Good Paragraphs:

Today we talked about writing paragraphs for the exit test.  Below are the paragraphs we wrote together in class and their "maps".  

Questions #1

What are the advantages of living in a big city?  What are the disadvantages?  Give specific advantages or disadvantages.  Include details or examples for each advantage or disadvantage.

     Big cities have many advantages and disadvantages.  There are many good jobs available in a big city.  There are a lot of factories, hospitals, companies and big stores in big cities where you can get a job.  Another advantage is public transportation.  Many big cities have buses, subways, taxis and trains so people don't need to drive cars.  One disadvantage of big cities is that there is a lot of crime.  There are robberies and murders.  It can be very dangerous.  Also, big cities are very busy.  There is a lot of traffic in a big city.  Big cities have many advantages and disadvantages, but I love big cities. 

    Topic Sentence.  Advantage.  Detail.  Advantage.  Detail.  Disadvantage.  Example.  Detail.  Disadvantage.  Detail.  Conclusion (topic sentence + opinion).  

Question #2

Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university.  What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate?  use specific reasons and examples to support why these qualities are important. 

     It is important to have a good roommate because they live in your home.  It is important to have a roommate who is honest.  You can trust a roommate who is honest to live in your home and not steal your things.  Another quality of a good roommate is neatness.  I don't want to have to clean up after my roommate.  It is also important to have a roommate who is fun.  I don't want to be sad or bored all the time with my roommate.  Roommates live in your home with you.  It's important to have a good roommate with many good qualities. 

     Topic Sentence.  Quality.   Reason.  Quality.  Reason.  Quality.  Reason.  Conclusion (topic sentence + Opinion)

Questions #3

If someone offered to give you a free vacation to anywhere in the world, where would you go?  Why?  Explain your choice using specific reasons and examples. 

     If someone offered to give me a free vacation I would go to the Bahamas.  I would go to the Bahamas because of the weather.  The Bahamas have hot and beautiful weather all the time.  Another reason I would go to the Bahamas is for the food.  In the Bahamas they have delicious seafood.  I would also go to the Bahamas for the hotels.  There are many good and clean hotels in the Bahamas.  They have good service.  I would love to go to the Bahamas.  The Bahamas are beautiful and fun. 

    Topic Sentence.  Reason.  Detail.  Reason.  Detail.  Reason.  Detail.  Detail.  Conclusion (topic sentence + opinion. 
    
 

Click on the link below.

http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/TOEFL/pdf/989563wt.pdf

Read the questions and think about how you would answer them.  These questions are VERY similiar to the ones that will be on the exit test.  Choose one question and write a paragraph. 

Below is a list of irregular verbs.  They are in their PRESENT TENSE form.  Use the Irregular Verb links to find the PAST tense forms, write the past tense forms on a piece of paper (NOT in the comments). 

break        drink        awake      blow       creep       dig       dream      fight        forget        forgive  
broke        drank       awoke      blew       crept        dug      dreamt     fought     forgot        forgave
give          freeze       hold         hear        hang        make    misspell   quit
gave          froze        held         heard      hung        made    misspelled  quit
read          rise           run           quit         pay          sit         meet        ring
read          rose          ran            quit        paid          sat        met          rang
send         shoot         shut         speed      spin          sleep    sing          stick
sent          shot           shut         sped       spun          slept     sang         stuck
take          teach         think        tear         wake        win       weep       write
took          taught       thought    tore         woke        won      wept        wrote

STUDY the PAST TENSE version of these verbs:  there MAY be a game with prizes during your next class.  

For homework: 

Write a paragraph (1/2 page, at least 7 sentences) use the PAST TENSE and at least 7 irregular past tense verbs. 

Check the blog often, I will try to post some links to some more games or activities.  Play the games with your children or husband or wife over the weekend!!! 

Have a happy holiday weekend and a wonderful time with your family this Easter! 

Past Tense Part One

Simple Past "ed" Spelling Rules:

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-lesson-spelling-ed-forms.php

Irregular Past Tense Verbs: 

http://speakspeak.com/resources/vocabulary-general-english/english-irregular-verbs

Most common irregular past tense verbs:

http://speakspeak.com/resources/vocabulary-elementary-pre-intermediate/70-common-irregular-verbs

Grammar Powerpoint: (Click on "Chapter 9")

http://www.azargrammar.com/materials/beg/BEG_PowerPoint.html

Games:

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/irregular-past-tense-verbs-spelling-activity-online/

http://www.quia.com/cb/8111.html

http://www.englishclub.com/esl-games/grammar/jumbled-tenses-past-simple-1.htm

Homework: 

Do the 3 worksheets
Write a paragraph using the Past Tense.  Tell an interesting story about something exciting you did as a child.  What was your BEST day?  Your paragraph should have at least 5 sentences and be approximately half a page. 


Spelling: 

wasn't           weren't       
was               were      
crunchy        salty         
crispy           cheesy          
worst            best
irregular       regular  
gross            nasty                  
delicious      oily            
not bad        very good

Hello Students!

We had a great class tonight.  We read and talked about family reunions, blogs and the Chinese New Year.  Later, I will post some pictures here of my family reunion last summer.  We had a big barbeque in West Virginia and all of my father's family was there.  We played games, ate great food and talked all day.  I had a great time.  Please leave a comment and answer one of the questions below. 

1.) Does your family ever have a reunion?  What kinds of things do you do at the reunion?

2.) Have you ever been to a Barbeque?  What do you like about barbeques?

3.)  What holiday or tradition in your home country do you miss the most?  Why?

Don't forget to study your word list!  (Are you listening, Wally????)