Grade

11
Program SHIELD II
School-Home Interactive Engagement for
Learners’ Development
CURRICULUM IMPLEMENTATION DIVISION (CID)

Individual Learning Activity Package (ILAP)

Week 1

AMOR VILLAMOR
Teacher- Writer

Learner’s Name: __________________

Teacher’s Name: __________________

 READING AND WRITING

PRETEST

Choose the correct spelling of the missing word in each sentence:

1. The rich are born with many ______________ the poor don't have.
(privileges, priviledges)

2. I can't stand ______________ lights.

(fluorescent, florescent)

3. Richard lives on an island in the ______________ .

(Caribbean, Carribean)

4. Was the first year of this ______________ 2000 or 2001?

(millennium, millennium)

5. The whole world was shocked by the President's ______________ .

(assassination, assassination)

6. Your smile is ______________ .

(irresistible, irresistible)

7. People without a ______________ don't care about the pain they cause.
(conscience, conscience)

8. My best friend comes from the ______________ .

(Phillipines, Philippines)

9. Have you ever felt a moment of ______________ ?

(ecstasy, ecstacy)

10. ______________ , do you know who got promoted?

(Incidently, Incidentally)

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Fill in the blanks with the appropriate transitional device from the choices
inside the parentheses.

11. ______________ of the weather, the football game will be played tomorrow.

(Therefore, Regardless, In addition, Furthermore)

12. I dropped my cell phone and it broke. ____________, I need to either buy a
new one or borrow yours.

(In spite of, Likewise, Furthermore, Therefore)

13. I can't help you with your homework because I am not very good at geometry.
__________, I know someone who can.

(However, For example, In addition, Subsequently)

14. ___________ it was raining, I still walked to school.

(Consequently, Furthermore, Accordingly, As a result, Although)

15. ______ her good grades, Rebecca did not get accepted to Stanford.

(In addition, In spite of, As a result, On the other hand, Thereafter)

Paragraph Organization

16. Complete the following statement: A well‐written paragraph should ________

a. focus on a single, coherent idea.
b. consist of logically connected sentences.
c. Both a and b

17. How can you strengthen connections between paragraphs in a paper?

a. Use transitional words or phrases at the beginning of the paragraph.
b. Make sure the first sentence in the next paragraph is extremely long and
flowing.
c. Use the phrase “Here's the connection” to let the reader know the
concepts are related.

18. [1] I was so excited I could barely pack. [2] That all changed the summer after
my sophomore year of high school. [3] My dad announced that we were going

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 to Singapore for vacation! [4] Today I've been all over the world, but until I
was 15 I had never left the United States.

What is the most logical order for these sentences?

o 1, 2, 3, 4 (as it is now)
o 1, 3, 2, 4
o 3, 2, 1, 4
o 4, 2, 3, 1
o 4, 3, 2, 1

19. Choose the best topic sentence: _______________________________.

Unlike some breeds of dogs, they do not need a lot of exercise every day.
Crowds and loud noises do not make them nervous. Also, they do not mind
being alone for hours, if you need to be away at work. On top of all this, they
are known to be patient and loving with children. If you are a city-dwelling
family looking for a pet, I highly recommend this breed of dog.

a. Greyhounds are a good choice of dog for people who live in cities.
b. Every family should have a dog.
c. Not all dogs are happy living in the city.
d. All breed of dogs are pretty much alike -- it's all the same.

20. Choose the best topic sentence: _______________________________. She

always takes the time to listen to me. When I was in the hospital, she came to
visit me. She always makes sure I get the medication I need. Several of my
friends now go to see her, and they like her as much as I do!

a. I am very happy with my doctor.

b. It is hard to find a good doctor.
c. Seeing a doctor has become very expensive.
d. I love my mother.
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate word/s, phrases, sentences from the
options inside the parentheses.

21. When Rita's homework load _________, she was forced to choose between
school and friends.

(decreased, multiplied, intensified, changed)

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 22. I am the ideal candidate for the job because _____________________.

a. I have substantial experience in retail management.

b. I’ve done this kind of job before and I was pretty good at it.
c. Your company rocks! Working for you would be awesome.

Choose ONE supporting sentence for this topic sentence:

23. I need to look for a new job.

A. Since we now have another child, my salary really isn't enough for our
family.

B. I like working with my brother.

C. The commute is very long, and I would like to spend more time with my
family.

D. This is a tough economy, and I am lucky that I still have a job.

24. Choose the best topic sentence:

________________________________. Many people who earn the minimum
wage are trying to support families with this salary. No one working full-time
and earning the minimum wage makes enough money to pay for rent, food,
and other necessities. If we raise the minimum wage, families will have more
money to spend, and therefore other businesses will make more money. For
so many reasons, it is the right thing to do.

A. We must worry about jobs, not wages.

B. Parents in New York City have a lot of expenses.
C. This economy is especially hard for small business owners.
D. It is time to raise the minimum wage.

25. Choose TWO supporting sentences for this topic sentence: Young
children should not be allowed to cross Fourth Avenue by themselves.

A. There are many good restaurants on that street.

B. Last year, two children were injured while crossing that street.
C. Cars are always speeding down that avenue.
D. There is a school located on Fourth Avenue

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WEEK 1
Lesson 1: Text as A Connected Discourse
______________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

LEARNING is a complex process of discovery, collaboration, and inquiry

facilitated by language.

