Academic Writing

Writing & Grammar

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 Agenda:

- Quiz
- Uses of Present Tenses
- Group work
- News article writing
- Feedback
- Homework

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 Quiz Time

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 Ice breaking activity

“All In”:

Each person shares:

“One thing that is swirling in my head right now is… (share something
related to personal life or professional life) because…
And, I’m putting it aside and am ALL IN for this class”

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 Uses of Present Tenses

- How many present tenses do you know?

- Can you bring examples?

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 Let’s review!

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 Let’s review!

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 Let’s review!

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 Let’s review!

In pairs: tell about

your daily activity
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 Uses of Present Tenses
1) Present time
We use the present simple tense for things that we do regularly and for facts, habits,
truths and permanent situations.
Example:
I check my email everyday. (regular activity)
Max works at the bank. (permanent situation)
2) Future time
We use the present simple to talk about timetabled future events.
e.g. I’d better hurry, my bus leaves in 5 minutes.
The exam starts at 9.
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 Uses of Present Tenses

3) Past time
a) Telling a story
This makes the events more immediate and exciting for the listener.
e.g. Last year I was swimming off the coast in New Zealand when suddenly I see a shark fin heading
towards me…
b) Newspaper headlines
Journalists often use the present not the past in newspaper headlines to make newspaper stories more
exciting, fresh and immediate.
e.g. Man dies in forest fire.
c) When telling jokes
This makes the joke more immediate and dramatic for the listener (even if the joke is not very funny!)
e.g. A man walks into a bar…
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 Let’s play Kahoot!

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 Describe the picture (written task)

In 3 groups: describe the picture using present

continuous tense and then interpret it.
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

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 News articles

- In 3 groups: read the article and identify

present tenses (highlight)

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 News articles writing

- Write any news article using present simple

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 Feedback Time

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 Home assignment

- Grammar exercises (handout)

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 Describe the picture (written task)

Choose one of the pictures and describe it by using

present tenses.

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 Homework review

- Feedback on your home assignment

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