Intensive English Summer Workshop: How to Avoid Generalization, Adverb of Frequency, Adding details, Essay Structure

Avoiding generalization 

General statements reduce the quality of your work. Therefore,  you have to avoid making general statements unless you have data to prove it.

Ex: Weddings are expensive. (not all weddings are expensive. Therefore, this statement is too general)

- We can avoid generalization by using CAN or TEND to.

Example: 

Using modal words CAN: Weddings can be expensive.

Verb (be is in the infinitive form): Weddings tend to be expensive.

More Examples:

We tend to tip the waiters in the in restaurants.

Weddings tend to be less common these days.

Birthdays can be important.

Blowing your nose in public maybe rude in Japan.

Shaking hands tends to be how most people great in India.

ADVERB OF FREQUENCY

-tells us how often something happens and they can be used to help avoid generalization.

Example of adverb of frequency which are commonly use are: sometimes, often, rarely.

-they can also be use to make generalization not avoid them.

Example: always and never

You always say that. (this statement is clearly not true all the time.)

You often say that. (this statement is probably more accurate since the adverb of  frequency 'often' makes the sentence less general and closer  to the truth.

-Adverbs can be placed before the main verb or after the verb to be. 

Grammar for Writing

We add details to our statement to make it more interesting.

1. Add words to avoid generalization.

Ex: In my country, traditional weddings tend to be important.

2. We add a prepositional phrase.

Ex: Traditional weddings tend to be important to many people.

3. Add two prepositional phrase.

Ex: In my country, traditional weddings are very important to many people.

4. Add an adjective to a noun.

Ex: Traditional weddings are important to many people.

5. Add an adverb to an adjective.

Ex: Wedding are very important.

More exmaples:


1. There is a wedding reception.

- After the ceremony, there is often a large wedding reception with lots of guest.

2. The man gives a ring.

- The man may give an expensive diamond ring to his fiancee to show they are engaged.

3. The guests bring wedding gifts.

-At the reception, the guest usually bring wrapped wedding gifts for the bride and groom.

ESSAY STRUCTURE

Introduction - begin with interesting sentences to introduce a topic. It should include a clear thesis statement which outlines what the writer argues or express


Main body paragraphs - contains a topic sentence with one idea. And the rest of the paragraph support or argue against the idea using examples, evidence and illustrations.

Conclusion - restate the main idea of the body, it ends with appropriate final sentence and should not introduce a new argument.

Thesis Statement - a sentence which explains the writers opinion and conclusions from the essay.

Sourced: Cambridge Reading and Writing Skills Unlock 3