ACADEMIC WRITING COURSE SPRING 2013 SESSION 6 (selected activities) Radomíra Bednářová and Robert Helán Masaryk University Department of Geography, Faculty of Science In collaboration with University Language Centre 1. ABSTRACTS : EXTENSION 2. ABSTRACTS: STUDENT COMMENTARIES ON THEIR OWN WRITING 3. ERROR CORRECTION/STUDENT PRESENTATIONS Aims: - to extend the discussion and practical tasks around abstract writing - to listen to and give feedback to presentations - to analyze some frequently occurring mistakes in student writing LINKING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS I. Complete the table with examples of linking words and expressions. MEANING EXAMPLES OF LINKING EXPRESSIONS 1. ADDITION and, additionally 2. CAUSE-EFFECT / REASON 3. CONDITION 4. CONTRAST / OPPOSITION 5. EXAMPLE 6. SUMMARY – CONCLUSION 7. TIME 8. ORDERING II. Decide which type of linking expressions the following sentences belong to. 1. Moreover, travel information is very important for route planning. 2. We suspect they are trying to hide something, hence the need for an independent inquiry. 3. He subsequently became the chairman of the party. 4. Estimates suggest that the effects will continue, but at a more moderate rate. 5. There is a serious problem in the district, namely unemployment. 6. This poses a threat to agriculture and the food chain, and consequently to human health. 7. Both the husband and the wife were similarly successful in their chosen careers. 8. Some of the studies show positive results, whereas others do not. 9. Research on urban planning and studies in farmland protection are the topics of chapters 5 and 6, respectively. 10. There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. Nevertheless, it is important that we try. 11. Unless I’m mistaken, she was back at work yesterday. III. Join together the following sentences. 1. She wasn't very rich. She gave money to the beggar. (although) _________________________________________________________________________ 2. He left early. He wanted to arrive on time. (so that) ___________________________________________________________________________ 3. You can go out tonight. You must tell us where you are going. (provided) __________________________________________________________________________ 4. I don't earn a big salary. But if I did, I wouldn't buy a car. (even if) __________________________________________________________________________ 5. Take a sandwich. There might be no restaurant. (in case) __________________________________________________________________________ 6. There was a lot of noise. He managed to sleep. (despite) __________________________________________________________________________ 7. Sue likes Opera. Joe prefers jazz. (They have different tastes.) (whereas) __________________________________________________________________________ 8. The weather was bad. They enjoyed the trip. (even though) __________________________________________________________________________ 9. He had the 'flu. He went to work. (in spite of) __________________________________________________________________________ 10. You have to put the alarm on. If not, it won't work. (unless) _________________________________________________________________________ IV. Test what you have learnt. Select a suitable conjunction in each sentence – general English. 1. We suspect they are trying to hide something, HOWEVER/HENCE/FOR INSTANCE the need for an independent investigation. 2. THEREFORE/DESPITE/HOWEVER applying for hundreds of jobs, he is still out of work. 3. Make sure you have sufficient funds PRIOR TO/SUBSEQUENTLY/AS LONG AS coming to Korea, as the country can be rather expensive. 4. He has two daughters – Annie and Julie – aged 17 and 19, INITIALLY/FORMERLY/RESPECTIVELY. 5. He said he had not discussed the matter with her. AS LONG AS/IN CASE/FURTHERMORE, he had not even contacted her. 6. There is little chance that we will succeed in changing the law. FOR INSTANCE/NEVERTHELESS/HENCE, it is important that we try. 7. We had fun, the weather was wonderful and I even managed to do some reading – DESPITE/ALL IN ALL/TO EXEMPLIFY, it was a good vacation. 8. We do not own the building. THUS/IF/IN CASE, it would be impossible for us to make any major changes to it. 9. I sleep with the window open IF/IN CASE/UNLESS it’s really cold outside. 10. We thought the figures were correct. THUS/THEREFORE/HOWEVER, we have now discovered some errors. V. Test what you have learnt. Select a suitable conjunction in each sentence – more academic English. 