Making an inference

Note. An inference is a conclusion by reasoning from something known or assumed (Webster's New World Dictionary. Warner Books Inc. New York 1990). So, at the end of your analysis it is advisable to express your personal point of view on the matter under consideration in the given article. While making the inference state

• the genre of the article

• target audience

• language and style of presentation

• actuality of the material

Exercise. Read the article.

Read the examples of its possible analysis. Get ready to make the analysis of your own.

Teachers show how computers can help

"Gazette and Herald", July, 24, 2003

WILTSHIRE teachers and education experts shared their expertise at a major school computer conference in Bristol.

Around 500 delegates attended the West of England ICT conference on Wednesday last week to hear about the latest ideas for using computers in the classroom.

Six of the seminars were led by education professionals from Wiltshire.

Ian Baker, E-Learning adviser for Wiltshire County Council, said: "We have a great deal of computing expertise across the county's schools and this is demonstrated by having six speakers.

"There is also a great deal of innovation in how computer technology is being used to help children learn."

Cabinet member for education and county council leader elect, Jane Scott, said: "This is a major conference for the west of England and to have so many speakers from Wiltshire just shows what excellent progress we are making in the best use of computer equipment in the county's schools.

"Computer technology is a key component in the county council's drive to constantly improve education in the county."

Myles Pilling, special educational needs adviser for Wiltshire County Council spoke on how tablet PCs can be used to help children with special educational needs.

Ann Harrison and Susan Jackson, teachers at Shaw Primary School, Melksham, explained the benefits of an outreach project with a local secondary school.

Children from Shaw used computer technology to design a mobile and then saw the components being made in the workshops at George Ward secondary school via videoconference.

Fiona Allen and James Passmore from Corsham Primary School talked of how they used computer technology to reduce teacher workload.

Mark Blackman, Learning coordinator for ICT at Abbey field School in Chippenham, hosted a seminar on how schools can get the best out of computer equipment suppliers.

Vikki Bennett, an early years consultant, and Emma Aspery, an ICT consultant, both from Wiltshire, gave practical advice on how computers can stimulate and extend young children's learning.

Sarah Corbett and Veronica Barody from Pewsey Primary School gave a presentation on the process of moving from a school with three computers shared between seven classes, to researching their options and settling on a network of 16 wireless laptops.

The session then went on to explain how they then integrated the system into school life.

E.g. 1. The article under the title "Teachers show how computers can help" is from the newspaper "Gazette & Herald" of July 24, 2003. The topic of the article is the report on the major school computer conference in Bristol. The main idea is – around 500 delegates attended the West of England ICT conference to hear and exchange views on the latest ideas of using computers in the classroom.

The conference on the implementation of computer technologies in school has been organized in Bristol. About 500 delegates attended it and six seminars are led by educational professionals from Wiltshire. The participants exchanged their ideas about the application of computers to help, stimulate and extend pupils' learning. The conference was the major one for the West of England and it was a wonderful proof of the progress the schools had been making in implementation of computers in the educational process.

The article is written in the form of a news report. The target audience is teachers and people who are involved in the teaching process and applying computers in it. It may also be interesting for some parents. The article is quite actual as for the topic but it is interesting mostly for the people living in this area. To my mind, there are too many names of the participants and only the titles of the reports are mentioned. Very little is said about the contents of the presentations. Nobody would deny the importance and great role the computers have been playing in modern life and in education in particular. It evidently stimulates the schoolchildren’s interest to learning and studying. The language of the article is very simple and easy to understand.

E.g.2. The article entitled "Teachers show how computers can help" is an editorial from the local daily newspaper "Gazette & Herald" of July 24, 2003. It gives a brief account of the West of England ICT conference held in Bristol. Around 500 delegates took part in six seminars on the implementation of computer technologies in school. The participants noted the progress that had been made in the best use of computer equipment in Wiltshire county schools. The speakers submitted reports and projects to demonstrate how computers could stimulate and extend young children's learning or how computers could be used to help children with special educational needs.

The article is very easy to understand because of the simple style of presentation. Its main purpose is to inform the teachers, first of all, and all the readers about the organized conference. As it is published in the local newspaper the use of so many names can be approved, though sometimes it interferes with the general comprehension…

I totally support the idea of the wide implementation of computers in the modern teaching process and fully agree with the author's opinion that computers can be both great helpers and stimulants for the children in their school life.

Assignment.

Select one article from an English language newspaper and make a complete theme analysis in written form.

P A R T 4

SUMMARIZING THE COURSE

Exercise 1. Get divided into three groups. Choose one of the articles from the book. Work on its analysis for 20 minutes. Appoint one of the students from each group to present the analysis you've made.

APPENDIX 2

THE PLAN OF ANALYSING AND RENDERING

A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE