UNIT 2

PROBLEM AND SOLUTION ESSAY (cont.)

Pham Thi Minh Trang, M.A.

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 WARMING UP

…………....
• Look at the picture demonstrating parts of a paragraph.
Name the missing parts

…………....

…………....

…………....

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 WARMING UP

Answer

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 OBJECTIVES

After this lesson, students will be able to:

• Review how to develop topic sentence.
• Recognise and use adverb clause.
• Recognise and use unreal conditional sentences in proposing solutions.

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 OVERVIEW

2.1 Developing ideas

2.2 Editing your writing

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 2.1. DEVELOPING YOUR IDEAS

2.1.2. Techniques to develop

2.1.1. Developing topic sentence
topic sentence

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 2.1.1. DEVELOPING TOPIC SENTENCE

• The topic sentence of the paragraph is the most important sentence which identify the main idea and point
of the paragraph.
• The supporting details in the paragraph will develop or explain the topic sentence.
• When you write a main body of your essay, you need to explain your ideas fully. Examiners are looking to
see how you develop your topic sentences and will give you a better score if you do it well.

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 2.1.1. DEVELOPING TOPIC SENTENCE (cont.)

Practice 1: Read this topic sentence. Write two more sentences to explain it.

“One big problem in the cities is the high cost of public transport.”

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 2.1.1. DEVELOPING TOPIC SENTENCE (cont.)

Suggested answer

One big problem in the cities is the high cost of public transport. That is to say, in big
capitals like London, the price of using public transport such as buses or tube, is extremely
high. As a result, many people end up spending a significant percentage of their income on
public transport, or thay take their car instead.

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 2.1.2. TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP TOPIC SENTENCE

Practice 2: Study these suggestions for developing ideas. Match the techniques used by the writing.

Paragraph Technique
One big problem in the cities is the high cost of public transport. Giving reasons
That is to say, in big capitals like London, the price of using public transport such as
buses or tube, is extremely high. As a result, many people end up spending a significant
percentage of their income on public transport, or thay take their car instead.
One issue is that a lot of young children do not have a healthy diet. This is because Decribing the
their parent do not have time to cook, so they end up having takeaways and processed result
food. As a consequence, the children get ill and put on weight.
One issue about living in a big city is the stress of getting from one place to another. Linking phrases
Living in a big cities means that it takes one hour to get from home to where you want to explain the
to go, which is very tiring and time consuming. main idea
One problem with working at home is that you do not have contract with colleagues. If Describing
you are at home, you do not pick up new ideas from workmates. As a result, it is facts
difficult to improve your knowledge and skills. For instance, many teachers get good
ideas from other teachers in the staff room, but if they tutor people at ome, they do not
get any input from others. 10
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 2.1.2. TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP TOPIC SENTENCE (cont.)
Answer
Paragraph Technique
One big problem in the cities is the high cost of public transport.
Linking phrases to
That is to say, in big capitals like London, the price of using public transport such as
explain the main
buses or tube, is extremely high. As a result, many people end up spending a
idea
significant percentage of their income on public transport, or thay take their car instead.
One issue is that a lot of young children do not have a healthy diet. This is because
their parent do not have time to cook, so they end up having takeaways and processed Giving reasons
food. As a consequence, the children get ill and put on weight.
One issue about living in a big city is the stress of getting from one place to another.
Living in a big cities means that it takes one hour to get from home to where you want Describing facts
to go, which is very tiring and time consuming.
One problem with working at home is that you do not have contract with colleagues. If
you are at home, you do not pick up new ideas from workmates. As a result, it is
Decribing the
difficult to improve your knowledge and skills. For instance, many teachers get good
result
ideas from other teachers in the staff room, but if they tutor people at ome, they do not
get any input from others.
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 2.1.2. TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP TOPIC SENTENCE (cont.)

Practice 3: Complete the paragraphs below with liking phrases from the box.

As a consequence in other words means that The reason is

One cause of poor student behaviour at school is that many lessons are not very interesting. In many
cases, the subject material is presented by teachers in a dry and uninspiring way. (1) ______ that these
teachers have not been trained to use the most modern and dynamic teaching methods. (2) ______, the pupils
do not concentrate on the lesson and instead they have badly in class.
One cause of stress in cities is the high cost of living. (3) ______ in today’s world, the price of
housing, transport, food and entertainment is rising all the time. For instance, living in a big city (4) ______ you
have to spend a large proportion of your salary on your rent or mortgage, which puts pressure on people to
work harder and harder to make ends meet.
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 2.1.2. TECHNIQUES TO DEVELOP TOPIC SENTENCE (cont.)

