1.True or false? Why?
True or false: Brainstorming, using abbreviations and omitting articles and other unimportant words are all useful techniques when taking notes.
False.
Brainstorming is used to generate ideas before writing.
What is the "golden rule" for when we can, and cannot, use present perfect?
Present perfect is a present tense, so it can only be used to describe events which happened in an unfinished time period, or that connect to the present. It cannot be used to describe things that started and finished in the past.
Explain the word "synonym" and give an example.
A synonym is a word or phrase that has a similar meaning to another word. For example, "shut" is a synonym of "close".
You have 5 minutes to summarise the following text in one concise sentence:
There are numerous reasons why people choose to live on Hainan. Some people come here for the tropical climate and relaxed island lifestyle. Others are attracted by the opportunities for surfing and other outdoor activities. And many opt to study at the prestigious HNU or other educational establishments.
Example summary:
Some people live on Hainan because of its tropical weather, lifestyle and opportunities for outdoor sports, while others come here to study.
True or False: Present continuous is used to talk about future schedules and timetabled events.
False.
Present SIMPLE is used in this way. For example:
The train ARRIVES at 6pm.
The class STARTS at 7.40am.
You see a person walking along, looking at their phone, heading straight towards a big hole in the ground. You shout a warning:
"Look out! You..."
Complete the sentence with the most appropriate future form, and explain your choice.
"Look out! You ARE GOING TO fall down that hole!"
BE GOING TO is used to make predictions based on present evidence.
In the context of writing, what does "register" mean?
Register means the degree of formality that we use in our writing. For example, we use informal register when messaging our friends, and formal register when writing an essay in an exam.
You have 5 minutes to summarise the following text in one concise sentence:
As far as numbers of spectators, football is the number one sport in almost every nation, on every continent, all around the globe. From the youngest child, through teenagers, young adults, all the way to the elderly, people of all ages, both men and women can be found cheering on their favourite team, waving scarfs and singing songs at stadiums wherever two teams play each other.
Example summary:
Football is the number one spectator sport globally, amongst men and women of all ages.
True or False: Essays are marked on three main criteria.
False.
Essays are marked on FOUR main criteria:
1. Task response
2. Coherence and cohesion
3. Grammar
4. Vocabulary
Rewrite the following sentence using passive voice:
I have been studying this problem for some time.
Is the passive form of this sentence commonly used?
The problem has been being studied for some time.
The passive form of present perfect continuous is uncommon.
Explain what "to paraphrase" means, and why we do it in academic writing.
To paraphrase means to use your own words to explain what someone else has written or said. It is used to avoid plagiarism, to show we understand something, or to clarify meaning.
You have 5 minutes to write a concise, one-sentence summary of the following introduction to a magazine article:
As the global population rises, people are becoming increasingly concerned about how we will feed future generations. Some argue that switching to a vegetarian diet is the best way to avoid environmental devastation and mass starvation. Others believe that we have evolved as meat-eaters and should continue to do so. In this article we will present the shocking facts that we believe prove that the future of humanity is vegan.
Example summary:
The author believes that the problem of feeding a rising global population can best be solved by people adopting a vegan diet.
True or false: When writing a conclusion to a "for and against" essay, you should summarise the side of the argument that you agree with and introduce your opinion.
False.
You should summarise BOTH sides of the argument, refer to the essay prompt and CONFIRM your opinion.
We use HAD + ___________ to make ___________ simple. It is used to describe things that finished before another past event.
We use HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE to make PAST PERFECT simple, It is used to describe things that finished before another past event.
What should a good thesis statement include? Name two common problems with thesis statements.
A thesis statement should respond to the essay prompt, possibly paraphrasing it to demonstrate comprehension, and clearly express your view or intention.
Common problems include: being too general, making a simple announcement, stating an obvious fact, expressing a personal opinion, asking a question, using more than one sentence, and being too narrow or specific.
You have 5 minutes to summarise the following text in a single concise sentence:
There are numerous techniques and theories that claim to be the ultimate guide to learning a new language. Some claim that immersing yourself in a foreign-language environment is the best way to pick up a new language, while others insist that organised, regular academic study is the only way to achieve true proficiency. As in most cases, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and different things work for different people; ultimately, experiment a little, and whatever works for you is the best technique to adopt!
Example summary:
There are many ways to learn a foreign language, and experimenting to find which ones suit you is recommended.
True or false: The first sentence of every paragraph must be the topic sentence, containing all the information we need to understand the main idea in that paragraph.
False.
A well-written paragraph should have a topic sentence that includes or introduces the main idea of that paragraph, but it might not include ALL the information required for comprehension, and it is NOT always the first sentence in the paragraph.
Complete the paragraph using the best combination of present perfect simple/continuous and past simple/continuous.
In 1957, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary _______(reach) the summit of Mount Everest for the first time. People ________(climb) the mountain ever since, and around 4000 ________(repeat) the feat of Norgay and Hilary in reaching the top.
In 1957, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary REACHED the summit of Mount Everest for the first time. People HAVE BEEN CLIMBING the mountain ever since, and around 4000 HAVE REPEATED the feat of Norgay and Hilary in reaching the top.
What is a funnel introduction? What should go at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of a funnel introduction?
A funnel introduction is one type of introductory paragraph that we can start an essay with.
It should begin with a general introduction to the topic.
The middle section should include more specific detail about the topic of the essay.
The final sentence should be a thesis statement.
You have 5 minutes to summarise the text below in a single concise sentence.
What is love? Is it that "Many splendored thing" that Shakespeare wrote of, as unique and differing in its myriad manifestations as the people who experience it? Or perhaps its secret lies in chemical secretions and hormonal surges occurring deep within our brains, a purely scientific phenomenon devoid of any romantic meaning? In the latest in her series of in-depth analytical essays, feature writer Mary Kwon will attempt to find out.
Example summary:
The writer will investigate whether love is a romantic phenomenon that is different for everyone, or whether it has a more prosaic, biochemical basis.