Skills For Effective Writing

CONNECTING TO THE THEMEThe Internet is the most important tool in global marketing today.Which of these are reasons why?ONNECTING TO THECTHEME1 Word-of-mouth advertising, or hearing about products fromWhatyoupeopledo to makea good first impression? Which of the tipspeople you know, does not impactascanmanyas thebelowdoyouthinkmayhelp?Internet does.1 You should be neat and well-dressed.2 Social networking sites are popular.2 You usersshouldhavemakeeye contact with the other person.3 More than 75 percent of social mediabought3 You shouldlot about yourself.something because of an ad or commenttheytalksawa online.4 InternetYou shouldbe comfortable, but you shouldn’t look too casual.4 Some businesses do not have anpresence.5 You should ask about the other person when the time is right.1 and 3 are two reasons why the Internet plays an important role in global marketing.The Paragraph21, 2, 4, and, 5 will help you make a good first impression.A. Skill PresentationA paragraph usually starts with a topic sentence. The topic sentence states the main idea of theparagraph. There are also supporting sentences. They give more information, such as details,examples, or facts, to support the main idea. A paragraph also has a concluding sentence. This cansummarize the ideas in the paragraph or restate the main idea.A good paragraph has ideas that relate to each other. All sentences should relate to the main idea inthe topic sentence. Supporting sentences that relate to the main idea are relevant. If a sentence is notrelated, it is irrelevant. Avoid irrelevant sentences when you write.Read the beginning of this paragraph. Think about the features of a good paragraph as you read.TSPeople use a variety of interactive websites. SSFor example, people use social networkingsites to share information. SSPeople also use them to keep in touch with friends. SSMostpeople who work for social networking sites enjoy their jobs. SSIn addition, Internet phoneand messaging services are also popular. CSThere are many kinds of interactive websites inuse today, for many different reasons.The third supporting sentence is not related to the main idea. It is irrelevant, and it should not beincluded in this paragraph.Supporting sentences should also be organized logically and should be connected. Use transitionwords and phrases to do this. Transition words such as first, second, and then and transition phraseslike for example, another example, and in addition can help readers follow your ideas more easily. Lookat the paragraph above again. The transition phrases for example and in addition help organize thesupporting sentences logically.6

B. Over to You1 Read the paragraph and circle the correct answers for each item.1At MuchMarket, we use interactive websites to help sell products. 2For example, weuse customer reviews to get new customers. 3In addition, we use social networking sites tocommunicate with customers. 4We pay our employees a lot and give them paid vacations. 5Welove to use the newest technology to attract new customers.1 Which sentence does not relate to the main idea?Sentence 2 Sentence 3 Sentence 42 Which transition phrases connect supporting sentences?At MuchMarket, we use For example, In addition, help sell products, with customers2 Read the topic sentence. Decide if the sentences support or provide a conclusion for thetopic sentence. Write Y for Yes or N for No.Topic Sentence: These days, businesses are trying to spend less money on advertising.1 For example, some companies are not giving employees pay raises, and they are notoffering extra vacation time.2 Other companies are using free online tools to advertise their products.3 Some websites offer high-quality products that are still affordable.4 Companies are finding many ways to lower their advertising costs today.5 Spending money on advertising can increase profits.6 Companies that can save money on advertising can use the cash elsewhere.7 More and more effort is being made by businesses to cut the amount of money theyspend on advertising.8 Social networking sites can be a great way to generate interest in a product withoutspending any money at all.CHECK!1 A good bad paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and aconcluding sentence.2 A good paragraph includes only relevant irrelevant supporting sentences,not relevant irrelevant supporting sentences.3 A good paragraph also has sentences that are organized transitionally logically and uses logic transition words and phrases correctly.2 The Paragraph7

C. Practice1 Read the paragraph. Underline three sentences that are irrelevant.1Video-sharing websites can help businesses. 2First, many companies can save money byadvertising on these sites. 3A local business, for example, can make a video and post it forfree. 4Famous actors sometimes earn a lot of money. 5Next, businesses can often find newcustomers by sharing videos online. 6For example, an American company may be able toreach a more global market. 7Many Americans think other cultures are truly interesting.8Finally, friends can use video-sharing sites to share videos of special events, such asgraduation. 9There are many ways that businesses can use video-sharing websites to selltheir products.2 Read the paragraph and circle the correct transition words to help connect the ideas.The restaurant Mimi had a great year. The owner decided to use free online tools toreach more customers. First, Then, After that, he created an account on a popular socialnetworking site. Then, First, In conclusion, he posted information about the restaurant,including its location, the menu, and a list of daily specials. After that, In conclusion, Finally, he took pictures of happy customers and posted them on the site. Finally, To start, Second, he asked frequent customers to write reviews on the site. Soon the site was verybusy, and the restaurant was full.3 Read the paragraph and answer the questions.Virtual Word-of-Mouth Marketing1Innovative businesses are now using virtual, or online, wordof-mouth advertising. 2Have you ever bought something becausea friend said, “I love it!”? 3Most people have. 4In fact, a 2009 studyfound that 90 percent of people trust word-of-mouth advertisingmore than any other kind. 5Review websites allow customers towrite their opinions about businesses. 6Other people then readthe reviews before making decisions about what to buy. 7Somebusinesses also use social networking sites to post frequentupdates. 8People read these updates and tell their friends aboutthem. 9For example, Kogi, a mobile food truck in Los Angeles,gives information about its location several times a day. 10Over50,000 fans follow these updates. 11They buy food when a Kogitruck is nearby. 12In addition, they often tell their friends. 13Cleverbusinesses are finding new ways to use websites to promote theirproducts more effectively.1 Which sentence is the topic sentence?2 Which sentence gives a fact about how many people trust word-of-mouth advertising?3 Which sentences describe how people use review websites?4 Which sentences describe how businesses use social networking sites?5 Which transition words are used to connect ideas?6 Which sentence summarizes the main idea?8Skills for Effective Writing 3

