All Week - English Profesional

LECTURE NOTES
ENGLISH PROFESSIONAL
Week 1
Introduction and Overview of the

Course
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
LO 1: demonstrate the upper intermediate English listening skills both academically and
professionally
LO 3: demonstrate the upper intermediate English speaking skills both academically and
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Overview of the Course
B. Listening Skill: Sharing the rules and regulation
C. Speaking Skill: Introducing self
D. Academic vs Business English
E. Listening Skill: Making a generalization
F. Speaking Skill: Restating and giving opinion
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
What is English Professional? English Professional is one of the compulsory subjects in

Binus Online Learning program which is focusing at improving the students’ English skills both
academically and professionally. This English Professional subject has four big portions. They
are Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. Besides those four macro skills, there will be
grammar and pronunciation discussion inside of the course. Specifically, in our first online class,
we will discuss the overview of the course, rules, and regulation, introducing self, academic vs
business English, making a generalization, then restating and giving opinion.
English Professional
DISCUSSION
A. Overview of the Course
English Professional is aimed at providing learners with English skills related to

academic and professional English. This course will improve the students’ abilities in listening,
reading, speaking, and writing skills both academically and professionally. Each materials in this
course contributes to the graduate competencies that are divided into employability and
entrepreneurial skills and study program specific outcomes, in which students need to have
demonstrated by the time they complete their course.
There are four specific outcomes in this course. Specifically, graduates should be able to
demonstrate the upper intermediate English listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills both
academically and professionally. Furthermore, graduates should also be able to perform
employability and entrepreneurial skills consist of planning and organizing, problem solving and
decision-making, self-management, teamwork, communication, and initiative and enterprise.
Planning and organizing means graduates should be able to plan and organize their tasks
and responsibilities to achieve the goals; Problem solving and decision making means graduates
should be able to solve their challenges in this course and make the best decision based on the
task given in this course; Self-management means graduates should be able to manage their tasks
by applying self-learning; Teamwork means graduates should be able to communicate within
group to solve the problems and propose a good teamwork; Communication means graduates
should be able to express their opinion and ideas actively both in written and spoken ways;
Initiative and enterprise means graduates should be able to take an initiative in developing
innovation in the professional English.
Sixteen sessions with ten weeks forum discussion, four video conferences, and one
embedded interactive MOOC will be integrated inside of this course. Those sixteen sessions
cover: introduction and overview of the course, academic vs business English, understanding
reading passages and pronunciation, presenting specific information and writing academic essay,
business meeting, dealing with business negotiation, composing business negotiation email,
review of session 1-8, overview of session 9-16, statement of fact vs opinion, discussion essay,
delivering business presentation, business documents, capturing ideas in different text,
summarizing and paraphrasing texts, then review and speaking examination.
Multi teaching and learning strategies are implemented in this course, the lecture might
deploy several teaching learning strategies including presentation, case studies, self-learning,
forum discussion, personal assignments, group assignments, quizzes, etc.
Four mixtures of textbooks and various additional resources are available in this course.
For academic listening, reading, speaking, and writing TOEFL IBT Book by Deborah Philips
(2014) is suggested. In the other hand, for professional listening, reading, speaking, and writing,
some books from Mable Chan (2020) with English for Business Communication; Emma Ledden
(2017) with The Presentation Book; and Lin Lougheed (2007) with TOEIC are suggested in this
lesson.
B. Listening skill: Sharing the rules and regulation
In this part, students will get the general rules and regulations related to English
Professional course. Specifically, the detail rules and regulations will be shared with the students
on the first video conference meeting. Here are the general rules and regulations in the course:
1. All communication must be delivered in English.
2. No social media jargon/ terms (emoticons, wkwkwk, hehehe, etc) during the class or
forum discussion.
3. Use formal English for spoken and written communication and assignments.
4. Avoid plagiarism. No “copy paste” from the internet. Please paraphrase the cited
statements from other resources. Paraphrase here means uses your own language by:
a. Getting the source
b. Reading it carefully and understand it
c. Writing in your own words
d. Mentioning the sources
5. No “Google Translate” without revision.
Overall, the lecture will respect and appreciate every effort you make as well as it comes
from your original ideas and proper citations. Beside this course rules, please look over your
general rules and regulations guidelines for Binus Online Learning Program to avoid
misunderstanding. Check your grading points, forum discussion standard, assignments deadlines,
attendance, and examination flows.
C. Speaking Skill: Introducing Self
In your career and education, interaction with many people will help yourself grow up.
Having an excellent professional introduction ready gives you a competitive advantage when you
meet people like partners, managers, supervisors, or lecturers and supervisors. It is essential to
create a great image of yourself in people’s minds such that they feel comfortable and see the
professionalism while interacting with you.
An appealing self-introduction is important. It is crucial to convey essential details about

