VII. Tasks and Activities

Assignment I. To make sure your abstract meets the requirements and you have not forgotten or left out anything it is recommended to apply the checklist provided below. If everything is OK you should answer ‘Yes’ to every question. If any question gets a ‘No’ answer, you should carefully study the failure and improve your piece of writing. Apply this to one of the sample abstracts.

What Makes for a Good Abstract on a Science Project?	You Should Answer ‘Yes’/’No’ to Every Question
Does your science abstract include:
Introduction Problem Statement Procedures Results Conclusions	Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No
Did you review the list of "Things to Avoid" in a science fair project abstract?	Yes / No
Did you write the abstract so that the reader is motivated to learn more about your science project and its results?	Yes / No

Assignment II. You have a number of words and word collocations which belong to different parts of the abstract structure. Analyze to which part they belong and classify them according to the correct categories in the table below. Can you add some more words?

It is necessary that a more thorough study of the phenomenon should be done.., The primary aim of the study is to test ..., Particular attention is given to the optimal operating conditions…, The results obtained for both ketones studied are found to be very valuable for further research…, The problem was studied (a study was made of...)…, The process involved heating and was followed by quick cooling…, Finally the substance is washed, dried and weighed…, The object of the experiment is to describe ..., The paper studies some photochemical characteristics of the substances concerned…, The chief purpose of the investigation is to establish ..., The remarkable characteristic of the resulting compound is its resistance to aging and specific electrical insulating properties…, The conclusion is made that these mixtures have several advantages over others…

Introduction	Problem Statement	Procedures	Results	Conclusions

Assignment III. Apply the knowledge you have just acquired to a particular piece of writing:

1. Find three or four written abstracts from some papers you have read as part of your home reading assignment. It is important that you have actually read most of the papers.

2. Diagram each abstract into the 5 parts above.

3. Discuss with your group mates how each abstract meets or does not meet the above criteria. Some good abstracts may not perfectly match the criteria.

4. Discuss how they could be improved or why their choice is appropriate to the work and/or results in this paper.

5. Choose an abstract to improve and work on a computer or on paper to rewrite it. You can insert specifics that make the abstract correct, engaging and specific!

Assignment IV. Write an abstract for their project (e.g. your current or previous term paper), regardless of the status of the project. You should diagram the abstract and present it in class.

Even if the project is only half way through, you can write an optimistic abstract in which all the experiments or proofs turn out perfectly. Ask your scientific supervisor or the teacher in charge of the course to help you identify what the problem is and why it is important.

WRITING LETTERS

You have learned how to write official letters before (for details consult Part I which you used in the 2^nd year). Just to remind you of the structure of a standard remember that the major parts of the letter include:

1. Letterhead (usually a return address)

2. Date (remember the differences between the British and American ways of writing dates)

3. Your recipient’s address (including the name and the professional title (if any), the company or organization name, etc.)

4. An opening greeting (addressed to the same person as in 3)

5. Subject of the letter

6. The main body of the letter

7. A parting (depending on the form of address)

8. Signature (including your title)

9. Enclosures (if any).

If you sent copies to a third party or parties, you should notify the recipient. You indicate it at the end of the letter like cc: Prof. J.Smith.

It is also possible to include a Postscript if you want to express an additional request or draw your recipient’ attention to some very important point. It is indicated by a special mark P.S. and is placed on the left below the body of the letter.

In case you need to attach any supplementary materials or documents to the letter, you should indicate each document separately at the end of the letter like Encl.: Protocol of Intention.

Tasks and Activities

Assignment I. Name the typical forms of address for a formal business letter Name the suitable closing phrase which goes together with the corresponding greeting. Here are some samples of the standard phrases. Where do they belong in the structure of the letter?

