CHAPTER 4

Jobs and Professions

Genre Focus: Narrative
Writing Product
An autobiographical narrative paragraph
Writing Process
 Learn effective ways to describe accomplishments.
 Use a spider map to organize information.
 Limit information in a paragraph.
 Write a concluding sentence.
 Use the simple past and the present perfect tenses.
 Use the present perfect continuous.
 Use demonstratives to unify a paragraph.

“The secret of achievement is to hold a picture

of a successful outcome in mind”
 Connecting to the Topic
1. What accomplishment does the photograph show?
2. What has been your greatest accomplishment In life? How
did you feel at the time?
3. What are some things you would like to accomplish?
Part 1 Before You Write
1 Discussing Accomplishments Following are some sample
instructions for a college or job application. Below are some
examples of conversations people might have about answering
such questions. In small groups, discuss the reactions of the
students in the pictures below.
 What have you accomplished in the past two years?
 Tell us something about yourself that will help us know you
better.
 Write a short personal history.
 Write about the most difficult thing you have ever done.
 Discuss your duties in your previous or present job.
2 Discussing A appropriateness of Topics In small groups,
discuss the following questions: In your country, is it impolite
to talk about your successes in an interview? Are there any
topics you should avoid (for example, religion or politics)?
Why should you avoid them?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ambitious >< unambitious
Sociable >< unsociable
Creative >< uncreative
Disciplined >< undisciplined
Enthusiastic >< unenthusiastic
Hardworking >< lazy
Content >< jealous
Selfless >< selfish
Easy-going >< difficult
Aggressive >< peaceful
A good sense of humor >< gloomy
Self-confident >< shy
Agreeable >< disagreeable
Humorous >< moody
Trustworthy >< untrustworthy
Sympathetic >< cold
Sensitive >< insensitive
Generous >< mean
Responsible >< irresponsible
Optimistic >< pessimistic
4 Writing Antonyms On a separate piece of paper, write
antonyms for the adjectives listed in Activity 3. Use a
dictionary to check your work.
One way to write about yourself is to state directly that you
have a specific quality or talent, and then illustrate it with a
specific example in order to show that you have that quality
or talent.
Another way to write about yourself is to imply—that is,
suggest Indirectly—that you have a certain quality or talent
by describing an accomplishment that illustrates that quality
or talent. For example, you might want to imply that you have
qualities such as Intelligence, honesty, creativity, or humor, if
you show how you solved a difficult problem, for example,
the reader can make the Inference that you are smart and
creative.
5 Evaluating Accomplishments In small groups, choose three
of the people described below and on page 69, and discuss
how their experience and accomplishments show that they
have characteristics that are important to succeed in work
and school. Name those characteristics.
1. Miguel’s mother works afternoons, so Miguel has taken care of
his younger brother after school for the last four years.
2. Paolo taught himself how to play the guitar and plays in a band.
3. Greta works as a salesclerk in her uncle’s store.
4. Shenner has been studying English for the last nine months with
money he got from a scholarship for being the top student in his
class.
5. Yoshi likes to create computer games.
6. Ana is a cyclist and takes long trips on her bicycle.
7. Sophia has been raising three children for the last eight years.
8. All of Parvin’s friends tell her their problems.
1. Miguel’s mother works afternoons, so Miguel has
taken care of his younger brother after school for the last
four years.
2. Paolo taught himself how to play the guitar and plays
in a band.
3. Greta works as a salesclerk in her uncle’s store.
4. Shenner has been studying English for the last nine
months with money he got from a scholarship for being
the top student in his class.
5. Yoshi likes to create computer games.
6. Ana is a cyclist and takes long trips on her bicycle.
7. Sophia has been raising three children for the last
eight years.
8. All of Parvin’s friends tell her their problems.
6 Discussing Your Accomplishments In the same group, discuss one
or two accomplishments or experiences you could write about on a
job or college application form. How does the experience show you
have qualities that are important for success? Which qualities does
the experience illustrate?
7 Writing about Your Accomplishments Write notes about the
experience or accomplishment you think illustrates your best
qualities. Answer these questions:
1. What did you do?
2. What was difficult about the experience?
3. How did you face the difficulty?
4. What qualities does the experience show you have?
5. In what ways are these qualities important to succeeding in
school or work?
6. What did you accomplish through the experience?
Organizing Ideas
8 Anaiyzing a Grapnic Organizer Look at the spider map below,
which aspect(s) of the writer's life should this student write about
on a college application? Why?
9 Creating a Graphic Organizer Draw a spider map. use the
map above as a model. Choose four aspects of your life and
brainstorm your accomplishments for each section.
10 Limiting Information Below is a response to the prompt,
Describe an accomplishment that shows you have the
qualities needed to succeed in college. Read the paragraph,
and cross out any information you think the writer should
leave out. Share your ideas with a partner.
 I have many qualities that have made me a success
as a bike messenger. First of all, I have the ability to
persevere when there are difficulties. I also find math very
difficult, but I have a tutor now who has been a great help
to me. And bike messengers run into many difficulties. I
have had problems with drivers who almost run me over,
constant rain for weeks at a time, unreadable addresses,
and rude customers. I think the drivers in New York are the
worst in any city I have seen. In addition, my dedication to the
job has also served me well. I believe that you should do your
best at even the most routine jobs. For example, I work hard at
finding short cuts around the city. And I’m proud to say that
when a package needs to be delivered really quickly, my boss
always calls on me. Finally, my success as a bike messenger is
partly due to my sense of humor. Many times I have wanted to
quit, but I just try to laugh at the situation.
 I have many qualities that have made me a success
as a bike messenger. First of all, I have the ability to
persevere when there are difficulties. I also find math very
difficult, but I have a tutor now who has been a great help
to me. And bike messengers run into many difficulties. I
have had problems with drivers who almost run me over,
constant rain for weeks at a time, unreadable addresses,
and rude customers. I think the drivers in New York are the
worst in any city I have seen. In addition, my dedication to the
job has also served me well. I believe that you should do your
best at even the most routine jobs. For example, I work hard at
finding short cuts around the city. And I’m proud to say that
when a package needs to be delivered really quickly, my boss
always calls on me. Finally, my success as a bike messenger is
partly due to my sense of humor. Many times I have wanted to
quit, but I just try to laugh at the situation.
11 Choosing the Best Topic Sentences The following are topic
sentences for paragraphs about an accomplishment. Discuss
them In small groups. Which ones do you like? Why?


