“Memory is the seamstress, and a capricious one at that.”
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
20191226
Successful Writing - Proficiency
Unit 6 Discursive Essays
For and Against Short Essays
A "for and against" essay is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view. A formal construct where both sides of the argument are considered. You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively and in equal detail.
Plan/Outline
Introduction
Paragraph 1 : Clearly state the topic, without giving your opinion.
Main Body
Paragraph 2-3 : Arguments for and justifications, reasons and/or examples.
Paragraph 4-5 : Arguments against and justifications, reasons and/or examples.
Conclusion
Final Paragraph : Balanced and considered reflection and/or personal opinion.
In the first paragraph, you should state the topic and you may include one or more of the following techniques.
In the last paragraph, you should state your opinion and/or give a balanced consideration of the topic and you may include one or more of the following techniques.
Unit 6 Discursive Essays
For and Against Short Essays
A "for and against" essay is a formal piece of writing in which a topic is considered from opposing points of view. A formal construct where both sides of the argument are considered. You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively and in equal detail.
Plan/Outline
Introduction
Paragraph 1 : Clearly state the topic, without giving your opinion.
Main Body
Paragraph 2-3 : Arguments for and justifications, reasons and/or examples.
Paragraph 4-5 : Arguments against and justifications, reasons and/or examples.
Conclusion
Final Paragraph : Balanced and considered reflection and/or personal opinion.
In the first paragraph, you should state the topic and you may include one or more of the following techniques.
- Make reference to an unusual or striking idea/situation/scene
- Address the reader directly
- Start with a quotation or thought-provoking statement
In the last paragraph, you should state your opinion and/or give a balanced consideration of the topic and you may include one or more of the following techniques.
- Finish with a quotation
- Ask a rhetorical question
- Give the reader something to consider
Do:
- Use a formal, impersonal style.
- Use topic sentences to introduce the subject of each paragraph.
- Write well developed paragraphs giving reasons and examples
- Use generalisations (e.g. most developed countries)
- Use sequencing (e.g. firstly, secondly) and linking words/phrases (e.g. however, although)
- Make reference to other sources
- Use quotations
- Use topic sentences to introduce the subject of each paragraph.
- Write well developed paragraphs giving reasons and examples
- Use generalisations (e.g. most developed countries)
- Use sequencing (e.g. firstly, secondly) and linking words/phrases (e.g. however, although)
- Make reference to other sources
- Use quotations
Don't:
- Don't use short forms or informal colloquial language
- Don't use very emotional language
- Don't express personal opinions too strongly
- Don't use over-generalisation (e.g. all politicians are corrupt)
- Don't refer blindly to stats without accurate source
- Don't use cliches
- Don't use personal examples
Useful Vocabulary:
One major advantage of, A further advantage of, In addition, On the other hand, Moreover, Finally ...
- Don't use very emotional language
- Don't express personal opinions too strongly
- Don't use over-generalisation (e.g. all politicians are corrupt)
- Don't refer blindly to stats without accurate source
- Don't use cliches
- Don't use personal examples
Useful Vocabulary:
One major advantage of, A further advantage of, In addition, On the other hand, Moreover, Finally ...
20191116
Vocabulary Unit 21
Going to extremes
2A 2f Language in context - Sounds
Eerie
strange and mysterious and a bit frightening
Deafening
so loud you can't hear anything
Hammering
to make a sound by repeatedly hitting something hard
Whining
to complain in a high, unpleasant voice
Gurgle
the sound an empty stomach makes
Roar
a long, loud, deep noise
Thump
the sound of a heartbeat
Whisper
the sound made by using only a soft breath to speak
Decibels
units to measure sound loudness
2A 5a Vocabulary - Multi-word verbs: Social interaction
Fitting in
"Talking is a way of fitting in, y'know, a way of showing that we belong to a social group"
Come across
"How would I come across to other people?"
Cut off
"... people go into some kind of retreat to cut themselves off from the world"
Slip out
"... when someone held a door open for me and a little 'thank you' slipped out"
Relate to
"The most interesting thing was the way other people related to me"
Bombard with
"She bombarded me with questions"
Go on about
"He always goes on about something when I go and see him"
Run down
"He usually likes to run down some politician or other"
Bring out
"... my silence brought out the best in people"
Hold back
"I wanted to, but I had to hold myself back"
2B 3a Vocabulary - Verbs of movement
Soaring
"you'll go soaring inside a vertical wind tunnel"
Whizzing
"whizzing over ski slopes"
Rolling
"rolling downhill at great speed"
Zooming
"prepare to zoom down a steep slope"
Plunging
"plunging 18000 feet through the air"
Hurtling
"hurtling down a volcanic slope"
Whooshing
"whooshing down whitewater rapids"
... tbc
Going to extremes
2A 2f Language in context - Sounds
Eerie
strange and mysterious and a bit frightening
Deafening
so loud you can't hear anything
Hammering
to make a sound by repeatedly hitting something hard
Whining
to complain in a high, unpleasant voice
Gurgle
the sound an empty stomach makes
Roar
a long, loud, deep noise
Thump
the sound of a heartbeat
Whisper
the sound made by using only a soft breath to speak
Decibels
units to measure sound loudness
2A 5a Vocabulary - Multi-word verbs: Social interaction
Fitting in
"Talking is a way of fitting in, y'know, a way of showing that we belong to a social group"
Come across
"How would I come across to other people?"
Cut off
"... people go into some kind of retreat to cut themselves off from the world"
Slip out
"... when someone held a door open for me and a little 'thank you' slipped out"
Relate to
"The most interesting thing was the way other people related to me"
Bombard with
"She bombarded me with questions"
Go on about
"He always goes on about something when I go and see him"
Run down
"He usually likes to run down some politician or other"
Bring out
"... my silence brought out the best in people"
Hold back
"I wanted to, but I had to hold myself back"
2B 3a Vocabulary - Verbs of movement
Soaring
"you'll go soaring inside a vertical wind tunnel"
Whizzing
"whizzing over ski slopes"
Rolling
"rolling downhill at great speed"
Zooming
"prepare to zoom down a steep slope"
Plunging
"plunging 18000 feet through the air"
Hurtling
"hurtling down a volcanic slope"
Whooshing
"whooshing down whitewater rapids"
... tbc
20191112
Vocabulary Unit 1
Language
1A 3a Vocabulary - Language learning
pick up
learn something quite easily by being exposed to it
"she picked up the language dish by dish"
brush up
improve your knowledge of something you've partly forgotten
"Her career forced her to brush up her schoolgirl French"
grasp
understand something, especially something difficult
"grasp some of what they were saying"
rusty
less able because you are out of practice
"If I am away for a bit I'll get rusty"
1A 3b Vocabulary Focus a - Language learning
... able to acquire language without much formal training.
I really struggle with English idioms ...
... not sure if I'll ever attain a native speaker level of competence ...
... he quickly got accustomed to the sound of the language.
I have brushed up my Arabic ...
Penny is lucky, she has an ear for languages.
... he found he could hold a conversation in Italian ...
Unless I put a new piece of language into practice immediately, I forget it.
You need to keep at it if you want to succeed.
... and really immersed herself in the language and culture.
It's easy to pick up phrases like 'hello' ...
... I found it difficult to get to grips with the pronunciation.
I am sure I am rusty.
1A 3b Vocabulary Focus b - Language learning
hold a conversation
grasp new ideas
get accustomed to
put into practice
acquire a new language
attain a level of competence
1A 5a Vocabulary - Noun forms
reluctant: reluctance
necessary: necessity
motivate: motivation
expose: exposure
1A 5b Vocabulary Focus d - Noun forms
adjective/verb/noun
1. interactive / to interact / interaction
2. distracted distracting / to distract / distraction
3. dedicated / to dedicate / dedication
4. limited / to limit / limitation
5. motivated motivating / to motivate / motivation
6. necessary / to necessitate / necessity
7. capable / - / capability
8. mental / - / mentality
9. reluctant / - / reluctance
10. interfering / to interfere / interference
11. competent / - / competency
12. literate / - / literature
13. exposed / to expose / exposure
14. - / to acquire / acquisition
15. insightful / - / insight
16. prestigious / - / prestige
17. disciplined / to discipline / discipline
1B 3a Vocabulary - Describing changes
a. the speed of a change: a steady shift, a rapid rise, gradually giving way to
b. that a change is in progress: ongoing
c. how easy a change is to see: barely perceptible, entirely unnoticed, noticeable, subtle
d. about something that is decreasing: gradually giving way to, on the way out
e. how big or important a change is: hugely significant, grown substantially, subtle
f. that a change is long-term or permanent: lasting
g. about something that is increasing: on the increase, taking hold, grown substantially, a rapid rise
1D 3b Writing skills - Expressing opinions
Disagreement
- That simply isn't true
- That's easy to say, but ...
