Notes on Paragraph Writing

A. HOW TO USE BECAUSE / SINCE / AS

Because / Since / As there is less traffic, countryside life reduces stress.
Countryside life reduces stress because / since / as there is less traffic.

**Note that ‘since’ is used to express both reason and time.

He took another English course since his TOEFL score was so low. (reason)
He has studied very hard since the language course began. (time) (present perfect tense)

B. HOW TO USE BECAUSE OF / DUE TO

Many learners may feel stressed because/since/as they get low grades.

Because of getting low grades, many learners may feel stressed.

Due to (gerund)

Because of low grades, many learners may feel stressed.

Due to (noun phrase)

Many learners may feel stressed because of / due to getting low grades.

C. HOW TO USE ALTHOUGH

Although / Though / Even though some people prefer to work alone, I believe it is much better to
work in teams.

I believe it is much better to work in teams although / though / even though some people prefer to
work alone.

D. HOW TO USE IN ORDER TO / TO

People learn English because they want to get better job opportunities in prestigious companies.

People learn English to / in order to get better job opportunities in prestigious companies.

Learners of English can use a ‘collocations dictionary’ if they do not want to confuse word
partnerships.

Learners of English can use a ‘collocations dictionary’ not to / in order not to confuse word
partnerships.
E. HOW TO GIVE EXAMPLES
There are many ways to advertise outside. For example, / For instance, / To illustrate, outdoor
billboards can be very effective by the road or at sport stadiums.

Students may have difficulties in productive skills such as speaking.

Citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, are high in vitamin C.

F. HOW TO WRITE CAUSE-EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS

Independent clause . As a result, independent (main) clause.

. Therefore,
. Consequently,
. For this reason,
. Because of this,
. Thus,
, so
; therefore,

e.g.: There may be severe economic problems in a country. Therefore, the citizens/people of that
country may not enjoy a high standard of living.

G. Structures/Verbs that can be used to explain positive effects

Reading a lot helps learners (to) increase their vocabulary range.

Reading a lot enables learners to remember words.

Positive thinking affects / influences / impacts health positively.

Optimism has a positive effect on health.

Reading a lot facilitates the learning of new words.

Learners can improve their English by reading a lot.

Reading a lot makes the learning of new words possible / easy / faster.

Reading a lot increases reading speed.

Silent reading practice reduces / decreases anxiety among learners about speaking and listening.

H. Structures/Verbs that can be used to explain negative effects

Watching too much TV can harm a child’s ability to focus on his studies.

Watching TV too much or too closely may damage people’s eyes.

Working the night shift affects / influences / impacts people social life negatively.

Working the night shift has a negative effect on social life.

TV viewing prevents children from thinking analytically and using their imagination.

Kids who watch television a lot are less likely to read books and other print media.

Kids who watch a lot of TV may have difficulty in paying attention to teachers because they are
accustomed to the fast-paced visual stimulation of TV.

School kids who watch too much TV tend to work less on their homework.

Kids who watch cartoons and other entertainment programs on TV during the pre-school years
usually have poorer pre-reading skills.

I. HOW TO MAKE ADDITIONS

_________. Moreover, /. Furthermore, /. In addition, __________.

Living in the countryside affects health positively. If people live in nature, they tend to be physically
healthier because they usually have an opportunity to eat organic fruit and vegetables. In addition,
they are not exposed to poisonous gases such as CO2. This improves their health and prevents
illnesses. However, people that live in cities tend to suffer from more asthma and allergies.
Moreover, rural areas have psychological benefits. Spending time in rural areas/in nature improves
the mood. When people live in the countryside, they will feel more relaxed because life is slower
there. In other words, there are no hectic schedules.

J. HOW TO MAKE CONTRASTS

Travelers go on a holiday for a challenging experience; however, tourists go on a holiday for
relaxation.
; on the other hand,
; in contrast,

_________. However, /. On the other hand, /. In contrast, __________.

If people live in nature, they tend to be physically healthier because they usually have an opportunity
to eat organic fruit and vegetables. In addition, they are not exposed to poisonous gases such as
CO2. This improves their health and prevents illnesses. However, / On the other hand, / In contrast,
people that live in cities tend to suffer from more asthma and allergies.

 Unlike the past, today students and teachers have greater opportunities.
 Today students and teachers have greater opportunities unlike the past.
 Unlike the students that live/stay in a dorm, the students who live in their own apartments
are not limited by rules.
 The students who live in their own apartments are not limited by rules unlike the
students/the ones that live/stay in a dorm.