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English Speaking & Writing. March 24, 2010. Warm Up.
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English Speaking & Writing March 24, 2010
Warm Up Would you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather? It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject. “We found this so interesting, because it could have gone the other way — it could have been, ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ — as long as you surf on the shallow level of life you’re happy, and if you go into the existential depths you’ll be unhappy,” Dr. Mehl said. But, he proposed, substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons: both because human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives, and because we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people. “By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world,” Dr. Mehl said. -Roni Rabin, The New York Times
Warm Up Would you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather? It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject. “We found this so interesting, because it could have gone the other way — it could have been, ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ — as long as you surf on the shallow level of life you’re happy, and if you go into the existential depths you’ll be unhappy,” Dr. Mehl said. But, he proposed, substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons: both because human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives, and because we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people. “By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world,” Dr. Mehl said. -Roni Rabin, The New York Times
Welcome! Today’s agenda: Paragraphs Paragraphs Activities
Paragraphs Based on your definition, are the following examples paragraphs? • In the middle of a terrifying desert north of Tibet, Chinese archaeologists have excavated an extraordinary cemetery. Its inhabitants died almost 4,000 years ago, yet their bodies have been well preserved by the dry air. -Nicholas Wade, The New York Times
Paragraphs Based on your definition, are the following examples paragraphs? • Within each boat coffin were grave goods, including beautifully woven grass baskets, skillfully carved masks and bundles of ephedra, an herb that may have been used in rituals or as a medicine. -Nicholas Wade, The New York Times
Paragraphs • A paragraph is a sentence or group of sentences that develops one idea.
Paragraphs Characteristics of a paragraph: • Unified • Coherent
Paragraphs When do we start a new paragraph? • Introduce a new idea • Emphasize a point • Transition between ideas • Indicate a new speaker in dialogue
Paragraphs Remember: • A paragraph is not an individual unit, but a small part of a larger body.
Excerpt from The Trumpet of the Swan. By E.B. White Page 5.
Assignment:In your journals, write one paragraph about what the video illustrates.NOTE: Don’t just explain what happened.
Announcements • Groups must decide on a group name by next week. • Homework assignment
References Fredrick, Tim. (2005, October 27). Teaching students how to paragraph. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://timfredrick.typepad.com/timfredrick/2005/10/teaching_studen.html. Paragraph Development. (2007). The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved November 2, 2009 from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/paragraphs.html. Rabin, Roni Caryn. (2010, March 17). “Talk Deeply, Be Happy.” The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/talk-deeply-be-happy/?emc=eta1. Teaching Paragraphs. (2010, January 14). University Writing Center. Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://uwc.tamu.edu/?p=836.