instructor pack - bel writing -new version

PART 1 SYLLABUS

1. Course Overview

Writing Skill for Basic English Language is the writing course book which is specifically

compiled for the official students of English with a low intermediate ability in English of the

Foundation Studies Department, Hanoi University.

Writing Skill for Basic English Language focuses on helping students recognize and make

various kinds of sentences. Students then learn and write the types of paragraphs that are

common in academic context. They practise writing topic sentences, supporting ideas and

concluding sentences, organizing paragraphs and using appropriate vocabulary, grammar,

and transition devices in the paragraph body. On finishing this, they apply what they learn

about paragraphs to essay writing. They work on developing and supporting a thesis

statement, organizing an outline from which to write an effective essay. They will study 3

patterns of essay organization, namely logical division of ideas, cause-effect and

comparison-contrast.

2. Course Objectives and Outcome

The curriculum materials of this course are selected to accomplish the following:

- Understand different kinds of sentences: simple, compound, and complex sentences

- Build accurate sentences

- Create various types of paragraph

- Understand how to organize a good essay

- Understand patterns of essay organization

- Write an essay using logical division of ideas, cause - effect and comparison - contrast

relationship.

We seek the following outcome: The students will be able to write good sentences, various

paragraphs, and good essays

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3. Books and Materials

Textbooks for classroom activities and homework (student use):

- BEL Writing Team (2008) Writing Skill for Basic English Language. Foundation Studies

Department, Hanoi University, Hanoi.

Suggested Reference Materials (to be purchased separately, if needed):

- Alice Oshima & Ann Hogue, Writing Academic English, the second edition

Materials for lesson planning and handouts (teacher use):

- Evans, V. (2000) Successful writing, Express Publishing.

- K C Lee & Happy Goh (2007), Effective college writing, The McGraw Hill.

4. Proposed Class Time Schedule

Writing Skill for Basic English Language has been scheduled to meet twice a week, for a

total of 5.0 academic hours.

5. Assessment

Homework: Homework will be assigned and checked for every class meeting.

Completion of the homework is compulsory. Students who have not completed all the

homework will be marked absent. Students who are absent for more than 20% of class

time are not permitted to receive marks for the term.

Examinations: ONE examination will be administered to students at the end of

the term with the components as follows.

End-of-Term Writing Examination

(1) Sentence making and paragraph writing

(2) IELTS Writing task 1

6. Methodological Principles

There are many ways to teach writing to English language learners, but most of them are based

on a recursive system of writing; that is, the learners pre-write, analyze, write, revise, and

rewrite. Whatever the approach is, students should be active participants in their leaning process.

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Practising seems to be the key factor to succeed in learning writing skill. Therefore, students

need to practise by different ways. In class, for example, there are peer editing and group

discussions in which students can exchange their work with their friends. For homework,

students complete and edit their brainstorming and write a rough first draft, all of which they

bring to class. They then hand in the second draft, together with their notes, first draft, and peer

review, in the next class period. Sometimes, the hardest part of writing is deciding what to say.

Thus, students are advised read a lot of models.

7. Framework for BEL Writing Syllabus ◘ 2 lessons //5 academic hours per week

WeekClass

Topic / Theme Skill Focus Activities

WK 1

Orientation and Needs analysis Introduction to Academic writingUnit 1: Sentences

- identify and write simple,

compound, and complex

sentences;

- write sentences that use a series

- use sentence variety to achieve

more interesting writing.

Lecture:Activity: individual and group work

Homework for Next Class Session

WK 2Unit 2: The particulars of a sentence

- be aware of clarity, coherence,

completeness and unity in

sentences;

- write effective sentences with

appropriate sentence length;

- use effectively words in sentences;

- proofread

- and ensure grammatical

consistency.

Lecture:Activity: individual and pair work


3

WeekClass


W3

Unit 3: Improving sentence structure

- identify appositives in sentences;

- create sentences using appositives;

- use conjunctive adverbs to show

the correct relationship between

two clauses in compound

sentences;

- distinguish between conjunctive

adverbs and transitions

- write sentences using verbals.



WK 4

Unit 4: Introduction to paragraphs and writing the topic sentence

- understand the parts of a

paragraph; and

- identify and write good topic sentences.

Lecture:Activity: pair work, group work


WK 5Unit 5: Writing supporting ideas and the concluding sentence

- understand methods of paragraph

support and development;

- write good supporting ideas;

- write good concluding sentences;

and

- understand about unity and

coherence.


Homework for Next Class SessionWK 6 Unit 6: Introduction to

essay writing and outlining- understand the structure of an

essay and how the main parts of an essay correspond to the main parts of a paragraph

- write an outline for an essay.


4

WeekClass



WK7Unit 7: Introductory and concluding paragraphs

- write the introductory paragraph for an essay

- write the concluding paragraph for an essay.



WK 8Unit 8: Essays using logical division of ideas

- understand how to logically divide the ideas for an essay;

- learn the language used in introducing the ideas logically

- write an essay using the logical division of ideas.

Lecture:Activity: Individual and Pair work


WK 9Unit 9: Cause – Effective essays

- understand the structure of an essay which discusses causes and effects;

- learn the language used in indicating cause and effect structure; and

- write an essay developing causes and/or effects confidently.

Lecture:Activity: individual and Pair work


WK1 0

Unit 10: Comparison – Contrast essays

- understand the structure of an essay which discusses the difference and/or similarities between two; e.g., objects, people, jobs, or concepts;

- learn the language used in presenting differences and similarities

- write an essay presenting differences and similarities.

Lecture:Activity: group discussion.


5

WeekClass


WK 0 At-Home Review // No Class Meetings END-OF-TERM EXAM – Saturday morning

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PART 3 SUGGESTED ANSWERS

SECTION 1 writing sentences

UNIT 1: SENTENCES

Activity 1:

1. F 6. S

2. F 7. S

3. S 8. F

4. F 9. S

5. F 10. F

Activity 2:

1. A 10. B 19. C

2. C 11. A 20. A

3. D 12. C 21. C

4. C 13. B 22. A

5. A 14. C 23. D

6. B 15. A 24. D

7. C 16. C 25. A

8. B 17. C

9. C 18. B

Activity 3: Students’ answers will vary.

Activity 4: Chua co Key

1. Because she had a demanding job, she did not have time for her family.

2. Camping in the mountains or beaches is not expensive, but it is not safe!

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3. Foreign travel is expensive even though medical assistance is not required.

4. Travelers must know the tipping standards of foreign countries unless they do not want to

be embarrassed.

5. Russia also sells flights in fighter jets while China markets sessions firing machines guns

and anti-aircraft guns to foreign tourists.


UNIT 2: THE PARTICULARS OF A SENTENCE

Activity 1:

1. This increase in the number of residents means more money for the state.

2. More public funding will result in better facilities and services for the state’s current

residents.

3. However, is this increase in population really such a good thing for the state?

4. Some conservationists worry about environmental damage in the everglades.

5. These floridians are concerned that the state is not able to handle more people.

Activity 2:

1. Clubs are used by golfers.

2. English is studied all over the world.

3. Tennis and volleyball are played on courts.

4. Paper is made from wood.

5. Medicines are bought at the drugstores.

6. Taxes are collected by the government every year.

7. The apartment is furnished by the landlord.

8. The rooms are cleaned once a week.

9. My car is fixed by a mechanic on Green Street.

10. The mail is delivered in the afternoon.

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Activity 3:

1. The doctor understood neither the patient nor the disease.

2. Walking through old castles, talking with people, and eating in pubs makes a visit to

England a memorable experience.

3. Underwater photography means buying good equipment, having patience, and knowing

about light refraction.

4. By using a helicopter in their logging operation, the Siller Company avoids destroying

young trees and creating erosion-causing skid trails.

Or

By using a helicopter in their logging operation, the Siller Company avoids the

destruction of young trees and the creation of erosion-causing skid trails.

5. The objectives of writing are to be brief, to communicate clearly, and to create sentences

that will not offend your reader.

Activity 4:

1. The article in question was about flight attendants who were striving for a new

image. It was a special report that described the typical sex exploitation you find

in the airline business. The authors said that the skies were not so friendly

because people thought of them as sex symbols. They wanted you to view

attendants as professionals in the future.

2. No matter what it is, if you can buy it, you can also find out how good it is, or if

something else is better. Many buyers work for private research groups, and

testing things is their job. This expert testing can be a big help to you or anyone

else who want to buy something. Reports of tests done by these experts are

published in magazines and in special customer guides. You’ll find them in your

library and on newsstands. The two best known monthly consumer magazines are

Consumer Reports and Consumer’s Research Magazine. There’s no reason for

anyone to buy ‘blind’. There is much expert help written every year.

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Activity 5:

1. Sam visited several countries on his vacation: Spain, France, Germany, England, and

Nova Scotia.

2. Frank bought a lot of ingredients for his casserole: noodles, a can of tomato sauce,

mozzarella cheese, and a pound of ground beef.

3. The new movie will be shown at the theatre at various times: in the afternoon at 3:15

and 5:15, and at night at 7:15 and 9:15.

4. Juanita is considering several possibilities for a career: law, medicine, and teaching.

5. There are several different types of dictionary: monolingual dictionary, small pocket,

and electronic dictionary.

UNIT 3: IMPROVING SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Activity 1:

1. The raise, the first one in years, made the workers very happy.

2. The new copier, an automated wonder, intimidates many of the office employees.

3. The corn farmers had only two problems last years: hungry grasshoppers and high

interest rates.

4. The music teacher and three students – Gina, Charles, and Steve – were in the building

when the earthquake struck.

5. One of the company’s vice presidents, Vermon Winton, argued for the expansion plan.

Activity 2:

1. Many tourists from other countries visit Ha Long Bay, a spectacular natural wonder.

2. Mr. Van-Trao, a new employee, wrote a flawless progress report last week.

3. Audiences filled the theatre each night to see the play by Mamet, a very popular

playwright.

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4. Neil Armstrong, the first man who walked on the moon, is a native of Ohio.

5. The Ba Na Hill in Da Nang, one of our nation's most popular tourist attractions, is

breathtaking to behold.