yourself clearly and directly to the speaking partner. Knowing how to introduce yourself
professionally helps people identified your positive capability and reputation. With a captivating
opening, the conversation becomes more engaging to gain employment, drive sales, acquire a
mentor or make a new professional connection. Shortly, here is the steps for introducing yourself
professionally.
1. Clearly state your purpose
Commonly, people introduce themselves by stating their name and current job title.
However, you can consider starting with your name, and mention what your goal is for the
meeting such as finding someone to collaborate with, proposing a new project, promoting your
business, etc. Quickly summarize who you are and why you are there based on the appropriate
context. For example, if you’re at a networking event you might simply start by shaking a new
connection’s hand and giving them your first and last name. Then begin a conversation by asking
and answering questions about their background and your own.
2. Maintain your body language
Next, control your body language, your words and your body language make an impact
on the first impressions. Controlling your body language is essential to stay balanced and
professional in a new introduction. For example, when you approach a new coworker in your
department, start with a strong handshake, and maintain eye contact during the conversation.
Doing this, shows the other party you are engaged in your interaction. Speaking in a clear and
audible voice during your conversation, maintain natural body language with relaxed shoulders
and open arms by your side or stand to greet someone who walks in the room can demonstrate
that you are confidence and polite in your professional introduction.
3. Show your uniqueness and cultural understanding
Explaining that you are valuable adequately can be one of the interesting way to
introduce yourself professionally. You can convey your unique experience and qualifications to
make it more memorable. Don’t forget to consider and understand the culture of your speaking
partner is important. Before introduce yourself to native or non-native speakers, local or foreign
speakers review their culture to make your professional introduction run smoothly and
appropriately for your potential client.
4. Introducing yourself professionally
a. Example 1: Meet the Classmates
Hello, my name is Anna Sunshine, please call me Anna, I took International Marketing
major because advertising is my passion and Binus Online Learning is the appropriate place for
me to study, improve my skills, find an inspirational, and innovative community for elevating
my career. I have a rich background in analysing audiences for messaging optimization and
experiencing in public relations for 5 years. It will be a great opportunity to have you all in this
class. Hope we can learn and collaborate during the course.
b. Example 2: Meet the Interviewer
Good morning, I’m Paul Simon and I enjoy promoting small companies to help them
increase their profits. I’m excited for the opportunity to be part of a team that increases
awareness of the businesses in Cisco. I have a strong background in public relations and would
love to tell you about the strengths I could bring to this position.
c. Example 3: Meet A New Client
Hi, my name is Jimmy, and I am reaching out from Customize Bags to inform you of the
services we provide. Our company sends out automatic shipments of a variety of takeout bags to
restaurants each month so you will always have enough for your customers. We offer different
packages based on your needs, so I would love to set up a time to speak with you and give you
more information.
d. Example 4: Meet A Co-Worker
Hi, I’m Anita Sue, just call me Anita. I work in the marketing department as the social
media manager. Our teams hold weekly meetings, and I look forward to working together in the
future. Please let me know if I can help with anything as you orient yourself with the office.
A. Academic vs Business English
1. Academic English
Academic English is the type of English needed for Higher Education or further
academic study. Academic English is also the genre of English used in the world of research,
study, teaching, and universities. If you read an article in an academic journal or listen to
someone giving a presentation or a talk about an academic subject in an academic environment,
Academic language is mostly being used there. Academic language refers to the oral, written,
auditory, and visual language proficiency required to learn effectively in universities and
academic programs.
In addition, this genre needed by students to understand and communicate in the
academic disciplines. Academic language includes such things as specialized vocabulary,
conventional text structures within a field such essays and lab reports and other language-related
activities typical of classrooms, such as expressing disagreement, discussing an issue, or asking
for clarification, etc. An Academic English course will teach you how to understand academic
materials as well as giving you the skills you need to produce academic language confidently
about your subject.
2. Business English
In general, Business English is a form of English especially suited to international trade,