1. I have always danced just for fun, but I recently realized that
dancing has helped me develop three important qualities.

2. I guess a lot of people take care of their children, so it isn’t very
special.

3. Two years ago, my family and I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada,
and my life changed dramatically.

4. A very important thing has been happening.
Although I was born in Vietnam, I have been living in a small town
5.
in Texas for the last three years, and the two cultures have affected
me in many important ways.

6. My relationship with my children has developed my creativity,
discipline, and sense of humor.
7. Last year I had a very bad experience.
8. I like to go swimming a lot.
12 Writing a Draft Topic Sentence write a draft topic sentence
for your paragraph.
13 Choosing the Best Concluding Sentences Discuss the
following concluding sentences In small groups. Which ones
are effective? why? Which ones are not? Why not?
1. I guess raising children isn’t easy for anyone.
2. I can never do things I don’t enjoy, but when I like
something, I work pretty hard at it.

3. I hope that my experience raising my own children will help
me be a better teacher.

4. I feel that I’ve experienced the best of both cultures, and I
hope to use this experience in my future work.

5. I never want to go through such a horrible experience
again.

6. Now I know that if I enjoy something and know it is
important, I can work really hard to make it a success.
14 Discussing Possible Concluding Sentence In small groups,
tell the other students what experience you are going to write
about. Discuss some possible concluding sentences you might
use.
Part 2 Developing Writing Skills

Developing Cohesion and Clarity

1 Completing Sentences with the Correct Verb Form Complete the
sentences below with the simple past or present perfect form of
the verb in parentheses
Examples
(You live in Tokyo now.) I __________
have lived (live) in Tokyo for three years.
(You live in New York now.) I___________
lived (live) in Cairo for three
years.
1. My father _______________
has come (come) to visit me once a year since
1997.
2. My mother _________________(come)
has come to visit me every year
since I arrived.
3. I__________________(have)
have had two jobs this year.
4. I__________________(have)
had two jobs last year.
5. I__________________(learn)
learned a lot when I was waiting to
immigrate.
6. I _______________
have learned (learn) a lot in my life.
7. I ________________
have worked (work) in this store for a month now.
worked
8. I ___________________ (work) in that store for a month, but
then I quit.
took
9. Kelsey _____________________ (take) dance classes last year.
has taken
10. She _______________________ (take) dance classes for one
year.
11. Rashad _____________________
has been (be) to Mexico City many
times since 2000.
12. He ____________________
went (go) to Morocco two years ago.
2 Completing Sentences with the Correct Verb Form Complete the
sentences with the present perfect or present perfect continuous
from of the verbs in parentheses.
Examples
I __________________
have known (know) about this for a long time.
I ________________________(think)
have been thinking about this since yesterday.
1. I_________________(work)
have worked at many different restaurants,
but the Starlight Diner is my favorite.
worked
2. Has he ever_________________ (work) in a restaurant?
haven‘t written
3. I___________________(not write) my essay yet.
4. They_________________(paint)
have been painting the house for a month,
and they still aren’t finished.
has filled out
5. She ________________already__________________(fill
out) her application.
6. She ____________________(fill
has been filling out out) her application for the
last four hours.
7. Marco is always late. I___________________(wait)
have waited for him
many times.
8. He’s late again today.
I_________________________(wait)
have been waiting for him for two hours!
have been doing
9. I___________________(do) calligraphy for four year's now.
3 bbComplete the paragraphs below with the simple past, present
perfect, or present perfect continuous forms of the verbs in
parentheses. Sometimes both present perfect and present perfect
continuous are correct.
I (1) ______________
have liked (like) to write since I (2) was
____________
(be) five years old. When I first (3) _________________
held (hold)
a pen in my hand and carefully (4) _________________
drew
(draw) the beautiful Japanese characters, I (5) ____________
knew
wanted
(know) I (6) ________________ (want) to be a writer. Ever
since that day, I (7) ________________
have written (write) in my free
time. When I (8) ___________________
came (come) to Miami six
didn’t realize
months ago to study English, I (9) _________________ (not
realize) I would fell so frustrated. I (10)__________________
have had
(have) the thoughts of a 19-year-old buut the writing skills of
a three-year-old!
 Although I (11) ____________________
have studied (study) hard
since that day, I still (12) ___________________
haven’t written ( not write)
an essay in English I can be proud of. This experience (13)
__________________
has been (be) frustrating, but I (14)
___________________
have been learning (learn) a lot from it. For six months, I
have been experiencing
(15)___________________________ (experience) the world
through the words of another culture. I (16)
____________________
have been learning (learn) different ways of
communicating and can use these new methods in my writing
in Japanese.
 My life was very easy until I was 15 years old. My family
was rich, and I never worried about anything. Then one day
my father left us. We sold our beautiful house and moved to a
small apartment. My mother had to go to work in an office.
My brothers and sisters and I had to leave private school and
began attending public school. I was extremely lonely and
unhappy. I couldn't make friends at the new school. Everyone
thought I was a snob. My life changed when I got an after
school job at a small bakery in town. The owner, Mrs. Garcia,
took a special interest in me. She taught me all about baking,
running a small business, and life in general. Two years ago,
Mrs. Garcia retired. Since that time, I have been running the
bakery on my own. It hasn't been easy to run a business and
attend school part-time. I've had to work very hard, but it has
been worth it. I can truthfully say that I've been experiencing
an easy life and a hard life and, in many ways, the hard life is
better.
4 D Demonstratives Underline the phrases with demonstratives in
Activity 3 on page 76. What words or ideas do they refer to?
 5 Completing Sentences with Demonstratives Complete the
sentences below with this, that, these, or those.
1. I first began to play soccer when I was four years old, and I have
that
spent some of my happiest moments since _____________ time on
the soccer field.
this
2. A very important holiday in China is New Year’s Day. On _________
day, we have a big feast.
that
3. My favorite aunt died recently.______________experience was
sad and frightening because no one close to me had ever died before.
However, it has made me see life differently.
4. I have learned French, Hungarian, and Spanish, and I’m now
learning English. I love the different qualities of each of ____________
these
languages.
5. When I was a teenager, I had to work nights and weekends to help
my mother pay for food, rent, and other necessities ______________
. Those
years were very difficult for us, but they taught me to be a hard
worker.
During those years

For this reason

In this city

Because of
those factors

In this school
Part 3 Revising and Editing

Revising for Content and Editing for Form

 I have been taking an English class for the last six months.
This has been a rewarding but difficult change in my life. Before
that, I spent all my time raising my family, a daughter who is now
five and a son who is three. My daughter’s name is Karen. She is in
kindergarten, and my son now goes to day care. Because I did not
speak much English, my focus was my home and my neighborhood,
where I felt comfortable and could speak Spanish. I spoke only
Spanish at home and in my neighborhood. When I needed to take
my children to the doctor or speak with my landlord, my younger
sisters translated for me. One of them would go with me and speak
to the doctor in English and then tell me what he said in Spanish.
Now I have become more independent. I have learned a lot from
my classmates, and I have also realized that as a mother I have had
many experiences that they are interested in. Now my sisters tell
me to speak to the doctor or landlord myself. I go to stores where I
have to speak English, and I speak English in the clinic where I take
my son to the doctor. This was very difficult at first, but I have been
feeling more and more comfortable about my ability to
communicate with other English speakers. I hope to use this new
confidence to get a job.
 I have been taking an English class for the last six months.
This has been a rewarding but difficult change in my life. Before
that, I spent all my time raising my family, a daughter who is now
five and a son who is three. My daughter’s name is Karen. She is in
kindergarten, and my son now goes to day care. Because I did not
speak much English, my focus was my home and my neighborhood,
where I felt comfortable and could speak Spanish. I spoke only
Spanish at home and in my neighborhood. When I needed to take
my children to the doctor or speak with my landlord, my younger
sisters translated for me. One of them would go with me and speak
to the doctor in English and then tell me what he said in Spanish.
2 Revising for Content Review the rules for capitalization in
Appendix 2. correct the capitalization in the sentences below. If the
sentences is correct , write no mistake next to it.
1. Because my Mother doesn’t speak English, I have to translate for
her.
2. When I first moved to the southwest, I got a job as a Salesperson.
3. I have lived in miami, Los Angeles, and dallas.
4. I received a Scholarship from Grant college in the Spring and
started classes in September.
5. This semester I am taking Math, physics, english, and
Government.
 ANSWER KEY
1. Because my mother doesn’t speak English, I have to translate for
her.
2. When I first moved to the Southwest, I got a job as a salesperson.
3. I have lived in Miami, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
4. I received a scholarship from Grant College in the spring and
started classes in September.
5. This semester I am taking Math, Physics, English, and
Government.
1 Correcting Verb Forms All of the underlined words and phrases
in the following paragraph contain errors. Read through the entire
paragraph. Then read it again and correct the mistakes.
Some children play sports; others collect stamps. However,
since I has given young, my hobby was owning my own business. I
has given very good in mathematics, so when I was having fifteen, I
start a tutoring business. Every afternoon after school I am teaching
math to younger children. I had fun, and the students did too. That
experience has given me confidence. In 2005, I have entered the
university and started another business. I taught businesspeople
how to use different computer programs. That business was being
very successful. At first, I am spending all of my free time at my
business. That is a mistake. The first year, I failed three classes. That
showed me that you can’t do everything alone. Then I have hire
two assistants. Now my business was doing well and my classes is
too.
 ANSWER KEY

Some children play sports; others collect stamps. However,

since I was young, my hobby was owning my own business. I gave
very good in mathematics, so when I was fifteen, I started a
tutoring business. Every afternoon after school I taught math to
younger children. I had fun, and the students did too. That
experience gave me confidence. In 2005, I entered the university
and started another business. I taught businesspeople how to use
different computer programs. That business was very successful. At
first, I spent all of my free time at my business. That was a mistake.
The first year, I failed three classes. That showed me that you can’t
do everything alone. Then I hired two assistants. Now my business
has been doing well and my classes have too.
Evaluating Your Writing
4 Using a Rubric Read the rubric below with your class. Then use
the rubric to score your paragraph.
Part 4 Expansion Activities