Sandbox

Have fun!

2007-06-10T19:27:00.000+03:00

Hi there:

It's just a very short note to let you know that I am very happy with your performance.

I think, it was a great year with lots of new things to try on. Let me know what *you* think of it!

I missed some of you in class... Hopefully, Kurt- the heart-breaker, people say, beautiful girls weep and pound on his door at all hours of day and night :) - will show up, at last , at the end of June, just to say 'Hi".

Anyhow, I look forward to meeting you all in September!

Enjoy your summer break!

sg

Opinion Essay

2007-05-04T15:01:00.000+03:00

An opinion essay is a piece of formal writing. It requires your opinion on a topic, which must be stated clearly.

A successful opinion essay should have:
a) an introductory paragraph in which you state the topic and your opinion.

( Essay Structure Notes. Smoking Should be Banned by Mark A. Bell )

b) a main body which consists of several paragraphs, each presenting a separate viewpoint supported by reasons.
c) a conclusion is which you restate your opinion using different words.

Structure Summary

Introduction

Paragraph 1 - state the topic and your opinion clearly

Main Body

Paragraph 2 - viewpoint 1 and reason/example
Paragraph 3 - viewpoint 2 and reason/ example
Paragraph 4 - viewpoint 3 and reason example
Paragraph 5 - opposing viewpoint and reason/example

Conclusion

Final Paragraph - summarise /restate opinion

Useful Expressions for Giving Opinions:
To my mind/To my way of thinking...
It is my ( firm) belief / opinion/view/conviction ( that) ...
In my opinion / view...
I believe...
I am ( not) convinced that...
( ( do not) agree that/with...
My opinion is that,
I (definitely) feel/think that ....
I am inclined to believe that...
It seems/appears to me...
As far as I am concerned,...

Ref: Virginia Evans.Successful Writing. Proficiency, Express Publishing,1998, pp70-75

Students Conference at Belarus State University

2007-05-03T00:07:00.000+03:00

This album is powered by BubbleShare - Add to my blog

April 25, 2007
Great Presentations!

Just a reminder

2007-04-30T12:10:00.000+03:00

Your April Project Presentation will be conducted in class on Wednesday 2 May
and on Monday 7 May.

April Project

2007-04-09T15:43:00.000+03:00

Plan of Attack

Introduction

Preparing the audience

Delivering the message

General information: ( Company profile)

1. Start up a company, give it a name

2. Logo, slogan, form of ownership, the names of the members.

3. Company Structure (1 slide)

4. Job responsibilities

5. Your office layout (optional)

6 Company performance

( Total number of slides : 10-15 )

Product Presentation:

(pix, features, prices )

Shipment /Delivery (optional)

After sale service (optional).

Special info:

Your company’s website ( if any)
A company's booklet ( if any )
Address, phones, etc

Winding-up

GUIDELINES TO EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION

Inroduction

1 Welcoming your audience

Functions / Possible language

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen Good morning, gentlemen Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman Good afternoon, everybody

2 Introducing your subject

I am going to talk today about. . . The purpose of my presentation is to introduce our new range of...

3 Outlining your structure

To start with I'll describe the progress made this year. Then I'll mention some of the problems we've encountered and how we overcame them. After that I'll consider the possibilities for further growth next year. Finally, I'll summarise my presentation (before concluding with some recommendations).

4 Giving instructions about questions

Do feel free to interrupt me if you have any questions. О I'll try to answer all of your questions after the presentation. О I plan to keep some time for questions after the presentation

Conclusion

Function / Possible language

1 Summing up

То conclude,... In conclusion,... Now, to sum up... So let me summarise/recap what I've said.

Finally, may I give you a bare outline of the main points we've considered.

The long and the short for it is...

2 Giving recommendations

In conclusion, my recommendations are...

I therefore suggest/propose/recommend the following strategy.

3 Thanking your audience

Many thanks you for your attention.