commerce, and finance. Business English is used in, business meetings, sales presentations,
negotiations, business correspondence, business reports, executive summaries, etc. This English
genre is part of English for Specific Purposes. It is studied by many non-native English speakers
who wish to do business with English speaking countries or with non-English-speaking countries
using English as a lingua franca.
Business English, improve your English for the workplace and learn about business
topics to help you work more effectively and make the most of career opportunities. Business
English communication skills are essential for getting ahead at work. By understanding the
communication skills needed in the workplace, you can gain the confidence to build strong
relationships with your colleagues and clients.
B. Listening Skill: Making a generalization
Learning how to make generalizations is an academic skill that, as a learner, you have to
master. This important skill will assist you to have an in-depth understanding of texts. When you
pay attention at all the parts of a text, you will learn to recognize the important information and
then summarize it in such a way that gives an encompassing explanation of the idea. Making
generalizations based on common knowledge and texts leads to your application of
generalizations in your life.
A good generalization is supported by specific pieces of evidence that are significant to
the generalization. Making Generalizations can be stated as a broad statement about a group of
people or things. It states something they have in common. Be careful to make sure your
generalization is valid. Valid means true and supported by facts. It also agrees with what you
already know about the topic; uses logic and reasoning; and proven with several examples. Pay
attention for signal words such as some, most, might, sometimes, often, probably, typically,
many, rarely, few, none, all, always, never, everyone, nobody, etc.
C. Speaking Skill: Restating and Giving opinion
Restating means expressing the same idea in different words, but not necessarily in a
shorter form. It is different with summarizing. Summarizing means quickly going over main
ideas in a shorter from than the original idea. Restating an idea is just saying it in different
words. A restatement uses different sentence structure. When you want to restate an idea, don't
start with the original phrasing and try to change it. In fact, don't look at the original phrasing at
all. Instead, think of the idea in your head and try to come up with a different way of putting it
from scratch.
Giving opinion is showing the argument of statement to the other people about a specific
thing. In this part you need to know how to restate and give opinion related to the first lecturing
or video conference. Shortly, you are expected to express the given information in your own
words and deliver ideas or opinion towards the essence of the information. Here are some
phrases of giving opinion that can help you in this part:
1. After much thought, …
2. After weighing up both sides of the argument, …
3. Although I can see both points of view / Although I can understand the opposite point of
view, …
4. As I see it, ...
5. Correct me if I’m wrong, but …
6. For me/ From my point of view, …
7. Frankly, …
8. I am not very familiar with this topic, but …
9. I do believe/ feel/think …
10. I have come to the conclusion that …
11. I might change my mind later, but …
12. I reckon/suppose …
13. I tend to think that …
14. I’m not sure I’m the right person to ask, but/ I have very limited experience of this, but …
15. I’m pretty confident that …
16. I’ve always thought that …
17. If you ask me, …
18. I'm (absolutely) convinced that …
19. In my humble opinion / IMHO, …
20. It could be said that …
21. It seems clear to me that …
22. It would seem to me that …
23. My initial reaction is …
24. Not everyone will/would agree with me, but …
25. Personally speaking / Speaking for myself, …
26. The way I see it (is) …
27. To be (perfectly) frank, …
28. To the best of my knowledge, …
29. What I think is …
30. You could say …
CONCLUSION
In this first meeting, it is important to know the course objectives, outcomes, topics,
activities, and textbooks before going to the complete discussion. Acknowledging the general
rules and regulations are crucial to finish the course smoothly. Introduce yourself individually
and professionally can elevate your business career and professionalism. Differentiating
Academic and Business English can help you to reach the target of your study and job. Finally,
making a generalization, then restating, and giving opinion are relevant to be used in this section.
REFERENCES
1. Deborah Phillips. (2014). Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL Test: IBT. 3rd
Edition. Pearson Longman. New Jersey. ISBN-10: 0133248127/ ISBN-13: 978-
0133248128
2. Emma Ledden. (2017). The Presentation Book: How to Create it, Shape it and Deliver it!.
Pearson Business. Harlow, United Kingdom. ISBN: 9781292171982
3. Lin Lougheed. (2007). Longman Preparation Series for the New TOEIC Test: Advanced
Course, Fourtg Edition. Pearson Longman. New York. ISBN 0-13-199311-
9https://soenglish.me/introduce-yourself/
4. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/introduce-yourself-
professionally
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yMkQa_bpGI
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3gERqaaXZk
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXGpiQZ_MHA
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTHaALnWE0U
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1IkuYYIhI
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYGXNT4p8H4
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1xt7zgnuK0
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp6HyVBQ1tU
LECTURE NOTES
Week 2
Understanding Reading Passages and

Pronunciation
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LO 2: demonstrate the upper intermediate English reading skills both academically and
professionally.
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Comprehending reading passages
B. Speaking Skill: Pronouncing words correctly
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
Talking about improving English reading speed and fluency comprehending various
kinds of reading passages and understanding the information given are needed. To be able to
read faster for different topics, there will be a discussion of doing extensive reading.
Furthermore, to improve the speaking skills especially the articulation in pronouncing words, in
this section, there will discuss the tips of developing the pronunciation correctly to avoid
misunderstanding in the academic and professional communication.
-English Professional
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Comprehending reading passages
1. Definition
Reading comprehension is an action to understand what you are reading. Reading

comprehension is an intentional, active, interactive process that occurs before, during and after a
person reads a particular piece of writing. Reading comprehension is one of the pillars of
reading, in which through the complex cognitive processes the reader try to construct meaning
from the text.
There are two elements that make up the process of reading comprehension. Those
are vocabulary knowledge and text comprehension. In order to understand a text, the reader must
be able to comprehend the vocabulary used in the piece of writing. If the individual words don’t
make the sense, that will be hard to understand the content. Text comprehension is much more
complex and varied that vocabulary knowledge. Readers can use many different text and
comprehension strategies to develop reading comprehension.
2. The importance of reading comprehension
Deprived of comprehension, reading is nothing more than tracking symbols on a page

with your eyes and sounding them out. Actually, reading comprehension is essential for life.
Many writings share about the importance of functional literacy in order to survive and succeed
in today’s world. Individuals must be able to comprehend basic texts such as bills, housing
agreements (leases, purchase contracts), directions on packaging and transportation documents
(bus and train schedules, maps, travel directions), etc.
Especially, in the academic and professional settings, reading comprehension is a critical

component of functional literacy. Think of the potential mistakes that workers can take of not
being able to comprehend the directions or warnings on dangerous field of works. With the
ability to comprehend what they read, people are able not only to live safely and productively,
but also to continue to develop socially, emotionally, and intellectually.
3. Developing reading comprehension
Reading comprehension strategies must be refined, practiced and reinforced

