Unit-1-general-and-specific-words

EnglishWritingCourseUnit1GeneralandSpecific;AbstractandConcreteWordsI.IntroductionThemostimportantfeatureofgoodwritingWhatisclarity?AnexampleAnexample1.Itisthebestrestaurantaroundthecity.2.Itsfoodistasty,fresh,andrich;itsserviceisquickandsatisfactory;besides,itspricesarelow.II.PresentationSpecificandConcreteTerms1.Specificandconcretewords1.Sensewords2.somethingwecansee,hear,touch,smellortaste.2.Generalandabstractwords1.somethingwecannotsee,hear,touch,smellortaste--tosomethingwecannotknowdirectlythroughoursenses;instead,theyoftenrefertoanidea,aqualityoraconceptGeneralTermsSpecificTermscolorsblue,red,blackpersonsGeorgeWashington,AbrahamLincolneventstheSecondWorldWar,theWorldCuptreeselms,pines,oaksThesuperiorityofspecificwordsovergeneraltermswalk:stride,stroll,step,drag,stagger,totter,sway,limp,wandergood(food):tasty,nourishing,rich,wholesome,high-priced,fresh,substantialnice(person):kind,honest,just,generous,sympathetic,warm-hearted,selfless,honorablehouseorbuilding:mansion,villa,cottage,cabin,hut,shed,barn,warehouseworkman:butcher,cook,carpenter,plumber,shoe-maker,smithmasonscientist:physicist,chemist,biologist,geologist,etc.Nowputthefollowingwordsandexpressionsintotwogroups.SPECIFICandGENERAL:pinkblackuglybrownishbeautifullovely,bigactivenaughty1.70metersdark-blueplaintallhomelygreasysnow-whiteroundGeneralandSpecificStatementsGeneralStatementHedidwellinthecourse.SpecificStatementsl.BobbygotanAineconomics.2.PaulreceivedaBinAmericanHistory.3.SmithmadeaBinFreshmanComposition.WordsUsedtoDescribeHAIR,EYESandCOMPLEXION.palefairblacksallowruddybloodshotcurlylankfrizzypastybrightalmond-shapeddarklongrosyspottygingerbobbedWOMEN’SCLOTHING&ORNAMENTS,andMEN’SCLOTHING&ORNAMBNTSsuitcoatjacketT-shirtshirtblousescarftrouserstightscordsjeanssweaterskirtglassesbeltnecklacesocksbraceletblazeruniformoverallsglovestiestockingsIII.PrinciplesofWordPreferenceVague:WhenIwasyoung,wemovedfromoneareatoanother.Revised:WhenIwaseightyearsold,wemovedfromShanghaitoBeijing.Vague:Thepatient’swoundwastreated.Revised:Thenursebandagedthesoldier’sminorwound.Vague:Yourrelativeisnicetome.Revised:YourauntBettyalwaysstopsandtalkstomewhenshemeetsmeinthestreet.Vague:Johnisagoodstudent.Revised:Incollege,Johnhasbeenrewardedascholarshipoverfiveyears.IV.SuggestionsforChoosingConcreteandSpecificWordsl.Usethemostspecificwordyoucantodescribesomething.2.Verbsareamongthemostexpressivewordsinlanguage.Usingaverbthatmostvividlydescribesanactioncanbringasentencetolife.Weakverbs:Themandidbadlyinfrontofalargeaudience.Weakverbs:Idon’tcarefornoodlesandchoosenottoeatthem.Weakverbs:Theboywalkedintotheclassroom.3.Usewordsthatareclearandappropriateforthetopic.Don’tusewordsthataren’tcommoninconversation,andinparticular,don’tchoosebigwordstoimpressthereadersratherthantocommunicateideasclearly.Bigverbs:Johndisplayedanelementofdelightovertheacquisitionofastereosystemofunquestionablequality.4.Wheneverpossible,showthereaderssomethinginsteadoftellingthemaboutit.Telling:Wehadfunatthebeach.Revised:LastSundaynightwebarbecuedhamburgersatSagamoreBeach,playedvolleyball,andthensataroundsingingandtellingghostTelling:Vikki’sroomisarealsight.Revised:ThefloorofVicki’sroomisstrewnwithsodabottles,dirtylaundry,oldmagazines,andtheremnantsofseveraluneatencoffeecakes.Telling:Matthewputupagoodfightagainstthebully.Revised:Matthewbloodedthebully’sfaceandknockedhimdowntwicebeforegettingknockedout.General:Itisoftenwindyanddustyhereinspring.Specific:Inspringthereisoftenaverystrongnorthwestwind.Itcarriessomuchfinedustwithitthatsometimesthesunbecomesobscure.Thereisnoescapefromthefinedust;itgetsintoyoureyes,yourears,yournostrils,andyourhair.Itgoesthroughthecracksofclosedwindowsandcoversyourdesksandchairs.General:Studentsdomanyinterestingthingsafterclasses.Specific:Everymorningandafternoonthesportsfieldsarealivewithenergeticstudents.Footballandbasketballmatches,volleyball,andbadminton,track-trainingandgymnasticsareallinfullswing.Eventhealleywaysunderthetreesandaroundtheflowerbedsprovideenoughspaceforenthusiaststopractise.Throughthewindowscomesthepitter-patterofping-pongballs,thesoundofsongsandmusic,orlaughteranddiscussion.V.ExercisesDirections:Underlinetheletterofthemostspecificitemineachnumberedgroupbelow.Consultyourdictionaryforthemeaningsofunfamiliarterms.Example:a)foodb)carrotsc)vegetable1.a)dessertb)lemoniceboxpiec)pie2.a)bluejeansb)clothesc)pants3.a)NorthAmericab)Newjerseyc)UnitedStates4.a)mammalsb)animalsc)mice5.a)automobileb)Fordc)transportation6.a)”TheLottery”b)literaturec)shortstory7.a)catsb)animalsc)lions8.a)silverwareb)saladforkc)fork9.a)poultryb)livestockc)ducks10.a)rosesb)plantsc)flowersDirections:Belowisalistofspecificterms.Foreachonewriteageneralterm,consultyourdictionaryforanywordyoudonotknow,Example:lbluecolor1.elm2.oxygen3.Asia4.chicken5.diamond6.bacon7.ant8.Atlantic9.skirt10.desk11.cotton12.Ave.Maria13.Chevrolet14.canoe15.poemUsemorespecificandconcretewordsforthoseitalicized.1.Ihadanawfultimeatthedancingpa