be one
general (G) and three specific (S) phrases.
a G music that I likeb G bad habits

c GSS

S driving a carSSS taking the train

SSS walking

4 Compare answers with a partner.
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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's BookCurtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
ExcerptMore Information4 Learning more about organization
TOPIC SENTENCES

Paragraphs always have a topic and, often, a topic sentence. A topic sentence tells readers
what the paragraph is about. A good topic sentence:
J is a summary of the information in the paragraph (not a conclusion the reader makes)
J summarizes the whole paragraph, not just part of it
J isn’t too generalJ doesn’t have too many details
1 Read each paragraph excerpt. Mark the best topic sentence with a T.
It is fun to observe the different customs people have and the clothes
they wear. I also love to hear new accents and languages. Foreignmarkets are interesting to walk through, too.
aI don’t travel too much these days.

bYou can walk through foreign markets.
Tc

I always enjoy visiting new places.

It’s easy to get work done on a train because you can use your computer.
Also, it’s fun to just relax and look out the window. Finally, trains areenvironmentally friendly – fewer cars on the road means less traffic.
dSo, we should travel by train.

eTraveling by train has many advantages.

fTrains are nice.
First, I can find out what’s going on in the world. Second, there’s always
some interesting information about places to travel or recipes toprepare. Finally, it is a great way to learn new vocabulary.

gNewspapers teach us world events, they give us new recipes,
they tell us about places to travel, and they help us learn
new vocabulary.

hI learn a lot from reading the newspaper.

iThere is only one newspaper I really like.

2 Compare answers with a partner.
3 With your partner, discuss the reasons the other sentences above are not good topicsentences. Mark each sentence with one of these reasons.
G – It is too general.
S – It contains too much specific information.
C – It is a conclusion.
N – It is not related to the other sentences.
P – It is a summary of only part of the paragraph.
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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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5 Working on content
1 Look at your brainstorming list in Part 1, Step 1.
For each item, write one phrase that contains
general information and three phrases that containspecific information. Look at the example.
G three places I like to go toS My Thai restaurant
S Powell’s Bookstore
S the park down the streeta GS
SSb GSS
Sc GS
SS
2 Now write a topic sentence for each of the topics above.
Near my apartment, there are three places that I like to go to.

a.

b.

c.

3 Choose a, b, or c to write a paragraph about later. Circle the letter.

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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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6 Analyzing a model
1 You are going to write about things you like to do. First, read this example paragraph andfollow the instructions below.
Three Special Places
Near my apartment, there are threeplaces I like to go to. The first is My Thai
restaurant. Thai food is my favorite kindof food, and the chef there is excellent.
The restaurant isn’t too expensive, so I
often go there with my friends. It’s a niceplace to relax, talk, and enjoy a delicious
meal. The second place is Powell’sBookstore. Powell’s is one of the biggest
bookstores in my city, so I can find bookson almost any subject there. The people
who work there are very friendly. If I can’t
find a book, they will gladly order it forme. The third place I like to go to is thepark down the street from my apartment.
It has huge trees and a beautiful garden.
I sometimes go there after eating a fineThai meal, and I sit under a tree to read abook from Powell’s.

a What is the main idea of the paragraph? Circle it.
Thai foodplaces I likereading in the parkb Underline the topic sentence.
c Subtopics are more specificthan the main topic. There arethree subtopics in the paragraphabove. Write them on thelines below.

2 Compare answers with a partner.

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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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7 Write!
1 Plan your paragraph about the things you like to do.
a What’s your main topic? Write it here:.

b What are your subtopics? Write them on the lines below.

2 Now write a paragraph like the one on page 6. Underline the topic sentence.

3 When you finish, complete this checklist.
Writing checklist
Do you have a topic sentence?
Is your topic sentence underlined?
Do you have at least three subtopics?

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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's BookCurtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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8 Editing
PARAGRAPH FORMATA paragraph has a special shape. It shows readers where the paragraph, and the topic ofthat paragraph, begin and end. Here are the basic rules for writing a paragraph by hand.
aStart the first line of theparagraph about five spaces tothe right of the other lines. Write
to the end of every line except
the last one. If a sentence ends
in the middle ofthe line, don’t go down to thenextline to start the next sentence.
Start it on the same line.

bStart the first line of theparagraph about five spaces tothe right of the other lines. Write
to the end of every line except
the last one. If a sentence ends
in the middle of the line, don’t
go down to the next line to start
the next sentence. Start it on thesame line.

1 Discuss the two paragraphs above with a partner. What are the differences? Whichis better?
2 Look at the paragraphs below. Each one has mistakes in format. Rewrite them without
the mistakes.
a I enjoy my time at work. In the morning, I read letters from customers
and write down their questions.
Then, in the afternoon, I call these customers and answer their questions.

b I also enjoy my time at home. I spend a lot of time on the Internet. I cankeep in touch with my friends by chatting and sending messages. In
addition, I can do research for my job.

3 Compare answers with a partner.
4 Now look at the paragraph you wrote in Part 7. Did you use correct paragraph format?
5 See if you can make any other changes to improve your paragraph.
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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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9 Giving feedback
1 Exchange your revised paragraph with a partner. Read your partner’s revised paragraphand follow the instructions below.
a Did the author include a topic sentence? Circle one.

Yes

Nob Did the author underline the topic sentence? Circle one.

Yes

Noc Write your partner’s topic sentence on the line below.

d Write another possible topic sentence for the paragraph.

e Can you find any subtopics? What are they? Write them on the lines below.

2 Do you like to do the same kinds of things as your partner? Write a short note or an e-mailto your partner saying why or why not. Look at the examples.

Hello Jonathan,I think we’re different. You
like hiking, playing basketball,and riding your bicycle, but I
don’t. You’re much more active
than I am!
See you,Emily

Hi Andrea,
You and I are very similar. I also likegoing to the beach, playing volleyball,and listening to music. I think we’reboth summer people!
Take care,Chris

3 Give your note to your partner.
4 Can any of your partner’s comments help you make your paragraph better?

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978-0-521-18834-0 — Writing from Within Level 2 Student's Book
Curtis Kelly , Arlen Gargagliano
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JUST FOR FUN
1 How well do you and your classmates know eachother? Write another paragraph about yourself.
Choose one of these topics, or use your own idea.
J places I want to visit in the future
J things I like to read or watch
J things I like to collectJ things I am good atJ(your idea)

2 Follow the instructions below.
a Don’t write your name on your paper,and don’t show it to anyone.
b When you finish, give your paper toyour teacher. Your teacher will write
numbers on the papers and placethem around the room.

3 Read the papers and guess which classmate wrote each paragraph. Make a list. Use a
separate piece of paper if necessary.
ParagraphnumberAuthor

1234567
84 Your teacher will tell you who wrote each paper. How many authors did you get right?

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