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Unit 2 Educating People
https://www.myhaliburtonnow.com/11832/educating-people-water-system /
UNIT KEYWORDS education academic standards edutainment literacy e-learning curriculum lifelong education digital age
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Confucious
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MODULE 1: DISCUSS & READ
SECTION 1: WARM-UP_ 1. Discuss the questions below with your groupmates.
1. What are the core values of people of your age? Is education one of them? What is the value of education?
2. Should education embrace new phenomena of today’s life, such as social networking sites, gadgets etc. How can it be done?
3. What is the role of the student and teacher in education? How is it changing with time?
2. You are going to watch a TED-video about problems in the US education system. Before watching it, jot down 3 major issues facing education in your country. Discuss in class.
• • •
3. Watch the 1st part of the video and make notes on 3 main controversies outlined by the speaker. 1. ………………………………………
vs. ………………………………………
2. ………………………………………
vs. ………………………………………
3. ……………………………………… vs. ……………………………………… 4. Watch the 2nd part of the video and make notes on 3 solutions suggested by the speaker.
1. 2. 3.
5. You are going to read the article headlined Edutainment: New Face of Education. What do you think edutainment is? 6. Skim the article Edutainment: New Face of Education and explain the meaning of the bolded words. Afterwards read the article writing down key words for each paragraph.
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SECTION 2: READING_ 7. Read the article Edutainment: New Face of Education and answer the questions. key words
§1 Star crossed lovers or a combination running towards disaster? The debate has long been standing on whether education and entertainment can mesh together and form the perfect couple. It seems fun to think of both the concepts in tandem but does it really work? Can education be treated lightly? Can entertainment be taken seriously?
§2 This particular historical argument has faced its demise with the rise of a new concept. A thought that connect the dots of education and entertainment to form the perfect art known as ‘Edutainment’. Maybe, it’s a messy union, but looking back at history, when has education not had a messy and chaotic environment surrounding it? From the star gazing of Galileo, who had to sacrifice a lot to promote the universal truths to even the recent time example of underdeveloped countries, where education was and still is limited to certain individuals of high classed society. Edutainment is a new concept, but the thought it spreads is modern and classical at the same time.
§3 So what is edutainment? The theoretical definition would be ‘a hybrid genre that relies heavily on visual material, on narrative or game – like formats computer games education implications for game developers, and on more informal, less didactic styles of address’. Too hard to understand? Well, maybe edutainment could have helped you understand this, if you were introduced to it, however, laying it out in much simpler terms, edutainment is the marriage between education and entertainment, both in offline and digital forms. It can be a shabby old classroom where you are taught by comedians, the history of Bengal which always seemed boring to you. It can also be watching random modern looking animated videos on YouTube, of the topic say, ‘How to pay your taxes’. The motto of edutainment is that, you will not be allowed to taste even a drop of boredom, and participate in a more engaging ambience where you will be served the education you require in a more relaxing format.
§4 Is this a new trend? Is it something that our forefathers have never thought of? No, not exactly. Education and entertainment have met frequently on an overlapping path. They are lines that meet here and there and then go away again in tears and eagerness for the next intersection. When, these paths do collide, however, it becomes the best of both worlds. Imagine laughing your hearts while memorising all those tough Bangla words that make your jaw hurt. So, how do I say that education and entertainment have been in a secret relationship without us knowing all this time?
§5 Remember, back when you were in kindergarten, your classroom
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was ornamented with paintings and handcrafts of your hand? Edutainment. Maybe you’ve played games like Age of Empires or Rise of Nations which taught you of the famous warfare and the technological advancements of the world, again you have been benefitted here by the grace of edutainment. There can be no denial to the fact that entertainment in education has previously benefitted all of us, but the question that still remains whether or not it can appeal to the older generation who would prefer to learn more than just ‘uno dos and tres’ of Spanish from Disney’s favorite kids show.
§6 This is where the talk of edutainment mainly comes into play, whether or not you can teach a wider variety of students, through games and decorations. Let’s look into some statistics first. A recent survey done of people from the age of 16 to 65 in the US indicates that participation of education significantly falls down with age. Where the numbers were as high as 73% in 6-15 years, it fell down to 55% in the latter years.
§7 This significant fall indicates the necessity of a new module of learning. The modern way of learning has not only benefitted the young children, but their older siblings and their parents as well. Take for example the numerous number of education video channels that you see on YouTube right now. Ted-Ed the most famous educative content channel has over 10 million subscribers. New upcoming channels such as Vox Entertainment and The Infographics Show have their fair share of fan following as well. They produce videos that are enlightening people all over the world with some new information every day. Why do they have these many followers, whose age range is mainly in the youth sector? Simple, with the upsurge in scientific advancements our society now is more curious towards the inner workings of the human mind and the various mysteries of the world. Combine this curiosity with the modern way of visually appealing graphics and you have the perfect blend. So, after this, would you really still debate on the emergence of edutainment? Well, you can, but be aware, while you are talking of its necessity, edutainment will have already taken one step further towards establishing itself as the alternative to traditional education.