- How can you possibly say that?
- That's a load of rubbish
- That's nonsense
- You are missing the point
- There is no way
- That doesn't make sense
Agreement
- That makes a lot of sense
- You've hit the nail on the head
- I would go along with that
- You're spot on
Uncertainty
- I've got mixed feelings about that
- I'm in two minds about this
Partial agreement/disagreement
- You've got a point, but ...
- It's true that ... but ...
- On the other hand, I do feel ...
- I agree up to a point
read-through recording
Language
1A 3a Vocabulary - Language learning
pick up
learn something quite easily by being exposed to it
"she picked up the language dish by dish"
brush up
improve your knowledge of something you've partly forgotten
"Her career forced her to brush up her schoolgirl French"
grasp
understand something, especially something difficult
"grasp some of what they were saying"
rusty
less able because you are out of practice
"If I am away for a bit I'll get rusty"
1A 3b Vocabulary Focus a - Language learning
... able to acquire language without much formal training.
I really struggle with English idioms ...
... not sure if I'll ever attain a native speaker level of competence ...
... he quickly got accustomed to the sound of the language.
I have brushed up my Arabic ...
Penny is lucky, she has an ear for languages.
... he found he could hold a conversation in Italian ...
Unless I put a new piece of language into practice immediately, I forget it.
You need to keep at it if you want to succeed.
... and really immersed herself in the language and culture.
It's easy to pick up phrases like 'hello' ...
... I found it difficult to get to grips with the pronunciation.
I am sure I am rusty.
1A 3b Vocabulary Focus b - Language learning
hold a conversation
grasp new ideas
get accustomed to
put into practice
acquire a new language
attain a level of competence
1A 5a Vocabulary - Noun forms
reluctant: reluctance
necessary: necessity
motivate: motivation
expose: exposure
1A 5b Vocabulary Focus d - Noun forms
adjective/verb/noun
1. interactive / to interact / interaction
2. distracted distracting / to distract / distraction
3. dedicated / to dedicate / dedication
4. limited / to limit / limitation
5. motivated motivating / to motivate / motivation
6. necessary / to necessitate / necessity
7. capable / - / capability
8. mental / - / mentality
9. reluctant / - / reluctance
10. interfering / to interfere / interference
11. competent / - / competency
12. literate / - / literature
13. exposed / to expose / exposure
14. - / to acquire / acquisition
15. insightful / - / insight
16. prestigious / - / prestige
17. disciplined / to discipline / discipline
1B 3a Vocabulary - Describing changes
a. the speed of a change: a steady shift, a rapid rise, gradually giving way to
b. that a change is in progress: ongoing
c. how easy a change is to see: barely perceptible, entirely unnoticed, noticeable, subtle
d. about something that is decreasing: gradually giving way to, on the way out
e. how big or important a change is: hugely significant, grown substantially, subtle
f. that a change is long-term or permanent: lasting
g. about something that is increasing: on the increase, taking hold, grown substantially, a rapid rise
1D 3b Writing skills - Expressing opinions
Disagreement
- That simply isn't true
- That's easy to say, but ...
- How can you possibly say that?
- That's a load of rubbish
- That's nonsense
- You are missing the point
- There is no way
- That doesn't make sense
Agreement
- That makes a lot of sense
- You've hit the nail on the head
- I would go along with that
- You're spot on
Uncertainty
- I've got mixed feelings about that
- I'm in two minds about this
Partial agreement/disagreement
- You've got a point, but ...
- It's true that ... but ...
- On the other hand, I do feel ...
- I agree up to a point
read-through recording
20191110
I personally find today a sad day.
The Spanish election results fill me with an uneasy feeling.
I am sad and scared at the same time. I dread the public conversation over the next months.
20191104
Back from class now ...
Not sure how I feel ... somewhere between very annoyed and depressed ... I guess I am both at the same time.
Not sure how I feel ... somewhere between very annoyed and depressed ... I guess I am both at the same time.
20191101
Today is a bank holiday ... it's, oh, so quiet, shhhhh
LOL
The UK was meant to leave the EU yesterday at 23:00 ... but nothing happened.
