For example, from Task 1 Academic IELTS: ... How to effect parallelism and consistency in your paragraphs ... Do the exa
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ORIGINAL HEADLINE - UNLEASH PARAPHRASING businessenglishace.com link to original article: http://www.businessenglishace.com/academic-ielts-extraskill-paraphrasing/
UNLEASH PARAPHRASING Do you need to improve your IELTS writing and speaking scores? Then, learn how to unleash your paraphrasing power. Read on! Today, in our continuing series on extra skills you need to maximize your IELTS score, you are going to take away how paraphrasing can help you on the IELTS exam. In the two previous articles, you learned about how to summarize and how to take notes. Paraphrasing, simply put, is restating an author’s text in your own words. For example, from Task 1 Academic IELTS: The graph shows that proportion of Britons eating fish and chips has risen from 2000 to 2011. Paraphrase: The line graph shows that the percentage of Britons eating fish and chips has accelerated from 2000 to 2011.
Study the differences between the two sentences. For more on how paraphrasing is key to IELTS writing, quickly watch this short video.
On standardized exams like IELTS and TOEFL iBT, you will often need to paraphrase rapidly, so you need to practice regularly to sharpen this necessary skill. (see links to exercises below). In the second task during the IELTS Speaking (the interview), you must give a talk answering the questions from a note card you select.
- Download my exclusive IELTS Cheat Sheet now! Again, use your own words to refer to the questions, but not don’t use the same exact words. Thus, you need to paraphrase – allude to – the questions only. Watch the following video more more tips for using this technique for IELTS Speaking:
But, just how do you paraphrase?
2 Ways to Paraphrase When you express the same meaning of a text, but in your own words, you have two choices.
You can change the vocabulary. If you notice in my example above about Britons and fish and chips, other vocabulary terms were substituted. Notice the variety of terms. Again, having an extensive vocabulary is a major advantage for maximizing your score on the IELTS.
You can change the grammar. Shift the structure of texts. If the sentence is in the active voice, switch to the passive voice. For example: Active voice: The government gave assistance to the poor farmers.
Passive voice: The poor farmers were given assistance by the government. Do the contrary – passive to active voice. Passive voice: The city was devastated by the hurricane. Active voice: The hurricane devastated the city. Do you need more pointers on the active and passive voice in English? Watch the following video for a recap.
Now you have two options to unleash your paraphrasing power.
Conclusion Paraphrasing, along with summarizing and taking notes, is another extra skill you need for maximizing your IELTS score. Try these exercises to practice paraphrasing and sharpen this skill for the big exam day. Good Luck!
Download my exclusive IELTS Cheat Sheet now!
Writing a Paragraph: Structure businessenglishace.com link to original article: http://www.businessenglishace.com/writing-paragraph Welcome to our new Friday feature – Writer’s Critique! Writer’s Critique provides you actionable information to use in your business writings, but also for TOEFL and IELTS exam candidates. Indeed, since thousands of business professionals and students take the TOEFL and IELTS every year, Writer’s Critique is your best friend! We kick off Writer’s Critique with a series on the basic unit of organized writing – the paragraph!
Paragraphing: Structure The paragraph is the basic unit of thought in writing. Paragraphing is the key to good essay writing, especially for the task on both the TOEFL and IELTS exams. Each paragraph should have a clear, singular focus. That is, ONE paragraph = ONE idea. The structure of your paragraph is very important to communicate this idea. A paragraph consists of a topic sentence, a number of support sentences and a concluding sentence. A paragraph normally has between four (4) to six (6) sentences.
Your basic paragraph should look like this: +——————–+ | Topic Sentence | +——————–+ | Support Sentence 1 | | Support Sentence 2 | | Support Sentence 3 | | Support Sentence n | +——————–+ | Conclusion | +——————–+ Need help writing essays? Check out our English Writing Clinic today!