§8 In our country, edutainment is already on its flow. Digital classrooms, seminars and workplaces are already in place to tutor the youth on various subjects. The best example of edutainment of the recent times in Bangladesh has to be the 10 Minute School Show, where students actively take part in educational games which are directed towards making the viewers learn a thing or two. Other than 10 Minute School, there are other online platforms such as TogBog and Dhaka Daily which are promoting edutainment content.
§9 Pink Floyd was right when they said that teachers should leave the kids alone, but today in the sense that education should be given in the format where it is not mind control but it is rather a relaxation for the mind. Learning can be a lot of fun, when it becomes an artistic skill for the
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teacher to bring out the entertainment side to it, while teaching the educational values as well.
Jabir Misbah is a story-teller and knowledge enthusiast. http://www.newagebd.net/article/47122/edutainment-new-face-of-education
1. Explain the meaning the following expressions from the text:
o to connect the dots of sth o to be on an overlapping path o sth comes into play o sth is on its flow o a knowledge enthusiast
2. In your opinion, is the “marriage” between education and entertainment a happy one?
3. Speak on the drawbacks of edutainment? 4. How will edutainment as an educational approach develop in the future?
8. Write a short paragraph, using the beginning given. Edutainment is a mixed blessing. On the one hand …
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SECTION 3: VOCABULARY SPOT_ 9. Highlight the words that are synonymous to the target word.
1. to embrace It is unlikely that such countries will embrace capitalist ideas.
to decline to criticise to accept
2. in tandem Stock prices pushed sharply higher this afternoon in tandem
with a rise in the dollar.
lonely separately together
3. demise n The scandal was one of the the events which contributed to his
political demise.
growth failure existence
4. implication The research has far-reaching implications for medicine as a
whole.
effect cause possibility
5. to collide As he fell, his head collided with the table.
to leave to come to crash into
6. to appeal The prospect of teaching such bright children appealed
enormously.
to attract to appall to call
7. graphics The program can produce and manipulate text and graphics.
visual content graphs figures
8. to indicate The survey data indicate a general satisfaction with the
process.
to distract to help to show
9. to require Friendships do not just happen; they require effort.
to deny to need to want
10. ambience The gentle colour scheme creates a relaxing ambience.
music habitat atmosphere
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10. Complete the sentences with words that match the meaning of the words in brackets.
1. News itself became more entertaining, and technologies enabling better (pictures etc.) …………………. and presentation made features more attractive.
2. The study (pinpoint) …………………. a connection between poverty and crime.
3. She (accepted) …………………. the feminist cause with enthusiasm. 4. The job (is necessary) …………………. a college degree and a knowledge
of computers. 5. The group operated (cooperatively) …………………. with local criminals. 6. Inside, the decor is elegant and traditional, the gentle colour scheme
creating a relaxing (environment) …………………. . 7. The idea of working abroad really (find attractive) …………………. to me. 8. When the long-delayed (extinction) …………………. of the dinosaurs
finally occurred, the crash was spectacular. 9. His talk will examine the wider (consequences) …………………. of the
Internet revolution. 10. The human desire for certainty (match) …………………. with our love of
enigma. 11. Study the words below and read the sentences to note the difference in meaning.
to emerge to appear 1. to appear from somewhere 2. to become known gradually 3. to overcome a difficulty
1. to seem 2. to emerge suddenly 3. to begin to exist 4. to be published 5. to take part in a film/movie, play
The sun emerged from behind the clouds. Eventually the truth emerged. She emerged from the divorce a stronger person.
I don’t want to appear rude. The car seemed to appear from nowhere. When did mammals appear on the earth?
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an advancement an advance 1. progress in your job, level of knowledge etc. 2. the progress that is made; process
a change, discovery, invention, breakthrough; individual and tangible improvements
Many people are forced to move from one city to another in search of better jobs or career advancement.
Advances in medical science may make it possible for people to live for 150 years.
***
demise extinction decline the end of sth, death
when a particular type of animal/plant stops existing
1. decrease in quality, quantity 2. when sth becomes less impotrant
Far better, with the demise of lifetime employment, to switch to a notion of lifetime employability.
Hundreds of species of birds are now threatened with extinction.
The island’s population initially numbered 180, but there was a gradual decline. At the beginning of the century the cloth trade was going into decline. The port fell into decline in the 1950s.
*** graphics a graph
pictures and images used to represent objects or facts
a chart, a drawing that uses lines to show a relation between sets of measurements
But sometimes it takes many hits to download one Web page, especially if the page is loaded with graphics.