continuously. As reading materials become more diverse and challenging, people need to learn
new tools for comprehending these texts. Content area materials such as textbooks and
newspaper, magazine and journal articles pose different reading comprehension challenges for
students and professionals and thus require different comprehension strategies. The development
of reading comprehension is a lifelong process that changes based on the depth and
extensiveness of texts the person is reading. Therefore, the strategy to improve the reading
comprehension can be through extensive and intensive reading as alternative approaches.
4. Extensive Reading
At the beginning of the reading practice, to build the motivation of reading, Extensive
Reading (ER) is an approach to second language reading. When learners read extensively, they
read very easy, enjoyable books to build their reading speed and fluency. Another way to say this
is students learn to read by actually reading then later examining texts by studying the
vocabulary, grammar and phrases in intensive reading. It is instructive to compare Intensive
Reading (IR) with Extensive Reading.
Commonly, extensive reading approach involves readers to read long texts or large
quantities for general understanding, with the intention of enjoying the texts. Readers are
allowed to choose the books they read depending on their interests, and there is not always a
follow-up discussion or work in class. In this way students are encouraged to read for pleasure
and should become better readers. The characteristics of an extensive reading approach is
reading based on the language level, authentic materials, students’ choice, in and out of the class,
silent reading, and record keeping.
The benefits that have been gained by the undertaking of extensive reading programmes.
These include gains in reading and writing proficiency, oral skills and vocabulary, an increase in
motivation and positive affect. Setting up an extensive reading programme should not only lead
readers to improve their reading proficiency and other language skills but will hopefully enable
them to take pleasure in reading for their own sake. Moreover, intensive reading will be
discussed deeply in the next topic in the following week.
B. Speaking Skill: Pronouncing words correctly
For learners of English, perfecting the pronunciation of English sounds can be quite
challenging but it is important to avoid a missunderstanding. Although we normally rely on
spellings for pronunciation, often in English, spellings only make it harder. That is because,
unlike many other languages, English letters tend to have multiple sounds also called as
phonemes associated with them. What’s more, English has borrowed words from a lot of other
languages like Russian, German, Spanish, etc and spellings may reflect the origin of the word or
phrase.
Have a look at this sentence for instance: “English can be weird. It can be understood through
tough thorough thought, though.” How do you pronounce ‘ough’ in the last five words? The
answer is that each one is pronounced differently, isn’t this confusing? It’s natural for someone
who is learning English as an additional language to ask these questions. Here are some fun and
easy ways to help learners master the features of English pronunciation.
1. Vocalize the word loudly
Try to vocalize the word. Learning pronunciation is all about making the brain and mouth
coordinate. Every time saying a new word, it is teaching the mouth to move in a new way, which
means the teeth, lips, tongue, muscles in the mouth are moving in a completely new manner. For
example, to say the /w/ sound, which comes in the word ‘win’, form a tight circle with puckered
lips brought out and away from the face. The lips should form a tight ‘O’. With this lips position,
try to produce a sound while holding the back of the tongue towards the roof of the mouth. If the
throat is touched with the palm of the hand, the vocal cords are vibrating. Although this sounds
super complicated, it actually easy when learners say it aloud. It is essential to say it out loud and
practice until the sound is it absolutely right.
2. Sing a song
Songs are a great way to learn pronunciation, which is also why nursery rhymes is taught
since in the kindergarten. Several studies have shown that singing enhances memory and brain
power. It also relieves stress. Moreover, it is a good way to improve the pronunciation,
vocabulary, grammar, and listening too. To be a fluent speaker of English, it can begin by
singing song. It may hard to sing everything right the very first time but learning pronunciation is
a time-consuming process. Practice and practice more. The goal here is to not sing faster, but
clearer.
3. Tongue twister
Do you find any difficulty in pronouncing certain sounds like /r/ , /w/ or /l/? An
incredibly fun way to overcome this difficulty is by practicing tongue twisters every day. They
are enjoyable and they make learning interesting and effortless. Try saying this now: “How much
wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” Did you pronounce /w/
and /ch/ sounds correctly? How fast can you say this without getting the words mixed up?
Hundreds of popular tongue twisters can be found online for free. Find the ones that are relevant
to the problem sounds. If there is a partner to practice this with, turn it into a game and get ready
to laugh together for the next half an hour.
4. Imitate
Learning pronunciation is not just about saying sounds and words right. It’s also about
getting these other very important pronunciation features right. Check some of the pronunciation
concern such as:
a. Word stress
The way a syllable is pronounced with greater force than other syllables in a
word. E.g., In the word ‘electricity’, there are five syllables and we stress on the third
syllable ‘tris’ /el-ec-TRIS-i-ti/.
b. Sentence stress
The way a word is pronounced with greater force than other words in a sentence
which often changes the meaning that’s conveyed. E.g., In this sentence ‘Nick hates
chocolate’, if we stress on Nick, the meaning is that it’s not Mark or Shaun who hates
chocolate but Nick. If we stress on the word chocolate, it means he hates chocolate,
not ice cream or anything else.
c. Intonation
The sound changes produced by the rise and fall of the voice when speaking. Usually
when fluent speakers talk, they use intonation to convey the meaning they want. E.g.,
Let’s look at the word ‘Really?’ used as a question.
When the tone of our voice goes up, it sounds like we’re surprised.
When the tone of our voice goes down, it sounds like we’re doubtful.
d. Connected speech
The way in which sounds get linked, added or dropped in spoken English. E.g., I want
to go to the park. Want and to in this sentence get scrunched up together to become
‘wanna’. I’m going to the park. In this statement, going and to is said like ‘gowing’,
with an additional /w/ sound.
e. Weak forms
In connected speech, fluent speakers emphasise only certain words. The non-essential
words get reduced and become weak sounds, in order to convey more meaning in less
time. E.g., Pencil and pen. In this phrase, the word and gets reduced to just ‘n’,
making it ‘Pencil n pen’. However, remember that this would not happen in formal
speech or writing.
f. Chunking
Dividing speech into chunks of smaller information and pausing appropriately so that
listeners understand us clearly and don’t get overwhelmed with information. E.g., It
rained yesterday but only for five minutes.
In this sentence, there are two ideas. The first one is that it rained yesterday. The
second one is it rained only for five minutes. In order to let the listener know the first
idea is over and that we’re moving on to the next idea, we take short pause after
yesterday. It rained yesterday / but only for five minutes
g. Contractions
The shortened form of a word or group of words in conversational English.

E.g., In this sentence, I have got to leave tomorrow, I and have get contracted to
become I’ve. They are pronounced slightly differently when spoken, and not just like a
combination of two words. Few more examples of contractions are
He is – He’s
I am – I’m
She has – She’s
We would – We’d
Overall, it is easy to understand more about word stress by looking a word up in an online
dictionary, like the Cambridge, Oxford or Longman dictionaries online. When speaking multiple
sentences, we take a longer pause at the end of each sentence to alert the listener that we’re
moving on to the next sentence. This is like using a full stop at the end of a sentence when
writing. These helps the speech clearer and easily understood.
5. Role-plays
Another way to learn how to speak without being too fast, too slow, mechanical, quiet, or
high pitched is by doing role-plays. Sounding natural when trying to incorporate all the aspects
of pronunciation can be tricky. Therefore, role playing or pretending to be someone else in a
different situation can make the learning process easier. Role playing has been used as a learning
tool for over a hundred years. It allows us to explore a variety of scenarios without having to be
in that situation.
Finding a friend who is also learning English for doing role-play a situation like phoning
a travel agent to find out about a holiday or role-play an important client meeting at work are
interesting to try. To make it more challenging, you can pretend to be the host of a favourite
Talk show. Watch also influential videos from TED Talks, a website where expert speakers talk
on education, business, science, tech, creativity, and so much more. These videos come with
transcripts or subtitles which will easily to be followed. If it is difficult to understand something,
pause and repeat the difficult parts. This is effective to improve not only the pronunciation skills
but also the presentation skills. In short, role-play helps in elevating the pronunciation skills but
be sure to check the tone, pace of speech, volume, and try to sound natural and conversational.
6. Record, Listen, Repeat
This is one of the best ways to self-check and correct the pronunciation. Every phone
comes with a built-in audio recorder these days. Make use of this feature is helpful. Even though
listening is a daily activity, recording and play it back, is one of the ways to understand how
different sounds are produced. Choose a situation, for example, making a presentation about a
topic, record the speaking, listen to it, and correcting the mistakes.
Although this might feel a bit weird at first, this can be a very enlightening experience
and probably one of the fastest ways to repair some habitual errors. Hopefully the tips will help
learners to master the art of English pronunciation. This may seem strange and mysterious at first
but remember, practice makes perfect. So, don’t give up until you can say it like a pro.
CONCLUSION
In the second meeting, it is important to develop the reading comprehension and

pronunciation. By regularly reading various kinds of text, that will help learners to be motivated
and speed up the reading skills then focusing on the detail information as the next target. To
help in comprehending the text faster and easier build the extensive reading and intensive
reading self-program can be helpful. In addition, to improve the pronunciation skill, vocalize the
word loudly, sing a song, tongue twister, imitation, role-plays, then record, listen, and repeat
methods hopefully can help all the learners in articulating better speaking.
REFERENCES
1. Deborah Phillips. (2014). Longman Preparation Course for the TOEFL Test: IBT.
3rd Edition. Pearson Longman. New Jersey. ISBN-10: 0133248127/ ISBN-13: 978-
0133248128
2. Emma Ledden. (2017). The Presentation Book: How to Create it, Shape it and
Deliver it!. Pearson Business. Harlow, United Kingdom. ISBN: 9781292171982
3. Lin Lougheed. (2007). Longman Preparation Series for the New TOEIC Test:
Advanced Course, Fourtg Edition. Pearson Longman. New York. ISBN 0-13-199311-
9
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/oromo/features/the-sounds-of-english
5. https://www.britishcouncil.in/blog/how-improve-your-english-pronunciation-skills
6. https://www.er-central.com/contributors/learn-about-extensive-reading-and-
listening/what-is-extensive-reading/
7. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/83881/how-to-read-faster
8. https://www.ted.com/talks
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmEa9_WdpHo
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T91p6pTPpSY
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcONw2BBfb8
LECTURE NOTES
Week 3
Presenting Specific Information and

Writing Academic Essay
LEARNING OUTCOMES
professionally.
LO 4: demonstrate the upper intermediate English writing skills both academically and
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Finding specific information inside of reading passages.
B. Writing Skill: Organizing and composing expository essay
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
Continuing the previous lesson on reading skills, in this third meeting, there will be
discussed the next reading skills about finding specific information inside of reading passages.
After talking about the enjoyable extensive reading, in this section, the reading skill will focus on
the intensive reading. Through the combination of those two reading skills, hopefully learners
can get beneficial in reading faster, catching the specific details, then easily comprehending the
reading. In addition, after discussing the reading skills, this session will also present the writing
skills especially in organizing and composing expository essay. The detail of those two
discussions can be seen as follows.
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Finding specific information inside of reading passages.
Welcome back to the reading discussion, continuing the previous discussion of reading
comprehension, the focus of the reading in this session will be about finding specific information
of reading passage. To get the specific information in the reading texts. Intensive reading method
is suggested. Intensive reading is kind of reading in which the readers carefully and closely read
a short text with the intention of gaining an understanding of as much as detail as possible. This
means that the learner focuses on the language more than the text. The readers will concentrate
on the new vocabulary, grammatical forms, the purpose of the author and the problems of the
text. This intensive reading helps learners to focus on accuracy.
Moreover, the benefits of intensive reading include enhancing reading comprehension,

helping students by understanding sentence structure and developing critical thinking as students
must answer all required questions after reading. It also enhances collaboration among students,
as it sometimes done in pair or group work. The learners read a short text and put events from it
into chronological order. In the classroom, intensive reading activities include answering true or
false statements or filling gaps in a summary, scanning a text to match headings to paragraphs,
and scanning jumbled paragraphs and then reading them carefully to put them into the correct
order.
B. Writing Skill: Organizing and composing expository essay
1. Expository essay definition
An expository essay is a genre of investigative type of writing that investigate and

examine an idea, concept or belief and present relevant evidence to back and support the
presented ideas. Writing an expository essay is quite common academic settings. Expository
writing is objective in nature and is entirely based on presenting and explaining facts. These facts
are explored and presented with the help of several types of evidence. Especially the visual
presentation of data like charts, statistical data, graphs, and presentations work best to explain the
facts clearly.
2. Expository essay types

