Sumários

Practise writing argumentative essays

3 Outubro 2016, 10:00 • Cecília Maria Beecher Martins

In previous classes students had done a CPE Use of English Reading Comprehension exercises "Is this Art?" which presented interesting ideas on how and why modern art is different to traditional art, as well as why some people do not consider it art.
We had discussed the topic in that class and I expanded on points referred to in the article, for example I showed them pictures of some of the pieces that won or were shortlisted for the Turner Prize.
In the following class, we discussed the structure of "For and Against" argumentative essays and we discussed the manner in which a good essay of this type will follow a 3-7-7-3 structure, placing the arguments in favour in one paragraph and against in another. We discussed how each paragraph should only have 1-3 main points, and that each principle idea must e supported with appropriate arguments and examples. We looked at the sample essay on "The Advantages and Disadvantages of Self Employment in the manual. Then students brainstormed on the idea "It is appropriate that modern art has its supporters and detractors". We made a class collage of all the students' suggestions and I had asked students to classify these ideas into:
Principle Idea
Supporting Arguments
Examples.

We started the class with this task - we discussed possible hierarchies and then students began to write their paragraphs in favour of the topic. I checked students' work and we discussed grammatical and lexical issues that arose in this work, as well as construction of arguments.


"A Christmas Memory" Truman Capote

3 Outubro 2016, 08:00 • EDUARDA MELO CABRITA

Discussing narrative techniques.

Reading comprehension (pages 18-19 Student's workbook)

Paragraph exercises/proverbs

29 Setembro 2016, 12:00 • Thomas Joe Grigg

Writing full paragraphs--various exercises leading to full paragaraph writing.  Proverb creation and interpretation.

'A Christmas Memory' Truman Capote

28 Setembro 2016, 14:00 • EDUARDA MELO CABRITA

A dramatised reading of 'A Christmas Memory' Truman Capote
Vocabulary expansion and  narrative techniques.

Continued work on essay writing - Preparation of oral assignments

28 Setembro 2016, 10:00 • Cecília Maria Beecher Martins

Placed a selection of students' arguments regarding the discussion of modern art on the board. Students will have to select 2 arguments from each list and add suporting comments or use some of the other arguments presented as supporting topics.

Discussed approaches that could be used when student groups present the questions on Americanah (pp 26-28 of the manual) on 14th and 16th November. Encouraged students who have not started reading the book yet to do so and set 12th October as date for selecting questions.

Discussed the structure of the Oxford Union debates and we looked at some of the speakers from the Oxford Union Debate "Islam is a religion of peace" so that students could see both well and badly constructed speeches. Students will watch the rest of the debate at home as this is available on You Tube.