Materials for paragraph writing

Materials for paragraph writingTransitional expressions:1) chronological order (by time)soon, eventually, in the meantime, then, at the same time, next, thereafter, after an interval, now, after, presently, later, afterward, at last, nowadays, when, before, after, while, during ,between…and…, in____ (year), later, earlier, formerly, at the turn of the …, in the fist (second)half of the month, at birth, in childhood, in infancy, in adolescence, as an adult, in adulthood, in old age, at death, simultaneously, previous, prior to, in the end, finally2) spatial order (by space)where,in which, to which, from which;under, over, inside, beside, on top of,along, through, as far as,north, northern, south, southern, …at the back, in front of, in the middle of, at the bottom of…adjacent, parallel, corresponding to, parallel to, perpendicular to, rectangle, semicircle, distance, slope, midpoint,interior, opposite, surface,diagonal, overlapping, vertical, edge, pyramid, horizontal, limit, exterior, intersection3) by processoccur, happen, become, grow, take place, be carried out, change into…before, after, until, while, as, once, then, as soon as…at this point, at the same time, by means of, through the use of…first, second, third, finally…4) by comparison and contrastTo compare:similar to, similarly, like, alike, likewise, correspond to, correspondingly, as, just as,in like manner, in the same way, almost the same as, both…resemble, have…in common, be parallel in…common characteristics, resemblance, similarityTo contrast:differ from, unlike, in contrast to, on opposition to, on the contrary, on the other hand, but, different from, while…5) by cause and effectso, thus, consequently, therefore, accordingly, because of, for this reason, owing to, as a result, since, hence, because, due to…as a result of, as, the result of, so that, the effect of, so…that, the consequences of , out of, have an effect on, owe…to, the reason for, the cause of, It follows that..now that, seeing that, for fear that, such…that, so as…to, make…possible, make it possible/impossible for…to…6) by classificationmain kinds of, major kinds of, basic kindskinds, types, divisions, categories, parts, classifications, aspects, qualities, classesdivide, classify, fall into…categories, can be divided into…classes7) by definitiondefine, explain, clarify, paraphrasein definition, in other words, in clarification, in explanation, in clarificationExamples of paragraphs:Paragraph 1: An example of referring key words in preceding sentence:Bicycling in America has grown at an explosive rate. Bicycles used to be sold to parents for their children. Now those same parents are buying them for themselves, as well as for their children. Young executives ride bikes to work to stay out of traffic jams. Young mothers are finding it a way to do their shopping without competing for a parking place at the shopping center. University students and high school students find cycling an economical alternative to cars and buses. And even grandma and grandpa enjoy peddling to picnic and barbecues.Paragraph 2: An example of developing paragraph by space:My dormitory room is small and crowded. The dark green walls and dirty white ceiling make he room seem dim, and thus even smaller than it is. As you walk into the room, you are stopped short by my bed, whichfills half of the room. The two large windows over the bed are hidden by heavy dark drapes(布帘). Against the wall on your left, pushed into a corner behind the head of the bed, is a large bookcase that is crammed with papers, books and knickknacks (装饰性的小东西). Wedged(挤进，嵌进) in between the bookcase and the wall opposite the bed is a small grey metal desk. It has a brown wooden chair that seems to fill the left end of the room. Stuffed（塞满）under the desk is a woven wastepaper basket overflowing（溢出，溢满）with paper and debris (碎片). The wall above the bookcase and desk is completely taken up with two small posters. On the right hand side of the room is a narrow closet with clothes, shoes, hats, tennis racquets（网球拍）, and boxes bulging (凸出) out of its sliding doors(滑动门). Every time I walk out of the door, I think, “Now I know what it is like to live in a closet.”Paragraph 3: An example of developing paragraph by process:Once you encounter a person who has stopped breathing, you should begin immediately to do mouth-to-mouth breathing. First,place the victim on his back and remove any foreign matter from his mouth with your fingers. Then tilt his head backwards, so that his chin is pointing up. Next, pull his mouth open and his jaw forward, pinch his nostrils shut to prevent the air which you blow into his mouth from escaping through hisnose. Then place your mouth tightly over the victim’s. Blow into his mouth until you see his chest rise. Then turn your head to the side and listen for the out rush of air which indicates an air exchange. Repeat the process.Paragraph 4: An example of developing paragraph by comparison: (an alternating comparison)Traditional Chinese education was, in some