B1 Level 1

Lets settle it down

Hello, apprentice!
In this material, we are
going to learn about how
to design a flowchart.
Also, we will have the
chance to learn about
representation tools and
nominalization.

Here you have an index of the sections we are going to work on this material. Use
the interactive buttons to navigate through the pages.

1. Start up
2. Lets get inside
3. Lets analyze
4. References
5. Credits

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Start-up

1. Start up
As you have seen, I am working hard in the elaboration of my project.
Identifying the activities I have to do was my first step, but I still dont know where
to begin. Professor Brown helped me a lot in this phase.

Success

Defining the priorities for the project has to be the second step in the organization process.
This can seem really simple, but in most of the cases, you will have to be extremely
careful in the organization of your ideas, processes and decisions in order to have
a better understanding and preparation.
Professor Brown recommended me to create a flowchart for organizing my ideas
and finding important steps and relationships between the processes.

Choosing the
best options

Evaluating
outcomes

Writing your
conclusions

Searching
formation

Testing your
options

Selecting
information

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Strat-up
First of all, I need to identify which of the following would fit better with the project
I am settling down.
Which one would you recommend?

D.

04

03

C.

01

B.

02

A.

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Strat-up
Thats right! Choosing the option C is a clever idea for a project like mine because
this one includes decision boxes, variables, and processes results.
However, learning to use these tools is really important. We are going to discuss
and learn about the appropriate use of this flowchart.
Lets continue to the next section to find more information.

2. My projects flowchart

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Lets get inside

2. Lets get inside

Now I have identified the exact order of the activities.
However, I need to think about the different possibilities for every activity in
my project.

1. Searching for information

2. Selecting information
3. Choosing viable options
4. Testing options
5. Evaluating outcomes
6. Writing conclusions

As the first step of this project is searching for information, I have to place this
item at the top of the flowchart. Right after searching the information, I will have to
classify and select the information that concerns to my project, which correspond
to a process.
Once I have all the information I need to select two viable options for the
development of my project. It is important to take into account the steps related
to the decision making processes, because this helps you with the schedule of the
project and the activities.

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Lets get inside

Finding solutions
for recycling

Searching for information

Selecting information

Is the information
applicable for the
project?

NO

YES
Note: when creating a flowchart you have to keep in mind that every form used
has its own meaning. In this case, you can see ovals which mark the start and the
end of the flowchart. You can also see the usage of rectangles as process steps
and the diamonds that mark the decision points.
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Lets get inside

Once I have selected the information that fits the projects requirements I
need to decide which recycling options I will test and prove along the project.
At this point I will have to divide the flowchart in two sections, one for every
tested option.

Choosing viable options

NO

Testing option A

Testing option B

Does this option

work for the
project?

Does this option

work for the
project?

NO

YES

Note: the decision diamonds can take you back to another process. This is
because you may need to think and organize your ideas and processes in a better
way to get a favorable result.
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Lets get inside

After testing the selected options, I will have to analyze the results. During
this step, I can join the flowchart in only one flow, which means that the
analysis is based on a comparison between both options.

Does option A
work for the
project?
YES

Does option B
work for the
project?
YES

Evaluating outcomes

Note: the trapezoid is known for being another process box; this shape means
that the process is performed manually.

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Lets get inside

Once I have analyzed all the collected data and the outcomes from the tested
options I can start writing the conclusions for the project.

Evaluating outcomes

Writing conclusions

Presenting project

Note: there are some processes in which documents are created; when this
happens, you have to use the shape shown above in the step named Writing
conclusion.

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Lets get inside

Lets take a look at the entire flowchart for this project.

Finding solutions
for recycling

Searching for information

Selecting information

Is the information
applicable for the
project?

NO

YES
Choosing viable options

NO

Testing option A

Testing option B

Does this
option work for
the project?

Does this
option work for
the project?

NO

YES
Evaluating outcomes

Writing conclusions

Presenting project

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Note: a flowchart can be defined as a diagram that uses symbols and arrows to
illustrate processes and steps as well as their relations with other processes, steps and
outcomes (Wisc-Online, 2012).

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Lets analyze

2. Lets analyze
Now, lets take a look at the grammar we have seen in this material.

Sometimes, we can transform words in order to use them in another category.

In this case, I will talk to you about the use of verbs as nouns in different sentences,
which is known as nominalization (Asher, n. d.).
There are various ways to perform nominalization; however, I will show you just
one of them.
The example below shows the verb read acting as the subject of the sentence. In
this case, we can say that read has been nominalized (Asher, n. d.).

Example:
Reading increases your skills for writing and speaking.

In this case, the verb read was nominalized by the use of its gerund form, which
translates into the use of the ing particle.
Can you remember other examples of nominalization with ing in this material?

Thats right! I used those gerunds in order to place them as the nouns of my
sentences. Lets see those examples on the board.

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Lets analyze

- Identifying the activities I have to do was my

first step.
- Defining the priorities for the project has to be
the second step.
In these cases, the nominalized verbs are acting
as the subject of the sentence.

Note: gerunds (verbs + ing) are the most common form to transform verbs into nouns.

Also, you can use gerunds when you want to use a verb as an object within a
sentence. Look at the examples on the board.

- Organizing and finding important

steps is important for the creation
of a flowchart.
In this specific case, we can appreciate the use
of nominalized verbs as objects.

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Lets analyze

When using nominalization, you have to be aware of the correct understanding

of the sentence.
Writing with too many nominalized verbs can lead to confusion and
misunderstandings to your interlocutors (Sword, 2012).

Nominalizing is well known for being another

component of the speaking elements of the
English language; however, using this kind of
speech must be guided by a learning session
because exaggerating the nominalizing process
could lead to problems in your communicating skills.

Thats all, my friend! I really hope you enjoyed this material.

See you next time.

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References and Credits

4. References
- Asher, N. BBC. (n. d.). Types, nominalization and abstract objects. Toulouse:
Universit Paul Sabatier. Retrieved on October 9th 2013,from:
http://parles.upf.edu/llocs/glif/pub/abstract/abstracts/handouts/asher_slides.pdf
- Sword, H. (2012). Beware of nominalizations (AKA zombie nouns). Retrieved on
October 9th 2013, from:
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/beware-of-nominalizations-aka-zombie-nouns-helen-sword
- Wisc-Online (2012). The process flowchart: An overview. Retrieved on October
9th 2013, from:
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=MFQ102

5. Credits
Pedagogical Direction:
Paul Cifuentes, Carlos Javier Amaya.

Direction of Art:
Csar Pez

ICT Leadership:
Yeison Ospina

Quality management:
Giovanni Martin

Script composition:
Camilo Daz

Content support:
Camilo Daz

Editorial design:
Daniela Vives, Wilmer Molina.
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