Paragraphing: Basic Ingredients Now you are familiar with the structure of a good paragraph. In subsequent posts on the Writer’s Critique, we will examine the following “basic ingredients” to write an effective paragraph, and in turn, to write a better short answer response or essay. How to write a topic sentence How to infuse cohesion in your paragraphs How to write coherent paragraphs How to use transitions and signposts in your paragraphs How to effect parallelism and consistency in your paragraphs
Paragraphing: Checklist Follow these steps to organize your approach to writing unified paragraphs. 1. Write a topic sentence – What is your paragraph about? Write your topic sentence on paper. 2. Brainstorm – Think of ideas that support your topic sentence. 3. Outline – A brainstorm can create too many ideas. Select carefully the ideas that make your point (topic sentence). On paper, write two or three ideas with explanations and examples to illustrate your point of view. 4. Write your first draft with the topic sentence, the supporting sentences, and the conclusion. Remember, the concluding sentence usually transitions to your next paragraph. We examine transitions in a later post. 5. Revise and edit your paragraph. Do the topic sentence and the supporting sentences express ONE idea? Is there enough supporting details in your sentences? Do the examples back up your topic sentence? 6. Review your grammar punctuation, and spelling. 7. Write your final draft. 8. Proofread again for any mistakes.
Paragraphing: QUIZ Now, it’s your turn! Rearrange the following four (4) sentences into a logical paragraph. Write the letter of each paragraph in its corresponding order. The answer will be in our post next week!
1. ___ 2. ___3. ___ 4.___
A) There are multiple obvious benefits to this, but the possible cultural ramifications must not be ignored.
B) This has in turn led to an expanding use of a few major languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and especially English.
C) Advances in technology, transport, and communication have given rise to the phenomenon of globalization.
D) Many barriers have been pulled down; the exchange of ideas between countries and cultures has never been easier than in any time in history.
Conclusion Thank you for reading the first article in our new Writer’s Critique series. Tweet your friends about writing a great paragraph so they can learn, too! For more English tips direct to your inbox, register for the Business English Ace Academy and get 3 signing bonuses today!
Writing a Paragraph /2: Topic Sentence businessenglishace.com link to original article: http://www.businessenglishace.com/writing-paragraph2-topicsentence
Welcome back to the Writer’s Critique! Do you struggle with writing solid English? You’re in the right place! Many of my English students do not have very sharp writing skills, even in their first language. No more! In Part Two of our inaugural series at the Writer’s Critique, we continue to examine the basic building block of everything your write – the paragraph. In Part One in our previous article, we reviewed the structure of your paragraph. You got a sneak peek of our upcoming articles on writing a solid paragraph. Today we turn to one of the most important parts of your paragraph – the opening sentence! Finally, you get the answer to our quiz from our last post.
Your Topic Sentence The topic sentence is the most important part of your paragraph. It tells the reader exactly what the paragraph is about. Please check our English Writing Clinic to improve your writing today! The topic sentence is your contention, the thrust of your argument set for in the paragraph. Remember the formula from our previous post: ONE idea = ONE paragraph.
A paragraph’s topic sentence must be general enough to express its overall subject matter, but specific enough so that the reader can understand your point.
Location of Topic Sentence The topic sentence can appear as the first sentence of your paragraph, in the middle, or at the end of your paragraph. I always tell my students to make the first sentence the topic sentence. The reader immediately knows what the paragraph is about. And you, the writer, can now concentrate on the sentences with reasons and examples to support your contention. The other sentences in the paragraph continue developing the idea that you introduced in your topic sentence.
Topic Sentence Exercises Now you should be able to write your own topic sentence. So here are two assignments for you: Exercise Exercise 2
Conclusion Do you feel better about writing your own paragraphs now? Have you at least picked up some new pointers to help you at the office or university? One part of the Writer’s Critique provides you actionable information to use in your business writings while also preparing you for the writing challenges on the GMAT®, GRE®, TOEFL® and IELTS®. Please check our English Writing Clinic to improve your writing today!
Here are the quiz answers from the previous post:1. C 2. D 3. B 4. A
Get help with your IELTS writing. Let me review your writing samples to polish your texts. Get your writing graded today!
Writing a Paragraph /3: Cohesion businessenglishace.com link to original article: http://www.businessenglishace.com/writing-paragraph-3cohesion
Cohesion is the linking within a text or sentence that holds a text together and produces meaning. It is related to the broader concept of coherence. Let’s examine two cohesive devices to help build stronger paragraphs: referencing, and substitution. We look at transitions in a later post. Referencing and substitution for greater cohesion are key tactics in academic English writing.
Referencing There are two types of references – backwards and forwards. Their academic names are not important. How you use them in your writing counts most for our purposes! The first type of referencing is “backward referencing.” It occurs by using pronouns to refer back to an idea mentioned earlier in your writing Example: Galileo challenged the Church in his studies of the heavens. He studied Greek, Latin, and logic at a monastery.. He refers back to Galileo in the first sentence. The second type of referencing is “forward referencing.” It occurs when using the pronoun first and introducing its referrent later in the text. Example: When he challenged the Church in his studies of the heavens, Galileo risked heresy. he refers to Galileo in the text.
Visit our English Writing Clinic for more help to write your best English exam essays!
Substitution Substitution is the replacement of one item by another. Use substitution in your paragraphs to avoid unnecessary repetition. Example: Galileo challenged the Church in his studies of the heavens. In doing so, he risked heresy. So substitutes for “challenging the Church.” Check out this video for more tips to improve your cohesion.
Conclusion Academic English essays use particular devices to build cohesion. You just learned how to incorporate two such tactics in your own essays – referencing and substitution. While we speak of academic English essays, cohesion is important in no matter what document you write. Remember, your goal is for the reader needs to understand your message. Cohesion is key in the connection of your ideas both at the sentence level and at the paragraph level. In our next article in our Writing a Paragraph series, we take a macro view at coherence in your academic essays. For more English tips direct to your inbox, register for the Business English Ace Academy and get 3 signing bonuses today!
Writing a Paragraph /4: Coherence businessenglishace.com link to original article: http://www.businessenglishace.com/writing-paragraph
In our previous article on cohesion, you learned tips and specific devices used for “sticking together” your writing. If cohesion is the proverbial glue to that binds paragraphs and sentences, then coherence, our topic today, is the flow in academic writing. Academic English writing requires coherence. At the macro level, the logical placement of main ideas and their supporting details is called logical coherence. At the micro level, specific words such as key terms, pronouns or transitions to help them follow ideas in your paragraphs is called lexical coherence. (Check these examples). You need both to make your message understandable to the reader. Watch this video for an excellent illustration of the point.
Planning and Coherence All parts of the text have to relate to each other and there has to be effective transition from idea (sentence) to the next. Moreover, your paragraphs must be linked together logically as well in support of your thesis sentence. Good planning leads to good logical development of your ideas. Watch this video for our final point on coherence. The instructor uses vivid video to convey the importance of coherence in your writing.
Conclusion Do you need to improve your English writing? Please visit our English Writing Clinic where we can help you with your academic essays.
Transitions, Signposting businessenglishace.com link to original article: http://www.businessenglishace.com/writing-paragraph-5transitions-signposting/
When, writing a paragraph, use transitions and signposting to link your ideas. Linking, as we saw in our previous articles on cohesion and coherence, is key to clear and persuasive writing. Learn how to use transitions and signposting to improve your writing today!
Transitions Transitions in clear and concise paragraphs help you convey information by establishing logical connections between sentences and paragraphs in your papers. Transitions: are phrases or words used to connect one idea to the next; are used by the author to help the reader progress from one significant idea to the next; show the relationship within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea Make the last sentence in your paragraphs lead into the next paragraph. This transition tells the reader what to expect in the next paragraph. Another way to signal the direction of your written argument is to use signposting
