INTRODUCTION: ABOUT THE EXAM€¦  · Web viewTo be admitted to the exam, you must send the following to your teacher at least two weeks before the exam date: A 500 word mini-conference

INTRODUCTION: ABOUT THE EXAM

To be admitted to the exam, you must send the following to your teacher at least two weeks before

the exam date:

1) A 500 word mini-conference paper: Your paper can either be an abstract for a larger

research project (your graduation thesis or a re-working of your undergraduate degree

thesis), a thoroughly researched summary of one of the courses you have attended during

your postgraduate studies or an analytical presentation of your work placement. It must be

fully referenced, using either the MLA or the Chicago style (see page ______ below).

2) Any visual material with which you intend to support your exam presentation: e.g. a power-point presentation, or handouts.

For the purposes of the oral exam, students should try to form thematically-linked conference

panels. They should present their panel topic and introduce each other (see page ________ below).

Each student should give an oral presentation of their mini-paper. Presentations should last no

longer than 5 minutes. Students are allowed to keep a copy of their paper in front of them as they

give their presentation, but presentations should be neither read aloud nor memorised. The

presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session, during which students should

answer questions from fellow panel members and from examiners.

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CHAIRING A CONFERENCE SESSION

Chairing a Session: Introducing Speakers

General, special and roundtable sessions at conferences are usually linked by a theme, which is described in the session title. Sessions are presided over by a chairperson, who introduces the session theme and the speakers, makes sure that speakers keep to their time limit, thanks the speakers and the audience and manages question-and-answer sessions. The chairperson will normally choose whether to allow questions after each paper or to leave all questions until the end of the session.

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

Welcome and Preliminaries– Good morning / afternoon / evening, everyone.

– Welcome to this session on -------------------------------.

– I am delighted to be welcoming delegates to this session on -------------------------------.

– It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this session entitled-------------------------------.

– I am delighted to be chairing this session on -------------------------------.

– -------------------------------is a very important issue at the moment / is attracting a great deal of

scholarly attention at the moment. It is therefore with great pleasure that I welcome you to this

session entitled-------------------------------.

– ------------------------------- has been the subject of extensive study recently, with key scholarly

contributions from -------------------------------.

– Central issues related to -------------------------------, which I hope to see addressed in the course

of this session, include -------------------------------

Questions– As the papers we will be hearing today treat of a common theme and should comment on each

other in an interesting manner, I think we can postpone questions until the end of the session.

– As usual, we have to keep to a tight schedule during this session. The speakers and I have

therefore decided that we will only be taking questions at the end of the session.

– The speakers and I have decided that, for the purposes of this session, we will have a brief

question-and-answer session after each paper.

Introducing SpeakersIt is with great pleasure that I introduce you to

I am delighted to

our first / second / third / fourth / next / last speaker, ---,

who is going to give a paper on ----

who will be presenting a paper entitled ---

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introduce you to

First of all / Next / Last but not least, I’m very happy to introduce you to

– As an undergraduate / graduate student ------------- studied at the University of ------------ in

------------------------.

– He / she took a BA / BSC degree / a Masters in ------------------- at ------------------ University.

– He / she graduated / completed his / her Masters / PhD in --------------------.

– He / she has published articles in -----------------------.

– He / she is the author of a book, entitled -----------------------, which is published / forthcoming

with ----------------------.

– He / she is currently a masters student / doctoral student / research fellow / junior professor /

associate professor / full professor at the University of ------------------------.

– His / her research interests include --------------------------.

– He / she is currently working on --------------------------.

Time Limits– As you know, we have ------------------ papers to get through today, and I want to have plenty of

time for questions and answers at the end. I would therefore ask all three speakers to stick to the

time limit.

– As always, time is of the essence. It is therefore very important that you all stick to the time

limit.

– Although this fascinating subject would deserve a much more lengthy treatment, for the time

being we only have one hour available. I would therefore ask all the speakers to try to stick to

their allotted time.

ACTIVITYForm a group of two or three people with other course participants who more or less share your research interests. Exchange information on your career and educational histories. Choose an appropriate session title for each of your papers.1 Take turns at being the session chair person and introducing your colleagues and their research.

Asking Questions

– I was wondering if you had considered …

– I was interested to know if …1 You may or may not find a single session title appropriate for all your papers.