A line graph is a way of presenting figures in visual form.
*** ambience environment
qualities of a place and the way it makes you feel, atmosphere (pleasant, relaxing, friendly)
1. (the) ~ the air, water, land on Earth, which is affected by numan activity 2. people and things that surround you 3. the conditions that affect the behaviour and development
The restaurant’s new owners have created a welcoming ambience.
The company had failed to provide a safe environment for its workers. The government insists that the dam will not harm the environment.
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12. Chose the word that matches best.
1. There is growing evidence that the economy is at last appearing / emerging from recession.
2. She did her best to appear / emerge more self-assured than she felt. 3. New leaders have emerged / appeared. 4. A bus emerged / appeared around the corner. 5. This problem first appeared / emerged in the inner cities. 6. Scientific advancements / advances in diagnostic tools make it possible to
identify new diseases more quickly. 7. Advancement / advance of technology is a crucial factor for national
growth. 8. The company reported a small demise / decline / extinction in its profits. 9. Smoking, rather than genetics, was the cause of his early demise / decline /
extinction. 10. The mountain gorilla is on the verge of demise / decline / extinction. 11. The graphics / graph show(s) how house prices have risen since the 1980s. 12. The screen can display simple graphics / graph as well as text. 13. The gentle colour scheme creates a relaxing environment / ambience. 14. They have created an environment / ambience in which productivity
should flourish.
13. Complete the table.
verb noun adjective adverb
theoretical
to collide
animated
appeal
to require
X
to indicate
to emerge
X
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14. Compete the sentences with the forms of words in brackets.
1. Researchers …………………. (theory) that there was once a common language for all humanity.
2. She looked …………………. (appeal) at Ben. 3. Sounds of …………………. (animation) conversation and laughter came
from the next room. 4. Because the regulations impose new …………………. (require) on small
businesses, they will prove costly. 5. On the day of …………………. (deliver), I rushed home after work
to unpack my system and put it together. 6. Such actions may be …………………. (indicate) of a climate of fear, or of
caution, or of simply teaching to the test. 7. The president immediately declared a state of …………………. (to
emerge). 8. Marco spoke with real passion and …………………. (animated). 9. Physicists, governments and universities from around the world contributed
to constructing and building the …………………. (collide). 15. Combine the words from two columns to form collocations. Then match the collocations with their definitions. Complete the sentences.
1. a pet 2. collide 3. universal 4. pleasant 5. far-reaching 6. animated
a. appeal b. implications c. theory d. discussion e. head-on f. ambience
…………………………………………. a conversation that is full of
interest/energy …………………………………………. long-term effects …………………………………………. a personal belief …………………………………………. attracts everyone …………………………………………. to hit when moving directly
towards each other …………………………………………. enjoyable atmosphere
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1. The car and the van …………………. …………………. in thick fog. 2. There was an extremely …………………. …………………. on the subject. 3. The changes have …………………. …………………. for the food industry. 4. But she hopes someday to find a way to blend her favorite Western and
Indian wear in a way that has a …………………. …………………. . 5. A …………………. …………………. of mine is that things should be seen
from a distance. 6. The restaurant's soft music, candlelight and unobtrusive service gave it a
…………………. …………………. .
16. Translate into English.
1. Это исследование указывает на связь между бедностью и преступностью.
2. Президент вновь вступил в противоборство с конгрессом по вопросу эмиграции.
3. Несмотря на кризис компания сообщила лишь о незначительном снижении прибыли.
4. Мы работали совместно с местными полицейскими. 5. Он говорил о своей новой работе с большим воодушевлением. 6. Пока все эти рассуждения носят чисто умозрительный характер. 7. Эта должность предлагает много возможностей для профессионального
роста. 8. Она приходилось принимать жизнь такой, как она есть. 9. Неумелое руководство и принятие поспешных решений привело к краху
всей компании. 10. Премьер-министр созвал экстренное заседание. 11. Эта черта его характера является наиболее привлекательной. 12. После той трагедии взгляд его всегда оставался безжизненным. 13. Эти выборы имеют огромное значение для будущего американской
демократии. 14. Взаимодействие музыки и современных технологий - это весьма быстро
развивающаяся область исследований. 15. Написание дипломной работы является обязательным условием для
окончания университета. 16. Учёные неоднократно выдвигали предположения о возможности жизни
на других планетах. 17. Эти рассказы пользуются всеобщей популярностью. всеобщей
популярностью.
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MODULE 2: SUMMARY WRITING
SECTION 1: Text Analysis_ SUMMARY REMINDER: 1. The topic is what the text / sentence / paragraph is about while the main idea is
what the writer is trying to convey in his entire message. 2. Topics are simpler and only use a word or a phrase; the main idea is stated as
an entire sentence. 3. The topic must not be specific, nor should it be general while the main idea
must be complete. 4. The main idea may appear in the beginning, the middle, or the last part of the
paragraph while the topic can be found in the sentence or in a paragraph. http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-main-idea-and-the-topic/#ixzz5TVfi9DHM
17. Reread the first paragraph of the article Edutainment: New Face of Education and highlight words related to the topic and the main idea. Star crossed lovers or a combination running towards disaster? The debate has long been standing on whether education and entertainment can mesh together and form the perfect couple. It seems fun to think of both the concepts in tandem but does it really work? Can education be treated lightly? Can entertainment be taken seriously? 18. Get back to the article and read the topic sentence for each paragraph (usually the first or second sentence). Jot down key words in each topic sentence (free space on the left). 19. Reread the concluding paragraph and compare it to the first paragraph. Highlight the part where the main points are repeated. Pink Floyd was right when they said that teachers should leave the kids alone, but today in the sense that education should be given in the format where it is not mind control but it is rather a relaxation for the mind. Learning can be a lot of fun, when it becomes an artistic skill for the teacher to bring out the entertainment side to it, while teaching the educational values as well.
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SECTION 2: Planning_ 20. Write a detailed plan of the article Edutainment: New Face of Education using the template below. ❶ Introduction - Briefly provide bibliographical information and state the topic and main idea or thesis presented in this article: §1___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Bibliographical information • The article headlined … • was published in … by … The article/text (topic) • covers the subject of… • draws our attention to .. • addresses the topical issue of • offers an insightful look at…
➋Main Body - Summarize the most important information, ideas, facts, etc. presented in this article: §2___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ §3___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ §____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
The author (main idea) • offers a unique perspective on ... • offers guidelines for smb • mentions … / points out … • argues that … / claims that … • elaborates on … / examines… • gives his overview / assessment of • reports new findings concerning…, Linkers for the main body • To begin with, …. • First… / Second… • However, … • Moreover … • In addition to that … • In other words, … • For instance, …
➌ Conclusion - Summing-up sentence: §____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Linkers for concluding • In conclusion, … • To sum it up, … • All in all, …
SECTION 3: Writing_
21. Now expand your plan into a summary (ca. 250 words).
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MODULE 3: SPEAKING (ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTEGES)
SECTION 1: Introduction_ 22. Discuss the questions in class. 1. Why is looking at both sides of a phenomenon / decision etc. important?
Consider the points listed below.
• drawing a conclusion • debates and discussions • communication skills
• presentation skills • exams
• critical thinking
SECTION 2: Useful language_ 23. Combine the words from two columns to form collocations.
Advantage Disadvantage 1. a positive 2. a good 3. an argument
point in favour of… aspect
1. a negative 2. a frequent 3. an agument
against … effect criticism
24. Speak on the pros and cons of vegeterian lifestyle. Use the template below.
Speaking of .., there seem to be several advantages of …
The major advantage of … is …
Another obvious benefit appears to be …
Finally, a good argument in favor of …
However, there are some negative aspects.
A significant drawback of …
Another disadvantage is …
A downside of … is …
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25. Pick one of the things below and add positive or negative aspects in turns. Use contrasting phrases given below plus advantages and disadvantages phrases, and a different one each time.
Despite all of this, … Even though that is true However, … Looking at …
On the other hand, … We also have to take into account that… We can balance against this… Nevertheless, …
- affirmative action - teaching arts in schools - online education - having an analytical personality - living in small communities - continuous assessment - international tourism
As for …, there are obvious advantages of / arguments for …
1.
2.
3.
4.
However, there are some negative aspects.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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SECTION 3: Speaking_ 26. Look at the flowchart outlining the structure of an advantages-vs. disadvantages response. Explain each element. What would you change in it?
27. Speak on one of the topics below using the structure you have learned. Animal Testing / Vegetarianism / Capital punishment / Studying Abroad / Home-schooling / Single-sex Education / Genetic Engineering / Genetically-Modified (GM) foods / Labour Migration / Censorship in the media / English as an international language / Consumerism / … your suggestion
INT
RO
DU
CT
ION
Topic
Thesis
AD
VAN
TAG
ES
Advantage 1
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
Advantage 2
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
DIS
AD
VAN
TAG
ES
Disadvantage 1
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
Disadvantage 2
Topic sentence
Explanation
Example
CO
NC
LU
SIO
N
Summing-up sentence
Final thought
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MODULE 4: READING & WRITING
SECTION 1: Reading_ 28. Read the essay and express your attitude to the author’s thesis.
TEACH BOYS EMOTIONAL LITERACY, OR ELSE
key words
Luke, thirteen, pauses at the office door, undecided whether to take his baseball cap off or leave it alone; he pulls it off and steps into the room - the school psychologist's office. "Come on in, Luke. Have a seat in the big chair." Luke's a "good kid.' He plays drums in the school band and makes fair grades, though they've dropped lately. At school he's not part of the popular clique, but he does have a few good 'mates'.
So what brings him here? In the past few months Luke has grown increasingly sarcastic and sullen. A few evenings ago, concerned about his grades, his parents turned down his request to participate in an optional after-school activity. Luke flew into a rage. He slammed doors and kicked a hole in his bedroom wall. His mother was stunned by the violent outburst, his father was livid, but they left him alone to cool off. The next morning Dad left early for work, Luke had a headache and took a sick day off from school, and his mother called in at the school to see if anyone there might know what was troubling him. Luke's advisor suggested the counselling visit.
As we talk, my questions cruise the perimeter of his life: academics, music, friendships, family. His answers are curt, cautious and begrudging, punctuated with shrugs and a steely expression intended to keep the conversation from moving any closer than that outer edge. "About the other night. The rage and that hole in the bedroom wall. You must have been pretty mad to do that?" Luke looks wary, and even a little scared. He shrugs. "You look sad. Do you feel sad?"
Luke quickly looks down, and I see that tears are beginning to well up in his eyes. Clearly he is hurting, but it is masked in the toughness that fills his voice. "I don’t know. Maybe, I guess."
"Let's see if we can figure out what's making you feel so bad."
Beyond Fight-or-Flight Every troubled boy has a different story, but their stories share a
disturbing theme, a theme of emotional ignorance and isolation. Each day
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we try to connect with boys like Luke, who are unversed in the subtleties of emotional language and expression and threatened by emotional complexity. When we ask them to open up most, like Luke, respond with the same fight-or-flight response we all have to threatening situations.
A boy longs for connection, at the same time he feels the need to begin to pull away, and this opens up an emotional divide. This struggle between his need for connection and his desire for autonomy finds different expression as a boy grows. But regardless of their age, most boys are ill-prepared for the challenges along the road to becoming an emotionally healthy adult. Whatever role biology plays (and that role is by no means clear) in the way boys are characteristically different from girls in their emotional expression, those differences are amplified by a culture that supports emotional development for girls and discourages it for boys. Stereotypical notions of masculine toughness deny a boy his emotions and rob him of the chance to develop the full range of emotional resources. We call this process, in which a boy is steered away from his inner world, the emotional miseducation of boys.
If you ask a boy the question "How did that make you feel?" he very often won't know how to respond. He'll talk, instead, about what he did or plans to do about the problem. Some boys don't have the words for their feelings - "sad" or "angry" or 'ashamed', for instance. A large part of our work with boys is to help them understand their emotional life and develop an emotional vocabulary. We try to teach them emotional literacy - the ability to read, understand and put into words our emotions and those of others.
We build emotional literacy, first, by being able to identify and name our emotions; second, by recognising the emotional content of voice and facial expression, or body language; and third, by understanding the situations or reactions that produce emotional states. By this we mean the link between loss and sadness, between frustration and anger, or threats to pride or self-esteem and fear. In our experience with families, we find that most girls get lots of encouragement from an early age to be emotionally literate: to be reflective and expressive of their own feelings, and responsive to the feelings of others.
In the Shadows
When we first began working with and speaking about boys, a large part of our task was to convince sceptical parents and educators of a truth we knew from our years of experience as therapists; that boys suffer
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deeply as a result of the destructive emotional training our culture imposes upon them, that many of them are in crisis, and that all of them need help. Perhaps because men enjoy so much power and prestige in society, there is a tendency to view it as a foregone conclusion that boys will have future success and to diminish the importance of any problems they might experience in childhood.
We have to come to grips with the fact that every boy has an inner life, that their hearts are full. Every boy is sensitive, and every boy suffers. When we do acknowledge it, and use this understanding to advance our own emotional education as parents and teachers of boys, we can help them meet the shadows in their lives with a more meaningful light. If we can give them an emotional vocabulary and the encouragement to use it, they will unclench their hearts.
http://valentinad-blog-blog.tumblr.com/post/402994985/teach-boys-emotional-literacy-or-else
• Write 3 differences between … and …
• Write 2 effects of … on …
• Make 1 question you still have about the topic
SECTION 2: Essay prompts_
29. Answer the following questions
1. Why did Luke’s parents turn to a psychologist for help? 2. How does Luke respond to the psychologist’s attempts to strike up a
conversation? 3. What problem is common for boys like Luke? 4. What paradox brings about boys’ emotional problems? 5. What is emotional miseducation? 6. What shows boys’ deficient emotional life? 7. How can emotional literacy be developed?
