UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

WRITING TASK
LEVEL 5, 2018-2
Name _____________________________________________ Siga ID _________________ Group ____________
WRITING WORKSHOP # 2
INTRODUCTION AND BODY PARAGRAPH
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

Activity 1 – Understanding the general structure of the introduction

Based on the information given in the video, describe or explain the following elements of an introduction IN YOUR OWN WORDS:
a. Hook: _______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. Background information: ________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. Thesis statement: _____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 2 - Read the following introduction and write a catchy hook for it.
Smartphones: Century nightmare
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nowadays, smartphones can be an issue to cope with daily life activities, especially for teenage students who grew up immersed in digital
media. As a fact, 92% of digital natives report going online daily even at school time. Consequently, the constant use of smartphones in
class has brought distraction and low grades.

THESIS STATEMENT

Activity 3 - Analysis of thesis statements

Read the following examples of thesis statement, identify if they follow the structured given (topic, focus word and 2 causes / effects),
improve them when necessary.

Example: Colombian war had effects on many factors.

Topic: Colombian war
Focus: had effects on – the focus is weak.
Effects: many factors – the thesis does not have 2 identifiable effects.
Improved version: Colombian war affected negatively people’s behavior and beliefs.

a. “People become homeless due to several difficulties”

Topic: ______________________________________________________
Focus: ______________________________________________________
Effects: ______________________________________________________
Improved version: _________________________________________________________________________________________

BODY PARAGRAPHS

Activity 4 – Understanding the general structure of the body paragraphs

Based on the video information, describe or explain the following elements of a body paragraph IN YOUR OWN WORDS:

a. Topic sentence: _______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK
LEVEL 5, 2018-2
Name _____________________________________________ Siga ID _________________ Group ____________
b. Supporting ideas: _____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
c. Closing sentence: _____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 5 - Identify the 3 elements of a body paragraph in the following sample.

Companies are implementing offshoring in order to increase efficiency in the current globalized
world. Since 1964 they have made extensive adjustments to their headquarters position which has
allowed them to increase 2.4 times their capacity (the financial times, 2017). Coca-cola, Ford and
Hewlett Packard are examples of this trend. Likewise, this strategy has decreased investment which
favors higher profits to business. For instance, in a survey by The Bernett Group (June 2017) 59%
of the companies affirmed they cut costs in 2016 by applying this method. Therefore, offshoring
improves numbers worldwide.

Activity 6 – Organize the following paragraph taking into account the order of studied elements.

All in all, lack of interest in school subjects is one of the reasons why teenagers
dropout of school. __________________________________

Firstly, one of the causes of the dropout rate is the student’s apathy towards high
school topics. __________________________________

Moreover, a research conducted by Semana (2016) showed that one out of five
students in Colombia do not continue their studies after elementary school. For __________________________________
instance, it is common to see teenagers on the streets, sometimes doing illegal
activities, in cities like Cali, Bogotá and Medellín

According to the National Survey of dropout (2017), elementary students mentioned __________________________________
that classes are enjoyable, but high school students did not believe they are useful in
their future.

Activity 7 - Find proper supporting ideas

Read the topic, propose one cause or effect and find 2 strong supporting details for it. You can write explanations, examples, facts
or any other relevant information. At least 1 of your 2 supporting details needs to have a reference. Also, you can write 2 explanations; 1
explanation and 1 example; 1 explanation and 1 fact, etc. Be careful with the relevance and coherence of your supporting details. It is
advised to include at least 1 explanation of the cause / effect.

Example
Thesis statement: Smoking causes about 90% of all lung and breast cancer incidents.
Effect: Many smokers die at a young age
Support: About half of all smokers die from smoking-related diseases. If you are a long-term smoker, on average, your life expectancy
is about 10 years less than a non-smoker.

a. Thesis statement: Having a pet improves a person’s well-being and mood.

