Descriptive Essay.

A Descriptive Essay is another important part in language learning especially in writing. This type of written assignment intended to describe the matter to the readers so that they get the essence of it. By the matter we mean a person, a place or a building, an object or an event.

Describing People

A description essay about a person should be structured in the following way:

a) The introduction where you state general facts about the person, saying when, where and how you first met him/her;

b) The main body in which you describe their physical appearance, personal qualities and hobbies/interests. You start a new paragraph for each topic;

c) The conclusion in which you express your personal attitude towards the person;

When describing someone you know well or see often (i.e. a friend, a neighbour etc), you should use present tenses. When describing someone who is no longer alive or someone you met or got acquainted a long time ago and you do not see anymore, narrate in the past tenses.

Descriptions of people can be found in articles, letters, narratives etc. Your writing style depends on the situation and the intended reader.

When you describe someone’s physical appearance, you start with the general features (i.e. height, age) and move on to the more specific ones, such as hair, nose, eyes etc. You can also add a description of the clothes the person likes to wear.

When describing someone’s personal qualities, you should support your description with examples and /or justifications. You can also describe someone’s personality through their manners by:

a) referring to the way they speak;

b) describing the gestures they use;

c) mentioning a particular habit they have

Describing Places/Buildings

A descriptive essay about a facility or a place should have the following parts:

a) The introduction, where you give the name and location of the place or building and/or the reason for choosing it;

b) The main body suggests describing the main aspects of the place or building in detail – for example, when you describe a place you should describe what you can see and do there; when you describe a building you should describe its exterior and interior, as well as give historical facts about it;

c) The conclusion includes your comments/ feelings and /or a recommendation.

Descriptions of place or buildings can be found in tourist magazines, travel brochures, stories, letters, etc. The style you use depends on the situation and the intended reader. For example, in an article or a magazine you should use a semi-formal style and a polite, respectful tone. You normally use present tenses to describe a place/building. You use past tenses to write about historical facts.

Describing Objects

Description of objects can be found in catalogues, advertisements or parts of letters, stories, reports or articles.

When you describe an object, you should give an accurate picture of it. Your description should include information about size, weight, shape, pattern or decoration, color, origin and material as well as many concerning special features.

To describe objects you should use a variety of adjectives. Always list opinion adjectives first, followed by fact adjectives. These are formally listed in the following order: size, weight, age, shape pattern, color, origin or material. Avoid using all of them one after another, as it makes your description unnatural.

Describing Events

A description of an event should consist of:

a) The introduction in which you give name, time, place, and reasons for celebrating;

b) The main body in which you describe the preparations and the actual event in separate paragraphs, using present tenses to describe annual festivals, or past tenses to illustrate those you attended some time ago.

c) The conclusion which includes people’s feelings comments or final thoughts about the event.

You can use a variety of adjectives and adverbs to make your description more vivid.

You can use the passive to describe events when the activity is more important than the agent.

Descriptions of festivals, events or celebrations can be found in magazines, newspapers or travel brochures, or as parts of letters, stories, etc. Your style depends on the situation and the intended reader.

Persuasive Essay.

Persuasive or Argumentative essay writing is about making others embrace facts, share your values, agree to your argument and your conclusions, and accept your way of thinking and learning.

This kind of essays is meant to present your personal opinion on a particular matter supported by facts and justifications.

A Persuasive Essay should consist of:

a) An introduction, here you introduce the subject and state your opinion clearly;

b) A main body that is meant to be a 2-3 paragraph long description and argumentation of the established facts, values. Stay focused on the aim to persuade, to make the reader accept your idea and the view on the problem. Make the transactions between the paragraphs smooth and natural. Quote respectful sources, so the intended reader can feel the authority. Each main body paragraph should start with a topic sentence which clearly states the main idea of the paragraph. It should be followed by appropriate supporting sentences which justify the main idea and/or give examples

c) A conclusion serves for restating your opinion with different words.
It is very important to make a draft and do editing. You can use linking words and phrases to make your language sound nobler, but don’t get too far with descriptions not to loose the essence of the matter.

The usual style for a persuasive essay is formal, but if the intended reader is very familiar to you, semi-formal will be a great solution. Avoid colloquialisms, short forms or personal examples.
Here are some stylistic tips for you to use in your essay:

1. Be clear and brief. Make sure your topic ideas are to the point.
2. Simplify for the common reader. Leave out specific terms; it will not make your work less impressive.
3. Use parallel constructions and be consistent in tense usage.
   

The Expository Essay.

An expository essay is a type of a written assignment that is meant to determine, define and explain the matter you choose for a topic. It is one of the most wide-spread types of essays required both at school and higher educational learning establishments.

To create a proper Expository Essay do the following:

1. Write a thesis statement. It should be accurate and brief so that you can cover it completely within your essay. (please refer to Thesis Statement entry somewhere in this blog)
2. Decide on the method for disclosing your case. It can be a good example, or cause and effect or even compare and contrast method. They all may drive a reader to a proper conclusion and understanding if used correctly.
3. Analyze sources, but put the summary into sentences stating your own attitude and opinion. This is exactly what matters to your tutor.
4. Formulate evidence in topic sentences and develop ideas, dividing them into separate paragraphs. Use clear and simple language. Avoid redundant adjectives and adverbs.
5. The summary should restate the thesis sentence with the necessary definition that you formulated during the research. It should leave the reader with an impression that the topic is fully covered.
6. References and quotations are quite possible to use if they are to the point and give additional light onto the problem. Try to make each sentence give a comprehensive explanation of a problem.
7. Choose the style and the format to your liking but remember that the main task of any writer is to make a reader interested in the topic and its progress.
   

Contextual Clues (extended exercise 2)

Use the contextual clues to help you choose the best meaning or synonym for each highlighted word.

1. Fortunately, the dizzy spell was transient. He was able to continue playing within seconds and had no trouble winning the match.
When you describe an event as “transient,” you are saying that __________.

a. it sounds like a train

b. it is quite harmful

c. it helps you win

d. it doesn't last long

2. Brea and Elizabeth are having a dispute over which radio station to play at work. It would be so much simpler if they both liked the same kind of music.
A dispute is a __________.

a. musical instrument

b. choice of music

c. discovery

d. disagreement

3. When they heard the good news about the court’s decision, the angry crowd cheered and then began to disperse. “It looks like everyone is going home,” one reporter stated.
Which would be the opposite of “disperse”?

a. come together

b. smile

c. fly like a bird

d. sing

4. It’s a wonder to me how anyone can still be undecided about this election. These two candidates are certainly distinct. Each would lead our nation in opposite directions.
What does “distinct” mean?

a. needing a bath

b. dishonest

c. clearly different

d. about the same age

(the answer will be posted in the next entry, just watch out)

Opinion Essay.

In the opinion essay you are expected to express your viewpoint on a definite subject while supporting it with coherent arguments. Listed below are tips on how to make your writing a success with the audience.

Opinion essay writing is all about clear structure. First and foremost you should be learning a step-by-step approach used for composing opinion and argument essays:

• Underline the vocabulary in the question and write down with the related meaning. This will help avoid repetition later on, and will show your understanding of the question.
• Decide whether you are for or against the idea. The best way is to give pro and con arguments and then to state your point in the conclusion.
• Decide on a layout. The most is a four-paragraph writing: introduction, one-side, the other-side, and the conclusion.
• After you've written the plan proceed to your paper following the steps for composing the introduction, body and conclusion.
• Try to make you opinion essay bright and impressive by enriching it with personal experience and clear examples. This will contribute to the success with the audience.
  
  Drug Abuse: Problem and Solution (example of Opinion Essay)
  Drug abuse is rife in many countries. Billions of dollars are spent internationally preventing drug use, treating addicts, and fighting drug-related crime. Although drugs threaten many societies, their effects can also be combated successfully. This essay looks at some of the effects of drug use on society, and suggests some solutions to the problem.
  Drug abuse causes multiple problems for countries and communities. The medical and psychological effects are very obvious. Addicts cannot function as normal members of society. They neglect or abuse their families, and eventually require expensive treatment or hospitalization. The second effect is on crime. Huge police resources are needed to fight smuggling and dealing. Criminal gangs and mafia underworlds develop with the money from drugs.
  However, the menace of drugs can be fought. Education is the first battle. Children need to be told at home and in school about drugs. People need to be aware of the effects so that they can make avoid this problem. A second approach is to increase police manpower and powers to stop dealers and to enforce the law. However the main target should be the user. Families and counselors need to talk to children and people at risk. Parents need to look at their children and help them to Jobs are needed to give people a role in society.
  In conclusion, although the problem of drugs may seem impossible to eliminate, there are concrete steps that can be taken to weaken the hold of drugs on society. The danger from drugs is too great to ignore.
  (256 words)
  

Writing An Outline.

Outlining your essay is the best step that you should learn before you actually start writing. Outline will serve you as a compass as proceed in your essay. A well-arranged outline will help you to stick to the point as you write.

However, you should view your outline as a working flexible plan rather than a fixed document. You are free to change it when it is necessary.

Your outline should contain all the main points of your essay. Every new paragraph is devoted to one of these points. The outline opens up with an introduction presenting a thesis statement (refer to Thesis Statement entry somewhere in this blog) of the essay. Body paragraphs come after intro. Classify the points depending on their significance in the essay. Related ideas may come under common headings and you should organize them logically.

Your outline is like a web, where all the points are interrelated and connected with each other. There is no place for irrelevant information in your outline. Make sure every point is pertinent to your thesis.

View a structure of a sample outline:

I. Introduction
Intro sentences
Thesis

Present supporting ideas ( not necessary)

II. Body
First supporting idea
Transition, topic sentence (introduces the subject of the paragraph)
Discussion, evidence, and analysis
Conclusion (not necessary)
Second supporting idea
Transition, topic sentence (introduces the subject of the paragraph)
Discussion, evidence, and analysis
Conclusion (not necessary)
Third supporting idea
Transition, topic sentence (introduces the subject of the paragraph)
Discussion, evidence, and analysis
Conclusion (not necessary)

III. Conclusion
Transition
Summary of the main points
Final statement provoking further consideration/ call for action (not necessary)

Thesis Statement.

Learning how to write a good thesis statement is not easy as it appears. The thesis statement states the main point of your essay. It often answers the following questions:

“What is the topic of the essay? “

“What does the writer think about it? “

“What message does the writer convey through his essay? “

Follow these steps in building up your thesis statement:

• Look for interesting appealing facts, controversial issues and arguments in your primary sources, analyze them.

• Write down a working thesis.

• Place your thesis at the end of an introductory paragraph.

• Think of the counter-arguments to your thesis. It will help you to polish it.

These are the features of a good thesis statement:

• A good thesis presents the writer’s clearly defined position on the topic. (Don’t beat around the bush. Express your point of view briefly and accurately)

• A good thesis is meaningful.

• A good thesis does not promise to cover more than the essay affords.

• An efficient thesis has a manageable, debatable claim.

• A good thesis is presented in the end of the first paragraph.

• A good thesis comprises two parts: - first, it informs what you are going to discuss and then how you are going to do it.

Mind the three “NEVER” rules for thesis statements:

• A thesis is never a questioning sentence.

• A thesis is never a detail.

• A thesis should never be unclear, aggressive or confrontational.

Future Progressive/ Continuous Tense.

Future progressive tense is used to indicate action which will be taking place at some time in the future.
For example,

The class will be learning chapter 7 next week.
We'll be leaving next Monday.
When you arrive, I'll be cooking dinner.

The future progressive tense is formed by adding will be to the +ing form of the main verb.

She will be coming around the mountain in a few minutes.
She'll be riding a white horse into town.

The future progressive tense is not as common as other tenses, and it can some-times be replaced by simple future, present progressive or even simple present.

I'll be leaving in a few minutes.
I'll leave in a few minutes.
I'm going to leave in a few minutes.
I'm leaving in a few minutes.
I leave in a few minutes.

Past Progressive/ Continuous Tense.

Past progressive tense is used to indicate that an action was in progress when another action occurred in the past. Past progressive (was/were + V ing) refers to the action in progress, and simple past tense refers to the? interrupting? action.

While I was eating dinner, the telephone rang.
The telephone rang while I was eating dinner.
When the telephone rang, I was eating dinner.
I was eating dinner when the telephone rang.

Past continuous can also be used to indicate only one action which occurred in the past:

What was John doing yesterday?
He was working at the factory.

What were they doing yesterday afternoon?
They were playing soccer.

What were you doing last night?
I was learning how to dance with my friend at the next house.

Cause and Effect Essay.

Definition:
In this kind of essay, the aim is to explain the causes (reasons) or the effects (results) of an event or situation.

Example of related topics:

• Causes of air pollution (multiple factors leading to air pollution).
• Effects of watching too much TV (many effects of a situation).

Sometimes an event causes something to happen, and that situation leads to another event, and it causes another event to happen. This is called the causal chain or domino effect.

e.g. Use of deodorants will bring the end of the world.

There may be several causes or effects of a situation. However, in a student essay, it is advisable to keep the number of major points to 2 or 3, which form separate developmental paragraphs.

Organization:
Depending on the topic, there may be three patterns of organization:

1. Multiple causes-->effect
In this pattern, the organization is as follows:

Thesis statement: Air pollution is caused by the following factors: exhaust gases from cars, uncontrolled factory releases, and burning of low-quality coal for heating.

I. exhaust gases from cars
A. government does not have enough control
B. citizens are not conscientious

II. uncontrolled factory gases
A. no regular checks on gases released
B. factories are inside the borders of residential areas

III. burning of low-quality coal for heating
A. no governmental control
B. other forms of energy too expensive

Each developmental paragraph is devoted to one of the causes of air pollution. Each cause is supported by two minor supports. While writing, these major and minor ideas should be adequately explained and exemplified as well.

2. Cause-->Multiple effects
In this pattern, the effects of a certain situation are explained in separate paragraphs, with the following organization:

Thesis statement: Watching too much TV is one of the major sociological issues of this century, which has many effects on the physiology and psychology of people.

I. eating disorders
A. TV meals
B. obesity

II. communication problems
A. more violence
B. no interpersonal talk.

Again, we have grouped related effects under two main points: physiological and psychological. Then, we have supported each effect with two minor supports (A and B). While writing, we should explain these major and minor supports by giving examples and/or defining what we mean, as well.

3. Causal chain / Domino
In this pattern, the events lead to one another, as in the following organization:
Thesis statement: Using deodorants with chlorofluorocarbon gas will bring the end of world.

I. Chlorofluorocarbon gases are contained in most deodorants and released by some factories into the air.

II. This gas causes the ozone layer to become thinner and finally disappear in patches.

III. The unfiltered ultraviolet rays of the sun cause overheating in the poles of the earth, where the icebergs start to melt.

IV. The huge amount of water released from the poles leads to a rise in the sea-level.

V. The sea will cover the land and this will be the end of the world.

Again, each major point should be supported with examples, statistics that show that there are some factories and deodorants that release chlorofluorocarbons, that there is a rise in the sea-level, etc.

Language:
To explain reasons and results, we use:

As a result,

As a consequence,

Consequently,

So,

Since

As,

Because

One reason why...

One of the most important reasons why...

The main reasons why...

There are other reasons, too,..

Do not forget that using transitions (transitional tags) enables the piece of writing to be coherent; it is easier for the reader to follow our ideas when transitions are used to link them together. However, overuse of transitions causes a traffic jam and should be avoided. We should be using transitions sparingly (only when necessary).

Effects of Watching Too Much TV (example of Cause and Effect Essay)

Discoveries and invention of devices are always welcome till we, humans, find a way to abuse its benefits and be adversely affected by it. This was the case when Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-ray and within five years, the British Army was using a mobile x-ray unit to locate bullets and shrapnel in wounded soldiers in the Sudan. TV was also invented with positive thoughts in mind – there would be no national borders, education and communication would be worldwide, etc. However, we are now trying to overcome its physiological and psychological adverse effects on human beings.