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– I would like to ask …

– I would very much like to hear what you have to say about …

– I would greatly appreciate your opinion on …

– First of all, I would like to congratulate your paper. It made me wonder if …

Criticising– I’m afraid I can’t agree with you on that point.

– I’m not sure your argument quite holds on that point.

– But surely …

– I very much enjoyed your paper. However, I couldn’t help feeling it had some weak points.

– I absolutely disagree with you.

Responding to Questions– That’s a very good point.

– That’s a very interesting question.

– Thank you for that question.

– Thank you for that observation.

Asking for Clarification– I’m not entirely sure I fully grasped your point.

– I don’t think I completely understood what you meant by …

– I was wondering if you could explain the term “…”

– I would very much appreciate some more details on …

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REFERENCING: THE CHICAGO AND MLA STYLES

All sources should be clearly cited in your papers, using either the MLA or Chicago style systems. The following is a summary of the MLA and Chicago Guidelines. For further information, check online or in the faculty library. Please make sure your sources are suitably “academic” and / or authoritative. Do not cite dictionaries unless they play a central part in your research. Do not cite websites such as Wikipedia. Avoid generalisations such as:“Most people think …”“It is common knowledge that …”“Many critics / scholars have argued that …”Any ideas and, above all, any words which are not your own should be clearly sourced.

MLA (Modern Language Association) Style2

Works Cited

Note that, for a short research paper, you should always refer to your list of sources as “Works Cited”, not as a “Bibliography.” Book titles should be either in italics or underlined. Article and chapter titles should be given “in inverted commas.”

Single Author BookA basic entry should be as follows: Author surname, author first name. Book Title. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.ExamplesFukuyama, Francis. Our Post-human Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution. New York: Farrar, 2002.Berlage, Gai Ingham. Women in Baseball: The Forgotten History. Westport: Greenwood, 1994.

Two or More Books by the Same AuthorNote that titles should be given in alphabetical, not chronological order. ExamplesFrye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1957.---, The Double Vision: Language and Meaning in Religion. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1962.---, ed. Sound and Poetry. New York: Columbia University Press, 1957.

A Book by Two or More AuthorsNames should be given in the same order as on the title page. Only the name of the first author should be reversed.ExampleRabkin, Eric S., Martin H. Greenberg and Joseph D. Olander, eds. No Place Else: Explorations in Utopian and Dystopian Fiction. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1983.

A Book ChapterExamplesAllende, Isabel. “Toads Mouth.” Trans. Margaret Sayers Peden. A Hammock beneath the Mangoes: Stories from Latin America. Ed. Thomas Colchie. New York: Plume, 1992. 83-88.Breuer, Heidi. “Being Intolerant: Rape is not Seduction (in “The Reeve’s Tale” or Anywhere Else).” The Canterbury Tales Revisited – 21st Century Interpretations. Ed. Kathleen A. Bishop. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2008. 1-15.

2 The following is a summary of Gibaldi, Joseph 2003. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (Sixth Edition). New York: The Modern Language Association of America, 5.1-6.5.2.

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A Journal ArticleJournals should be listed as follows: Author. “Article Title” Journal Title Issue Number (Year of Publication): Page numbers.ExampleHanks, Patrick. “Do Word Meanings Exist?” Computers and the Humanities 34 (2000): 205-15.

A TranslationThe translator’s name should be given after the book title. Only the author’s name should be reversed. ExampleZola, Emile. Germinal. Trans. Leonard Tancock. London: Penguin, 1954.

A Multivolume WorkCite the total number of volumes after the title.ExampleBlanco, Richard L., ed. The American Revolution: 1775-1783: An Encyclopedia. 2 vols. Hamden: Garland, 1993.

An Unpublished DissertationThe title should be given in italics and the descriptive label “diss.” should be added, together with the university and the year.ExampleRossi, Marco. “Second Language Acquisition in Italian Students: A Corpus-Based Appraoch.” Diss. U of Turin, 2001.

An Article in an Online JournalArticles in online journals should be listed as follows: Author. “Article Title.” Journal Title Issue (Year). Name of Website. Date of Access <URL>

ExampleZeki, Semir. “Artistic Creativity and the Brain.” Science 6 (2001). American Association for the Advancement of Science. 24 September 2002 <http://www.sciencemag,org/cgi/content/full/293/5527/51>.