Activity 3, 4, 5: Students’ answers will vary

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SECTION 2 WRITING A PARAGRAPH

UNIT 4: INTRODUCTION TO PARAGRAPHS

Activity1:

1. Vietnam is a very interesting country to visit.

2. Golden fish is an excellent pet.

3. My brother and I have very different personalities.

4. Learning English is very necessary for Vietnamese students now.

5. One of the most valuable tools for students is the Internet.

6. Tennis is my favorite sport because it is exciting to watch.

7. Winter is the best time to travel in Switzerland.

8. One good way to learn another language is to live in a country where that language is

used.

9. Reading a story is very different from seeing it as a movie.

10. There are several ways to reduce the traffic congestion in Hanoi.

Activity 2:

1. Owing an automobile in the big city is very expensive.

2. There are a lot of problems for foreign students. √

3. There are many reasons to visit Ha Long Bay. √

4. Valentine’ Day makes people feel bad if they are alone. √

5. Living in a dormitory can be an interesting experience. √

6. Alcohol is not good for your health. √

7. The spread of AIDS can be slowed by educating the public. √

8. Nha Trang attracts a lot of tourists because of its beautiful beaches and wonderful

landscapes.

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9. Television has both positive and negative effects on children.

10. Adventure travel is the hot trend now. √

Activity 3:

1. Soccer

Possible topic sentence: I love playing football the most because of two main reasons

2. IELTS exam

Possible topic sentence: If you want to have high grades in IELTS exam, the following

tips may help you.

3. Education

Possible topic sentence: Primary education should be available to everyone

4. New York city

Possible topic: You shouldn’t go out at night in New York City because of the following

reasons.

5. Swimming

Possible topic sentence: Children should learn to swim for a number of reasons

6. Old people

Possible topic sentence: Getting on well with the old people is not very easy

7. Motorcycles

Possible topic sentence: Travelling by motorcycles must take several precautions

8. Music

Possible topic sentence: Jazz music is not very popular in Vietnam because of some

reasons.

9. Public transport

Possible topic sentence: There are several reasons for you to travel by public transport in

Hanoi

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10. Vacation

Possible topic sentence: By following these simple steps, you may have a wonderful

vacation on the beach.

Activity 4:

Paragraph 1: Having a part time job is a valuable experience for high school students

They can learn many things that are not usually taught in a classroom. For example, they can

learn how to work with older people. They also get experience with the business world.

Having a part time job gives students a sense of independence. They can also earn money to

use for college. Education is more than just school subjects. Leaning about the real world is

also important. (Source: Dorothy E Zemch & Carlos Islam, Paragraph Writing)

Paragraph 2: Academic advisors can help students with educational issues.

The main job of academic advisors is to help students find out about classes, choose courses,

and explore and select a major. For example, if a student is interested in computer science but

doesn’t know which majors or careers exist in this field, he or she can discuss this topic with

the advisor. An academic advisor can also help students locate other offices and department

in a school. Generally, students should make appointments to talk to their academic advisors

any time they need help with academic problems.

(Souce: Linda Robinson Fellag, Write Ahead)

Paragraph 3: One of the best cities to visit on the east coast of the US is Washington

It has some of the most interesting landmarks and tourist sports in the country. There are

many monuments to visit, such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument.

Washington is famous for its shopping, restaurants and nightclubs. Nearby, there is Virginia

Beach. It has nice beaches with features like horseback riding, sailboat rentals, and seafood

restaurants. People go there in great numbers in the summer. Washington D.C, is not as large

or as famous as New York City, but is has an appeal all its own.

(Souce: Linda Robinson Fellag, Write Ahead)

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Paragraph 4: I admired my grandmother for her strength and kindness

She was not very big. In fact, she was tiny and very thin. She was strong, though. She lived

by herself and still did a lot of the chores around her house. When I was a child, I saw her

almost every day, and she and I would talk about everything. My grandmother was also very

patient, and she would listen to all of my problems. She gave me very good advice whenever

I needed it. I didn’t need to be afraid to tell her anything, because she never got mad at me.

She just listened and tried to help. I also liked to spend time with her because she had

interesting stories to tell about her own childhood and life experiences. When I was young,

my grandmother was my favorite friend.

(Source: Dorothy E Zemach and Lisa A Rumisek, College Writing)

Paragraph 5: Brown rice and vegetables is a simple and delicious meal to make

First, cook the rice, following the directions on the package. Then, cut the vegetables into

one-inch pieces. Next, heat the oil, chili sauce, and garlic in a frying pan. After that, add the

vegetables and fry them until they are soft, but still a little bit crunchy. Now, it’s time to stir

in the cooked rice. After stirring the rice and vegetables together, add salt and pepper to your

own taste. Finally, put the rice and vegetables into a large bowl and serve it with freshly

chopped tomatoes and green onions on top. Now you are ready to enjoy your delicious brown

rice and vegetables.

(Source: Dorothy E Zemch & Carlos Islam, Paragraph Writing)

UNIT 5: WRITING SUPPORTING IDEAS AND THE CONCLUDING

SENTENCE

Activity 1:

1. Traveling to a foreign city requires some planning besides getting a passport. First of all, you

should buy a phrase book and learn a few key phrases in a foreign language. Next, you try to

read about the city beforehand. Read about what places in a foreign city you would like to

see. You also need to get a feeling for weather so that you can pack appropriate clothes.

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Taking a few precautions before you leave can make your trip to a foreign city more

enjoyable.

2. Valentine’s Day is a very expensive holiday. Typically, people who are in love with each

other exchange gifts. The gifts often cost a lot of money, sometimes a million dong.

Sometimes, you can’t afford a gift, your sweetheart might think you don’t care him or her.

Some less expensive gifts that people give are chocolate or flowers, but on this occasion,

they are more expensive than ordinary days. You might think of inviting your girlfriend to go

out to dinner on that evening. Unfortunately, most of the restaurants are full or you have to

pay more money for the seat. It seems that Valentine’s Day is one of the most expensive days

of the year.

3. In my opinion, people should be at least 18 years old before they are allowed to get a driver’s

license. First of all, people under eighteen should be concentrating on their study. It takes a

lot of time for teenagers to learn the rules of the road and how to handle a vehicle. It would

be better if they used this time to study. Second, statistics show that young drivers have more

accidents than older drivers. They tend to be careless, and a vehicle should be handled very

seriously. Finally, if teenagers cannot drive, they learn other ways to get around that may

lead to good lifelong habits, such as using public transportation, bicycling or just walking.

These habits may ultimately help the environment and most certainly will help teenagers to

be more physically active. In short, it is clear that there are many good reasons for a young

person to wait until age eighteen to get a driver’s license.

4. To succeed on the IELTS test which is one type of standardized test, it is important to keep

certain points in mind. First, you must know the subject area well. For example, to do well on

the IELTS test, you must be fairly fluent in English. That is, you cannot learn English just to

succeed on the test. Second, you should learn the format and test taking strategies used in the

test. Finally, it is a good idea to be rested and alert when you take the test. This means that

cramming all night before the test usually doesn’t help. You should arrive at the test awake

and clear-headed. In summary, if you remember these three basic points, you should do well

on the test.

5. Adventure travel is the hot trend in the tourism industry. Ordinary people are no longer

content to spend their two weeks away from the office resting on a sunny beach. More and

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more often, they are choosing to spend their vacations rafting down wild rivers, hiking

through steamy rain forests, climbing the world ‘highest mountains or going across slippery

glaciers.

Activity 2:

The first paragraph is better.

There are 2 irrelevant sentences in the second paragraph.

1) It has been proven that smoking is a direct cause of lung cancer.

2) Heart disease is also increasing.

Activity 3:

1. Acapulco is traditionally the best city in Mexico for vacations. The tourist can have fun all

day long in this city. In the morning he can go to the beach and swim in the ocean. In the

afternoon there are many museums and shops to keep the visitor busy. Bolivia also has some

nice cities to visit. In the evening, the vacationer can enjoy many restaurants, theatres, and

disco in Acapulco. After partying and dancing until dawn, the visitor can go to a beautiful

hotel for a long rest.

2. A nurse in a big hospital has many important responsibilities. There are many nursed

working in the Atlanta hospital. She has to feed and bathe her patients and make them

comfortable. She has to make sure she gives the right medicine to the right patients. Nurses

often go out to dinner with the doctors, A good nurse must keep up with medical science

by reading professional journals.

3. The English auxiliary is one of the most complicated items of grammar for a foreign student

to learn. One reason is that English uses the auxiliary for so many different things: questions,

negatives and question tags. The present perfect tense is also very difficult to understand.

Another problem is that the auxiliary does not always appear in positive sentences. Still

another problem is that there are both modal auxiliaries and regular auxiliaries. The German

auxiliary is much easier to learn. If foreign speakers don’t use the proper auxiliary, they

often cannot be understood.

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Activity 4:

Model paragraph

Another difference among the world’s sea and oceans is that the salinity varies in different

climate zones. For example, the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe is only one- fourth as saline as the

Red Sea in the Middle East. There are two reasons for this. First of all, in warm climates, water

evaporates rapidly; therefore, the concentration of salt is greater. Second, the surrounding land is

dry and, consequently, does not contribute much fresh water to dilute the salty sea water. In cold

climate zones, on the other hand, water evaporates slowly. Furthermore, the runoff created by

melting snow adds a considerable amount of fresh water to dilute the saline sea water.

Activity 5:

1. It’s clear that Hawaii attracts lots of tourists for its wonderful climate and beautiful

landscapes.

2. Indeed, Sue looked beautiful as she walked toward her new husband and her new life.

3. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because many so-called synonyms are

not really synonymous at all.

4. In summary, by driving carefully and maintain regularly, you can reduce gas consumption.

5. In conclusion, different people can enjoy themselves with different activities at the beach.

SECTION 3 WRITING AN ESSAY

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UNIT 6: INTRODUCTION TO ESSAYS AND ESSAY OUTLINING

Activity 1:

JOB SKILLS

I. Counselors today consider three major skill categories: interpersonal skills, mental skills,

and physical skills.

II. Interpersonal skills help us establish and maintain personal relationships.

A. Necessary in communication with others, either in person or by other means.

B. Very important for people in “helping” professions

1. doctors, nurses, teachers, and social workers

2. medical schools putting as much weight to interpersonal skills as they do to their

mental skills

III. Mental skills are the skills of the mind.

A. Necessary when we process information, come up with and think through ideas, and

plan how to transform ideas into actions

1. writers, academics, and researchers.

B. Important in any job that involves helping people solve problems

1. with skills as synthesizing, analyzing, perceiving and visualizing

2. important in many fields.

