TSA Writing Skills (Secondary 3)

Pre-writing

Read the question Underline the key words You are Thomas. Your aunt from America is visiting Hong Kong. You went to Ocean Park with her today. You want to write a diary entry about it. Write your diary entry in about 150 words describing your visit to Ocean Park. Use the following pictures and your own ideas. Situation Text type Number of words What to write Underline the key words

Brainstorm ideas (1) Pictures bus dolphin show roller coaster jellyfish cable car ?

From the pictures, find out: When is it? Who are the people? Where are they? What are they doing? How do they feel? Can you think of any other ideas?

Brainstorm ideas (2) Mind map Think of as many ideas related to Ocean Park as possible Put them into groups and draw a mind map

Supporting details under the main idea (2) Mind map Roller Coaster Cable car dolphins jellyfish Main ideas Go on rides Watch sea animals Supporting details under the main idea Ocean Park restaurants pandas ? Other ideas Can you think of any more ideas?

Brainstorm ideas (3) Question words Use ‘wh-’ words and ‘how’ question words to brainstorm ideas of different areas, e.g. What: the thing or action When: the time Where: the place Who: the people Why: the reason … How: the way something happens How many: the number of something How much: the price …

(3) Question words When? Where? What (did you do)? Who? Why? today Ocean Park went on rides, watched sea animals, watched the pandas… my aunt and I she came to visit Hong Kong excited, happy When? Where? What (did you do)? Who? Why? How (did you feel)?

While-writing

A topic sentence is usually put at the beginning of a paragraph. (1) Topic sentences We went on the rides as soon as we arrived at Ocean Park. We queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people and we waited for about 40 minutes. But the ride was exciting! Then we went on the pirate ship. We screamed while the ship was swinging. We enjoyed all the rides. A topic sentence is usually put at the beginning of a paragraph. Use topic sentence to introduce the main idea of a paragraph

(2) Supporting details Main idea We went on the rides as soon as we arrived at Ocean Park. We queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people and we waited for about 40 minutes. But the ride was exciting! Then we went on the pirate ship. We screamed while the ship was swinging. We enjoyed all the rides. Examples of the rides 1. Use examples to support the main idea of the paragraph

These sentences explain why Ocean Park is a good place to visit. (2) Supporting details Main idea I think Ocean Park is a good place to visit. My aunt and I had great fun there. We not only enjoyed the exciting rides, but we also watched many sea animals. The view in the park was also very beautiful. We took a lot of pictures. These sentences explain why Ocean Park is a good place to visit. 2. Give reasons to support the main idea of the paragraph

These are some vocabulary items of a theme park. (2) Supporting details We went on the rides as soon as we arrived at Ocean Park. We queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people and we waited for about 20 minutes. But the ride was exciting! Then we went on the pirate ship. We screamed while the ship was swinging. We enjoyed all the rides. These are some vocabulary items of a theme park. 3. Use relevant vocabulary items

(2) Supporting details I think Ocean Park is a good place to visit. My aunt and I had great fun there. We not only enjoyed the exciting rides, but we also watched many lovely sea animals. The view in the park was also very beautiful. We took a lot of pictures. These are some adjectives to describe the writer’s feeling towards the things in Ocean Park. 4. Use appropriate adjectives

(3) Linking ideas Use connectives to link up ideas When we got to Ocean Park, we quickly queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people, but we still waited patiently… After going on the rides, we went to see the sea animals. We watched a dolphin show. We also went to the jellyfish aquarium… Use connectives to link up ideas

More connectives Cause: because, since, as Addition: and, too, also, besides Contrast: but, however, yet, on the other hand Purpose: in order to, so as to Result: therefore, as a result Sequence: first, then, after that, finally These connectives can link up short, separate sentences and make the paragraph more natural.

Formats

(1) Diary Date and weather What happened How you think and feel

(2) Informal letter Date Recipient Opening Main body Ending Closing Sender

(3) Formal letter Sender’s address Date Recipient’s address Salutation Subject Opening Main body Ending Closing Sender

Different tones in informal and formal letters Hi Chris, How are you? I’m fine. Please write soon. All the best, Regards, Love, Dear Mr Chan, Dear Sir / Madam, I am writing to… With reference to… I would be grateful… Yours sincerely, Yours faithfully, Informal letters Formal letters

(4) Article / Essay Introduction introduce the topic Main body main idea 1 + supporting details main idea 2 + supporting details main idea 3 + supporting details Conclusion sum up the ideas share your viewpoint

(5) Story Beginning introduce the setting and the characters Development Introduce the plot / problem Climax the most important or exciting part Ending Explain how the problem is solved

Post-writing

Proofreading Reserve 5-10 minutes Check the language - tenses - spelling Check the format (especially letters) Check the number of words (about 150 words)

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