1. TSA Writing Skills (Secondary 3)

2. Pre-writing

3. Read the question Underline the key words
You are Thomas. Your aunt from America is visiting Hong Kong. You went to Ocean Park with her today. You want to write a diary entry about it.
Write your diary entry in about 150 words describing your visit to Ocean Park. Use the following pictures and your own ideas.
Situation
Text type
Number of words
What to write
Underline the key words

4. Brainstorm ideas (1) Pictures
bus
dolphin show
roller coaster
jellyfish
cable car ?

5. From the pictures, find out:
When is it?
Who are the people?
Where are they?
What are they doing?
How do they feel?
Can you think of any other ideas?

6. Brainstorm ideas (2) Mind map
Think of as many ideas related to Ocean Park as possible
Put them into groups and draw a mind map

7. Supporting details under the main idea
(2) Mind map
Roller
Coaster
Cable
car
dolphins
jellyfish
Main ideas
Go on
rides
Watch sea
animals
Supporting details under the main idea
Ocean Park
restaurants
pandas ?
Other ideas
Can you think of any more ideas?

8. Brainstorm ideas (3) Question words
Use ‘wh-’ words and ‘how’ question words to brainstorm ideas of different areas, e.g.
What: the thing or action
When: the time
Where: the place
Who: the people
Why: the reason …
How: the way something happens
How many: the number of something
How much: the price …

9. (3) Question words When? Where? What (did you do)? Who? Why?
today
Ocean Park
went on rides, watched sea animals, watched the pandas…
my aunt and I
she came to visit Hong Kong
excited, happy
When?
Where?
What (did you do)?
Who?
Why?
How (did you feel)?

10. While-writing

11. A topic sentence is usually put at the beginning of a paragraph.
(1) Topic sentences
We went on the rides as soon as we arrived at Ocean Park. We queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people and we waited for about 40 minutes. But the ride was exciting! Then we went on the pirate ship. We screamed while the ship was swinging. We enjoyed all the rides.
A topic sentence is usually put at the beginning of a paragraph.
Use topic sentence to introduce the main idea of a paragraph

12. (2) Supporting details
Main idea
We went on the rides as soon as we arrived at Ocean Park. We queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people and we waited for about 40 minutes. But the ride was exciting! Then we went on the pirate ship. We screamed while the ship was swinging. We enjoyed all the rides.
Examples of the rides
1. Use examples to support the main idea of the paragraph

13. These sentences explain why Ocean Park is a good place to visit.
(2) Supporting details
Main idea
I think Ocean Park is a good place to visit. My aunt and I had great fun there. We not only enjoyed the exciting rides, but we also watched many sea animals. The view in the park was also very beautiful. We took a lot of pictures.
These sentences explain why Ocean Park is a good place to visit.
2. Give reasons to support the main idea of the paragraph

14. These are some vocabulary items of a theme park.
(2) Supporting details
We went on the rides as soon as we arrived at Ocean Park. We queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people and we waited for about 20 minutes. But the ride was exciting! Then we went on the pirate ship. We screamed while the ship was swinging. We enjoyed all the rides.
These are some vocabulary items of a theme park.
3. Use relevant vocabulary items

15. (2) Supporting details
I think Ocean Park is a good place to visit. My aunt and I had great fun there. We not only enjoyed the exciting rides, but we also watched many lovely sea animals. The view in the park was also very beautiful. We took a lot of pictures.
These are some adjectives to describe the writer’s feeling towards the things in Ocean Park.
4. Use appropriate adjectives

16. (3) Linking ideas Use connectives to link up ideas
When we got to Ocean Park, we quickly queued up for the roller coaster. There were many people, but we still waited patiently…
After going on the rides, we went to see the sea animals. We watched a dolphin show. We also went to the jellyfish aquarium…
Use connectives to link up ideas

17. More connectives
Cause: because, since, as
Addition: and, too, also, besides
Contrast: but, however, yet, on the other hand
Purpose: in order to, so as to
Result: therefore, as a result
Sequence: first, then, after that, finally
These connectives can link up short, separate sentences and make the paragraph more natural.

18. Formats

19. (1) Diary
Date and weather
What happened
How you think and feel

20. (2) Informal letter Date Recipient Opening Main body Ending Closing
Sender

21. (3) Formal letter Sender’s address Date Recipient’s address Salutation
Subject
Opening
Main body
Ending
Closing
Sender

22. Different tones in informal and formal letters
Hi Chris,
How are you?
I’m fine.
Please write soon.
All the best,
Regards,
Love,
Dear Mr Chan,
Dear Sir / Madam,
I am writing to…
With reference to…
I would be grateful…
Yours sincerely,
Yours faithfully,
Informal letters
Formal letters

23. (4) Article / Essay Introduction introduce the topic Main body
main idea 1 + supporting details
main idea 2 + supporting details
main idea 3 + supporting details
Conclusion
sum up the ideas
share your viewpoint

24. (5) Story Beginning introduce the setting and the characters
Development
Introduce the plot / problem
Climax
the most important or exciting part
Ending
Explain how the problem is solved

25. Post-writing

26. Proofreading Reserve 5-10 minutes Check the language - tenses
- spelling
Check the format (especially letters)
Check the number of words (about 150 words)

27. - The End -