Watching television can effectively improve one's English skills. It can boost vocabulary through shows with subtitles and repeated exposure to words. Listening comprehension also grows as familiarity with pronunciation increases. Structuring TV viewing into an daily hour-long session for a few weeks should noticeably advance vocabulary and listening abilities.

1. Essay Structure
(based on paragraph structure)
Teachers: use this slide show after doing the
corresponding paragraph activity (DOC file).
Created by Rebecca Soble, Fall 2010, updated Spring 2013

2. REMEMBER THE PARAGRAPH?
• Topic sentence
• Supporting sentence A
– Detail sentence A1
– Detail sentence A2
• Supporting sentence B
– Detail sentence B1
– Detail sentence B2
• Concluding Sentence
• Closing Comment (optional)

3. Each part of the paragraph
becomes a whole paragraph
• Topic Sentence
becomes…
• Introduction Paragraph, with:
– Background Information
– THESIS STATEMENT (last)
• Each supporting
section becomes…
• Concluding
Sentence
becomes…
• A whole paragraph, with:
– Topic Sentence
– Supporting Ideas/Details
– Conclusion (optional)
• Concluding paragraph, with:
– Conclusion that rephrases the
THESIS STATEMENT
– Closing Comment

4. Do you remember this paragraph?
Watching television is a good way to improve one’s English.
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching
television. One source of vocabulary is news programs, which
provide vocabulary about current events and world issues.
Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs
because they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by
following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn
common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these
phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways
to learn these phrases. Secondly, it is possible to improve your
listening skills by watching television. For example, music video
programs can help your listening. Even though you may not
understand everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the
sounds of English and the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the
more you listen, the more you will understand. In short, TV helps us
to improve our English in an enjoyable way. (169 words)

5. Here it is again, broken into its parts.
• Topic Sentence: Watching television is a good way to improve one’s English.
• First Supporting Sentence and supporting details: First of all, you can learn new
vocabulary words by watching television. One source of vocabulary is news
programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues.
Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because
they often show the words on the screen. In addition, by following series
such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken
expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases aren’t usually
taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases.
• Second Supporting Sentence, and supporting details: Secondly, it is possible to
improve your listening skills by watching television. For example, music video
programs can help your listening. Even though you may not understand
everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the sounds of English and
the pronunciation of words. Naturally, the more you listen, the more you will
understand.
• Conclusion: In short, TV helps us to improve our English in an enjoyable way.

6. Let’s make the Topic Sentence into an
Introductory Paragraph
• First, start GENERAL.
If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it.
• Then, gradually get more specific.
Many people take courses, try to learn from books, or even
pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the
best ways to learn English is from TV.
• Your background info should be ONLY 2-3 sentences.
• Finally, end with your THESIS STATEMENT, which
clearly states the 2-3 ideas you will include in your
paragraph.
Watching television can help improve both your vocabulary
and your listening skills.

7. Compare them side-by-side
Original Topic Sentence
Watching television is a
good way to improve one’s
English.
New Introduction
If you want to learn English, there
are many ways to do it. Many
people take courses, try to learn
from books, or even pay for
expensive private tutoring. But
actually, one of the best ways to
learn English is from TV. Watching
television can help improve both
your vocabulary and your
listening skills.

8. It MUST BE CLEAR from your THESIS
STATEMENT exactly what topics
you will discuss in your essay.
Watching television can help
improve both your vocabulary
and your listening skills.
So your two body paragraphs will be about
vocabulary (1) and listening (2).

9. Make the 1st
section into a body paragraph.
• First, start with a topic sentence, WITH A SIGNAL PHRASE.
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television.
• Then, add the details.
One source of vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about
current events and world issues. Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary
easily from news programs because they often show the words on the
screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”,
you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since
these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to
learn these phrases.
• This is your opportunity to write more. You should include more details or
examples than you would in a paragraph.
Another source of vocabulary on television is documentary programs.
Because these focus on a particular topic, you can learn a lot of vocabulary
about that topic. It can be especially helpful if the documentary also has
subtitles.

10. Compare them side-by-side
Original Supporting Section
First of all, you can learn new
vocabulary words by watching
television. One source of
vocabulary is news programs, which
provide vocabulary about current
events and world issues.
Furthermore, you can learn
vocabulary easily from news
programs because they often show
the words on the screen. In
addition, by following series such as
“Lost” and “The Simpsons”, you can
learn common spoken expressions
and English slang phrases. Since
these phrases aren’t usually taught
in school, this is one of the best
ways to learn these phrases. (86)
New Body Paragraph
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by
watching television. One source of vocabulary is
news programs, which provide vocabulary about
current events and world issues. Furthermore, you
can learn vocabulary easily from news programs
because they often show the words on the screen.
In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and
“The Simpsons”, you can learn common spoken
expressions and English slang phrases. Since
these phrases aren’t usually taught in school, this
is one of the best ways to learn these phrases.
Another source of vocabulary on television is
documentary programs. Because these focus on a
particular topic, you can learn a lot of vocabulary
about that topic. It can be especially helpful if the
documentary also has subtitles. (123)

11. Let’s make the concluding sentence and
comment into a complete paragraph.
• Rephrase the THESIS STATEMENT, USE a CONCLUSION
SIGNAL PHRASE.
– Watching television can help improve both your
vocabulary and your listening skills.
– In brief, your vocabulary and listening skills are two parts of
English that can be developed by watching television.
• Add a closing comment.
– If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice
improvement within a few weeks.

12. Compare them side-by-side
Original Conclusion
In short, TV helps us to
improve our English in an
enjoyable way.
New Concluding Paragraph
In brief, watching news, TV series,
and music videos are great ways to
develop different skills with English.
If you do it for at least an hour
every day, you should notice
improvement within a few weeks.
It will be especially helpful if you
take notes while you watch, and try
to practice what you learn with
other people as well.

13. Let’s look at the whole thing!
If you want to learn English, there are many ways to do it. Many people take courses,
try to learn from books, or even pay for expensive private tutoring. But actually, one of the
best ways to learn English is from TV. Watching television can help improve both your
vocabulary and your listening skills.
First of all, you can learn new vocabulary words by watching television. One source of
vocabulary is news programs, which provide vocabulary about current events and world issues.
Furthermore, you can learn vocabulary easily from news programs because they often show
the words on the screen. In addition, by following series such as “Lost” and “The Simpsons”,
you can learn common spoken expressions and English slang phrases. Since these phrases
aren’t usually taught in school, this is one of the best ways to learn these phrases. Another
source of vocabulary on television is documentary programs. Because these focus on a
particular topic, you can learn a lot of vocabulary about that topic. It can be especially helpful if
the documentary also has subtitles.
Secondly, it is possible to improve your listening skills by watching television. For
example, music video programs can help your listening. Even though you may not understand
everything you hear, you can get more familiar with the sounds of English and the
pronunciation of words. Another key to learning listening with television is to use subtitles. It
can be good to watch the same show twice, once with subtitles and the again without them, to
see how much you can hear once you know what to expect. Naturally, the more you listen, the
more you will understand.
In brief, your vocabulary and listening skills are two parts of English that can be
developed by watching television. If you do it for at least an hour every day, you should notice
improvement within a few weeks. (312)