A few days ago the EU granted a three months flexi-extension at the request of the British government, and promptly the UK decides to call a general election for December the 12th.
So another extension basically wasted.
The last extension was for six months and the Conservative Party thought it useful to have a leadership election, and in doing so elect a new Prime Minister. Six months down the drain from the EU's perspective. And now another three months busy with an election.
The EU better be preparing themselves for another so called flexi-extension at the end of January.
Meanwhile, in the USofA, the House of Representatives has formalised the impeachment inquiry against their President. Not a single vote from the Republican side. So polarised.
Today at some point, to take my mind of the news and the boredom of a bank holiday, I will be looking at page 141 from the book and doing some studying.
Still no comments at all on my blog post from the 29th ... and to my knowledge no other posts for me to comment on.
20191030
Back from class now.
Before the class we had a little Halloween do, with sweets and drinks, decorations and some face masks to choose from. It was fun.
The winners of the Horror Short Stories writing competition were announced. And I was 'lucky' to be chosen as the winner of the English Level C category .... but, I have a sneaking suspicion that my entry was the only entry. Easy to win when there is no competition. But hey, I made the effort. Sometimes success is just showing up, to paraphrase Mr Allen.
By the way, Manuel did not even give the chance to pretend that I am shy or something, and pretty much 'forced' me to read my story to the attending audience.
'Forced' meaning 'encouraged'.
Here is a link to the story I wrote ... I hope it does scare you a little bit.
The Little Laugh
:)
I got talking to a couple of people afterwards, particularly remember a fellow student named Edu (A2) and one teacher named Marilo (I think!) ... she mentioned to me that there is a meetup.com English conversation group in Boiro. I will be eternally grateful to her for that tip. Whether the group turns out to be active or not remains to be seen, but it is a great lead on my quest to practice my English more regularly.
Thank you so very much to all the EOI Noia team for a lovely evening!
Before the class we had a little Halloween do, with sweets and drinks, decorations and some face masks to choose from. It was fun.
The winners of the Horror Short Stories writing competition were announced. And I was 'lucky' to be chosen as the winner of the English Level C category .... but, I have a sneaking suspicion that my entry was the only entry. Easy to win when there is no competition. But hey, I made the effort. Sometimes success is just showing up, to paraphrase Mr Allen.
By the way, Manuel did not even give the chance to pretend that I am shy or something, and pretty much 'forced' me to read my story to the attending audience.
'Forced' meaning 'encouraged'.
Here is a link to the story I wrote ... I hope it does scare you a little bit.
The Little Laugh
:)
I got talking to a couple of people afterwards, particularly remember a fellow student named Edu (A2) and one teacher named Marilo (I think!) ... she mentioned to me that there is a meetup.com English conversation group in Boiro. I will be eternally grateful to her for that tip. Whether the group turns out to be active or not remains to be seen, but it is a great lead on my quest to practice my English more regularly.
Thank you so very much to all the EOI Noia team for a lovely evening!
20191029
What do you call a language that is designed to hide and twist the facts? What do you call a language that manipulates the facts into something it later claims to be the truth?
The Language of Politics.
We are all politically biased, that is inevitable. Taxes become ‘redistribution of wealth’ or ‘confiscation of earnings’ depending on your political leanings. And all issues are political issues.
But the language in politics is used to deliberately mislead to hide unpleasant facts or to highlight and claim pleasant ones; often both at the same time, always trying to appease both sides of the argument, at least not to alienate any of the sides. ‘We successfully managed to reduce the cost base and restructure the company’.
At its most dangerous the language in politics is used to fan the flames of hate and appeal to basic instincts of war and survival. Them against us. Immigration rethoric examples abound.
The most successful politicians were the ones that navigate the fine line of political language for the longest before they are found out. Over the past few years it has become acceptable to polarize the bases with blunter and bolder language, getting closer and closer to the danger zone of politics.
It is imperative that we all educate ourselves in understanding the use politicians make of language. It is not a very difficult task, but it takes a bit of effort.
I suggest starting by breaking our own echo chambers and try to read two newspapers from opposite sides of the political spectrum. Only when you read both sides of the same story, you can start to see the facts in the middle and make up your own mind.
(286 words)
(This is my post relating to the task "Journal post and comment" proposed by Manuel on edmodo)
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