WRITING THEORY ■■ Whether you are writing for academic or professional purposes,
there are three basic parts to a descriptive text.
1. Topic sentence •• introduces the main idea, or the topic, to the reader •• includes the writer’s feeling or opinion, which is the controlling idea Examples: Ms. Walker is a fantastic teacher. Topic
Controlling idea
A Formula 1 driver is a challenging and exciting job. Topic
Controlling idea
My favourite place on campus is the student lounge. Controlling idea Topic
2. Supporting sentences •• give background information about the topic •• give details to give a clear picture or idea •• may also describe how the writer feels about the topic When you develop a descriptive text, even in an email, make sure that you follow a logical order of ideas. This can take various forms. One way to do this is to start with general ideas and then explain specific information. Another way to describe logically includes starting with well-known facts followed by lesser well-known facts. 3. Concluding sentence •• comes at the end of the paragraph •• restates the topic •• may also give the writer’s opinion or feeling about the topic
A. ACADEMIC ■■ Write a descriptive paragraph on one of the following topics. Use transition
words to sequence the actions in your text (see page 17), so that your ideas flow more naturally.
Humanities •• a leader or famous follower in film, song or musical genre •• a leading or seminal work of art •• a leader or famous follower in sports, the arts or performing arts •• a leading country or city making a difference in socioeconomic development
Sciences •• a leading or break-through scientific discovery, invention or innovation •• a leader or famous follower in the sciences •• a leading country or city making a difference in sustainable growth
> To warm up before you write, review the grammar for this unit on page 32. 30
UNIT 1 | TO LEAD OR TO FOLLOW?
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2017-03-17 10:12 AM