ENGLISH WRITING Thiu nng

Session 6 Module I Instructor: H L V

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OVERVIEW
Review Warm-up Essay comparison TP-based
Homework solution & discussion

Genre factor in thematic distribution Thematic progression improvement techniques

Linear idea development

Previously on Thiu Nng

Vietnamese-English translation
Thematic progression

TP-based analysis
The majority of patterns in Vietnamese paragraphs are Motivated-NewTheme The majority of patterns in English paragraphs are Rheme-Theme Why?

Previously on Thiu Nng

Feedback
Ti sao bn tay con ngi vi bn tay lao ng hay hc vi s hc khng c lin quan?
semantic relationship vs. syntactic relationship Why Theme & Rheme should be based on syntactic relationship achieve greater consistency in analysis and text interpretation are less dependent on specific culture and background knowledge cch mng vs. khng chin vs. min Bc XHCN better demonstrate differences in linking manner between 2 languages Ti hc trng Trn Ph. Trng c thnh lp cch y 20 nm. In English, we need an additional linking element such as the/that/my, etc.

Previously on Thiu Nng

Feedback
Ngi lnh b mnh pho pht ngang sn c trn qua tng n st bn mp sui vc u vo ln nc trong vt. S bc ti ci cht nhanh hn ca anh khin ti thm tha hn v s tn khc ca cuc chin Nhng nu hiu rng khi b thng nng, b mt mu nhiu m ung nc vo s lm long mu ra th ngi lnh s cht nhanh hn, khi em cho l vn c quan h Rheme-Theme. Em cho l lun phi da vo context ngoi cu ch mt thy ni l c Rheme-Theme hay khng.
What is the use of such a Rheme-Theme system? Does it promote reader-responsible or writer-responsible writing? Does it help differentiate between English and Vietnamese?

Previously on Thiu Nng

Feedback
Hm qua thy c dy v Theme-Rheme. By h vit 1 on ting anh, e thy c 2 cch vit:
Th nht l vit theo kiu translate v sa dn dn nh v d trn lp v mo ui chut ca thy. Vit xong xui c on ri mi sa dn dn theo T-R. Th hai l vit tng cu mt, p dng my nguyn tc v T-R ngay khi vit tng cu.

Thy cho em hi l vit theo cch no trong 2 cch trn hay c cch no khc .

All in good time

WARM-UP
Watch a short clip of Sao Mai Diem Hen, in which the host interviews a singer contestant. Can you identify any logical problem?
Does it really constitute a problem in Vietnamese? Does it in English?
the although. but mistake The because/since/as thats why mistake

WARM-UP
Another sample of incorrect usage of cohesive device in Vietnamese

ESSAY COMPARISION TP-BASED RESULT SUMMARY

Solution comparisons Essay A (12 R-T + 1 E-R-T + 5 N) 72% Rheme-Theme + Extended-Rheme-Theme patterns 28% Motivated-New-Theme patterns Essay B (8 N + 3 R-T) 28% Rheme-Theme patterns 72% Motivated-New-Theme patterns

ESSAY COMPARISION TP-BASED

Answer the following questions
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Which text do you like more? Which text is easier to follow and understand? The author's points are more clearly presented in which text? Which text provides more specific ideas? Which text provides examples that better support the author's points? Which text is written by the native speaker?

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ESSAY COMPARISON
Why does TP differ between the two essays?
Manner of exemplification
Text A provides only two examples, each followed by very detailed descriptions and specifics Text B briefly mentioned seven examples without a detailed evidence, leaving the audience to infer much of the particulars. the linking among these examples?

Use of explicit cohesive ties (such as textual Themes)

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ESSAY COMPARISON
Vietnamese vs. Vietnamese ESL essays - manner of exemplification
ng Gim c mt c quan, x nghip no mun iu hnh v qun l tt mi mt hot ng ca n v mnh th phi hc. Ngi cng nhn mun nng cao nng sut v cht lng sn phm cng phi thng xuyn hc hi, rt kinh nghim. Nng dn mun vt v trong cng vic trng trt, chn nui v tng thm thu nhp, ci thin i sng th ng nhin cng phi hc tp khoa hc k thut v p dng n vo thc t. Mun c mt cng trnh nghin cu hay mt pht minh no , nh khoa hc phi hc tp v lm vic trong mt thi gian di ba nm, nm nm, mi nm... If a man chooses to do the right thing however difficult it may be, he will not withdraw from a difficult choice and by doing so, he will become successful. He may never find out what bad luck is. Napoleon, a historical figure, definitely never knew what bad luck was because he consolidated his power and never let it be divided. If a person maintains a positive outlook, he will not feel that he is aging as he is getting older, and he will encounter many opportunities to be happy....

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ESSAY GROUP COMPARISON

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GENRE FACTOR
Genre influences TP patterns
narratives tend to rely on parallel TP to maintain focus on a particular character argumentative texts tend to employ linear TP, with each step in the argument involving rhematic material being picked up in the succeeding Themes argumentative texts tend to employ more textual and interpersonal Themes as they involve a greater extent of writer-reader interaction
E.g. What does that mean when the author uses obviously arguably admittedly

more on this in the session of Appraisal resources

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THEMATIC PROGRESSION IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES

Linear idea development Manner of exemplification Theme-Rheme re-arrangement
Avoid Vietnamese influence on usage of marked Themes reference switching

Employment of cohesive devices

as textual Themes as non-textual-Themes

Linking facilitation
linking scope linking distance linking explicitness

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LINEARITY
What is linearity?
watch a sample clip about linearity and another one about nonlinearity

It can be either intra-sentential or inter-sentential.

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

Grade could motivate students to work hard to achieve academic excellence by turning in thoroughly researched and well-written papers. Grade could motivate students to work hard (1) to achieve academic excellence (2) by turning in thoroughly researched and well-written papers (3).

Grade could motivate students to work hard (1) [in hope for a better grade] (*) they make effort to turn in thoroughly researched and wellwritten papers (3) and by extension [link 3 to 2], achieve academic excellence (2). Note: (*) indicates an added idea (due to implicit linking)

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

Corporate social responsibilities (CRS) might help organization improve financial performance by establishing a good relationship with prospective investors, so it would have better access to capital. It is because many investors factor CRS into their investment decisions. Corporate social responsibilities (CRS) might help organization improve financial performance by establishing a good relationship with prospective investors (1), so it would have better access to capital (2). It is because many investors factor CRS into their investment decisions (3).

Corporate social responsibilities (CRS) might help an organization improve financial performance by establishing a good relationship with prospective investors (1) many of whom [link 1 to 3] factor CRS into their investment decisions (3) This would translate into better access to capital (2).

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

My parents, based on our family tradition of majoring in economics, which was thought to be helpful for me in case I need any family support, advised me to choose economics. Better still, they understood that I prefer social science subjects to natural science ones so economics would be the best choice for me. My parents, based on (1) our family tradition of majoring in economics (2), which was thought to be helpful for me in case I need any family support (3), advised me to choose economics (4). Better still, they understood that (5) I prefer social science subjects to natural science ones (6) so economics would be the best choice for me (7).

Note: (4)=(7) & (1)=(5) my parents suggested economics (4+7) their suggestion was based on several factors (1+5) a. family tradition (2) (which translates into better family support (3) b.my own disposition (i.e. my preference for social science over natural science) (6) you can also start the other way around (i.e., discuss specific reasons that lead to parents suggestion) there may be more than one good solution when it comes to linearity
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

I have known many kids that have to attend classes outside school, even in the weekend. They do not have time to do things they like such as: playing with friends, visiting their grandparents, going fishing, or sharing time with their parents, etc. Besides, the lessons from schools are enough for children to learn. They also have to do a lot of homework.

