Prime Time 8. Coursebook plus Semester Self-checks, Schulbuch

Sample prompt: E-mail/Letter to the editor Recently, you have come across the following article on the internet about the possible connection between the use of Facebook and drug abuse among young people. The issue distresses you and you decide to write to a national newspaper to speak your mind. Social networking tied to teen drug and alcohol abuse According to recent studies teens who spend time on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other social networking sites may be more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and use drugs. The results show that compared to teens who don’t visit social networking sites daily, those who do are: • • five times more likely to use tobacco • • three times more likely to drink alcohol • • twice as likely to use marijuana Forty per cent of the teens in a recent survey said they have seen images of intoxicated kids, including some who are passed out, as well as pictures of peers using drugs. In your e-mail to the editor you should: • comment on the assumptions made in the article • argue why you agree or disagree with the writer’s opinion • describe your own experience with social networking sites Write around 250 words . Report J Prime Time 6 , page 168 A report has the purpose of informing, evaluating something and/or making suggestions and recommendations. • • Remember the ABC of factual reports: accuracy (be exact, all the facts have to be correct), brevity (keep it short and to the point), clarity (make sure everyone understands). Remember also the five Ws: Who? What? When? Where? Why? (give answers to these questions) – and (sometimes) How? • • Attract the reader’s attention with the headline and the lead, which is usually the first sentence or paragraph. • • Good style is neutral, informative and to the point. Nothing is repeated and nothing unnecessary said. • • Everything is logical and easy to understand. • • Often reports contain examples and quotes to make a point clearer. 4 Useful phrases E-mail/Letter to the editor Reference to the article: Your article on … ([date]) states/points out that … . • I read [title/headline] ([date]) with great interest. • In the article [title/headline] ([date]) you take issue with/say that … . • In his/her article of [date], [title/headline], the author said that … . • With reference to your article of [date], [title/headline], I would like to … . • I am referring to … . • With interest, I read … . Consenting: I would like to express my complete sympathy/agreement with … . • You do an excellent job of … . • I enjoyed reading … . • I am really glad that … . • Thank you for pointing out that … . • I congratulate you on your comprehensive and insightful presentation of/profound article on … . • I’d like to compliment you on the balanced presentation/critical analysis of … . Opposing: Your article failed to point out/show/mention that … . • I am appalled by … . • Your article [title/headline] unfairly judges … . • You miss the point when you say that … . • The problem is not really analysed and taken to its logical conclusion. • It is not reasonable to … . • I have doubts/second thoughts about… . • I am disappointed that … . • You are too gentle/understanding/sympathetic with … . • I have never read such a one-sided description of … . • After carefully studying your suggestions, I am sorry to say that … . • Unfortunately, you forgot to mention that … . • Please allow me to voice my criticism of your … . • At this point, I do not hesitate to clearly voice my scepticism about … . • In fact, I would like to express doubts about … . • I would appreciate more objectivity/realism when … . P 165 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv