WRITING 2 – ASSIGNMENT 1

TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
SECTION OF LANGUAGE SKILLS
WRITING 2 – 001151
Full name: ____________________________
Student Code: __________________________
Date: __________________________________

Activity 1: Read the sentences in each item. Put a check mark next to the best topic
sentence. Underline the controlling ideas in that sentence.
1. ____ Most of the girls in the class get higher grades in Spanish than the boys.
____ Research has shown that girls are better at languages than boys.
____ Many students like languages very much.
2. ____ Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.
____ Cats and goldfish are both animals.
____ Cats cannot swim very well, but goldfish can.
3. ____ Yesterday I did not have lunch with my coworkers.
____ Yesterday I went to work late.
____ Yesterday was the worst day of my life.
4. ____ Some people call Paul Cezanne the father of modern art.
____ Paul Cezanne, the father of modern art, made important contributions to the
history of art.
____ Paul Cezanne’s art was not recognized until the end of his career, but he is
often called the father of modern art.
5. ____ Many Canadians speak French, and some of them speak Chinese and
Japanese.
____ The current population of Canada is a reflection of the international
background of its citizens and immigrants.
____ A large number of new immigrants live in the western province of
British Columbia, but not many of them speak German.

Pham Thu Trang (Ms) Page 1

 WRITING 2 – ASSIGNMENT 1

Activity 2: All of these topic sentences are too general. Rewrite each sentence adding
controlling ideas.
Example: Flowers are beautiful.
Flowers are the best gift to receive when you are feeling down.
Or
Only four kinds of flowers grow during the short summers in Alaska.
1. Cars are nice.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Paris is the capital of France.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. The English alphabet has twenty-six letters.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Mailing some letters is expensive.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. Tennis is an enjoyable sport.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Activity 3: Read each paragraph. Then write a good topic sentence for it. Be sure to end
each topic sentence with correct punctuation.
1. _____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Young people tend to buy them because they want to look “cool” to their friends. It is
much easier for a young person to impress other people with a fast sports car than with
your father’s minivan. Wealthy people, however, enjoy sports cars because they want to
show others that they have status in their community. I have never seen a doctor or a
lawyer driving around in an old station wagon. Finally, sports cars appeal to
adventurers.
2. _____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Pham Thu Trang (Ms) Page 2

 WRITING 2 – ASSIGNMENT 1

First, your body will look better. Exercise is perfect for staying trim and healthy-
looking, and it does not have to take a long time. Second, you will actually have more
energy. A person who exercises will have fewer problems walking up stairs or climbing
hills. In addition, your heart will be healthier. A good, strong heart is necessary for a
long, healthy life. Finally, exercise reduces stress and keeps your mind in shape.
Therefore, if you want to improve your overall healthy, exercise is an excellent way to
accomplish your goal.
3. _____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
It is without a doubt one of the easiest foods to eat. You do not need any special
utensils, and it does not have to be served piping hot like some foods do. In addition,
with only 20 calories per cup and almost no fast, it is both a filling and a heart-
friendly snack. Furthermore, it can be an important source of natural fiber, a substance
that has been shown to be important in limiting certain types of cancer. Based on this
information, can anyone be surprised that sales of popcorn are soaring in many
countries?

Pham Thu Trang (Ms) Page 3