PRACTICE 1 PRACTICE FOR WRITING SKILL

PRACTICE 1

PRACTICE FOR WRITING SKILL

Read this following paragraph carefully.

1.      RAILWAY MANIAS

In 1830 there were a few dozen miles of railways in all the world – chiefly consisting of the line from Liverpool to Manchester. By 1840 there were over 4,500 miles, by 1850 over 23,500. Most of them were projected in a few bursts of speculative frenzy known as the ‘railway manias’ of 1835–7 and especially in 1844–7; most of them were built in large part with British capital, British iron, machines and know-how. These investment booms appear irrational, because in fact few railways were much more profitable to the investor than other forms of enterprise, most yielded quite modest profits and many none at all: in 1855 the average interest on capital sunk in the British railways was a mere 3.7 per cent. (From The Age of Revolution by Eric Hobsbawm, 1995, p. 45)

     Topic                      : The revolution of railway manias

Controlling idea      : Consisting of the line from Liverpool to Manchester.

Main idea              : Most of them were projected in a few bursts of speculative frenzy known as the ‘railway manias’ of 1835–7 and especially in 1844–7; most of them were built in large part with British capital, British iron, machines and know-how.

2.      Now look at these following pragraphs. Analyze each paragraph and choose which are acceptable and which are plagiarized.

(a)    Between 1830 and 1850 there was very rapid development in railway construction worldwide. Two periods of especially feverish growth were 1835–7 and 1844–7. It is hard to understand the reason for this intense activity, since railways were not particularly profitable investments and some produced no return at all. (Hobsbawm, 1995: 45)

Acceptable as not plagiarism

(b)   There were only a few dozen miles of railways in 1830, including the Liverpool to Manchester line. But by 1840 there were over 4,500 miles and over 23,500 by 1850. Most of them were built in large part with British capital, British iron, machines and know-how, and most of them were projected in a few bursts of speculative frenzy known as the ‘railway manias’ of 1835–7 and especially in 1844–7. Because most yielded quite modest profits and many none at all these investment booms appear irrational. In fact few railways were much more profitable to the investor than other forms of enterprise. (Hobsbawm, 1995: 45)

Unacceptable as not plagiarism

(c)    As Hobsbawm (1995) argues, nineteenth-century railway mania was partly irrational: ‘because in fact few railways were much more profitable to the investor than other forms of enterprise, most yielded quite modest profits and many none at all: in 1855 the average interest on capital sunk in the British railways was a mere 3.7 per cent.’ (Hobsbawm, 1995: 45)

Unacceptable

(d)   Globally, railway networks increased dramatically from 1830 to 1850; the majority in short periods of ‘mania’ (1835–7 and 1844–7). British technology and capital were responsible for much of this growth, yet the returns on the investment were hardly any better than comparable business opportunities. (Hobsbawm, 1895: 45)

Unacceptable as not plagiarism

(e)    The dramatic growth of railways between 1830 and 1850 was largely achieved using British technology. However, it has been claimed that much of this development was irrational because few railways were much more profitable to the investor than other forms of enterprise; most yielded quite modest profits and many none at all.

Unacceptable as not plagiarism

3.      Now read these paragraphs below carefully.

a.     "The Antarctic is the vast source of cold on our planet, just as the sun is the source of our heat, and it exerts tremendous control on our climate," [Jacques] Cousteau told the camera. "The cold ocean water around Antarctica flows north to mix with warmer water from the tropics, and its upwellings help to cool both the surface water and our atmosphere. Yet the fragility of this regulating system is now threatened by human activity." From "Captain Cousteau," Audubon (May 1990):17.

 Paraphrase:

"The vast cold source on our planet comes from the Antarctic, just as our heat source comes from the sun, both of which provide tremendous control over our climate," [Jacques] Cousteau told the camera. "The cold sea water around Antarctica flows north to mix with warmer water from the tropics, and its upwellings help to cool our surface water and atmosphere. But the fragility of this regulatory system is now threatened by human activity." (From "Captain Cousteau" by Audubon, 1990, p. 17).

b.   The twenties were the years when drinking was against the law, and the law was a bad joke because everyone knew of a local bar where liquor could be had. They were the years when organized crime ruled the cities, and the police seemed powerless to do anything against it. Classical music was forgotten while jazz spread throughout the land, and men like Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became the heroes of the young. The flapper was born in the twenties, and with her bobbed hair and short skirts, she symbolized, perhaps more than anyone or anything else, America's break with the past. From Kathleen Yancey, English 102 Supplemental Guide (1989): 25.

Paraphrase:

     The twenties were the years when the law was against by drinking, because everyone knew the local bar where liquor could be obtained making the law as a joke. During these years, the cities were filled with crime and the police seemed powerless to do anything about it. Jazz spread throughout the country and forgot about classical music, and people like Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became heroes of young people. Flapper was born in the twenties, and with bob hair and short skirts, she symbolized, maybe more than anyone or anything, America’s break with the past. (From “English 102 Supplemental Guide” by Kathleen Yancey, 1989, p. 25).

c.    Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From "Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers," Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348.

Paraphrase:

There are more than 1000 deaths from bicycling every year, most cases of death caused by bicycling are school-age children and three-fourth are caused by head injuries.  The use of bicycle helmets is very inportant, it can reduce the risk of head injuries by up to 85 percent as one study has suggested. In accidents, bike helmets are very useful for absorbing shocks and are used as cushions the head. (From "Bicycle Helmets: Unused Saviors," by Consumer Reports, 1990, p. 348).

e.      Matisse is the best painter ever at putting the viewer at the scene. He's the most realistic of all modern artists, if you admit the feel of the breeze as necessary to a landscape and the smell of oranges as essential to a still life. "The Casbah Gate" depicts the well-known gateway Bab el Aassa, which pierces the southern wall of the city near the sultan's palace. With scrubby coats of ivory, aqua, blue, and rose delicately fenced by the liveliest gray outline in art history, Matisse gets the essence of a Tangier afternoon, including the subtle presence of the bowaab, the sentry who sits and surveys those who pass through the gate. From Peter Plagens, "Bright Lights." Newsweek (26 March 1990): 50.

Paraphrase:

    The best painter who has ever placed an audience on the scene in history is Matisse. He is famous as the most realistic artist of all modern artists, if you acknowledge that the breeze as needed for the landscape and the scent of oranges as essential to a still life. "Casbah Gate" describes the famous gate of Bab el Aassa, which pierces the southern wall of the city near the sultan's palace. With scrubby coats, aqua, blue and rose delicately lined by the most beautiful gray lines in art history, Matisse gets the essence of Tangier afternoons, including the subtle presence of the bowaab, guards who sit and survey those who pass through the gate. (From "Bright Lights." Newsweek by Peter Plagens, 1990, p. 50).

g.      While the Sears Tower is arguably the greatest achievement in skyscraper engineering so far, it's unlikely that architects and engineers have abandoned the quest for the world's tallest building. The question is: Just how high can a building go? Structural engineer William LeMessurier has designed a skyscraper nearly one-half mile high, twice as tall as the Sears Tower. And architect Robert Sobel claims that existing technology could produce a 500-story building. From Ron Bachman, "Reaching for the Sky." Dial (May 1990): 15.

Paraphrase:

So far, the biggest achievement in skyscraper engineering is arguably the Sears Tower, it is unlikely that architects and engineers have ignored the search for the tallest building in the world. Structural engineer William LeMessurier has designed the tallest building in the world, nearly half a mile high, twice as higher than the Sears Tower. The question is: Just how high can a building go? And architect Robert Sobel claims that existing technology can produce 500-story buildings. (From "Reaching for the Sky." Dial by Ron Bachman, 1990, p. 15)

4.      Read this paragraph below.

a.     For many people across Europe, the introduction of the Euro has lead to price rises in many everyday goods.

      Write the paraphrase:

The introduction of the Euro For many people across Europe become one of the reasons for the rising prices of everyday goods.

b.   Women have traditionally been seen as mothers and home makers and it is only in recent years that they have been making significant inroads into the job market. There is still a long way to go before they achieve complete equality with men but the situation has definitely improved.

Write the paraphrase:

Traditionally, women are seen as mothers and home makers. Only in the past few years that they have began into the job market. The journey of the women must take to achieve equality with men is still long but the situation has improved definitely.

c.    In the 1920s, an American academic, Elton Mayo, researched the effects of the physical environment on the productivity of workers. The result, known as the Hawthorne Studies, named after the electrics company where it took place, showed that workers could be motivated to work harder by making small changes to the workplace, such as altering the lighting or the layout of a room.

Write the paraphrase:

In the 1920s, Elton Mayo, an American academic, examined the effects of the physical environment on worker productivity. The result of his research known as the Hawthorne Study, in accordance with the electricity company where it took place, showed that small changes in the workplace can motivate workers to work harder, such as changing the lighting or layout of the room.