​5 SENTENCES PARAGRAPH PLAN

​Topic sentence:

1. two methods to conserve fossil fuels

2. First method: use public transportation more

3. Explain: exactly how public transportation will help

4. Second method: raise awareness of energy conservation

5. Example: saving electricity in the home

​PRACTISE WRITING

​how useful a plan is, especially when you make sure that each sentence has a clear and specific job.

Now let’s write the paragraph. Here are the first four sentences:

​In my opinion, the depletion of fossil fuels can be mitigated in two ways.

1. Firstly, governments should encourage people to use public transportation instead of private vehicles.

2. Buses, trains, trams and underground systems use fuel far more efficiently than cars because they can carry tens or even hundreds of passengers at a time.

3. Secondly, fossil fuel use could be reduced if people were made more aware of how energy can be conserved.

4. For example,…

​Tips

​Notice how clear and coherent this paragraph is. It even seems ‘easy’, although it really isn’t easy to write like this!

I also stuck to the method and resisted the urge to write too much. I could have continued with the point about public transport, but I didn’t – I followed my plan.

I wasn’t thinking about grammar – I was focusing on my ‘sentence jobs’. However, I still used some complex structures (e.g. a conditional) in a natural way.

​STUDY TASK

​Can you write sentence 5 to finish the paragraph?

​FULL PARAGRAP PLANNING

​1. In my opinion, the depletion of fossil fuels can be mitigated in two ways.

2.Firstly, governments should encourage people to use public transportation instead of private vehicles.

3. Buses, trains, trams and underground systems use fuel far more efficiently than cars because they can carry tens or even hundreds of passengers at a time.

4. Secondly, fossil fuel use could be reduced if people were made more aware of how energy can be conserved.

5. For example, campaigns could remind people that simple actions in the home, such as turning off lights and electronic devices when they are not being used, can save considerable amounts of electricity.

​Error correction

​People should turn off electronics devices.

1. We can save electricity in home.

2. We should make a habit to turn off lights.

3. Energy use could drop down by choosing eco-friendly appliances.

4. Citizens can reduce the amount of electric consumption.

5. Famous people could be roped in to help with campaigns.

6. Saving electricity at home can lead to consume less coals.

7. We can save electricity by turning off electric equipments.

8. People can turn off lights, also they can buy energy-efficient devices.

9. We should turn off computers after using

​Error correction

​People should turn off electronics devices. electronic devices (electronic is an adjective)

1. We can save electricity in home. in the home (meaning: in all homes)

2. We should make a habit to turn off lights. of turning (make a habit of doing something)

3. Energy use could drop down by choosing eco-friendly appliances. could be reduced

4. Citizens can reduce the amount of electric consumption. electricity

5. Famous people could be roped in to help with campaigns. could be asked to help (roped in implies they don’t want to help)

6. Saving electricity at home* can lead to consume less coals. reduce the consumption of coal

7. We can save electricity by turning off electric equipments.equipment is uncountable, singular

8. People can turn off lights, also they can buy energy-efficient devices.and (use Also at the beginning of a new sentence)

9. We should turn off computers after using. after using THEM

​USEFUL PHRASES

​Useful phrases

We saw some useful phrases in the exercise above. For example:

• in the home  – this phrase is used when we’re talking about homes in general e.g. many accidents happen in the home. By contrast “at home” is a specific location e.g. I’m at home right now.

• make a habit of doing something e.g. Try not to make a habit of arriving late.

• electric and electronic – you can have an electric current, an electric shock or an electric toaster, but your mobile phone is an electronic device. Can you see the difference?

• to rope someone into doing something – this means that you persuade someone who was reluctant (didn’t want to do something) e.g. I was roped into helping them to clean their house.