May I thank you all for being such an attentive audience.

4 Inviting questions

Now I'll try to answer any questions you may have.

Can I answer any questions?

Are there any questions?

Do you have any questions?

Are there any final questions?

Signposting

Function / Language

Introducing the subject

I'd like to start by...

Let's begin by...

First of all, I'll...

Starting with...

I'll begin by...

Finishing one subject...

Well, I've told you about...

That's all I have to say about.

We've looked at...

So much for...

...and starting another

Now we'll move on to...

Let me turn now to...

Next...

Turning to...

I'd like now to discuss...

Let's look now at...

Analysing a point and giving recommendations

Where does that lead us?

Let's consider this in more detail.

What does this mean for ABC?

Translated into real terms...

Giving an example

For example,...

A good example of this is...

As an illustration,...

To give you an example,...

То illustrate this point...

Dealing with questions:

We'll be examining this point in more detail later on.

I'd like to deal with this question later, if I may...

I'll come back to this question later in my talk...

Perhaps you'd like to raise this point at the end...

I won't comment on this now...

Summarising and concluding

n conclusion,...

Right, let's sum up, shall we?

I'd like now to recap...

Let's summarise briefly what we've looked at...

Finally, let me remind you of some of the issues we've covered.

If I can just sum up the main points...

Ordering

Firstly...secondly...thirdly...lastly...

First of all...then...next...after that...finally.

To start with...later.. .to finish up...

Use the comment area to ask your questions, if any!

Good luck!

2007-03-18T21:00:00.000+02:00

Unit 6. Going Places

Paraphrase the following statements:

"When we travel we learn about ourselves as well as the places we visit"
"Home is where the heart is"
( Upstream,2003, p.99 )

Which one do you agree with?

To be discussed in class two texts:
'Ten Tips for a Trouble-Free High-Tech Vacation'
'Satying Safe on the Road More Traveled' by Pamela Mohr
( Check out the comment area)
http://www.articlecity.com

Structure of Paragraphs

2007-02-19T16:03:00.000+02:00

Stage 1 Give the most general statement about the opposing
position on this topic.Attach a problematising phrase to the
statement to make it appear debatable and
possibly untrue.

X asserts/contends/maintains/argues/claims that...

it has been/is/could be/might be/may be
asserted/contended/maintained/claimed that....

It is the assertion/contention/argument/claim of X that...

One of the assertions/contentions/arguments
in support of/in favour of/ Y is that ...

One of the contentions supporting/ for Y is that...
One of the arguments opposing/against Y is that...

One/a common/ a frequently heard objections to Y is that...

State 2.Expand or develop that opposing position.
Attach a problematizing phrase to each further opposing argument
to make it appear debatable and possibly untrue.

It is also argued/claimed/asserted that...
It is further maintained/contained/said that...

... so this argument goes...

This position goes on to further argue/contend/claim/
maintain/ assert that...

3 Signal that you are shifting to arguments that support
your main conclusion ...

However,...

... and begin with a general supporting argument on the topic
of the paragraph drawn (preferably) from an authoritative
published source.

as X explains/ states/shows .....

4 Expand and develop the arguments on this paragraph topic
that support your main conclusion.

Moreover, ...
In addition, ...
Furthermore, ...

( Adapted from Bill Daly )

Read Dave's Kees IELTS Writing Master

Writing Assignment # 5

2007-02-19T16:01:00.000+02:00

Argumentative Essay ( 250-300 words )
Due: March, 2007 , Week 2

An argumentative essay is a formal piece of writing in which
a topic is considered from opposing points of view.

You should present both sides in a fair way by discussing them objectively
and in equal detail.

A good essay consists of an introductory paragraph in which you clearly
state the topic to be discussed, without giving your opinion;
a main body in which the points for and against along with your
justifications, examples or reasons are presented and a closing paragraph
in which you state your opinion or give a balanced consideration of the topic.

