In Preparation for the Final
English Language Examination 2008
Student Booklet
By, Anne Schillig Peace Corps TEFL MAK 11 Gostivar, Macedonia
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Course Contents and Schedule of Classes
SECTION OVERVIEW
Section 1: JOURNALS
Section 2: TESTTAKING SKILLS
Section 3: WRITING SKILLS
Section 4: FORMAL ESSAYS
LESSON CONTENTS • Overview of Course and Expectations • Explanation of the Test • Journal 1: World War II is Over! Writing a story about the picture. • Journal 2: What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your school? What rules would you add? Why would you add or get rid of these rules? • Journal 3: Pretend that you are applying for a job. Tell me about all of your skills. • Journal 4: Many countries around the world have proposed a smoking ban. This means that people cannot smoke inside any public buildings (restaurants, cafes, stores, malls, hospitals, schools, universities). To smoke outside, they must be 7 meters from any building. Should they have this law in Macedonia? Why or why not? • Test-Taking Skill #1: Understanding the Question, and How to Answer it! • Test-Taking Skill #2: Speculating / Drawing a Conclusion; Horror Story! • Test-Taking Skill #3: Main Idea, Summarizing the Text • Writing Skill #1: Connecting Words, Linking Sentences • Writing Skill #2: The Writing Process (Brainstorming and Pre-writing, School Rules) • Writing Skill #3: The Writing Process (Organization and Editing) • Writing Skill #4: Writing a Persuasive Essay • Writing Skill #5: Writing a Letter • The Persuasive Essay: Smoking Ban • The Letter: Applying to Study Abroad
Overview of the Course: This is a six-session course. It is merely a review and extra practice of everything that you have been learning in high school for the past few years. In six classes, you can expect to improve your skills, particularly in writing. You can expect to do better on the test as a result. However, I am no miracle worker, and six classes is not enough to completely teach you everything. That is why you have had four years with qualified English teachers at this school. I am prepared to work hard during these six classes. In addition, I am always available to meet with interested students to improve their writing and reading skills. You can send me an e-mail any time at
[email protected]. Please ONLY WRITE ME IN ENGLISH and NEVER SEND ME SPAM OR JUNK MAIL. I look forward to these six classes together!
Course Expectations:
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1.
Come to class prepared. Always have a pen/pencil and this notebook. I wrote this and printed it out for you; please respect me by bringing it to class.
2.
Respect me and the others in the class. Do not talk when I am talking, or while other students are talking. Do not make fun of other students for making mistakes; we all make mistakes, and you could be next!
3.
Do your work. The only way to learn how to write is to write. The only way to learn is to learn. Work hard, do your work, and take this opportunity to become a wiser student!
4.
Take my time seriously. I have worked hard preparing this for you so that you will do better at the end of the year. Your English teacher has also worked hard. Respect our time, and do not waste it. Explanation of the Test
The English Matura test consists of: 1).
Several Reading Passages: • In the practice test, these consisted of: o An incomplete interview with Celine Dion o A biography of a scientist o Information from a brochure that needed to be put in order • Following the reading passages were several types of questions: o Multiple choice questions highlighting a word in the text o Directions to fill in missing pieces from the text o Directions to summarize or make a title for a text o True-False questions relating to the text o Questions about vocabulary o Matching words from the text to their definitions
2).
Two Writing Passages: • In the practice test, these were: o A letter of application to work at a summer camp in America (80-100 words) o A persuasive essay about your opinion on school uniforms (120-150 words).
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• •
In the test at the end of the year, there will probably be two topics for you to write about. These are graded based on o Appropriateness of Contents o Coherence o Grammar o Vocabulary o Spelling and Punctuation
“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” - Colin Powell
Journal #1:
Tell a story about this picture. Where did the man come from? Where did the woman come from? How did they meet? Why are they kissing in the street, and what are the reactions of the people near them?
[“World War II Is Over!” The Kiss: New York City, 1945]
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____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
Journal 2:
What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your school? What rules would you add? Why would you add or get rid of these rules? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
Journal 3:
Pretend you are applying for a job. Tell me about all of your skills. ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
Journal #4:
Many countries around the world have proposed a smoking ban. This means that people cannot smoke inside any public buildings (restaurants, cafes, stores, malls, hospitals, schools, universities). To smoke outside, they must be 7 meters from any building. Should they enforce this law in Macedonia? Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
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____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________
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Test-Taking Skill #1:
Understanding the Question Many students mess up tests because they don’t read the directions carefully. In an essay… • Do you answer every question or do you have choices? • Do you need to include a certain number of ideas? • How much should you write (sentences, paragraphs, pages)? • Are you supposed to include examples? Make sure you know what these words mean: Synonym Antonym Similar to The same as The opposite of Assume that All but one Only one correct Defend Contrast Prove Summarize
None of All of If More than one correct Describe Explain
Sample Essay Questions: • There is a job opening teaching the children of American Embassy workers. Please describe your English language background, related job experience, and any other skills that would help you in this job in a letter to Embassy staff. • What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your school? What rules would you add? Why would you add or get rid of these rules? Sample Multiple Choice Questions: 1). Which song is not sung by Mariah Carey? a). “We Belong Together” b). “Shake it Off” c). “It’s Like That” d). “Goodies” 2).
Put the following in order from most recent to oldest: a). World War II b). The internet is invented c). The first man walks on the moon d). The War in Iraq begins
3).
The main idea of Eminem’s “The Way I Am” is: a). Marshall Mather’s is a bad boy. b). He doesn’t care what people say about him or what they expect him to be, he just is who he is. c). Eminem is not like N’Sync. d). People get angry about the content of his music and the media blame him for ruining society.
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Test-Taking Skill #2:
Speculating / Drawing a Conclusion; Horror Story! Sometimes it is helpful to think about what is going to happen next as you read different texts. Some questions on exams ask you to “write what would come next” or “put things in order” or “make a conclusion” about a text. This is easier when – as you read – you are constantly thinking about the clues that the author writes about what is going to happen next. Basic, Generic Horror Movie Beginning The movie begins rather darkly. A thunderstorm is pelting the house with rain and tree branches hit the house where a young woman is alone. She is sitting by herself in a house with no lights on except for a few candles. She is wrapped up in a blanket and is reading. Then, she hears a knock at the door. As she walks to the door, she is rather spooked by the storm. The woman peers through the eye piece in the door but sees no one. She apprehensively begins to unlock the deadbolt, very, very slowly. She turns the doorknob slowly (her hand is shaking) and as she does, the door creaks. She slowly opens the door, eyes wide open in fright, and glances around frantically. Seeing no one, the woman steps outside of her house, closing the door behind her…
So, what do you think will happen next? __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _________________________________________________. • • •
The woman has just made a gigantic mistake. Anyone and everyone in the movie theater is nervous. They know something bad is going to happen. Horror movie writers and directors know this and plan for this. They give you clues that help you know to begin panicking for the main characters. This is what makes horror movies fun, entertaining, scary, suspenseful, and (largely) predictable.
***When you read, you should always think about what is going to happen next. What does the writer want you to understand? Does he want you to be scared, or to be excited, or to think about something? Knowing WHY a writer is writing helps you to be able to understand. ***
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Test-Taking Skill #3:
Main Idea, Summarizing the Text
[Britney] Spears’ busy Friday night began in the salon of Esther Tognozzi, who told the syndicated television gossip show “Extra” that she was afraid to shave Spears’ head in case she was sued for ruining the singer’s image. After Tognozzi protested that Spears was maybe being “hormonal” and would feel differently the next day, Spears coolly “grabbed the buzzer and started buzzing her own hair off. ... I just cleaned it up when she was done with it,” she said. Tognozzi said Spears seemed to be “just there in body and not really emotionally there,” but did get “a little bit teary-eyed” when she realized her mother might get upset. The whereabouts of the hair was a mystery, although an enterprising person in Pennsylvania was selling 10 lots of the purported locks on eBay at $50 per lot. MSNBC, February 19, 2007
What is this story about? (Write a summary.) ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________.
A good title for this story might be… ___________________________________________________________________________
What is the main idea of this story? ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________. BEFORE THE TEST… EAT, DRINK WATER, and SLEEP!
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Writing Skill #1:
Connecting Words, Linking Sentences When I think of my father, I think of _____1_____ at mealtimes. _____2_____, _____3_____ always sat at the head of the family table and asked _____4_____ children a lot of questions. He asked us about _____5_____ friends and our day at school. He was disappointed when he heard about any difficulties or failures in school. _____6_____, he never got angry. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
man him only everyone often fat then finally he she we father all their naughty his our many much valuable in addition therefore although
however
*** Use first, second, third, then, finally, and/or in conclusion to make points in your essays! *** Writing Skill #2:
The Writing Process (Brainstorming and Pre-writing, School Rules) Your journal entry for today was about: What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your school? What rules would you add? Why would you add or get rid of these rules? ***When you are given essay topics like this one, it is helpful to pre-write before you actually begin writing your essay. This way, your thoughts will make sense and be logical to the reader. ***
A Rule I’d Like to Change:
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Writing Skill #3:
The Writing Process (Organization and Editing) Now that you have thought about the topic of a rule you’d like to remove from school, you can begin to think about the organization of your essay… and write it! I.
Introduction A. General Statement (which rule you’d like to remove): ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________. B. Main Idea of Essay (quick statement of why) ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________.
II.
Reason # 1 (that the rule should be removed): ______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________. A. Explanation ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________. Reason #2 (that the rule should be removed):
III.
______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________. A. Explanation ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________. Reason #3 (that the rule should be removed): ______________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________. A. Explanation ________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________. Conclusion Statement A. Write your main idea of the essay again: In conclusion, ________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________.
AFTER YOU WRITE YOUR ESSAY, ALWAYS GO BACK AND REREAD WHAT YOU WROTE TO CHECK FOR MISTAKES. EVEN FAMOUS WRITERS GO BACK TO CORRECT THEIR MISTAKES! Writing Skill #4:
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Writing a Persuasive Essay (ORGANIZING SPACE) Introduction: ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Reason # 1 and Explanation ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Reason #2 and Explanation ___________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Reason #3 and Explanation ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Conclusion: ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Writing Skill #5:
Writing a Letter (organization of letter)
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To Whom It May Concern, I am ________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________. My skills ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________. Thank you ___________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________. Sincerely, _______________
Whoever reads your essay does not know you. You can say whatever skills you want, and they will never know! Appropriateness Coherence Grammar Vocabulary Spelling and Punctuation Many countries around the world have proposed a smoking ban. This means that people cannot smoke inside any public buildings (restaurants,
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cafes, stores, malls, hospitals, schools, universities). To smoke outside, they must be 7 meters from any building. Should they have this law in Macedonia? Why or why not? ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Appropriateness Coherence Grammar Vocabulary Spelling and Punctuation Oxford University in England has just written you a letter asking you to consider applying for their study abroad program. To apply, you need to
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write a letter describing how your educational background, personal experiences, and job skills will help you to succeed at their school. ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
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