There are six types of expository essay. (1) compare and contrast essay, it is a type of
essay that compares and contrasts two things; (2) cause and effect essay, this essay tries to find
out the causes of some things and their effects on something. (3) process essay, this essay
explains the process of making or doing something; (4) problem and solution essay, this essay
presents a problem and provides its possible solutions; (5) classification essay, in this essay, the
topic is divided into categories. The examples, ideas, and characters are defined for each
category in the form of groups. (6) definition essay, this essay defines what the topic exactly
means. A definition essay provides clear and specific information about the topic and uses
examples to clarify it.
3. Expository essay organization
The expository essay structure is no different as far as the sections are concerned.
However, it is different because of its highly explanatory nature. It explains the specific topic in
detail while evaluating the evidence. In addition, the format for every essay is generally the
same. It has an introduction, a thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. What makes
these essays different from each other is the purpose due to which they are written. A typical 5
paragraph expository essay follows the pattern given below:
a. Introduction: It consist of a captivating hook statement, brief background information,

and an intriguing thesis statement
b. Body Paragraphs: It includes body paragraph 1 or first main point. It is supporting

evidence and transition to the second body paragraph; body paragraph 2 or second main
point. It is supporting evidence and transition to the third body paragraph; body
paragraph 3 or third main point. It is supporting evidence and transition to the
conclusion.
c. Conclusion: It covers reinstate the thesis statement; summarize all the main points; and
provide a good message.
4. Expository essay composition stages
a. Preparation stage
Before you start writing your essay, make sure that you have enough evidence and
credible information to explain your idea. Choose a Topic and pick an interesting and good
expository essay topic to write an essay on. The topic must be captivating and fascinating enough
that immediately catches the reader's attention. Before jumping to the composition, create an
expository essay outline. An expository essay outline helps to give a proper structure to the
essay. The idea of an outline is to organize all the content that helps in compiling a good
expository essay.
b. Writing stage
Write the Introduction Expository writing informs the readers or explains a certain topic.
Therefore, adding an unknown and engaging fact will help to hook the reader and keep them
glued to the essay. Don’t assume that the reader already knows everything about the topic.
Create a background regarding of the topic for the readers. This will help them understand the
topic better. Pay careful attention to the opening lines and take into account the following points
while writing an introductory paragraph: provide interesting information or ask a question;
introduce all the necessary information to help the reader understand what the expository paper is
all about; and write an effective thesis statement.
Write the body paragraphs to provide supporting evidence and to explain the topic in
detail. Every paragraph discusses a separate point of the topic. Each body paragraph begins with
a topic sentence, provides facts and opinions to expand and explain the topic. Transition words
are used to logically connect the paragraphs and to maintain the smooth flow of the essay. The
number of body paragraphs can vary according to the topic. Keep in mind the following points
when you proceed to the body of the essay: provide a key idea of each paragraph; include
supporting sentences in each of your body paragraphs; explain the significance of your provided
facts and examples.
Write the conclusion to conclude your essay. Begin the concluding paragraph by restating
your thesis statement. Your conclusion should be strong and powerful to give a concise overview
of your topic. Add questions or propose further action to engage the readers. Don’t add any new
details in the concluding paragraph, just wrap up the essay and restate the thesis briefly. Ensure
the following information to come up with an effective and interesting expository composition:
provide an overview of the essay; discuss the possible solutions; discuss the importance of your
research.
c. Overview stage
In this stage, revise your essay. Do not forget to revise your essay as a good thorough
read helps you refine your essay. Revise your essay to check the following things:
• Correct any spelling and grammatical errors

• Correct the punctuation errors
• Make sure that your essay is making sense
• Check if your content is in a logical flow
• Check the sentence structure
• Remove any irrelevant information
CONCLUSION
Intensive reading is kind of reading in which the readers carefully and closely read a
short text with the intention of gaining an understanding of as much as detail as possible. In this
method, learner focuses on the language more than the text. The readers will concentrate on the
new vocabulary, grammatical forms, the purpose of the author and the problems of the text. This
intensive reading helps learners to focus on accuracy. Next, in organizing and composing
expository essay, there are six types of expository essays, three main parts of expository essay,
and three different stages of composition that are needed to be considered.
REFERENCES
0133248128
Course, Fourtg Edition. Pearson Longman. New York. ISBN 0-13-199311-9
3. Mable Chan. (2020). English for Business Communication. 1st Routledge, Taylor et
Francis Group. London. ISBN:
9781138481688https://academichelp.net/samples/academics/essays/expository/
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzrpi93Rq_M
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IPrxafggQ
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR4LunWz-jU
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdfkKgH9T9Y
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5NLKGwVSRI
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHMXMRI_bGk
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5yJRAOlA1U
LECTURE NOTES
Week 4
Business Meeting
LEARNING OUTCOMES
professionally
professionally.
LO 4: demonstrate the upper intermediate English Writing skills both academically and
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Listening Skill: Interpreting specific expression for business meeting
B. Speaking Skill: Chairing a business meeting
C. Writing Skill: Creating a Minute of Meeting
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In this meeting, we will focus on listening, speaking, and writing skills especially related
to business meeting expressions, tips, and minute of meeting. Listening some exposures of
handling a business meeting and highlighting some of the business meeting expression will give
benefits to implement the language use together with the tips in managing a business meeting.
After knowing the expressions and way to handle the business meeting, It is also crucial to
summarize and take note of the important points during the meeting. Here is the discussion on
having a business meeting and note taking the result.
DISCUSSION
A. Listening Skill: Interpreting specific expression for business meeting

