OUTLINE FOR MIDTERM TEST (30 mins)- Class: B1
Topic 1: Why do most people learn English?
Topic 2: The reason why old people prefer to live in the country.
Outline for topic 2: The reason why old people prefer to live in the country.
Introduction:
-Giving the background information, your point of view and narrowing the topic:
Most old people prefer to live in the countryside: (1) beautiful landscape and rural
peacefulness ; (2) a healthy life; (3) friendly people
Body:
- beautiful landscape and rural peacefulness:
+ lots of trees/ rivers/ mountains  relax and enjoy their hobbies
+ quiet and calm life  less population and buildings / less cars and vehicles/ less
pollution/ less crime
- a heathy life :
+ fresh and pure air , no stress ( different from in cites)
+ fresh and healthy food
- kind and friendly people
+ hospitable and helpful
+ good relationship between neighbors
Conclusion:
- Restate your point of view and summarize your ideas, you can gives some disadvantages.
Further Reading: What is a composition ?
A composition is “a defined structure- an introduction, a body and a conclusion which
express the writer’s opinions and explanations on a topic through reasoning and the use of
evidence coherently and cohesively”  chặc chẽ và mạch lạc
A composition must be organized in different paragraphs: Giving the background information
Introduction
- Introducing the topic
- Giving the background information, your point of view and narrowing the topic
Body
- Reason 1 (with 2 supporting ideas)
- Reason 2(with 2 supporting ideas)
- Reason 3 (with 2 supporting ideas)
Conclusion:
- Restating your point of view and summarizing your ideas
Further Reading: Planning
Planning is very important for preparing a great composition.
To be more prepared for starting to write your composition, you need to answer the W-H
questions:
1. Who is the main character of your story?
2. Where do the events take place?
3. When does it happen?
4. What happened?/ What is the main idea in the topic?
5. Why did it occur?
6. How was everything solved?
Further Reading: Notice on Linking Words (connectors and conjunctions):
A. Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunction: These linking words give equal value to the two
elements (nouns, adjectives, clauses, etc.) which they coordinate
•And (addition) : The graduate student had to teach section and take classes.
• or (alternative) : You can do the homework today or tomorrow
• but (contrastive): The service animal was not a pony, but a miniature horse
• yet (contrastive) :He was exhausted yet very happy
• nor (negative) : Mary had not gone to the store nor had she visited the gym
both…and, not only…but also (combining or addition) The daughter bought not only a
designer purse, but also a custom wallet.
• either…or, whether…or not (binary choice) Harry will either go to the market or the
mall this afternoon.
• neither…nor (negative) I neither want to clean my room nor desire to go caroling.
Subordinating Conjunction These linking words are often used to expand or further
describe the main clause
• as, because, since (cause)
• so, so that, as a result (purpose) Candice was feeling lonely (main), so she adopted
another cat (sub).
• although, though (contrastive) Although very cute (sub), pandas are not suitable pets
(main).
• after, before, until, while (temporal) Before going to the game (subordinate), we often
eat at the pub (main).
• if, unless, whichever, whenever (conditional) Peanut butter is delicious (main), unless you
have a nut allergy
B. Connectors(3)
- Sequences: -firstly, secondly, thirdly… lastly
- the first reason is…; the second reason is…; finally
- First of all, To begin with .. / At last, ultimately ….
- Conclusion : all in all; all things considered; altogether; finally; in brief; in conclusion ;
in essence ; in short; in summary; in the final analysis ; to conclude; to sum up; to
summarize; ultimately; generally speaking; after all
- Example : for instance, for example; as an illustration; for this reason; thus; in other
words; this fact is illustrated by; according to … ;
-Emphasis :above all; indeed; truly; of course; certainly; surely; in fact; really; in truth;
besides; also, furthermore; in addition
Further Reading: Sample composition:
Topic: What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate?
While going to school or university, we usually have to live with roommates. We
often expect our roommates to be sincere, kind and generous. In my opinion, these
qualities are the most important qualities of a good roommate.
Firstly, a good roommate should be sincere without doubt. When we are low in
mood ,we really need someone who can listen to our story and give some positive advice.
In such cases, sincere roommates are naturally the best choice. Since we are all sincere,
we can trust each other and talk about our own thoughts and feelings, so that we can
help ourselves get back to good mood again.
Secondly, another significant quality of a good roommate is kindness. Through
kindness, we and our roommates care for each other and help each other. I`d like to take
my dorm as a good example to illustrate this point. Whenever someone fell ill, others
will voluntarily take him to the hospital, buy medicine for him, make meals for him, and
so on. We all appreciate such a kind atmosphere.
Furthermore, a good roommate should also be generous. As we are still students,
and have not much experience of living with others, we may probably do something that
will hurt our roommates` feeling unconsciously. Without generosity, a roommate will be
easily irritated, and the friendship will be easily broken.
In conclusion, sincerity, kindness and generosity are the three most important
qualities of a good roommate in my mind. Fortunately, I and my roommates all have
such qualities, which has resulted in our long lasting friendship.