In-Text Citation

Please note that the MLA style guidelines favour in-text citation over footnotes. Footnotes or endnotes should only be used for long passages of additional information.

If the author’s name is cited in the text, just provide the page number in brackets.e.g. Marco Rossi has already made this point (222).

If the author’s name is not given in the text, it should be placed in brackets before the page number.e.g. This point has already been extensively argued (Rossi 222).

If you are quoting more than one text by the same author, provide a short version of the title after the author’s name.e.g. Northrop Frye was perhaps responsible for introducing this idea (“Anatomy” 156).

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Chicago StyleThe Chicago Manual of Style favours the so-called “author-date” system, whereby the author’s

name is followed by the date of publication in both the bibliography and the footnotes / in-text

citations.

Bibliography

Some ExamplesCurtius, E. 1991 European Literature in the Latin Middle Ages. Trans. Peter Goodman.

Princeton: Princeton University Press.Donati, R. 1988 “The Threefold Conception of Love in Usk’s Testament” in Boitani and Torti

eds. Genres, Themes and Images in English Literature from the Fourteenth to the Fifteenth Century. Tübingen: Narr, 59-72.

Knapp, E. 1999 “Bureaucratic Identity and the Construction of the Self in Hoccleve’s Formulary and La Male Regle.” Speculum 74.2, 10-20).

In-Text Citation / Footnotes and Endnotes

The Chicago Style allows for footnotes, endnotes or in-text citation. References should be structured as follows: Author Date, page. (e.g. Curtius 1991, 256 // Knapp 1999, 18).

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BASIC PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE AND TOPIC STATEMENTS

A paragraph is usually divided up into three main structural parts:1. An Introductory Sentence2. Supporting sentences3. A Concluding Sentence

E.G. – An introductory paragraph

Introductory Sentence: Although Chaucer’s use of the dream vision genre has already attracted a great deal of critical attention, his exploration of the teacher-pupil dialogue form still merits further study.

Supporting Sentences: While scholars such as A.C. Spearing and Brian Cherniss have already explored Chaucer’s sensitive reading of Macrobius’ De Somnium Scipionis and his deployment of Boethian conventions, his treatment of the philosophical dialogue form per se has yet to be fully explored.

Concluding Sentence: In this paper, I will argue that Chaucer employs the didactic dialogue genre in order to subvert the hierarchies implied by the form.

The introductory and / or concluding sentences usually form the topic statement / sentence, stating controlling idea which the author wishes to convey. Look at the example above again. Where is the topic statement? Is it situated in the introductory or the concluding sentence, or is it divided “sandwich-style” between the two?

Look at the following examples. Identify the topic statement.

1. Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do not always have the same emotional meaning. For example, the words “stingy” and “frugal” both mean “careful with money.” However, to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word frugal has much more positive connotations. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because many so-called synonyms are not really synonyms at all.

2. Biostatisticians routinely work closely with physicians and scientists in many branches of medical research and have unique insight into data. In addition, they have the methodological competence to detect fraud and could be expected to have a special professional interest in the validity of results. Biostatisticians therefore could provide unique and reliable information on the characteristics of fraud in medical research.

3. Some form of written communication has been used throughout the centuries. In the earliest times, people carved or painted messages on rocks. Later on, people began to write on pieces of leather, which were rolled into scrolls. In the Middle Ages, heavy paper called parchment was used for writing. With the invention of the printing press in the middle of the fifteenth century, the modern printing industry was born.

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Put the following sentences into the correct order to form coherent paragraphs. Find the topic sentence.

Paragraph One

– This move challenged the barrier between the practical focus on child abuse and services perceived to be for women, although Women’s Aid refuges have always housed more children than women and employed children’s workers from their inception.

– The 1990s saw renewed attention to domestic violence, with an added focus on its impact on children.

– However, the process of gaining awareness of the needs of children affected by domestic violence has tended to marginalize recognition that domestic violence is a legitimate concern for social workers in adult services as well.

Paragraph Two

– On the one hand, there is the teacher.– On the other, there are the student participants.– He or she plans the learning opportunity and assists the learning, with a specific educational

purpose in mind.– In education, there is thus purpose and planning on both sides.– They too usually intend certain outcomes from the activities in which they are engaged.– Education involves at least two parties.– They are motivated by a willingness to engage in a range of activities in order to achieve a

particular learning goal.

Paragraph Three

– Many people would attribute this fact to their ability to fly.– Birds are instantly recognisable creatures.– Others would consider their shape their most distinguishing feature.– Everyone, however, agrees upon the characteristics that a bird possesses: two wings,

feathers, a toothless bill or beak, warm blood and laying eggs.

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INTRODUCTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

Writing Introductions

The introduction to a humanities research paper or essay should not usually exceed one paragraph. The introductory paragraph can usually be roughly divided up into four sections:

– Announcing the Subject: State the subject (often a problem or a question) which you will be dealing with in your paper. Note that in defining your subject, you will probably also be delimiting it (i.e. referring briefly to the areas of your subject or of related subjects which you will not be covering.

– Providing Background: Provide enough background for the reader to fully understand what the question is and why it is necessary to ask it. You will probably here make brief reference to the work of other scholars.

– Overview of Methods: i.e. How your study was carried out / How your argument will be structured

– A Brief Thesis Statement

Introductory paragraphs are very important. They should serve to arouse the reader’s interest and curiosity. You may well want to begin your introduction with an intriguing fact, a short narrative / anecdote, a quotation or (where appropriate) a touch of humour in order to grasp your reader’s attention. NB: In seeking to make your paper attractive to readers, do not risk allowing it to become too gimmicky!

Writing a Conclusion

In a conclusion you will need to (1) summarise the main points of your essay again (2) provide a detailed conclusion to your paper (which you will have only hinted at in your introduction (3) paraphrase (i.e. don’t simply copy and paste) your thesis statement. As is the case with introductions, the length and structure of conclusions will vary from one academic field to another. Generally speaking, though, it is important to make sure that your conclusion is not anticlimactic and that it does not simply reiterate your introduction. You might want to hold back a final comment on the subject until the very end of your paper, or to suggest some directions which future research might take on the basis of your paper.

Your teacher will give you some examples of articles from various different fields. Identify and analyse the content of the introduction and conclusions. Do you think the writers of these articles have been successful in structuring their introductions and conclusions?

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Some Useful Words and Expressions

STRESSING THE INDIVIDUALITY OF YOUR RESEARCHIt is Generally

WidelyAcceptedarguedheldbelieved

that …

While / Whereas / Although / Even though + verb phraseE.G.While / Whereas / Although _________________ has argued that all Americans are fat and

arrogant, I would like to suggest that this isn’t always the case.

Despite / In spite of + noun

E.G.

In spite of the common-held scholarly consensus that the world is round, in this article I will posit a

theory that it is, in fact, flat.

ACKNOWLEDGING DEBT TO THE WORK OF EXISTING SCHOLARS

As ________________________ has Insightfullywiselybrilliantly

demonstrated, …illustrated, …shown

GIVING OPINIONS

In my opinion …I would argue that …I maintain that …In this thesis / paper / article I intend to demonstrate that …I strongly believe that …In this article I will posit a theory that …

EXPRESSING CAUSE / EFFECT RELATIONSHIPSTherefore, …So, …As a result / consequence of this, …Accordingly, …Consequently, …Thus, …Hence, …For this reason, …

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SUMMARISING AND CONCLUDINGIn short, …In a word, …In brief, …To sum up, …

In conclusion, …On the whole, …Altogether, …In all, …

In conclusion,Thus,Finally

we can / may say / infer that …I would argue that …I feel confident in concluding that …it can / may be said / inferred that …

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WRITING AN ESSAY OUTLINE

An essay should contain an introduction and a conclusion, together with a number of developmental paragraphs which will make up the main body of the composition. Each supporting paragraph should have its own topic sentence, together with other supporting sentences providing details. To begin planning an essay, try to write a short, one word title for each paragraph. Next, write out a topic sentence for each paragraph. Finally, list the supporting information which you are going to provide. The following model will help you.

THESIS STATEMENT: Write out your thesis statement with a complete sentence.

1) Write out the topic statement for the first developmental paragrapha) Identify the 1st support. This may be a detail, and example or an idea that the

paragraph will discuss.i) Additional details about (a)ii) Additional details about (a)

b) If you have a 2nd support (i.e. a second detail, example, etc. mention it here).

2) Write out the next topic sentencea) 1st supportb) 2nd support

3) Write out the next topic sentencea) 1st supportb) 2nd support

…ETC.

EXAMPLE:

THESIS STATEMENT: Winter temperatures need not be uncomfortable if one learns to dress properly.

1) Layering, or putting on two light garments instead of one heavy one, is the first way to dress properly for winter temperaturesa) Thickness of garment vs. garment’s ability to trap air in its fibresb) Fabrics which are particularly good at trapping air

i) Goose downii) Polyesteriii) Wool

2) Wearing a hat and a vest is another way to protect against the colda) Hat and headb) Torso and Vestc) Extremities (Fingers, Toes, Nose)

i) Effect of wearing hat and vest on these

3) If clothing is properly layered and one is wearing a hat and vest, the best way to keep your extremities warm is to keep moving and cover them with gloves and socksa) Moving fingers and toes – circulationb) Covering extremities

i) Gloves vs. mittensii) Socks

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iii) Layering gloves, socks, etc.

Correcting Your Essay Outlines

Present and summarise each of your paragraphs to your subject group. Discuss the following:

– Are all of the topic sentences clear?– Is all of the supporting material in each paragraph coherent with your topic sentence?– Are you ever trying to do too much / too little in a paragraph? Would your group members

have divided up your essay differently?– What are you doing in each paragraph? Is the function of the paragraph

o Narration?o Exemplification?o Classificationo Comparison?o Analysis?o Criticism?o Other?

Agree with your colleagues on any changes to be made to your outline. Present your outline, with changes, to the class.

GIVING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

And Not only ------ but also ---- As well as In addition (to)

Furthermore Moreover Besides Apart from

CONTRAST

But However Nevertheless Yet Although

Even though In spite of / Despite Whereas

On the one hand ---------, on the other -------------------.

CONTRAST TO WHAT PEOPLE THINK

Actually In fact In actual fact In reality

INTRODUCING A CAUSE / CONSEQUENCE

Because As Since Consequently Therefore

Thus Hence As a result Thereby

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INTRODUCING SOMETHING OBVIOUS / GENERALLY ACCEPTED

Obviously Naturally Of course Clearly

Doubtless Without a doubt

MAKING A GENERAL STATEMENT

In general Generally speaking On the whole As a rule

EXEMPLIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION

For example For instance e.g. That is to say

In other words i.e. Such as Namely

EXERCISE ONE

Choose the correct answer to fill in the gaps.

1. The device enables temperatures to be monitored, ………………………… improving the safety margin. (a. thereby b. nevertheless c. namely d. e.g.)

2. A new technique, ………………………… the infra-red camera, means that dust surrounding new stars can be penetrated. (a. whereas b. besides. c. namely d. for instance)

3. Superconducting, ………………………… when materials lose all resistance, will boost computer performances. (a. thus b. obviously c. besides d. that is to say)

4. Programmable electronic systems are more reliable. …………………………, they can be used to handle radioactive material. (a. whereas b. moreover c. such as d. in other words)

5. Computers can process data extremely fast. …………………………this, they have several serious drawbacks. (a. in spite of b. however c. whereas d. moreover)

6. The new engine is far more efficient. ………………………… more work is required to reduce noise levels. (a. whereas b. nevertheless c. i.e. d. besides)

7. The presence of high concentrations of elements that are rarely found on earth, ………………………… iridium, suggests that there was a meteorite impact on that spot. (a. on the whole b. moreover c. such as d. that is to say)

8. The data is stored on hard disk. …………………………it is easily accessible. (a. actually b. whereas c. e.g. d. hence)

9. Applicants for the job should speak at least one other European language …………………………French. (a. obviously b. besides c. moreover d. actually)

10. …………………………, there will always be minor problems to overcome in the initial stages. (a. besides b. as a rule c. namely d. despite)

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EXERCISE TWO

Complete the words and expressions

1. Be………………………. using rechargeable batteries, what other different ways are there of storing energy? (APART FROM)

2. The combustion of methane can produce an undesirable product, na……………………… Carbon Dioxide, which is responsible for global warming. (THAT IS TO SAY)

3. De……………………… its numerous spectacular successes, magnetic resonance imaging is not entirely satisfactory when applied to proteins surrounded by water molecules. (ALTHOUGH IT HAS HAD)

4. As……………………… (3 words), animals who survive in desert habitats tend to be small. (GENERALLY)

5. The evidence has often been contradictory. Ne………………………, hypnosis is finding numerous medical uses. (HOWEVER)

6. Oral administration of insulin does not reduce blood sugar, wh……………………… orally administered corosolic acid can. (WHILE)

7. O………………………, when dealing with toxic and hazardous material, robots offer great advantages. (CLEARLY)

8. The gas containers are kept underground, th……………………… minimising temperature change. (BY THAT MEANS)

9. Environmental concerns will do……………………… increase in years to come. (CERTAINLY)

10. The comet travels at 75 kilometres per second. He……………………… it creates shock waves when it enters the atmosphere. (CONSEQUENTLY)

MODIFIERS

EXERCISE THREE 3

Complete the words and expressions

1. Al……………………… 15,000 people have been killed in traffic accidents over the last 10 years. (NEARLY, SLIGHTLY FEWER THAN)

2. There has been a st……………………… (CONSTANT) increase in viruses which are resistant to antibiotics. (CONSTANT)

3 The following exercises are adapted from Blattes, Jans and Upjohn ibid., 47 and 56.

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3. The Roman calendar was ba……………………… a lunar calendar and contained only 355 days. (ESSENTIALLY, FUNDAMENTALLY)

4. It has been said that in science, the major problem is not finding the answers but asking the re……………………… questions. (PERTINENT, APPROPRIATE)

5. Since World War II, there has been a wi……………………… Americanisation of Japanese society. (EXTENSIVE)

6. The dimensions of dwarf stars are ro……………………… comparable to those of the Sun. (APPROXIMATELY)

7. Light is emitted and absorbed in mi……………………… units or corpuscles called photons or quanta (EXCEEDINGLY SMALL, TINY)

8. Enzymes have an ou……………………… ability to biodegrade natural products. (EXCEPTIONAL)

9. Statistics must always be used with care. Their interpretation is not always re……………………… (SURE, DEPENDABLE)

10. Prior to the building of airports, it was vi……………………… impossible to get from one side of the country to the other (ALMOST, NEARLY)

11. To a certain ex………………………, it was the Industrial Revolution that transformed the relationship between town and country in nineteenth century Britain. (UP TO A POINT)

12. Before the invention of the train, canals provided Britain’s ch……………………… form of freight transport. (MOST IMPORTANT, MAIN)

13. As there was sc……………………… any aviation fuel available, there was a decline in air transport during World War Two. (HARDLY, ALMOST NOT)

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PRONUNCIATION

The following activities should help you improve your pronunciation for your exam

presentation:

1) Make a list of up to 10 key words for your paper topic. Check their phonetic spelling in a

dictionary, listen to them being pronounced by a native speaker (the Paravia dictionary on

the computers in CLIFU allows you to listen to all the words listed) and underline the

stressed syllables).

2) Identify the topic sentences for each paragraph of your paper. Underline the words which

you wish to stress in each of these sentences and make sure that you are able to pronounce

them correctly. Read one or two of the paragraphs to a partner and see if he or she is able to

identify the topic. You may wish to pause before and after the topic sentence, to slow down

and to raise your voice.

3) Now try to present your paper spontaneously, without reading. Make sure that your partner

is still able to recognise your key ideas.

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REGISTER

Examine the following table.4 What do you notice about …

1. personal pronouns?2. phrasal verbs?3. Latinate / Germanic words?4. vague / tentative modes of expression?5. formal / informal letter-writing?

Informal

They did an experiment

Then the Drive Manager goes through some steps to install the programme

One after the other

They found out what the important things were

You can find out all about the survey on page 7

We think you should discuss the research findings at the next departmental meeting

Doctors have come up with a new method of….

Safety officers are looking into the problem

The cost of cleaning services has gone up 25% over the last three years

We do not think it is a good idea to do anything at the moment

Many thanks to the staff at “Computers R Us” for their help on the technical side

You need to get the patient’s help when doing these hearing tests

There were no big differences between the three different groups we tested

Formal

The experiment was carried out / performed

The Drive Manager then performs / executes a series of functions / operations in order to install the programme

At regular intervals

They determined / discovered / established / identified the important properties / characteristics / issues

Details of the survey are to be found on page 7

It is recommended that the research findings are discussed at the next departmental meeting

Doctors have created / established a new method of….

