Lecture 1: General Introduction to PETS 5 Writing Test

1. Lecture 1: General Introduction to PETS 5 Writing Test Presented by Li Xiaoli Beijing Language and Culture University

2. Instructor’s Information 李晓利 • Office: 北语教二楼英语教研室 • Phone number: 8230-3547 • Email: lily_brillan@hotmail.com

3. Course Objective and Goals: • To help students improve their written English so as to effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas. • To prepare students for the PETS 5 examination. • Class environment is that of openness. • Writing activities include error corrections, short paragraphs, argumentative essays and narrative articles.

4. Textbooks: • In class: Materials compiled by the instructor. • After class:《最新PETS应试指导－写作》范革新 主编 大连理工大学出版社

5. Teaching Plan: • Lecture 1: General introduction to PETS 5 writing test + How to analyze topic +The first writing assignment • Lecture 2: Analysis of the previous writing activity + How to write introduction + The second writing assignment • Lecture 3: Analysis of the previous writing activity + How to write body + The third writing assignment • Lecture 4: Analysis of the previous writing activity + How to write conclusion + How to do proofreading + How to write narrative/descriptive articles

6. [ ]: delete Λ: something missing ?: not clear sp: spelling error cap: capitalization error p: punctuation error f: error in format art: error in article plu: error in plural form wf: wrong form ww: wrong word pos: error in part of speech t: verb tense error pt: error in passive tense comp: error in comparative/superlative conj: error in conjunctions clause: error in clauses frag.: fragmented sentence log: logical error Correction Symbols:

7. Examples of Correction Symbols: • [ ]: delete ([Because] all aspects of the modern society are affected by computers, so they are an essential part of our lives.) • Λ: something missing (Juvenile delinquency is such Λ serious social problem that it should receive attention from everyone.) • ?: not clear (“Hip-pop” is an American niqo ? music.) • sp: spelling error (Some big companies try to acommodate (sp) the non-smoking employees while not alienating the smokers.) • cap: capitalization error (Approximately one out of every four Americans was unemployed during the great depression (cap).)

8. Examples of Correction Symbols: • p: punctuation error (Many Chinese learnt about American Civil War from a novel entitled 《Gone with the Wind》(p).) • art: error in article (Some students can’t even write a (art) essay in English after having learnt it for ten years.) • plu: error in plural form (The authority (plu) of Beijing should take more effective measures to reduce traffic jams.) • ww: wrong word (The government can’t use education to rise (ww) its GDP.) • pos: error in part of speech (Modern people want to success (pos) in everything.)

9. Examples of Correction Symbols: • t: verb tense error (Many people who think (t) before that they are (t) too old to learn are able to learn to do simple word processing.) • pt: error in passive tense (Many parents are failed (pt) in controlling the amount of TV their children watch.) • conj: error in conjunctions (Traditional Chinese music is ignored by young Chinese, however, (conj) it is welcomed by foreigners.) • clause: error in clauses (There are a lot of people lose their jobs (clause).) • frag.: fragmented sentence (Such as Peking Opera, Paper-cutting, and so on. (frag.))

10. Some Questions to Think about: • What’s your biggest problem in English writing, structure, vocabulary, ideas, or else? Why? • Do you think language is more important than ideas in English writing? Why? • Do you think memorizing sample essays is a good way to improve English writing skills?

11. Three Keys of English Writing: • A solid grasp of Englishgrammar: fluently express thoughts and ideas • A certain size of active vocabulary: effective communication • Good ideas: interesting contents

12. How to Improve Writing Skills: • More critical thinking: good ideas (higher education industrialization) • More conscious reading: to absorb good ideas and good expressions (The government should do more than pay lip service to recycling programs.) • More active vocabulary: to express ideas more accurately (Thousands of deaths are attributed to smog from engine exhaust.) (The Internet plays a dynamic role in making our earth a “global village”.) • More independent writing: “Practice makes perfect.” • More rewriting: to correct all errors and use good expressions learnt from writing samples.

13. To Effectively Use Dictionary: • Using Chinese-English dictionary • 政府在发展经济的时候，忽视了环境保护的重要性。 • 一些工厂根本无视于他们对环境造成的严重污染。 忽视 hūshì（动词）ignore; overlook; neglect. (Don’t simply choose an English word without making clear its real meaning and usage.)