Composed of interrelated and rule-governed symbol systems, language is a

social and uniquely human means of representing, exploring, and communicating
meaning. Thus, LANGUAGE is the primary basis of all communication and the primary
instrument of thought.

The study of English language arts (ELA) enables each student to understand
and appreciate language, and to use it competently and confidently in a variety of
situations for communication, personal satisfaction, and learning. Students become
competent and confident users of all six language arts through many opportunities to
listen, speak, read, write, view, and represent in a variety of combinations and through
a wide range of relevant texts.

As students you need knowledge, skills, and strategies in all six language arts
to compose, comprehend, and respond to texts.

In this lesson, you will be able to enhance more of your reading and writing
skills which are two of the six interrelated language arts.

As you travel the world of reading and writing you are expected to:

1. describe a written text as a connected discourse

2. distinguish between and among techniques in selecting and organizing
information
3. distinguish between and among patterns of development in writing across
disciplines

Your target output at the end of the lesson is an essay using any of the patterns
of paragraph development that will be discussed.

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START UP

Task 1: LOST AND FOUND

Look for the meanings of the words “TEXT and DISCOURSE” by encircling the
letters in the grid.

W A J Q F G O P Q D R S

C O N V E R S A T I O N

O B R R D H X W V S U Y

R C K D C I V Y Z S E D

L E C T U R E H G C F E

E D L S B J R K L U M F

C E M T A K S R N S T G

D F C O N T E N T S X W

F G N U Z L A I J I U Y

I H O V Y M B Q O O A Z

G I P W X N C P N N V B

Write your answer by completing the table below.

TEXT DISCOURSE

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Task 2: HEAR ME OUT HERE!

Read the dialogue and answer the questions that follow.

Would you No! I’m serious

like to go on

Hey Roy! I have a blind date?

something to tell
you

I don’t want to
date a blind
Oh hello You must be woman.
Jane! What is joking!
it?
To try something
new and exciting

A blind date is
A blind date a date with Why would I date
doesn’t mean someone you someone I don’t
that she is don’t know. even know?
blind.
Processing Questions:
What if I don’t
like her?
What does it
mean? Then you don’t
date her again

1. What is your understanding of Roy’s character? Does he remind you of

someone?
2. What is the first thing you think about Jane? Why do you say so?
3. How might the conversation be different if Roy was able to understand
right away what Jane was trying to say?
4. Was there communication breakdown between Roy and Jane? Why or
why not?
5. What are the common barriers to a successful communication between
people?

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Task 3: BRAIN DEN

Directions: Read the following passages and explain briefly the main idea each
passage contains.

1. When one hears the term "reality" applied to a show, one might expect that
the events portrayed occurred naturally or, at the least, were not scripted. This
is not always the case. Many reality shows occur in unreal environments, like
rented mansions occupied by film crews. Such living environments do not
reflect what most people understand to be "reality." Worse, there have been
accusations that events not captured on film were later restaged by
producers. Worse still, some involved in the production of "reality" television
claim that the participants were urged to act out story lines premeditated by
producers. With such accusations floating around, it's no wonder many people
take reality TV to be about as real as the sitcom.

Main Idea:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

2. Here is the perfect system for cleaning your room. First, move all of the items
that do not have a proper place to the center of the room. Get rid of at least
five things that you have not used within the last year. Take out all of the
trash, and place all of the dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Now find a location
for each of the items you had placed in the center of the room. For any
remaining items, see if you can squeeze them in under your bed or stuff them
into the back of your closet. See, that was easy!

Main Idea:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

3. Oceans and lakes have much in common, but they are also quite different.
Both are bodies of water, but oceans are very large bodies of salt water, while
lakes are much smaller bodies of fresh water. Lakes are usually surrounded
by land, while oceans are what surround continents. Both have plants and
animals living in them. The ocean is home to the largest animals on the
planet, whereas lakes support much smaller forms of life. When it is time for a
vacation, both will make a great place to visit and enjoy.

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 Main Idea:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

4. There was no school today! John leapt out of bed before his mother called
him. There wasn’t a moment to lose! He gobbled down a bowl of cereal for
breakfast, grabbed his skateboard, and headed for the park. He spent all
morning with his friends. He went home for a hot lunch - way better than the
cold sandwich he always had to take to school - and then he went out on his
bike. He rode all around town, enjoying the wind in his face. He pretended his
bike was a horse; a racecar, a spaceship. He hated to come home for dinner;
his free day was over. Tomorrow he would have to go back to school!

Main Idea:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

5. It was late spring the last time we saw Ross. He was standing at the edge of
the hill, and he never so much as looked up even though we were sure he
knew we were there. There was a bunch of flowers clutched to his fist, but
there really was no reason for him to be standing there. We knew that Carrie
wasn't coming to see him. But he stood there anyway, waiting, even as the
afternoon sunlight deepened towards the evening. He must have been
standing there for hours.

Main Idea:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

MAIN IDEA is the most important or

central thought of a paragraph or larger
section of text, which tells the reader
what the text is about.