Effect or cause: __________________________________________________________________________________________
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK
LEVEL 5, 2018-2
Name _____________________________________________ Siga ID _________________ Group ____________

Support 1: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Support 2: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 8 – Basics of citations

How to Cite a Website in APA:

 In text. This is what you write in your paragraph. Example:

For instance, in a survey by The Bernett Group (June 2017) 59% of the companies (…)

 References. This is what you write at the end of your paper, in the references section.
Structure: Last, F. M. (Year, Month Date Published). Article title. Retrieved from URL

Example:

References
The Bernett Group. (2017, June 15). The Impact of Offshoring - survey results. Retrieved from https://bernett.com/blog/

Cain, K. (2012, June 29). The Negative effects of Facebook on communication. Social Media Today RSS. Retrieved from
http://socialmediatoday.com

How to cite an Article / Book in APA

Example:

Derwing, T. & Munro, M. J. (2002). Teaching native speakers to listen to foreign-accented speech. Journal of Multilingual and
Multicultural Development, 23(4), 245-259.
Remember to have your references at hand, for your draft

Activity 9 – List of connectors and transition words

Based on the video complete the chart:

Cause and Effect General Words

As a result As However On the other hand
Before After Even though Similarly
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK
LEVEL 5, 2018-2
Name _____________________________________________ Siga ID _________________ Group ____________
Activity 10 - Write the connectors in the following paragraph.

______________________, we can see that the Internet contributes significantly to everyday private and business life. __________, it
helps people all over the world keep in touch, and communicate instantaneously and inexpensively. For instance, Facebook and Twitter
are the most used social networking sites. _____________________, it allows individuals increased access to information and resources
to make informed professional decisions in a much more efficient manner (Readers Digest, 2015). This fact increases productivity and
professional opportunities. _______________________ private and business life are favored by the Internet.

REFERENCES

http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/thesisexerciseprint.html
http://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/removed/thesis.html
http://www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/cms/lib4/WA01001786/Centricity/Domain/87/hooks.pdf
http://essaypro.com/blog/cause-and-effect-essay/
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice/planning-and-organizing/intros-and-conclusions
http://lklivingston.tripod.com/essay/intro.html
http://writing.itu.edu.tr/ce1.pdf
https://www.microsourcing.com/blog/the-ultimate-list-of-outsourcing-statistics.asphttps://www.goldmansachs.com/our-
thinking/pages/millennials/
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK
LEVEL 5, 2018-2
Name _____________________________________________ Siga ID _________________ Group ____________
CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY - DRAFT
INTRODUCTION (60 to 70 words) AND BODY PARAGRAPH 1 (80 to 90 words)
Write the Introduction and Body paragraph 1 of you Cause & Effect Essay. Take into account the feedback provided by the teacher.

Topic:

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

References:
1. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Teacher comments

