Metodichka_writing
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10. There were a number of good reasons why he should not finish the experiment. ___, he insisted on completing it.
Ex. 16. Choose the appropriate word from the brackets to link the sentences.
1. We are working to protect the environment. (although/besides) It is a difficult job.
2.Computers can help us learn. (however/moreover) They can be fun.
3.Free education should be available to everyone. (however/consequently) People may attend a private school if they choose to do so.
4.We must give money to underprivileged countries. (because/in
addition) We should help them develop their economy.
5.There is more smog over the city. (because/because of) The new factory is polluting the air.
6.Junk food is harmful for you. (although/furthermore) It can be very expensive.
7.Outdoor holidays can be enjoyable. (in addition/although) The weather may spoil them.
8.Learning a foreign language helps you understand another culture.
(however/moreover) It may offer you better job prospects.
9.Team sports provide good physical exercise. (added to that /so that) You learn to cooperate with others.
10.Modern medicine has found a cure for many diseases. (to start with/on the other hand) There are still many more which are not curable.
Ex. 17. In the following letter the linking words and phrases are missing. Choose the most appropriate phrase from the ones given below.
Dear Tom,
Remember that I told you I was trying to get a job at ICTL? (1)
…………, I finally managed to get one. Of course, I haven’t been working there long, (2) ………… I can already tell that it’s a wonderful place to work. All the staff, (3) ………… the directors, are very friendly with everybody, and (4) …………, they have marvelous facilities for the employees. (5) …………, there’s a bar and gym, and lots of other things.
I’m called the Safety Equipment Officer. It (6) ………… sound like an impressive title, but it’s not a very accurate description of what I do. My main job is to provide protective clothing, (7) ……… overalls, helmets, and so on. I estimate what the different departments will need, and (8)
………… I order it from the suppliers. (9) ………… I make sure that the
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various departments have everything they want. (10) …………, stationery is also my responsibility. (11) …………., I have to supply all the offices with paper, envelopes, and so on. I find the job very interesting (12)
………… . I get the chance to go all over the factory and to meet everybody. (13) ………… the pay is a lot better than in my previous job.
(14) …………, that’s my news. What about yours? Write me back when you have time. Regards to your family, and best wishes to you.
Jim
1. |
a) Then |
b) Well |
c) And |
2. |
a) but |
b) because |
c) so |
3. |
a) until |
b) and |
c) even |
4. |
a) so |
b) what’s more |
c) on the other hand |
5. |
a) For instance |
b) However |
c) Even |
6. |
a) can |
b) could |
c) may |
7. |
a) such as |
b) namely |
c) as |
8. |
a) then |
b) after |
c) so |
9. |
a) By the way |
b) Anyway |
c) In this way |
10. |
a) However |
b) Although |
c) Moreover |
11. |
a) Secondly |
b) In other words |
c) Also |
12. |
a) why |
b) because |
c) then |
13. |
a) Besides |
b) Beside |
c) On the other hand |
14. |
a) At the end |
b) Anyway |
c) After all |
Ex. 18. In the following article the linking words and phrases are missing. Choose the most appropriate transitional signals from the ones given.
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Nuclear Hazards |
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There |
are three separate |
scientists have invented. (8) |
sources of hazard related to the use |
……………..., they may be buried |
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of nuclear reactions to supply us |
under the ground, dropped into |
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with energy. (1) …………, the |
disused mineshafts, or sunk in the |
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radioactive |
material must travel |
sea. (9) …………, these methods |
from its place of manufacture to |
do not solve the problem; they |
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the power station. (2) …………. |
merely store it, (10) ………….. an |
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the power stations themselves are |
earthquake could crack open the |
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solidly built, the containers used |
containers like nuts. |
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for the transport of the material are |
(11) ………………., there is the |
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not. |
Unfortunately, |
there |
are |
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problem of accidental exposure due |
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normally only two methods of |
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to a |
leak |
or an explosion at the |
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transport available, (3) …………. |
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power station. As with the other two |
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road or rail, and both of |
these |
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hazards, |
this is |
extremely unlikely |
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involve close contact with the |
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and |
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not |
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general public, (4) ………… the |
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provide |
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serious objection |
to |
the |
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routes are bound to pass near, or |
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nuclear |
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programme, |
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(13) |
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………….. through, heavily |
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populated areas. |
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inhabitants of Harrisburg will tell |
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(6) …………., there is the |
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you. |
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problem of waste. All nuclear power |
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Separately, |
and |
during |
short |
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stations produce wastes which in |
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periods, these three types of risk are |
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most cases will remain radioactive |
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no great |
cause |
for concern. Taken |
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for |
thousands |
of |
years. |
It is |
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together, |
(14) …………………., |
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impossible to de-activate |
these |
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and |
especially |
over |
much |
longer |
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wastes, |
and (7) …………. |
they |
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periods, the probability of a disaster |
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must be stored in one of the |
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is extremely high. |
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ingenious but |
cumbersome |
ways |
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that |
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a) So |
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b) Firstly |
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c) Rather |
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a) Secondly |
b) But |
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c) Although |
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a) for example |
b) such as |
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c) namely |
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a) because of |
b) although |
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c) since |
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5. |
a) even |
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b) for instance |
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c) on the other hand |
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a) Secondly |
b) Thirdly |
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c) In that case |
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a) because |
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b) so |
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c) after |
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a) Besides |
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b) For example |
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c) However |
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9. |
a) By the way |
b) Lastly |
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c) However |
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a) though |
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b) since |
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c) after |
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11. |
a) Thirdly |
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b) Also |
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c) For instance |
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a) so |
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b) instead |
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c) even |
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a) although |
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b) nevertheless |
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c) but |
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a) although |
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b) though |
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c) even though |
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Ex. 19. Put the sentences of a newspaper report in the right order paying attention to how the words and phrases in bold type help to link the text together. Write the letters next to the numbers below to show your choices.
