Writing Skill: Moving from Old Information to New Information. Beyond the Sentence

(TESOL Worksheets--Writing)

Google Drive Folder HERE

Worksheet: docs, pub

Slideshow: slides, pub

This is a worksheet and slideshow based on the sample text from Beyond the Sentence by Scott Thornbury.  

Ever since I first read that book, I was very impressed by Scott Thornbury's demonstration of how coherence is created in a text by putting old information at the beginning of a sentence, and new information at the end of the sentence.  But I've struggled finding a way to convey this same information to students.  So in the end, I've resorted to just copying Scott Thornbury's explanation.  (Scott Thornbury himself was borrowing the model text on genetics, so hopefully my borrowing from his borrowing is forgivable.)

Procedure:

Prediction task: Ask the students what they know already know about genetics.  Students discuss in groups.  A list is generated on the board.  Then students are given the text, and read to check to see which of their predictions were in the text.

Detailed Comprehension: Students are then given the list of questions about the text, and answer them.

Reference words: students are then given the worksheet with reference words, and identify them.  Feedback as a class.

I then briefly give the students time to discuss in their groups how the text is connected, but my expectations for this part are low.  Basically I just want to try to get them thinking a bit.

Then, I go through the slideshow to show them how the text is connected.

I regret that I wasn't able to think of a way to make this section more student centered.  Like all of my worksheets, this one was produced on a deadline.  (I was rushing to get this ready in the couple hours I had before class.)  If I had more time, or if I ever come back to this activity again, I might try to think of a way to make it more of a guided discovery.

However, as it was, I elicited as much as possible during the slideshow--the sentences come up on animation, so I got my students to tell me how the old information becomes the new information before I showed them on the slideshow.

It worked okay.  My students stuck with me for the most part.

As for follow up activities--there are two follow up activities to this that can be found in the appendixes of Beyond the Sentence--in the photocopiable worksheets section at the end of the book.  If you can get your hands on a copy of the book.

Genetics

The science of genetics explains why living things look and behave as they do.  Advanced animals have two sexes: male and female. Each individual produces sex cells.  If a male and female sex cell join, the female cell grows into a new individual.  Each parent passes on certain characteristics to its offspring.  This process is called heredity.

Heredity works in an amazing way.  Inside every cell are tiny chromosomes, largely made up of a chemical called DNA.  Different parts of each chromosome carry different coded messages.  Each part is called a gene.  The genes carry all the information needed to make a new plant or animal.  They decide its sex and also what characteristics it inherits.

Some inherited characteristics are stronger than others.  They are dominant.  Weaker ones are recessive.  Genes for brown eyes, for example, dominate over the weaker genes for blue eyes.

1. What do we call the science of why living things look and behave as they do?

2. Which kind of animals have 2 sexes?

3. What does each parent pass on to its offspring?

4. What are the chromosomes largely made up of?

5. What are the different parts of the chromosome called?

6. What do we call strong inherited characteristics?

7. What do we call weak inherited characteristics?

Genetics

The science of genetics explains why living things look and behave as (1)they do.  Advanced animals have two sexes: male and female. (2)Each individual produces sex cells.  If a male and female sex cell join, the female cell grows into a new individual.  (3)Each parent passes on certain characteristics to its offspring.  (4)This process is called heredity.

Heredity works in an amazing (5)way.  Inside every cell are tiny chromosomes, largely made up of a chemical called DNA.  Different parts of each chromosome carry different coded messages.  Each part is called a gene.  The genes carry all the information needed to make a new plant or animal.  (6)They decide (7)its sex and also what characteristics (8)it inherits.

Some inherited characteristics are stronger than (9)others.  (10)They are dominant.  Weaker (11)ones are recessive.  Genes for brown eyes, for example, dominate over the weaker genes for blue eyes.

What do the reference words refer to in these sentences?

1. they:

2. Each:

3. Each:

4. This process:

5. way:

6. they:

7. its:

8. it:

9. others:

10. they:

11. ones:

How do each of these sentences connect to each other?

(1)Genetics

(2)The science of genetics explains why living things look and behave as they do.  (3)Advanced animals have two sexes: male and female. (4)Each individual produces sex cells.  (5)If a male and female sex cell join, the female cell grows into a new individual.  (6)Each parent passes on certain characteristics to its offspring.  (7)This process is called heredity.

(8)Heredity works in an amazing way.  (9)Inside every cell are tiny chromosomes, largely made up of a chemical called DNA.  (10)Different parts of each chromosome carry different coded messages. (11)Each part is called a gene.  (12)The genes carry all the information needed to make a new plant or animal.  (13)They decide its sex and also what characteristics it inherits.

(14)Some inherited characteristics are stronger than others.  (15)They are dominant.  (16)Weaker ones are recessive.  (17)Genes for brown eyes, for example, dominate over the weaker genes for blue eyes.

How do each of these sentences connect to each other?

(1)Genetics

(2)The science of genetics explains why living things look and behave as they do.  (3)Advanced animals have two sexes: male and female. (4)Each individual produces sex cells.  (5)If a male and female sex cell join, the female cell grows into a new individual.  (6)Each parent passes on certain characteristics to its offspring.  (7)This process is called heredity.

(8)Heredity works in an amazing way.  (9)Inside every cell are tiny chromosomes, largely made up of a chemical called DNA.  (10)Different parts of each chromosome carry different coded messages. (11)Each part is called a gene.  (12)The genes carry all the information needed to make a new plant or animal.  (13)They decide its sex and also what characteristics it inherits.

(14)Some inherited characteristics are stronger than others.  (15)They are dominant.  (16)Weaker ones are recessive.  (17)Genes for brown eyes, for example, dominate over the weaker genes for blue eyes.