This week we looked in detail at three different articles about (relatively) the same subject but from different sources and with different target audiences.
(Image from http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/tabloid.htm)
Here are the three described in more detail.
| Hooked on Nicotine |
| Teenagers, young people, people interested in science |
| “Like any other teen”, example of teen smoker for you to relate to. “Don’t ever start” Science examples |
| Science World http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/classmags/scienceworld.htm |
| Butt Out, Please |
| Adults, people interested in world politics, intellectuals |
| Cynicism (rules don’t apply to MPs), talk of torture and terrorists, Humour (the mother of all cigarette bans) |
| The Economist http://www.economist.com/ |
| 18 Certificate |
| Adults - parents, the “masses” or the working class |
| Informal/slang language, e.g. “Kids”, inflammatory language |
Next, you worked in groups of three and read each other’s written homework and tried to correct the grammar mistakes and improve the texts overall. This meant examining the structure and making sure that vocabulary was precise and concise.
You should have been asking yourselves the following questions:
- “Does this sentence add something to the article? Does it move the reader forward? Or is this just empty text (blah blah)?”
- “Is this the most precise word or is this ambiguous and vague?”
- How can this text be improved?
There was some success in this group exercise, though most of you do not have practice being thorough and reading critically. More group correction work is necessary so that you understand the importance of truly analysing texts.
Remember, this is CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM and should only help you to improve. If you feel uninterested or embarrassed (either is possible) you are not taking the exercise seriously enough and are not helping your classmates.
HOMEWORK:
1) Keep writing every day in your journal.
2) Write a FACTUAL police-type report in about 100 words. Give all the specific details about the event such as the precise location, the people involved, the outcome (arrests or not, for example). Use a very neutral tone and give only the necessary information.
Here is an example from the Police Notes section of the North
STABBING AT BUS STOP
A man was stabbed at a bus stop on Aug. 14 at 8:17 p.m. A witness said the man was sitting on a bench at the bus stop when a woman and two men, all of whom appeared to be in their late teens or early 20s, approached the man and asked for cigarettes. When the man said he didn't have any cigarettes, the woman slapped him. The men then grabbed the victim and threw him on the ground. They began punching him repeatedly. One of the men then pulled a pair of scissors from his sock and stabbed the victim in the lower back. The trio then fled.
3) Write a short commentary about a current event (political, social or economic) (approx 100-150 words). Include hints of your opinion and use several (3-4) of the adverbial expressions given below.
coincidentally, conveniently, curiously, fortunately, frankly, in retrospect, incredibly, ironically, luckily, mercifully, oddly, on reflection, predictably, remarkably, significantly, typically, unbelievably, unexpectedly, unfortunately.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire