Unit 1, Step 2: That's what I think!

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• Secundair onderwijs

Unit 1, Step 2: That's what I think!

Writing an opinion

1 / What do teachers find most irritating about emails from students? 

Ex. 1

You will read a reaction from a teacher to the question: ‘What do you find most irritating about your students’ emails?’ What do you expect to read? Complete the word web. Add at least 2 things teachers find most irritating.

irritating things
about emails

Ex. 2

Read the text below and tick off the ones you guessed in exercise 1. Highlight the items that annoy teachers in each paragraph.

Ex. 3

Look at the key words you highlighted in the text on p. 24 and write 5 lines of advice for writing better emails.

You shouldn’t ...

You should ...

Linking words - intro

I can't hand in my homework *because* my dog ate it.

1. reason
2. result
3. contrast
4. condition

*If* students don't hand in their homework in time, a teacher will give them a bad grade.

1. reason
2. result
3. contrast
4. condition

I didn't have time to do my homework last night, *but* I promise I will do it tonight.

1. reason
2. result
3. contrast
4. condition

The internet went dead yesterday *so* I couldn't download the assignment.

1. reason
2. result
3. contrast
4. condition

I didn't finish my book report in time *although* my teacher gave me the assignment two months ago.

1. reason
2. result
3. contrast
4. condition

REASON

RESULT

CONTRAST

CONDITION

if

although

as a result

but

so

because

unless

Ex. 4

Play the memory game. Do you remember what the teacher complained about in exercise 2?

Cover the text and try to complete these ideas from the text.

Some students send emails at 3 o’clock at night, although ...

1. ... they know their teacher is probably in bed and will be annoyed by the notification on her smartphone.

2 This teacher doesn’t read emails if ...

2. the students skip salutations or greetings / there is no clear subject line.

3 It only takes 2 seconds to type an appropriate salutation, but ...

3. some students just don’t do it / think it’s too much trouble.

 

4 This teacher sometimes receives mails without a clear subject line, so ...

4. she deletes them.

 

5 Some students send her an attachment without any explanation. As a result, ...

4. she deletes the emails.

 

6 Students often leave grammar and spelling mistakes in their text, because ...

6. they didn’t proofread their email.

 

 

7 You should fix spelling mistakes that are underlined in red, unless ...

7. you’re not interested in getting good grades.

 

 

Ex. 5

Have a look at the underlined words in the sentences in exercise 4. They are linking words, because they link two sentences together. Write down which words express reason, result, contrast or condition.     

 

Ex. 6

Read the text below. Fill in the correct linking words. Choose from the words below.

although – as a result – because – but – if – so – unless

because

unless

although

so

if

so

but

unless

2/ Expressing your opinion with OREO

1. Read the text and answer the questions.

a) What is it about?

b) Who do you think wrote it?

c) Why do you think that? 

What's the student's opinion about homework?

Why does this student think that?

Which proof does the student give?

What is the student's conclusion?

Opinion

Reason

Explanation

You will get a text that is mixed up.  

a) Put the paragraphs in the correct order.

b) Underline the words that helped you figure out the correct order.

Indicate the OREO-structure in the paragraphs.

Can you think of more reasons to ban homework?

Do exercise 6 p. 29.