English language proficiency

Week 1

5 january 2011

Activities

Introduction and orientation

- Briefing on the course outline by the lecturer, Madam Evelyn

- Briefing on the coursework
Assignment 1 – portfolio, compilation of ISL task
Assignment 2 – oral presentation
Assignment 3 – writing an expository essay
- Introduction to the lessons
Notes

Text types

Text types Text forms

Narratives Short story, novel, play, fairytale, poem, myth,
legend, science fiction, modern fantasy
Descriptive Poem, short story
Personal recount Diary, biography, autobiography, history journal,
newspaper report, eyewitness account
Expository Advertisement, speech, brochure, critical review,
policy statement
Argumentative Magazine, newspaper, articles, journals
Procedure/process Recipe, instructional manual, experiment,
Report Book review, scientific report, newspaper,
magazine, articles, progress report, event report,
eyewitness account
Factual explanation Essay, science/ health / society / environmental
text

General descriptions/ key features of each text types

Narrative : a framework which tells a story

- Structure includes : orientations, complication, reaction, consequences, conclusion

- Language features
i) Conjunction to connect ideas
ii) Appropriate paragraphing
iii) Descriptive in simple past tense
iv) Usually written in simple past tense
v) Most verbs in active voice
vi) Reported speech is often used
vii) Some direct speech for variety and immediacy/ dramatic effect

Descriptive : a framework which describes in detail the characteristic of a particular object, place, person
or animal.

Structure included : statement, explanation, conclusion

Language features :

i) Appropriate paragraphing
ii) Descriptive adverbs, adjectives and verbs
iii) Usually written in simple present tense
Procedure : outline how something is made/ done

Structure : goal/purpose, material, steps, test / evaluation

Features

- instructions often with an imperative verb

- subject specific vocabulary
- use simple present tense

report : describes aspect of living /non living things in detail

structure : classification , description and conclusion

features

- factual language
- use a scientific words
- use third person point of view
- impersonal style
- use the timeless present tense
- information is organized in paragraph

expository : argues for particular position and attempt to persuade the audience to share this view

structure : overview, arguments, conclusion

features

- a variety of controlling and emotional words

- transitional signal to link argument
- appropriate paragraphing
- persuasive style/logical style
- use simple present tense

compare and contrast : may discuss :-

i) the likeness and differences between two places like KL and Penang
ii) the similarities and differences between two people
iii) it could also be written simply to entertain readers or to arrive at an insight into human
nature