respects, very similar to that of Athens in its best days. Athenian boys were made to learn Homer by heart from beginning to end; Chinese boys were made to learn the Confucian classics with similar thoroughness. Athenians were taught a kind of respect for the gods which consisted in out-world ceremonies and placed no barrier in the way of free intellectual thinking. Similarly, the Chinese were taught certain rites（仪式）connected with Ancestor-worship, but were by no means obliged to have the beliefs that rites would seem to imply.Paragraph 5: An example of developing paragraph by contrast：（an alternating contrast）John and Adam are different in three ways. First, John studies a lot. He wants to get all A’s. Otherwise he wouldn’t be admitted to medical school when he leaves school. On the other hand, Adam rarely studies. He just wants a B. A. Second, John never has time for sports. He doesn’t have time to play. However, he sometimes watches a game. In contrast, Adam spends most of his time playing football or basketball. Third, John doesn’t like parties. After all, they usually last until 2:00 a.m. And he needs lots of sleep. But Adam loves parties. He gets to bed very late. For some reason, he doesn’t seem to need as much sleep as John does. In spite of their differences, John and Adam are good friends.Paragraph 6: An example of developing paragraph by comparison：（a block comparison）Although Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee were fierce adversaries during the Civil War, their lives, both military and nonmilitary, had a great deal in common. Grant descended from a family whose members participated in the American Revolution. He received his commission of second lieutenant from West Point and served in the Spanish –American War. He was later summoned by President Lincoln to assume command of the Union Forces during the Civil War. After the Civil War, Grant suffered financial problems and was forced to declare bankruptcy. Leealso descended form a family which engaged in the American Revolution. He,too, received his commission from West Point and later fought in Mexico during the Spanish-American War. His fame as a military strategist during the Civil War, when he was commander of the Confederate armies, is well known. Although it is not always pointed out by historians, he, like Grant, had financial difficulties after the Civil War and was compelled to declare bankruptcy. By securing a post as president of Washington College, he was able to avoid additional poverty.Paragraph 7: A paragraph analyzing two causesWhy prohibition of spirits, beer, and white wine did not work? Because,law or no law, millions of people still liked to drink alcohol. And they were willing to take risks to get it. They were not about to change their tastes and habits just because of a change in the law. (reason 1)And gangs of smugglers made it easy to buy an illegal drink---or two or three. They smuggled millions of gallons of the outlawed beverages across the Canadian and Mexican borders during the prohibition era. Drinkers were lucky to know of an illegal bar that served Mexican or Canadian liquor. (reason 2)Paragraph 8: A paragraph analyzing one causeOne might wonder why, after the Norman Conquest, French did not become the national language, replacing English entirely. The reason is that the conquest was not a national migration, as the earlier Anglo-Saxon invasion had been. (the reason) Great numbers of Normans came to England, but they came as rulers and landlords. French became the language of the court, the language of the nobility, the language of polite society, the language of literature. But it did not replace English as the language of the people. There must always have been hundreds of towns and villages in which French was never heard except when visitors of high station passed through. (further explanation)Paragraph 9: A paragraph analyzing effects:A recent census reported that the American population is rapidly getting older. The aging of the nation will bring about serious effects. The most obvious effect is perhaps an economic one: how will the country bear the cost of caring for too many old people? The old are considerably more expensive to maintain. They now live mainly at home and need more services, and medical costs at present are almost twice the bill for people under 65. To support the old, the social-security system already pays more than it receives, and within a matter of four years, itwill not be able to help the retired. Then, to keep the system going, working Americans will simply have to work harder and receive less pay. But there is a danger: the young may refuse to contribute when the burden gets too heavy. In that case, the system will have to allow the elderly to work over 65. In fact, a number of major firms have already modified their retirement policies. However, as more and more elderly people stay at their posts, the younger generation will find it even harder to find jobs.Effect 1: Taking care of the old costs more money.Effect 2: The social security