IV. We rely on our physical skills when we use our bodies.

A. Important for physical activities

B. Involvement of such things as stamina, dexterity, and physical strength

1. especially important for athletes, mail carriers, truck drivers, farmers, ranchers and

others who work outdoors

V. According to career counselors, it is important to think about our strengths in all three of

these skill areas when we are trying to find a career that fits our needs.

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Activity 2:

NUCLEAR POWER IS NOT A GOOD ENERGY SOURCE FOR THE WORLD

I. Nuclear power is not a good source of energy for the world.

II. Nuclear power is very expensive.

A. Nuclear fuel is expensive.

B. Nuclear power plants are expensive.

1. Cost of construction

2. Cost of training workers

3. Cost of safety features

III. Nuclear materials are not safe.

A. Nuclear fuels are dangerous.

1. Mining fuels produces radioactive gas.

2. Working with radioactive fuels can harm workers.

B. Nuclear waste products are dangerous.

1. Very radioactive

2. Difficult to dispose of or store safely

IV. There is a great possibility of accidents.

A. Nuclear power plants can fail.

1. Three Mile Island, U.S.A (1979)

2. Tarapur, India (1992)

3. Darlington, Canada (1992)

B. Workers can make mistakes.

1. Chernobyl, U.S.S.R (1986)

2. Kola, Russia (1991)

3. Tokaimura, Japan (1999)

C. Natural disasters can occur.

1. Earthquake: Kozloduy, Bulgaria (1977)

2. Tornado: Moruroa, The Pacific (1981)

3. Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan (2011)

V. Because of the cost and the danger, the world should develop different types of energy to

replace nuclear power.

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This model essay is intended for teacher’s reference.

These days, it seems like everyone is worried about how the world will meet its energy demands

when we have run out of oil and natural gas. Scientists and researchers are investigating such

power sources as solar energy, wind energy, and even energy from hot rocks beneath the earth’s

surface. However, there is one energy source that I believe should not be developed any further.

In fact, I believe that we should stop using it as soon as possible. Even though it can provide the

world with a source of electricity, nuclear power is not a good source because it is too expensive,

the materials used in the power plants are not safe, and there is a great possibility of accidents.

Nuclear power is not an economical energy source. First of all, nuclear fuel is expensive. It must

be taken out of the ground and transported great distances. As fuels are used up, they will

become even more expensive, just as oil and gas have. In addition, nuclear power plants cost a

lot of money to build and to operate because of the great care that must be taken with safety.

Because the people who work in nuclear power plants must be highly trained specialists, salaries

for workers are also high.

In addition to being expensive, nuclear materials are not safe. When uranium is taken out of the

ground, radioactive gas is released. This is not safe for the miners. Uranium itself is also not safe

because of its high radioactive. Because of these, people who work with nuclear fuels are at risk

of cancer. As nuclear power plants run, they create nuclear waste, which is also dangerous. It is

very radioactive, and it is difficult to dispose of or even to store safely. No town wants nuclear

waste buried nearby, and for good reason.

Most significantly, there is always a possibility of nuclear accidents. The power plants

themselves can fail when they get old or if they are not built correctly. The machinery can

malfunction, too. In 1979, problems at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the United

States resulted in radioactive materials escaping into the nearby community. More recently,

equipment failures were responsible for accidents in power plants in Tripura, India in 1992, and

Darlington, Canada, also in 1992. Both of these accidents led to leaks of radioactive material.

It is not just buildings and equipment which can fail, but people, too. Workers at nuclear power

plants can make mistakes. Perhaps the most famous of these incidents occurred at Chernobyl, in

the former U.S.S.R, in 1986. Radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident was recorded as far

away as Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and even Japan. Human error has been responsible for

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numerous power plant accidents. Some recent well-known examples include Kola, Russia, where

workers accidentally caused an equipment failure in 1991 and Tokaimura, Japan, in 1999. There

is no way we can guarantee that workers will not make mistakes again in the future.

Even natural disasters can affect nuclear power plants. An earthquake in Bulgaria in 1997

damaged the nuclear power plant in Kozloduy, and a big storm in the Pacific Ocean in 1981

washed nuclear waste from Moruroa out into the ocean. Of course, it is impossible for people to

predict or to prevent events like this. Different types of severe weather or natural disasters can

strike almost anywhere in the world.

It is true that oil and gas cannot supply all of the world’s energy needs much longer. However,

we cannot replace them with an energy source that is expensive and dangerous, from the time the

fuels are taken out of the round to even after the plant is running. Instead, we must develop

cheaper and most importantly, safer types of energy to power our world.

(Source: Dorothy E. Zemach and Lisa A. Rumisek, College Writing from Paragraphs to Essays

pages 65, 99-100)

Activity 3:

Topic 1: THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

I. Living in the twentieth century offers certain advantages such as a higher standard of living,

but it also has some disadvantages such as a polluted environment, the depersonalization of

human relationships, and the weakening of spiritual values.

II. The biggest advantage of living in the twentieth century is the high standard of living we

enjoy.

A. More money for less hard work

1. More office workers than manual laborers

2. Higher salaries

3. Increased government service

a. Social security

b. Unemployment benefits

c. Disability insurance

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B. Longer life expectancy

1. Better medical care

a. More hospitals, doctors, nurses

b. Advances in medical technology

2. Improved nutrition

3. More leisure time

C. Modern conveniences

1. Communication

2. Labor-saving machines in the home

III. One of the main disadvantages of living in the twentieth century is that we are living in

an increasingly polluted environment.

A. Air pollution

1. Smog

2. Nuclear fallout

B. Water pollution

1. Chemical wastes from factories

a. Dead fish

b. Contaminated drinking water supplies

2. Raw sewage from cities

3. Oil spills from ships

IV. A second disadvantage of living in the twentieth century is the depersonalization of

human relationships.

A. People and machines

1. Automated vending machines, banks, etc.

2. Tape recorded telephone answering

3. Computerized dating services

B. People and numbers

1. Social security numbers

2. Credit card numbers

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V. The final disadvantage of living in the twentieth century is the weakening of spiritual

values.

A. Materialistic culture

B. Faith in science instead of in region

VI. In conclusion, although the twentieth century has indeed given us a lot of advantages by

making us richer, healthier, and freer to enjoy our lives. It has, in my opinion, no made us

wiser. The twentieth century has also made our earth dirtier, our people less humane, and

our spiritual lives poorer. We should continue to enjoy the benefits of technological

advancements because they free us to pursue our interests and goals. However, we must

make a concerted effort to preserve our natural environment for future generations.

Moreover, we should take the time now to make our lives more meaningful in an

increasing impersonal, computerized world.

(Source: Oshima, A. & Hogue,A. Introduction to Academic Writing, (Third Edn.), Longman,

1998)

Topic 2: THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF HAVING A CAR IN A BIG CITY

I. Having a car in an urban area on the one hand provides the owner with comfort and

safety but on the other hand involves a lot of worry and expenses.

II. There are some advantages to owning a car in an urban area.

A. Much more comfortable

B. Much safer

III. On the other hand, there are some disadvantages to owning a car.

A. Expensive

1. Gasoline

2. Car insurance rates

3. Car maintenance, repairs and parking fee

B. a lot of worry and stress

1. Car get stolen or its parts might get stolen

2. Traffic jams

3. Accidents

24

IV. Owning a car in an urban area can be both advantageous by providing comfort and safety

and disadvantageous by causing worry and stress as well as a lot of expenses to the driver. In

my own opinion, owning a car is indispensable for getting around safely and freely in a big

town and its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages.

Topic 3: THE BENEFITS OF RUNNING

I. Introduction

A. Running is becoming an extremely popular sport for all ages.

B. Running is a great form of exercise because it helps people control their weight,

develops muscles, and improves mental and physical performance.

II. Weight control

A. Aids self-control

B. Burns calories

C. Encourages a healthy diet

D. Suppresses appetite

III. Muscular Development

A. Improves tone

B. Enhances contours

C. Increases strength

D. Improves endurance

IV. Psychological well-being

A. Aids sleep

B. Inhibits depression

C. Intensifies vitality

V. Conclusion

A. Benefits of running make it an excellent exercise.

B. People who want to improve their health should consider running.

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UNIT 7: INTRODUCTORY AND CONCLUDING PARAGRAPHS

Activity 1:

1. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer months are warmer than the winter months. Not

strong - It’s a fact. It cannot be discussed or explained.

2. When studying a second language, there are several ways to improve your use of the

language. Strong - It can be discussed or explained.

3. Half of the families in my country own a house. It’s a fact - not strong

4. In order to create a successful advertisement, it is necessary to consider three issues: who

should be targeted, where the ad should be placed, and what type of ad should be made.

Strong. It can be discussed or explained.

5. Some people prefer digital cameras, while others like traditional cameras. Not strong – not

clear

Activity 2:

1. Drug and alcohol abuse among teenagers can be traced to the following causes: lack of

parental supervision, lax enforcement of drug laws, and the social and psychological

problems of teenagers themselves.

2. In choosing a major, a student has to consider various factors, such as personal interest, job

opportunities, and the availability of training institutions.

3. Successful students have the following qualities: diligence, independence and initiative.

4. Poverty creates negative consequences for society such as illiteracy, crime and health

problems.

5. The large movement of people from rural to urban areas has major effects on a city’s ability

to provide housing, employment, and adequate sanitation services.

Activity 3:

Paragraph 1

1. New technology creates new opportunities for good and for ill.

26

2. Anyone with a computer, access to the Internet, and an E mail address has probably received

unsolicited, unwanted E mail, at least.

3. There seems to be no way to avoid “spam” as junk E mail is now called.

4. Worse, the anonymity of cyberspace has created opportunities for E mailers to send rude,

even abusive messages without having to take responsibility for their words.

5. In my opinion, there is a need to develop some rules of etiquette especially for this new

means of communication.

Paragraph 2

1. People in different cultures all over the world have different systems for family life.

2. In most cultures, people live in extended families, in which several generations share the

same house.

3. However, in others, the nuclear family is the norm, with only the parents and young children

sharing the same house.

4. In the United States, some couples are experimenting with still another system of family life:

living together without marriage.

5. If this new system becomes widespread, it could have enormous effects on American society.

6. On the positive side, .living together might reduce the divorce rate in the US; on the negative

side, it might lead to the eventual disintegration of the family unit altogether.