1. Dear Sir/Madam,

2. Yours faithfully,

3. Dear Mr. Deaver,

4. Yours sincerely,

5. Best wishes,

6. Yours truly,

7. Dear Professor Lowell,

8. Yours, Mike Linley

9. Dear Mr.Chairman,

10. Respectfully yours,

Assignment II. When you need, let us say, some advice, information or service you write a letter of request or inquiry. You studied the essentials of such types of letters last year. Examine the list of expressions provided below and choose those which are suitable for expressing the purpose of your letter asking for some advice, information or service:

1. I’d be very grateful to you if/for …

2. I’m sending you …

3. I’d appreciate it greatly if/for …

4. I fully understand that …

5. if you could provide me with …

6. I very much regret …

7. I am trying to find …

8. I would be very much obliged to you …

9. It’s a great pleasure to receive …

10. is worth being discussed …

Assignment III. Assume that you are writing a letter to a professor at some other university (you may use any imaginary names or titles) to ask for some information necessary for your report, research project, term paper or diploma. Your letter should include all major parts. Use the expressions from the previous assignments.

Assignment IV. Here is the letter of application in which the author of it is applying for the job and provides the details of his qualifications and achievements. Some words and word collocations in the letter are missing. Fill in the gaps from the list provided below choosing the best word that completes the sentence.

Anton S.Archipov 20-110 Tverskaya str. 220000 Minsk/Belarus Mr.R.T.Young Director Human Resource Management Fuse & Simon Chemicals 2557 Tenth Street 06887Jackport, Wi Novel Drugs Research Department Dear Mr.Young, I am applying for the position of Junior 1) ___ Fellow of the Novel Drugs Department which was advertised in the newspaper (BDG, May 10, 2011) and the Internet. I am a 5th student of the Chemistry Faculty at the Belarusian State University. My grades have been rather high and I expect to 2) ___ in June 2012 with the diploma with honours. I have three years of 3) ___ working part-time as a laboratory assistant at the Department of Analytical Chemistry. During that time I have worked on a number of projects concerning 4) ___ and design. It has given me a lot of opportunity to develop my practical 5) ___ and ability to work independently and as a 6) ___ member. I have attached my CV which gives a brief description of my 7) __. I will be lad to come for an 8) ___ any time in the afternoon. I am ready to begin work right after my graduation. I look 9) ___ to for your 10) ___ and hope I can be of help for your company well-known for its success and image. Sincerely, Anton S.Archipov Encl.: CV

1. a) study b) research c) investigations

2. a) graduate b) finish c) complete

3. a) job b) experience c) knowledge

4. a) drug abuse b) drug application c) drug analysis

5. a) skills b) competition c) training

6. a) crew b) team c) gathering

7. a) qualifications b) qualities c) characteristics

8. a) report b) conversation c) interview

9. a) after b) forward c) after

10. a) reply b) replay c) report

Assignment V. You are provided with a letter expressing regret that the author of it is unable to attend the conference to which you have been invited. Some words and word collocations in the letter are missing. Fill in the gaps from the list provided below.

H. Silayeva 22-61, ul. Makayenka, 220000 Minsk/Belarus 20.02.20XX Dr. M. Murrey Chairman of the 1) ___ Nanoscience Conference 20XX Institute of Nanotechnology Urb. Cortijo Viejo (Puerto Calero) 35570 Lanzarote (Spain) Call for Abstracts and Papers Dear Dr. Murray, Thank you very much for 2) ___ to attend the upcoming 3) ___ to be 4) ___ in June 10-13, 20XX and deliver a paper 5) ___ Supramolecular Nanomaterials: From Design to Reality. I regret 6)___ you that I shall not be able 7) ___ the conference as I have other obligations during June. So I shall not be coming to the meeting myself but I shall be 8) ___ to you if you could 9) ___ the abstract of my paper which you will find 10) ___ to this letter. Thank you very much for your 11) ___ and your kind consideration of my request. I look forward to 12) ___ from you soon. Yours sincerely, Helen Silayeva Assistant Professor Department of High-molecular Compounds

1. publish

2. to attend

3. understanding

4. the invitation

5. conference

6. hearing

7. grateful

8. attached

9. held

10. Organizing Committee

11. on

12. to inform