Feed back - texts
The writing process:
Do you remember what to think of when writing a text ?
linking words, paragraphs, formal writing, grammar, read task thoroughly...)
These are linking words (also called "transitions". Tiny words which can make all the difference in a text): practise here
Go through the following words and try to learn a few of them until next week. IF you want to be able to reach a higher level of writing. Do the online task below the words.
Listen and practise more on linking words or transitions Online tasks below the clip).
More info. + tasks from Engvid (below the clips are online tasks)
Useful tips from Engvid on how to improve your English writing
Practise online? Want to practise on using linking words and a more formal style of writing? Here are some links:Floe-Joe
Unclear or confusing writing is an accessibility barrier to all readers.
MOST COMMON ERRORS
Links
Subject-Verb agreement exercises
Rel. pronoun
The 's Genitive
Adverb
Listening/reading - use the links here on the blog OR check out old national tests HERE)
onsdag 5 april 2017
torsdag 16 mars 2017
onsdag 8 mars 2017
Thursday week 10
Cowspiracy - presents jaw-dropping facts and statistics on how humanity’s dependence on meat and dairy is one of the leading contributors to climate change, and questions why no one wants to talk about it.
This movie introduces us to two important concepts:
“motivated blindness”
Refers to the human tendency to overlook information that works against what people want to believe, either because the belief is in their self-interest or simply because they have held the belief a long time and they are emotionally invested in retaining it.
"Motivated Blindness" consists not only of ignoring our own negligent or wrongful conduct, but it also includes overlooking questionable behavior in others when it is not in our best interest to raise questions.
“the bias toward normalcy”
The "bias toward normalcy" is a form of motivated blindness that occurs when the motivation is the desire to avoid disrupting one's normal way of living. It is, for example, the tendency of people to ignore signs that there is an impending disaster. People often underestimate the probability or extent of an expected disruption in their lives. Another way to describe the bias toward normalcy is that when people find themselves in unsettling circumstance, some have a tendency to shut down and pretend that everything will continue as it has in the past. People subject to the normalcy bias assume that everything will be much the same today as it was yesterday, despite clear signs to the contrary.
...and how statistics can be used to mislead.
How do the above concepts apply to your choices and beliefs?
Cowspiracy - core issues
What is our responsibility as students and consumers?
****************************************
Argumentative text - what is it?
A text where you take a position on a controversial issue and you try to convince the reader that your opinion is the correct one.
Think about something in the film that you agree with OR don't agree with.
Your text should be a reaction to the film "Cowspiracy".
Suggestions of headlines for your text: (feel free to make up a catching headline of your own)
Give us our future back!
Why we must act on climate change now!
There is no business on a dead planet!
Complicated topic?
Make it as complicated as you want to. Write about y o u r opinion and y o u r every-day-life
+ add at least one example from the film.
Grade/feedback
________________________________________________________________________________
When writing the text:
1. Take a stand! What is your opinion?
State your opinion clearly!
I think, I believe, According to me, In my opinion...
How to give your opinion
2. Structure
You should have a clear
introduction, body (2-3 paragraphs), conclusion
Introduction:
What will this text be about? Include the topic and state your opinion. Make the reader interested! Catch the reader!
(Ex: start with a question, quote, or a fact)
Body:
Present your arguments in 2-3 paragraphs, one paragraph for each argument. Add information and your opinion. Give reasons!
First of all, firstly, secondly, thirdly, in addition to this, moreover, also...
Conclusion:
A summary of what you have written. You do not present any new opinions/arguments here, only tie the text together. You sum up what you have already discussed.
In conclusion, All in all...
Example essay
3. Language
Try to use as formal language as possible
(avoid slang, colloquial language etc.)
Formal and informal English
Try to vary your language! Do not overuse the same words.
Use synonyms.
Ex: for example - for instance
Think about agreement!
Who is doing something and when?
The machine work well... (works)
She don't need to... (does not)
He have helped me in my life (has)
Spelling: Use spellright OR look up words you are unfamiliar with
Dictionary online
And finally, remember....