TASK 1.25 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.25 GRADE

COHERENCE 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
VOCABULARY 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
GRAMMAR 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
MECHANICS 0.75 0.6 0.45 0.3 0.15
 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA SABANA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES
WRITING TASK
LEVEL 5, 2018-2
Name _____________________________________________ Siga ID _________________ Group ____________
Criteria EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR NEEDS WORK INSUFFICIENT
Grade: 5 Grade: 4 Grade: 3 Grade: 2 Grade: 1
 The hook successfully catches the reader’s  The hook effectively catches the reader’s  The hook somehow catches the reader’s  The hook does not catch the  There is no thesis statement.
attention. attention. attention. reader’s attention.  The body paragraph does not
TASK  The introduction contains a clearly stated thesis  The thesis statement is fairly well  The thesis statement includes the topic being  The thesis statement does not have a topic sentence.
FULFILMENT statement. developed and includes the causes or analyzed, but it does not give a reason for the include what is being analyzed, and  There are no relevant
25%  The thesis appropriately expresses the topic being effects. analysis or list the causes or effects. there is no apparent basis for the supporting details, which
analyzed, and whether the paragraph is about  The body paragraph contains an  The body paragraph contains a topic cause or effect analysis indicated. evidences lack of information
causes or effects. adequate topic sentence (cause or effect) sentence (cause or effect) that somehow  The body paragraph contains a search and sources.
Introduction &  The body paragraph contains a clearly focused that relates to the thesis statement. relates to the thesis statement. topic sentence (cause or effect) but it  Word number is not reached.
Body paragraph topic sentence (cause or effect) based on the  Supporting details are concrete and  Supporting details are sometimes unclear does not relate to the thesis  Shows no knowledge of the
1 thesis. somehow specific and they represent and somehow specific and they represent statement. topic and the paper is OFF
 Supporting details are concrete and specific, and either the causes or effects related to the either the causes or effects related to the  Supporting details are either wrong TOPIC; therefore, YOUR
they effectively represent either the causes or topic of analysis. topic of analysis. or lacking, or they are not related to the FINAL GRADE IS 1.0.
effects related to the topic of analysis.  There are enough details to analyze the  There are limited details to analyze the topic. topic sentence or the analysis.  There is evidence of
 There are several relevant details to analyze the topic, and the cause or effect has The cause or effect has some details for clear  Word number is poorly reached. plagiarism in one or more
topic, and the cause or effect has sufficient details sufficient details for clear support. support.  There is no evidence of information paragraphs; therefore, YOUR
for clear support.  Word number is mostly reached.  Word number is fairly reached. search, nor citations / references were FINAL GRADE IS 0.0.
 Word number is outstandingly reached.  There is evidence of information search  Citations are included but not the sources/ included, or information was copy-
 There is evidence of information search and and citations and references are included references (or vice-versa). Information pasted without referencing.
citations and references are included (at least 1 (at least 1 citation) search is somehow evident.
citation) 1.25 1.0 0.75 0.5 0.25
 The details are clear, organized, well-sequenced  The details are clear, organized, and  The details are somehow clearly organized  The details are unclear and they  There is not a clear, well-
(if applicable), and they effectively analyze the topic they adequately analyze the topic in terms of and they analyze the topic in terms of either analyze the topic poorly (in terms of focused topic. Main idea is
COHERENCE in terms of either causes or effects (explanations, either causes or effects. (Explanations, causes or effects. (Explanations, examples or either causes or effects). not presented.
AND COHESION examples or facts). examples or facts). facts).  One cause or effect is discussed.  Details are not presented
20%  One cause or effect is thoroughly discussed. All  One cause or effect is appropriately  One cause or effect is discussed. Some Few details are chosen and few ideas and do not effectively
details are well chosen and all ideas are completely discussed. Most details are well chosen and details are well chosen and some ideas are well are developed. engage the reader.
developed. all ideas are well developed. developed.  Ideas are poorly/ inappropriately  One cause or effect is
 Ideas are accurately linked with cohesive devices.  Ideas are correctly linked with some  Ideas are linked with a few cohesive devices. linked. poorly discussed.
1.0 cohesive devices. 0.8 0.6 0.4  Ideas are not linked. 0.2
 Cause-effect transition words and phrases are used  Cause-effect transition words and  Some cause-effect transition words and  Cause-effect transition words and  No cause-effect transition
effectively. phrases are used effectively. phrases are used. phrases are used inadequately. words and/or phrases are
 Vocabulary is highly related to the topic.  Vocabulary is appropriately related to  Vocabulary is somehow related to the topic.  Vocabulary is poorly related to the used.
VOCABULARY  The choice of the words seems accurate, natural the topic.  The paragraphs show imprecise word usage topic  Vocabulary is extremely
20% and not forced.  Word choice is occasionally used that distorts the text content.  The paragraph shows limited limited.
inaccurately vocabulary that does not
communicate strongly or capture the
1.0 0.8 0.6 reader's interest. 0.4 0.2
 Sentences are strong and expressive with varied  There is effective use of grammar  There is misuse of grammar structures.  There is substantial misuse of  Grammar structure used
GRAMMAR structure. structures.  Some of the tenses used are done in a faulty grammar structures. is noticeably incorrect.
20%  There is highly effective use of grammar  Uses the tenses required for the task with way.  The ideas in the paragraphs are not
structures. a few mistakes, including but not limited  Present tenses have a considerable done with the tenses required for
 Uses the tenses required for the task, including but to present tenses (simple, perfect, amount of mistakes. this task, including but not limited to
not limited to present tenses (simple, perfect, continuous). present tenses (simple, perfect,
continuous) continuous)
1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2
MECHANICS  There are no or minimal errors in spelling,  There are some errors; however, these  There are some errors which somehow  There are errors that distract the  There are serious errors that
(Capitalization, capitalization and punctuation. errors do not interfere with the message. interfere with the message. reader and interfere with the interfere with the message.
Spelling, message.
Punctuation) 0.75 0.6 0.45 0.3 0.15
15%