English Writing Skills

口语和写作的区别？

口语大多使用简单的动词和短句子
写作使用高级的名词，把动作进行描述，动词名词化

Common Problems in Writing

The errors focus on the topics covered in the grammar appendix: sentence fragments, run-on sentences, parallelism, subject-verb agreement, pronouns, who/whom, sentence variety, and dangling/misplaced modifiers.

The Four Bases of Effective Writing

Four Steps:

If you advance a single point and stick to that point, your paper will have unity.(thesis 主题)
If you support the point with specific evidence, your paper will have support.(evidence 证据)
If you organize and connect the specific evidence, your paper will have coherence.(first/second, however/so/because/then/when/where/that/who; order/structure/transition)
If you write clear, error-free sentences, your paper will demonstrate effective sentence skills.(good sentences)

Unity

Clear opening statement of the point of your paper
All material on target in support of opening point?

Support

Specific evidence?
Plenty of it?

Coherence

Clear method of organization?
Transitions and other connective devices?
Effective introduction, conclusion, and title?
Have I acknowledged the opposing point of view, showing that I am a reasonable person willing to consider other arguments?
Concluding paragraph

Sentence Skills

Fragments eliminated?
Run-ons eliminated?
Correct verb forms?
Subject and verb agreement?
Faulty parallelism and faulty modifiers eliminated?
Faulty pronouns eliminated?
Capital letters used correctly?
Punctuation marks where needed?
- Apostrophes
- Question marks
- Commas
- Colons; Semicolons
- Dashes; Hyphens
- Parentheses
Correct paper format?
Needless words eliminated?
Effective word choices?
Possible spelling errors checked?
Careless errors removed through editing and proofreading?
Sentences varied?
Use specific rather than general words
avoid wordiness and use concise wording

Common Transitions

Addition Signals: one, first, second, the third reason, also, next, and, in addition, moreover, further, furthermore, finally, last, similarly, likewise, as well, too, besides.
Time Signals: first, then, next, after, as before, while, meanwhile, soon, now, during, finally, after a while, as soon as, at that time, by then, since, suddenly, then, thereafter, by then, in a few hours, by that time.
Space Signals: next to, across, on the opposite side, to the left, to the right, above, below, near, nearby, beside, on top of, under, over, underneath, far from.
Change-of-Direction Signals: but, however, yet, in contrast, although, oth- erwise, still, on the contrary, on the other hand, On the flip side, nevertheless, instead, none- theless, otherwise, even though.
Illustration Signals: for example, for instance, specifically, as an illustra- tion, once, such as.
Conclusion Signals: therefore, consequently, thus, then, as a result, in summary, to conclude, last, finally.

Sentence variety(structure)

Using a variety of sentence structures will make your writing seem advanced and enjoyable to read. you may be writing sentences that are grammatically correct but boring because they all sound and look the same.

Compound sentence and Complex sentence

A compound sentence is used to give equal weight to two closely realatd ideas.

The two complete sentences in a compound sentence are usually connected by comma and a joining or coordinating word(and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) FANBOYS.

Greg worked on the engine for three hours, but the car still wouldn’t start.
Bananas were on sale this week, so I bought a bunch for the children’s lunches.
We laced up our roller blades, and then we moved cautiously onto the rink.
I cooked every night at home, for I hoped to become a great chef.

A complex sentence is used to emphasize one idea over another.

I cooked every night at home because I hoped to become a great chef.
Although the exam room was very quiet, I still couldn’t concentrate.
Even though I was tired, I stayed up to watch the horror movie.
Before I take a bath, I check for spiders in the tub.
When Ivy feels nervous, she pulls on her erlobe.

Or you could use connectors:

I had to wear a uniform every single day, and you have no idea how much I hated it.
I’ve lived in five different countries, always trying to dress and act like the native people.
Although some people learn better from a manual or a teacher, I’m the kind of person who learns by doing, such as when I learned to ride a bicycle.
In contrast to what I’ve heard about some institutions in the United States, in my country teachers at the university level don’t care whether or not students come to class.
Unfortunately my high school soccer team didn’t win even one game.
Although I like to be alone during the week, I look forward to going out with my many friends on the weekend.
Maybe because I grew up in a modern 22-story apartment building, I want to live in a traditional house.
Although I could never afford to visit Australia, I’d certainly like to visit there.
Some people like to listen to music when they’re sad; whereas others like to listen when they’re in a good mood.
My hometown is so small and boring that it doesn’t even have a movie theater!
I turned to the want ads, but I knew my dream job wouldn’t be listed.
for(because): Lizards become sluggish at night, for they need the sun’s warmth to maintain an active body temperature. Lizards become sluggish at night because they need the sun’s warmth to maintain an active body temperature.
so(as a result, therefor): The canoe touched bottom so Dave pushed it toward deeper water. The canoe touched bottom, as a result, Dave pushed it toward deeper water.

Special Opening Words or Phrase

-ed WORD

Concerned about his son’s fever, Paul called a doctor.

-ing WORD

Humming softly, the woman browsed through the rack of dresses.

-ly WORD

Hesitantly, Sue approached the instructor’s desk.

to WORD GROUP

To protect her hair, Eva uses the lowest setting on her blow dryer.

Prepositional Phrase

During the exam, drops of water fell from the ceiling.

One big example

I cooked every night at home. I hoped to become a great chef. ->

gerund phrase:
By cooking every night at home, I hoped to become a great chef.

participial phrase:
Cooking every night, I hoped to become a great chef.

infinitive phrase:
My only hope of becoming a great chef was to cook every night.

prepositional phrase:
With nightly homecooked meals, I hoped to become a great chef.

appositive phrase: I decided that there was only one way to become a great chef: nightly homecooked meals.

a question: How could I become a great chef? I could begin by cooking at home every night.

Strategies

use an occasional question.
make sure you’re not beginning sentences the same way, such as I + a verb.
don’t write all simple sentences. look at your writing to see where you could connect two simple sentences and create one compound or complex sentence.
use the above-mentioned phrase variations.

Using my computer, I finished the report in two days.
Wearing her pajamas, Sarah fed the dog.
Short of money, I canceled the trip.
Typing as fast as she could, Hannah could not wait to finish her paper finally.
Sitting in the park, I fed the pigeons.
I noticed Samantha walking down the hall eating an apple quietly.
Working overtime, I almost doubled my salary.
Lucas looked only at the man with the red hair sitting in the chair.
Dressed professionally, Sean was not nervous about the interview. CORRECT
Although I stepped on the brakes, my car would not stop for the red light.

Improve Your Academic Writing | 7 Useful Tips to Become a Better Writer ✍️

Be concise

state the information clearly using as few words as possible(use action verbs, avoid using many -tion words)

use action verbs
easier to understand your writing
use vocabulary you already know

For example:

The report provided an explanation for these unusual results
The report explained these unusual results

Organize your paper

help structure your writing
connect your ideas to your thesis
maintain focus

Avoid contractions, idioms and colloquial expressions

colloquial expressions 俗语

~~put up with~~ -> endure/tolerate
~~check out~~ -> view/ consult
~~it’s~~ -> it is
~~could’ve~~ -> could have
~~there’s~~ -> there has

Vary your sentence structure

Simple sentence: I woke up late this morning.

Compound sentence: I immediately went to the kitchen, and I made myself a cup of coffee.

Complex sentence: After I finished my coffee, I got ready to work

Compound-Complex sentence: When I looked at my watch, I realized I was running late, so I ran out the door and jumped in my car.

Use the active voice(主动)

使用主动，避免被动。

Archelogist conducted a study of the newly unearthed artifacts.(9 words)

A study was conducted of the newly unearthed artifacts(by archeologists) (11 words)

Avoid repetition

avoid words like: very

Use different transition words

also: to add information
instead(as a subsitute)
meanwhile(in the intervening介于中间的 time)
otherwise(under other conditions)
indeed(in fact)
in addition(also, and)
besides
moreover(in addition)
furthermore(in addition)
as a result(thus, therefor)
thus(as a result)
consequently(as a result)
therefor(as a result)

Proofread you writing

校验

get a feel for the sentence structure
make usre ideas are logically ordered
check for repetition

How to write a good essay: Paraphrasing the question

Essay: Education is the single most important factore in the development of a country.

Paraphrase = change words, sentence structure, keep meaning

Synonyms:

Important: essential, significant
Factor: aspect, element, role, part
development: advancement, progression, evolution
country: nation

Sentence Structure:

Verb <–> Nouns <–> adjectivfes

The most essential element of a nation’s development is education.

Concessions:

Although many would argue that the economy is the most important factor in nation building, I think education has a far greater impact.

并列连词

Parallel Relationship(平行关系): and, both…and, as well as, not only … but also …
Adversative Relationship(反义关系): but, yet, still, while, whereas
Reasoning Relationship(推理关系): so, for
Selective Relationship(选择关系): or, either…or…, neither…nor…,otherwise, or else

I love waking up in the morning and not knowing what’s going to happen, or who I’m going to meed, where I’m going to wind up.

To be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream. Not only plan, but also believe.

A person’s character isn’t determined by how he or she enjoys victory, but rather how he or she endures defeat.

Gorge does not speak out language, yet he seems to understand what we say.(yet 转折)

Whereas 表达与前文相反的情况

Whereas Greece hand grown from scores of cattered cities, Rome grew from one single organism.

While 表示对比，转折

While the Greek world had expanded along the Mediterranean seas lanes, the Roman world was assembled by terriorial conquest.

Yes, the past can hurt, you can either run from it or learn from it.

Neither shall there be sorrow nor dying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former world has passed away.

therefore adv. 因此，所以

He’s only 17 and therefore not eligible to vote.
They had seen him trawling and therefore knew that there were fish.
Muscle cells need lots of fuel and therefore burn lots of calories.

Roman priorities lay in organization, exploitation, and defense.

Mark: Mother, I do not need a blind date, particularly not with a spinster who smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish and dresses like a mother.

并列结构 by doing A, doing B of …, and adding/doing C

Rio is well-known for its lovely beaches and exciting nightlife.
Rio is well-known not only for its lovely beaches but also for its exciting nightlife.

We have petioned, and our petitions have been scorned; we have entreated, and our entreaties have been disregarded; we have begged, and they have mocked when our calamity came. We beg no longer; we entreat no more; we petition no more. We defy them.

Working out, eating organic foods, and resting are the best ways to maintain good health.

Some websites aren’t suitable for both adults and adolescents/juveniles.

We need to envisage education not only for acquiring knowledge but also for learning social skills.

Therefore 的用法

The advantage was that crops grown in such areas were not as dependent on rainfall and therefore produced a more reliable harvest.

so that/ so … that/ such … that 的用法

The snow fell so fast that our footsteps were soon covered.

Ships carry lifeboats so that the crew can escape if the ship sinks.

Global warming is such(后面跟名词) a serious problem that some islanders worry that their islands might sink.

结果：Consequently, therefore, thus, so

Some geese are very aggressive, consequently(therefore/thus/so), none of the students dare to come close to the school garden.

让步/转折

Whereas/while/despite the fact that/although/though/even if

Though it may be difficult to do, he still accomplish it.

Even if you are well parpared for an exam, it is possible for you to make mistakes.

Even though …, ….

FANBOYS: Coordinating Conjunctions

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/coordinating-conjunctions/

A coordinating conjunction is a word that connects two or more elements of the same grammatical type. The word coordinating refers specifically to bringing things together on the same level; this is what sets coordinating conjunctions apart from subordinating conjunctions, which join elements of unequal grammatical standing.

I haven’t been to the supermarket yet this week, but I plan to go today.

I was hot and I was thirsty.

What Is a Subordinating Conjunction?

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/subordinating-conjunctions/

A subordinating conjunction is a word or phrase that links a dependent clause to an independent clause. This word or phrase indicates that a clause has informative value to add to the sentence’s main idea, signaling a cause-and-effect relationship or a shift in time and place between the two clauses.

Robin wasn’t allowed in the Batmobile any longer because he wouldn’t wear a seat belt.(because 前面不能有逗号！)

Since Robin refused to wear his seat belt, Batman has banned him from the Batmobile.

Subordinating conjunctions signaling relationships of time or place

Robin looked regretfully at the Batmobile whenever he passed it in the Batcave.

After Batman was done working for the night, Robin took a secret ride in the Batmobile.

Before Robin gets his job in the Batcave back, he must promise to stop playing with the Batmobile.

Comma placement and subordinating conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions that fall in the middle of a sentence are generally not preceded by a comma. This is the opposite of what is done with coordinating conjunctions, or words that join two independent clauses (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and sometimes so).

When a subordinate clause begins a sentence, however, the whole clause (but not the subordinating conjunction itself) is followed by a comma.

❌Whenever, Batman was away, Robin drove the Batmobile.
✔️ Whenever Batman was away, Robin drove the Batmobile.
❌Robin drove the Batmobile, whenever Batman was away.
✔️ Robin drove the Batmobile whenever Batman was away.

The Chavin civilizations, which sprung up in the Andes mountain region of South America, have provided some of the best-preserved archaeological evidence of these early agricultural pioneers.

Autus, a football player, has a dog.(逗号里面表示: he is a football player，he is省略)

A handy list of subordinating conjunctions:

after
although
as
as if
as long as
as much as
as soon as
as though
because
before
by the time
even if
even though
if
in case
in order that
in the event that
lest
now that
once
only
only if
provided that
since
so
supposing
than
that
though
till
unless
until
when
whenever
where
whereas
wherever
whether or not
while

How to Improve Your English Writing?

Understand who you are writing for

Plan your writing

Organise your ideas into paragraphs

One main idea per paragraph.

Don’t use uncessary words and fewer words(cut unnessary words and sentences)

no meaning words:

really
very
absolutely
~~very tired~~ -> exhausted
~~absolutely exhausted~~ -> exhausted
as a result -> consequently
~~on the other hand~~(相反地：用于引出与前述相反的观点或情况。) -> nevertheless(然而，不过)

Write as little as possible:

This will ~~get better~~ in the future -> This will improve in the future.
She ~~gave me a lot of help~~ -> She helped me a lot(greatly).
~~Maybe~~ This will solve the problem.
This might/could …
We need to find ~~a someone who can teach~~ our son. -> We need to find a tacher for our son.
~~There many advantages and disadvantages to this.~~(didn’t give useful information)
~~Of course, there are two sides to this issue~~

Using fewer words and fewer sentences. Cuing empty words.

Use short simple sentences

10 words is a good target
20+ words could be dangerous
Don’t use passive voice unless you need to
Put your subject at the start of the sentence
Don’t use relative clauses unless you really need to
Consider braking longer sentences into shorter ones
Use longer, more complex sentences only if you can express your idea in a simpler way

Important Points

Sub/verb agreement
Collective nouns(can be singular or plural)
Transition Words
Comma, FANBOY(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
Use the prompt

ETS Writing Scoring

Grammar

The response appears to be strong. There may be only a few errors with the following features:

Sentence fragments
Run-on sentences
Confusing sentences
Subject-verb agreement
Verb formation
Pronoun errors
Possessive errors (missing an apostrophe)
Wrong or missing words

Usage

Here is an opportunity to improve. The response may have errors with the following features:

Missing, extra, or incorrectly used articles
Confused words
Wrong or nonstandard word forms
Incorrect comparisons
Preposition errors
Negation errors
Wrong part of speech

Mechanics

Errors in mechanics only impact performance when they interfere with comprehensibility. The response appears to be strong. There may be only a few errors with the following features:

Spelling
Capitalization
Missing punctuation
Hyphen errors
Compound words
Duplicated words or phrases
Extra commas

Organization Development

The response included the following features to some extent:

Thesis statement
Main ideas
Supporting ideas
Introductory material
Transitional words and phrases

English Punctuation Guide - English Writing Lesson

Full Stop/Period.

put one space after period.
e.g./ i.e. / etc.
Mr/Dr/Mr./Mrs./Dr.
a.m. p.m./ AM PM

Commas

separate items in a list: egges, flour and sugar
with certain conjunction: and, but, so, or
add non-essential information to a sentence;

Example:
Incorrect: Students, who arrived on time, may leave early.

I don’t mean all students. I mean only those who arrived on time, so I cannot use commas. The sentence should have no punctuation. Students who arrived on time may leave early.

For example:

Jeff Brown, who lives next door to me, works in my office.
The man who lives next door to me works in my office.

In the second sentence I do not know who the man is, so I don’t use commas. In the first sentence, the adjective clause is extra information about Jeff Brown.

Colons(:)

Use a colon only after a complete sentence and before a list, an appositive, or a quotation.

For example: I took many things to the beach: a blanket, suntan lotion, and lunch.

The car advertisement glorified one of the deadly sins: greed.

Accept the words of Maya Angelou: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

examples; details; explanations

Rapid urbanisation has led to multiple problems: congestion, air pollution and a shortage of affordable housing for families.

He left all of his money to his best friend in the whole world: his cat.

Semicolons(;)

Semicolons are use to connect two sentences which are about related ideas.

Semicolons (;) separate independent clauses that are related in meaning, and they separate items in a list when those items themselves are long or include commas. For example, this summary could say “Semicolons are useful; they show that clauses are related in meaning.”

Semicolon is similar to full stop. Use it shows that your ideas that before a semicolon and after the semicolon are connected.

He’s so stubborn; it’s(不大写，不一定需要连词) impossible to convince him to change his ideas even a little.

I quit my part-time job; therefore, I have more time to help students than I did before.

We knew he was guilty; there was no evidence, however.

Lists:

We travelled to four cities: Santa Fe, which is in New Mexico; Denver, Colorado; Las Vegas, Nevada; and finally Los Angeles in California.

Only three people showed up: Tom, the head of accounting; Maria, who works in the sales department; and Ellie, who is doing an internship here.

For example:

The tax rate in the United States is 27 percent;
the tax rate in Japan is 32 percent.

NOTE: Do not use the semicolon often as a way to combine sentences. The sentences must be very clearly related.

Use a semicolon with transitional adverbs(however, therefore, consequently, moreover, nevertheless, nonetheless, thus, hence, etc.). Put a semicolon (;) before them and a comma after them if there are a subject and a verb before and after.

For example:

I (Subject) like (Verb) black; therefore, I (Subject) wear (Verb) it a lot.
Also correct: I (Subject) like (Verb) black; I (Subject), therefore, wear (Verb) it a lot.

Apostrophes(')

The apostrophe is used to indicate possessive case, contractions, and omitted letters. The apostrophe is not strictly a punctuation mark, but more a part of a word to indicate possessive case, contractions, or omitted letters.

replace a missing letter: you’re
belongs to: Dean’s jacket
mother’s; mothers'
Boris’s
Parents'
How many m’s are there in ‘accommodation’?

Hyphens(-)

make compund words(adjectives): six-hour, five-dollar, three-year-old
with smoe prefixes: Ex-wife, Non-smokers, Self-driving cars
prefixes with proper nouns or numbers: anti-European, post-1950 politics
compound numbers and fractions: three-quarters, twenty-three

Dashes(might look like hyphens, but they aren’t the same)

en dash: -
em dash: —(MacOS: option + shift + -)

En dashes have a space on either side of the dash - like this.

Em dashes join onto the words before and after—like this.

Both en dashes and em dashes do the same job; choose one and stick with it.

Dashes could add extra information to a sentence. Remeber comma can also do this. The extra information can be removed from the sentence, and the sentence still makes sense.

He had escaped-or so he thought.

The number of stars in the Milky Way-including many which are undetectable-is estimated to be over 400 billion.(- adds extra information, and it can only do one job)

The number of stars in the Milky Way, including many which are undetectable, is estimated to be over 400 billion.

Quotation mark("",’')

single: '
double: "
Speech marks: quoting what someone said

He stood up and said “I wouldn’t do it if you paid me a million dollars”

“Being lucky is more important than being talented,” were the first words of her speech.

Speech marks: express irony, sarcasm or scepticism 表达讽刺、讽刺或怀疑

Paying 100 euros for ’luxury economy’ was not a good idea.

Many cities in the ‘special economic development zone’ are practically ghost towns.

Speech marks: to refer words as words

‘Millennium’ is difficult words to spell!

Why did you use ‘plethora’ here?

Parentheses

Adding non-essential information to a sentence.

Vladimir Myakovsky (1893-1930) was one of the most famous poets of the revolution era.

The percentage of under-30s doing regular exercise was lower(45%) than that of people over 45(52%).

giving your reader options

Question marks

What time is it?

How old are you?

Exclamation marks

Rules for Punctuating Titles

Always capitalize the first word.

Spelling Rules

beginner
offering
planning

Using Linking Words and Phrases(Coherence and cohesion)

Linking words:

however
as a result
and
because
consequently(a result)
on the other hand(in contrast)
also

Linking words make structure and idea clear.

1. Contrast(对比，转折):

however
on the other hand
nevertheless
although

2. Addition(Connect similar ideas together):

and
futhermore
in addition
also

3. Reason/purpose:

because
due to
in order to(can replace by to, not recommended)
so that

4. Cause/effect:

therefore
so
consequently
as a result

Example:

In my personal experience, people certainly spend less time reading books than in the past. I think this is due to the variety of digital entertainment options that people have nowadays.(Reason)
Eating a high-sugar diet has been linked to several serious diseases, most prominetly diabetes. Moreover, it causes tooth decay and dental problems.(Addition)
Although advertising is ubiquitous in the modern world, it is also largely ineffective.(Contrast)
Many schools now spend most of their teaching time preparing children to pass exams. As a result, many young people lack the practical skills which employers are seeking.(Cause/effect)

Conjunctions:

I need to ask for some time off work because I am planning to attend a training course.

For example:

Because I was sick, I stayed home.
I stayed home because I was sick.

Although social media can help people to connect with each other, it also has several significant disadvantages.

Prepositions(need a noun after prespositions)

due to
despite
because of

Despite the well-known benefits of regular exercise, many people still lead a mostly sedentary lifestyle.

Young professionals are increasingly moving to smaller cities because of the high cost of living in large urban centres.

Adverbs(used at the beginning of a sentence, need a comma after it):

on the other hand
therefore

Freedom of the press is more important than individuals’ right to privacy. Therefore, newspapers should be able to publish stories about the private lives of celebrities if they choose to.

Of course, elderly people should be paid a pension which reflects the money they paid into the social security system during their working lives. One the other hand, the pension system needs to be sustainable over the long term.

furthermore: used to add point which is more important than your first idea

Using plastic products generates litter which harms the environment. Furthermore, plastic can take hundreds of years to degrade.

besides: used to add a point which is less important than your main idea

Smoking has been proven to cause many serious illnesses. Besides, it is an expensive habit.

Using online dictionary to find examples.

We use the linking words to highlight the connection which already exists.

How to use commas in English

How To Use Commas - English Writing Lesson

listing comma(replaces “and” or ‘or’)

we need a, b, and c.

We spent out itme relaxing on the beach, swimming in the sea and drinking coffee in the seaside cafes.

She has long, dark, shiny hair.
He bought a bottle of dark German beer.

Joining comma

Used to join two complete sentences, together with a linking word.

“We were tired, and we didn’t feel like going anywhere.”

The bracketing comma

Used to add extra information to a sentence.

This book, first published in 1956, is still useful for students today.

One of my colleagues, who used to be a semi-professional footballer, invited me to play in their 5-a-side team this weekend.

Similar to most people his age, he isn’t thinking about his future.

He told me that he wanted to quit and become a painter, which surprised me.

5 Ways to Compare and Contrast in English

They’re totally/so different
It’s hard to compare them
They’re almost nothing alike
Laos is way more relaxed
Lisbon is much cheaper than most European cities
Shanghai is way bigger than anywhere I’ve been before
The museum was so much more interesting than I expected

much vs more:

More: comparative, like more interesting
Much: adds emphasis, shows you’re talking about a large difference

Tokyo is much more expensive than other Asian cities.

The food in Mexico was much cheaper than in the States.

Describ people who are similar:

They are so alike
I can hardly tell them apart
They look so similar
They’re equally chatty
He’s just as sarcatic as his brother
He’s just as impatient as her mother

Talk about small differences:

They played a bit better
They were just a little sharper.
The keeper did slightly better.
They were a touch faster.
Taking the train will be a bit faster
She’s a little older than her husband

Learn How to Make Complex Sentences(without using conjunctions, i.e. linking words)

Tulip mania is the earliest well-known example of a financial bubble.
Tulips started to be cultivated in Holland around 1593.
Tulip prices collapsed dramatically in 1637.
At the peak of tulip mania in 1637, a single tulip bulb could cost ten times an average worker’s salary.

Using -ing Participle Clauses

Two actions happening at the same time
Cause and effect
One thing happened before/after another(Having + past participle)

Being the earliest well-know example of a financial bubbble, tulip mania has been studied and discussed extensively.

Using -ed Participle Clauses

Linking two clauses with the same subject, and one of the clauses has a passive verb.

Introduced to northern Europe in the mid-16th century, tulips started to be cultivated in Holland around 1593.

Cultivated in Holland since 1593, tulips increased in popularity and price until 1637, when prices collapsed dramatically.

Tulips, introduced to Europe in the mid-16th century, started to be cultivated in Holland around 1593.

Relative Clauses(定语从句)

Add information to a nouns or a noun phrase
Use relative clauses with ‘which’ to add information to a sentence or an idea

Tulip mania, which occurred in Holland, reached its peak in 1637.(must directly comes after the none/none phrase)

~~Tulip mania, reached its peak in 1637, which occurred in Holland.~~

Tulip mania, which occurred in Holland, reached its peak in 1637, when prices collapsed dramatically.

Tulip mania, which reached its peak in 1637, occurred in Holland.

Tulip mania, which reached its peak in 1637, occurred in Holland, where tulips had been cultivated since 1593.

Practice:

Tulip mania reached its peak in 1637
Tulip mania is the earliest well-known example of a financial bubble
In 1637, a single tulip bulb could cost ten times an average worker’s salary

Tulip mania, which reached its peak in 1637, is the earliest well-known example of a financial bubble.
Tulip mania, which is the earliest well-known example of a financial bubble, reached its peak in 1637.
Tulip mania, which is the earliest well-known example of a financial bubble, reached its peak in 1637, when a single tulip bulb could cost ten times an average worker’s salary.

Using relative clause to add information to a whole idea:

Tulip mania is the earliest well-known example of a financial bubble, which means that it has been studied and discussed extensively.

Cleft Sentences 分裂句

It was in 1637 that tulip mania reached its peak.

It was in 1637 that tulip mania reached its peak, at which point a single tulip bulb could cost ten times an average worker’s salary.

Tulips started to be cultivated in Holland in 1593.

It was in Holland that tulips started to be cultivated, in 1593.
It was in 1593 that tulips started to be cultivated in Holland.

Essay Structure

Simple Structure

thesis(point of view)
reason 1
reason 2
conclusion

Example: Which is more important that a teacher knows the subject matter or they can relate to students?

Teachers need to relate their students
Interest is 9/10 of learning
Students feel relaxed
Students are active and engaged

Let’s find out essay structure

When teachers relate to students, students are relaxed.
When students are relaxed they learn efficiently.
When students learn efficiently, they remember more.

Like

be keen on
be really into
be a big fan of
be enthusiastic /passionate about
prefer to …
be fond of
be mad about
be obsessed with
be fascinated by

Dislike

detest
disgust
loathe
can’t stand
don’t care for

Happy

amuse
cheer me up
fill me with joy
entertain
brighten my day
delight me

Additionally

in addition
furthermore
moreover = what’s more
then
besides
likewise
similarly
at the same time
meanwhile

Possible

likely
possibly
probably
in some cases/situations
generally speaking = broadly speaking
to a certain extent/ degree
the general phenomenon is
I think I would have to say that it really depends
Well, quite honestly I don’t think I’ve ever thought about that, but I guess …
Actually, this isn’t something that I’ve ever considered, but in short

5 Pwerful Comparison Words

Moreover(followed by a comma)

My brother raises and trains guard dogs. Moreover, my sister is a professional trainer.
Los Angeles has grown steadily each year since 1900. Moreover, Orange County has developed substantially since 1950.

just as/ so too

just as dogs like bones, so too do cats like fish.
Just as Los Angeles has grown in size, so too has Orange County.