One of the physiological effects of watching TV in excessive amounts is eye-strain. It is true that there are specifications for watching TV; TV should be 5 m. away from the eye, the room should be adequately lit, TV should be placed at the same height with our eyes, etc. However, these do not prevent our eyes from getting tired if we keep watching TV for a long time. Another effect is obesity, which is widely observed in people who like watching TV and eating snacks everyday (there is even a term “TV snacks” to refer to fast food that is suitable for eating in front of the TV). TV is such a powerful machine that people cannot get away from it – it is addictive.
Apart from the physiological effects, TV also causes psychological effects. One is a result of being exposed to violence. After seeing so many violent scenes on TV, people start considering violent actions normal and they lose their sensitivity to their environment. Partly connected to this effect, the interpersonal communication among people decreases. Being insensitive to the suffering of other people causes people to become alienated. Also, after coming home from work people seek to relax in front of the TV, and generally people prefer watching TV to talking to each other. This issue is very important since lack of interpersonal relationships mostly end with divorces.

Shortly, inventions are meant to be beneficial for human beings, if we know how to benefit from them. TV is one of such inventions that need to be used for the right purpose only – being educated and entertained for a reasonable (according to age) period of time. We may, then, be safe from or at least reduce the adverse physiological and psychological effects of watching too much TV.

(393 words)

How To Write an Essay.

There are five (5) Main Steps in learning how to write an essay.

Step 1: Read the essay

Read the question carefully. Decide what kind of essay it is – whether it is an opinion, compare/contrast, problem and solution, cause and effect, or a mixture. The type of question will decide the layout and your main ideas.

Step 2: Underline

Underline key vocabulary in the question and write words with the same or related meaning. This will really save you a lot of time later on. It will also help to avoid repetition of words, and will show that you understand the question.

Step 3: Get Ideas

Decide if you are for or against the idea. Usually it is best to give both sides (for and against - one paragraph each) and then to give your opinion in the conclusion. However there are other ways of laying out your essay.

Step 4: Decide Layout

You should decide on a layout. The easiest is 3773. That means four paragraphs: introduction (3 sentences) one side (7 sentences), the other side (7 sentences) and the conclusion (3 sentences). This will give you 20 sentences. An average of about 12 words each, that is 240 words. Perfect!

Step 5: Write

After you have written your plan, write your essay. Follow the steps in this website for writing the introduction, body, and conclusion. Check for fragments, run-ons and comma splices.

Making a Draft

The draft of your essay is the place where everything goes: every relevant idea or thought, all your arguments, reflections and opinions. You can include everything you consider necessary in it and see if it makes a sound writing.

You compose your draft on the basis of the prepared outline, but it will be quite natural if in the course of writing some points of the plan will change.

You may start writing the draft from the body, as composing a capturing introduction often stumbles the whole process. When the body of the essay is written, you will have a better idea how to captivate the audience with your introduction.

Once you are done with the research on the topic and the plan, do not hesitate to start putting your ideas onto paper. When you see your ideas in written form, you can judge them more objectively and writing one sentence will encourage the next one. You should not feel frustrated with a chaotic, illogical initial draft. Its purpose is to collect all the ideas together and serve as a basis for a final version.

After you have written the last word of your draft, take some time off and then come back to edit it. During editing you check on grammar and spelling, cut irrelevant information, purify, refine, and make amendments to your work.

Efficient editing transforms a good essay into a perfect one.

Chasing cars by Snow Patrol

We'll do it all
Everything
On our own

We don't need
anything,
or anyone...

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me
and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads

I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life

All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see

I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?

Contextual Clues extra exercise 1

Use the Contextual Clues to help you choose the best meaning or synonym for each highlighted word.