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POP UP

Task 4: PLEASE KNOW ME SO WELL

A TEXT is generally considered as written material, especially longer pieces of

writing as in a book, a letter or a newspaper. It is a group of ideas put together to
make a point or one central idea. It is made up of sentences and deals with cohesion
or unity in ideas.

Properties of a Well-written Text:

1. Organization refers to the arrangement of ideas in a text

*Creating an outline of ideas before you start writing can help your work
become organized.

Outline provides a format in which ideas can be arranged in a

hierarchy, that is, it distinguishes the general ideas from the specific or
subordinating ideas.
Example:

Topic: Cooking and eating at home provides many benefits not found when dining
out.

I. An effect of cooking and eating at home is the complete control of one’s food
A. The opportunity to hand pick the most quality ingredients
1. Health and nutritional effects
B. Cooking and preparing the food exactly as preferred
C. Enjoying the experience in the comfort of one’s own home

II. Economically, cooking and eating at home will save money

A. Fewer trips out of the house
B. Groceries and ingredients are much cheaper than dishes served in
restaurants
C. No need to tip wait staff

III. Another effect of cooking and eating at home is a closeness between family
and friends
A. It is much more personal to cook for someone than to take them out to eat
B. Family members and friends can teach and learn from each other in the
kitchen

2. Coherence and Cohesion refer to the connection of ideas and connection

between sentences and between paragraphs.

* In order for you to assure coherence and cohesion, you need to use
transitional or cohesive devices.

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 A. WORDS THAT ADD INFORMATION:

1. The little girl put on her yellow shirt and brown overalls.

2. Chris is on the basketball team this semester at Indiana School for

the Deaf. In addition, he is on the soccer team.

3. I admire I. King Jordan because he is the first deaf president of

Gallaudet. Besides that, I admire him because he is a great long
distance runner. Furthermore, he is a dedicated family man. All in
all, there is not much to dislike about the man, except he is too
perfect!

B. WORDS THAT SHOW CONCLUSION:

1. There were a lot of problems discussed at the meeting. Finally,

after a few hours, we were able to prioritize the problems in the
order we wanted to solve the problems.

2. Many parents and students have been complaining about the

program. For example, scores on the end-of-grade tests have gone
down from last year; teachers are not very motivated; and everyone
is frustrated. To sum up, some improvements in the middle school
program need to be made.

3. There was a malfunction in the smoke machines and lights, the

curtains would not open and close properly, and one of the actors
was sick with no stand-in. In conclusion, the play was a disaster.

C. WORDS THAT REPEAT INFORMATION

1. That area is very dangerous for you to bike in. To repeat, I warn
you not to go there.

2. Lisa decided not to go to King Islands. In fact she told me, "No,
way."

3. I feel that our last Student Council meeting did not go well. In other
words, it was a fine mess.

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 D. WORDS THAT SHOW COMPARISON:

1. At St. Rita School for the Deaf, a private school, there is a

dress code that mandates how the students are to dress. The
boys must wear a pair of pants and dress shirts. Similarly, the
strict dress code requires plaid skirts and blouses for the girls.

2. Like her grandmother, Sally loves the Gallaudet Homecoming

football game.

3. The news reported that Montana would be very cold this week.
I said, "Likewise, Rochester will be, too."

E. WORDS THAT SHOW CONTRASTS OR DIFFERENCES:

1. I am not able to go to the beach with you. Nevertheless,

thanks for asking me.

2. Karen's cat, Salem is so unlike Midnight. Midnight likes to nap

a lot and Salem likes to play a lot.

3. The idea of attending the play at Gallaudet is nice. However,

the Theoretical Issues in Sign Language Research conference
is scheduled at the same time.

F. WORDS THAT SHOW A TIME RELATIONSHIP:

1. Stephen went to pick up Irene before he stopped by

McDonald's for lunch.

2. We need to wash our clothes, after that we can go to the

Taste of D.C. festival.

3. I can't wait to watch "NYPD," it is coming on soon. You can

watch the rerun later this week.

G. WORDS THAT LIMIT OR PREPARE FOR AN EXAMPLE:

1. Not all birds eat berries. For example, vultures eat dead
animals.

2. Jeff is an interesting person to know. To illustrate, he knows a

lot about the history of the Deaf community in Ireland.

3. There are things that need to be done to improve the

company. For instance, we can begin by organizing the files.

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 H. WORDS THAT SHOW CAUSE (EXPLAIN WHY):

1. Midnight was not able to move around well because his hind legs
were in casts. He broke them when he fell off the bookshelf.

2. Did you see the tragic accident on I-85 south? It was caused by a
drunk driver.

3. Because it is raining today, the homecoming game and the food

booths will be cancelled.

I. WORDS THAT SHOW EFFECT/RESULT:

1. It is raining today thus we are not going to the beach.

2. The weather is supposed to be drizzly and chilly today; as a result,

the Deaf Festival will be cancelled.

3. I was too tired; therefore I decided not to go to the state fair last
night.

J. WORDS THAT ASSERT OBVIOUS TRUTH OR GRANT

OPPOSITION:

1. There is no doubt that the dog buried the bone in the garden.

2. Of course, Sarah is going to the beach this weekend with her

parents. She needs a break from Gallaudet.

3. Naturally Steven is not going to agree with that plan. In fact, he

thinks that the idea of setting up a business selling scarves on K
Street would surely fail.

3. Appropriate Language Use refers to the acceptable style of language for

a particular form of text

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 4. Proper Mechanics refers to the conventions of writing which includes
capitalization, punctuation, spelling, numerals, abbreviations, acronyms and
contractions.

DISCOURSE is originally from a Latin word discursus which means conversation,

argument or speech. It is a text with distinct feature and purpose. It is a formal and
lengthy discussion of a topic where concepts and insights are arranged in an
organized and logical manner. It is an expression of thoughts and ideas.

General Classifications of Discourse

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Discourse can be classified into four main categories, namely:

1. Exposition

The main focus of this type of discourse is to make the audience aware about
the topic of the discussion. Definitions and comparative analysis of different
ideas and beliefs are examples of discourse exposition.

Three Types of Planets

People often think all planets are alike, but there are actually three
types of planets in the solar system. The terrestrial planets are made of rock
and metal and are closest to the sun. These include the midsize planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They rotate slowly and don’t have many
moons. Farther from the sun are the planets called gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and Neptune. They are called gas giants because they are formed
from gases such as hydrogen and helium. Gas giants rotate fast and have
many moons. Finally, planetoids are objects made up of rock and ice and are
too small to be true “planets.” Planetoids sometimes even get pulled into a
planet’s gravitational field and become moons themselves. Whether they are
terrestrials, gas giants, or planetoids, the planets in the solar system are
fascinating.

2. Narration

Narration is a type of discourse that relies on stories, folklore or a drama as a

medium of communication.

Stage play, story, and folklore are narrative discourse examples.

Around 2 a.m. something woke Charles Hanson up. He lay in the dark
listening. Something felt wrong. Outside, crickets sang, tree-frogs chirruped.
Across the distant forest floated two muffled hoots from a barred owl. It was
too quiet. At home in New Jersey, the nights are filled with the busy,
comforting sounds of traffic. You always have the comforting knowledge that
other people are all around you. And light: At home he can read in bed by the
glow of the streetlight. It was too quiet. And much too dark. Even starlight
failed to penetrate the 80-foot canopy of trees the camper was parked
beneath. It was the darkest dark he had ever seen. He felt for the flashlight
beside his bunk. It was gone. He found where his pants were hanging and, as
he felt the pockets for a box of matches, something rustled in the leaves right

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 outside the window, inches from his face. He heard his wife, Wanda, hold her
breath; she was awake, too. Then, whatever, was outside in the darkness
also breathed, and the huge silence of the night seemed to come inside the
camper, stifling them. It was then he decided to pack up and move to a motel.

3. Description This type involves describing something in relation to the senses.

Descriptive discourse enables the audience to develop a mental picture of
what is being discussed. Descriptive parts of novel or essay are descriptive
discourse examples.

4. Argument

This type of discourse is based on valid logic and, through correct reasoning,
tries to motivate the audience. Examples of argumentative discourse include
lectures, essays, and prose.

READ AND COMPREHEND THE REAL PROBLEM

Results are in! Truth be told! The Philippines had a dismal performance
among 79 countries who underwent the 2018 Programme for International
Student Assessment (PISA), a student assessment of 15-year-old learners in
reading, Mathematics and Science conducted by the Organization for

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 Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and was released last
December 3.

In reading, the Philippines scored the lowest with an average of 340

against the OECD’s 487 while Mathematics and Science landed the second
lowest with 353 points and 357 points respectively against 489 average of the
OECD for both categories.

The Department of Education (DepEd) did not take the result with a
grain of salt instead it recognizes the urgency of addressing issues and gaps
in attaining the quality of basic education to all learners in the country. In a
statement issued by DepEd regarding the PISA results it says that it envisions
that no Filipino learners should be left behind and it takes a nation to educate
a child. Hence, DepEd calls the entire nation to take active involvement,
cooperation, and collaboration in advancing the quality of basic education in
the Philippines. Thus the department launched “Sulong Edukalidad” bannered
by Project KITE or reforms in four key areas which are K-K to 12 review and
updating (though according to Secretary Leonor M. Briones the recent
international student assessment is not due to the K-12 program because it
has only been implemented for three years), I-improvement of learning
facilities, T-Teachers and school heads’upskilling and reskilling through a
transformed professional development program and E-Engagement of all
stakeholders for support and collaboration.

The program is in line with OECD’s objective to indicate the quality and
equity of learning outcomes attained around the world, and allow educators
and policymakers to learn from the policies and practices applied in other
countries.

Among the three subject areas, reading is given focus. Though equally
important, reading comes first as it is commonly used in all our daily activities
and comprehending what we read breeds success to other undertakings that
come after it. However, the PISA result only justifies the existing problem that
students’ love for reading is gradually fading. Nowadays very seldom that we
see students read short stories, novels and other selections during their
leisure times. In San Jacinto National High School, students are constantly
showing disinterest in reading as shown by their poor reading comprehension
result in every reading activity they do in their English classes. Poor reading
comprehension among students is also evident in understanding a very
simple instruction during examination. Perhaps the countless reasons for their
listlessness towards reading can be attributed to their constant exposure to
social networking sites, online games, texting and others. Or maybe they have
not been exposed to reading stories at home from the very beginning so they
have not developed real interest in the activity.

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 At home, children are not also exposed to the benefits they get from
reading. One of the reasons, maybe, is their parents’ inability to guide them to
comprehend what they are supposed to read because they too, have not
developed among themselves the art of reading. Giving attention to the
beauty the activity gives pales behind their least priorities because they are
busy working in the field or elsewhere so they can provide their family the
basic needs every end of the day.

Teachers on the other hand sometime lose their interest in teaching

reading because of the lack of response from the students, insufficient
number of textbooks and other reference materials. Also the school lacks of
modern facilities, such as internet connection, projector, speakers, DVD
players, computer units that will aid in the uplift of the students’ reading
performance.

DepEd programs here and there. The department has never run out of
budget and ideas in creating strategies that will eventually solve learning
problems among its students and one is reading. However, as this new
program cascades to schools across the country we hope that this be
implemented strictly and consistently because reality tells us that Filipinos are
always plagued by ‘Ningas Cogon and Bahala Na’ attitude and that’s the real
problem.

The
Hilltop
Official Students Publication of San Jacinto National High
School

JUMP UP

Task 5: SELECT AND CONNECT

Read the following sentences and fill-in the blanks with the appropriate
transitional devices from the options after each sentence.

1. His skin burns very easily ___________, he's decided to stay under an
umbrella and wear lots of sunscreen.
o because
o therefore

2. Traffic was very slow coming home today ______ a heavy snowstorm.
o due to
o consequently
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 3. A violation of the law, ______ how slight, is a crime and therefore
punishable.

o even though
o no matter
o however
o thereby
o further

4. She feels like giving up her job _________ the consequences she will
face.

o although
o much as
o as a result
o regardless of
o since

5. I did not enjoy staying up all night, ________ it

was worth it at the end.

o however
o otherwise
o by the way
o but for
o therefore

Task 6: FILL AND SPELL

Some words that are pronounced alike have very different meanings. Examples
are: piece and peace. These word pairs cause a great deal of confusion.

Here is a simple exercise that tests your ability to use these words correctly.

1. Please give me a ________ of paper.

o peace
o piece
o peas

2. How much is the railway _________?

o fair
o fare

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 3. I really want to _________ some weight.
o lose
o loss
o loose

4. The big empty house was dark and eerily __________.

o quite
o quiet

5. Did you know that _________ my birthday tomorrow?

o its
o it’s

Task 7: CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG

Correct the spelling mistakes in the paragraph below.

George new that he shouldn't drink alchohol on a Wedsday night, especially

since his govermnet proffesor had schedualed an important exam on Thrusday.
However, he beleived he would loose his friends if he didn't go out with them. The
pressure to fit in with his peers was worst then the fear of bad grades. To be popular
among his friends, one had to be either a musclar athelete or a wild and crazy
drinker. George realy could not concieve how it was posible for a student to
consume huge quanities of liquor and still suceed in school. Maybe the drinkers were
just more briliant than he was. He didn't even enjoy the passtime of spending ours in
a bar trying to persue a temperary feeling of excitement and "fun." Somehow he
expected the cheif of campus security to catch him and the university administration
to expell him. But George didn't posses enough courage to express his opion to his
friends. He was certian they would tell him to mind his own buisness. Also, he did't
want to be seperated from his friends. So he planed to meet them at a local
restaraunt, have a few drinks, leave early, take some asprin, and spend a few ours
studing for the exam

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Task 8: DISSECTING PEN

Read the following paragraphs and identify the type of discourse they convey.

1.

No more homework?

The teaching community itself is divided. Some are

opposing the idea: banning homework altogether is bad for
learning, they say. There is just too much work to do and the
time allotted in a regular class hour is not enough, so
students must complete the lesson at home. Homework also
helps in lesson retention.

The other side of the argument is that children need

time to relax, and to enjoy quality time with their family. All
schoolwork must be done in school, according to this argument, which is supported
by certain officials of the Department of Education.

A compromise may have to be worked out. Filipinos have been doing

homework since formal education was introduced in this country. So far, there has
been no indication that Filipino students have suffered from severe school stress –
the kind that has driven some of their counterparts in recent years in highly
competitive education environments such as those in Japan and South Korea to
commit suicide.

It’s true that there are parents who help with their children’s homework. But
parents in such instances typically explain what they are doing to their children, to
promote learning. Such sessions can help fill gaps in explanations in the classroom.
Doesn’t this enhance family bonding?

Give today’s school children more time to themselves, and what might they
do? Even when they are with their families, their heads are buried in smartphones,
computers and game consoles, watching videos, chatting with friends or exploring
anything and everything in cyberspace, including subjects that parents would prefer
to be taboo to young minds. Homework can pry children away from gadgets for a
certain period after school hours.

There are undoubtedly also “terror” teachers and slave drivers who can
overburden students with homework. What education authorities can do is temper or
rationalize the assignment of homework, perhaps declaring “homework-free” days to
give students more time for other activities. As opponents of the homework ban have
pointed out, homework has its uses, and totally prohibiting it needs careful
consideration.

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2.
My First Apartment

My first apartment was a third floor walk-up on a

busy street in downtown Vancouver. The building was a
faded brown characterless box. My apartment was down a
dimly-lit narrow hallway covered in worn fifties style dark
green carpeting. When I say apartment, I really mean
room, because there was just one small square room with
a tiny bathroom. The air was humid and musty. One small
window provided a perfect view of the brown stucco wall of
the building next door. A small "avocado" coloured stove
and fridge highlighted the kitchen which consisted of a few
shabby painted wood cupboards that projected into the
room. Along one wall was an older pale blue sofa, which
was also my bed. A small red card table with two chairs
served as my kitchen and dining room table. A few feet away, several large
cardboard moving boxes contained all of my clothes and personal possessions. The
one bright spot was a large poster of a winter mountain scene which I had hung on
the dull gray wall. It helped me survive the eight months I called this dump home.

3.
FOOD AND FAMILY

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 My family ate dinner at Merrymead Diner every Friday night while I was a
child. We huddled close in a large, red booth as we scanned the familiar menu. The
aroma of gravy over creamy mashed potatoes lingered in the air. I snuggled close to
my mom’s arm as she ordered our drinks. The waitress brought our thick milkshakes
out on a tray and placed them in front of us on a paper doily. The jukebox in the back
played songs that we all knew the words to, and we sang along until our food
arrived, hot and enticing on the table. Outside I shivered in the cold air, but in the
diner I was cozy, munching on crispy French fries and enjoying a hot, juicy
cheeseburger.

4.
How Do Animals Protect Themselves?

A more unusual way animals avoid

attack is by giving off a chemical that
smells bad or clouds the surroundings.
The skunk defends itself by releasing a
foul-smelling chemical from glands found
beneath its tail. Because the chemical can
severely sting eyes, and the smell is
enough to send predators hurrying away,
any animal that tangles with a skunk
surely won’t do it twice! An octopus squirts
a dark, inky fluid in front of its attackers.
The ink clouds the water and lets the
octopus escape. Did these protective methods give someone the idea for pepper
spray? Perhaps the most amazing way animals protect themselves is by releasing a
tail or another body part to get away when captured. When a limb is trapped, these
animals simply release it and go. A salamander’s tail will fall off to allow escape, and
a starfish’s detached arm will grow into a new starfish! The gecko, a tropical lizard,
can drop its tail, which then keeps moving to distract the attacker. After the animal
escapes, the lost body part will grow back. Wouldn’t it be amazing if humans
possessed the ability to regrow parts?

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5.
My Toy Clown

On one corner of my dresser sits a

smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I
received last Christmas from a close
friend. The clown's short yellow hair, made of
yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the
eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with
thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows. It has
cherry-red cheeks, nose, and lips, and its
broad grin disappears into the wide, white
ruffle around its neck. The clown wears a fluffy,
two-tone nylon costume. The left side of the
outfit is light blue, and the right side is red. The
two colors merge in a dark line that runs down
the center of the small outfit. Surrounding its
ankles and disguising its long black shoes are
big pink bows. The white spokes on the wheels
of the unicycle gather in the center and expand to the black tire so that the wheel
somewhat resembles the inner half of a grapefruit. 1The clown and unicycle together
stand about a foot high. As a cherished gift from my good friend Tran, this colorful
figure greets me with a smile every time I enter my room.

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 POWER UP

Task 9: PUT ME IN

PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION 1: What is an

introductory paragraph?

1. Read the paragraph. This is the introductory paragraph for an essay.

Family is the most important thing in the world. It was difficult to choose a family member to
write about because they are all very special. In the end, I decided to tell you about the oldest
member of my family, my grandfather. First I will tell you about his life in the past, then about my
life with him now.

What is the title of the essay?

a. The oldest person in your family

b. Lucky people
c. A special family member

Tick (✓) the correct information about introductory paragraphs.

An introductory paragraph:

is in the middle of the essay.

is at the start of the essay.
tells the reader what you will write about in the essay.
tells the reader how you will organize your ideas.
gives examples to support your ideas.
explains and gives small details.
should make the reader interested in reading the essay.

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 should tell the reader everything they need to know so they don’t
need to read the essay.

2. Read the essay title. ‘Describe your favourite room’.

Choose the best introductory paragraph of the essay based on the title
above.

A. I really like it. It is my favourite A. Our house is quite large and I

and it is much better than all like most rooms in it. However,
the others. my favourite room is my
bedroom. In this essay, I would
Our house is quite large and I like to tell you why.
like most rooms in it. In this
essay, I would like to tell you My bedroom has two large
why. My favourite room is my windows which look onto the
bedroom. garden. It is painted blue, and I
have a red and blue rug on the
floor.

Explain briefly your choice of the best introductory paragraph for the
essay.

3. Choose the best introductory paragraph – A, B or C – to go with the next

paragraph.

A. Some people think it is B. I have been on several C. Going on holiday is a

good to go on holiday holidays which weren’t great way to spend
every year. Other very good. However, time with your family.
people think it is a my last holiday was the I love going on
waste of time. In this worst holiday I have holiday with my
essay, I will look at the ever had. parents and brothers
pros and cons of and sisters. Let me
holidays. tell you why.

