Reading
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Reading strategies can help you read more quickly and effectively. Active reading keeps your mind focused on the material.
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When you start reading a text, it may be useful to consider:
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What is the goal of your study?
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What do you want to learn from the text?
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If you only need a shallow knowledge of the subject, you can skim the material. Read chapter headings, introductions and summaries. This will give you a hint what the text is about and how it is organized.
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If you need some information on a subject, you can scan the text. Read chapter introductions and summaries in detail. Pick out key words from the contents of the chapter.
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Only when you need detailed knowledge of a subject it is smart to study the text. Skim the material first to get an overview of the subject. Then read it in detail. It is often useful to underline important text. This helps you to review central points.
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When you need to understand and use new information, write questions about the text. Focus on the main point of each paragraph.
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It is also useful to make a summary of a chapter in your own words.
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Before you start, think and plan.
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Think about your topic.
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What do I know, what do I need to find out?
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What do I want to concentrate on?
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Who will read it?
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What is the purpose of the paper?
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Do you want to inform, discuss or entertain?
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What sort of text are you writing? Is it an essay, a short story, a report, a letter or a column in a newspaper?
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List words and ideas you might use. Bring in facts and examples. You could discuss your list with a fellow student or in a group?
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Decide which ideas to use in your paper.
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Start writing the text. If possible, show what you have written to a friend or a teacher to test it out.
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When you have finished your draft, consider if you have included your ideas. Did you give reasons for your opinions?
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Check how you have organized the paragraphs. Remember one idea only in each paragraph!
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Check your spelling!
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Use a pencil to put a frame around your introduction and conclusion. Remember to write an introduction where you present how you are going to write about the topic. In your conclusion you should sum up what you have written about or discussed in the main text.
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Now you should be ready to write your final text.
You write a report when you want to tell someone about something that has already happened. This could be something you have seen, studied, heard about or been working with.
Start by writing a report head:
To: The person the report is for
From: The person who writes the report
Date: The date the report is written
Re: Regarding means what the report is about
If you want to number the paragraphs, do it like this:
1. An introduction, giving the background for the report.
2. The information found
3. A conclusion or recommendation
At the end, write your signature
Remember that a report should be written in an impersonal style, with no quotations.
NB!
No salutation (Dear)
No complimentary close (Yours)
Writing Letters.
All letters include some of the same elements:
1. Your address. Add mailing addresses and phone number(s)
2. Date
3. Address of the person you are writing to
4. Body of the letter
5. Closing
6. Your signature
Informal letter
You write informal or personal letters to persons you know well.
You do not have to write your address, but you put the date in the top right corner.
In the US the date is usually written July 17, 2000.
To the left you write for example Dear Rhonda, or Hi Bill,
There are different ways to finish an informal letter:
Love,
With love,
With best wishes,
Remember to write your name!
The date should be written on the right-hand side.
Write the name and address of the person or the company you are writing to, the addressee, on the left side.
If you have a personal contact, write the name of the person.
Note that Ms is used for both Mrs and Ms.
If you do not know the name of the person you are writing to, you can use one of the following:
Dear Sir,
Dear Sirs, (if you are writing to a company)
Dear Madam,
Dear Sir or Madam,
Dear Sirs or Mesdames,
Then write the subject line, what the letter is about. This is usually written in capital letters.
Sometimes you start by referring to earlier correspondence.
If your letter is an answer to some sort of advertisement, you should mention where you have read it.
A sentence like the following may be added before closing your letter:
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
These closing words will fit most situations:
Yours faithfully (when you do not know the name of the person you are writing to).
Remember your signature!
If you type your letter, be sure to leave room for your signature above your typed name.
Make sure you have the necessary qualifications and give a relevant presentation of yourself.
Your letter of application should be short, but informative.
You may start your letter by Dear Sirs or Mesdames.
Include a heading where you state what kind of job you are applying for.
Relevant information:
¨ Where you have seen the advertisement.
¨ Your age and sex.
¨ Where you live and what you are doing at the moment.
¨ Work experience.
¨ Your knowledge of languages.
¨ Why you think this is a job for you.
¨ When you can be available for an interview.
¨ When you can start working.
¨ Names of persons who can give you references (referees)
Finish your letter by writing:
Yours faithfully
In your letter of application you should enclose:
¨ a CV (curriculum vitae = course of life)
¨ certified copies of certificates
¨ references and copies of testimonials
Remember to mention how many enclosures there are.
An international CV may include:
Family name
First name
Nationality
Date of birth
Address
Civil status (married/single)
Telephone number(s)
e-mail address
Education (Degrees and diplomas, the most recent first!)
Experience (Jobs you have had)
Interests
References
You should state whether you are a driver and how mobile you are prepared to be.
Start by referring to an advertisement or a catalogue.
When you order goods from a mail order firm or from the Internet, make sure that you specify what you want:
brand names, numbers, sizes, quantities and prices.
State the terms of delivery and payment.
Today most young people will prefer e-commerce when ordering from abroad. This will be just as safe as ordering by mail if you pay by your credit card.
When you receive the goods, check that they and the invoice are in accordance with your order.
¨ A summary should be short.
¨ Start by reading the text very carefully.
¨ Underline important words or sentences.
¨ What is the main idea in the text?
¨ How is this idea presented?
¨ How many main parts can you find? Are they all important for your summary?
¨ Look out for a conclusion
¨ Do not copy the text, it makes your summary too long
¨ Use your own words as far as possible!
Giving Talks in Class.
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During your English course you will most certainly be asked to give a talk in class.
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Start out by writing a manuscript. Read it well. Then write down key words and key sentences. These will help you remember the text.
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Do not write too much on each page, and use just one side of the page. Remember to number the pages.
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You are supposed to talk, not to read from your manuscript! Practice at home!
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Do not rush, try to keep eye contact with your fellow students.
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Start by introducing your theme and the way you have structured your talk.
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You may finish by asking if the listeners have any questions.
Useful expressions for starting and ending a talk:
¨ I’d like to tell you about-----
¨ I’d like to say a few words about-----
¨ I’d like to talk about-----
¨ To sum up-----
¨ To conclude-----
Finally,-------