For those of you writing essays about abortion, there some interesting arguments (and points of style) here and here.
Those of you looking for pointers on writing a more persuasive essay should trawl the websites of broadsheet newspapers such as the Guardian and Independent.
Note, we are not looking at news stories here; we are looking at the opinions of columnists and commentators. Imagine this is an argument you are trying to win with a very brainy friend...
Friday, 25 June 2010
Hotel - Job Advertisement
1.Job title
2.Job description
3.Location
4.Uniform
5.What days you need to work (Hours)
6.Salary
7.Closing date
8.Contact details
Example
English Teacher Wanted
Must give out work to pupils. Must be qualified in English. Must give out and mark homework. Must make sure the class behaves and give out punishments. The candidate will follow the discipline system.
The job is based at Banff Academy in Aberdeenshire.
All staff must dress appropriately in shirt and tie, with shiny shoes. Hours of work are 09.00 to 15.45, Monday to Friday.
Salary is £21,000 - £31,000.
Applications will be received by 19th June, 2011. For further details contact jobstuff@thecouncil.com
2.Job description
3.Location
4.Uniform
5.What days you need to work (Hours)
6.Salary
7.Closing date
8.Contact details
Example
English Teacher Wanted
Must give out work to pupils. Must be qualified in English. Must give out and mark homework. Must make sure the class behaves and give out punishments. The candidate will follow the discipline system.
The job is based at Banff Academy in Aberdeenshire.
All staff must dress appropriately in shirt and tie, with shiny shoes. Hours of work are 09.00 to 15.45, Monday to Friday.
Salary is £21,000 - £31,000.
Applications will be received by 19th June, 2011. For further details contact jobstuff@thecouncil.com
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
Higher Essay Criteria
Below is a sample Higher essay marking criteria. It is worth reading through to get a stronger sense of what is expected of you in your essay writing.
Some quotes to get you started...
"Society must learn to accept people with Down's syndrome for what they are - people who happen to have Down's syndrome. Giving in to prejudice and ignorance by hiding the outward signs of the disability is no solution." Carol Boyes DSA
"Society is not going to change overnight so Georgia has to fit into society rather than society fitting into the way she is." Kim Gallacher – Down’s Syndrome parent
“Society must learn to accept people with Down's syndrome for what they are.” DSA
“Public perceptions and understanding have improved in recent years but we clearly have some way to go while demand for this type of surgery remains.” DSA
“The immediate goal of reconstructive surgery is to improve the appearance of the face.” Len Leshin, MD, FAAP
“the most frequent motivation for this surgery (tongue reduction) seems to be the hope that it can improve speech intelligibility of the child with Down syndrome.” Leshin, MD, FAAP
“Parents interested in these procedures should be aware that these are usually major surgeries involving general anesthesia and days if not weeks of recuperative time.” Leshin, MD, FAAP
"Society is not going to change overnight so Georgia has to fit into society rather than society fitting into the way she is." Kim Gallacher – Down’s Syndrome parent
“Society must learn to accept people with Down's syndrome for what they are.” DSA
“Public perceptions and understanding have improved in recent years but we clearly have some way to go while demand for this type of surgery remains.” DSA
“The immediate goal of reconstructive surgery is to improve the appearance of the face.” Len Leshin, MD, FAAP
“the most frequent motivation for this surgery (tongue reduction) seems to be the hope that it can improve speech intelligibility of the child with Down syndrome.” Leshin, MD, FAAP
“Parents interested in these procedures should be aware that these are usually major surgeries involving general anesthesia and days if not weeks of recuperative time.” Leshin, MD, FAAP
Down's Syndrome - Exemplar
Below is a sample essay for you to read through. Pay close attention to the way one paragraph flows from the last.
Monday, 14 June 2010
Research Resources
I would recommend the following websites for research purposes in English.
Try Issues-Online a search engine linked to themed issues.
I also like iDebate which is a simlar site.