1. Polls show that Tony Blair is the most popular Prime Minister this century. ______________ , there are even members of his own party who are uneasy with his approach. In particular However For instance 2. There are some slight variations in temperature, but ________________ 26 to 27ºC should be expected. consequently despite as a rule 3. The two main Channel Islands, ________________ Jersey and Guernsey, are much closer to France than to England. for example namely in particular 4. It was announced that nurses' working hours would be increased by 25%. ______________ , even fewer trainee nurses are expected to join the profession. As a result So that Likewise 5. Sales of CDs have experienced a small but steady fall over the past 12 months. _____________ , vinyl records have seen an increase in their share of the market, up to 1.7%. Above all Correspondingly In contrast 6. The Vice Chancellor explained that in light of the current financial climate and because of unexpected bad debts, it would be necessary to peg salary levels at their current level for all grades of staff. ______________ , no-one was getting a pay rise. Nevertheless In other words Similarly 7. It is clear, therefore, that the situation in Brazil will improve only slowly. ______________ the economic problems being experienced in Japan, the outlook is slightly more optimistic. Furthermore In comparison With reference to 8. In order to try to reduce car use in the inner cities, the government has announced new restrictions on company parking spaces and ______________ , a new tax on individual car use. as well as in addition in the same way 9. Essays must be handed in by the deadline, ______________ they will not be marked. obviously otherwise as a result 10. ______________ it has been shown that fractures can occur at even relatively low pressures, the use of the material should not be completely discounted. Nevertheless Because Even though KEY TO THE EXERCISES: I. MEANING EXAMPLES OF LINKING EXPRESSIONS 1. ADDITION and, additionally, besides, furthermore, in addition, last but not least, moreover, similarly, equally important 2. CAUSE-EFFECT/REASON because, so, as a result, as a consequence, since, as, for, thus, therefore, consequently, hence, otherwise 3. CONDITION if, unless, provided that, as long as, on the condition that, in case, providing that, in the event 4. CONTRAST/OPPOSITION yet, however, but, nevertheless, still, nonetheless, although, in spite of, despite, whereas, in contrast to 5. EXAMPLE for example, for instance, in other words, as an example, as an illustration, to exemplify, namely 6. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION finally, lastly, all in all, taking everything into consideration, on the whole, in conclusion, to conclude 7. TIME subsequently, after, before, prior to, at the same time, simultaneously, previously, currently 8. ORDERING firstly, secondly, thirdly, lastly, and then, respectively, after that II. 1. addition, 2. cause-effect/reason, 3. time, 4. contrast/opposition, 5. example, 6. cause-effect/reason, 7. addition, 8. contrast/opposition, 9. ordering, 10. condition III. 1. Although she wasn't very rich, she gave money to the beggar. 2. He left early so that he would arrive on time. 3. You can go out tonight provided you tell us where you are going. 4. Even if I earned a big salary, I wouldn't buy a car. 5. Take a sandwich in case there's no restaurant. 6. Despite the noise, he managed to sleep. 7. Sue likes Opera whereas Joe prefers Jazz. 8. Even though the weather was bad, they enjoyed the trip. 9. In spite of having the 'flu, he went to work. 10. Unless you put the alarm on, it won't work. IV. 1. hence, 2. despite, 3. prior to, 4. respectively, 5. furthermore, 6. nevertheless, 7. all in all, 8. thus, 9. unless, 10. however V. 1. however (“however” indicates that what follows is something of a contradiction or an exception) 2. as a rule (“as a rule” shows you are about to make a generalisation) 3. namely (you are actually naming the two islands mentioned, so “namely” is used) 4. as a result (the second sentence is a result or consequence of the first, “so that” must be followed by a verb) 5. in contrast (the second sentence contrasts vinyl with CDs) 6. in other words (the second sentence says the same as the first, but in a much simpler way [reformulation]) 7. with reference to (the second sentence deals with a new aspect/point) 8. in addition (reinforcement of the idea; an extra point, “as well as” must be immediately followed by a noun or verb) 9. otherwise (the second part is a consequence of the first) 10. even though (the idea of concession; the second part is somewhat unexpected)