1. __ 2. __ 3. __ 4. __ 5. __ 6.__ 7. __ 8. __ 9. __ 10. __
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Ship accident in Channel
No Casualties
a) In spite of this damage the two ships managed to reach the nearby port of Dunkirk under their own steam.
c) One was a cargo boat carrying fruit, and apparently bound for London.
e) Fortunately, there were no casualties among the crews or the passengers, but both ships were holed close to the water-line.
g) Yesterday evening two ships collided in thick fog in the English Channel.
i) The other was a British Rail cross–channel ferry on its regular run from Dover to Dunkirk.
b) However, because of the weather conditions, the captains did not realize the danger until only seconds before the collision took place.
d) The official added that British experts would be invited to join the committee.
f) According to eye-witnesses neither of the vessels was going very fast at the time of the accident.
h) Consequently, there was insufficient time for them to take avoiding action.
j) A spokesman for the port authorities said that a committee of enquiry would be set up to ascertain the cause of the collision.
Ex. 20. Complete the gaps with a word or phrase from the box below.
on the contrary |
for instance |
especially |
because |
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for these reasons |
in order to |
it is true |
of course |
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similarly |
however |
it seems to me |
for example |
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It is true that there have been great advances in technology over the last forty years. .................... the use of mobile phones and e-mail communication are common these days. ...................., machines that translate from one language to another are still in their early stages.
.................... that a machine could never do as good a job as a human,
.................... when it comes to interpreting what people are saying.
...................., machines can translate statements such as “Where is the bank?” but even simple statements are not always straightforward
.................... the meaning depends on more than just words. ....................
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the word “bank” has a number of different meanings in English. How does a translating machine know which meaning to take?
.................... understand what people are saying, you need to take into account the relationship between the speakers and their situation. A machine cannot tell the difference between the English expression “Look out!” meaning “Be careful!” and “Look out!” meaning “Put your head out of the window”. You need a human being to interpret the situation.
.................... with written language, it is difficult for a machine to know
how to translate accurately .................... |
we rarely translate every word. |
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...................., we try to take into consideration how the idea would be |
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expressed in the other language. This is hard to do .................... |
every |
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language has its own way of doing and saying things. .................... |
I feel |
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that it is most unlikely that machines will take the place of humans in the field of translating and interpreting. If machines ever learn to think, perhaps then they will be in a position to take on this role.
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THE STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY
An essay is a group of paragraphs about one topic. It has three main parts: an introduction (or introductory paragraph), a body, and a conclusion (or concluding paragraph).
1.The introduction introduces the topic of the essay and arouses the reader’s interest. It always contains one sentence that clearly states the main idea of the whole essay and often lists the subtopics as well. This sentence is called the thesis statement. It usually appears at the end of the introductory paragraph and gives the reader an idea of what he or she is going to read.
2.The body of an essay is made up of one or more paragraphs. Each body paragraph explains or develops one part of the essay topic and it has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and sometimes a concluding sentence. Each body paragraph explains in detail one subtopic mentioned in the thesis statement, so the number of body paragraphs will vary according to the number of subtopics. The body paragraphs are arranged according to a pattern of organization e.g. time order, and logical division of ideas (general writing); comparison and contrast, cause and effect, and argumentation (academic writing).
3.The conclusion is the last paragraph. It summarizes the main points of the essay and leaves the reader with the writer’s final thoughts on the topic.
Introductions and Conclusions
It is important to have a clear beginning and ending of an essay. Without an introduction and a conclusion, an essay is just a group of paragraphs. The introduction and the conclusion work together to make the topic and the main ideas of the essay clear to the reader.
The introduction:
–is usually five to ten sentences long;
–catches the reader’s interest;
–gives the general topic of an essay;
–gives background information about the topic;
–gives interesting facts or examples;
–presents surprising statistics;
–states the main point (the thesis statement)
of an essay.
How to write a strong introduction:
– introduce the topic clearly;
(!) Writing a good introduction is not always easy. If you find writing an introduction difficult, try writing it later, after you have written the body paragraphs or even after the conclusion.
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–give several sentences of information about the topic;
–state a clear thesis statement of the essay;
–include interesting facts or statistics or a personal story or example or an interesting quotation.
