Some experience in teaching how to write a paragraph in upper secondary school

Appendices
Content
Page
PART A: INTRODUCTION 
1. The reason for choosing the subject
2. The objective of the study
3. The object of the study
4. Study method
PART B: CONTENTS
1. The theoretical background
2. Practical background
3. The solutions
3.1. Applying some techniques to write paragraphs.
3.1.1. How to make an outline
3.1.2. How to use words and phrases flexibly
3.1.3. How to use linking words
3.1.4. Some useful languages.
3. 2. Some types of exercises relate to write paragraphs.
4. Achievements
PART C: CONCLUSION
Part A: Introduction
1. The reason for choosing the subject.
1.1. Due to the demand of innovating the program, content and method of teaching English at high schools in recent years, writing skill is regarded as one of the four basic training skills of the teaching and learning process. Previously, teaching of writing paragraphs was often overlooked. Because of the pressure of exams, teachers and students only focus on teaching and learning grammar, reading and speaking. Listening and writing skills usually do not care much. Most students are afraid to write the paragraph in English and are afraid to do the listening. Consequently, high school graduates do not have the ability to communicate in English when needed, or communicate very little. Currently in the new curriculum, writing paragraphs is more focused, especially in the entrance examination, which forces students to practise writing everyday. To teach it effectively and help students to be eager to writing hours, I have explored, studied several techniques applied to the process of teaching writing a paragraph.
1.2. In the trend of deeper integration in all spheres of social life, the ability to communicate in foreign languages, mainly in English to create more opportunities for employees as well as business owners, the leaders.The presentation of ideas, views, his ideas in English with foreign partners to use English to help improve the position of the speaker, to accelerate the process of cooperation and improve the effectiveness of cooperation. High school students will be the future owners of the country. They will become diligent workers having solid knowledge and skill, dynamic and talented entrepreneurs, the country's ingenious leaders. It would be a huge advantage if they know how to use English fluently. We can say the capacity to communicate in English with the four skills - listening, speaking, reading, writing and writing is one of the keys of success. So why we don’t equip with effective communication skills for students when learning a foreign language. For those reasons, With all my effort in thinking, exploring, exchanging, discussing with other colleagues in the education sector along with the rubbing practical work experience in teaching English in high school for nearly 17 years, I strongly share some ideas, thoughts through the initiative: Some experience in teaching how to write a paragraph in upper secondary school. 
2. The objective of the study. 
As an English teacher at high schools for many years, I am always concerned about the current situation of foreign language teaching and learning of students in the province. Our students seem inferior to students in other provinces about foreign language capability. So what is the cause of this situation? Is it because teachers are not qualified? Or those students do not have the ability to learn foreign languages ​​by local accent and direct communication skills are not flexible? May be due to improper care level of the school for this subject? All these questions have yet to be answered. These obstacles not only are in our province. Why other provincial students study foreign languages better than our students? The main responsibility belongs to teachers who teach in schools, In addition, the headmasters, the leaders of the education sector in the province. Everyone must identify targets clearly and strive to achieve that goal. My objective in work is going on learning, finding out experience to improve the quality of teaching, make students trust in teachers and have more and more successful students. More specifically, I want my work to achieve success in my own ability. During the process of teaching a foreign language in high school, I always accumulate, find out experience, innovate teaching methods to suit each student object and generate excitement in learning so that they have more passion, more enthusiasm in studying. And the goal of this project is to draw on experience in teaching writing paragraphs in English for high school students and share ideas with colleagues.
3. The object of the study.
In the framework of the subject and with limited ability, I will present a few techniques taught to write paragraphs with capacities ranging from 140 words to 150 words as required under the high school programs and textbooks. With the criteria of a good paragraph, it includes: tight layout, accurate grammar structure, pure prose, expressive and flexible wording, I think that this is not easy for many high school students. In this theme I will refer to how to build paragraph layouts as required, how to use flexible words with the style of the paragraph and how to use the connectors to make paragraphs smoother.
4. Study method.
 The method of writing paragraphs is one of the topics that I am very interested in the teaching process. Through years of working with students, I find that when given an exercise to write the paragraph, students often feel very confused and do not know where to start. The idea or no idea, or unclear ideas. Hence, students are often afraid to write paragraphs. Understanding the difficulties and psychological concerns of the students, I always try to help my students to give the problem, solve the problem and end the problem to make writing lessons more effective. Writing techniques must be practiced every day to help the students write them skillfully. Teachers must stimulate students to explore their own potential and help them learn how to present their ideas, their concerns things by foreign languages that they are learning. Such has the purpose of the new language learning achieved. Hence, the method of studying my theme has to be started from grasping the students’ psychology, studying the techniques carried out in writing paragraphs and training students to write paragraphs effectively.
Part B: CONTENT
1. The theoretical background
Since the beginning to learn English, the students are exposed to four basic skills of language, that is: listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Of all the skills, writing is regarded as a difficult skill to learn because it requires the writers having certain understanding about language, which can help them express their ideas and opinions based on writing. To achieve communicative objective through the students’ writing, teachers need attach to the aim of the lesson and to choose the suitable method to teach writing. Only by this way, can students write good paragraphs in English.
2. Practical background
Currently, In upper secondary schools, the new English curriculum that requires students to develop all four skills equally is being applied. Writing takes the time to practise. To ensure proper and adequate teaching as well as to develop four basic skills, particularly writing skills for students, teachers need to research, collect and use many forms for practice, conform to the conditions of each school’s facility to be able to raise the level of English for students. 
English is quite interesting, however, it requires learners’ diligence and hard work. If not, the knowledge will be forgotten or interrupted.
On the way to explore the experience, accumulate materials and learn from colleagues, attend extra training courses. I have applied the combination of modern teaching methods and traditional one in the lessons, especially the dry writing lessons.
In the experimental process, grades which I teach gain some relatively encouraging results; namely, the written lessons are less boring, students are more positive, students write more correctly and many writings have higher creativity.
3. The solutions
3.1. Applying some techniques to write paragraphs.
3.1.1 How to make an outline?
Making an outline for a paragraph is the first important step in the process of writing the passage. To get the tight layout and enough ideas, students must know how to outline before writing. To outline, students must know how to define the topic of the paragraph, should limit mining theme and must have basic knowledge about the field students write. Brief outline helps students to focus their ideas on limited issues, increase related issues and not ramble too far the topic.
* Outline of a paragraph usually consists of three parts:
- Topic sentence (main idea)
- Supporting sentences: ( from 2 to 3 supporting sentences)
+ Supporting sentence 1: reasons, examples, facts, statistics,
+ Supporting sentence 2: reasons, examples, facts, statistics,
+ Supporting sentence 3: reasons, examples, facts, statistics,
- Concluding sentence (restatement of the topic sentence/ summary of the main points).
* The function of the sentences.
- The topic sentence is to guide the reader to the problem we mention. Here is how to attract readers from the first sentence as well as to confirm the main point of the writing.
- Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence by giving reasons, examples, facts, statistics, quotations. Supporting sentences are extremely necessary. With vocabulary and understanding is limited, if the writer does not find the ideas before, just meet any sentence ,write that sentence, the paragraph is possible to be very shaky, do not focus on the subject and potentially surplus or deficit reviews. Each passage just need find two to three additional ideas. Too few ideas will result into solving the problem of lack of conviction; conversely, too many ideas will lead to a rambling, distraction.
- Concluding sentence with a view to helping readers summarize information acquired succinctly or know the writer's opinion and behavior about the matter has been presented above. The conclusion is not led to other problems except for problems mentioned in the topic sentence.
* For example:
"Write a paragraph of about 140 words about women's roles today."
This is a good topic, but very wide range. With about 140 words to say about the role of women today, students can not finish what she/ he knows. Students must make an outline to limit the scope of presenting problems in some of their personal favorites and lead readers through the topic sentence or in other words, that is introduction part.
- Suggested topics: Women today play a very important role in running their homes, managing business and taking part in political life.
So, paragraphs will focus on solving the issue about the important role of women today in three areas: in the family, do business and participate in political life, society.
- Suggested outline:
+ In running homes: rearing and bearing children; doing housework; looking after the family
+ In managing business: flexible and sensible in finding partners; determined in being successful; careful and dependable in co-operation
 + In political life: have right to vote, to be candidates as leaders and to be equal to men.
 - Suggested conclusion:
+ In conclusion, the important role of women in life today is not deniable. 
+ In short, we can’t imagine a society without women’s taking part in every field of life.
+ To come to an end, we can say that holding up half of the sky, women have taken their active parts not only in homes, but also in financial support and social life.
With the object of gifted students, this exercise requires a higher level of challenge. Students practise writing an complete essay with capacities ranging from 250 to 300 words. The layout of the essay is usually built with about 5 paragraphs:
- The topic paragraph
- Body paragraphs (3 paragraphs)
- The conclusion paragraph
When students know how to write paragraphs fluently, they have the ability to deploy an essay. From the topic sentence of a paragraph, they can turn into topics for the essay section. Additional ideas will be deployed, expanded into paragraphs. And the conclusion can also turn into a concise passage.
Here are a few examples of how to put the issue to the essay - writing the topic paragraph.
Example 1: HOW TO GIVE UP A BAD HABIT?
Habits, good or bad, make you who you are. The key is controlling them. If you know how to change your habits, even a smart effort can create big changes. However, to break a bad habit is not always easy. It takes time and it needs a lot of determination, constancy and support.
Example 2: HOW TO TAKE A VACATION?
“All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. This famous English saying can be understood that playing or taking vacation is very important to people. After a tiring working period, an effective vacation will help us regain strength, energy and spirit to return to work, help us do our job more productively and creatively. But how to take a vocation is a matter. To help you to make a vacation effective my essay will focus on three suggested measures. They are planning for the vacation, enjoying it and coming back to work.
After having identified the topic for the essay, students find the additional ideas. Each of the issues was given will be solved by a passage.
For instance, in the first example -the "HOW TO GIVE UP A BAD Habit?" In body part will have four paragraphs respectively:
- Breaking bad habits takes time
- Breaking bad habits needs a lot of constancy
- Breaking bad habits needs a lot of determination
- Breaking bad habits needs a lot of support
To deploy itself into four segments for the body part, students find ideas to solve the topic of each paragraph. For example, paragraph one can be deployed:
You need time to decide what is the worst habit that needs giving up; How badly that habit affects your life; How many times you have tried to give it up; A habit is often easy to be built, but it is not easy to break. 
With the ending, we usually summarize the reviews mentioned in the body part and express the thought, our views on that issue. Through the end, readers can understand the intent of the writer.
* Here is an example for the ending theme "GIVE UP A BAD HOW TO Habit?"
In short, breaking a bad habit is not as easy as we think. The matter is that in this campaign you must always think positively, act effectively and live optimistically. I hope you’ll succeed in fighting yourself to give up a bad habit and starting a new good habit to make your life more meaningful.
* To end an essay: "HOW TO TAKE A Vocation? We can write the following:
In conclusion, we should remember that the essence of a vocation is not to escape, but it is to disengage from boring, miserable things and do something refreshing, relaxing and enjoyable.
3. 1. 2. How to use words and phrases flexibly.
A good paragraph is shown by many factors, while without not saying to how to use the words of the writer. The words used primarily fit the style of the writing, If so, there is the high persuasion. To get tips from using words, teachers must help students to accumulate a lot of synonyms and antonyms, the different nuances of the word to apply to the situation. Besides, the accumulation of idioms, proverbs, dialects are very useful for expressing ideas vividly, rich in image and convincing wealthy.
For instance:
- To demonstrate the similarities between the daughter and mother we can use 
"The girl looks like her mother very much", or "The girl is much like her mother", or "The girl takes after her mother".
- To express regret for a mistake that we can say
 "I regret doing that", "I beg you for an excuse", "I am sorry for doing that", "Could you pardon me for that?" 
- To express gratitude for the help we can say
 "I highly appreciate your great help", "I am very grateful to you for your great help", "I would like to thank you for your great help", "You are very kind to help me", "It's very kind of you to help me", "Thanks for you help."
- There are many different structures to indicate interest, pay attention to a certain problem.
For example:
I must take the problem into consideration; The problem is still under consideration; I'll give my careful consideration to the problem; I must pay much attention to the problem; I must be considering the problem; A lot of thought must be focused on the problem.
Depending on each situation, you can use these sentences, words and gathered from showing appreciation and courtesy, social or intimate, close. Thus, the use of words in context, style not only indicates appreciation of the language but also the subtlety, sensitivity of the writer.
3. 1. 3. How to use linking words.
Linking words in the passage help writings smooth, fluent and logical. Depending on how you resolve legal issues listed manually, compare, explain or demonstrate, and depending on the relationship between the propositional sentence or sentences in the text that the writer may use different types of connectors together.
  Here are some types of connectors used to link the clause in sentences, or link the sentences in a paragraph.
- Sequencing/ listing: first of all, first(ly), second(ly), third(ly), first, next, then, finally, first and foremost, in the first place, to begin with
- Adding to what you have said: also, furthermore, in addition (to), additionally, moreover, besides, and, as well (as), not only.but also, bothand
- Contrasting: in contrast to this, on the contrary, conversely, while, whilst, whereas, but, yet, in contrast, vice versa, unlike, ..
- Expressing similarity: similarly, likewise, in the same way, in a similar manner,..
- Giving examples: for example, for instance, in particular, particularly, such as, that is / that is to say, namely, indeed, in fact, specifically, .
- Showing results: As a result, as a consequence, consequently, hence, thus, therefore, so
- Conceding: Although, even though, even if, even when, after all, all the same, however, nevertheless, though, still, nonetheless, in spite of this, despite this/ that
- Restating: In other words, that is to say, to put it simply
- Inferring: In other words, in that case, (or) else, otherwise
- Connectors used in conditionals sentences: if, if so, if not, provided, providing, as long as, unless, but for, if it not ( be) for..
- Showing reasons: because ( of) , since, as, for this reason
- Some words used to express the views, attitudes of the speaker and writer: according to sb, in my opinion, as far as I can see, to (the best of) my knowledge, frankly speaking, clearly, obviously, in general, generally, from my point of view,.
- Summarizing: In summary, to sum up, to conclude, in conclusion, in short, in brief, shortly, coming to an end, to put in the nutshell,
Here are examples of using connectors:
 Example 1: Write a paragraph of 120-140 words about disadvantages of playing sports.
It can not be denied that playing sports brings about many benefits to our life as well as our health. However, in some cases, it can lead to some disadvantages whether for children or adults. First and foremost, playing sports can cause injuries when practicing in strong intensity. They can be wounds on various aspects such as skin, bones and others from simple to dangerous ones that could be very difficult to cure and last for a long time. In terms of pressure, it can be said that playing sports makes the athletes stressed in many ways. The target of becoming the winner of a program puts on them much pressure that might come from parents, coaches, organizations or even their country. This results in many emotional disturbances and destructive behaviors like cheating or using banned products. The last point that can not be ignored is