2015-08-05 Writing: why to study at BAE paragraph

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk
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Homework: finish the sentences on p. 124
2 We left the beach when we saw the big black clouds. (not “big and black” because size and color are different categories of adjectives, and we only use “and” with the same category, like “black and white”)
3 Colorful rectangular flags hung from every window. (“colorful” is more like an opinion here)
4 Children played on the thick green grass. (“thick” is size)
5 I dream about relaxing on a beautiful white Mexican beach.
6 They plan to fix up the expensive small Italian car. (“small expensive” is also okay)
7 The parents left their two young children with the grandparents.
8 The real estate agent pointed out several minor problems with the house.
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Reasons to study English at Stafford House / BAE:
- academic school (special books, TOEFL prep, writing classes, Pathways program to get into universities)
- good way to learn (quiet class, dynamic classes, interactive lessons among students and between students and teachers, many activities inside and outside of class)
- good people (new students every week, people from all over the world, smart teachers)
- new and updated technology (laptops and smartboards in every class, computer lab)
- nice infrastructure (nice desks, colorful walls, air conditioning, glass doors feel more welcoming)
- good location (near all the MBTA lines, downtown Boston, many restaurants nearby)
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If you want to give reasons for a recommendation, you should also give examples for each reason. (“Good location” isn’t as convincing as “near many good restaurants and stores”, for example.)
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Topic sentence: Costa Rica is a great place to spend a semester doing wildlife research for two reasons.
- topic: Costa Rica
- controlling idea: a great place to spend a semester doing wildlife research for two reasons
p. 141 Questions about the Model
2 this small country has very diverse geography, so it has many different wildlife habitats
  Costa Rica has an astounding number of wildlife species
3 First of all, Second
4 two each, “for example”, “another example”, “for instance”, “another place”
5 It restates the recommendation (Costa Rica is a wonderful place to study)
6 listing order (the examples aren’t earlier and later, and they aren’t north-to-south)
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HOMEWORK: write a similar paragraph recommending why students should study at this school
(use two or three main reasons, and one or two examples for each one)

example title
BAE: A Great Place to Study English

example topic sentence
BAE is a great place to spend a few months learning English for three reasons.

example concluding sentence
Indeed, BAE is a wonderful place to study English if you love ______.

(You don’t need to be very creative for this paragraph. The structure can be the same as the paragraph about Costa Rica.)