1. Mr. Huge was very proud of his auto superstore. “We have such an extensive selection of cars,” he said, “so everyone should find a vehicle that he or she will love!”
The word “extensive” means __________.

a. costing a lot of money
b. large amount
c. having no color
d. not enough

2. Friendship is a priceless thing. If Chris put a price, or conditions, on her friendship, it’s no longer priceless. In fact, it’s not real friendship at all!
If something is priceless, __________.

a. it has a missing tag
b. it has no value
c. it has great value
d. it is made out of rice

3. The news story was based on a letter that was a fabrication. Now the reporter who wrote the story is in big trouble. Will anyone believe him again?
A fabrication is __________.

a. made of cloth
b. full of long words
c. funny
d. fake

4. The reporter insisted that the letter he used was authentic. He said that he had shown it to many experts before he used it in his story.
When something is authentic, it’s __________.

a. genuine, or real
b. carefully written
c. full of tasty worms
d. very old

5. In 1975, Governor James promised to do something about the high taxes in our state. She didn’t present a tax cut bill to lawmakers until 1985. It took her a decade to keep her promise, but better late than never.
How long is a decade?

a. 75 years
b. 85 years
c. a century
d. 10 years

(note:the answers will given in the next entry)

Present Progressive Tense/Continuous Tense

The present progressive/continuous tense takes the form be + V ing.

The form of be is determined by the subject of the sentence.

He is singing.

She is learning something.

They are sleeping.

I am going home.

It is falling.

In English, the present progressive/continuous is used to indicate actions happening at the time of speaking, or right now.

Jake is speaking to his mother right now.

Please keep quiet. The baby is sleeping.

The present progressive/continuous can also be used to indicate actions occurring over a period of time which includes the present.

I'm taking five classes at the university.

Grace is working at a chemical factory.

What are you doing these days?

The present progressive/continuous is sometimes used to indicate ongoing, developing, imminent or future actions.

Ongoing:

Don't bother Mr. Grumpy while he is watching the football game.

Developing:

I'm beginning to like this place!

Imminent/ about to happen:

A: Honey, where are you?

B: I'm coming. Just let me put on my shoes.

Future (Note the presence of future time words):

A: Are you going to the concert this weekend?

B: I wish I could, but I'm meeting an important client from Oklahoma.

What is Essay Writing?

An essay is a creation of your own that is meant to show your knowledge of material, ability to analyze and structure and, finally, determine your grade by the end of your long learning semester after the final exam, hahaha…

Written assignments can cause various emotions from excitement to frustration, but their importance should not be underestimated. Therefore before doing an actual research, find out general principles of the assignment. After getting acquainted with the main points, you’ll make easy your task and make the process more enjoyable.

As it was mentioned before, an essay is a creation of your own and has to be a reflection of your ideas and beliefs. There are a great number of approaches to essay writing and you can choose any, but be sure that this is the most convenient way to express your opinion and show your knowledge to the advantage.

It is a well known fact, that it is extremely difficult to force somebody to do something against his will. The best way is to turn essay writing into an enjoyable process by:

• Thinking over the idea;
• Doing a research;
• Showing up thoughts into sentences;
• Enjoying the fruits of your work/ final draft.

Essay writing will require a deep analysis of the collected facts, a lot of effort and concentration of you. It is really a responsibility. But the effort is worth taking because the writing process is so absorbing and rewarding. Besides, you will have one more reason to be proud of yourself after completing your own essay.

Last but not least, get someone to read your essay and ask them to give comments. If possible, ask an expert about your writing so that you can improve it the next time.

Reading - Using CONTEXT CLUES in Search for Meaning (Part 2)

Beside using the Contextual Clues, the usage of CONTEXT CLUES can be one of the best ways to improve students' learning through reading skills. Unfortunately, students often insist on understanding each word when reading. Realizing that a text can be understood in a general sense by using contextual clues can go a long way towards helping students cope with increasingly difficult texts. At the same time, the use of contextual clues can also provide a means by which students can rapidly increase their existing vocabulary base.

Reading Clues

Deduction

What does the sentence concern? Which words does the unknown word seem to relate to?

Part of Speech

Which part of speech is the unknown word? Is it a verb, noun, preposition, adjective, time expression or something else?

Chunking

What do the words around the unknown word(s) mean? How could the unknown word(s) relate to those words? - This is basically deduction on a more local level.

Vocabulary Activation

When quickly skimming through the text, what does the text seem to concern? Does the layout (design) of the text give any clues? Does the publication or type of book give any clues to what the text might be about? Which words can you think of that belong to this vocabulary category?

