20200413
Cleft Sentences
Mariah Carey - (All I want for Xmas is) you
Spice Girls - I'll tell u (what I want), what I really really want
All I have to remember is to use some cleft sentences now and then.
20200124
(from Successful Writing by Virginia Evans)
Opinion Essays
An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing. It requires your opinion on a topic. That opinion must be stated clearly.
Plan/Outline
Introduction
Paragraph 1 : It should state the subject and your opinion.
Main Body
Several paragraphs : Each presenting a separate reasoned viewpoint. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence summarising what the paragraph is about. Also include a paragraph with an opposing viewpoint and why you think it is not a convincing argument.
Conclusion
Final Paragraph : Restate your opinion (using different words)
Do:
- Use a formal, impersonal style.
- Introduction stated the topic clearly.
- Use clear topic sentences to introduce the subject of each paragraph.
- Write well developed paragraphs giving reasons and examples.
- Use linking words and phrases.
- Use generalisations (e.g. most developed countries)
- Use quotations if possible.
- Give examples if possible.
Don't:
- Don't use short forms or informal colloquial language.
- Don't use very emotional language.
- Don't use unclear or irrelevant topic sentences.
- Don't use over-generalisation.
- Don't give personal examples.
- Don't use cliched expressions.
Some useful vocabulary:
In my opinion ...
It is my (firm) belief/opinion/view/conviction (that) ...
I (firmly) believe ...
I am (not) convinced that ...
It seems/appears to me that ...
As far as I am concerned ...
It strikes me that ...
I (definitely) feel/think that ...
I am inclined to believe ...
Opinion Essays
An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing. It requires your opinion on a topic. That opinion must be stated clearly.
Plan/Outline
Introduction
Paragraph 1 : It should state the subject and your opinion.
Main Body
Several paragraphs : Each presenting a separate reasoned viewpoint. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence summarising what the paragraph is about. Also include a paragraph with an opposing viewpoint and why you think it is not a convincing argument.
Conclusion
Final Paragraph : Restate your opinion (using different words)
Do:
- Use a formal, impersonal style.
- Introduction stated the topic clearly.
- Use clear topic sentences to introduce the subject of each paragraph.
- Write well developed paragraphs giving reasons and examples.
- Use linking words and phrases.
- Use generalisations (e.g. most developed countries)
- Use quotations if possible.
- Give examples if possible.
Don't:
- Don't use short forms or informal colloquial language.
- Don't use very emotional language.
- Don't use unclear or irrelevant topic sentences.
- Don't use over-generalisation.
- Don't give personal examples.
- Don't use cliched expressions.
Some useful vocabulary:
In my opinion ...
It is my (firm) belief/opinion/view/conviction (that) ...
I (firmly) believe ...
I am (not) convinced that ...
It seems/appears to me that ...
As far as I am concerned ...
It strikes me that ...
I (definitely) feel/think that ...
I am inclined to believe ...
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)