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8. Why is the fact that males need help ignored by society? 9. What is the author’s advice on fostering boys’ emotional health? 10. Is it really necessary to develop your emotional vocabulary? How can it
help? 11. How can parents help boys overcome emotional difficulties? 12. Do you agree that nowadays girls also need emotional education?
30. Write an essay on one of the questions below (ca. 500 words)
1. Schools should teach children not only academic subjects but also important life skills. Discuss.
2. Some people argue that art education is often underestimated by many while others believe that school was created to teach only analytical concepts such as mathematics and literature. Discuss.
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom? 4. Discuss the benefits and disadvantages of home schooling, comparing it
with normal schooling. 5. Is it okay to pay college athletes? Put an emphasis on some of the
advantages and disadvantages of doing this.
SECTION 3: WRITER’S CORNER – Academic Writing_ What is an academic essay? Academic essay is a specific writing genre the main purpose of which is to persuade the readers into a specific and reasoned discourse, i.e. most academic essays will require you to present an argument through reasoning and the use of evidence. There are several types of essay. The main ones are discussion, persuasion, compare and contrast, cause and effect, and problem-solution. Structure of an academic essay The general structure of an academic essay is similar to any other academic work, such as a presentation or a lecture. It too has an introduction, a main body, and a conclusion.
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What are discussion essays? Discussion essays require you to consider both sides of a situation or phenomenon and to conclude by saying which side you favour. These are known as discussion or argument or for and against essays. The following are examples of discussion essay topics.
• Examine the arguments for and against capital punishment. • What are the advantages and disadvantages of technology in the classroom?
For a discussion essay, a balanced view is normally essential. When writing a discussion essay, it is important to ensure that facts and opinions are clearly separated. Often you will examine what other people have already said on the same subject and include this information using paraphrasing and summarizing skills, as well as correct citations. The structure of a discussion essay Although the structure of a discussion essay may vary according to length and subject, there are several components which most discussion essays have in common. In addition to general statements and thesis statement which all good
INT
RO
DU
CT
ION
General statement
Thesis statement
MA
IN B
OD
YParagraph 1
Topic sentence
Supporting ideas
Concluding sentence
Paragraph 2
Topic sentence
Supporting ideas
Concluding sentence
CO
NC
LU
SIO
N
Summary
Final thought
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essay introductions contain, the position of the writer will often be stated, along with relevant definitions. The main body will examine arguments for (in one or more paragraphs) and arguments against (also in one or more paragraphs). The conclusion will contain a summary of the main points, and will often conclude with recommendations, based on what you think are the most important ideas in the essay. The conclusion may also contain your opinion on the topic, also based on the preceding evidence.
STRUCTURAL COMPONENT & PURPOSE TRANSITIONS STAGE
OF ESSAY
General statements To introduce the reader to the subject of the essay.
• Nowadays, … / It is common knowledge that …
• Many/some people … / It is widely believed …
Introduction
Definition(s) (optional) To explain any important technical words to the reader.
• Scientists define it as … • According to Webster's dictionary, …
Thesis To state the specific topic (often lists the main ideas, may indicate the method of organisation, is usually at the end of the introduction, is usually one sentence)
• I believe that ... • There is no doubting that … • It can be maintained that … • It is …, while/whereas … •
Arguments for To explain to the reader the evidence for the positive side of the issue, with support. The most important ideas usually come first.
• The most striking advantage of… • A further advantage … • It is an obvious benefit of … • … is without doubt advantageous to …
Main body
Arguments against To explain to the reader the evidence for the negative side of the issue, with support. The most important ideas usually come first.
• A significant drawback is … • … is a detriment to … • A major disadvantage is …
Summary To give the reader a brief reminder of the main ideas, while restating the issue. Sometimes also says which ideas the writer believes have the strongest evidence.
• In conclusion... • In summary... • Therefore... / Thus... • In short... • These examples show that... • This evidence strongly suggests that...
Conclusion
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Opinion & Final thought • To give your opinion • To offer solutions to any
problems mentioned in the body, or
• To offer recommendations for future action, or
• To give suggestions for future research
• There is no doubt that … • If … , … will only … • Eventually, it can result in … • The consequences of … may be …, if … • It is important to … . Otherwise, …
(based on https://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/essays/andhttps://www.quora.com/What-is-academic-essay-writing)
Practice: Structure analysis. Read the discussion essay below which looks at the advantages and disadvantages of car ownership and disadvantages of car ownership and identify the structural components highlighted above.