My first apartme

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 The holiday started well. The weather was beautiful and the views from the

ntwas a third floor walk-up on a busy

hotel were fantastic. There was so much to do – tennis in the morning, walks
after lunch, dinner on the terrace. We thought nothing could go wrong. It was
street in downtown Vancouver. The
only after a couple of days that we began to notice the problem.

building was a faded brown

characterless box. My apartment was do

Why do the other two introductory paragraphs not match the second
paragraph?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

What is a good title for the essay?

______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______

Write down below the introductory and the body of the paragraph.
Follow this format.

Title: __________________________

Introductory Paragraph:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

Body Paragraph:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 The second and third paragraphs in an essay are called body
paragraphs. Tick (✓) the things you do in a body paragraph.

introduce the essay explain your ideas

give examples give a conclusion
give more details give new information
repeat the main idea support your opinions
describe things tell the story

4. Body paragraphs

• Write the sentences in the correct order to make a good paragraph.

This is where he stayed and then went to university. For example,

at the age of two the family moved to Hong Kong. Simon’s early life
was very interesting. Later, when he was a teenager, his family
decided to stay in Australia. When he was very young, he lived in
several different countries because his father travelled for business.

*Underline the topic sentence in your paragraph above. Double

underline two supporting ideas. Circle an example and an explanation.

• Which of the two introductory paragraphs inside each dialogue box is

appropriate for the body paragraph above?

A. B.

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 I have several good friends, but my
have
best friend is Simon. We have
d I want
known each other for four years,
nk I will
and we live in the same street.
, Simon,
This wasn’t always the case.
.

• Here is the introduction and topic sentence for another essay with the
title ‘My favourite sport’.
Choose the next four sentences to complete the body paragraph.
Number them in order.
Introductory Paragraph:

Feeling healthy and strong is important to me, so I play lots of

sports. I like individual sports like running, but my favourite sports are
team sports, and my favourite team sport is basketball.

Body paragraph

You can also throw the ball.

However, I don’t like playing football.
The aim of this game is to shoot the ball through the hoop and to
score points.
However, you cannot walk with the ball, but you can run and
bounce the ball at the same time.
Basketball is a team game with five players on each side.
The best time for running is in the evening.

29 | P a g e
 • Underline the information that you think will be in the next body
paragraph.

what the person feels about basketball

where the writer plays basketball
information about football
how often the writer plays basketball
how to make a basketball
how many people play sports in the world
how often the writer watches sport on TV
healthy eating

5. Concluding Paragraphs

Read the paragraph.

This is the concluding paragraph for the essay My favourite Sport.

I hope I have shown you how important basketball is to me. As I said at

the start, I play lots of sports, but basketball really is my number one
game. You should try it too!

Tick (✓) the correct information about introductory paragraphs.

A concluding paragraph:

is in the middle of the essay.

is at the end of the essay.
reminds the reader what you wrote about in the essay.
tells the reader how you will organize your ideas.
gives new information about the main topic.
gives a summary of your opinion.
repeats the main point.
often has an interesting sentence to finish.

• Which three paragraphs are introductory paragraphs (write IP) and

which three are concluding paragraphs (write CP)?

Match the concluding paragraphs to the introductory paragraphs.

30 | P a g e
 A. Many people love eating out in restaurants. However, as well as lots of advantages,
there are several disadvantages to eating out. I will start by exploring the advantages.

B. In conclusion, eating together, at home or out in restaurants, is one of the most

important things we can do as a family. This has always been the case in the past in our
culture, and it should be in the future too.

C. Eating together is a very important part of our culture. Families need to spend lots of
time together to be happy and close, and eating together is a good way to do this. In this
essay I will give reasons for my opinion.

D. So you can see there are many reasons to visit this restaurant. Food, price, location –
there is not a single disadvantage with going there. Try it for yourself!

E. There are many restaurants in my city which I visit with my family and friends. However,
my favourite restaurant is the local one, at the end of our street, near my home.

F. To sum up, I agree that eating out can lead to eating too much fast food. However, in
general there are more advantages than disadvantages to going to restaurants. Just be
careful what you choose!

6. The beginning, middle and end

Which paragraphs are part of Essay A and

which are part of Essay B?

Write A or B next to the paragraphs.

Then write numbers 1 – 4 next to the paragraphs

for Essay A and Essay B to put them in order.

Essay A: Our family car

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 Essay B: The pros and cons of cars

The biggest disadvantage of the car is the pollution it makes. Cars are
not good for the environment. Another disadvantage is that they also make
our cities crowded and noisy.

In my opinion, therefore, cars have more advantages than

disadvantages. The disadvantages of cars are serious, but with better cars
in the future, these problems will become smaller and we will be able to
continue enjoying the freedom cars give us.

Let’s start with a description. The car is big and white. It is a four-wheel
drive and goes quite fast, though my father is a very safe driver. Eight
people can sit in it – that’s just enough seats for all my family. The seats
are dark blue and very comfortable.

This car is special for all of us. We have had it for two years and
everyone loves it. We have happy times when we go out together in the
car, especially when we go on picnics in the desert.

The major advantage of a car is that you are free to travel where and
when you want to. You do not need to wait for a taxi or a bus. A second
advantage is that the car is private; it is for you and your family only.

