Texts and how to tackle them

Texts
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 6

This lesson contains 45 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 120 min

Items in this lesson

Texts

Slide 1 - Slide

When is something: "a text"?

Slide 2 - Mind map

Definition of a text
The original words and form of a written or printed work (noun);

The main body of printed or written matter on page (noun);

The words of something set to music (noun);

to text (verb);

Slide 3 - Slide

What do all texts have in common?
(do not write down : words/letters etc. )

Slide 4 - Open question

What types of text are there?

Slide 5 - Mind map

Text types  (at your CE?)
Advertisement      - Letter (to the editor)   
Column                    -  Diary entry                   - Interview
Review                      - Declaration                  - Speech
Report                       - Play / script                 - Novel
Proposal                   - Schedule                     - Short Story
Essay                          - Cartoon
Article (newspaper /magazine/online)

Slide 6 - Slide

Name 2 characteristics of a letter to the editor.

Slide 7 - Mind map

Letter to the editor
  • formal letter written by a citizen;
  • addressed to the editor of a newspaper, publication or magazine;
  • intent of complimenting, critiquing, informing or communicating a certain piece of information;
  • written in relation to a published article or publication;
  • raising concern about the topic of the publication;
  • reflects the writer's personality and mannerisms.

Slide 8 - Slide

Which aspects do advertisements have in common?

Slide 9 - Mind map

Advertisement
  • Specific lay-out to draw attention;
  • Mostly not much text (but.....)
  • Broad audience;
  • Informative and persuasive ( Meant to sell a service or product);
  • One-way communication.

Slide 10 - Slide

Newspaper article:
Broadsheet or tabloid? 
Tabloid: (might be present at your at your CE but with not that many questions or points)
  • shorter sentences and paragraphs;
  • more basic vocabulary;
  • sensationalised using emotive language;
  • focus on celebrities and gossip;
  • e.g. The Sun, The Daily Mirror.

Slide 11 - Slide

Newspaper article: Broadsheet
  • Broadsheet:
  • longer and more complex sentences;
  • more advanced vocabulary;
  • More formal tone and more serious;
  • focus on national and inernational issues;
  • e.g. The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph

Slide 12 - Slide

Newspaper Article: Broadsheet
  • Is meant to inform by picturing a problem;
  • Is meant to present the facts about a topic/problem;
  • Is meant to be objective and trustworthy.
  • In your CE:
  • a longer text: 500 words or more and sometimes with 1 or 2 pictures;
  • very often a lot of questions (so points)!

Slide 13 - Slide

Newspaper article: 
different types of articles
News Reports:
  •  found at the front of a newspaper;
  • full of facts, names, dates etc.
  • different points of view;
  • more formal, neutral tone. 

Slide 14 - Slide

Newspaper article:
different types of articles
Feature articles:
  • issues raised by news stories explored in more depth;
  • tends to be more opinionated;
  • often take a personal point of view.

Slide 15 - Slide

Newspaper article: different types of articles
Editorials, columns and opinion pieces:
  • often written by "personality" writers (celebrities in other fields);
  • meant to inform and/or to entertain;
  • Columnists develop a style of their own: discussed in columns.

Slide 16 - Slide

Newspaper or Magazine article
  • Has a title and very often a subtitle
  • Sometimes a sub-heading which leads into the article;
  • Introduction of 1 or more paragraphs;
  • Different arguments to show the problem from different angles;
  • Each argument is discussed in a new paragraph;
  • Conclusion of one or more paragraphs;

Slide 17 - Slide

Newspaper or Magazine article
  • Use of linking words like Moreover, Nevertheless, On the contrary etc.
  • Opinion of author not always visible or detectable (see editorrials, feature articles, columns ).
  • News articles (purely to inform) and News Essays (in Sunday papers, longer and sometimes with author's opinion)

Slide 18 - Slide

Name aspects of a column?

Slide 19 - Mind map

Column
  • Has a title;
  • Usually printed in 1 or 2 columns (newspaper format);
  • Around 300 words;
  • Topic: a social or personal matter; 
  • Gives the personal opinion of the author;
  • Very often humorous and / or sarcastic.

Slide 20 - Slide

...... and aspects of an interview?

Slide 21 - Mind map

Interview
  • Meeting fixed in advance between two people;
  • Most of the time there is a beforehand agreed upon definition of the objectives;
  • different kinds of interviews: clinical, psychological, work, journalistic  &  a percentage measurement or survey. 
  • different types: open (to express an opinion), semi-open (to express an opinion and choice from options) and closed (yes/no).

Slide 22 - Slide

Interview
  • At your CE: Always Questions and Answers but sometimes it looks like an essay with only the answers visible;
  • sometimes the author gives an opinion.
Journalistic Interview:
  • Opinion interview: interviewee expresses opinion;
  • News interview: to piece together the facts of an event;
  • Personality interview: Deeper details asked for the benefit of the public.

Slide 23 - Slide

What are the characteristics of a review?

Slide 24 - Mind map

Review
  • Usually written for an English-language magazine, newspaper or website;
  • purpose: to describe and express a personal opinion about something the writer has experienced (film, holiday, play, product, website etc.;
  • & to give the reader a clear impression of the item discussed

Slide 25 - Slide

Proposal
  • Written for a peer group (colleagues or club members) or a supervisor (boss or college principal);
  • Makes one or more suggestions supported by factual information and evaluation;
  • Goal: to persuade the reader of a course of action. 

Slide 26 - Slide

Report
  • Written for a superior e.g. a manager or a director;
  • Describes and evaluates a situation;
  • Suggests some cause of action that you would recommend.

Slide 27 - Slide

What types of texts could you expect at your test / Central exam?
A
all kinds
B
only newspaper articles
C
only magazine articles
D
newspaper articles, magazine articles and reviews

Slide 28 - Quiz

Your ideas on how to tackle a CE text?

Slide 29 - Mind map

How to tackle CE texts?
Step 1: The One-minute scan:
  • What is the topic of the text and what is the text type?
  1. Title: Do I know what it means?
  2. What about sub-titles, pictures, lay-out?
  3. Determine the text-type & 
  4. What do I already know about the topic of the text?

Slide 30 - Slide

How to Tackle a CE text?
Step 2:  short(er) texts (with 1-3 questions) e.g. letter to the editor or a scan text ( mostly 1-4 points):
  1. First read the questions and understand them, look up the words you do not know (this is valid for all questions because you cannot answer a question if you do not understand the answer);
  2. Read the text quickly and overall;
  3. Answer the question.

Slide 31 - Slide

How to Tackle a CE text?
Step 3: Longer texts: 6-9 questions or more (= more points):
Necessary to fully understand the text, therefore read intensively;
  1. The first 1-3 paragraphs are the introduction;
  2. Underline the key sentences in each paragraph ( in Introduction very often the last sentence, in body paragraphs the first sentence);

Slide 32 - Slide

How to Tackle a CE text?
ad 2: 
  • Each paragraph states  1 part  of the topic;
  • So, what is the problem or question the author wants to tell in each paragraph?

Slide 33 - Slide

How to Tackle a CE text?
3. While reading, look for examples;
4. Look for connective words and circle or highlight them: 
e.g. but, wheras, nevertheless, moreover, due to, while, and, on the contrary etc.
5. With gaps in texts: The words that are left out are redundant, which means: not necessary to understand the text. The info needed to fill the gap are in the sentences around the gap.

Slide 34 - Slide

Wat voor soort vragen zijn er?

Slide 35 - Mind map

Questions
Beoordelingsvraag:
  • Vraagt naar de functie of toon van de tekst of een gedeelte van de tekst;
  • e.g. What is the tone of this article? what is the author's opinion?
  • e.g. ironic, sarcastic, understatement etc.

Slide 36 - Slide

Questions
Conclusievraag:
  • Vraagt naar een conclusie in de tekst;
  • Vraagt NIET naar jouw persoonlijke conclusie/mening! (De CITO is absoluut niet geinteresseerd in jou.... ;)
Formuleringsvraag:
  • Vraagt naar een betekenis;
  • e.g. What does this mean? What is this piece of text about?

Slide 37 - Slide

Questions
Functievraag:
  • vraagt naar het verband tussen verschillende tekstgedeelten;
  • vraagt naar de structuur van de tekst;
  • e.g. What is the use of pargraph 4 in connection with paragraph 5?

Slide 38 - Slide

Questions
Hoofdgedachtevraag:
  • vraagt naar de kern/ hoofdgedachte van de tekst;
  • e.g. What is the purpose of this text? Why did the author write this text?
  • focus on main / key sentences.

Slide 39 - Slide

Questions
Invulvraag (open-cloze / gap):
  • Read the text before or after the gap very carefully and thoroughly;
  • determine for yourself, before looking at the answers, which word or words you could fill in;
  • read the answers and see whether your answer is there;
  • and ofcourse, translate and look-up the words in the answers you do not know.

Slide 40 - Slide

Questions
Open Vraag (open vragen moeten altijd in het Nederlands beantwoord worden):
  • Asked in Dutch, the answer must be in Dutch as well;
  • Find a Dutch translation (e.g. accomodation kun je vertalen als accomodatie maar dat mag niet, gebruik: onderdak, logies of huisvesting).

Slide 41 - Slide

Questions
Wel- Niet / Juist - Onjuist / True - False vragen:
  • lees de vragen/statements goed en zoek de betekenis op van woorden die je niet kent;
  • de volgorde van de vragen is altijd in lijn met de volgorde van de tekst.

Slide 42 - Slide

Questions
Multiple Choice vraag:
  • Read the MC-question (and determine in which part of the text you can find the answer and then read that part thoroughly);
  • Read the MC-answers and look up / translate words you do not know (1st/2nd/3rd meaning as well)
  • Underline the parts in the text which might give you a clue/hint;
  • Decide which answers are absolutely incorrect (mostly 2);
  • Give the correct answer!

Slide 43 - Slide

Nou, dat was het wel.....
Nu nog even heel veel blijven oefenen
&
Zorg voor 3 woordenboeken:
NE/EN/EE
&
Denk goed na
Geef het juiste antwoord!
Alvast heel veel succes in mei!

Slide 44 - Slide

What is specific for a newspaper article?

Slide 45 - Mind map