WRITING A COMPOSITION

When writing a composition keep the following in mind:
-Before writing the composition, jot down all the ideas that come to your mind.
-Keep to the point.
-Organize your ideas logically.
-Divide your ideas into paragraphs.
-You can start with a generalization and then get into details.
-Illustrate your ideas by giving examples.

Different Parts of a Composition
Whatever you choose to write for a composition, you usually follow the same basic structure: Introduction/Opening + Body + Conclusion/Closing

1. Opening (1 paragraph)
It consists of a presentation of the topic (use an attention grabber: something to capture the reader’s attention.
It contains the ideas you are going to deal with (a quick overview of what’s coming)

2. Body (2-3 paragraphs)
The body is a group of paragraphs that develop on the main idea as introduced in the opening.
Each paragraph argues, describes, explains, discusses, defines, clarifies, illustrates or whatever on the opening statement.
One idea is discussed in each paragraph.

3. Closing (1 paragraph)
It can be a summing up, reviewing or restating the main idea in different words or briefly stating your opinion, feelings or suggesting a solution, or some “food for thought” or a wish…

Ensure the concluding paragraph is not too long; three or four sentences will be enough.
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How can you write an attention grabber?

By...
-Making an unexpected statement
-Using Humor
-Using a relevant quotation
-Posing a Rhetorical question designed to arouse curiosity without requiring an answer
-Shocking the Audience with an unexpected fact or statistic

Examples:
A good attention grabber: "The death penalty is the most premeditated of murders"; “Elvis is not dead...”; “Who said that the countryside is boring?”; “Seagulls are just rats with wings”; “Hating seagulls is like being racist or homophobic”

A bad attention grabber: “Today I have to write about...”; “the topic of this post is...”

SESSION 2: 1st THEMED POST: MUSIC

Hello everybody:
The first topic you have chosen to write about is Music.
Here you have some bullet questions that will help you write your post:

Introduction:
How important is music in your life?
How does music make you feel?

Body:
(likes and dislikes)
What kind of music do you like?
Is there any kind of music that you particularly dislike?
Who is your favourite group or singer? Why do you like him/her/them?

(music resources)
Have you ever been to a concert?
Do you listen to the radio or your or your own music collection, primarily?
Do you ever download music files from the internet?
Do you ever buy CDs?

(songs with a special meaning)
What is your first memory of learning a song?
If you were a song, what song would you be and why?

(my musical skills)
Can you play a musical instrument or read music?
How well do you sing?
Do you like singing karaoke or while in the shower?

Closing paragraph or conclusion:
What do you think the world would be like without music?
Why is music so important to people and culture?

Remember to write around 200/250 words and leave comments on 3 of your classmates' posts. I hope you get a lot done!!!!

WELCOME

A warm hello to all of you, dear students.
I hope you enjoy this experience of working with blogs. I also hope you have the chance of sharing ideas, get to know your classmates better and learn a lot.

Here’s what you are expected to do in your first blog session:
• Create blog
• Link your teacher’s blog and ALL your classmates’ blogs to yours. To do this you need to write your URL on the board.
• Personalize blog (e.g. add a picture, survey, change colour fonts, etc).
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Now I would like you to write a short introductory/welcome post. (70 words)
Say who you are and what objectives you hope to achieve with your blog.

Please, leave comments on at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs.