Argumentative essay

Thursday, 23^rd February 2012

Today, Miss Zu explain to us how to write argumentative essay

Before writing, we must :

l  Brainstorm ideas on the subject.

l  Identify the main topics.

l  Use these topics as headings for organising your notes.

l  Decide which side you are on i.e. which arguments are most convincing. 

Make sure you choose the side that you can fully support.

l  Plan and write an outline for your essay noting down the information you will include in each paragraph.

Your introduction should:

 - Introduce the topic with a general statement

  -State why it is important

-State there is a difference of opinion about this topic

-Thesis statement must state what YOUR claim is and can include the  “parts” of the argument you are going to state

That's all guys (: peace

Drawing conclusion

Wednesday, 22^nd February 2012

Today, we learn on how to draw a conclusion.

“Drawing conclusions is a form of critical thinking. It is relating what you see, hear and read to what you already know”

When you draw a conclusion, you are making a judgement after considering all the information. The following tips will help you draw a conclusion:

¶  Looks at the clues in the story

¶  Make connection between pieces of information

¶  Think about what you know from past experience

¶  Decide if what you know applies to the story

¶  Consider information that is not directly stated

¶  Used all what you know to draw a conclusion

of coz chocolate (: how about you?

Making inferences and prediction

Tuesday, 21^st February 2012

Today, Miss Zu had teach us how to make inference and make prediction.

Making Inferences - To make an inference or infer is often described as "reading between the lines." This is clearly not an adequate definition for our primary readers. Making an inference involves using background knowledge combined with information from the text and illustrations to draw conclusions about what is implied but not directly stated.

Making Prediction - Prediction defined as a strategy in which readers use what they already know to anticipate and prepare for what is coming next. The effective readers make predictions before, during, and after reading.

As usual, Miss Zu had prepared a game for us. It something like detective game. We must find a murderer, the place that a murder killed the victim and the weapon that a murderer used. Miss Zu gave us a card then we must find the clue by ourselves. For me, the game was interesting. 

Another activity was we need to see some video clip then Miss Zu will stop the video at the certain part and we must predict what happens next. We did this activity by group. My group’s member was Aira, Hanis, Niena and Megat. There have a few video that my members already see so we can answer it very well. Hehe. Guess what? My group won! :D

yeahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Simple past and past continuous tense

Thursday, 16^th February 2012

Today, there have another two presentation. First presentation is about simple past tense by Iffah’s group and second presentation is about past continuous tense by Jihan’s group.

Simple past tense is sometimes called the preterit tense. We can use several tenses to talk about the past, but the simple past tense is the one we use most often.

Simple past tense used when:

§  Happen at a specific time in the past.

Eg: Last year I took my exams

§  to described events that  happened over a period of the time in the past but not now.

Eg: I lived in Asia for two years

§  to talk about habitual or repeated actions that took place in the past.

Eg: When I was a child we always went to the seaside on bank holidays.

For information, click here:

o   http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensesimpast.htm

o   http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/simple_past.html

Very cute right?

Past continuous tense is used to show an action that lasted for some time in the past. The actions can be interrupted by something or can be happening at the same time.

Past continuous used when:

v  

For actions that were in progress at some time in the past

 Eg: Last week, Sheila was trying on her wedding gown

v  For an action that was going on when a second one took place.

Eg: They were watching TV when the lights went out.

v  To show two actions happening simultaneously in the past

Eg: Mrs Branson was baking a cake while her daughter was chatting on the phone

v  

As a past equivalent of the present continuous tense

(Direct speech)      Candice said, “I am working in China”

(Indirect speech)  Candice said that she was working in China.

v  

To use in timid or polite questions

Eg: I was wondering if you could open the window

v  

To use in irritation

Eg: She was always coming late for dinner!

v  

Actions which began before something else happened

Eg: We were having dinner when the phone rang.

More information are available here:

Ø  http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/past_continuous

Ø  http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensepastcont.htm

Simple present and present continuous tense.

Wednesday, 15^th February 2012

Delicious right? just want to show it. hehe (:

Today, there have two groups presented their task. Elya’s group was presented about simple present tense while present continuous tense was presented by Megat’s group.

Simple present tense used to:

q  Show habitual or regular action.

q  State a general truths, facts and scientific laws.

q  To indicate future action.

q  Show permanent situations.

q  To give instructions or orders

For more information, click to this link:

v  http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present.htm

v  http://www.eslgold.com/grammar/simple_present.html

v  http://www.studyenglishtoday.net/present-simple-tense.html

 Present continuous tense used to:

ü  talk about activities happening now. Examples     The kids are watching TV.    I am sitting down, because I am tired.    I am not learning German, because this is an English class.    Who are you writing to? ü  talk about activities happening around now, and not necessarily this very moment. Examples     Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.     I am reading a really interesting book now.     How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?     We aren't working hard these days. ü  talk about activities happening in the near future, especially for planned future events. Examples    I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday.    Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow.    Are you doing anything tonight?    We aren't going on holiday next week.

More information are available here:

q  http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-continuous.htm

q  http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_continuous

How to write intro paragraph ?

 Tuesday, 14^th February 2012

As we know, introductory paragraph is one of the most important paragraphs in your essay. So, today Miss Zu explains to us how to write intro paragraph. Usually, I am always write word ‘Nowadays’ to start my intro paragraph. Now, after heard explanation from Miss Zu, I feel confident to start something new way to write my essays.

There have 3 part of the intro paragraph, that are:

Ø  The Hook - Designed to grab attention immediately and give some indication about the essay’s topic

Ø  The Transition - Moves the reader from the hook to the driving force of the essay.

Ø  The Thesis - Makes the contract with the reader about what will be discussed without a blatant announcement.

There have 7 types of hooks, which are:

1. Personal examples

2. Quotations

3. Facts or statistics

4. Rhetorical questions

5. Current events

6. Contrast to the thesis statement

7. Definition

Miss Zu then gave us task to write an introduction paragraph according to her topic in our groups. Each group have their own hooks. My groups did personal examples hooks. The topic was about gay.

This link will show more information:

 http://homeworktips.about.com/od/paperassignments/a/introsentence.htm

Listening Test!

Friday, 10^th February 2012

After MGT class, we had listening test at BK which near with MGT class. I was very exciting to do this test. In order to listen it very well, I sat in front near of the speaker. Unfortunately, the question was very hard! I could not understand some of the word. For example, ‘book worm’ I wrote as book work. It sounds funny right? It happened because I didn’t the meaning of book worm.  It makes me realise that I must always read dictionary to learn many new word.

Many words need to learn (:

Speaking Test!

Thursday, 9^th February 2012

Finally, the day had come. Today, we had a speaking test. My group was the third group that will do the speaking test with Miss Zu.I am feel so nervous and worried when entered the class. Yesterday, Elya had told me that the topic was very tough. Please help me L

My group was the third one and we got the topic about ‘dress code for university students’. My group's member are Hanis, Aira and Nina. I was candidate two. I feel so bad when the individual speaking test because I can't elaborate my point very well. I'm really sorry Miss Zu :(

 I'm wonder when can I speak English very well? someone please help me :(

When you have same test with me, this link maybe can help you to prepare(:

• http://www.ieltstips.com/ielts_test_tips/speaking_test_tips/speaking_test_tips.html

Listening Exercise 2 Adverb and Subject-Verb Agreement

Thursday, 2^nd February 2012

Today, we did another listening exercise for a while. The questions not very tough and my mark were better than yesterday. However, I must improve it more (:

After that, the class continued with presentation from Nabila group. They presented about adverb and subject-verb agreement.

An adverb can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a phrase, or a clause. An adverb indicates manner, time, place, cause, or degree and answers questions such as "how," "when," "where," "how much".

Kinds of Adverbs

ADVERBS	EXAMPLES
Of manner (answer the question how?)	They helped us cheerfully. ( how did they help us? )
Of place (answer the question where?)	Please sit here. ( where should I sit )
Of degree (answer the question of  how much)	Siti entirely agrees with him. ( how much does Siti agree with him )
Of time (answer the question when or how often)	She came yesterday. (when did she come? )
Of frequency (answer the question how frequently? Or how often?)	She is always late to school. *other examples are sometimes, usually, never, rarely, daily

More information? Please click this link:

·         http://www.writingcentre.uottawa.ca/hypergrammar/adverbs.html

·         http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/adverb.htm

http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/adverbterm.htm

Subjects and verbs must AGREE with one another in number ( singular or plural )

Basic Rule

The basic rule states that a singular subject takes a singular verb, while a plural subject takes a plural verb.

NOTE: The trick is in knowing whether the subject is singular or plural. The next trick is recognizing a singular or plural verb.

Hint: Verbs do not form their plurals by adding an s as nouns do. In order to determine which verb is singular and which one is plural, think of which verb you would use with he or she and which verb you would use with they.

Example:
talks, talk
Which one is the singular form ?
Which word would you use with he ?
We say, "He talks." Therefore, talks is singular.
We say, "They talk." Therefore, talk is plural.

More information are available here:

ü  http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/subverag.html

ü  http://www.towson.edu/ows/moduleSVAGR.htm

After finished the presentation, they held game. They offered foods as the prize. It’s absolutely make us surprised. I was the first person answered the question right after was chosen by Nabila. She give me biscuits as the prize. Then, I shared it with my classmates. We continue the game and ate together. hehe

Speaking Exercise

Wednesday, 1^nd February 2012

Finally the most afraid test will come. Miss Zu want to discuss about speaking test. From the last sem, I'm really didn't like with this test. When I thought about it, sudden my heart beat very fast. Last sem, after speaking test I was crying because I did not perform very well ;( So, I hope this sem I will perform well than last sem.

The instruction about this speaking test is:
1)  Take 4 people as 1 group.
2)  Decide who is candidate A,candidate B,candidate C and candidate D.
3)  This test is divide into 2 task, that is task A and task B.
     Task A want us to try giving a point about the topic that we get.

     Task B is more like  making group making group discussion about most   effective point amount the  candidates
4)  The time given for the both tasks is 10 minutes

Rahey, Elya, Megat and Izuan those who been selected to start the speaking test!