1. General statement 3. Topic sentences 5. Final thought 2. Thesis statement 4. Summary
Although they were invented almost a hundred years ago, for decades cars were only owned by the rich. Since the 60s and 70s they have become increasingly affordable, and now most families in developed nations, and a growing number in developing countries, own a car. While cars have undoubted advantages, of which their convenience is the most apparent, they have significant drawbacks, most notably pollution and traffic problems. The most striking advantage of the car is its convenience. When travelling long distance, there may be only one choice of bus or train per day, which may be at an unsuitable time. The car, however, allows people to travel at any time they wish, and to almost any destination they choose. Despite this advantage, cars have many significant disadvantages, the most important of which is the pollution they cause. Almost all cars run either on petrol or diesel fuel, both of which are fossil fuels. Burning these fuels causes the car to emit serious pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide. Not only are these gases harmful for health, causing respiratory disease and other illnesses, they also contribute to global warming, an increasing problem in the modern world. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (2013), transportation in the US accounts for 30% of all carbon dioxide production in that country, with 60% of these emissions coming from cars and small trucks. In short, pollution is a major drawback of cars.
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A further disadvantage is the traffic problems that they cause in many cities and towns of the world. While car ownership is increasing in almost all countries of the world, especially in developing countries, the amount of available roadway in cities is not increasing at an equal pace. This can lead to traffic congestion, in particular during the morning and evening rush hour. In some cities, this congestion can be severe, and delays of several hours can be a common occurrence. Such congestion can also affect those people who travel out of cities at the weekend. Spending hours sitting in an idle car means that this form of transport can in fact be less convenient than trains or aeroplanes or other forms of public transport. In conclusion, while the car is advantageous for its convenience, it has some important disadvantages, in particular the pollution it causes and the rise of traffic jams. If countries can invest in the development of technology for green fuels, and if car owners can think of alternatives such as car sharing, then some of these problems can be lessened.
*** It is worth using a checklist for discussion essays, so you can check your writing.
ITEM
COMMENT
The essay begins with general statements
There is a clear position
Definitions are given if needed
The essay has clear thesis statement
One or more advantage paragraphs are included (including clear transition)
One or more disadvantage paragraphs are included (including clear transition)
The conclusion includes a summary of the main points
The writer's opinion is given
There is a final thought, which relates to the points in the essay
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REFLECTIVE REVISION: UNIT 2 PART 1 » Reflection Spot_ 1.1. Refer to the unit and write down…
3 important facts
2 interesting ideas
1 insight about yourself as a learner
1.2. Write down a point that …
• encouraged you to think about …
• made you more aware of …
• made you change your attitude to …
2. Make sure you can answer these questions.
Question How do I define edutainment? What is emotional literacy? Do I understand the specifics of an academic essay? Do I remember the structural elements of an academic essay?
3. Continue ONE of the following sentence stems using key words or phrases.
1. I find the concept of edutainment (circle the chosen one) appealing / not very appealing because …
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2. The primary goal of education is …
3. As a student I am most (circle the chosen one) preoccupied with / satisfied
with / eager to / hopeful for / anxious about / …………… (your own suggestion) …
4. Comment on ONE of the pictures below. What future trends in education do they illustrate?
https://member.1871.com/event/4987
https://bold.expert/the-social-robot-teacher/
https://www.rasmussen.edu/student-experience/college-life/pros-and-
cons-online-classes/
The Economist cover
PART 2 » Q&A_ 5. Make up 3 questions using the frames below and discuss them in group. 1. What are the main features of ………………………………………….……? 2. In what ways is … different/similar to ………………………………………? 3. What is the key concept/moral in ………………………………………….…? 4. What is wrong with ………………………………………………………...…? 5. What is the major contributing factor to ……………………………..…………? 6. What consequences might follow if ………………………..……………? 7. How might we prove …………………………………………………………?
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6. Look at the headlines below and think about positive and negative implications of robots as teachers.
PART 3 » Vocabulary Spot_ 7. Suggest a word to complete the gap.
1. Computer games used to ………………… primarily to boys. 2. There was a head-on ………………… between two cars. 3. If you ………………… further information, feel free to contact me at any
time. 4. Stock prices pushed sharply higher this afternoon in ………………… with
a rise in the dollar. 5. People can do something about it by refusing single-use plastic packing and
opting for ………………… friendly products instead. 6. The number of staff has ………………… from 217,000 to 114,000. 7. They failed to consider the wider ………………… of their actions. 8. God, you're so fixated on your pet …………………. 9. There are good opportunities for ………………… in the firm if you have
the right skills. 10. A comet colliding with the earth may have caused the mass
………………… of the dinosaurs. 11. The stock market is seen as a leading ………………… of economic
growth. 12. We aim to provide you with both ………………… and practical
knowledge of your subject.
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VOCABULARY OF THE UNIT ADVANCE
We live in an age of rapid technological advance. Recent advances in technology have made the procedure safe. That book was an advance towards a better understanding of God. Enemy advances had forced them to retreat into the mountains. Galileo's ideas were well in advance of the age in which he lived.