Paragraph 3:

1. What if you were to wake up tomorrow morning and have no memory of the past?

2. How would you function?

3. Would you even know who you were?

4. As unlikely as this may seem, it is not impossible.

5. More and more Americans are finding themselves suffering from memory loss, some of it

quite fast and without warning.

27

6. Although one contributor to memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease, there are other major

causes as well, which can be classified according to the symptoms they produce.

Paragraph 4:

1. “Meat and potatoes” is a phrase used in American English that means the centerpiece of a

meal.

2. Besides referring o food, “meat” signifies the most important part of anything.

3. It has been such a deeply ingrained, time-honored tradition for families to build a meal

around meat, that one can safely say that meat has become the heart of an American meal.

4. Meat gives us protein, and therefore, our strength.

5. However, this widely held belief that meat is necessary for health and vitality has outlived its

usefulness.

6. While some people continue to hold onto this outdated perception of the importance of meat,

others are letting go of it and becoming vegetarian.

7. That is, Americans are correcting their belief about meat and increasingly becoming

vegetarian for ethical, environmental and health reasons.

Activity 4:

1. For most people, technological development means an improvement in their life style.

However, while some people enjoy an easier life, others are usually made unemployed as a

result of new technology

2. Whenever technological progress is made, there are always people who complain about the

problems that this creates. It is not, however, the technological development which causes the

problems, rather the fact that societies do not make the necessary adjustments.

3. There are always people who will argue against any kind of technological change. However,

it is wrong to blame technology for our social problems.

4. Technology has brought many changes in people’s lives, not all of which are beneficial. In

fact, in many cases, people have suffered enormously because of these changes.

28

Activity 5:

1. Family structure has changed a lot in the last fifty years in Asia. The decrease in the number

of extended families and nuclear families has caused several social changes. Weak because

it does not give enough information about the topic

2. The number of businesses using the Internet for selling products has increased greatly in

recent years. Shoppers, too, are using the Internet in greater numbers to buy all types of

products, such as books, cameras, and clothing. Although e-business has become popular,

there are certain risks involved in Internet shopping that are a concern for both businesses

and consumers. Strong

3. Adjusting to another culture’s food can be a challenge for many travelers. The geography of

a country can greatly affect the typical foods that are eaten by its people. Weak – not clear

thesis statement


Activity 7:

a. Traveling abroad is a valuable learning experience.

People can learn many things by traveling to other countries.

b. Learning to play a musical instrument is very beneficial for children.

When children are exposed to music and are taught to play instruments such as the

piano or violin, there are many positive effects.

c. Creating and owning a business offers more advantages than working as an employee in a

company.

Despite the challenges, being an entrepreneur can offer more benefits than other types

of employment.

d. More houses should be adapted to use solar energy because it is clean and renewable.

The sun gives a constant, free supply of clean energy, which more homes should take

advantage of.

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e. The World Wide Web can be very useful for research, but it also contains a lot of incorrect

information.

The World Wide Web gives access to a huge amount of knowledge, but users

shouldn’t believe everything they read there.

Activity 8:

Before I traveled to the U.S., I thought that American food was just hamburgers and

French fries, hot dogs, steaks, pizza, apple pie, and cola. These foods are popular in the

States. However, during my travels, I discovered that there is so much more to eating in

America. People from every country in the world have made their home in the U.S.A.,

and they have brought with them their native foods. Even in small towns, you can find

restaurants serving the foods of China and Mexico, Italy and Vietnam. The United States

can be divided into six general regions that have their own characteristic foods

influenced by the cultures of the people who live there.

Concluding paragraphs

Clearly, it is difficult to say that there is only one type of American food. Every region of the

country has its own favorite dishes and cooking styles based on the ethnic influences in that

region. From Native Americans and the first European settlers to present-day immigrants, the

cuisine of the U.S.A continues to change with its changing population.

Activity 9:

1. The busy schedules that most adults face from day to day have created a growing health

problem in the modern world. Stress affects almost everyone, from the highly pressured

executive to the busy homemaker or student. It can cause a variety of physical disorders,

ranging from headaches to stomach ulcers and even alcoholism. Stress, like a common cold,

is a problem that can’t be cured; however, it can be controlled. A person can learn to control

stress by setting realistic goals, by enjoying a hobby and/or physical exercise, and by

maintaining good, warm relationships with family and friends.

2. New technology creates new opportunities for good and for ill. Anyone with a computer,

access to the Internet, and an E mail address has probably received unsolicited, unwanted E

mail, at least. There seems to be no way to avoid “spam” as junk E mail is now called.

30

Worse, the anonymity of cyberspace has created opportunities for E mailers to send rude,

even abusive messages without having to take responsibility for their words. In my opinion,

there is a need to develop some rules of etiquette especially for this new means of

communication.


UNIT 8: ESSAYS USING LOGICAL DIVISION OF IDEAS

Model analysis - Task:

GLOBAL MARKET STRATEGIES

A commonly heard phrase these days is “global village”. This expression generally refers to

information that is available everywhere in the world. In business and marketing, this phrase

can refer to global marketing and the selling of a product or service. Companies large and

small have been trying to break into new markets for many years, but (express a contrast

idea) some companies have been more successful than others. Some companies have a

broader knowledge of how to make their products sell to international customers. Selling a

product successfully in another country often requires making changes in the product such as

adding ingredients, replacing existing ingredients, and making completely new versions.

One way (introduce an idea) in which companies attempt to sell their products is by adding

ingredients to their original products to make them more appealing to the local consumers.

For example, (give an example) in Japan, Domino’s Pizza sells pizzas with toppings such

as (list some examples) mayonnaise, potatoes, and tuna. Because (give a reason) these

items are so popular with the Japanese, Domino’s can be almost certain that these specialty

pizzas will be more successful than their American counterparts. Domino’s has had similar

(give a similarity) success marketing their pizzas in India. Indian cuisine is known

worldwide for being spicy, and Domino’s used that knowledge to appeal to the target market

by creating pickled ginger pizzas. This method is often successful in enticing locals into

buying new products that contain a familiar flavor.

Another method of (introduce another idea) increasing sales abroad is replacing original

ingredients with others that are more appealing to the local consumers. For instance, (give

31

an example) the Frito-Lay company, when attempting to introduce its Chee-tos brand snack

foods in China, had to change its main ingredient, cheese. The Chinese are not big consumers

of cheese. As a result , (give an effect) the cheese was taken out of Chee-tos and replaced

with seafood. The new product, Seafood Chee-tos, is now one of the largest-selling snack

foods in China.

Finally, (introduce the final idea) some companies choose to make a completely new

version for the market. One of the most popular ice cream flavors to come out on the United

States market for Haagen- Dazs is Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Most people in the United

States can remember tasting their mother’s chocolate chip cookie dough before it was put in

the oven. However, (give a contrast) when Haagen- Dazs tried marketing this flavor in

Great Britain, the product sat on the shelves. This happened because, (state a reason) in

Britain, people were unfamiliar with the concept of eating raw cookie dough. As a result,

(express an effect) Haggen –Dazs held a contest to come up with a brand-new “British”

variety of ice cream. The winner was eventually labeled “Cool Britannia” and featured

vanilla ice cream, strawberries, and chocolate-covered Scottish shortbread. Would this flavor

be as successful in the United States? The answer is probably no because (state a reason)

Americans are not accustomed to eating the slightly salty shortbread that is so popular in

Great Britain.

It is evident that to be successful around the globe, companies must adapt their products to

suit the needs of their universal customers. Some common ways are to add local ingredients,

replace original ingredients or make brand-new versions of the original product. Without a

doubt, products such as Domino’s pizza and Chee-tos were able to succeed in these foreign

lands because (state a reason) the companies realized the importance of market research.

Because (give a reason) these fundamental market characteristics were taken into account,

these products flourished overseas.

Activity 1:

ATTITUDES TOWARD MONEY

Americans these days are very concerned with the economy. It seems more people are having to

learn to spend less and to spend wisely due to the hard times we are experiencing. However,

32

people’s attitudes toward money differ. Some attitudes toward money are reflected by the

following three types of people.

The first kind of attitude toward money is seen in those called misers. The misers accumulate

money in banks, if their income is large, or in the house stuffed in mattresses or under the living

room rug if they are low-income people. They seem almost obsessed with the idea of saving. The

misers also deprive themselves of many things and most live miserably in order to hoard their

wealth. For example, my ninety-year-old neighbor, having gained the sympathy of neighbors,

often collected groceries and money from them. She dressed shabbily and lived in an old

deteriorated house. However, after her death it was discovered that this old woman had left

thousands of dollars to the church and other organizations. She left nothing to her family.

Another kind of attitude toward money is typical of those who are referred to as spenders.

The spenders are people who cannot seem to hold on to their money. They have a tendency to

spend too much on too many unnecessary things. They are often too generous, making elaborate

gifts to friends and family. Credits cards in some spenders’ hands are often dangerous weapons.

They become addicted to using them only to regret it later when the bills come in and they are

unable to pay. Other spenders like to gamble, and this can also be destructive if it turns into a

vice. Many spenders do not necessarily throw their money away but give it to charities for good

causes, simply because they enjoy giving. My Uncle Mario is a big spender. He makes over

$25,000 a year, but he never has any money in his savings account because he spends his entire

paycheck each week on necessities and luxuries. Last week he spent $5000 on a new moped, not

because he needed one, but because he thought it would be fun to own one. As a result of his

spending, every year in April, he has to borrow money to pay his taxes because he has spent it

all.

The last kind of attitude toward money is found in those who are economizers. The

economizers are practical people who spend wisely, usually making use of a budget. They can

enjoy more and various material things and activities due to their careful utilization of funds.

They spend in moderation and save in moderation for their future retirement or the education of

their children. Parents are usually the best economizers. Take my mother as an example. My

mother, who budgets our money, resists the temptation to buy things we do not need and cannot

afford. Instead, she makes a point of saving a certain amount of money from each of my father’s

33

paychecks. As a result, we always have some money in the bank for emergencies and for

education expenses. When my brother started college, we had the money to pay for his tuition

and books.

In conclusion, economizers are what most of us are having to be in the 1980’s. The acute

problems of inflation, shortages, and low salaries in this nation are forcing us to be economizers.

It is the only way to be if we are to survive in the future. Hopefully, the misers and big spenders

will modify their extreme attitudes toward money and convert into economizers.


