Texts and how to tackle them

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Texts

When is something: "a text"?

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);

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

What types of text are there?

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)

Name 2 characteristics of a letter to the editor.

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.

Which aspects do advertisements have in common?

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.

What is specific for a newspaper article?

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.

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

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)!

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. 

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.

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.

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;

Newspaper or Magazine article

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

Name aspects of a column?

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.

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

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).

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.

What are the characteristics of a review?

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

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. 

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.

What types of texts could you expect at your test / Central exam?

1. all kinds
2. only newspaper articles
3. only magazine articles
4. newspaper articles, magazine articles and reviews

Your ideas on how to tackle a CE text?

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?

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.

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);

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?

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.

Wat voor soort vragen zijn er?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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).

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.

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!

Nou, dat was het wel.....

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