As well as

Usually occurs between two things being compared.

__ as well as __ (verb/ verb phrase)

Dogs as well as cats have favorite foods.
San Bernadino as well as Riverside, Counties begtan strong growth around 1970.

along with

__ along with ___ verb

Population increase along with high home prices appear in 2009.

both/and

both __ and ___ (verb/verb phrase)

Both dogs and cats are animals that show discriminating tastes in food.
Both population and home price data give important insights into the economy.

5 Pwerful Contrast Words

Although

Although I am tired, I will study for the TOEFL today.
I will study for the TOEFL today although I am tired.

Even though(synonyms for although)

Even though I am tired, I will study for the TOEFL today.
I will study for the TOEFL today even though I am tired.

However(at beginning of a sentence)

The US is not a socialist country. However, 22% of funds go to social security.
The US dedicates 22% of its budget to Social security. It is not, however, socialist.

Whereas(转折)

can occur first or in the middle of a sentence.

Whereas the US spends 20% of funds on defense, it spends just 2% on education.

Still(转折)

often starts the sentence that shows contrast.

18% of US funds have rules about how they are spent. Still, only 2% is for education.
Education is known to be critical for country’s success. Still, the US spends very little of tis money educating its citizens.

Basic paragraph structure

Good paragraphs usually follow a particular structure:

Topic sentence(I believe that/ I’m convinced that)
Supporting sentence 1
Supporting sentence 2
Supporting sentence 3
More supporting sentences (as required)
Concluding sentence(s)

After the topic sentence, good paragraphs contain one or more ‘supporting sentences’ which explain the topic sentence in more detail. The supporting sentences might include reasons for the reader to agree with the topic sentence, or examples that explain or develop the topic sentence.

Supporting sentences often include ‘signposting’ language, to show the relationship between the ideas in the paragraph. Examples include:

Firstly… Secondly… Thirdly…
The first… The second… The third…
Furthermore, … However, … On the other hand, …

Ending with the conclusion

The conclusion of a paragraph is really important. It may: explain why the writer has included the paragraph; summarise the argument(s) made and evidence given; relate the paragraph to the theme of the essay. It may also signal to the reader what is coming next.

Good academic writing is made up of paragraphs with one clear idea per paragraph.
Paragraphs usually start with a topic sentence – a sentence that gives the main focus of the paragraph.
The topic sentence sometimes includes ‘signposting’ language to link the paragraph to the previous paragraph.
Supporting sentences follow the topic sentence. They develop the topic by giving reasons, evidence and/or examples.
The concluding sentence usually comes at the end. It explains why the paragraph is important and relates it to the theme of the essay.

Review
Now you’ve had a good look at key concepts relating to the language of argument, let’s review what we’ve learned so far:

The claim is where you where you make your main point – it’s a key part of academic argument. If there’s no claim, there’s no argument.
You need to support your claim with evidence. We are talking about opinions here, not facts – good evidence backs up the points you make.
Justification is where you explain why the evidence supports the claim – sometimes this can be left out if it’s obvious or a widely held belief.
Claim, evidence and justification all combine to produce a clear argument.
Counter-arguments are important. If you include them in your writing it shows that you have considered more than one side of an argument.
Tell your reader your limitations. This doesn’t mean that your writing is lower quality but actually helps the reader understand your context better.

话题作文之模块句型

开头句型

1、Many people insist that… 很多人(坚持)认为……

这句话乍看没亮点，但将众人皆知的“think”换为“insist”有没有觉得高大上了许多?

2、With the development of science and technology, more and more people believe that… 随着科技的发展,越来越多的人认为……

这个可是小编当年的“杀手锏”啊，虽谈不上洋气，但正确率百分百啊，还超好记!

3、A lot of people seem to think that… 很多人似乎认为……

“think”终于闪亮登场，但“seem to”为整个句子增添了点婉转之感，这种客观的方式貌似较受老外(尤其腐国人)喜爱。

引出不同观点

1、People’s views on… vary from person to person. Some hold that… . However, others believe that…. 人们对……的观点因人而异。有些人认为…..然而其他人却认为……

看这个长度就已然鹤立鸡群。其实，也是一个蛮简单也好记的模板。

2、Attitudes towards (drugs) vary from person to person. 人们对待吸毒的态度因人而异。

乍一看，跟上句的开头神似，其实就是省略掉了“people’s”，不仅清爽而且好像高端了一些。

3、People may have different opinions on… 人们对……可能会有不同的见解。

又是一个婉转的句子，展示其客观性。

4、There are different opinions among people as to… 关于……人们的观点大不相同。

“different”虽拉低了水准，但“as to”又拯救了回来。

5、Different people hold different attitudes toward (failure). 对(失败)人们的态度各不相同。

得出最终结论

1、Taking all these factors into consideration, we naturally come to the conclusion that… 把所有这些因素加以考虑，我们自然会得出结论……

很完全的答法，“take sth into consideration”短语的应用，加分。

2、Taking into account all these factors, we may reasonably come to the conclusion that… 考虑所有这些因素，我们可能会得出合理的结论……

“Take into account sth”短语似乎又比上句的“take sth into consideration”提升了一个层次。

3、Hence/Therefore, we’d better come to the conclusion that… 因此，自然我们得出以下结论…

“Hence”一词用在文章中大气吧，但别平时口语中用，否则即使老外也用一种看老古董的眼神看你…

再特意提一句：“we’d better”在这里不是“不得不”或“最好”的意思，而是一种自然而然，水到渠成的得出结论。

4、There is no doubt that (job-hopping) has its drawbacks as well as merits. 毫无疑问，跳槽有优点也有缺点。

短语“there is no doubt that”上线，同时运用我们的老朋友“as well as”增加看点。

5、All in all, we cannot live without… But at the same time we must try to find out new ways to cope with the problems that would arise. 总之，我们没有……是无法生活的。但同时，我们必须寻求新的解决办法来对付可能出现的新问题。

提出建议

1、It is high time that we put an end to the (trend). 该是我们停止这一趋势的时候了。

“It is high time” 打头，为该句增色。注：that 后跟虚拟语气，后跟动词的一般过去式，表示“是某人做……的时候了”或者“是某人不做……的时候了”

2、It is time to take the advice of … and to put special emphasis on the improvement of … 该是采纳……的建议，并对……的进展给予非常重视的时候了。

去掉一个“high”，画风完全不一样，不用过去式，只需用“to do”来替代。

3、There is no doubt that enough concern must be paid to the problem of … 毫无疑问，对……问题应予以足够的重视。

“there is no doubt that”+被动还是蛮经典的组合。

4、Obviously,…. If we want to do something… , it is essential that… 显然，如果我们想做某事，我们需要……

这句有些老生常谈，稍微不“常”的就是“essential” 替代了“important”。

5、Only in this way can we… 只有这样,我们才能…

Only+倒装，经典万能句式，还能看出点水平呢。

6、It must be realized that… 我们必须意识到…

把人人都会的“I realized”升格为被动语态，省略了主语，监考老师绝对会眼前一亮的!