Jag = I
should vs would = borde - skulle
learn vs teach = lära sig - undervisa/lära ut
He would do it if he could = Han skulle göra det om han kunde
You really should do it! = borde
Today my teacher taught me how to write in English.
I learned how to write in English!
Useful links:
Words related to the film - see BLOG week 8
Words related to the environment
How to give your opinion
Example essay (pdf) Example essay (Word)
Formal and informal English
Dictionary online
This movie introduces us to two important concepts:
“motivated blindness”
Refers to the human tendency to overlook information that works against what people want to believe, either because the belief is in their self-interest or simply because they have held the belief a long time and they are emotionally invested in retaining it.
"Motivated Blindness" consists not only of ignoring our own negligent or wrongful conduct, but it also includes overlooking questionable behavior in others when it is not in our best interest to raise questions.
“the bias toward normalcy”
The "bias toward normalcy" is a form of motivated blindness that occurs when the motivation is the desire to avoid disrupting one's normal way of living. It is, for example, the tendency of people to ignore signs that there is an impending disaster. People often underestimate the probability or extent of an expected disruption in their lives. Another way to describe the bias toward normalcy is that when people find themselves in unsettling circumstance, some have a tendency to shut down and pretend that everything will continue as it has in the past. People subject to the normalcy bias assume that everything will be much the same today as it was yesterday, despite clear signs to the contrary.
...and how statistics can be used to mislead.
How do the above concepts apply to your choices and beliefs?
Cowspiracy - core issues
What is our responsibility as students and consumers?
****************************************
Argumentative text - what is it?
A text where you take a position on a controversial issue and you try to convince the reader that your opinion is the correct one.
Think about something in the film that you agree with OR don't agree with.
Your text should be a reaction to the film "Cowspiracy".
Suggestions of headlines for your text: (feel free to make up a catching headline of your own)
Give us our future back!
Why we must act on climate change now!
There is no business on a dead planet!
Complicated topic?
Make it as complicated as you want to. Write about y o u r opinion and y o u r every-day-life
+ add at least one example from the film.
Grade/feedback
________________________________________________________________________________
When writing the text:
1. Take a stand! What is your opinion?
State your opinion clearly!
I think, I believe, According to me, In my opinion...
How to give your opinion
2. Structure
You should have a clear
introduction, body (2-3 paragraphs), conclusion
Introduction:
What will this text be about? Include the topic and state your opinion. Make the reader interested! Catch the reader!
(Ex: start with a question, quote, or a fact)
Body:
Present your arguments in 2-3 paragraphs, one paragraph for each argument. Add information and your opinion. Give reasons!
First of all, firstly, secondly, thirdly, in addition to this, moreover, also...
Conclusion:
A summary of what you have written. You do not present any new opinions/arguments here, only tie the text together. You sum up what you have already discussed.
In conclusion, All in all...
Example essay
3. Language
Try to use as formal language as possible
(avoid slang, colloquial language etc.)
Formal and informal English
Try to vary your language! Do not overuse the same words.
Use synonyms.
Ex: for example - for instance
Think about agreement!
Who is doing something and when?
The machine work well... (works)
She don't need to... (does not)
He have helped me in my life (has)
Spelling: Use spellright OR look up words you are unfamiliar with
Dictionary online
And finally, remember....
Jag = I
should vs would = borde - skulle
learn vs teach = lära sig - undervisa/lära ut
He would do it if he could = Han skulle göra det om han kunde
You really should do it! = borde
Today my teacher taught me how to write in English.
I learned how to write in English!
Useful links:
Words related to the film - see BLOG week 8
Words related to the environment
How to give your opinion
Example essay (pdf) Example essay (Word)
Formal and informal English
Dictionary online
onsdag 22 februari 2017
Thursday
The week after sports holiday you are going to learn how to write an argumentative text.
You are going to express your opinions and try to convince the reader of your text that your opinion is the correct one. In order to do that you need to be persuasive. After the holiday we will have a closer look at how you write in an argumentative way.
But first, the topic of your text.
Your text will be a reaction to the film "Cowspiracy" which we are going to watch this week.
