English Writing Chapter 1
Chapter 1 WRITING ABOUT YOURSELF
A story you write about yourself is called an autobiography. In many ways, doing the exercise in this chapter will be like writing your autobiography.
A. An auto biography starts with its cover.
B. Design the cover for your own autobiography. Use drawings, pictures, and words to describe who you are. Here are some suggestions for things to include:
1. Your family and friends
2. Your interests and hobbies
3. Sports you like to play or watch
4. Your job, profession, or major on school
5. Your favorite places, foods, holidays, activities
Introducing Yourself
Introduce yourself to your classmates. Here some suggestions:
· Show and explain the cover of your autobiography
· Write you name on the whiteboard and teach your classmates how to pronounce it.
· If your name has a special meaning, explain it to the class.
· Tell your classmates why you are studying English.
Answering a Questionnaire about Yourself
A. Answer these questions about yourself in one or two words.
1. What is your name? ___________________
2. How old are you? ________________
3. Where are you from? ____________________
4. What is your native language? ________________
5. What are some things you like to do? ______________________________________________
6. What do you do? ________________________________
B. Use your answers to complete each of the following sentences. Then copy the complete sentence on the line.
Example: My name is Isabela Fernandez My name is Isabela Fernandez.
1. My name is ______________________________
_________________________________________
2. I am ____________________ years old.
_________________________________________
3. I am from __________________________
________________________________________
4. My native language is ________________________
___________________________________________
5. I like ________________________________
________________________________________
6. I am ______________________________
__________________________________
Getting Ready to write a Paragraph
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea. This main idea is called the topic.
What does a paragraph look like?
An English paragraph has a special form. Look at the paragraph below. It is written in the correct form.
My name is Christine Baker. I am 32 years old. I am from Boston, Massachusetts. My native language is English. I am an author and a teacher.
Keep the following rules in mind when you write your paragraph.
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è Paragraph Pointers: Rules of Paragraph Writing |
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1. Indent the first word of a new paragraph. 2. Begin each sentence with a capital letter. 3. End each sentence with a period. 4. Do not start each new sentence on a new line. |
What is wrong with this paragraph?
A. The following paragraph is not written in the correct form. Look at the paragraph with a partner and discuss what is wrong with the form.
my name is Karen Louriei am 30 years oldi am from Philadelphis, Pennsylvaniamy native language is Englishi am a fashion designer
B. Now copy the paragraph correctly on the lines below.
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Writing a paragraph about Yourself
Use the sentences you wrote about yourself on part B of Introducing Yourself to write a short paragraph. Be sure to follow the rules of paragraph writing. Write your paragraph and include your paragraph into your autobiography under the title “To Introduce Myself.”
Writing a paragraph about What You Like to Do
A. Answer the following questions about yourself.
1. What do you like to do in your free time? Make a list.
__________________ ______________________
__________________ ______________________
2. What are some things you want to learn how to do? Make a list.
___________________ ________________________
___________________ ________________________
B. Write a short paragraph about the things you like to do. Write your paragraph and put it into your autobiography under title “The Things I like to Do.”
Writing about a Classmate
A. Ask one of your classmates the following questions. Write the answers on the lines.
1. What is your name? ____________________
2. How old are you? _______________________
3. Where do you live? _______________________
4. Where are from? ________________________
5. What is your native language? ___________________
6. What do you do in your spare time? _____________________
7. What are your hobbies? _________________
B. Use your answers to complete each of following sentences about your classmates. Then copy the complete sentence on the line.
Example: My classmate’s name is Oscar. My classmate’s name is Oscar.
1. My classmate is ________________
_____________________________________
2. He/she is ____________________ years old.
___________________________________
3. He/she is _____________________
____________________________________
4. He/she is from _____________________
____________________________________
5. His/her native language is ____________________
_______________________________________
6. He/she is a ___________________
____________________________
7. His/her hobbies are ______________________
____________________________________
C. Use your sentences to write a short paragraph about your classmate. Remember to follow the rules of paragraph writing.
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