Activity 3: The following are some authentic essays written by students. The teacher can

use them as samples and give the students chance to give comments on the essays.

Authentic essay 1

KINDS OF STUDENTS

Nowadays, the number of students in our country is on the quick increase. However, students’

attitudes towards their study are quite different, which can be roughly classified into 3 groups,

namely positive students, neutral students and negative students.

The first kind of students is considered the best one. Students of this kind have an extremely

serious attitude towards their study. They are characterized by studiousness, frequent class

attendance and punctuality. To them, study is the most important thing on which they spend most

of their time. They may join in many activities outside university for entertainment, but with a

strict and suitable schedule. These students often have a strong motivation for their studying and

are actively engaged in obtaining new ideas from both professors and friends. They are, for the

most part, successful academic achievers. Unfortunately, this kind of students is relatively small

in number.

Unlike the positive students, the so-called neutral students are not very attentive in their study.

Although they do not have a serious attitude towards study, they do not extremely ignore it. They

do not consider their study the most important thing because to them, studying shares the same

role as some other interest or activities. These students still attend lectures regularly, but can

easily cut them due to some reasons whenever necessary. This kind of students often comes to

class as responsibility for them to take. They therefore do not appeal any interest in discussing

34

lessons or getting new opinions from friends. They just pay more attention to their study only

when the exams are coming. In general, neutral students often get average academic results and

this kind of students, according to what I have observed, makes up a large category.

The final kind of students is negative students whose characteristics are quite opposite to those of

the positive students. Neither do they have a strong motivation for their studying, nor do they

regard it as a responsibility for themselves to take. These students seem to be very indifferent to

their study. They often stay at home or take part in outside activities which, according to them,

are much more interesting. They find classroom a boring place and class attendance just a waste

of time; therefore, we rarely see them at class. Laziness can be considered the most distinctive

feature of these negative students and for this reason they often get bad academic results.

Fortunately, this group is in the minority.

In conclusion, students fall into 3 main groups as mentioned above. Obviously, the first kind is

the ideal one for every university. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of the universities to

make every effort to improve neutral students’ learning attitudes and strictly examine the

negative ones to force them to study. Also, it is positive students themselves who should create

an interesting atmosphere in class that can inspire the other students’ interest in attending class.

Written by Le Thi Phuong AV 01 Danang University

Authentic essay 2

KINDS OF VIETNAMESE NEWSPAPERS

Vietnamese newspapers can be classified into groups according to various criteria, such as area

of distribution, ages of the readers, socioeconomic class of their readers and days of publication.

Each of these different criteria will lead to more or less different groupings.

With regard to the area of distribution, a fairly clear distinction can be made between national

papers and local papers. The nationals, e.g. “Nhân Dân”, “Thanh Nien”, “Lao Động” are readily

obtainable in virtually all parts of Vietnam at the same time. On the other hand, local papers such

as “Đà Nẵng”, “Hà Nội Mới” serve a particular area, and they are rarely ordered outside that

area.

As regards the age of readers, we must recognize that according to there are, readers will choose

suitable newspapers for them. While most children enjoy reading “Nhi Đồng” or “Thiếu Niên

35

Tiền Phong”, a lot of teenagers enjoy reading “Hoa Học Trò” or “Mực Tím” newspapers. In

general, most adults are interested in more serious newspapers such as “Nhân Dân”, “Thanh

Niên” “Tuổi Trẻ” and so on.

Regarding the socioeconomic class of the readers, a classification on these lines will to a large

extent reflect the above distinction into quality and popular. This is because the quality papers

are mostly intended for the upper income groups, while the popular papers find their readers

among the lower socioeconomic groups. Thus a reader of “Kiến Thức Ngày Nay” or “ Khoa Học

và Đời Sống” which are quality papers, is likely to be an educated person with quite a good

income, while a rea der of “An Ninh Thủ Đô”, “Sài Gòn Tiếp Thị” is more likely to be a less-

well educated person with a lower income. This is clearly a broad generalization, for though in

the main it follows the facts.

As to the days of publication, most Vietnamese papers are either so-called “daily papers” e.g.,:

Tiền Phong” “ Người Lao Động”, “Tuổi Trẻ” or Weekly newspapers, like the “Tuổi Trẻ Chủ

Nhật”, ‘Phụ Nữ Cuối Tuần”. Local papers with small circulations, however, might appear only

once a week, or even less frequently, depending on the demand for them. Besides, there are

fortnight magazines such as “Kiến Thức Ngày Nay”, “Tri Thức Trẻ” or even monthly magazines

line “Nhà Đẹp” “Special English”

In conclusion, while all papers have certain individual characteristics, it is still possible to

classify them into different groupings according to certain general features which they share with

others. In other words, it is the diversity that improves the development of Vietnamese

newspapers and contributes to the increase the standard’s knowledge for your people.

Written by Pham Thi Ngoc Tram 99 1A 06 Danang University

Sample

THE SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

To be successful in a job interview (or for that matter in almost any interview situation), you

should demonstrate certain personal and professional qualities. You need to create a good image

in the limited time available, usually from 30 to 45 minutes. Furthermore, you must make a

positive impression which the interviewer will remember while he interviews other applicants.

At all times, you should present your most attractive qualities during an interview.

36

You should, for example, take care to appear well-groomed and modestly dressed, avoiding the

extremes of too elaborate or too casual attire. On the other positive side, clothes may be a good

leveler, putting you on a par with other applicants and requiring the interviewer to consider more

important qualifications. On the other hand, clothes which are too informal may convey the

impression that you are not serious about the job or that you may be casual about your work as

well as your dress. Clothes which are too elaborate, too colorful, or too expensive suggest that

you do not understand what behavior is appropriate for the job or that you are snobbish or

frivolous. The right clothes worn at the right time, however, gain the respect of the interviewer

and his confidence in your judgment. It may not be true that “clothes make the man”，but the

first and often lasting impression of you is determined by the clothes you wear.

Besides care for personal appearance, you should pay close attention to your manner of speaking.

Since speech is a reflection of personality, you should reflect confidence by speaking in a clear

voice, loud enough to be heard without being aggressive or overpowering. Your speech should

not call attention to itself, but it should reveal the individuality and ability of the speaker.

Obviously, you must speak without grammatical or dialect differences for which you might be

criticized or which might cause embarrassment to the employer. Although there are cultural

differences with respect to the formality of the job interview, your speech must show you to be a

friendly and pleasant person.

Speaking without a subject worth talking about will not impress anyone. You should be prepared

to talk knowledgeably about the requirements of the position for which you are applying in

relation to your own professional experiences and interests. Knowing something about the

position enables you to ask intelligent questions about the requirement for the job. The

interviewer can decide from the questions asked whether you are genuinely interested or

knowledgeable. You can comment on your own training, experience, and other qualifications in

relation to the special tasks of the position. The interviewer can determine whether your

background and potential seem to fit the position. The position for which you are applying is not

only the safest topic for discussion, it is essential that you demonstrate your understanding of the

requirements and your abilities in meeting these requirements.

Finally, to be impressive you must convey a sense of self-confidence and enthusiasm for work.

As already indicated, you demonstrate self-confidence by your manner of speech and dress. You

37

further show it by being prepared for the interview with information and questions about the

position. In addition, the way you enter the room, sit, look at the interviewer, and fill out

application forms and other papers may express self-confidence. The eagerness with which you

discuss the job rather than the salary may reveal your enthusiasm for work. You may express it

also through your questions and comments about working conditions and facilities. Of course,

your previous experience and success will tell the interviewers about your enthusiasm for work.

Both of these qualities - self-confidence and enthusiasm for work - are valued highly by all

interviewers.

The appropriately dressed job applicant indicates his sound judgment. His manner of speaking

suggests his friendliness and competence. His curiosity and information about the position he is

seeking demonstrate his sincerity and potential in the job. He exhibits self-confidence through

his knowledge, and he shows his enthusiasm for work. If you display these characteristics, with a

little luck, you will certainly succeed in the typical personnel interview.

(Source: Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, 1998, Introduction to Academic Writing, 3rd edn,

Longman.)

UNIT 9: CAUSE - EFFECT ESSAYS

Model analysis - TASK:

WHY PLASTIC SURGERY?

It seems impossible to imagine that the first cosmetic surgery was performed in antiquity.

By 3400 BC, Egyptians had already performed operations to reshape body tissues. Granted,

the procedure of plastic surgery has undergone many changes and advancements since then ,

but (express a contrast) one thing is clear. In today’s society, people still want to alter their

appearance for one reason or another. (give reasons) Just why are people tempted to

undergo plastic surgery? The main reasons are (give reasons) for personal satisfaction,

social acceptance, and professional advancement.

The majority of people who undergo aesthetic plastic surgery say that they are doing it

because (give a reason) they want to feel better about themselves. These are people who,

when they look in the mirror, see nothing but a huge nose or elephant ears. They do not

38

necessarily care about what others think; therefore, (state a consequence) they believe that

they are going to feel better about themselves after having plastic surgery. These operations

can range from small nips and tucks to complex makeovers. The bottom line is that the

patients have an internal desire to please themselves.

Another cause for wanting plastic surgery is to conform to social norms. For example,

(give an example) some women dream of appearing ‘model-like.” Consequently, (give an

effect) they may have fat injected into their lips. Men are more likely to have their breasts

reduced because they feel that their torsos are ‘unnatural” if their breasts are too meaty.

These types of operations are often reflections of the current trends in body types.

Perhaps the most bizarre reason for (give a reason) plastics surgery is for professional

development. While (state a contrast) this phenomenon is not widely discussed, there are a

number of people who alter their physical appearance in order to (state a purpose) be more

successful actors, dancers, or models. It is not uncommon to hear about starlets who have

breast augmentations or, less frequently, breast reductions performed. As a result of (state

an effect) these operations, these people can be more “marketable.”

A practice that has been around for almost three thousand years will certainly not disappear

any time soon. In fact, the number of plastic surgery operations is going steadily. However,

(introduce a contrast) before turning to the knife to alter physical appearance, it is

important to ask the simple question, “Why?”