预示后果

1、Obviously, if we don’t control the problem, the chances are that… will lead us in danger. 很明显，如果我们不能控制这一问题,很有可能我们会陷入危险。

“the chances are that”替代了“may”，果然说话拐弯的生物不止是中国人。

2、No doubt, unless we take effective measures, it is very likely that… 毫无疑问，除非我们采取有效措施，否则很可能会……

作文结尾万用句，毫无破绽。

3、It is urgent that immediate measures should be taken to stop the situation. 应立即采取措施阻止这一事态的发展。

“It is urgent that”+被动，效果不错滴。

解决问题

要求考生列举出解决问题的多种途径

问题现状

怎样解决(解决方案的优缺点)

In recent days, we have to face I problem_______A, which is becoming more and more serious. First, _________(说明A的现状).Second, _______(举例进一步说明现状)

Confronted with A, we should take a series of effective measures to cope with the situation. For one thing, _______(解决方法一). For another _______(解决方法二). Finally, _______(解决方法三).

Personally, I believe that _______(我的解决方法). Consequently, I’m confident that a bright future is awaiting us because _______(带来的好处).

对比选择型

When it comes to　_______ ,different people hold different views .

Some contend that_______. For one thing,_______ .For　another,_______ . In spite of all these claims, others maintain that ，They point out that .Another instance often cited is that_______ .

It’s no easy task to find a satisfactory answer to the issue.　As for me, there’s some truth to both arguments .It’s advisable to _______.

challenged the idea that …
argued that …
disagree with
point out that
hold different views
had different opinions
think that …
says that …
concluded that …
discoveries show that … were much ..er than previously thought.

说明利弊型

这种题型往往要求先说明一下现状，再对比事物本身的利弊，有时也会单从一个角度(利或弊)出发，最后往往要求考生表明自己的态度(或对事物前景提出预测)

说明事物现状

事物本身的优缺点(或一方面)

你对现状(或前景)的看法

Nowadays many people prefer A because it has a significant role in our daily life. Generally, its advantages can be seen as follows. First _______(A的优点之一). Besides _______(A的优点之二).

But every coin has two sides. The negative aspects are also apparent. One of the important disadvantages is that (A的第一个缺点).To make matters worse,(A的第二个缺点).

Through the above analysis, I believe that the positive aspects overweigh the negative ones. Therefore, I would like to _______(我的看法).

(From the comparison between these positive and negative effects of A, we should take it reasonably and do it according to the circumstances we are in. Only by this way, _______(对前景的预测).)

问题解决型

With the of，So it is of great importance for us to_______ . On the one hand_______, On the other hand_______,

However, we have figured out many ways to .Firstly, So long as . Secondly, Thirdly. In fact_______, That is because _______.

In a word,_______ .

图表型作文

这类作文时，注意以下几点：

审题时，除了要把握好图表的表层信息外，还要分析图标的深层含义，如原因、根源、可能的发展趋势等。图表中所提供的说明文字往往是问题的切入点，一定要仔细分析。描述数据时要抓住重点，为中心服务，不必面面俱到，切忌毫无目的地罗列图表中的数据。如果数据较多，抓住图表中的极端点（如最大或最小、最多或最少，最好或最差）和基本相同进行描述。主题句应明确，最好放在文章的开头，这样会使重点突出，主题明了。

模板

第1段：概述图表反映的主题思想
第2段：分析产生的原因
第3段：展望未来或提出方法或建议

As is shown/indicated/illustrated by the figure/percentage in　the　table(graph/picture/pie/chart), 作文题目的议题 has been on rise/ decrease (goesup/increases/drops/decreases),significantly/dramatically/steadily rising/decreasing from_______ in _______ to _______ in _______. From the sharp/marked decline/ rise in the chart, it goes without saying that _______.

There are at least two good reasons accounting for _______. On the　one hand, _______. On the other hand,　_______ is due to the fact that _______. Last but not the least, _______ is responsible for _______. Maybe　there are some other reasons to show _______. But it is generally believed that the above-mentioned reasons are commonly convincing.

As far as I am concerned, I hold the point of view that _______. I am sure my opinion is both sound and well-grounded.

图表类型： table、chart、diagram graph、column chart、pie graph、bar plot

描述： show、describe、illustrate、can be seen from、clear、apparent、reveal、 represent

内容： figure、statistic、number、percentage、proportion

The table/chart diagram/graph shows (that) According to the table/chart diagram/graph

As (is) shown in the table/chart diagram/graph

As can be seen from the table/chart/diagram/graph/figures，figures/statistics shows (that)

It can be seen from the figures/statistics We can see from the figures/statistics

It is clear from the figures/statistics

It is apparent from the figures/statistics table/chart/diagram/graph figures (that) table/chart/diagram/graph shows/describes/illustrates how

Vocabulary

microscopic analysis regeneration depopulation deforestation stabilise characterise specialise differentiate duplicate

Signposting language

Starting The aim of this study is to … This essay argues that … The main questions addressed in this paper are … This paper begins by … It will then go on to … Finally, …

Ending Finally, … In conclusion, …

Linking words and phrases

Listing: First(ly), … Second(ly), … Finally, …

Adding: In addition, … Furthermore, …

Showing contrast: However, … Nevertheless, … On the other hand, …

Giving a reason: For this reason, … because … because of … due to …

Indicating result or consequence: Therefore, … Thus, … As a result, … Consequently, …

Giving examples: For example, … For instance, … To exemplify, …

Academic Writing

Academic English still needs to be clear and easy to follow but it does tend to use more complicated vocabulary and less personal grammar forms. Compare these two sentences. They have similar meanings, but one is more appropriate for an academic context.

The scientific consensus holds that humankind bears a significant responsibility for the extent of climate change. Most scientists say that a lot of climate change is mostly our fault.

General: Most scientists say that…
Academic: The scientific consensus holds that…

General: …is mostly our fault.
Academic: …humankind bears a significant responsibility for…

General: …a lot of…
Academic: …the extent of…

Features of Academic English

Avoid using Contractions
Using passive
Avoid using Personal pronouns
Avoid using Multi* word (phrasal) verbs
Avoid using Slang, colloquial language and subjective descriptors

Introduction

Let me start by…
I’ll start by…
First of all I’ll…
I’d lke to begin by…
My aim/purpose today is…

Body

Moving on

Deliver your presentation with a clear structure and good signposting. This means using appropriate vocabulary to link and develop ideas. Here are a few suggestions:

Let me now turn to…
Let’s move on to…
Turning to…
I’d like now to…
Next…
Let’s look now at…

Ordering information

Firstly… secondly… thirdly… lastly
First of all… then… next… after that… finally
To start with… later… To finish

Giving examples

For example…
A good example of this is…
To illustrate this point…
This can be seen…

Conclusion

Before I finish I’d like to…
Let’s recap, shall we?
I’d like to sum up now…
Let me summarise briefly what I’ve said…
If I can just sum up the main points…
So, in conclusion/summary…

So,in conclusion, although the economic conditions are not favourable, we are still hitting our targets.

Alternatives to ‘and’

In a list

Also, as well as

In a sequence of actions

Then, after

When giving more information

Furthermore, in addition, moreover

When summarising

To conclude, to sum up, as I’ve said

Terms

Compare: similarities + differences
Contrast: differences
Evaluate/Criticise: judgement based on evidence
Define: exact meaning
discuss: explore all sides
Explain: details + reasons
Justify: evidence supporting a point of view

Start writing successful assignments

Assignment type 1: Essays
The main purpose of an essay is to make an argument. As such, essays need a clear structure and good research. They’re often longer pieces of writing.

Assignment type 2: Reports
Reports are written to present research and analyse findings. They contain particular sections such as an abstract – which is a summary of the findings, and a methodology section – which details the research methods used. Reports tend to be more impersonal and objective than essays. They are more common in sciences and business courses than humanities.

Assignment type 3: Literature reviews
These are written to systematically review academic materials on a particular topic (‘the literature’). They are often used to identify gaps in what has already been written by the academic community.

Assignment type 4: Short-answer assignments
These involve writing brief answers to one or several questions, which are designed to test subject knowledge and information-processing skills. They’re often done as regular homework or exams, rather than as longer pieces of work.

Useful Sentenses

These vintage Cremonese violins are considered the best in the world.
Musical instruments evolved in ways that optimize their acoustical properties, how the instrument vibrates and sends those vibration through the air to our eardrums.
Yet most audience members probably aren’t even **aware of how much the instrument matters.
It is now well established that … 现在已经确定的是 …
Petroleum migration is analogous to(类似于) groundwater migration.
Using this approach 使用这种方法
It is not surprising, therefore, …

The committee consists of(包含) ten members. 委员会由十人组成。

With …, more … will be done.
With increased interest and better tools, more discoveries like these will be made around the world.

Many scholars today see human societies as too complex and varied to fit into simple categories of “civilized” or “not civilized.”

Difference between But and Though

Though: 制造反差
尽管下雨了，他还是出门了。Though it rains, he went out.

But: 提出不幸
他要出门，但是下雨了。He is going to go out, but it rains.

重点句型

我认为 I’m convinced that … are much better than …

过渡在说第二点的时候用。Moreover, …. is also

总结，Overall,

For now, the demands of her young family must take precedence 目前，她年轻家庭的要求必须优先考虑

The first way, which should take precedence, is to …

A is very important and indispensable. A 是非常重要的和必不可少的。

Over time, it started becoming increasingly obvious and troubling to the …

There were criticisms that …

There was bad press, bad publicity

tremendous demands 巨大的需求

expand business

A led to the development of B.

Bob is admired for his generosity.

Alice is known for his knowledge/research/contribution in political science.

The idea is that …

The idea that …

A let B alone

Monopoly: owners exploit workers, control prices

A is nothing but water. A只不过是水

A seabird that flies far in search of food

什么因素影响信天翁在岛上筑巢的选择。Predators inhabiting the island

It enabled farmers to cultivate crops with minimal equipment and effort.

Life thrives on this planet, and it helped create the planet’s oxygen and nitrogen-rich atmosphere and moderate temperatures.

be composed of … 由 … 组成 ABC is composed of A, B and C; Air is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

ABC consists of A, B, and C. Breakfast consisted of cereal, fruit, and orange juice.

With a significant amount of head, Venus may continue to be geologically active with volcanoes, rifting, and folding.

Scientists suggest that …

Volcanoes continually vented more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

As resilience researchers, we aim to identify strategies that can help prevent people from developing mental illnesses.

Park/Beach is a tranquil escape from bustling city.

The majority of students believe that part-time jobs will provide them with more opportunities to develop their interpersonal skills, which may put them in a favorable postion in the future job markets.

Whether geography is thought of as a discipline or as a basic feature of our world, developing an understanding of the subject is important.

A doesn’t necessarily result in B.

Provided(只要，假如；表示条件) the right software is available, I should be able to solve the problem. 如果有合适的软件，我应该能够解决问题。

People are going to live live/ will live longer in the future.

Professor: Well, such decisions are made by general consensus within the community.

Nowadays, trains are pretty much taken for granted, but in the United States in the first part of the nineteenth century, when Thoreau lived, the railroad was a big deal, a technological revolution.

Thoreau offers both praise and criticisms of trains.

Thoreau also associates trains with commerce and trade. 梭罗也把火车和商业交易联系了起来。

fabric of society 社会结构 “The fabric of society” is a metaphor for the social order and in particular is suggestive of the idea that the social order is made of many “threads” (social milieus) that are “woven together (interconnected) and cohesive.

Second, this internationalism spelled the end of the（终结了） classical Greek city-state—the unit of government in ancient Greece—and everything it stood for.

social and economic ineqality.

Her pointed remarks caught his attention.

the city urgently needs a strategy to mitigate these risks

In this talk Prof Whittle will illustrate how his research has helped reduce risks associated with large urban underground construction projects and is providing guidance on the adaptation pathways to make cities more resilient to effects of climate change such as coastal flooding.

at the height of = at the peak of

take on responsibility 承担责任

It was precisely this opportunity to participate in public life that provided a stimulus for the brilliant unfolding of classical Greek culture. 正是这个参与公共生活的机会，为希腊古典文化的灿烂发展提供了刺激。

In contrast to mammals and birds, amphibians are unable to produce thermal energy through their metabolic activity, which would allow them to regulate their body temperature independent of the surrounding or ambient temperature.

A has been proven false because …

by far 到目前为止

The study shows that the more you aware of a product, there’s a greater chance you buy it.

Doing A may has negative/positive impacts on B, resulting in an overall loss of diversity.

Last but not least(最后但并非不重要) of these considerations is the effort and resources required in this type of action, which need to be justified by evidence of the likely benefits.

This makes appraisal（evaluation，评价） of the method very difficult. 这使得对该方法的评价非常困难。

OPEN THE DOOR TO SOMETHING: These discussions may well open the door to a peaceful solution.

Her fear caused her hands to be shaky(颤抖的).

Good food is essential to a healthy lifestyle. 好的食物对健康的生活方式至关重要。

She had a magnetic personality, everyone seemed attracted her. 她的性格很有磁性，似乎每个人都被她吸引。

In order to better focus on academics, the girl decided to spend more time studying.

The employer had a long list of qualifications for potential new hires.

He worked overtime to complete the project.

His favorite cliche is don’t count you chickens until they are hatched. 他最喜欢的陈词滥调是 “小鸡没孵出来之前不要数”。

wreak damage on 对…造成损害

appears to be suited to … 特别适合…

The methane escapes into the atmosphere, sending temperatures rocketing and triggering rapid climate change.

Violent storms ravage(摧残) the planet with flash floods and protracted droughts. 猛烈的风暴以洪水泛滥和长期干旱破坏地球。

This dramatic global warming has profound implications for the ancient mammals. 剧烈的全球变暖对古代哺乳动物有着深远的影响。

Shifting agriculture, often called slash-and-burn, was highly adaptive for savanna farmers without plows, for it allowed cereal farming with the minimal expenditure of energy.(花费最小的能量)

The lack of sources limits our knowledge, but not our curiosity.

The debates will continue as discoveries are made and new connections revealed.

lessen their regulatory burden 减轻其监管负担

International Labor Organization economists say some nations have come up with policies to lessen the impact of lower wages during the economic crisis. 国际劳工组织的经济学家说，一些国家已经制定了政策，以减轻经济危机期间工资较低的影响。

ascribe to/attribute to 归因于

So that’s I think the position that we ought to ascribe to the dualist. 所以我认为，这应归入二元论者的立场。

attribute to 归因于：将某事物归属于某人或某事的动作。

With a moderate to fairly high net energy yield, these systems emit to no heat-trapping carbon dioxide or other air pollutants and need no water for cooling; manufacturing produces little water polution.

A was not caused by B must due to C.

are so adj that …完整句子

addicted to 沉迷于

A caused by B pales in comparison to(与…比较显得苍白无力) the A caused C.

It is indispensable（必不可少） that …

From the single cells that make up the most basic organisms to the trillions of cells that constitute the complex structure of the human body, each and every living being on Earth is comprised of cells.

The discovery of the cell would not have been possible if not for advancements to the microscope.

He was a master microscope maker and perfected the design of the simple microscope (which only had a single lens), enabling it to magnify an object by around two hundred to three hundred times its original size.

devote 奉献. I devote myself to helping others. I wanted to devote more time to my family.

work force 劳动力

Living conditions don’t necessarily affect happiness and well-being.

I agree that money plays a large part in our happiness, but it is not the most important facor.

Technology Words

device = smartphone, portable DVD, MP3 player

Many people today spend hours using their electronic devices.

productivity = getting much work done

Technology allows businesses and workers to be more productive.

accessible = able to be used or readched

Many countries in the world don’t have accessible technology for people.

gadget = synonym, for device

Coffee shops are a common place students use their laptops and other gadgets.

top-of-the-line = the absolute best

Companies like Apple can provide their workers with top-of-the-line equipment

digital = data represented in discrete values

Young people doday stream digital music. Few use a CD tape or record player.

tech-savvy = being well skilled with technology

Today, it important to be tech savvy to get a better job.

Outdated devices can be donated to other people in need of technology.

application = software for specific purpose

The application What’s App is popular for people to text one another.

Google Cloud offers users a way to store data accessible from any device.

computer literate = knowing to use a computer

In the business world today, everyone must be computer literate.

Teams with cutting dege equiptment.

low-tech = using little technology

Countries with a low-tech economy are at a disadvantage.

Education Vocabulary

advanced study = study beyond a first degree

Students who earn a bachelor’s degree may go on to advanced studies.

keep up with = complete tasks on time

It’s critical to keep up with your homework at the university.

continuing education = education after a diploma is earned

Most jobs require workers to enroll in continuing education

fall behind = to not complete tasks on time

It is terrible to fall behind at school. It’s difficult to catch up.

e-learning = taking classes online.

More and more students are using e-learning to earn a diploma.

gap year/ year off = a year between two life events

Some students think taking a gap year is a great way to experience new things.

graduate = student who has earned a degree/diploma

Each year, new graduates fight to find a good job.

graduate = to earn a diploma

I hope to graduate by May of this year.

older / mature student = a student returning to school after years off

formal assessment(testing)

timed test taken in person

Most professions have formal assessment you must past.

critical thinking / problem solving = being skilled in finding solutions to problems

One advantage of going to the university is building critical thinking skills.

to study ___ (NOUN)

What did you study in school? I studied physics.

to keep abreast of = to know the leatest information in an area of study.

Once one graduates, they must keep abreast of the latest innovations.

to decide on = to make a choice

It’s true. It took me a while to decide on my course of study.

workforce ready = prepared with skills for a job.

For most people, going to the university gets them workforce ready.

These words and phrases can be used in many essay situations.

Global Economy Vocabulary

accelerate: to go faster, speed up

Last quarter, our business saw accelerated growth in the clothing sector.

consumption: buying and using goods

Americans expect a life with high consumption of products.

unprecedented: new, never happened before

The US stock market crash of 1929 was unprecedented. No one expected it.

dominate: to overcome with power

A monopoly occurs when one company dominates a sector of the economy.

compete(v): to try one’s best to win

Today, many businesses compete for part of the market share.

super power: a very strong figure in business

Microsoft is a superpower in the field.

trade off: a benefit in exchange for a loss

Credit cards are convenient, but the trade off is high interest debt.

sustain: to maintain, to prolong

The world is looking for a source of energy that can be sustained.

digital divide(n)

the imaginary line that separates those with form those without technology.

The digital divide is one reason poorer countries cannot compete globally.

human capital: workers

Few companies can be successful without investing in human capital.

multinational corporation(n): a company doing business in many countries

Starbucks is an example of a multinational corporation.

economic growth(n): increase in value of goods and services.

China is a country experiencing steady economic growth.

outsource(v): to use labor outside a company

To save money, companies often outsource jobs rather than hire more workers.

restrict: to limit, to hold back

Lack of education can restrict workers from better paying jobs.

standards of living 生活水平

Template Sentences

Helen is the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen.
Nothing is more important than to receive education.
We cannot emphasize the importance of protecting our eyes too much.
There is no denying that the qualities of our living have gone from bad to worse.
It is universally acknowledged that trees are indispensable to us.
There is no doubt that our educational system leaves something to be desired.
An advantage of using the solar energy is that it won’t create (produce) any pollution.
The reason why we have to grow trees is that they can provide us with fresh air./ The reason why we have to grow trees is that they can supply fresh air for us.
So precious is time that we can’t afford to waste it.
Rich as our country is, the qualities of our living are by no means satisfactory. {by no means = in no way = on no account 一点也不}(虽然我们的国家富有，我们的生活品质绝对令人不满意。)
The harder you work, the more progress you make.
The more books we read, the more learned we become.
By taking exercise, we can always stay healthy.
Listening to music enable us to feel relaxed.
On no account can we ignore the value of knowledge. 我们绝对不能忽略知识的价值。
It is time the authorities concerned took proper steps to solve the traffic problems. It is time + S + 过去式（该是...的时候了）
Those who violate traffic regulations should be punished.
There is no one but longs to go to college. There is no one but ~~~ （没有人不...）
Since the examination is around the corner, I am compelled to give up doing sports. be + forced/compelled/obliged + to + V （不得不...）
It is conceivable that knowledge plays an important role in our life. It is conceivable that + 句子（可想而知的）
Summer is sultry. That is the reason why I don’t like it.
For the past two years, I have been busy preparing for the examination.
Since he went to senior high school, he has worked very hard.
It pays to help others.It pays to + V ~~~ （...是值得的。）
The progress of thee society is based on harmony.
We should spare no effort to beautify our environment.

Patterns of Essay Development

Argument

Using solid evidence to support our point of view.

1. Use Tactful, Courteous Language

2. Point Out Common Ground

3. Acknowledge Differing Viewpoints

Although many believe that doing std. is …, (I believe that)sth. should be …
While local TV newscasts can provode a valuable community resource, too ofeen such programs provide mere entertainment at the expense of solid news.

4. When Appropriate, Grant the Merits of Differing Viewpoints

5. Rebut(反驳) Differing Viewpoints

refute 反驳