Prof. Richard Hamm
EC Sample Paragraph B
Word Count: 281
The Benefits of Mandatory Chapel Attendance
Many Handong students complain about mandatory chapel attendance, but I believe there are three benefits of attending chapel: our grateful response to the God who has blessed us, the building of community among faculty and students, and finally, our own personal growth in faith which chapel attendance can provide. First, worship is a command from God and forms the most obvious centerpiece of our life of faith. Because we enjoy so many benefits and blessings from God, we should make time each week (each day!) to thank God for health, for freedom, for grace, for peace. Often we are so busy asking God for things that we forget to say “thank you.” Secondly, worshipping together builds community. A Christian environment cannot survive without regular times of gathering for worship where we sing, we pray, we hear God’s word, we confess, and we are empowered. Christian community needs worship like humans need air. Finally, community worship time not only strengthens our bonds with each other, but also deepens our relationship with God. God wants and waits to hear from us. God desires our total love and trust of him as our God, as our Savior, as our Friend. No relationship can survive without regular interactions between people where we exchange words, desires, hopes, disappointments, and encouragement. While many may complain about the requirement that all Handong students attend chapel regularly, mandatory attendance has at least three benefits: it gives us an opportunity to thank God, it provides us with fellowship within the Handong community, and it deepens our faith with God. These benefits form the basis of Handong’s life together, and without them we would not be a Christian university.
Sample Paragraph B: Structure Questions
Sample Paragraph B: Skill Questions
Sample Paragraph B: Content Questions
EC Sample Paragraph B
Word Count: 281
The Benefits of Mandatory Chapel Attendance
Many Handong students complain about mandatory chapel attendance, but I believe there are three benefits of attending chapel: our grateful response to the God who has blessed us, the building of community among faculty and students, and finally, our own personal growth in faith which chapel attendance can provide. First, worship is a command from God and forms the most obvious centerpiece of our life of faith. Because we enjoy so many benefits and blessings from God, we should make time each week (each day!) to thank God for health, for freedom, for grace, for peace. Often we are so busy asking God for things that we forget to say “thank you.” Secondly, worshipping together builds community. A Christian environment cannot survive without regular times of gathering for worship where we sing, we pray, we hear God’s word, we confess, and we are empowered. Christian community needs worship like humans need air. Finally, community worship time not only strengthens our bonds with each other, but also deepens our relationship with God. God wants and waits to hear from us. God desires our total love and trust of him as our God, as our Savior, as our Friend. No relationship can survive without regular interactions between people where we exchange words, desires, hopes, disappointments, and encouragement. While many may complain about the requirement that all Handong students attend chapel regularly, mandatory attendance has at least three benefits: it gives us an opportunity to thank God, it provides us with fellowship within the Handong community, and it deepens our faith with God. These benefits form the basis of Handong’s life together, and without them we would not be a Christian university.
Sample Paragraph B: Structure Questions
- Where is the topic sentence?
- What is the topic of this paragraph?
- How many supporting points are discussed in this paragraph?
- What are the supporting points of this paragraph?
- Look at the sentences that start each supporting point of the paragraph. What transition words tell the reader that there is a new idea?
- How long is the conclusion section of this paragraph?
- Look at the supporting points listed in the topic sentence. Next, find the supporting points in the conclusion. How are they the same? How are they different?
Sample Paragraph B: Skill Questions
- Read the two bolded sentences in the paragraph. For each one, decide if the sentence is simple, compound, or complex.
- Circle any words you don’t know. You may add these words to your vocabulary workbook.
Sample Paragraph B: Content Questions
- Do you agree with the writer of this paragraph? What do you think the writer’s motive was as he wrote this paragraph?
- What do you think of mandatory chapel?
- What do you do during mandatory chapel? (Be honest!)
- In your opinion, what does it mean that HGU is a Christian university?
- If you don’t think mandatory chapel is a good idea, what changes do you think would make it better? What suggestions do you have?