Focus on effects

MARKETING HEALTH AND FITNESS

Americans spend between $30 and $60 billion a year on dieting. This amount is more than

the gross national product for Morocco! Such spending has not always been the case. Only

recently has the marketing boom on health, fitness and dieting infiltrated American

televisions, radios and magazines. The message is clear: getting healthy through diet and

exercise is a necessary part of life. As (state a reason) Americans continue to be bombarded

with these health-consciousness images, it is evident that the images have altered

Americans’ ideas about health. The current advertising trends in weight loss and fitness have

had both positive and negative effects . (introduce main ideas)

39

Perhaps the most positive effect of (introduce one idea) dieting and weight loss

advertising is an increase in education. For many years, Americans ate heavy foods cooked

only in butter or lard. In addition, (introduce another idea) exercise was considered

appropriate only for men. These trends change as (introduce a reason) television and radio

began promoting a healthier lifestyle that includes private gyms, low calorie foods, and

aerobics tapes, among other things. As a result of (state a reason) this advertisement,

Americans began to understand that diet, exercise and other preventive measures made them

healthier. They are now aware that heart disease and other illnesses can be controlled with

proper diet and exercise. Since (state a reason) the media’s attention to this phenomenon,

Americans are certainly healthier than they were in the recent past.

Although (introduce a contrast) the current trends in weight loss have made Americans

more conscious of their health, they have also led to increased public pressure. This is true

for teenagers, especially girls. Adolescents cannot escape the constant barrage of ads on

television and radio and in magazines and newspapers. While (introduce a contrast) some

teenagers take this new-found knowledge and begin eating more appropriate foods and

exercising regularly, others become obsessed with weight loss. As a result, (state a reason)

these young people can develop eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa to try

to emulate the physique of models and health promoters. In these cases, the focus on fit and

healthy bodies has a negative effect.

The financial effects of (introduce another idea) health industry ads cannot be avoided.

Americans spend billions of dollars each year trying to get fit. Consumers will spend

whatever they have in order to get the latest gym equipment, fat-free food, or diet

supplement pill. Because (state a reason) all these marketing strategies promote healthy

living, many people are spending excessive amounts of money on such products.

Consequently, (state a consequence) the diet industry continues to promote newer and

“better" products.

Marketing strategies have changes public opinion in many areas and the idea that everyone

should have a perfect body is a major example of this. Knowledge is power, and Americans

should learn as much as they can about health and fitness. Then they should use that

knowledge in healthful ways.

40

Activity 1:

Essay 1: Chain organization

SAD

When winter arrives, some people get sad, even suicidal.

Doctors have recently started to study the cause of a medical disorder that they have

appropriately named SAD, or seasonal effective disorder. People who suffer from SAD become

very depressed during the winter months. Their depression appears to be the result of a

decrease in the amount of sunlight they are exposed to. Doctors theorize that decreased sunlight

affects the production of melatonin, a hormone manufactured in the brain, and serotonin, a

chemical that helps transmit nerve impulses. Depression may result from the ensuring

imbalance of these two substances in the body. Also, doctors believe that a decrease in the

amount of sunlight the body receives may cause a disturbance in the body’s natural clock which

could, in turn, result in symptoms such as lethargy, oversleeping, weight gain, anxiety, and

irritability – all signs of depression.

Since absence of light seems to be the cause of this disorder, a daily dose of light appears to be

the cure. Doctors advise patients to sit in front of a special light box that simulates natural light

for a few hours every day.

In conclusion, the depressive effect of low sunlight levels may help explain the high suicide

rate in the Scandinavian countries, and more importantly, it may suggest remedy. When the

days grow short, turn on the lights.

Essay 2: Block organization

WOMEN’S LIBERATION

Since the middle of this century, women around the world have been seeking greater

independence and recognition. No longer content with their traditional roles as housewives and

mothers, women have joined together to create the women’s liberation movement. While the

forces behind this international movement vary from culture to culture and from individual to

individual, the basic causes in the United States can be traced to three events: the development

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of effective birth-control methods, the invention of labor-saving devices for the home and the

advent of World War II.

The first cause of the liberation of women was the development of effective birth-control

methods, freeing women from the endless cycle of childbearing and rearing. As a result of

having a choice as to when and if to bear children, women acquired the freedom and the time to

pursue interests outside of the home. Because of the development of birth control, women could

delay having children or avoid having them altogether; consequently, women had the

opportunity to acquire an education and/or pursue a career.

Another event was the development of mechanized labor-saving devices for the home,

resulting in more leisure time and freedom for women. For example, fifty years ago, a

housewife spent an average of twelve to fourteen hours per day doing housework. Due to the

invention of machines such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and dishwashers, a

housewife can now take care of her daily housework in about five hours.

The final event that, at least, in the United States, gave impetus to the liberation of women was

World War II. During the war, most men were serving in the military. Consequently, women

had to fill the vacancies in the labor force. Women by the thousands went to work in factories

and took over business for their absent husbands. This was a great change for the majority of

American women, for they discovered that they could weld airplane parts and manage business

as well as change diapers and bake bread.

These three events planted the seeds of great change in society, and the effects of this change are

being felt at all levels: in the family, in business, and in government.

One of the biggest effects of the greater independence of women today is being felt in the home.

The traditional husband-wife relationship is undergoing a radical transformation. Because so

many women are working, men are learning to share the household tasks of cooking, cleaning,

and caring for children. In most American families, the husband still earns most of the money

and the wife still does most of the housework. Nevertheless, the child-rearing system in the

United States is changing as a result of women’s increasing participation in the away-from-

home work force, The number of mothers going out to jobs tripled from 1950 to 1987 to more

than twelve million; as a result, millions of children are being reared by paid childcare workers

in infant, preschool, and after-school day care programs instead of by their mothers at home.

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The effects of women’s’ liberation are being felt not only in the home but also at the job site. In

1986, almost 48 million women age 16 and over were employed. This number represents 44 per

cent of the total paid work force in the United States. Most women still work in low-paying, low

status occupations as secretaries, salesclerks, elementary school teachers, and healthcare

workers. However, in the last two decades, more women have entered the new high-technology

industries; by 1986, for example, 34 percent of all computer programmers were women. There

has also been a slow but steady increase in the number of women who have risen to executive

and managerial positions in business and who have entered the traditionally male professions of

architecture, engineering, medicine, and law.

Politics and government are still other areas that are feeling the effects of the women’s

movement. Although the United States does not appear ready to accept a woman president as

have some other nations around the world, American women are being elected and appointed to

high public office in increasing numbers. The United States has women cabinet members,

women senators and congresswomen, women governors and women mayors. In 1984, Geraldine

Ferraro was the Democratic Party’s nominee for the office of vice president, the first woman so

nominated, but she was not elected.

In conclusion, women in the United States are acquiring greater independence, which is causing

sweeping changes at home, at work, and in government. Although American women do not yet

have the equality with men that women in some Western countries like Sweden enjoy, they are

making steady gains. The full impact of this process on society remains to be seen.

Activity 2:

Sample 1

BENEFITS OF COMPUTERS

We live in the age of technology. Every day, new technology appears, ranging from mini CDs

that contain entire encyclopedia to giant space telescopes that can send photographs of distant \

stars back to Earth. Off all the new technological wonders, personal computers have probably

had the greatest influence on the daily lives of average people. Through computers, we can now

talk to people in any country research any topic, work, shop, bank, entertain ourselves Personal

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computers have especially revolutionized communication and business practices in the past

twenty years.

Perhaps the most important effect of personal computers has been to expand our ability to

communicate with the outside world. A lonely invalid in Minnesota can talk with a similarly

house-bound person in Mississippi. School children in Manhattan can talk via computer to

school children in Moscow. A high school student can obtain statistics for a history paper from a

library in London. A singe compute user can send an email message to millions of people all

over the world with one keystroke. Computer users can get together in an on-line chat room to

discuss their interests and problems with others who have similar interests and problems. For

example, a person whose hobby is collecting antique guns can share information with other gun

collectors via computers. A person who is planning a vacation and wants to know the manes of

the best beaches in Hawaii can ask others who have already been there for suggestions. People

even start on-line romances in chat room! The possibilities of computerized communication are

indeed unlimited.

Besides improving communication, personal computers have made it possible to do business

from home. You can take care of personal business. For example, you can buy airline tickets,

send flower to a friend, pay your bills, buy and sell stocks, and even pay your taxes from your

home computer at any time of the day or night. This is a great convenience for people who are

busy during the day and for physically disabled people who find it hard to leave their homes.

Moreover, telecommuting – working at home instead of going to the office – has become a

choice for thousands of business people. Suzanne Carrelro, a financial manager for a large

company in downtown Manhattan, has telecom muted from her home in New Jersey for the past

two years. She goes to her office only once a week. Four days a week, she works at home and

communicates with her staff by computer. She says, “I am much more productive when I work at

home because there are no interruptions. I also don’t have to spend three hours travelling to and

from the office every day. I save myself time and I save my company money by telecommuting”.

In brief, the computer age has arrived, and it is changing our lives. Computers have made

communicating and doing business faster and more convenient, and they have greatly increased

our access to information. Just as the invention of automobiles and an unplanned consequence –

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the growth of suburbs – so will the invention of personal computers. We will have to wait and

see what these unintentional consequences will be.

(Source: Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. Introduction to Academic Writing, Third Edn., Longman,

1998)

PROBLEMS OF COMPUTERS

Technology brings problems as well as benefits to humankind. Since Henry Ford began mass-

producing automobiles in 1908, they have provided us with a cheap and convenient means of

transportation. However, they have also brought us traffic jams and air pollution. A technological

development, which is changing our lives as much as the automobile, is the personal computer.

Since the 1980s, personal computers have become common in homes schools and businesses,

and just as automobiles have brought unexpected problems, so have personal computers.

To begin with, communication by computer has caused some problems. Although we can easily

send a message to hundreds of people in an instant, we can also receive hundreds of messages

both wanted and unwanted. The lack of censorship in cyberspace is another problem that no one

has solved yet. Our expanded ability to communicate means that anyone with a computer can

communicate anything to anyone on any subject at any time. Therefore, a computer-literate child

can receive pornographic photos and listen to chat room conversations about sex. These

examples show that the computer revolution has created problems as well as benefits in the area

of communication

In addition to problems in communication, computers have also caused problems in business.

They have created excellent opportunities for computerized crime. Computer criminals used their

skill to obtain secret business information and steal money. For example, Kenvin Mitnick a

computer hacker from California obtained twenty thousand usable credit card numbers by

breaking into the computer files of a credit company. He also erased the accounting records of

another bi company before he was caught and arrested. In addition, banks worry that hackers will

learn how to transfer money out of customers’ accounts into their own. “So far, we have been

able to stay one step ahead of the hackers in this particular game”, said Charles Buckley a bank

spokesperson “but security is never one hundred percent in any business”.

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Moreover, the use to computer has depersonalized business. People are no longer customers:

they are account number. Companies do not seem to care what your name is they only want to

know your number. Face-to-face business transactions are no longer necessary. You can buy

almost anything you need by computer phone or fax. Also, as telecommuting becomes more

common, workers in the same company interact with each other less and less Someday it may be

possible to have a company of people who have never met face-to-face. Social isolation may be

an unexpected cost of the computer revolution.

It is clear that personal computers have made our lives easier but they have done so at a cost. As

with every new invention, there have been unforeseen consequences. It is up to us to find the

solutions to the problems as well as to enjoy the conveniences of this new tool.

(Source: Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. Introduction to Academic Writing, Third Edn., Longman,

1998)

Authentic sample The following is an authentic essay. The teacher can use this essay as a

sample and give the students chance to give comments on the essay.

CAUSES OF BAD HEALTH

Everyone naturally wants to have good health so that they are able to fulfill any task. However,

many people fail to take a proper care of their health. No doubt, these are likely to suffer from

many diseases. Bad health results from many reasons but the following are three most important

ones.

An unbalanced and poor diet is the initial cause leading to bad health. Some people are so busy

engaging in various activities that they do not have much time to pay attention to their meals. As

a result, their bodies cannot take in adequate vitamins such as vitamins C, for example. Some

people are easily to get cold when there is just a little change in weather.

Apart from a poor diet, ever working also weakens ones health. A workaholic works tensely and

continuously regardless of its negative effects on their health. Until they realize that they are

suffering from stress or asthenia, it is too late for them to improve their situation.

The last but not least cause of bad health is the environmental pollution. Environmental pollution

has serious effects on out health as it is becoming more and more severe. It is rather difficult for

us to avoid some diseases caused by the environmental pollution such as lung cancer.

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In brief, a wrong diet, workaholism and environmental pollution all lead to bad health. It is said

that health is the most valuable thing God gives us. Why do we try to make a lot of money

while our health is gradually destroyed like that? So in order to look after out health carefully,

we have to pay attention to what we eat, how we work and how to protect ourselves from being

affected by the environment.

Lê Thùy Linh 001AV08

UNIT 10: COMPARISON – CONTRAST ESSAYS

Model analysis – Task

SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES

A nation’s purpose in educating its children is to prepare them to become productive

members of society. Each country in the world has developed a system of education based

on its needs, economic resources, and traditions. One would think that industrial societies

such as the United States and the countries of Europe would have similar systems for

educating their children. However, a comparison of school systems in Europe and the

United States reveals several similarities but a great number of differences.

The educational systems of Europe and the United States are similar in a number of ways.

To begin with, elementary school classes look the same everywhere: There are about twenty

to twenty-two pupils per class, and the classes are coeducational. Also, there is one teacher

for all subjects for each grade (except in Scandinavia), and the majority of elementary

school teachers are women. In addition, the subjects taught at the elementary level are

basically the same everywhere: reading and writing, mathematics, introductions to the

sciences, music, sports, and art. The only major difference in the elementary curriculum is

that most Europeans study a foreign language in elementary school, but most American

children do not.

Second, European and American students spend approximately the same number of years in

school. Both the United States and most European countries require children to attend

school for at least nine or ten years. Germany and Belgium have the highest requirement:

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twelve years of education. Also, children in most countries start compulsory schooling at a

similar age, usually age six, and they may leave school at a similar age, usually age sixteen.

Despite these similarities, the educational systems differ greatly in several areas. For

example, the number of hours per day and days per year that children must attend school

ranges from a low of five in Belgium to a high of eight in part of Hungary and Turkey. Some

countries require a half-day of school, whereas others require a full day. In addition, the

number of days per year that students must be in school differs. Austria requires 237 days of

school per year, while Spain and Hungary require only 170. That is a difference of more

than two months.

Another major difference is in the types of schools available. In the countries of Northern

Europe, there is no division between elementary and secondary school; school just follows

from the first day of first grade until the end of compulsory schooling at age sixteen.

However, in the United States, school is divided into nine years of elementary and four

years of secondary education. Furthermore, some countries require students to make a

choice between academic preparatory and vocational training schools. In Germany, pupils

must make this decision as early as age ten. In the United States, in contrast, they never

have to make it. Anyone in the United States who graduates from high school has the

opportunity to go to a college or university.

In addition to the differences in academic and vocational schools, there are also differences

in private schools. In France, Spain, Belgium, and Austria, most private schools are

religious, but in most other countries, they are not. Also, in most of Europe, the government

pays part of the cost of private schools: 70 percent in Hungary, 80 percent in Denmark and

Austria, and 85 percent in Norway. In contrast, parents must pay the full cost in Britain,

Greece, Turkey, and the United States if they want their children to attend a private school.

A final major difference between Europe and the United States is in the number of students

who go on to higher education. In the United States, over 50 percent of high school

graduates enter a college or university. In contrast, fewer than 15 percent of British students

do so. The European average is about 30 to 40 percent.

It is clear that the experience of schoolchildren varies from country to country. Even though

the United States and the countries of Europe seem very similar in many ways, their

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educational systems are actually quite different. No one can say if one system is better than

another system, for each one fits its own needs, economies, and traditions the best.

TWO KINDS OF ENGLISH

Most of us are familiar with the song lyrics “You say poTAYto and I say poTAHto, you say

toMAYto and I say toMAHto.” These lyrics exemplify one of the differences between

American and British English, the two most widely spoken varieties of global English.

Despite the seemingly endless number of similarities between the two, significant

differences between American English and British English in three specific linguistic areas

make each one quite distinct from the other.

Pronunciation is perhaps the first difference that people notice between American and

British English. Some individual sounds are consistently different. For example,

PoTAYto in American English comes out as poTAHto in British English. WateR in

American English is pronounced as wateH in British English. TUna in American English

comes out as TYUna in British English. Furthermore, certain whole words are pronounced

quite differently. Schedule is pronounced with a ‘k” sound in American English but with a

“sh” sound, as shedule, in British English. The stress in the word aluminum in American

English is on the second syllable, so it is pronounced aLUminum by Americans. Stress in

this same word in British English is on the third word syllable, so British English speakers

pronounce it aluMInum. These pronunciation differences, though noticeable, do not impede

real communication. In addition, neither American English nor British English has a better

pronunciation than the other; they are simply different.

A second difference is in spelling. One example of this is the spelling of the vowels

preceding the letter r in certain words. Americans write color and endeavor. In British

English, however, these same words would be written coloUr and endeavoUr. Another

obvious spelling difference is in the final syllable in words that finish in –er in American

English and –re in British English. Examples of this include centER in American English

with centRE in British English. Another common example is theatER versus theatRE.

Finally, perhaps the most striking difference between American and British English is

vocabulary. For whatever reason, people tend to notice vocabulary much more than they

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do pronunciation or spelling. Some words exist in American English but not in British

English, and vice-versa. For example, traffic circle and windshield are American English

words while mackintosh (raincoat) and queue (a line of people) are British English words.

In addition, there are words that exist in both varieties of English, but they have totally

different meanings. For example, in British English biscuits are sweet (American English

translation: cookies), but biscuits in American English are small, salty rounds of bread. In

British English, a bonnet is the trunk of a car, while in American English, a bonnet is a kind

of women’s hat.

All languages have local dialects or regional variations, but for historical, geographical, and

perhaps political reasons, English has two influential varieties: American English and British

English. These verities are different, yet they are similar enough that the differences that

do exist in pronunciation, spelling, and vocabulary rarely hinder communication. With

modern technology making the world a smaller place, it is likely that these two varieties of

English will gradually lose most of their unique characteristics and therefore become more

similar.

Activity 1:

JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES

The culture of a country is an integral part of its society whether it is a remote Indian village in

Brazil or a highly industrialized city in Western Europe. Basically, culture is reflected in a

country’s language, literature, art, music, and dance. However, culture also includes the patterned

ways in which people conduct themselves in their relationships with others. Japan and the United

States are two highly industrialized nations in the world. Although their cultures have a few

similarities, there are greater differences between these nations of the East and West.

First of all, Japan and the United States have several similarities. The United States is a democracy

and Japan is, (1) too The United States’ Constitution is the supreme law of the land, (2) just as

the Japanese Constitution is in Japan. Also, Japan’s Diet is similar to the U.S. Congress. In

addition, (3) both Japan (4) and the United States have made a mutually enriching exchange of

cuisine. There are Japanese restaurants in America, where diners can enjoy food like sashimi (raw

fish), tempura (fried vegetable and prawns), and noodles. (5) Similarly, Japanese enjoy American

fast foods like McDonald’s hamburgers and French fries, Kentucky fried chicken, and Mrs. Field’s

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cookies. Finally, the Western sport of baseball is popular (6) not only in the United States (7) but

also in Japan. The Japanese have their major leagues as the Americans do, and they have their

version of the World Series games. Baseball heroes are important to Japanese spectators, just as

they are to Americans fans.

(8) Despite these similarities, the United States and Japan have some very significant cultural

differences.

(9) One important difference is the people. Japan is a homogeneous society of one nationality

and a few underrepresented minority groups like Chinese and Koreans. As a result, all areas of

government and society are controlled by the Japanese majority. (10) In contrast, although the

United States is a country with European roots originally, its liberal immigration policy has

resulted in its becoming a heterogeneous society of many nationalities – Europeans, Africans,

Asians, and Hispanics. They are represented in all facets of American society, including business,

education, and politics.

(11) Another difference is in the two countries’ use of transportation. Japan and the United States

have modern transportation systems which use the latest technology. (12) However, the means of

transportation used by the masses in Japan is different from that used by the masses in the United

States. The majority of Japanese use an efficient network of public transportation for pleasure and

for commuting from the outlying areas to the cities or from city to city. Thus, the train and subway

systems are extremely overcrowded during peak hours. (13) By comparison, Americans rely less

on public transportation and prefer instead to drive their own cars or to ride in carpools. Although

the average Japanese family owns one car, the typical American family owns at least two cars or

more, depending on the number of children of legal driving age. Finally, a common sight in

Japanese cities is neatly dressed women on motorized scooters riding on busy streets to do their

shopping. Bicycles are also a very popular form of daily transportation. (14) In contrast,

Americans usually do their errands by car and ride their bikes mostly for exercise or pleasure.

(15) The final and most important difference is that in modern Japan, traditional customs are

still largely observed. In fact, surprisingly, many young people still prefer an arranged marriage, in

which a couple meet thorough the combined efforts of parents and friends of relatives. (16) By

comparison, young American people seek their own marriage partners. (17) In addition, married

Japanese couples have more clearly defined roles than their American counterparts. A Japanese

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wife has greater control over the household and family decisions than an American wife. For

example, a Japanese wife decides on the family’s residence, major expenditures, and the children’s

schools. The strong role of a Japanese wife is understandable since the husband, as primary

breadwinner, is a very busy man. His loyalty is first to his workplace, and he must expend all of

his energy and taking time to his careers or job. Thus, he may not arrive home until late at night, so

his wife must discipline the children and make important decisions to keep the household running

smoothly. (18) On the other hand, an American couple, who more or less maintain a 50/50

relationship, generally have a more democratic approach and make decisions together.

It is clear that (19) although there are some important similarities between Japan and the United

States, there are significant differences as well. The extent to which Japan has accepted some

aspects of Western culture reveals the country’s desire to absorb new customs. Indeed, the cultural

exchanges of Japan and the United States have benefited (20) both nations dramatically and will

continue to do so in the future.

Activity 2:

Topic 1: GENDER DIFFERENCES

"The battle of the sexes” started with Adam and Eve, and it will probably continue forever. The

opinion that men are superior to women has long been accepted in many cultures, but the

feminist movement is trying to change this view. Feminists claim that boys and girls are exactly

equal at birth but become unequal because of the way they are treated by society. However,

recent research contradicts the view that males and females are innately alike.

Without a doubt, societal influences both inside and outside the family cause many differences to

develop. Inside the family, boys learn to be men by watching and copying their fathers, and girls

learn to be women by watching and copying their mothers. Outside the family, boys who play

with dolls after a certain age receive disapproval, as do girls who continue to play with Ninja

Turtles (although the pressure may not be quite as strong on girls).

However, not all differences are caused by societal influences. Some are due to differences in the

physiology of the brain. For example, more men than women are left-handed, which means that

the right side of men’s brains is dominant because the right side of the brain controls the left side

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of the body. Right-handed people generally have reasoning abilities, whereas left-brain people

generally have better verbal skills.

In fact, girls are better at language than boys. For both men and women, the language center is

on the left side of the brain. However, girls not only begin speaking earlier than boys, but they

also speak more clearly and develop larger vocabularies. In contrast, more boys than girls stutter

and have trouble learning to read. Boys’ difficulty with language may be the result of their right-

brain dominance.

In addition, men and women have different spatial abilities. For example, men are better at

turning three-dimensional objects in their heads. That is why they can read maps more easily

than women. Women often have to turn a map around in order to know which direction to go,

whereas men can do it in their heads. On the other hand, women excel at other spatial tasks such

as remembering the location of objects in a random pattern. That’s why women are better than

men at finding misplaced car keys and eyeglasses.

While it is clear that some differences are rooted in the physiology of the brain, it is equally clear

that other differences are not. For example, boys and girls are equal in math ability until about

seventh grade. Then girls start to fall behind, perhaps because math teachers encourage boys

more. Furthermore, there are many exceptions to these general patterns. Just as some women are

good at abstract algebra, some men become skilled poets and public speakers.

Although continuing research will yield further information about gender differences, it will

never resolve the battle between the sexes. However, it should help the next time he gets lost in

the family car while following her map-reading directions, and the next time she has to look for

his misplaced car keys.

(Source: Alice Oshima and Ann Hogue, 1998, Introduction to Academic Writing, 3rd edn,

Longman.)

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Topic 2: High school vs. College or university

The following is the information for teacher’s reference.

HOW IS COLLEGE DIFFERENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL?

FOLLOWING THE RULES IN HIGH SCHOOL- High school is mandatory and usually free.- Your time is structured by others.- You need permission to participate in

extracurricular activities- You can count on parents and teachers to remind

you of your responsibilities and to guide you in setting priorities.

- Each day you proceed from one class directly to another, spending 6 hours each day--30 hours a week--in class.

- Most of your classes are arranged for you.- You are not responsible for knowing what it takes

to graduate. Guiding principle: You will usually be told what to do and corrected if your behavior is out of line.

CHOOSING RESPONSIBLY IN COLLEGE- College is voluntary and expensive. - You manage your own time. - You must decide whether to participate in co-

curricular activities. - You must balance your responsibilities and set

priorities. You will face moral and ethical decisions you have never faced before.

- You often have hours between classes; class times vary throughout the day and evening and you spend only 12 to 16 hours each week in class

- You arrange your own schedule in consultation with your adviser. Schedules tend to look lighter than they really are.

- Graduation requirements are complex, and differ from year to year. You are expected to know those that apply to you.

Guiding principle: You are expected to take responsibility for what you do and don't do, as well as for the consequences of your decisions.

GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES

- The school year is 36 weeks long; some classes extend over both semesters and some don't.

- Classes generally have no more than 35 students.- You may study outside class as little as 0 to 2

hours a week, and this may be mostly last-minute test preparation.

- You seldom need to read anything more than once, and sometimes listening in class is enough.

- You are expected to read short assignments that are then discussed, and often re-taught, in class.

Guiding principle: You will usually be told in class what you need to learn from assigned readings.

SUCCEEDING IN COLLEGE CLASSES- The academic year is divided into two separate

15-week semesters, plus a week after each semester for exams

- Classes may number 100 students or more.- You need to study at least 2 to 3 hours outside

of class for each hour in class.- You need to review class notes and text

material regularly.- You are assigned substantial amounts of

reading and writing which may not be directly addressed in class.

Guiding principle: It's up to you to read and understand the assigned material; lectures and assignments proceed from the assumption that you've already done so.

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HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

- Teachers check your completed homework.- Teachers remind you of your incomplete work.- Teachers approach you if they believe you need

assistance.- Teachers are often available for conversation

before, during, or after class.- Teachers have been trained in teaching methods to

assist in imparting knowledge to students.- Teachers provide you with information you

missed when you were absent.- Teachers present material to help you understand

the material in the textbook.- Teachers often write information on the board to

be copied in your notes.- Teachers impart knowledge and facts, sometimes

drawing direct connections and leading you through the thinking process.

- Teachers often take time to remind you of assignments and due dates.

- Teachers carefully monitor class attendance.Guiding principle: High school is a teaching environment in which you acquire facts and skills.

COLLEGE PROFESSORS

- Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on tests.

- Professors may not remind you of incomplete work.

- Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance.

- Professors expect and want you to attend their scheduled office hours.

- Professors have been trained as experts in their particular areas of research.

- Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed.

- Professors may not follow the textbook. Instead, to amplify the text, they may give illustrations, provide background information, or discuss research about the topic you are studying. Or they may expect you to relate the classes to the textbook readings.

- Professors may lecture nonstop, expecting you to identify the important points in your notes. When professors write on the board, it may be to amplify the lecture, not to summarize it. Good notes are a must.

- Professors expect you to think about and synthesize seemingly unrelated topics.

- Professors expect you to read, save, and consult the course syllabus (outline); the syllabus spells out exactly what is expected of you, when it is due, and how you will be graded.

- Professors may not formally take roll, but they are still likely to know whether or not you attended.

Guiding principle: College is a learning environment in which you take responsibility for thinking through and applying what you have learned.

TESTS IN HIGH SCHOOL- Testing is frequent and covers small amounts of

material.- Makeup tests are often available.- Teachers frequently rearrange test dates to avoid

conflict with school events.- Teachers frequently conduct review sessions,

pointing out the most important concepts.Guiding principle: Mastery is usually seen as the ability to reproduce what you were taught in the form in which it was presented to you, or to solve

TESTS IN COLLEGE- Testing is usually infrequent and may be

cumulative, covering large amounts of material. You, not the professor, need to organize the material to prepare for the test. A particular course may have only 2 or 3 tests in a semester.

- Makeup tests are seldom an option; if they are, you need to request them.

- Professors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to the demands of other courses or outside activities.

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the kinds of problems you were shown how to solve.

- Professors rarely offer review sessions, and when they do, they expect you to be an active participant, one who comes prepared with questions.

Guiding principle: Mastery is often seen as the ability to apply what you've learned to new situations or to solve new kinds of problems.

GRADES IN HIGH SCHOOL- Grades are given for most assigned work.- Consistently good homework grades may raise

your overall grade when test grades are low.- Extra credit projects are often available to help

you raise your grade.- Initial test grades, especially when they are low,

may not have an adverse effect on your final grade.

- You may graduate as long as you have passed all required courses with a grade of D or higher.

Guiding principle: Effort counts. Courses are usually structured to reward a "good-faith effort."

GRADES IN COLLEGE- Grades may not be provided for all assigned

work.- Grades on tests and major papers usually

provide most of the course grade.- Extra credit projects cannot, generally

speaking, be used to raise a grade in a college course.

- Watch out for your first tests. These are usually "wake-up calls" to let you know what is expected--but they also may account for a substantial part of your course grade. You may be shocked when you get your grades.

- You may graduate only if your average in classes meets the departmental standard--typically a 2.0 or C.

Guiding principle: Results count. Though "good-faith effort" is important in regard to the professor's willingness to help you achieve good results, it will not substitute for results in the grading process.

HOW TO MAKE THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE Take control of your own education: think of yourself as a scholar.

Get to know your professors; they are your single greatest resource.

Be assertive. Create your own support systems, and seek help when you realize you may

need it.

Take advantage of the A-LEC; go to a workshop, enroll in ORACLE (EDU 1110), work

with a tutor.

Take control of your time. Plan ahead to satisfy academic obligations and make room for

everything else.

Stretch yourself: enroll in at least one course that really challenges you.

Make thoughtful decisions: don't take a course just to satisfy a requirement, and don't

drop any course too quickly.

Think beyond the moment: set goals for the semester, the year, your college career.

(Source: taken from http://smu.edu/alec/transition.asp)

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http://smu.edu/alec/transition.asp

http://smu.edu/alec/tutoring.asp

http://smu.edu/alec/tutoring.asp

http://smu.edu/alec/oracle.asp

http://smu.edu/alec/workshops.asp

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