You could do much worse than trawling through the BBC Website, too
There's an interesting article here and some interesting quotes here. Finally, these is a quite balanced view here.
Try Issues-Online a search engine linked to themed issues.
I also like iDebate which is a simlar site.
You could do much worse than trawling through the BBC Website, too
There's an interesting article here and some interesting quotes here. Finally, these is a quite balanced view here.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Higher Discursive Essays
Here are some examples of Higher discursive essays to give you an idea of what is expected:
Higher - Discursive Writing Topics
The following are topics which might be used for a discursive essay. Many have been used successfully by students in the past.
Remember, though, that often the best essays are based on topical issues, presently being debated in the media. Do not feel that you are restricted to the list below.
Cars - a blessing or a curse?
Given the traffic congestion on our roads, should we be doing more to keep cars off the road, and if so, what?
Should Britain be processing nuclear waste?
Should wolves be re-introduced to certain parts of Scotland?
Should humans treat farm animals more humanely?
Is there any place for zoos in a civilised society?
What is the future for the British (Scottish) countryside - a recreational retreat or a living, working environment for the production of food? Discuss.
It has been said that the glory game of football has been turned into the money game. To what extent do you think this statement is true and how has the game been affected?
Should athletes be allowed to take drugs to enhance their performance providing the drugs do no long-term damage to their bodies?
Should 'soft' drugs such as cannabis be legalised?
Should the age for the legal consumption of alcohol be lowered to 16?
"Alcopops, with their trendy packaging and fashionable image, are encouraging under-age drinking." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Should euthanasia be legalised in Britain?
Should abortion have any place in a civilised society?
Has abortion become too widespread?
How old is “too old” for parenthood?
Have improvements in contraception brought about liberation or a passport to promiscuity?
Has genetic engineering gone too far?
Cloning - a tremendous medical advance or an ominous development?
Should animal organs be used for human transplantation?
Should doctors have the right to refuse expensive treatment to patients who will not change their habits (eg lose weight, stop smoking, stop drinking)?
Should there be a minimum BMI for models?
Should surrogacy be allowed?
Has cosmetic surgery become too readily available?
Should Britain bring back capital punishment?
Is marriage an outdated institution?
Social Networking sites should be controlled by the government. Discuss.
Is there still too much discrimination against women?
Should gay couples be allowed to have children?
Does racism continue in today's society? If so, what can be done to combat this?
Should people be allowed to express their faith through the clothes they wear?
Arranged marriages should be banned worldwide. Discuss.
Should more be done to help travelers?
What place does the Church have in modern society?
Should clergymen comment on government policies?
Should children of different faiths be educated separately?
Why do teenagers have such a bad press?
Has Britain had enough immigration?
Is enough being done to halt climate change?
Should film censorship be banned?
Should Youtube be exempt from censorship laws?
Ancient cultures are being destroyed by tourism. Discuss.
What are the benefits of a gap year?
Our rail networks should be extended. Discuss.
"Rap music is misogynistic!" Discuss.
Should pupils have to wear school uniform?
Does Britain need public schools?
Is education for life or is it a means to an end?
Is the National Lottery a good thing?
The Royal Family: are they a luxury we can no longer afford?
Money: the root of all evil or a necessary evil?
Why should we remember the Holocaust?
Now that the World Wars are outwith most people's experience, is it time to forget about Remembrance Sunday?
Should Britain have become involved in the current conflict in Iraq?
No man is born evil. Discuss.
Should Britain get rid of its nuclear weapons?
Though Scotland has been given devolution, many people want to go a step further and achieve full independence. Do you think independence would be good for Scotland?
Should public figures be made to resign in the light of revelations about their private lives?
Are celebrities entitled to a private life?
What is the purpose of reality television?
CCTV is an intrusion on our privacy. Discuss.
Remember, though, that often the best essays are based on topical issues, presently being debated in the media. Do not feel that you are restricted to the list below.