Suggestions of headlines for your text: (feel free to make up a catching headline of your own)
Give us our future back!
Why we must act on climate change now!
There is no business on a dead planet!
What do these words mean?
climate change:
a long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature
global warming
an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.
green house effect
carbon dioxide
a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances; absorbed from the air by plants.
Watch the carbon cycle
97% of scientist agree that climate change is real and accelerated by human contribution
Cowspiracy - presents the dramatic now occurring changes around the world due to climate change - the most pressing challenge of our time.
Core issues represented in the film:
Fossil fuels
Methane gas
Palm oil
Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that formed more than 300 million years ago - long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Fossil fuels are made up of plant and animal matter. When plants and animals died, their bodies decomposed and were buried under layers of earth. Millions of years later we have the three forms of fossil fuel: oil, natural gas and coal. These fossil fuels are then pumped from underground and used in a variety of ways. Around 90% of our energy comes from fossil fuels.
The problem: Fossil fuels are nonrenewable which means they cannot be made by humans.
Palm oil is found in an estimated 50% of all packaged goods,
including: Lipstick, Chocolate, Instant Noodles, Soaps / Body Wash,
Toothpaste, Ice Cream, Shortenings / Margarines, Cooking oil (hot
climate), Cookies, Crackers, Cake mixes, Icing, Non dairy creamer, Biscuits, and more.
Palm oil itself is not a major harm to the environment, but the method
of extraction is. It’s one of the world’s leading causes of rainforest
destruction.
For plantation owners, burning is a common method for clearing
vegetation in natural forests as well as within oil palm plantations so
they can plant,
and profit, from the production of palm oil. Traditionally, trees act as
a canopy to filter CO2 by absorbing the carbon.
By removing these trees, decades of sequestered carbon that was
absorbed by the forests, is released quickly into the atmosphere,
effectively creating massive “carbon bombs.”
Plants breathe, just like us. They even have little openings that can look like mouths, but they are too small for us to see without a microscope. When we breathe in, we want to breath in oxygen. Plants want to breathe in Carbon Dioxide.
“The ocean is not Republican. It is not Democrat. All it knows how to do is rise.”
—Miami Mayor Philip Levine
Are these things that we can see already now in the world? If so, give examples.
What Changes are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce carbon footprints?
You are going to express your opinions and try to convince the reader of your text that your opinion is the correct one. In order to do that you need to be persuasive. After the holiday we will have a closer look at how you write in an argumentative way.
But first, the topic of your text.
Your text will be a reaction to the film "Cowspiracy" which we are going to watch this week.
Suggestions of headlines for your text: (feel free to make up a catching headline of your own)
Give us our future back!
Why we must act on climate change now!
There is no business on a dead planet!
What do these words mean?
climate change:
a long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature
global warming
an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect.
green house effect
carbon dioxide
a heavy odorless colorless gas formed during respiration and by the decomposition of organic substances; absorbed from the air by plants.
Watch the carbon cycle
97% of scientist agree that climate change is real and accelerated by human contribution
Cowspiracy - presents the dramatic now occurring changes around the world due to climate change - the most pressing challenge of our time.
Core issues represented in the film:
Fossil fuels
Methane gas
Palm oil
Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources that formed more than 300 million years ago - long before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Fossil fuels are made up of plant and animal matter. When plants and animals died, their bodies decomposed and were buried under layers of earth. Millions of years later we have the three forms of fossil fuel: oil, natural gas and coal. These fossil fuels are then pumped from underground and used in a variety of ways. Around 90% of our energy comes from fossil fuels.
The problem: Fossil fuels are nonrenewable which means they cannot be made by humans.
| Fossil fuels in their natural form must first be burned in order to be used as electricity. |
When fossil fuels are burned, they release unhealthy toxins into the
air we breathe. The use of fossil fuels raises serious environmental concerns. The burning of fossil fuels produces around 21.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, but it is estimated that natural processes can only absorb about half of that amount. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that contributes to global warming, causing the average surface temperature of the Earth to rise.
