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COLEGIUL TEHNIC DE COMUNICATII “NICOLAE VASILESCU KARPEN” BACAU SCHITA MANUAL CLASA A 12-A FRECVENTA REDUSA AUTOR: Prof. ANCA GURLUI 1
COLEGIUL TEHNIC DE COMUNICATII “NICOLAE VASILESCU KARPEN” BACAU
SCHITA MANUAL
CLASA A 12-A FRECVENTA REDUSA
AUTOR:Prof. ANCA GURLUI
BACAU
2009
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Chapter 1
English Spelling Rules
Writing (and therefore spelling) is a representation of the spoken word. The spoken word is not a representation of writing. Because accents and pronunciation can change easily and quite quickly, whereas what is written in books and dictionaries remains "fixed" for years, as well as for various historical reasons, there is often little correspondence between spoken English (pronunciation) and written English (spelling). English spelling therefore often appears to be totally illogical. The following rules can help you to decode the mysteries of English spelling. But remember, even the best rules have their exceptions.
Adding -er/-est quick, quicker, quickest, happy, happier, happiest, hot, hotter, hottest...
Adding -ing/-ed work, working, worked, stop, stopping, stopped...
Adding -ly loud, loudly, happy, happily, terrible, terribly...
Adding -s dog, dogs, church, churches, wife, wives...
-ible or -able accessible, visible, dependable, networkable...
-ie- or -ei- friend, fiend, feint, freight...
English and American Englishcolour, color, practise, practice, tyre, tire...
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Punctuation
Punctuation is the system of symbols (. , ! - : etc) that we use to separate sentences and parts of sentences, and to make their meaning clear. Each symbol is called a "punctuation mark".
The Value of PunctuationAn English teacher wrote these words on the board:
woman without her man is nothing
The teacher then asked the students to punctuate the words correctly. The men wrote the top line. The women wrote the bottom line.
Summary of Punctuation Marks
Punctuation Mark Name Example
full stop or period I like English.
comma I speak English, French and Thai.
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semi-colonI don't often go swimming; I prefer to play tennis.
colonYou have two choices: finish the work today or lose the contract.
hyphen This is a rather out-of-date book.
dashIn each town—London, Paris and Rome—we stayed in youth hostels.
question mark Where is Shangri-La?
exclamation mark "Help!" she cried. "I'm drowning!"
slash, forward slash or oblique
Please press your browser's Refresh/Reload button.
backslash C:\Users\Files\jse.doc
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double quotation marks
"I love you," she said.
single quotation marks 'I love you,' she said.
apostrophe This is John's car.
underline Have you read War and Peace?
underscore [email protected]
round brackets
I went to Bagkok (my favourite city) and stayed there for two weeks.
square brackets
The newspaper reported that the hostages [most of them French] had been released.
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curly brackets or braces
{ b := a + 1RESULTIS b }
ellipsis
One happy customer wrote: "This is the best program...that I have ever seen."
EnglishClub.com TipAlthough there are general rules for English punctuation, there are differences of style between, for example, British and American English, some publishers and some writers. Anyone seeking guidance at an advanced level is recommended to consult a style guide (often included in good dictionaries) for their particular variety of English or editorial style.
PUNCTUATION EXERCISES
Now that you understand most of the rules of punctuation, you may like to test yourself by correcting the following sentences. The answers are given on the next page.
1. The new regulations will prove to be to everyones disadvantage.
2. All of these books are to be catalogued the ones on geology natural history philosophy and scientific method.
3. As well as being an excellent basketball player the girl was also a member of the winning squash team.
4. The point is according to my understanding that we should move quickly.
5. Instead Chambers 1988 suggests the importance of the genetic influence in determining the antecedents.
6. It was found however that most of the liquid could not be absorbed.
7. The miner his face covered in mud climbed slowly out.
8. The trend toward specialization is very clear particularly in the professions see Table 2.
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9. Once daylight came we thought we were safe however this was not to be.
10. Keats poem ‘To Autumn’ is possibly the greatest evocation of that season ever written.
11. After their long walk the boys noses were red with cold.
12. Its not easy to isolate its cause but we think its due to the torrential rain we had recently.
13. The car left the road rolled down the bank turned over several times hit a free and then burst into flames.
14. Gourmets and arent we all gourmets will particularly enjoy the marinated quail.
15. It was a rather hit or miss affair we found to our horror that we were expected to provide the entertainment as well.
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Chapter 2
Writing skills
Many people are intimidated by writing. Even so, there are times when writing is the best way to communicate, and oftentimes the only way to get your message across.
When writing, be mindful of the fact that once something is in written form, it cannot be taken back. Communicating in this way is more concrete than verbal communications, with less room for error and even less room for mistakes. This presents written communicators with new challenges, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, even writing style and actual wording.
Thankfully, today’s technology makes memo, letter and proposal writing much easier by providing reliable tools that check and even correct misspelled words and incorrect grammar use. Unfortunately, these tools are not fail proof and will require your support, making your knowledge in this area important.
Some of the most basic tips to remember when writing include:
Avoid the use of slang words Try not to use abbreviations (unless appropriately defined)
Steer away from the use of symbols (such as ampersands [&])
Clichés should be avoided, or at the very least, used with caution
Brackets are used to play down words or phrases
Dashes are generally used for emphasis
Great care should ALWAYS be taken to spell the names of people and companies correctly
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Numbers should be expressed as words when the number is less than 10 or is used to start a sentence (example: Ten years ago, my brother and I…). The number 10, or anything greater than 10, should be expressed as a figure (example: My brother has 13 Matchbox cars.)
Quotation marks should be placed around any directly quoted speech or text and around titles of publications.
Keep sentences short
1. Letters
When writing letters, it is best to address the letter to an individual. And, when beginning the letter with a personal name, be sure to end it with an appropriate closing, such as ‘Sincerely yours’. If you cannot obtain an individual’s name, consider ending it with a more generic (less personal) closing, such as ‘With kindest regards’.
For normal business letters, your letter should start with an overall summary, showing in the first paragraph why the letter is relevant to the reader. It’s not a good practice to make the reader go past the first paragraph to find out why the letter was sent to them.
The body of the letter needs to explain the reason for the correspondence, including any relevant background and current information. Make sure the information flows logically, ensuring you are making your points effectively.
The closing of the letter is the final impression you leave with the reader. End with an action point, such as ‘I will call you later this week to discuss this further’.
Example of formal letter
Dear Sir/Madam,I am writing with regard to your advertisement requesting of volunteers to take part in the next edition of your survivor programme, which I have been watching for the last three seasons.I do not usually tend to fight for things I do not believe deeply in. This is why I am applying for this programme, because I truly think of myself as the kind of person you are looking for in order to give once again the programme the excitement and addiction it has achieved through the years. Since I have always travelled to the poorest areas of the planet where your security relies only on your own survival skills, I feel capable of adapting to the conditions set on your programme, even to the TV cameras. Although I am an adventurous person who will never be afraid of your risky games - at least none has scared me to the point that I would hesitate to participate in the reality show - I always avoid risking my groups security. It is always important to stop and think of your actions and evaluate the possible consequences, specially when, as in your programme, you are not alone and decisions must be taken for the whole group. Because I think this is not only a survivor programme but a situation where people have to learn to trust their group partners because those who isolate themselves tend to lose in the rivalry for survival. Being sociable is the strongest characteristic I have to be chosen from all the contestants.
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Referring to the three things I would be allowed to take, I would like to take a family photograph which means much to me and gives me energy when depressed, a jack-knife because I think it may be quite useful for everyone in many cases and, finally, a pen and a diary in order to narrate everything that happens daily.
I am looking forward to hearing from you and am available for interview whenever you might request it.
Yours faithfully
Student Writer
Task: Write a letter to the principle of Hardford College requesting information about enlisting a student. Ask about documentation, classes, library, professors, accommodation and fees. (120-180 words)
2. How to write Reports
1. Prepare an outline. Write an outline on what you would like to do on a piece of paper. There should be at least:
o An introduction.
o Middle or body section with headings, detailing your research, ideas and discussion. Keep this at about 3 to 5 different topics--at the most.
o A summary and/or conclusion. A summary is a retelling of what you have reported on; a conclusion draws together your feelings or arguments about the topic to reach your final point of view.
2. Make research on the topic required Get references/information relating to the specific question in hand, to back any points or arguments you want to make. Look online, in encyclopedias, and at the library. Print out or photo copy pages of information and highlight pertinent information. Don’t forget to add the sources of your research. Write or type your bibliography (a listing of your report sources) on a piece of paper or if you have a bibliographic page, write it down on that.
3. Write a rough draft. Proofread it and mark your errors clearly. Errors are not only spelling and grammar but also jumbled ideas and missing points.
4. Write the report again. Add pictures if you would like to or if it enhances the look. Use colored print if it is appropriate for the report.
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5. Print and check for final errors. Bind the report if it is appropriate, or place in a folder.
