Prime Time 7/8, Writing, Arbeitsheft

5 How to write a vocabulary log When writing a vocabulary log, follow your own style. The more you put in, the more you get out. Usually it is very efficient to write down words in context, either as phrases or as sentences. This helps you to memorise the collocations. Use colours to draw attention to specific details. Include a section in which you note down your most frequent errors (see error/revision chart in Prime Time 5/6 Writing , page 85). If there is a grammar problem, it’s a good idea to add the grammar rule in a box. How to use online resources Online resources can help you to find answers to your questions. Online dictionaries might give you a translation you are looking for and/or they might provide sample sentences so that you can see how a certain word or phrase is used. Dictionary portal sites like www.onelook.com give you an excellent overview. If you are looking for alternative phrases or synonyms, use an online thesaurus. A thesaurus gives you lists of words that have the same or a similar meaning. It can help you to broaden your vocabulary and to avoid repetition. Online encyclopaedias can provide basic information on your topic. Very often it is not so much the encyclopae- dia text that is important, but rather the names and references to other sources that prove to be useful. Get inspired, but be critical, as some of the information you will find could be outdated or might simply be wrong. Always look at the source URL before you use material found on the net. Before you start writing •• Make a plan or at least a list of the aspects about which you would like to write. •• The prompt gives you a lot of information about the text you should write. Before you start writing, highlight these aspects with a marker. •• Make a list of vocabulary items which are suitable for the topic. Start with brainstorming ideas and then sort them according to the area they cover. •• Look at the function words (= the words that tell you exactly what to do, e.g. discuss, explain, suggest). When preparing for an exam, you may find it very helpful to look at the list of function words beforehand to make sure you understand what they mean (s. Prime Time 5/6 Writing, page 5). While writing •• Make sure that you stick to the topic of the paragraph you are working on. •• Do not mix facts with opinions. Separate the two e.g. by devoting one paragraph to facts and another paragraph to opinions. •• Read the topic from time to time to remember what your text should be about. •• Do not waste too much time on counting the words. Count three or four lines and then calculate the length of the text. When you have finished writing •• Read your text carefully and concentrate on one aspect at a time, e.g. the content, the tenses, your typical errors. •• Consider the structure of your text and add paragraphs where necessary. •• When you change things, reread the whole paragraph, not just the passage you have changed. You might otherwise overlook an error. •• Check whether you have completed all the aspects mentioned in the prompt. You might, for instance, have to add a headline or subheadings. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigen um des Verlags öbv