Safety officers are investigating the problem

The cost of cleaning services has risen by 25% over the last three years

It is suggested that no action should be taken at this stage

Thanks are extended to the staff at “Computers R Us” for their technical support

(Slightly less formal: We would like to thank ….)

When conducting these audiological tests, the active participation of the patient being tested is required.

No significant differences emerged between the three different groups tested

4 Many of the examples given below are drawn or adapted from the Malmö University language centre website: http://www.mah.se/upload/Studieverkstaden/Formal%20and%20Informal%20English.doc

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A lot of

This seemed to fix the problem

Enough

This shows that …

Numbers are going up

They put the plan into action

This let them keep the same temperature during the whole experiment

These results are because of factors like weight, age …

Dear John / Samantha,

All the best, Paul xxx

Many / much / a great deal of

This appeared to rectify the problem

Sufficient

This demonstrates / reveals that…

Numbers are increasing

The plan was implemented / carried out

This allowed / permitted / resulted in / ensured a constant temperature throughout the experiment / for the entire experiment

These results are dependent on / arise from factors such as weight, age …

Dear Sir / Madam, …Dear Mr. Smith / Dear Mrs. Jones,

Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely Mr. Paul Roberts

ExerciseWrite F (Formal) or I (informal) in the brackets after each sentence.

1. The project will be completed next year. (__________)

2. I showed that his arguments did not hold water. (__________)

3. I wonder why he put up with those terrible conditions for so long. (__________)

4. Five more tests will be necessary before the experiment can be concluded. (__________)

5. It is possible to consider the results from a different viewpoint. (__________)

6. It has been proved that the arguments so far are without foundation. (__________)

7. He’ll have to do another five tests before he can stop the experiment. (__________)

8. It is not clear why the individual in question put up with such terrible conditions for so long.

(__________)

9. There are a number of reasons why the questionnaire is in need of revision. (__________)

10. We’ll finish the job next year. (__________)

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PRESENTING YOUR VISUAL AIDS

The following are some of the most common forms of visual aid.

Bar Chart

Line Graph

A Pie Chart

A Table

CARS PER 1000 PEOPLE

FOSSIL FUELS (KG OIL EQUIVALENT)

GERMANY 934 123ZAMBIA 500 40CHINA 700 53JAPAN 890 122

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A Flow Chart

A Reproduction

An Outline

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE: AN OVERVIEW

PART TWO: INTERNATIONAL THEORIES

PART THREE: THE GENERAL SITUATION IN ITALY

PART THREE: A CASE STUDY

PART FOUR: SOME CONCLUSIONS

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Handouts

Some Useful Expressions

GENERAL

– As you can see …– I have reproduced the … in question here / on page … of your handout– The curve / pie chart / figure / diagram shows / illustrates that …

ACKNOWLEDGING THE SOURCE OF IMAGES

– The following images / tables / data are taken from …– The following images / tables / data are reproduced by kind permission of …– I am indebted to … for these …

DESCRIBING PICTURES

– In the top left hand / bottom right hand corner, …– In the foreground …– In the background, …– To the left, …– To the right, …– In the middle, …

DESCRIBING A CURVE

Rising– The curve rises / increases / goes up / attains a peak …

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FallingThe temperature drops / goes down / decreases / declines / reaches a trough / a low point …

Stability– It levels off / reaches a plateau / remains stable / stabilises

CHRONOLOGY

– From then onwards– Immediately after that– At this stage– Over the last few years– Up to now– In the near future– Shortly– Before long– By the end of the year– It is expected that

Talk the class through your essay outline again, this time introducing all your visual supports at the appropriate moment. Listen and respond to feedback from your colleagues.

Some Notes on OHP Transparencies and Powerpoint Screens

1. Remember that your audience will need time to read the text. Be careful to leave them enough time and avoid including too much text on one screen / transparency. Ideally, you should never have more than two running lines of text.

2. When you are referring to specific information being projected, make sure you use a pointer.3. If you need to give your audience a lot of material, consider giving them handouts instead of / as

well as preparing a Powerpoint / OHP presentation. Your listeners may appreciate having their own copy of the material to take away and study in their own time.

4. A short essay outline may be useful during the introduction and conclusion of your essay, in order to clarify what you are going to do / have done.

5. Images should not be purely decorative. Make sure all your images are relevant to your paper.

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