Sample Report – No Comments or Recommendations
August 31, 20XX
To the Partners [or other appropriate terminology] Able, Baker & Co. or To John B. Able, CPA
We have performed a peer review of selected compilation engagements (report review) of the accounting practice of [Name of Firm] (the firm) for the year ended June 30, 20XX. A report review is available to firms that only perform compilation engagements under Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SSARS) where the compiled financial statements omit substantially all disclosures. [Name of Firm] has represented to us that the firm performed no services under the Statements on Auditing Standards, no services under the Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements, no review engagements and no compilation engagements with selected or substantially all disclosures under SSARS during the year ended June 30, 20XX.
Our review was conducted in conformity with Standards established by the Peer Review Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). A report review consists only of reading selected financial statements and the accountant’s report thereon, together with certain representations provided by the firm and other representations on the engagements submitted for review. The objective of a report review is to enable the reviewed firm to improve the overall quality of its compilation engagements that omit substantially all disclosures. To accomplish this objective, the reviewer provides comments and recommendations based on whether the submitted financial statements and related accountant’s reports appear to conform with the requirements of professional standards in all material respects. A report review does not provide the reviewer with a basis for expressing any assurance as to the firm’s system of quality control for its accounting practice, and we express no opinion or any form of assurance on that system.
As a result of our report review, we have no comments or recommendations.
John Brown, Reviewer [or Name of Reviewing Firm]
Authorized acknowledgment for the reviewed firm:
I acknowledge that there are no disagreements on significant matters.
Signature:_____________________ Title:________________ Date:________
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Task: write a report on the way you fulfilled your activities at work. Explain at what time you started, what was the sequence of events, the problems you encountered, the solutions you found. (120-180 words)
3. Essays
Many students need help writing an essay. If you don’t know how to write an essay, it can be a very difficult thing to do. Here is an approach to making writing an essay a more manageable task.
Getting started on your essay
Before you start writing an essay, you need to decide three things. What are you writing about? Who do you imagine will be reading your essay? What do you want to tell them? A popular kind of essay is to offer your reader an opinion or argument.
You can write a successful essay by starting off with a plan. The key to doing a successful essay is to break the writing down into short, simple steps.
Pre-writing for your essay
Begin by brainstorming. Brainstorming doesn't involve writing complete sentences or paragraphs. Brainstorming involves coming up with ideas in words or short phrases.
Main idea for your essayWrite down the main idea of your essay. To express your main idea, write only a few words.
Brainstorming “for” your main idea Write a word or a phrase that relates to your main idea. This should be something about your main idea that you agree with.
Next, write another word or phrase relating to your main idea. This should also be something about your main idea that you agree with.
Now, write a third word or phrase relating to your main idea that you agree with.
Brainstorming “against” your main ideaWrite a word or a phrase that relates to your main idea. This should be something about your main idea that you disagree
Try writing a second or phrase relating to your main idea. This too should something about your main idea that you disagree with.
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Now, write down a third word or phrase relating to your main idea that you disagree with.
Building an outline for your essay
Building an outline is like drawing a map of your essay. The job of an outline is to sum up each paragraph in your essay. Outlining doesn’t involve writing complete paragraphs. But outlining is a good time to write a few sentences. Think of these as your topic sentences.
Introductory paragraph of your essayReread your main idea. Now, write a complete sentence about your main idea.
First part of essay bodyReread your words or phrases that you agree with. Write a complete sentence using each.
Second part of essay bodyReread your words or phrases that you disagree with. Write a complete sentence using each.
Finally, reread your whole outline. Finish organizing your thoughts. Decide if you like the order of your topic sentences, or need to change the order a little.
Writing a draft of your essay
A lot of people get nervous when it’s time to write. Don’t worry. This is going to be your first draft. The important thing is to add more to your topic sentences.
Introductory paragraph of your essayReread your introductory sentence. Add a one or two more sentences explaining your main idea. Remember that the job of your introductory paragraph is to get your reader’s attention.
Essay bodyReread your topic sentences. Each topic sentence now becomes the first sentence of a new paragraph.
Add to the first sentence of each paragraph. Write two or three more sentences to each. Use these new sentences is to support and explain your ideas. You can do this by offering facts, details, or examples.
Remember that the job of your essay body is to share ideas with your reader. See if you can convince your reader to share your opinions.
ConclusionIt’s time to write a final paragraph—your conclusion. A conclusion restates the main idea of your essay, and sums up what your essay is about. Do this in one or two sentences.
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Remember that the job of your conclusion is to leave your reader with something to think about.
Reviewing and revising to improve your writing Are you happy? You’ve almost completed an essay. But you’re not done yet. You can
always improve your writing. The way to complete a successful essay is by looking over your work.
Try reading your draft aloud. Ask yourself questions. Do you like the order of your essay? Do you need to add words so your sentences make better sense? Do you need to add any sentences so your paragraphs connect? Do you have ideas that you’d like to add more to?
Do you like your introduction? Your essay body? Your conclusion? Make at least three changes that could improve your essay. Remember that even professional writers make lots of changes!
Proofreading your essay to improve your writing It’s time to check your work. Read your improved essay aloud slowly. Look at details of
punctuation and grammar in your writing. Are your sentences complete? Do your verbs go with your nouns? Do you need to add any missing punctuation? How’s your spelling?
Remember that the job of proofreading is to catch and change anything that would stop your reader from enjoying your essay. Try catching and changing at least six mistakes.
Example of Essay
To Drill or Not to Drill? The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to caribou, moose, musk oxen, wolves, foxes, grizzlies, polar bears and migratory birds. Leaders in the oil industry believe the refuge is the perfect site for the “environmentally sensitive exploration” of oil. Environmentalists are wondering: What will become of the wildlife? President George W. Bush, oil-industry leaders and others believe that Americans will benefit from the oil that lies under the snow-filled surface of the refuge. In their opinion, the oil will help reduce high fuel prices and decrease our need for oil from other countries. I believe the cost of such drilling is too high. I agree with environmentalists who fear that drilling will disturb the migration of more than 130,000 caribou. Each spring, the caribou travel 400 miles to give birth on the coastal plain. In this area of the refuge, there are fewer predators. In addition, experts say that the oil in the area adds up to less than a six-month supply. Is such a small amount of oil worth the risk drilling poses to these animals? Americans are the largest consumers of oil. Instead of drilling for oil, we should decrease our need for foreign oil simply by using less. We must all work together to cut back on the oil we use in order to preserve the wildlife of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
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Task: Write a 120-180 word essay on “IS television an important tool in the education of children?”.
Chapter 3
Oral Argumentation
Sometimes we have to express ourselves orally. The time to prepare a speech may vary from 5 minute to days. That does not mean that our speech will lack the organization and cohesion of a written discourse.
Discourse Markers (not an exhaustive list, but something to get started.)
balancing contrasting pointson the other hand, while; whereas
emphasising a contrasthowever, nevertheless, mind you, still, yet; in spite of this
similaritysimilarly; in the same way
concession and counter-argumentconcession: it is true; of course; certainly; if; may; stressed docounter-argument: however; even so; but; nevertheless; nonetheless; all the same;stillcontradictingon the contrary
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moreover (very formal); furthermore (formal); in addition; as well as that:on top of that (informal); another thing is; what is more; besides; in any case
generalisingon the whole; in general; in all/ most/ many/ some cases; broadly speaking;by and large; to a great extent; to some extent-, apart from...; except for
giving examplesfor instance; for example; e.g.; in particular
logical consequencetherefore (formal); as a result (formal); consequently (formal); so; thenSo is often used as a general-purpose connector, rather like "and", in spoken narrative.
structuringfirst(ly), first of all, second(ly), third(ly) etc; lastly, finally; to begin with; to startwith; in the first/ second/ third place; for one thing; for another thing
Note that firstly/ secondly etc are more formal than first, second etc, and are more common in British than American English.
summing upin conclusion; to sum up; briefly; in short
Example of oral discourse.
Q: We are becoming overwhelmingly dependent on computers. Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious of their benefits? Give arguments and examples to support your ideas.
A: Computers have helped technology and made people’s lives easier, in terms of time, knowledge, entertainment: thus it takes less time to find what you want to know if you use the internet, you can play games, watch movies, listen to music or even watch TV if you have tv tunner installed, there are encyclopedias to learn and study. Yet, in my opinion, we should take care as it creates addiction, it ruins your oral communication skills, it affects your social behavior, and it may hurt your eyesight.
Task: Answer the following questions:1. Do you agree with the idea that children should be raised by their grandparents? Why yes/no?
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2. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
3. How do movies or television influence people's behaviour? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
4. If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
5. If you could go back to some time and place in the past, when and where would you go? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.
Chapter 4Tests
Test 1
1. Comment on the following sentence: Some children, it seems, are innately programmed toswitch off as soon as they notice a tape recorder being switched on. (10 p)
2. Write the missing words into the gaps. The word in (brackets) tells you how many letters are missing (number of underscores). (10 p)
Example: There are seven _________ (cla_ _rooms) upstairs.
Answer: There are seven classrooms upstairs.
1) Do you like going to ………………….(b_ _ _ _day) parties?2) My grandmother had three sons and four…………………… (d_ _ _ _ters).3) He……………………………..(apolo_ _ _ed) for being late.4) Tracy works in the computer …………………….(b_ _ _ _ess).5) I …………….. (u_ _ _lly) get up at 6 o'clock.6) Look! The ……………….(t_ _ _ _er) is writing on the board.7) Be careful! Skydiving is a ……………………..(dan_ _ _ _ _s) hobby.8) William the …………………. (C_ _ _ _ _ _ _r) won the battle of Hastings.
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9…………………….. (A_ _ _ _bly) starts at 8 o'clock every morning.10) My friend found an …………………(a_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ship) as a car mechanic.
2. Each of the following sentences contains one error. Write the correct sentence on your exam sheet. (10 p)
1) The police told me go away.2) This ride isn’t exciting as the one we went on last year.3) Could you tell me where is the nearest hospital?4) I had this car since I was twenty.5) They said they will open the doors at nine o’clock.
Time: 30 min
Bonus: 10 points
Test 2
1. Choose the correct variant and write it on your answer sheet. 10 pointsStress is important. We all need a certain (1) ….. of it in order to (2) …..fulfilling lives. However, ifwe have too much of it, it can have the opposite (3) ….. . Some people can tolerate greater (4) …..of stress than others, but most of us will suffer at some time in our lives.
1 A number B bulk C amount D load2 A guide B lead C carry D spend3 A influence B solution C answer D effect4 A levels B platforms C grades D scales
2. Complete these mini-exchanges and write them on your answer sheet. 10 points1. A ……………………………………?B Yes, we’re going on a cruise round the Mediterranean.2. A ……………………………………?B Greece. Can’t you tell? He’s got a really strong accent.3. A ……………………………………?B Yes, it is. It really gets me down.
3. Find the unnecessary word in each sentence. Write it on your answer sheet. 10 points1. There he is a man at the door. It must be the postman.2. He kept talking about how so expensive their holiday had turned out to be.
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3. The manager wants all of applicants to be called for an interview.4. I asked for a friend to give me a lift.5. The park can to be seen from my window.
Time: 30 min
Bonus: 10 points
Test 3
1. Choose the correct variant and write the corresponding letter on your exam sheet.10points
For thousands of years the moon has caught our (1) ……. Although it can be seen during the day,it is associated (2) …… things that come out after (3) …… like werewolves and witches. Forthousands of years the moon has been considered to have magical (4) …… and it is still a symbol of the supernatural.
1 A breath B thoughts C imagination D minds2 A for B at C to D with3 A night B dark C day D light4 A talents B gifts C powers D strengths
2. Complete these mini-exchanges and write the answers on your exam sheet. 10 points1. A ……………………………………………………?B I design books for architectural companies.2. A ……………………………………………………..?B Sorry. I’ll see to it at once.3. A ………………………………………………………?B Brilliant. I had a great time.
3. Find the unnecessary word in each sentence. Write it on your exam sheet. 10 points1. He has been being offered an interesting job.
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2. Were you be shown how to fix it?3. We should to have a new garage built.4. No other secretary is as much efficient as she is.5. She’d sooner than forget about it.
Time: 30 min
Bonus: 10 points
Test 4
1. Choose the correct variant and write the corresponding letter on your exam sheet.10points
There are (1)… 140 countries which (2) … to the Third World and which are known as developing, less developed and poor countries. Although there are great (3) … between them, they do have a number of (4) … in common.
1. A mostly B roughly C partly D evenly2. A include B attach C connect D belong3. A changes B disagreements C differences D varieties4. A features B sides C faces D signs
2. Complete these mini- dialogues and write the answers on your exam sheet. 10points1. A: …………………………………………….B: Oh, no. You must be exhausted.2. A: ……………………………………………?B: Turn left and go up Oxford Street. Then, you’’ll see it on your right.3. A: ……………………………………………….B: Why didn’t you tell me? I could have cooked something else.
3. Find the unnecessary word in each sentence. Write it on your exam sheet. 10 points1. Jane will be late so as we’ll meet her late.
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2. Next year I want to learn me to speak French.3. Please call us the minute you will have any news from him.4. The doctor told me to avoid from eating fatty foods.5. It was such a lovely weather that we went swimming.
Time: 30 min
Bonus: 10 points
Bibliografie:
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Subiecte Bacalaureat 2007
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