D. Skill QuizCheck ( ) the correct answer for each item.1 Thesentence expresses the main ideaof a paragraph.a. topicb. supportingc. concluding2sentences give more information aboutthe topic sentence.a. Independentb. Supportingc. Factual3 A good paragraph hasa. only sentences related to the mainidea.b. one or more irrelevant sentences.c. only one relevant sentence.4 Use transition words toa. make an idea relevant.b. format your paragraph correctly.c. help organize supporting sentences.5 Choose the most appropriate transitionphrase for this paragraph:Review websites help companies sell, online reviews are helpful forproducts.getting new customers. Social networkingsites are also useful.a. In additionb. For examplec. After that6 Choose a relevant supporting sentencefor this topic sentence: Many people readcustomer reviews when they shop online.a. Customers use credit or debit cardsto pay for things online.b. Online advertisements may beinappropriate for different cultures.c. In fact, more than 60 percent ofshoppers read others’ commentsbefore deciding which product tobuy.7 Choose the irrelevant sentence in thisparagraph:Some businesses post frequent updateson websites. People read these updates andtell friends. The best businesses treat theircustomers well. Clever businesses use thesesites to sell products.a. The best businesses treat theircustomers well.b. Clever businesses use these sites tosell products.c. People read these updates and tellfriends.8 Choose a relevant supporting sentencefor this topic sentence: There are manyexamples of word-of-mouth advertisingonline.a. You can see posters for newproducts in many cities.b. You can find businesses advertisingon video-sharing websites.c. You can make many friends onsocial networking sites.9 Choose a relevant concluding sentence tomatch this topic sentence: Word-of-mouthadvertising can be anything from talking toa friend to watching videos online.a. Teens spend more time sendingmessages than talking on the phone.b. In everyday life, there are manytypes of word-of-mouth advertising.c. Word-of-mouth advertising is agood way to make new friends.10 Choose the transition words to helporganize the sentences in this paragraph:It is easy to sign up on a video-sharing, you click on “Sign up.”,website.you create a user name.a. First, Thenb. After that, Finallyc. For example, In addition2 The Paragraph9

3Topic SentencesCONNECTING TO THE THEMEWhat CcanONNECTINGyou do to makeimpression? Which of the tipsTOa goodTHEfirstTHEMEbelow do you think may help?many things to excel, or do well, in1 YouSuccessfulshould be studentsneat anddowell-dressed.school. Find four true statements. Successful students . . .2 You should make eye contact with the other person.1 attend class regularly.3 You should talk a lot about yourself.2 get notes from other students instead of going to class.4 You should be comfortable, but you shouldn’t look too casual.3 talk to other students a lot in class.5 You should ask about the other person when the time is right.4 arrive at class on time.1, 2, 4, and, 5 will help you make a good first impression.5 pay attention and participate in class.6 talk to the teacher when they don’t understand something.Statements 1, 4, 5, and 6 are true.A. Skill PresentationThe topic sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph. Other sentences in the paragraph relate tothis main idea. It is usually the first sentence in the paragraph, but not always. A topic sentence hastwo parts, the topic and the controlling idea. The topic tells the reader who or what the paragraph isabout. It is usually a noun. The controlling idea tells what kind of information you will give about thetopic in your paragraph. Look at this topic sentence.TOPICCONTROLLING IDEASuccessful students do many things to excel in school.The topic is successful students. This tells the reader the paragraph will be about successful students.The controlling idea is do many things to excel in school. This focuses the topic and tells the reader thatthe paragraph will give information about things successful students do to excel in school. Now lookat another topic sentence.TOPICCONTROLLING IDEASuccessful students often make great leaders.The topic of this sentence is also successful students, but the controlling idea is often make greatleaders. This focuses the topic and tells the reader that the paragraph will give information aboutsuccessful students being great leaders.10

