Reading * Understanding essay questions «Identifying the relevance of the text + Grammar In context: noun phrases Jstening and speaking * Making sure you have understood waiting Paragrapn building ‘Grammar in context: present perfect Pee eee natural world 19 things and the environment Getting started 1 Li 4.4. For each of the living things in the box, think of one positive and one negative effect that they have on the environment. “resumes — combustion respiration & [ animais tuman beings insects plants | oes ign diffusion Example: biosphere positive: plants take CO, from the atmosphere nae regative: cats can kill rare species of bird decompostion. 4.2 Compare ideas with other students. Now ee decide which of the negative effects is the s ‘most important in your country. 4.3. Inwhich subjects are you likely to discuss these issues at university? Reading 2 Understanding essay questions 2.4._As part of your bology study programme, you have been given an essay with the tle Living crpnisms can play Importent roles in ecosystems. Discuss how an organism of your cholee siya key rte in an ecosystem, Show how human activity has had an impact on both the ‘organism and ecosystem. ‘Iwo Important words in this essay question are organism and ecosystem. Check the meaning Or these words in the dictionary. What fs the difference between them? What Is the connection? 22 a Itis helpful to underline key words in an essay title. Underline what you think are the Key words in the essay title. Compare your ideas with your partner. bb What is the difference between the first sentence of the essay title and the second and third sentences? 2.3. Katya underlined key words and sorted them into two boxes. Answer the following questions about them. 1 Which set of words gives instructions? 2 Which set of words shous the content of the essay? A B Thing sapiens npr le | ters_unan act Tiscuss your creice | [eat show cede |Unit 2 | Problems in the natural world 2.4. Katya then wrote some questions for herself about the essay. She did this to help her think. ‘about the essay content. Read her questions and discuss possible answers with another student. 1 Will Ihave to provide detailed information on different kinds of ecosystems? 2 The title says ‘of your choice’. Should | just choose one organism or will the lecturer? 3 Do I talk about one organism in general or do | need to do this in relation to an ecosystem? Does ‘Key role’ mean that the organism is Important? Should I describe human activity in a variety of ecosystems? Could the human impact be both negative and positive? When | ‘show’ the result of human activity, do | give examples or do | give an opinion? oan 2.5. a Look at the following steps which describe the process of reading an essay title, Think about ‘what you did In the exercises above and put them in the correct order. AA| Decide which of the key words are content words and which ——_|are instruction words. Read the title closely and check the meaning of new words or words that you think could have more than one meaning, | Brainstorm some questions about the essay title that will help | you to think in detail about what information should or should not be included in the essay. D| Identity any general statements from more specific statements that will require you to work with specific ideas. E| Underline key words in the title. ‘Study tip It @ good idea to spend time thinking about an essay ttle before you do any reading ‘or writing. This process should involve careful analysis of the words and the instructions in the essay tte, Having a good understanding at the beginning of the process can prevent problems later on. b What is the next step In preparing for the essay? Choose the best option. 1. start planning and writing the first draft of the essay 2. start making summaries of useful articles 3 start reading books and articles in detail to decide if they include useful information 3. Making sure you have understood 3.1 Choose two possible answers to the following two questions. 1 Ifyou are having problems understanding an essay question, who is it a good idea to talk to? a your flatmates your classmates ¢ a tutor or lecturer 2 What kind of help do you think you can ask different people for? ‘a telling you what to include in your essay b answering specific questions which check that you have understood ideas and concepts. © giving you feedback on the first draft of your essay 27