1. Writing a Two-paragraph Essay Yun-hsiang Liu, M.S., Ed. HSNU English Teacher Copyright 2007 Expositive Writing (Informative / Persuasive Writing)

2. Informative Writing  In using the form of informative writing (informing the reader), writers provide the reader with information, e.g. reporting on events or analyzing concepts. For example, we may have students report on something happening on their way to school and express their opinions on that event. This topic was selected for a two-paragraph composition test given on the 1989 CEE paper. ( CEE 1988 The Importance of Trees; CEE 1989 On the Way to School; CEE 1990 Saving Wild Animals; CEE 1995 Making Decisions; CEE 2003 The Importance of Music )

3. The Importance of Trees (CEE 1988)  寫一篇英文短文論述樹木與我們生活的密切關聯。 文分兩段。第一段說明樹木重要的原因；第二段說 名如何拯救並維護樹木。文長 120 個單詞 (words) 左 右。  Write a two-paragraph essay dealing with the close link between trees and our lives. Give the reasons why trees are important in Paragraph I; list the ways to save and protect trees in Paragraph II. Write your essay in 120 words or so.

4. Writing an Organized Paragraph Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 )

5. Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 )  Topic Sentence (tell main idea)  Trees play an important role in our daily lives.  We can not live without trees in our daily lives.  Trees are useful in many ways.  Nobody can live without trees.

6. Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 )  Connecting Sentence (link topic sentence and supporting statements)  Here/Below are some of the reasons.  Here/Below is a list of advantages of trees.  Here/Below are some of the advantages of trees.

7. Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 )  Supporting Statements (explain main idea)  can make use of A to + V  can use A to + V  A can be used to + V

8. Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 )  Simplified Mode  We can make use of trees to build houses.  We can use trees to make furniture.  Trees can also be used to decorate our environment.  Fortified Mode  We can make use of trees to build houses, which can protect us from rain and wind.  We can use trees to make / produce / manufacture furniture of all kinds, such as beds, chairs, desks, tables, and so on.  Trees can also be used to decorate / beautify our environment and provide more fresh air.

9. Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 )  Closing Statement (restate main idea)  Indeed, the advantages of trees are too numerous to be fully listed / cited / counted.  Really, the importance of trees cannot be overemphasized.  No doubt, trees are indispensable to us.

10. Paragraph I—Informative Writing （先講道理，再舉事例說明 ) PParagraph I We can not live without trees in our daily lives. Below is a list of advantages of trees. First, we can make use of trees to build houses, which can protect us from rain and wind. Second, we can use trees to manufacture furniture of all kinds, such as beds, chairs, desks, tables, and so on. Third, trees can also be used to beautify our environment and provide more fresh air. Really, the importance of trees cannot be overemphasized. Topic Sentence Supporting Statements Closing Statement Connecting Sentence Topic Sentence Supporting Statements

11. Writing an Organized Paragraph Paragraph II—Persuasive Writing （先講目的，再舉方法說明 )

12. Persuasive Writing  In using the form of persuasive writing (persuading the reader), writers seek to persuade the reader to take action or to bring about change. For example, we may have students put down several reasons to explain why smoking is harmful and list several ways to help quit smoking. This topic is discussed in a two- paragraph model composition in the book entitled Guided Composition for High School Students by Liu Yun-hsiang (2003). ( CEE 1996 You Win Some, You Lose Some; CEE 1998 Saying “Thank You” and “I’m Sorry”; CEE 2002 If I Won Two Million Dollars in the Lottery )

13. Paragraph II—Persuasive Writing （先講目的，再舉方法說明 )  Topic Sentence (tell main Idea)  Therefore, we must take action to protect our trees.  To protect our trees, it is about time we took action.  Since we cannot live without trees, it is time for us to take action to protect them.  Now that we know trees are indispensable to us, we should do something to protect them.

14. Paragraph II—Persuasive Writing （先講目的，再舉方法說明 )  Connecting Sentence (link topic sentence and supporting statements)  Here/Below are some effective steps we can take to protect our trees.  Here/Below are several ways we can use to save our trees.  The following are useful ways to save our trees.

15. Paragraph II—Persuasive Writing （先講目的，再舉方法說明 )  Supporting Statements (explain main idea)  First of all, we suggest the government legislate to severely penalize those who fell trees illegally.  Secondly, we should also pool the wisdom of the masses to look into ways to protect trees.  Last but not least, we call on our neighbors to plant more trees in our neighborhoods.

16. Paragraph II—Persuasive Writing （先講目的，再舉方法說明 )  Closing Statement (restate main idea)  Hopefully, the efforts made to protect our trees will not be in vain.  If we carry out these steps, our trees will certainly be saved and protected.

17. Paragraph II — Persuasive Writing （先講目的，再舉方法說明 )  Paragraph II Since we cannot live without trees, it is time for us to take action to protect them. Here are some effective steps we can take to protect our trees. First of all, we suggest the government legislate to severely penalize those who fell trees illegally. Secondly, we should also pool the wisdom of the masses to look into ways to protect trees. Last but not least, we call on our neighbors to plant more trees in our neighborhoods. If we carry out these steps, our trees will certainly be saved and protected. Topic Sentence Supporting Statements Closing Statement Connecting Sentence Topic Sentence Supporting Statements

18. Full Text – The Importance of Trees We can not live without trees in our daily lives. Below is a list of advantages of trees. First, we can make use of trees to build houses, which can protect us from rain and wind. Second, we can use trees to manufacture furniture of all kinds, such as beds, chairs, desks, tables, and so on. Third, trees can also be used to beautify our environment and provide more fresh air. Really, the importance of trees cannot be overemphasized. Since we cannot live without trees, it is time for us to take action to protect them. Here are some effective steps we can take to protect our trees. First of all, we suggest the government legislate to severely penalize those who fell trees illegally. Secondly, we should also pool the wisdom of the masses to look into ways to protect trees. Last but not least, we call on our neighbors to plant more trees in our neighborhoods. If we carry out these steps, our trees will certainly be saved and protected.

19. Appendix 1: Four steps to organize a paragraph  Put a topic sentence containing the main idea of the paragraph.  Put a connecting sentence to link the topic sentence and supporting statements for fluency.  Put supporting statements, adding necessary elaboration to each supporting statement.  End the paragraph with a statement as a reminder of the main idea.

20. Appendix 2: Grading Organization 4% Content 4% Wording 4% Grammar 4% Spelling & punctuation 4%

21. Appendix 3: Four Model Compositions as supplementaries  Water--Guided Composition for High School Students by Liu Yun-hsiang (2003), ps 4~6, The Crane Publishing Co., Ltd.  On My Way to School--Guided Composition for High School Students by Liu Yun-hsiang (2003), ps 7~9, The Crane Publishing Co., Ltd.  Saving Wild Animals--Guided Composition for High School Students by Liu Yun-hsiang (2003), ps 113~116, The Crane Publishing Co., Ltd.  The Role of Electricity--Guided Composition for High School Students by Liu Yun-hsiang (2003), ps 128~131, The Crane Publishing Co., Ltd.  劉老師英文作文專欄網站 http://140.122.126.5/yhliu/