Section outline
📹 Video Instructions — Writing Skills: The Paragraph (Adam's English Lessons — engVid) Watch this video before you begin your paragraph writing task: (Duration: approximately 9 minutes)
Follow these steps as you watch:
Step 1 — Prepare Open a notebook or document before you press play. You will be taking notes as you watch, not after.
Step 2 — Watch and note the structure Adam explains the three parts of a paragraph. Write down each part and its definition in your own words:
- The topic sentence
- The supporting sentences
- The concluding sentence
Step 3 — Identify the examples Adam shows examples of weak and strong paragraphs. For each one, note down what makes it weak or strong. Write at least one specific observation.
Step 4 — Pause and apply At the 6-minute mark, pause the video. Before Adam gives his answer, try to identify the topic sentence in his example paragraph yourself. Then resume and check.
Step 5 — Connect to your task After watching, write three possible topic sentences for the paragraph writing task prompt you have chosen this week. You do not need to submit these — they are your planning step before you begin drafting.
📖 Reading Instructions — Academic Phrasebank: Transition Phrases (University of Manchester) Visit this page before submitting your paragraph writing task: https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
Follow these steps:
Step 1 — Explore the homepage Browse the categories on the homepage. You will see phrases organised by function — adding information, showing contrast, giving examples, and drawing conclusions. Read through the category headings first before diving into any one section.
Step 2 — Focus on three categories Navigate to the following three sections and read through them carefully:
- Adding information (e.g. Furthermore, In addition, Moreover)
- Showing contrast (e.g. However, On the other hand, Nevertheless)
- Drawing conclusions (e.g. Therefore, As a result, Consequently)
Step 3 — Build your personal phrase list From those three categories, select two phrases from each that feel natural and useful to you. Write all six phrases in your notes with a brief note on when you would use each one.
Step 4 — Apply them to your paragraph In your paragraph writing task this week, use at least two of the phrases you selected. Highlight or underline them in your submission so your instructor can see where you applied them.
Step 5 — Save the page Bookmark the Academic Phrasebank now. You will return to it in Week 3 for essay introductions and conclusions, and it will remain useful for every piece of academic writing you produce throughout your degree.
🖥️ Interactive Practice Instructions — Sentence Structure Exercises (British Council LearnEnglish) Complete these exercises after watching the video and before submitting your paragraph: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar
Follow these steps:
Step 1 — Navigate to the right exercises On the page, look for grammar topics related to sentence structure. Recommended sections include: Complex sentences, Relative clauses, and Conjunctions and linking words. Select at least two of these topics to work through.
Step 2 — Read before you do Each exercise has a short explanation at the top. Read it fully before attempting the questions — do not skip straight to the activity.
Step 3 — Complete the exercises Work through the interactive questions. If you get an answer wrong, read the feedback carefully and try to understand why before moving on.
Step 4 — Note your weak areas After completing the exercises, write down one or two grammar points where you made mistakes or felt uncertain. These are the areas to pay extra attention to when you write and edit your paragraph this week.
Step 5 — Apply what you practised Before submitting your paragraph, re-read it once specifically looking for the sentence structure issues you identified in Step 4. Make any necessary corrections before you submit.
Completion requirements:
- Make forum posts: 1
- Receive a grade
- Receive a passing grade
There are no discussion topics yet in this forum.