system is losing money.Effect 3: Working Americans work harder but get less pay.Effect 4: Young people refuse to contribute.Effect 5: The elderly are allowed to work over 65.Effect 6: Young people have difficulties in finding jobs.Paragraph 10: A paragraph analyzing effects:In fact, the rapid growth of population has brought about many problems. First, the rapid growth of population leads to the increasing demand of food. As we know that the area of the earth can never beexpanded for more cultivable land, thus the shortage of food is a big problem. Second, there are also the problems of less job opportunities, insufficient houses, schools, and health care. Third, as the rapid growth of world population continues, the whole world will face the problems of natural resources being used up at an increasing speed, which will bring about serious threat to mankind.Paragraph 11: A paragraph of classificationThere are three main groups of oil, namely: animal, vegetable and mineral. Animal oil, as its name indicates, comes from animals. The two commonest types of animal oil are fat and butter; we use them in cooking everyday.Vegetable oil comes from plants. It is so widely used in cooking that few homes can manage without it. For example, a little sesame（芝麻）oil or peanut oil will always make your noodles much more delicious.Mineral oil comes from the earth. The world needs large amounts of this oil because it is a very useful fuel. It drives cars, plants and ships and helps machinery of all types to run effectively. These three kinds of oil play an important role in our lives; without them the world would be quite different.Paragraph 12: A paragraph of classificationAccording to Xiao Li, the 15 students of his class fall into three groups. Seven of them work hard and study well. They always get good marks in examinations and are often praised by the teachers. Li calls them “good students.”The monitor, the secretary of the Youth League branch, and the captain of the class volleyball team, are quick in finding out what their fellow students are interested in or what they should do as a collective. They always organize proper activities at the proper time, so Li calls them “good organizers.” Four other students are very kind to their classmates, always ready to lend them a helping hand. They help to clean the classroom and the corridor even when they are not on duty. Li says that they are “good fellows.”“What about yourself?” someone asks him. “I’m a group by myself---a good observer.”Paragraph 13: A paragraph of definitionA “liberated woman”is simply a woman who controls her own life, rather than allowing it to be controlled by other people, traditions, or expectations. (a standard definition, giving a general explanation)A “liberated woman”can be found pursuing any line of works, including housework, or no work at all. She may or may not be married; she may ormay not have borne children. She may belong to any race; she may have attained any age. She may be poor or wealthy, educated or illiterate. She need have only one trait in common with her “liberated sisters”: she makes her own choices, whether the colors on her walls or the advanced degrees she seeks. She acts of her own volition, responsible to herself, and not out of fear of what her mother, lover, or neighbor might say. (extended definition, giving details)Paragraph 14: A paragraph of definitionMemory can be defined as the capacity to keep information available for later use. (a standard definition, giving a general explanation)It includes not only “remembering” things like arithmetic or historical facts but also involves any change in the way an animal typically behaves. Memory is involved when a rat gives up eating grain because he has sniffed something suspicious in the grain pile. Memory is also involved when a six-year-old child learns to swing a baseball bat.(extended definition, giving details)Practice 1: Write a paragraph using one of the following as the topic sentence.1 I remember the day when I met him/her for the first time.2 I still remember that terrible/ funny dream I had several days ago.3 My first year in college was …..(boring, busy…)Practice 2: Write a describing paragraph of one of the pictures shown to you.Practice 3: Write a paragraph of how to make jiao-zi,/ how to borrow a book from library/ how to prepare a birthday party/ how to take a train at the Yanan Railway Station.Practice 4: Write a paragraph comparing or contrasting two of your teacher/ two of your friends/ two places….Practice 5: Choose one of the topics below and write a cause-effect paragraph:Causes of(1)your depressions(2)traffic problems in Yan’an(3) students’ skipping classes;Effects of(1) being addicted to the online surfing.(2) campus love(3) low wages for teachersPractice 6: Choose one of the topics below and write a classification paragraph.(1)My classmates.(2)My Roommates.(3)The Books I Have ReadPractice 7: Choose one of the topics below and write a definition paragraph.(1)“Master Dongguo”(2)Superstition(3)male chauvinism(4)feminism。