Answer

As a consequence In other words means that The reason is

One cause of poor student behaviour at school is that many lessons are not very interesting. In many
cases, the subject material is presented by teachers in a dry and uninspiring way. (1) The reason is that these
teachers have not been trained to use the most modern and dynamic teaching methods. (2) As a
consequence, the pupils do not concentrate on the lesson and instead they have badly in class.
One cause of stress in cities is the high cost of living. (3) In other words in today’s world, the price of
housing, transport, food and entertainment is rising all the time. For instance, living in a big city (4) means that
you have to spend a large proportion of your salary on your rent or mortgage, which puts pressure on people to
work harder and harder to make ends meet.
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 2.2. EDITING YOUR WRITING

2.2.2. Second conditional

2.2.1. Adverb clause
sentence

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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE

• An adverb clause is a dependent clause that indicates time, reason, concession, contrast, condition,
purpose, or refutation. An adverb clause begins with a connector called a subordinating conjunction, such as
after, although, if, since, and then.
• In the following sentences, the subordinating conjunctions are circled, and the adverb clause are underlined.
Note that when the adverb clause begins the sentence, it is followed by a comma.

Although Brazil and the United States are unique countries, there are remarkable similarities in their size,
ethnic diversity, and core values.
Lenient parents will not become angry or scream if a child screams.
When the Northeast is experiencing snowstorms, cities like Houston, Texas can have temperatures over 85
degrees Fahrenheit.
The workers will go on strike unless their demands are met.

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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE (cont.)
FUNCTION SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS EXAMPLE
time after until As soon as the lecture ended, the students left the
as when auditorium
as soon as whenever
before while
reason/ because Because the class ran long, they did not have time
cause since to get lunch.
concession/ although Though some might argue that messaging on social
counterargument even though media can lead to face-to-face interactions, there is
though no data to support this claim.
contrast although while Although punctuation is ignored in texting, it is
even though important in academic writing.
condition even if unless If more people cared about the environment, there
if when would be far less pollution.
provided that
purpose in order that Good writers add examples so that their points
so that are clear.
refutation despite the fact that The presentation was not rescheduled despite the
fact that most students could not attend it. 16
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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE (cont.)

Practice 4: Each sentence contain an adverb clause. Underline the adverb clause and circle the
subordinating conjunction.
Finally, write S above the subject of the adverb clause and V for the verb in the adverb clause.
1. While many marketers say there is nothing wrong with this sharing of information, very often it falls into the
wrong hands.
2. Because password managers generate unique passwords for every website that is used, the user’s privacy
is maintained.
3. The password manager keeps track of logins and offers assistance if a user gets confused.
4. VPNs hide the user’s address so that online companies cannot see the path used to reach their websites.
5. Even though password managers might seem too costly, they are available in all price ranges.
6. Despite the fact that they are easily available, many people do not take advantages of these tools.
7. Private browsing deletes temporary Internet files, browsing history and cookies when users end their
Internet session.
8. Although the danger is real, there are certain ways for individuals to protect their private information.
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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE (cont.)

Answer
S V
1. While many marketers say there is nothing wrong with this sharing of information, very often it falls into the
wrong hands.
S V
2. Because password managers generate unique passwords for every website that is used, the user’s privacy
is maintained.
S V
3. The password manager keeps track of logins and offers assistance if a user gets confused.
S V
4. VPNs hide the user’s address so that online companies cannot see the path used to reach their websites.

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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE (cont.)

Answer (cont.)
S V
5. Even though password managers might seem too costly, they are available in all price ranges.

S V
6. Despite the fact that they are easily available, many people do not take advantages of these tools.

S V
7. Private browsing deletes temporary Internet files, browsing history and cookies when users end their
Internet session.

S V
8. Although the danger is real, there are certain ways for individuals to protect their private information.

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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE (cont.)

Practice 5: Fill in the blank with the suitable adverb to create an adverb clause.
1. ______ rush-hour traffic around London is awful, hundreds of thousands of workers commute on a
daily basis.
2. It would be a good idea to ban cars from city center on Sundays ______ the number of the death from
passive smoking will reduce.
3. ______ government reduce the cost of public transport, people start to commute by bus and tube.
4. People never ride a bike to work ______ it is good for their health.
5. Imposing a higher tax will make fast food unaffordable to many people ______ people are forced to cook
proper meal at home.

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 2.2.1. ADVERB CLAUSE (cont.)

Answer
• Although/ Even though/ Though rush-hour traffic around London is awful, hundreds of thousands of workers
commute on a daily basis.
• It would be a good idea to ban cars from city center on Sundays in order that/ so that the number of the
death from passive smoking will reduce.
• Since/ Because/ As long as/ If/ When government reduce the cost of public transport, people start to
commute by bus and tube.
• People never ride a bike to work although/ even though/ though it is good for their health.
• Imposing a higher tax will make fast food unaffordable to many people so that/ in order that people cook
proper meal at home.

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 2.2.2. SECOND CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

• The second conditional is used to imagine present or hypothetical situations that are impossible or unlikely
in reality.
• The second conditional is used to imagine and to dream that the present situation is different than it really is.
Now this could be because it is impossible now or because it is unlikely to become real in the future, not
completely impossible but unlikely.
• The second conditional sentences sometimes appear in problem-solution essays to suggest solutions.
• Form:
If + past simple, S + would/ could/ might/ should + V
For example
Fact: Museums are extremely expensive, so lots of people cannot afford to go there.
Solution: If museums were cheaper, more people could afford go there.

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 2.2.2. SECOND CONDITIONAL SENTENCE (cont.)

Practice 6: Look at these extracts from essays and underline the second conditional sentences.

Too many children these days eat junk food, because fruit and vegetables are so expensive. If
the government reduced the tax on fresh produce, people would eat more fruit and vegetables, and
less unhealthy food.

One way to tackle traffic congestion is to have a congestion charge, like in London. This
involves charging motorists if they want to drive into the centre of the city. If a congestion charge was
introduced, there would be fewer cars on the road, and less pollution.

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 2.2.2. SECOND CONDITIONAL SENTENCE (cont.)

Answer

Too many children these days eat junk food, because fruit and vegetables are so expensive.
If the government reduced the tax on fresh produce, people would eat more fruit and vegetables, and
less unhealthy food.

One way to tackle traffic congestion is to have a congestion charge, like in London. This
involves charging motorists if they want to drive into the centre of the city. If a congestion charge was
introduced, there would be fewer cars on the road, and less pollution.

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 2.2.2. SECOND CONDITIONAL SENTENCE (cont.)

Practice 7: Write sentences about these problems using the second conditional.

1. University tuition fees are very high, so many poor people can’t afford to go to university.
2. Many people don’t go the gym, because membership is very expensive.
3. Teaching is unpopular among graduates, because the salaries are so low.

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 2.2.2. SECOND CONDITIONAL SENTENCE (cont.)

Answer

1. If university tuition fees were cheap, so many poor people could afford to go to university.
2. Many people would go the gym if membership was not expensive.
3. Teaching would be more popular among graduates if the salaries were higher.

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 SUMMARY

• Develop topic sentence.

• Identify and use adverb clauses.
• Identify and use second conditional sentences.

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 GLOSSARY

• The topic sentence identifies the main idea and point of the paragraph.
• The supporting details develop or explain the topic sentence.
• A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an independent clause
• Hypothetical situation is imagined or suggested, but perhaps not true or really happening situation.
• The second conditional is used to imagine present or hypothetical situations that are impossible or unlikely
in reality.

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 FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Q: How many techniques are there to develop topic sentence?

A: There are four techniques.
2. Q: Can we give examples when developing topic sentence?
A: Yes, as long as the example is relevant and supportive.
3. Q: Can we use more than one subordinating conjunction in a sentence?
A: No, you can. An adverb clause begins with a connector called a subordinating conjunction.
3. Q: Beside second conditional, can we use first or third conditional sentences in problem-solution essay?
A: Yes, you can, especially when suggesting solutions.
4. Q: Should we only use conditional sentences when suggesting solutions?
A: No, you shouldn’t because it is important to show a good understanding of grammar when you write about
solution. Using conditional sentences can be an effective way, but not the only way.

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