The following will make an introduction weak:
–the introduction doesn’t give enough information about the topic or it gives too much about it;
–it talks about too many different topics;
–it does not state a clear thesis.
The conclusion
The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. A good conclusion paragraph:
–summarizes the main points of an essay;
–restates the thesis (using different words to express the same points);
–makes a final comment about the essay’s main idea;
–may emphasize an action that the author would like the reader to take.
Don’t introduce new ideas in a conclusion. The conclusion only restates or gives further commentary on ideas discussed in the essay.
For more information on introductory and concluding transitional signals see Appendix III.
Practice time
Ex. 1. The sentences in the following introductory paragraph are in scrambled order. Number the sentences so they are in the correct order. Place the thesis statement last.
__Although there was a smoke detector in his home, the man’s hearing was so poor that he couldn’t hear its warning signal. __In the same week,
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a ninety-year-old man burned to death in his home. __He had left a pot on the stove, which had started a fire. __Experts who have studied the problem have proposed three possible programs. __With an increasing population of elderly people, this country needs to find better ways to take care of them. __Last month, an ambulance rushed an eighty-nine-year-old woman to the emergency room. __A neighbor had found her on her living room floor, where she had been lying for two days after falling.
Ex. 2. Study how the transitions link body paragraphs. Try to complete the essay.
Introduction
The first reason a college education is a good investment is financial. Statistics show that men and women with college degrees earn a lot more money than those with only high school diplomas.
In addition to earning more money, college graduates have a wider choice of job, and their
jobs are likely to be more interesting.
Body (4 paragraphs)
A college education leads not only to more interesting and better–paying jobs, but it may also lead you to discover new interests and uncover unknown talents.
The final reason for a college education in a good investment is the personal contacts you make while in college.
Conclusion
Ex. 3. Read and discuss the following introductions with a partner. Mark the strong and the weak introductions. What could the writers do to make the introductions stronger?
Family structure has changed a lot in the last fifty years in Asia. The decrease in the number of extended families and nuclear families has caused several social changes.
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Stargazing – looking at the stars – is something everyone should try. I love it. When looking at the night sky, most people observe that the moon, planets, and stars move from the east side of the sky to the west over a period of several hours. In fact, this movement is actually the movement of the Earth rotating on its axis. In addition, as the Earth revolves around the sun throughout the year, different stars are visible at different times.
Nowadays more and younger people get married too early. There is an opinion that the legal age for getting married should be increased to 21.
The number of businesses using the Internet for selling products has increased greatly in recent years. Shoppers, too, are using the Internet in greater numbers to buy all types of products, such as books, cameras, and clothing. Although e–business has become popular, there are certain risks involved in Internet shopping that are a concern for both businesses and consumers.
Finding alternative energy sources is one of the big projects of the 21st century in all countries. The world is running out of its natural resources. It is important for a country to determine the best way to continue to provide energy for its people. This essay will focus on the development of appropriate alternative energy sources for Sweden, with an emphasis on solar energy.
Adjusting to another culture’s food can be a challenge for many travelers. The geography of a country can greatly affect the typical foods that are eaten by its people.
These days, it seems like everyone is worried about how the world will meet its energy demands when we have run out of oil and natural gas. Scientists and researchers are investigating such power sources as solar energy, wind energy, and even energy from hot rocks beneath the earth’s surface. Nuclear power can also provide the world with a source of electricity but it is not a good energy source because it is too expensive, the materials used in the power stations are not safe, and there is a great possibility of accidents.
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Since the current trend of ‘Green’ politics came to the fore, we have
discovered |
our water is unfit |
for consumption. Our |
meat is poisoned |
by various |
bacteria, and our |
fruit and vegetables |
are contaminated |
by chemicals. Not only are food and water affected, but the land and sea are constantly subject to chemical and nuclear dumping. In addition, sewage and various oil disasters have contributed to the increase in the killing of wildlife. Even the air we breathe is polluted every day by the millions of cars constantly pumping carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.
Any person who has lived in the twentieth century has seen a lot of changes take place, and the twenty-first century will bring even greater changes. Some people are excited by the challenges that these changes offer; others worry about their consequences. The twenty-first century will bring certain advantages such as faster communication and a higher standard of living, but it will also bring some disadvantages such as increased pollution and the depersonalization of human relationships.
Ex. 4. The following sentences come from the introduction to the essay “What is the most effective way to relieve poverty?” Put the sentences into a logical order.
__It is clear that it is difficult to find a solution to the issue of poverty, and serious attempts need to be made to tackle this problem.
__This essay will discuss some of the most effective ways to relieve poverty, looking at the reasons why they are successful.
__High levels of poverty have been a cause for concern for many countries for many years.
__It will focus on the development of educational opportunities as being the most successful approach.
Ex. 5. Read the following introduction. Then choose the best conclusion from the choices listed. Explain your choice.
(!) In the introductory paragraph a short idea of the essay is given. In essence, the topic sentence works as a mini summary of the essay.
(!) In a concluding paragraph you repeat the topic sentence using different words, i.e. a paraphrase.
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