B. Over to You1 Read the topic sentences. Decide what are the topics and what are the controlling ideas.Circle the topics. Underline the controlling ideas.1 Students who are successful leaders inspire other people.2 Scholarships give many students a chance to attend college.3 Political leaders often inspire people to change society.4 Success at college can lead to many different opportunities to make a difference.2 Read the paragraphs and choose the correct topic sentence for each one. There are twoextra sentences.1They set an example for other students. Other students tend to listen to their ideas.Many successful students inspire others to do well. Students who are struggling may evendepend on successful students for help. Students who are successful often have importantpositions, like class president. They usually make good leaders.2Gbowee has been fighting for peace for more than aWho is Leymah Gbowee?decade. She has completed many programs that teach skills for peace building. She startedan organization called Women Peace and Security Network Africa. She has won awards forher peace-building skills. She contributes her knowledge and helps guide the peace process.Gbowee promotes peace through her leadership.abcdMany successful businessmen did well in school.Leymah Gbowee was born in Liberia in Africa.Successful students are often good leaders.Leymah Gbowee is a leader who promotes peace.CHECK!1 Thein a paragraph tells the main idea of the paragraph. It isusually early in the paragraph.in the topic sentence. It tells the reader who2 Always include aor what the paragraph is about. It is usually a noun.idea in the topic sentence, as well. It focuses the3 Include atopic and tells what kind of information you will give about the topic in yourparagraph.3 Topic Sentences11

C. Practice1 Read each topic sentence in the chart. Decide if the part in bold is the topic or thecontrolling idea. Check ( ) the box in the correct column.TOPICCONTROLLINGIDEA1. Scholarships are a good way to help pay for school.2. Scholarships are a good way to help pay for school.3. Mahatma Gandhi promoted peace and nonviolence.4. Mahatma Gandhi promoted peace and nonviolence.5. Peaceful leaders often achieve success.6. Peaceful leaders often achieve success.7. The definition of “independent” varies across time and cultures.8. The definition of “independent” varies across time and cultures.9. The Carter Center contributes to world peace in various ways.10. The Carter Center contributes to world peace in various ways.2 Read each topic sentence and circle the correct answer for each item.1 Some leaders promote peace in their countries.The topic is some leaders peace their countries.2 The definition of “respect” varies across time.The controlling idea is that the definition of “respect” is different at different times isalways the same is in the dictionary.3 Successful leaders are respected around the world.The topic is successful leaders respect the world.4 Peaceful movements can change the world.The controlling idea is that peaceful movements can make the world different are alwayseffective may exist.5 Many wealthy people contribute money to help improve bad situations.The topic is many wealthy people money bad situations.6 Bill Gates achieved great wealth as the head of Microsoft.This paragraph will give information about how Bill Gates became wealthy stayed busy retired from Microsoft.7 The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has helped many people around the world.The topic is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates people around the world.8 Some college programs promote independent thinking.This paragraph will give information about how some college programs encourage peopleto think independently want everyone to think the same way offer only a few majors.12Skills for Effective Writing 3

D. Skill QuizCheck ( ) the correct answer for each item.1 What does the topic sentence of aparagraph do?a. gives information about severaldifferent topicsb. tells the main idea of theparagraphc. gives examples of the topic7 Bill and Melinda Gates founded anorganization to help people around theworld.What is the topic in this topic sentence?a. people around the worldb. an organizationc. Bill and Melinda Gates2 The topic sentence of a paragraph isusuallya. the first or second sentence.b. in the middle of the paragraph.c. the last sentence.8 Mahatma Gandhi succeeded by inspiringmany people.What is the controlling idea in this topicsentence?a. why inspiring many people madeGandhi successfulb. why people inspired Gandhi to besuccessfulc. why different people define successin different ways3 What does the topic of a topic sentence tellthe reader?a. what the title of the paragraph isb. who or what the paragraph isaboutc. the specific information theparagraph will give4 What does the controlling idea of a topicsentence tell the reader?a. what the title of the paragraph isb. what the main subject of theparagraph isc. the information the paragraph willgive about the topic5 Study groups help students succeed incollege.What is the topic in this topic sentence?a. study groupsb. college studentsc. success in college6 Grants can help pay for a student’seducation.What is the topic in this topic sentence?a. a studentb. grantsc. education9 The Carter Center works to bring peace tothe world.What is the controlling idea in this topicsentence?a. how peace organizations areusually effectiveb. how The Carter Center tries tomake the world more peacefulc. how The Carter Center guidesworld leaders10 Political leaders often inspire people aroundthe world.What is the controlling idea in this topicsentence?a. ways that people everywhere areinspired by political leadersb. ways that inspirational people votefor good leadersc. ways that leaders inspire people totravel3 Topic Sentences13

Supporting Sentences4CONNECTINGTHEMECONNECTINGTOTOTHETHE THEMEWhat can you do to make a good first impression? Which of the tipsManydoscientiststhat how children are nurtured, or cared forbelowyou thinkarguemay help?as they grow up, can have a positive influence on their ability to1 Youshouldwell-dressed.learn.Whichbeof neattheseandreasonssupport this argument?2 Youshouldmakehaveeye provencontactthatwithreadingthe otherperson

1 Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences 3 B. Over to You 1 Read the sentences. Decide if they are simple, compound, or complex. Write S for Simple, C for Compound, or CX for Complex. 1 Tom made a good impression, so he got the job. 2 Jason seems friendly, although he is very shy. 3 Nancy and Lorena have a lot of friends.