English Writing

Lecturer: Shang Yanzhi

A New English Composition Course

《新编英语写作教程 》主编：陈立平

Unit One

Part OneThe Organization of an Essay (I)

The Weaknesses of the Strawberry Generation

Should College Students Hire Cleaners to Do Cleaning

for Them?

Creating a Green Campus

The Difficulty of Chinese People’s Seeing a Doctor

Unit One

3 Patterns of Text Organization

General-Specific Pattern

Claim-Counter-claim Pattern

Problem-Solution Pattern

The Benefits of Volunteering 　

Creating a Green Campus

On the Importance of Self-confidence

Causes of Traffic Accidents

The Benefits of the World Expo for Our Country

The Difficulties of College Graduates in Finding a Good Job

The Difficulties of Chinese People in Going to See a Doctor

General-Specific Pattern

概括 - 具体模式

The Weaknesses of the “Strawberry Generation” The so-called “Strawberry Generation” refers to those who are soft and get

hurt easily. They seem unbearably spoilt and can’t take much pressure. Besides the lack of stress management, they also have some other weaknesses such as the lack of money management, the lack of plan for the future and so on.

The first is the most infamous weakness---the lack of stress management. Many statistics show that young people of the Strawberry Generation are not good at handling the pressure that they face. When they can not handle the stress, they tend to be depressed or choose to end their own lives. In addition, people of the Strawberry Generation lack the good habit of money management. They do not have the habit to deposit money in the bank for their future use; instead, they spend most of it. This phenomenon creates a long-term hidden social problem of the care for the old in the future when the strawberry Generation has aged. The third weakness is the lack of plan for their future—they live only for their own happiness and freedom while lacking a blueprint for their future life.

All in all, the weaknesses of Strawberry Generation are not only the problems of those who belong to the Strawberry Generation and of their families, but also the problems of our whole society. If these weaknesses can be got rid of, the Strawberry Generation will have a better individual future, and the crisis of the whole society can be solved.

Problems of Writing in English Learners of English usually find that writing is the most difficult skill they

have to master. Even native speakers of English often find it hard to write well on some subjects. It may, therefore, be helpful to analyze the types of error that the learners of English usually make.

Three broad types of error can be distinguished. The first type of error is the error which leads to a misunderstanding, or even worse, to a breakdown in communication. The student tends to work out a sentence in his own language and then translate it word-by-word into English. This often produces non-English sentence patterns. The second type of error is that which leads to ungrammatical English., but does not usually interfere with the meaning. The wrong selection of a verb tense often comes into this category. The third type of error concerns style and usage. When a student writes “ The results of the research were terrific”, he is making this type of mistake because native speakers of English never use the word “terrific” in their own academic writing. Each of the three mistakes can damage one’s composition. An English learner should always be aware of the three mistakes when he writes in English.

As we mentioned above, there are three main categories of errors in learners’ English writing. If a student wants to write well, he must try his best to avoid these mistakes in his essays.

There are three reasons why John is not going to university. //In the first place, his family is quite poor and, since he has four young brothers and sisters still at school, he feels he should help his family financially as soon as possible. Secondly, if he went to university, his mother would be left alone to look after the young children. Finally, he has been offered a good job with excellent chances of promotion. //Consequently, although he wants to go to university very much, John is going to take the job instead.

John has been a good student, and in this year’s college entrance examination, he got good marks and was accepted by a famous university. However, to the surprise of all his teachers and classmates, John has decided to quit this chance of going to university.

There are three reasons why John is not going to university. In the first place, his family is quite poor and, since he has four young brothers and sisters still at school, he feels he should help his family financially as soon as possible. Secondly, if he went to university, his mother would be left alone to look after the young children. Finally, he has been offered a good job with excellent chances of promotion. Consequently, although he wants to go to university very much, John is going to take the job instead.

It is a pity that John has given up such a good opportunity to further his education in college. But if John can keep learning in his spare time, he will also improve himself and become successful in future.

Text StructureGeneral ---Specific---General

1. Introduction (general statement)

topic-thesis

2. Body (specific explanation)

(Topic sentence) specific parts---more specific---even more specific

3. Conclusion (general statement)

summary/ conclusion/ suggestion/hope etc.

How to make an outline?

What Has Caused John Not to Go to University? 1. Introduction John has decided not to go to university. 2. Body Topic sentence : There are three reasons for John’s not goin

g to university 1) His poor family condition 2) His mother’s need 3) Having been offered a good job with excellent chances of

promotion. 3. Conclusion It is a pity that John can not go to university, but he can still

improve himself at home.

The Benefits of Volunteering

 

The Benefits of Volunteering 1. Introduction Thesis: Volunteering is a great work and it can

benefit people in two important ways. 2. Body 1) Volunteering offer aids to those people in need. 2) Volunteering can help a country, even the world

out of trouble. 3. Conclusion Volunteering is a special and glorious work. I hope

there will be more and more volunteers in the world

The Benefits of Volunteering December 5th is the International Volunteer Day. And China now has 4.5

million registered volunteers who have provided more than 4.5 billion hours of voluntary work. In my opinion, the volunteering is a great work and it can benefit people in two important ways.

 Firstly, volunteering can offer aids to those people in need and helps to create a harmonious social atmosphere. If people have no food to eat, the volunteers will send food at once; if people have no clothes in winter, the volunteers will send enough clothes at once and so on. All these make people feel warm and safe in our society. Secondly, volunteering can help a country, even the world out of trouble. On May 12th, 2008, when a terrible earthquake struck Sichuan province of China, so many volunteers went to Sichuan, sending food, drink and so on to the disastrous area, and trying to save the people who were in great danger. It was volunteering that helped Sichuan people and helped China!

In a word, volunteering is a special and glorious work. It can bring aid, kindness, love, and so many important things to people and to the world. I’d like to be a volunteer and I hope there will be more and more volunteers in the world to bring more love and light to our common family——earth!

Online Chatting

Online Chatting 1. Introduction Thesis: Online chatting has both advantages and

disadvantages. 2. Body 1) Online chatting enables us to make friends and air

our views freely. 2) Online chatting can be harmful 3. Conclusion Summary and suggestion (summarize the essential

points and suggest how to avoid its bad effects)

Online Chatting With the development of computers, the Internet has made its way into our dai

ly life, online chatting as a new communicative way has become more and more popular, especially with youngsters. However, like everything else, online chatting has both advantages and disadvantages.

On one hand, online chatting enables us to make friends and air our views freely. Once we enter the chatting room online, many strangers will come to greet us. If we find a person who has the same and hobby as us, we can become good friends and talk frequently online. We can share our joys and sorrows together, exchange our opinions on many things, which make our free time colorful and interesting. Besides, online chatting can provide us a place to speak out our mind. When we feel frustrated we may talk with find a stranger online rather than with our parents or friends. We don’t need to worry what we have said will be known by anyone around us. When the chat is over, we feel contented and refreshed.

On the other hand, online chanting can be harmful. If we become too addicted to online chatting, we will sit in front of the computer day and night, which is bad both for our eyes and body. Besides, when we make some bad friends online, we will easily get into trouble. Some people make use of the internet to do cheating and commit crime. If they get to know our personal information, they will try to do much harm to us. Young people are likely to be cheated if they don’t have a correct understanding of online chatting.

It is certain that online chatting can bring us a lot of benefits, but its bad effects are also obvious. We should try to reduce the negative effects to the minimum and make online chatting our valuable assistant.

Creating a Green Campus

Creating a Green Campus 1. Introduction Thesis: A green campus plays a decisive role in college student

s’ growth. 2. Body 1) A green campus contributes greatly to students’ physical an

d mental development. 2) A green campus can improve students’ moral standard and

ethical level. 3. Conclusion Conclusion and suggestion (emphasize its importance and put

forward how to create a green campus)

Creating a Green Campus Green campus refers to not only a clean environment, but also a civilized

atmosphere. The topic of a green campus has aroused public attention recently because of its decisive role in the growth of college students.

A green campus, rather than anything else, contributes greatly to students’ physical and mental development. In a green campus, the environment is clean, with no pollution of any kind. Also, many trees and flowers make the campus an ecological and natural resort. When students breathe the fresh air, see the beautiful scene, they feel warm, safe and comfortable. In addition, clean environment can purify student’s soul and improve their moral standard and ethical level. This is helpful to create a civilized atmosphere, in which students love their campus, respect knowledge, and study together harmoniously like brothers and sisters. All these are important for students’ healthy development both in body and in mind.

Therefore, in no place other than campus should we attempt to make a green atmosphere. To create a green campus, we should take effective measures. In the first place, it is essential that rules and regulations be worked out and enforced by the authorities. Furthermore, it is ripe time that we enhanced the awareness of the students themselves. Only in this way a green campus can be achieved in the near future.

The Difficulties of College Graduates in Fi

nding Good Jobs

The Benefits of the World Expo for Our Co

untry

The Benefits of the World Expo for Our Country 1. Introduction Thesis: Holding the World Expo has benefited China

in many ways. 2. Body 1) Promoting China’s development in science and t

echnology 2) Raising China’s influence and status in the inter

national world 3) Speeding up the construction of better cities 3. Conclusion

The Benefits of the World Expo for Our Country 1. Introduction As we all know, the 2010 World Expo was successfully held in Shanghai from May to October.

Since China was the first developing country to obtain the right to host such a great event, all Chinese people feel honorable and proud. The World Expo has brought China benefits in the following ways.

2. Body 1) It has promoted China’s development in science and technology The world Expo is regarded as the olimpic Games in science and technology. All countries h

ave exhibited the latest achievements in these aspects. China has an easy access to the their advanced development.

2) Raising China’s influence and status in the international world Obtaining such a right shows China’s power. 3) Speeding up the construction of better cities The theme of the world Expo is better city, better life, which makes Chinese government realiz

e the importance of better cities in improving people’ life. They begin to beautify city environment and expand city areas. Building better cities is now going on all over China.

3. Conclusion Although the world Expo has passed, its spirit and theme will last forever. I believe under its i

nfluence , China will become more and more powerful and our life environment will be better and better.

The Difficulties of College Graduates in Finding Good Jobs 1. Introduction Thesis: College graduates will face many difficulties when finding jobs 2. Body 1) The number of graduates each year is far bigger than that of the job vacancies

offered by the society. (expanding of students) 2) Many jobs require high quality graduates. (knowledge, ability, quality) 3) Most college graduates lack practical experience (pressures, and no chance ) 4) Some students don’t have a full understanding of themselves. ( Some jobs are

not satisfactory) They can’t realize their weakness and strong points and too particular about jobs. 3. Conclusion Faced with so many difficulties in finding jobs, college students should try to

improve themselves in every aspect since they enter university. And our government should also try some means to provide more job chances for students. Only in this was the problem can be solved quickly.