Cars - a blessing or a curse?
Given the traffic congestion on our roads, should we be doing more to keep cars off the road, and if so, what?
Should Britain be processing nuclear waste?
Should wolves be re-introduced to certain parts of Scotland?
Should humans treat farm animals more humanely?
Is there any place for zoos in a civilised society?
What is the future for the British (Scottish) countryside - a recreational retreat or a living, working environment for the production of food? Discuss.
It has been said that the glory game of football has been turned into the money game. To what extent do you think this statement is true and how has the game been affected?
Should athletes be allowed to take drugs to enhance their performance providing the drugs do no long-term damage to their bodies?
Should 'soft' drugs such as cannabis be legalised?
Should the age for the legal consumption of alcohol be lowered to 16?
"Alcopops, with their trendy packaging and fashionable image, are encouraging under-age drinking." To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Should euthanasia be legalised in Britain?
Should abortion have any place in a civilised society?
Has abortion become too widespread?
How old is “too old” for parenthood?
Have improvements in contraception brought about liberation or a passport to promiscuity?
Has genetic engineering gone too far?
Cloning - a tremendous medical advance or an ominous development?
Should animal organs be used for human transplantation?
Should doctors have the right to refuse expensive treatment to patients who will not change their habits (eg lose weight, stop smoking, stop drinking)?
Should there be a minimum BMI for models?
Should surrogacy be allowed?
Has cosmetic surgery become too readily available?
Should Britain bring back capital punishment?
Is marriage an outdated institution?
Social Networking sites should be controlled by the government. Discuss.
Is there still too much discrimination against women?
Should gay couples be allowed to have children?
Does racism continue in today's society? If so, what can be done to combat this?
Should people be allowed to express their faith through the clothes they wear?
Arranged marriages should be banned worldwide. Discuss.
Should more be done to help travelers?
What place does the Church have in modern society?
Should clergymen comment on government policies?
Should children of different faiths be educated separately?
Why do teenagers have such a bad press?
Has Britain had enough immigration?
Is enough being done to halt climate change?
Should film censorship be banned?
Should Youtube be exempt from censorship laws?
Ancient cultures are being destroyed by tourism. Discuss.
What are the benefits of a gap year?
Our rail networks should be extended. Discuss.
"Rap music is misogynistic!" Discuss.
Should pupils have to wear school uniform?
Does Britain need public schools?
Is education for life or is it a means to an end?
Is the National Lottery a good thing?
The Royal Family: are they a luxury we can no longer afford?
Money: the root of all evil or a necessary evil?
Why should we remember the Holocaust?
Now that the World Wars are outwith most people's experience, is it time to forget about Remembrance Sunday?
Should Britain have become involved in the current conflict in Iraq?
No man is born evil. Discuss.
Should Britain get rid of its nuclear weapons?
Though Scotland has been given devolution, many people want to go a step further and achieve full independence. Do you think independence would be good for Scotland?
Should public figures be made to resign in the light of revelations about their private lives?
Are celebrities entitled to a private life?
What is the purpose of reality television?
CCTV is an intrusion on our privacy. Discuss.
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Higher - Discursive - A curse on cruelty TV!
Back in 1968, when I started out, there were only three channels, no satellites or downloads, no YouTube, no day-time television, no naked boobs, no chat shows.
Since then I've had huge fun working in front of and behind the cameras. My job has taken me behind the scenes of great and glorious events, into hidden places and remote hide-outs, and I've met heroes, villains and the funny, compassionate "ordinary" people of Britain.
How radically television has changed. Rude interviewers, humiliating formats and unfair editing often reveal a contempt for programme-makers' subjects and for their viewers.
Take Britain's Got Talent, which started its second series on Saturday to an audience of ten million. Here we saw wannabe performers ranging from the brilliant to the absurd. Some were treated with compassion; other were booted off ignominiously. While I find myself horribly mesmerised by the most grotesque - and least talented - acts, I wonder why it has to have this edge of cruelty.