Quick exercise:
Instruction: Make logical guesses about the meaning of the bold words in the following paragraph.

Jack quickly entered the didot and cleaned the various misturaes he had been using to repair the wuipit. He had often thought that this job was extremely yullning. However, he had to admit that this time things seemed to be a bit easier. When he finished, he put on his redick and went back to the study to relax. He took out his favourite pipe and settled into the beautiful new pogtry. What a fantastic schnappy he had made when he had bought the pogtry. Only 300 yagmas!

What could a 'didot' be?

What part of speech is 'misturaes'?

If Jack used the 'misturaes' to repair the 'wuipit' what do you think the 'mistraes' must be?

What could 'yulling' mean? - What part of speech is often used with an ending '-ing '?

Which synonym could be used for ' yulling '?
· fun
· difficult
· expensive

7. What type of things do you put on?

8. Based on the above question, what kind of thing must a 'redick' be?

9. Is a 'pogtry' used inside or outside?

10. Which words let you know that the 'pogtry' was cheap?

11. What must 'yagmas' be?

a. Clothes
b. Cigarette type
c. Type of money

(note: the answers will soon be posted, just watch out)

Reading - Using Contextual Clues in Search for Meaning (Part 1)

Contextual Clues are hints that the author gives to help readers to define a difficult or unusual word. The clue may appear within the same sentence as the word to which it refers, or it may be in a preceding or subsequent sentence. Because most of your vocabulary is gained through reading, it is important that you be able to recognize and take advantage of context clues for better understanding towards the reading.

Types of Contextual Clues: There are at least four kinds of context clues that are quite common and can be identified.

1. Synonym: A synonym, or word with the same meaning, is used in the sentence. My opponent's argument is fallacious, misleading – plain wrong. (the meaning of the word fallacious is clearly stated in the next sentence which is misleading, plain wrong)

2. Antonym: A word or group of words that has the opposite meaning reveals the meaning of an unknown term. Although some men are loquacious, others hardly talk at all. (talking versus not talking at all, the word loquacious may brings the meaning noisy,talkative, making sounds)

3. Explanation: The unknown word is explained within the sentence or in a sentence immediately preceding. The patient is so somnolent that she requires medication to help her stay awake for more than a short time. (the word somnolent can brings the meaning of weak, helpless)

4. Example: Specific examples are used to define the term. Celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and stars, are governed by predictable laws. (we understand that the sun, moon and stars are apart of the universe, galaxy, outer space)

Quick exercise:
Read the following sentences and define the bolded word based on the contextual clues. Then identify which of the four types of clues is used.

1. The girl who used to be very vociferous doesn't talk much anymore. ( )

Use contextual clues to figure out the meaning of the underlined words. Write the meaning of the words at end of every sentence.

2. Even though a pygmy hippopotamus is smaller version of a regular hippopotamus, it is still a very large animal. ( )

3. Pedagogical institutions, including high schools, kindergartens, and colleges, require community support to function efficiently. ( )

4. Like cotton surrounding a precious jewel, the clouds enveloped Mount Kilimanjaro’s peak. ( )

5. He was so parsimonious that he refused to give his own sons the few pennies they needed to buy pencils for school. It truly hurt him to part with his money. ( )

6. The old Maasai told us stories that teach many things about life and death, bravery and fear, vengeance and forgiveness. ( )

7. To think that the past does not matter is an illusion, a false and sometimes dangerous belief. ( )

8. His pertinacity, or stubbornness, is the cause of most of his trouble. ( )

9. Ecclesiastics, such as priests, ministers, and pastors, should set models of behavior for their congregants. ( )

10. We had to avoid the escarpment, the steep cliff that separated the plateaus. ( )

11. The girl was churlish – rude, sullen and absolutely ill-mannered. ( )

12. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation. More than 121 million people live there. ( )

13. The Maasai are one of 100 ethnic groups that make up Tanzania. ( )

14. Because the conflagration was aided by wind, it was so destructive that every building in the area was completely burned to the ground. ( )