ADVANCEMENT
I congratulated Mary on her advancement to the position of Supervisor. In the last decade, cancer research has yielded significant advancements.
AMBIENCE The pub had a comfortable ambience. He enjoyed the relaxed ambience of the city.
ANIMATE v
A smile suddenly animated her face. Sport was the only thing that really animated him.
ANIMATE adj
Children quickly learn to distinguish between animate and inanimate motion. animate beings
ANIMATEDLY People were talking animatedly.
ANIMATION
The electronic dictionary included some animations. She talked about her new job with great animation.
APPEAL v
Appeal directly to the public, answer their questions. The government appealed to the British people for help. The ad is designed to appeal to female voters. He has decided to appeal to the European Court. They needed to appeal to his sense of justice.
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APPEAL n He made an emotional appeal to voters. The Beatles have never really lost their appeal. We are trying to broaden the appeal of classical music. The court dismissed his appeal against the refusal of his asylum claim. I relied on an appeal to his finer feelings.
APPEALING
The large salary made their offer even more appealing to him. APPEALINGLY
The dog looked up at her appealingly. COLLIDE
The car collided head-on with the van. They regularly collide over policy decisions.
COLLISION Wind and ice were blamed for the collision involving up to 12 vehicles. The problem comes from a collision between two opposing points of view.
DECLINE v
Support for the party continues to decline. Sales of whole milk declined by 4 per cent. The city declined in importance in the nineteenth century. - in popularity/value/number We politely declined her invitation. I absolutely decline to discuss my dealings with him or anyone.
DECLINE n
a sharp/steep/rapid decline a steady/gradual decline There has been a 5 per cent decline in student numbers. They have experienced decades of economic decline. Industry in Britain has been in decline since the 1970s. We are witnessing the decline and fall of a great civilization.
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DEMISE The war brought about the industry's sudden demise. The demise of the typewriter in this computer age was inevitable. His sudden demise was a shock to the community.
EMBRACE
She embraced her son warmly. Soccer has become more widely embraced by Americans. Decisions were made by reaching a consensus embracing all sectors of the financial community.
EMERGE
She finally emerged from her room at noon. It emerged that the company was going to be sold. The answer to the problem quickly emerged. After the elections opposition groups began to emerge. The world is only slowly emerging from recession.
EMERGENCE
Albania's emergence from its long period of isolation EMERGENCY
The government has declared a state of emergency following the earthquake. They are well trained to deal with emergencies.
EMERGENT
- nations/states
EMERGING He also analyses the industry to identify emerging technologies. - economies/democracies an - artist / talent
EXTINCTION The mountain gorilla is on the verge of extinction. Will technology in music drive creativity to extinction?
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GRAPH The graph shows how house prices have risen since the 1980s. The vertical axis of the graph shows the percentage of species affected.
GRAPHICS
The screen can display simple graphics as well as text. IMPLICATION
The development of the site will have implications for the surrounding countryside. You need to consider the legal implications before you publish anything. I resent the implication that I don't care about my father.
INDICATE
Research indicates that eating habits are changing fast. These findings clearly indicate that the scheme has improved pedestrian safety. These figures indicate to me that the company is in serious trouble. He indicated where the furniture was to go. You are allowed 20 kg of baggage unless indicated otherwise on your ticket.
INDICATIVE
Their failure to act is indicative of their lack of interest. The rise in unemployment is seen as indicative of a new economic recession.
INDICATOR
Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation. Level of education is actually a poor indicator of ability to run a business well.
PET THEORY REQUIRE
Deciphering the code requires an expert. True marriage requires us to show trust and loyalty. The situation required that he be present. All candidates will be required to take a short test. These are the conditions required under the terms of the agreement.
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REQUIREMENT All products can be customized to suit your specific requirements. Our immediate requirement is extra staff. What is the minimum entry requirement for this course? She kept herself up to date with financial affairs, an essential requirement of her job. to meet / fulfil / satisfy the requirements
TANDEM
The two systems are designed to work in tandem. Two designers worked in tandem on the plans. Stock prices pushed sharply higher this afternoon in tandem with a rise in the dollar.
THEORETICAL
The first year provides students with a sound theoretical basis for later study. We aim to provide you with both theoretical and practical knowledge of your subject. It's a theoretical possibility.
THEORIZE The study theorizes about the role of dreams in peoples' lives. Much of the seminar was spent theorizing on the role of government. Several scientists have theorized that the dinosaurs were wiped out by climate change.
THEORY
He developed a new theory about the cause of stomach ulcers. There are many theories on human behaviour. She has written a book explaining the theory behind her art. According to the theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light. This is all theory so far…you'll need to back it up with facts. This is your chance to put theory into practice.