Is it just coincidence that bullying is the biggest single problem children bring to ChildLine, with 37,000 calls from deeply distressed victims last year alone? Bullying flourishes not just in schools but on our screens, and it's glorified. Once, it would not have been tolerated.
Shows such as The Weakest Link have all garnered huge success by creating a modern theatre of cruelty in which contestants are humiliated - and coarsened audiences laugh at their expense. Some programmes, such as The Jerry Springer Show, seem deliberately to dehumanise them. The schedules are dotted with films about men and women with diseases or disabilities, who are treated like freaks. We are live in the era of "Mean TV". These are forums sustained by the overweening modern obsession with celebrity, in which people of little talent make fools of themselves chasing a hopeless dream.
The best programmes - and there are many - prove that the skills which informed programme making in the Sixties are still there.
The brilliance of The Apprentice turns each Wednesday night into an event. The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing warms our winter Saturday nights and has been sold around the world, topping the ratings everywhere. Yes, these are reality shows, but they are also beautifully produced. So the good news is that great programmes are still being made.
All the medium needs to do for its survival is to restore respect. Respect for the people who take part in programmes, respect for the standards of honesty and integrity and, above all, respect for the audiences. Only then will the television industry regain our respect, and the pride of place in our lives it had, back in the dawn of television time 40 years ago.
Tasks:
1. Read the article.
2. Sum up Rantzen’s argument in one or two sentences.
3. Look at paragraphs one and two.
• How does Rantzen introduce her argument?
• Using this as an example, what advice might you give to a student trying to write a similar introduction?
4. Look at the final paragraph.
• How does Rantzen conclude her article?
• Using this as an example, what advice might you give to a student trying to write a similar conclusion?
5. What are the key points in this article?
6. Where in the paragraph are they placed?
7. What evidence does Rantzen use to strengthen her argument?
8. Rantzen is not entirely negative on the subject – how do her positive comments about opposing opinions strengthen her own?
Since then I've had huge fun working in front of and behind the cameras. My job has taken me behind the scenes of great and glorious events, into hidden places and remote hide-outs, and I've met heroes, villains and the funny, compassionate "ordinary" people of Britain.
How radically television has changed. Rude interviewers, humiliating formats and unfair editing often reveal a contempt for programme-makers' subjects and for their viewers.
Take Britain's Got Talent, which started its second series on Saturday to an audience of ten million. Here we saw wannabe performers ranging from the brilliant to the absurd. Some were treated with compassion; other were booted off ignominiously. While I find myself horribly mesmerised by the most grotesque - and least talented - acts, I wonder why it has to have this edge of cruelty.
Is it just coincidence that bullying is the biggest single problem children bring to ChildLine, with 37,000 calls from deeply distressed victims last year alone? Bullying flourishes not just in schools but on our screens, and it's glorified. Once, it would not have been tolerated.
Shows such as The Weakest Link have all garnered huge success by creating a modern theatre of cruelty in which contestants are humiliated - and coarsened audiences laugh at their expense. Some programmes, such as The Jerry Springer Show, seem deliberately to dehumanise them. The schedules are dotted with films about men and women with diseases or disabilities, who are treated like freaks. We are live in the era of "Mean TV". These are forums sustained by the overweening modern obsession with celebrity, in which people of little talent make fools of themselves chasing a hopeless dream.
The best programmes - and there are many - prove that the skills which informed programme making in the Sixties are still there.
The brilliance of The Apprentice turns each Wednesday night into an event. The glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing warms our winter Saturday nights and has been sold around the world, topping the ratings everywhere. Yes, these are reality shows, but they are also beautifully produced. So the good news is that great programmes are still being made.
All the medium needs to do for its survival is to restore respect. Respect for the people who take part in programmes, respect for the standards of honesty and integrity and, above all, respect for the audiences. Only then will the television industry regain our respect, and the pride of place in our lives it had, back in the dawn of television time 40 years ago.