In conclusion, a car can be very important. Our car helps our family a lot
and gives us special times together when we travel in a group. We even
miss it when it goes to the garage for repairs!

Cars are very important for most families and our family is no different.
People in my family drive several cars, but I would like to tell you about our
big car, our car for ‘all the family’.

Cars are a very important for most people in the modern world. They
offer lots of advantages, but they also come with disadvantages. In this
essay, I will discuss both.

32 | P a g e
 • Underline the words and phrases which helped you to decide the about
essays and the order.

WRAP UP

Task 10: TRY TO COMPOSE

Choose one of the photos below and write a paragraph/s about it using any of the
classifications of discourse. (exposition, narration, description, argument)

1.

2.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/13/20

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 3.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/30/20

4.

https://ph.news.yahoo.com/editorial-normal-094400180.html

POSTTEST

Identify the appropriate transitional device from the choices inside the
parentheses to complete the meaning of the sentence/s:

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 1. Jeremy is very active and enjoys exercising; ______________, Chris sits on
his couch all day playing video games.

(Similarly, For example, In addition, On the other hand, As a result)

2. My sister is a very kind and generous person. _____________, she helps me

with my homework and drives me to basketball practice.

(Likewise, Hence, Additionally, As a result, For example)

3. Which of the following prepositional phrases cannot be used in the following

sentence? Cathy is sick; ____________, she came to school today.

(Nevertheless, Still, As a result, Despite that, Nonetheless)

4. What type of punctuation is missing from the sentence below? Choose the
best answer. I ate five slices of pizza___ still, I am not full.

a. Period (.)
b. Colon (:)
c. Semicolon (;)
d. Comma (,)
e. Quotation marks (" ")

5. Choose TWO supporting sentences for this topic sentence: Students need to
learn good ways to study.

A. Sometimes doing homework in a group can be helpful.

B. Making friends is important to happiness and success.
C. Many high-paying jobs require a college degree.
D. Studying instead of sleeping doesn't help learning or test scores.

For each of the following paragraphs, choose the topic sentence that best fits
the rest of the paragraph.

________. Residents have been directed to use the new plastic bins as their primary
recycling containers. These new containers will make picking up recyclables faster
and easier.

35 | P a g e
 6. A. The city has distributed standardized recycling containers to all
households.
B. Recycling has become a way of life for most people.
C. While most Americans recycle, they also use more resources than
residents of other countries.
D. Even small cities have begun recycling to pick up used glass, plastic, and
paper.

________. It is important to take special precautions to keep these medications in a

secure place, where a child cannot get to them. Every item in the medicine cabinet
should be labeled in large letters and attached to the container. Even if you believe
the medicine cabinet is too high for a child to reach, it should be locked at all times.

7. A. Many families have small children.

B. Many medications are extremely dangerous if swallowed.
C. If your child accidentally swallows a medicine, rush him or her to the
hospital right away!
D. New, life-saving medicines are being approved by the FDA every day.

Fill in the blank with the word that creates the most logical sentence.

8. ________ Sarah drives to the cabin several times a year, she is often
nervous about finding her way.

A. Besides
B. Unless
C. Nevertheless
D. Although

9. Lila wasn’t feeling well. _____________, she decided to stay home from work.

A. Therefore
B. Meanwhile
C. However
D. Anyway

36 | P a g e
 10. ___________ he waited for the doctor to call him in, Sam sat in the waiting
room and read the newspaper.

A. So that
B. While
C. Even if
D. Besides

Below is a formal letter. You must decide which of the phrases in bold you
think are most appropriate and adjust the letter to make it suitable.

When you have finished, move down to the next letter.

Dear Mr Sexton,

I thought I’d write/ I am writing to complain about the state of the

yard/condition of the playground. Over the last two weeks, I have noticed loads
of rubbish/a great deal of litter.

I reckon/It is my opinion that this litter is a health hazard. For example,

yesterday a year 4 boy fell over and cut his hand on a broken bottle. The boy I’m
talking about/The boy in question needed four stitches.

Furthermore/On top of this, the litter is an eyesore. Our school has beautiful
views of the river and these are wrecked/spoiled by the litter.

I believe/I reckon that there are a load of things/a number of things that you
could do to fix/rectify this problem. Firstly, it may be possible for you/you could
purchase additional litterbins. This would help stop/prevent people discarding their
litter recklessly/willy-nilly. What’s more/In addition, I think that our school needs
better/more adequate security to prevent vandals littering.

To finish/In conclusion, I hope you will take my concerns seriously and

I look forward to your reply/you writing back to me.

Yours Sincerely/Yours Faithfully

Name Here

37 | P a g e
Now try to find the correct phrases in this informal letter. Remember, this is for
your friend.

Dear James,

How are you?/I trust this letter finds you well. I’ve been dead
busy/extremely busy since your last letter. We have to work really hard at school to
get ready/in preparation for our SATs.

Despite this, I did manage to play/partake of a game of football last night with
my friends/acquaintances. We won/were victorious! It was boss/outstanding!

Also, my dad got me/purchased for me a new mobile telecommunication

device/mobile phone. It’s an 8210!

Anyway, gotta go/go to cease writing! Speak to you soon. Please write
back/please respond swiftly.

Love from

My Name.

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