Linear development: Point A Point B Point C

Point A Point B Point C

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

I have known many kids that have to attend classes outside school, even in the weekend. They do not have time to do things they like such as: playing with friends, visiting their grandparents, going fishing, or sharing time with their parents, etc. Besides, the lessons from schools are enough for children to learn. They also have to do a lot of homework.

Idea development: the kids have to take extra classes (point B) and hence, they hardly have time to do things they want (point C) going back to explaining that their main school load is already heavy enough (point A).

Non-linear development: Point B Point C Point A

Point A

Point B

Point C

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

I have known many kids that have to attend classes outside school, even in the weekend. They do not have time to do things they like such as: playing with friends, visiting their grandparents, going fishing, or sharing time with their parents, etc. Besides, the lessons from schools are enough for children to learn. They also have to do a lot of homework. Re-arrange ideas: the kids' school load is already more than enough (point A) However, they still have to take extra classes (point B) Consequently, they do not have time to do things they want (point C).

Linear development: Point A Point B Point C

Point A

Point B

Point C
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The original text appears to employ all Rheme-Theme patterns. But its not really linear. Why so?
I have known many kids that have to attend classes outside school, even in the weekend. They do not have time to do things they like such as: playing with friends, visiting their grandparents, going fishing, or sharing time with their parents, etc. Besides, the lessons from schools are enough for children to learn. They also have to do a lot of homework. The textual Theme (Besides) is problematic

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

Steps:
Break up the text into individual ideas Re-arrange them in a logically linear order Identify and eliminate repetitions and/or digressions (if any)
a common mistake: repeat the same idea using different words

Put back re-organized materials into text

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FUN ACTIVITY
Watch a video and read the lyrics of Teen Vng c Geisha. Do the lyrics sound coherent to you? Re-arrange to make them more linear. A sample solution:
(combine P2 and P4) Anh l ngi Vit Nam li c ngi yu cng l ngi Vit Nam khng nn i m mng ngi p x khc (combine P1 and P3) Nhng v anh xem phim Nht nhiu, ghin ri trt m gi Nht nn em nh tm gii php mc ging gi Nht

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LINEAR IDEA DEVELOPMENT

Later on, with the experience associating with the inspiration by successful businesses who overcame their finance problems that I watched on a TV show named Being rich is not tough, my passion for business was further fueled. Later on, with the experience associating with (1) the inspiration by (2) successful businesses who overcame their finance problems (3) that I watched on (4) a TV show (5) named Being rich is not tough (6), my passion for business was further fueled (7). Notes: (1)=(4) and (2)=(7)

Later on, watching (1+4) "Being rich is not tough," (6) a TV show (5) about successful businesses who overcame their financial problems (3) further fueled my passion for business (2+7).

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SENT-IN HOMEWORK 1
For session 8: for the remaining passages
Task 1: re-arrange ideas to make it more linearly Task 2: re-write the whole paragraph, trying to create as many R-T transitions as possible.

Send your answers to the instructor via email (vuenglishclass@gmail.com) before session 7. Format: name the essay file as follows
First Name - Last & Middle names - Class Name - Homework number - Version number For example: Nguyen Van An from Thieu Nang 02-2013 should name the first draft of his first homework as follows An - Nguyen Van - TN 02-2013 - HW 1 - Ver 1.doc Do NOT use Vietnamese characters in the file name. Type your response in a WORD file and send in via email as attachment Use the same line for your email subject.
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Note:

LAST LAUGH
Context: Ross and Rachel were lovers. They broke up after a big fight, even though they clearly still have feeling for each other. Ross then had an one-night-stand with another girl, which leads to Rachel accusing him of being unfaithful. Ross denied this, saying that they were on a break. And then, they all went away one weekend with a group of close friends. Ross brought Bonnie, his new girlfriend. And Rachel got jealous and tried to win Ross back Watch the video clip and answer the following questions: Any part reminds you of linearity? what does it refer to?

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