Tasks:
1. Read the article.
2. Sum up Rantzen’s argument in one or two sentences.
3. Look at paragraphs one and two.
• How does Rantzen introduce her argument?
• Using this as an example, what advice might you give to a student trying to write a similar introduction?
4. Look at the final paragraph.
• How does Rantzen conclude her article?
• Using this as an example, what advice might you give to a student trying to write a similar conclusion?
5. What are the key points in this article?
6. Where in the paragraph are they placed?
7. What evidence does Rantzen use to strengthen her argument?
8. Rantzen is not entirely negative on the subject – how do her positive comments about opposing opinions strengthen her own?
Friday, 4 June 2010
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Down's Syndrome
Down’s Syndrome Facts
· Affects 1 in every 1000 births.
· Mental and physical handicap.
· Upward slanting eyes, flat nose, large tongue, “stubby” hands.
· 47 chromosomes instead of normal 46.
· Can affect anyone. Social or economic backgrounds do not affect it.
· Age is a big factor.
· 1,000 mothers aged 20 – 6 babies affected.
· 1,000 mothers aged 45 – 33 babies affected.
· Older mothers tested between weeks 16 and 18 of pregnancy.
· Given the option to abort.
Intro
· Say that your essay is going to look at the ethics of carrying out surgery on people with disability.
· Explain how often Down’s Syndrome occurs.
· Explain that some sufferers feel they have to have surgery to feel accepted.
· Say that your essay will try to discover if this is true or not.
Down’s Syndrome is a mental and physical disability that affects one in every one thousand births. Our society puts people under a lot of pressure to “fit in” and this is true of everyone. Consequently, people with disabilities often feel they have to have cosmetic surgery to look “normal”. Over the course of this essay I will try to show if this is true or not.Reasons for Down’s sufferers to have surgery.
Prevents name-calling, improves quality of life to younger sufferers.
Boosts self-confidence.
Gives peace of mind to parents.
Removes some social awkwardness.
Surgery is usually safe.
Some funding is available from the government (NHS).
Reasons for Down’s sufferers not to have surgery.
Only changes outward appearance.
Expense.
All surgery carries a risk.
Is surgery for the child or the parent? (Power of attorney)
Causes confusion between appearance and mental ability.
Puts wrong emphasis on what needs to change.
· Affects 1 in every 1000 births.
· Mental and physical handicap.
· Upward slanting eyes, flat nose, large tongue, “stubby” hands.
· 47 chromosomes instead of normal 46.
· Can affect anyone. Social or economic backgrounds do not affect it.
· Age is a big factor.
· 1,000 mothers aged 20 – 6 babies affected.
· 1,000 mothers aged 45 – 33 babies affected.
· Older mothers tested between weeks 16 and 18 of pregnancy.
· Given the option to abort.
Intro
· Say that your essay is going to look at the ethics of carrying out surgery on people with disability.
· Explain how often Down’s Syndrome occurs.
· Explain that some sufferers feel they have to have surgery to feel accepted.
· Say that your essay will try to discover if this is true or not.
Down’s Syndrome is a mental and physical disability that affects one in every one thousand births. Our society puts people under a lot of pressure to “fit in” and this is true of everyone. Consequently, people with disabilities often feel they have to have cosmetic surgery to look “normal”. Over the course of this essay I will try to show if this is true or not.Reasons for Down’s sufferers to have surgery.
Prevents name-calling, improves quality of life to younger sufferers.
Boosts self-confidence.
Gives peace of mind to parents.
Removes some social awkwardness.
Surgery is usually safe.
Some funding is available from the government (NHS).
Reasons for Down’s sufferers not to have surgery.
Only changes outward appearance.
Expense.
All surgery carries a risk.
Is surgery for the child or the parent? (Power of attorney)
Causes confusion between appearance and mental ability.
Puts wrong emphasis on what needs to change.
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