Methane gas is a greenhouse gas like carbon dioxide (CO2). But the negative
effect on the climate of Methane is 23 times higher than the effect of CO2. Methane accounts for 10-12% of the total emissions and almost all of those emissions are derived from Cattle production.
One molecule of Methane is equivalent to 23 molecules of CO2
making methane emissions 23x worse than that of CO2.
In the United States, 47% of land is used for production of food,
of which, 90% is used to simply grow food for cattle.
Palm oil
|
including: Lipstick, Chocolate, Instant Noodles, Soaps / Body Wash,
Toothpaste, Ice Cream, Shortenings / Margarines, Cooking oil (hot
climate), Cookies, Crackers, Cake mixes, Icing, Non dairy creamer, Biscuits, and more.
Palm oil itself is not a major harm to the environment, but the method
of extraction is. It’s one of the world’s leading causes of rainforest
destruction.
For plantation owners, burning is a common method for clearing
vegetation in natural forests as well as within oil palm plantations so
they can plant,
and profit, from the production of palm oil. Traditionally, trees act as
a canopy to filter CO2 by absorbing the carbon.
By removing these trees, decades of sequestered carbon that was
absorbed by the forests, is released quickly into the atmosphere,
effectively creating massive “carbon bombs.”
Plants breathe, just like us. They even have little openings that can look like mouths, but they are too small for us to see without a microscope. When we breathe in, we want to breath in oxygen. Plants want to breathe in Carbon Dioxide.
“The ocean is not Republican. It is not Democrat. All it knows how to do is rise.”
—Miami Mayor Philip Levine
While watching the film:
Take notes, look for arguments to why we must act...(somehow that is what your text is going to be about)
Discussion questions:
Likely effects if we do not act:
Drought, extreme weather, crop failure, wars, immigration, OUR future...and our children's?
Drought, extreme weather, crop failure, wars, immigration, OUR future...and our children's?
Are these things that we can see already now in the world? If so, give examples.
What Changes are you willing to make in your daily life to reduce carbon footprints?
fredag 10 februari 2017
onsdag 8 februari 2017
torsdag 2 februari 2017
fredag 20 januari 2017
Friday
Listening comprehension test!
Homework next Thursday:
Words to the text "Under pressure" (from p 42- 44). The rest of the words!
Homework next Thursday:
Words to the text "Under pressure" (from p 42- 44). The rest of the words!
tisdag 17 januari 2017
Thursday
********************************************************************************
Practise listening comprehension (Tomorrow mocktest listening comprehension)
Practice your listening skills by watching film clips:
Away we go
They great Gatsby
Spirited away
Lost in translation
Almost famous
Use the links to the right to practice listening comprehension.
Start with level B1. If you think it's too difficult/easy choose a lower/higher level.
British council - practise your listening skills
torsdag 12 januari 2017
Friday
University terms - find out - write down explanations
Identify the witnesses
Online exercise:
University terms 1
University terms 2
University terms 3
Interview techniques (in pairs) (page 48) - speaking
Discussion topics + discuss in pairs - speaking
Practise listening comprehension (next week Mocktest: Listening)
Practise Spelling
Homework next Thursday: Words to the text "Under pressure" (from p 42- 44)
Identify the witnesses
Online exercise:
University terms 1
University terms 2
University terms 3
Interview techniques (in pairs) (page 48) - speaking
Discussion topics + discuss in pairs - speaking
Practise listening comprehension (next week Mocktest: Listening)
Practise Spelling
Homework next Thursday: Words to the text "Under pressure" (from p 42- 44)
Thursday
Under Pressure (Echo, Main Issues) - Read the text (listen) - discuss it
University terms - find out - write down explanations
Identify the witnesses
Interview techniques (in pairs) (page 48)
Homework next Thursday: Words to the text "Under pressure" (from p 42- 44)
University terms - find out - write down explanations
Identify the witnesses
Interview techniques (in pairs) (page 48)
Homework next Thursday: Words to the text "Under pressure" (from p 42- 44)
Prenumerera på:
Inlägg (Atom)