Unit 1, Step 2: That's what I think!

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Unit 1, Step 2: That's what I think!

Writing an opinion

1 / What do teachers find most irritating about emails from students? 

Ex. 1

You will read a reaction from a teacher to the question: ‘What do you find most irritating about your students’ emails?’ What do you expect to read? Complete the word web. Add at least 2 things teachers find most irritating.

irritating things
about emails

Ex. 2

Read the text below and tick off the ones you guessed in exercise 1. Highlight the items that annoy teachers in each paragraph.

Ex. 3

Look at the key words you highlighted in the text on p. 24 and write 5 lines of advice for writing better emails.

You shouldn’t ...

You should ...

Ex. 4

Play the memory game. Do you remember what the teacher complained about in exercise 2?

Cover the text and try to complete these ideas from the text.

1. Some students send emails at 3 o’clock at night, although ...

 ... they know their teacher is probably in bed and will be annoyed by the notification on her smartphone.

 2. This teacher doesn’t read emails if ...

... there is no clear subject line.

3. It only takes 2 seconds to type an appropriate salutation, but ...

... some students just don’t do it / think it’s too much trouble.

 

4. This teacher sometimes receives mails without a clear subject line, so ...

... she deletes them.

 

5. Some students send her an attachment without any explanation. As a result, ...

... she deletes the emails.

 

6. Students often leave grammar and spelling mistakes in their text, because ...

... they didn’t proofread their email.

 

 

7. You should fix spelling mistakes that are underlined in red, unless ...

... you want a lower grade for your work.

 

 

Ex. 5

Have a look at the underlined words in the sentences in exercise 4. They are linking words, because they link two sentences together. Write down which words express reason, result, contrast or condition.     

 

REASON

RESULT

CONTRAST

CONDITION

if

although

as a result

but

so

because

unless

Ex. 6

Read the text below. Fill in the correct linking words. Choose from the words below.

although – as a result – because – but – if – so – unless

because

unless

although

so

if

unless

but

so

2/ Expressing your opinion with OREO

Ex. 1

Read the text and answer the questions.

a) What is it about?

b) Who do you think wrote it?

c) Why do you think that? 

Ex. 2

Let’s have a closer look at the structure of the text. Fill in the table. 

Answer each question with one sentence.

 What's the student's opinion about homework?

What's the student's opinion about homework?

Homework should be banned.

Why does this student think that?

Why does this student think that?

The student feels it creates a lot of stress.

Which proof does the student give?

Which proof does the student give?

Statistics from a Stanfort University survey prove it. 80% of the students have stress-related symptoms.

What is the student's conclusion?

What is the student's conclusion?

No homework means no stress. It's a student's dream come true.

Ex. 3

If you want to express your opinion in a longer spoken or written text, you will use this structure.

a Complete the table. 

Drag the words to the correct spot.

Opinion

Reason

Opinion

Explanation

Ex. 4

Read this text by another student. 

a) Put the paragraphs in the correct order.

b) Underline the words that helped you figure out the correct order.

c) Indicate the OREO-structure in the paragraphs.

1

2

3

4

5

Ex. 4

a) Put the paragraphs in the correct order.

2 - 5 - 4 - 1 - 3

b) Underline the words that helped you figure out the correct order. --> Which structural markers can you find in this text?

Ex. 6

Can you think of more reasons to ban homework?

a Preparation: think of at least two more reasons.

b Action: write a short text (about 70 words). Make sure to use the correct structural markers and linking words. Use these prompts if necessary:

lack of support – negative impact on tests – no time for yourself – useless

When finished, get some feedback from your teacher.