Before you start writing, please read the Writing Section in your SB:
( Upstream. SB, pp. 94-97 ).

Argumentative Essay

2007-02-10T12:40:00.000+02:00

Marine Parks

Essay Writing

2007-01-27T12:21:00.000+02:00

2007-01-23T16:38:00.000+02:00

Hello everyone,

What a busy month it has been! It sounds like a lot of you have passed your winter exams with flying colors! Great! I was really impressed with your performance last semester.

I know it's a drag, but could you possibly take the 2006 Upstream survey?

It would be nice to hear from you .

Click here to take survey

Have an amazing winter break. Good time to recharge!

Bye for now,

sg

2007-01-01T17:59:00.000+02:00

Hello all,

Happy New 2007 Year!

Enjoy your winter break and be careful out there.

Thanks a lot for your hard work last semester.

Cheers,

sg

Year-in-Review

2006-12-03T00:36:00.000+02:00

With the first December days behind us, the Christmas season has officially started. To kick off the season, let us know the name of the cutest girl or guy on campus!
Who wins your recognition this year?

If you are into music, name the best album of the year 2006!

If you are a party guy/girl, what would be the best place to hang out ( i don't tell anyone! )

Just choose from the list below and have your say!

1. Cutest Girl
2. Cutest Guy
3. Best Dressed
4. Best Student
5. Best Course
6 Best Staff Member
7. Best in Sports
8. Best Movie
9. Best actor/Actress
10 Best Single
11. Best Album
12. Best Vocalist
13. Best Group
15.Best pub in town
16. Best spot to hang out
17. Song of the Year
18. Event of the Year
19. Politician of the Year

exams...what do you think about them?

2006-11-27T20:08:00.000+02:00

"... exams play on a law student’s world like some weirdly orbiting moon. They are always in sight; but while they’re at a distance, they serve merely to create the tension which swell daily like tides – to read, to keep pace, to understand. As exams draw close.... their gravitational force starts to shake the whole place to pieces...

( Scott Turow. One L. Warner Books, 1988 )

Check out the comment area to read the chapter.

Questions for Discussion:

Exams are a waste of time! All they measure is how good you are at memorizing things.

Exams are important. They test how well you take in information
and how you manage to interpret it and put it to use.

Why I Want a Wife?

2006-11-15T19:38:00.000+02:00

by Judy Syfers (1971)

This classic piece of feminist humor appeared in the premier issue of Ms. Magazine and was widely circulated in the women's movement.

To read the article, click on the following link:

http://www.cwluherstory.com/CWLUArchive/wantawife.html

just a reminder...

2006-11-04T10:47:00.000+02:00

One more thing...

2006-10-30T17:32:00.000+02:00

Before listening, check out the meaning of the word 'mafia'.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Mafia

Class Assignment # 3

2006-10-30T16:59:00.000+02:00

Reports and Letters of Application
Upstream. Upper Intermediate, SB, pp. 56-60

Date Due: November 27-29, 2006

Plus:

Please, don't forget about Test 2. ( Check out my homepage! )

And .... meet Robert Safuto again!

He takes you on a guided tour of some well known (and not so well known) spots in New York City Mafia lore. I do hope you enjoy this great podcast!

sg

Audio Messages

2006-10-02T17:31:00.000+03:00

Hi there:

Click "Leave me a message' to leave an audio message for all of us!

"...it's free to use and dead easy."

( Maximum recording time is 2 minutes per message )

Enjoy!

sg

Writing Assignment # 1

2006-10-01T18:51:00.000+03:00

Transactional Letters

So, let's start the ball rolling!?

Before you start writing, go through the writing chapter in your SBs ( pp.36-38 ). That's very important!

To post your letter, click on 'Comments' below the assignment.

Due: October, Week 4

Thank you for your cooperation and hard work.

Your EFL Instructor.

Welcome

2006-10-01T18:38:00.000+03:00

Welcome on board!