Post-12: Parallel structure in English

Dear All,

One of your common problems in writing is incorrect use of parallel structures, so it'd be a good idea for us to revise this grammar point and do some exercises to remember how to use them correctly.

Here is a resource you should use:

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/mechanics/parallel_structure.html

Read it first and then complete the following exercises:

1. https://www.thoughtco.com/editing-exercise-faulty-parallelism-1690963

You should complete it on your own first and then check it with the key that is provided. Please share your results with us in your blog. What you need to explain is what your did not do correctly (if there are such cases) and provide a correct version.

2.http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quizzes/parallelism2_quiz.htm
In this case you are asked to enter your version of a sentence in the box and then compare it with the model answer. Again, make a screenshot of your answers and share it with us in your blog.

Post 11: Further Thesis Statement practice + 5-paragraph-essay-structure+your-choice-of-article

Dear All,

In class I have shared with you a graph of a 5 paragraph essay, which should give you a chance to revise its structure and elements. What you need to do as part of your hometask is choose an article from the Guardian that should be devoted to the discussion of some urgent problem or issue, connected with the lives of young people and their concerns. Here is a link to the section of the Guardian from which I'm asking you to choose an article for yourself:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/youngpeople    

And here is a list of tasks for you to do with the article of your choice:

1. In the thread share the following information about the article:

1. What issue or issues it is devoted to

2. Why you are concerned about this issue

3. What 3 things the article made you think about

4. What questions you have as a result of reading this article

5. Is there a similar problem the Russian young people have? In what ways it is similar and/or different?

Task 2: You will certainly come across some useful expressions and collocations. 

a) Share your list of them in your own blog together with your own example of them.

b) Look through the examples 2 of your peers have written and see if you understand them or have some question about them. Comment on how clear they are in the provided context.

Task 3: Parallel structure exercises
I have created a new post with the explanation of this part of your task. Follow the link to access it

https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2090661140339972084#allposts/postNum=0

Please be ready with these tasks a day before the next class (publish them December 1, 2018)

Good luck!

Let me know if you have some questions about the tasks, so that I would help you if necessary.

Have a great week!

Post 10: About the vocabulary learning project with apps

Dear All,

thanks for sharing your choices with us. Now what you shold do is like this. Whenever you work on your vocabulary learning new words or trying to revise and remember the "old" ones, make a note about it which will contain the following information: 

1. A list of words you have worked with 
2. What exercises (activities) you have done 
3. How many times you have done them 
4. What results have you received 
5. How useful have you found the app you have used? 

Use the scale below to evaluate your opinion about the app:

• Very useful
• Useful
• Moderately useful
• Slightly useful
• Not useful

It'd be great if you also added a short comment about your overall impression about using the app and whether you would recommend it to your peers.

Looking forward to finishing the project with you!

Post 9: Thesis St-s Practice

1. Dear All,
2. Today we'll first revise the structure of a 5-paragraph essay by reading and discussing an essay about Market Forces in Business and then we'll completea set of exercises to help you improve your skills in writing thesis statements. Hope you will find these activities useful.                                                                                                                                    
   Can you comment on the content & structure of this essay: Interesting? (Why or Why not?) Logical? Well-supported? Your comment
3. Add your versions of the thesis statements in the thread below.
4. 
   This is an example from the textbook:
   It's focuses on smth the audience can relate to
   
   1.China is a wonderful tourist destination because of its interesting historical monuments, beautiful tourist resorts and outstanding natural beauty.
5. 2. Think about why so many people want to go there.

   
   
6. 3. Do not ask the question; answer it. If you do not know about Thailand, use another destination you are familiar with.
7. 4. Eliminate the announcement and say what the effects are. Will you discuss positive effects, negative effects or both?
8. 5. Say what the disadvantages are.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6. Pay attention to parallel structure.
9.               7. Add two more main points.
10.               8. PAY ATTENTION TO THE NUMBER OF SENTENCES .
11. 
    
12. Natalia EydelmanNovember 15, 2018 at 10:43 PM

    As a part of your hometask, think of a topic that interests you and write 3 thesis statements related to it. Read the thesis statements writtern by 2 of your peers and comment on how well they are written. Use the criteria we've discussed.
    
    You can use advice on writing thesis statements available at
    
    http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/

Post 8: Writing a 5-paragraph essay

Dear All,

Can you share with your peers and me your experience in writing a 5-paragraph essay?

What I'd like to learn from you is what you found not difficult today and what you found not very easy or difficult to do

Here is the list of points to consider:

1. Writing the introductory paragraph
2. Writing the body paragraphs
a) formulating the thesis statement
b) formulating the topic sentences
c) organising the paragraphs logically
d) finding convincing supporting evidence
e) finding appropriate supporting evidence
3. List techniques you use to support your arguments
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
4. Essay opening techniques
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
5. Essasy closing techniques
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
6. How confident you are in doing the following:

a) quoting
b) summarising smth. to include in your essay
c) paraphrasing
7. Any theory you feel necessary to discuss?
a)
b)
c) 
d)
e)

Here is the scale to use:
Need to revise/learn
-Strongly disagree
-Disagree
-Neither agree nor disagree
-Agree
-Strongly agree

Post 7: Week 9 (November 5-11): Vocabulary Improvement Techniques

I'd like to discuss with you some useful techniques for learning new vocabulary and since your brain is not a blank slate, here is my plan for our today's class.

First, I'd like to ask you to discuss in your groups of 2 or 3 your favourite technique for memorizing, recollecting and brushing up your vocabulary. Share your answers in the thread.

Next, I'm inviting you to read the artile about some strategies for learning vocabulary which are associated with what is known as spaced repetition learning strategies:

https://www.lingualift.com/blog/language-spaced-repetition-learning-srs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leitner_system

Have you used a similar strategy? If yes, can you share your experience with us by first discussing it with each other and then sharing it in the thread.

After that I'd like to ask you to share the list of dictionaries you use on a regular basis and explain your reasons for your preferences.

Still after that, I'm inviting you to complete the exercises Onestopenglish website aimed at giving you some practice in brushing up your dictionary skills:

http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/vocabulary/macmillan-dictionary-resources/dictionary-skills/pdf-content/dictionary-skills-part-one-level-three/155816.article 

Hope these activities will be useful and give you some idea about how to improve your knowledge of vocabulary further.

If you find some more useful techniques and strategies to master your vocabulary, please share