14. To Effectively Use Dictionary: ignore /ignɔ:/, ignores, ignoring, ignored.1. If you ignore someone or something that you have seen, heard, or experienced, you act as if they are not there or do not exist, or as if the event has not happened.EGRalph ignored Jack’s question. I went on talking and ignored his tears. 2. If you ignore something that you have been advised, asked, or told to do, you deliberately do not do it. EGThe government ignored his advice. Settlers in Africa may ignore state laws, but they always respect custom.

15. To Effectively Use Dictionary: neglect /niglɛkt/, neglects, neglecting, neglected.1. If you neglect someone or something 1.1you fail to look after them properly.EGThe farmer neglects his crops.1.2you fail to give them the degree of attention, recognition, or consideration they they deserve.EGGeorge Stubbs, so long neglected as being a mere horse-painter. 2. If you neglect to do something that you ought to do, you fail to do it.EGI neglected to bring a gift. I feel I am neglecting my duty.

16. To Effectively Use Dictionary: • Using Chinese-English dictionary • 政府在发展经济的时候，忽视了环境保护的重要性。 The government has neglected the significance of environmental protection while developing economy. • 一些工厂根本无视于他们对环境造成的严重污染。 Some manufacturing factories ignore the serious pollutions they cause to the environment.

17. To Effectively Use Dictionary: • Using synonym dictionary controversialadj.2. debatable, disputable, argumentable, questionable, open to discussion, at issue, under question. beneficialadj.1. advantageous, helpful, valuable, favourable, profitable, rewarding. (To find out more than one way to express the same thing and enrich your vocabulary.)

18. A follow-up exercise • Could you use as many expressions as possible to express 失业人员in English? • unemployed people, jobless people, people who have lost their jobs, people who are unemployed… • How about 贫困地区? • poor areas, remote areas, less developed regions, economically disadvantaged regions, the areas still suffering from poverty…

19. About PETS 5 Writing Test: • Instructions: The examiners are asked to write either an argumentative essay or a narrative/descriptive one. • Words: No less than 250 words • Time: 40 minutes • Max points of writing test: 25 • Passing points of writing test: 15

20. How to Allocate Time and Words: • Time: brainstorming (5m) + writing (30m) + proofreading (3-5m) • Writing: introduction (6m) + body (20m) + conclusion (4m) • Words: introduction (2-3 sentences/50 words) + body (12 sentences/180 words) + conclusion (1-2 sentences/20 words)

21. How to Analyze Topic: • The instruction word: discuss, argue, describe, tell a story • The key word: environment，education，culture，science and technology，social life，entertainment • The words restricting the topic: environmental protection---the development of tourism, the economic growth, the wildlife, urbanization, etc.; education---the quality of people,ethnical and cultural progress,the increasing education fee,distance education, etc.

22. A Class Exercise: • Analyze the following topics and find the three components. 1.) Computer has provided great benefits to modern society. Discuss. 2.) It’s a waste to spend billions of dollars on space programs. Do you agree? 3.) What is your opinion of the statement that young people have lost many of the traditional values of the older generations?

23. Continue with a Class Exercise: 4.) Write a letter to the headmaster of a middle school where you work to persuade him to spend more money on sports facilities. 5.) To what extent do you agree with the statement that the life styles in developed countries are responsible for the damages that have been done to the environment? 6.) Present an argument for educated readers on the following topic: Parents should control the amount of television that their children watch.

24. Write a Rough Outline: • Decide a thesis statement. • Write down any fact related to the topic. • Select the most powerful and useful facts. • Arrange the selected facts in a logical order. • Write a rough outline.

25. A Class Exercise: Topic: What’s your opinion of the statement that animals are very important to human beings？

26. Continue with a Class Exercise: Outline: Thesis statement: I totally agree with the statement that animals are very important to human beings. a.) some animals are important to us because we use their products (e.g. cows, sheep, goats etc.) b.) some animals give us pleasure as pets (dogs, cats, birds, etc.) c.) some animals work for us (horse, donkey, bull, etc.)

27. The First Writing Assignment: Topic: Nowadays, young people are said to have lost many of the traditional values of the older generations. What’s your opinion? You must write an argumentative essay of no less than 250 words within 40 minutes. Please write your essay on the answer sheet provided.