If you agree with the opinion that television is harmful to children, brainstorm some following ideas Disadvantages of television to children?. If you disagree with the opinion that tele[r]
(1)Structure of an Essay
INTRODUCTION
About 40 words
General statements about the topic
↓
Writer’s position (optional)
↓
What the writer is going to say
BODY
About 180 words
↓
+
↓
↓
+
CONCLUSION
About 30 words
Summary
↓
Conclusion
↓
Recommendation
(optional: if asked for
advice, suggestion)
First point in first paragraph
Topic sentence
Support
Second point in second paragraph
(2)Three types of Task questions
I The Argument-type essay – A question
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It is opinion more than facts
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Ask directly for the writer’s personal opinion
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It usually has an additional question
1 To what extent you agree or disagree?
What you think about…?
What is your opinion about….?
To what extent is technology always beneficial?
Is this a good idea to do….?
Which of the views you agree with?
“Should” starting question.
Discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree.
II The Discussion- essay – D question
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It asks for both sides of the issue.
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Have one or two additional questions
Discuss (an opinion or an idea), you agree or disagree.
Discuss both of the views Which you agree with?
Discuss the arguments FOR and AGAINST something.
III The Account-type essay – Ac question
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Wh- question
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Advantages and disadvantages
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Cause and effect
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Facts, not opinion
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Examples of What question:
1 Discuss challenges facing a developing country when integrating into the world
economy.
(3)Sample Task Questions
1.
Television is harmful to children?
Do you agree?
2.
Because of the pressure of new subjects such as business studies, many schools
have dropped sport of physical education (PE) from the curriculum Many people
think that physical education is not important in a young person’s education.
What is your opinion?
3.
University education should be restricted to the very best academic students, rather
than being available to a large proportion of young people.
To what extent you agree or disagree?
4.
We live today in an electronic imformation age It is easier to be connected by
technology yet many people seem no closer feeling happy in their life.
Discuss.
5.
Modern lifestyles are completely different from the way people lived in the past.
Some people think the changes have been very positive, while others believe they
have been negative.
Discuss both these points of view and give your own opinion.
6 People today move to new cities or new countries more than ever before What
challenges they experience? What strategies are there to meet these challenges?
7.
Every large city in the world has to face the problem of increasing traffic jams and
the air pollution that they cause Our health and environment are in danger from
the growing numbers of cars or other private motor vehicles.
(4)Television is harmful to children? Do you agree?
Step1 Analyze the task – Reading carefully to understand all the details
Step2 Generate ideas – Ask questions based on the key words
If you agree with the opinion that television is harmful to children, brainstorm some following ideas
Disadvantages of television to children
If you disagree with the opinion that television is harmful to children, brainstorm some following
ideas.
Advantages of television to children
Step Think it through – Put your ideas in order before you start to write
Introduction
Some background information about television and its
development in our modern society State your opinion
about the topic.
Paragraph topics
1 Advantages of television
or
2 Disadvantages of television
Conclusion
Summaries / Recommendation
(5)Television is harmful to children? Do you agree?
Over the past forty years, television sets have brcome standard pieces of equipment in most homes, and watching television has become a standard activity for most families Children in our culrure grow up watching television in the morning, in the afternoon, and often in the evening as well Although there are many excellent programs for children, many people feel that television may not be good for children In fact, television may be a bad influence on children for three main reasons
First of all, some programs are not good for children to see For example, there are many police stories on television People are killed with guns, knives, and even cars Some children might think that these things could happen to them at any time Therefore, they can become frightened In addition, some youngsters might begin to think that viloence is a normal part of life because they see it so often on television They may begin to act out the violence they see and hurt themselves or their playmates
Second, television can affect children’s reading ability Reading requires skills and brain processes that watching television does not If children watch television too many hours each day, they not practice the skills they need to learn how to read
Finally, televsion may affect children’s schoolwork in other ways If they spend too much time watching television, they may get behind in their homework Also, if they stay up to watch a late movie, they may fall asleep in class the next day Consequently, they will not learn their lessons, and they could even fail in school
(6)‘We live today in an electronic imformation age It is easier to be connected by
technology yet many people seem no closer feeling happy in their life’.
Discuss.
Introduction
What is happiness? How is it related to being
connected? The thesis statement
Paragraph topics
1 Advantages of technology
2 Disadvantges of technology
Conclusion
Summaries ? Indicate your opinion
Model answer:
The electronic information age that we live in today, certainly makes communicating very quick and easy It is simple for many people to contact dozens of others everyday via computer or phone, but does this make them feel happier? Happiness is difficult to define, but in addition to basic needs like food, shelter or peace, it depends on such things as good health, a loving family and friends, and a satisfying occupation – either job, study or pastime Whether modern communication has increased people’s feelings of happiness is, however, debatable
There are many advantages to being connected electronically Firstly, for the price of a local phone call we can stay in touch via email with family or friends around the world In this way, isolation by distance or climate can be overcome For example, Finland with its long winter has one of the highest rates of internet use Secondly, information that would only be available to a small number of people without the use of computers is now at our fingertips Similarly, thousands of people use chat rooms and internet dating sites everyday
On the other hand, it seems to be the case that depression and suicide rates are high and the divorce rate is increasing Employees complain of longer working hours and increased stress levels There is concern that people are in fact becoming more isolated, only communicating on-line On this evidence, they seem unhappier today