This part provides short phrases to help you run a business meeting from the beginning to
the end.
1. Opening the Meeting
a. Good morning/afternoon, everyone.
b. If we are all here, let's get started
c. let’s start the meeting.
d. let start.
Example: Good morning everyone. If we're all here, let's get started.
2. Welcoming and Introducing Participants
If you have a meeting with new participants, make sure to introduce them before as you
start the meeting.
a. Please join me in welcoming (name of participant)

b. We're pleased to welcome (name of participant)
c. It's a pleasure to welcome (name of participant)
d. I'd like to introduce (name of participant)
e. I don't think you've met (name of participant)
Example: Before I get started, I'd like to please join me in welcoming Anna Sue from our office
in New York.
3. Stating the Principal Objectives of a Meeting
It's important to begin the meeting by clearly stating the main objectives for the meeting.
a. We're here today to
b. Our aim is to ...
c. I've called this meeting in order to ...
d. By the end of this meeting, I'd like to have ...
Example: We're here today to discuss the upcoming merger, as well as go over last quarter's sales
figures.
4. Giving Apologies for Someone Who is Absent
If someone important is missing, it's a good idea to let others know that they will be
missing from the meeting.
a. I'm afraid.., (name of participant) can't be with us today. She is in...
b. I have received apologies for the absence of (name of participant), who is in (place).
Example I'm afraid Paul can't be with us today. He's in London meeting with clients but will be
back next week.
5. Reading the Minutes of Meeting in the Last Meeting
If you have a meeting that repeats regularly, make sure to read the minutes from the last
meeting to make sure that everyone is on the same page.
a. First, let's go over the report from the last meeting which was held on (date)
Here are the minutes from our last meeting, which was on (date)
b. First, let's go over the minutes from our last meeting which was held last Tuesday. Jeff,
could you please read the notes.
6. Dealing with Recent Developments
Checking in with others will help you keep everyone up to date on progress on various
projects.
a. Jimmy, can you tell us how the XYZ project is progressing?
b. Jimmy, how is the XYZ project coming along?
c. Jean, have you completed the report on the new accounting package?
d. Has everyone received a copy of the Tate Foundation report on current marketing trends?
e. Andrew, please tell us how the final arrangements for the merger are coming along.
7. Moving Forward
Use these phrases to transition to the main focus of your meeting.
a. So, if there is nothing else we need to discuss, let's move on to today's agenda.
b. Shall we get down to business?
c. Is there any other business?
d. If there are no further developments, I'd like to move on to today's topic.
Example: Once again, I'd like to thank you all for coming. Now, shall we get down to business?
8. Introducing the Agenda
Before you launch into the main points of the meeting, double check that everyone has a
copy of the agenda for the meeting.
a. Have you all received a copy of the agenda?
b. There are three items on the agenda.
c. First, Shall we take the points in this order?
d. If you don't mind, I'd like to ... go in order/ skip item 1 and move on to item 3
e. I suggest we take item 2 last.
Example: Have you all received a copy of the agenda? Good. Shall we take the points in order?
9. Allocating Roles (secretary, participants)
As you move through the meeting, it's important that people keep track of what's going
on. Make sure to allocate note taking.
a. (name of participant) has agreed to take the minutes.
b. (name of participant) has kindly agreed to give us a report on this matter.
c. (name of participant) will lead point 1, (name of participant) point 2, and (name of
participant) point 3.
d. (name of participant), would you mind taking notes today?
Example: Anita, would you mind taking notes today?
10. Agreeing on the Ground Rules for the Meeting (contributions, timing, decision-
making, etc.)
If there is no regular routine to your meeting, point out the basic rules for discussion
throughout the meeting.
a. We will hear a short report on each point first, followed by a discussion around the table.
b. I suggest we go round the table first.
c. The meeting is due to finish at...
d. We'll have to keep each item to ten minutes. Otherwise, we'll never get through.
e. We may need to vote on item 5, if we can't get a unanimous decision.
Example: I suggest we go round the table first to get everyone's feedback. After that, we'll take a
vote.
11. Introducing the First Item on the Agenda
Use these phrases to begin with the first item on the agenda. Make sure to use sequencing
language to connect your ideas throughout the meeting.
a. So, let's start with
b. Shall we start with. .
c. So, the first item on the agenda is
d. Peter, would you like to kick off?
e. Michael, would you like to introduce this item?
Example: Shall we start with the first item? Good. Paul will introduce our plans for the merger
and then will discuss the implications.
12. Closing an Item
As you move from item to item, quickly state that you have finished with the previous
discussion.
a. I think that covers the first item.
b. Shall we leave that item?
c. If nobody has anything else to add,
Example: I think that covers the important points of the merger.
13. Next Item
These phrases will help you transition to the next item on the agenda.
a. Let's move onto the next item
b. The next item on the agenda is
c. Now we come to the question of.
Example: Now, let's move onto the next item. We've been having a bit of a personnel crunch
lately.
14. Giving Control to the Next Participant
If someone takes over your role, give control to them with one of the following phrases.
a. I'd like to hand over to Mark, who is going to lead the next point.
b. Right, Dessy, over to you.
c. I'd like to hand over to John, who is going to discuss the personnel issues.
15. Summarizing
As you finish the meeting, quickly sum up the main points of the meeting.
a. Before we close, let me just summarize the main points.
b. To sum up, ...
c. In brief,
d. Shall I go over the main points?
Example: To sum up, we've moved forward with the merger and expect to start work on the
project in May. Also, the personnel department has decided to hire additional staff to help us
with the increased demand.
16. Suggesting and Agreeing for the Next Meeting Agenda
As you end the meeting, make sure to arrange for the next meeting if necessary.
a. Can we fix the next meeting, please?
b. So, the next meeting will be on... (day), the . . . (date) of.. . (month) at...
c. What about the following Wednesday?
d. How is that?
e. So, see you all then.
Example: Before we leave, I'd like to fix the next meeting. What about next Thursday?
17. Thanking Participants for Attending
It's always a good idea to thank everyone for attending the meeting.
a. I'd like to thank Mary and Jean for coming over from London.
b. Thank you all for attending.
c. Thanks for your participation.
Example: Thank you all for your participation and I'll see you next Thursday.
18. Closing the Meeting
Close the meeting with a simple statement.
a. The meeting is closed.
b. I declare the meeting closed.
B. Speaking Skill: Chairing a Business Meeting
At some point in the career, someone may ask you to chair a meeting at your workplace.
Being the chairperson can be a prestigious role, showing that people see the chairperson as
dependable, approachable and knowledgeable on a broad number of topics discussed within the
meeting. It can be helpful to learn about the additional responsibilities involved with being a
chairperson. In this session, the discussion will be about what chairing a meeting means, the
responsibilities of a chairperson and tips for chairing a meeting.
1. Chairing a business meeting definition
Chairing business meeting can be defined as a responsibility to lead the meeting. The
chair of a meeting, also known as a chairperson, is the elected officer of an organized group,
such as a board or committee. During the meeting, it is a chair's responsibility to prepare the
meeting agenda, open the meeting, facilitate discussion and keep the conversation focused and
balanced. There are many responsibilities a chairperson has before, during and after chairing a
meeting, including the tips to handle the meeting in general.
2. Chairperson responsibilities
a. Before the meeting
There are a few steps to take before beginning a meeting: (1) Plan an agenda or create an
agenda with a defined set of items to discuss throughout the meeting. It is useful to have a
set amount of time for each point on the agenda; (1) Decide or be sure to have practical
arrangements completed ahead of time, such as the location, technical equipment or
visual aids; (3) Be prepared or review the agenda items ahead of time. Arrive at least 10
minutes before the meeting begins to ensure the room is set up correctly and collect all
materials that are needed.
b. During the meeting
Throughout the meeting, there are a few key points to keep in mind as the chairperson
such as: (1) Communicate or start by making any necessary introductions and then use
the agenda to state clear objectives of the meeting. Be sure all members of the committee
are aware of and follow meeting guidelines throughout the duration of the meeting; (2)
Maintain control or keep conversations related to one discussion topic at a time. Decide
when to move on to the next subject. Summarize the topic if necessary to help the
committee come to a decision on the issue; (3) Aid in decision-making, means the goal of
most meetings is to come to an agreement on the subjects discussed in the meeting
agenda, so it is useful that all members clearly understand how they can come to a final
decision on each topic; (4) Conclude the meeting means before adjourning the meeting,
summarize the decisions that committee members made. Decide on a date and time for
the next meeting and agree on what items can be added to the agenda.
c. After the meeting
There are a few more tasks that can be completed as chairperson after a meeting like: (5)
Record minutes, Minutes consist of writing important subjects covered during a meeting,
such as listing those who were present, writing points made regarding each topic and
recording all final decisions; (2) Think ahead or consider what went well during the
meeting and what could change before the next meeting to be certain it runs more
smoothly.
3. Tips for chairing a meeting

Chairing a meeting is a large responsibility, so it's useful to be prepared by using some of
the following tips in order to have a successful meeting:
a. Have a set of guidelines to govern the meeting.
b. Keep to only the points listed on the agenda.
c. Ensure full participation from all members
d. Moderate the discussions fairly
e. Give preference to people who haven't spoken before.
f. Have a predetermined amount of time each member of the group can talk during each
topic.
g. Reach decisions
A. Writing Skill: Creating a Minute of Meeting
During a meeting it is important to have a report of it. One of the ways is creating a
minute of meeting. Meeting minutes are business documents written during or after a meeting
takes place within a company. The meeting minutes document outlines who was present at the
meeting, what topics were discussed, what conclusions were drawn and what is on the agenda for
upcoming events or business projects. This document is shared with company employees who
may not be able to attend the meeting in person, but who must be kept up to date with decisions
made in corporate meetings. Meeting minutes also are filed for future reference.
Creating meeting minutes provides a written record of what was agreed at a meeting.
Good meeting minutes tell people what was decided and what they need to achieve and by what
date. When meeting minutes are received it jogs memories about tasks that people need to do. If
a task is not performed, then refer back to the meeting minutes and follow up on it. Without
meeting minutes, there is no recourse if an action was not carried out. In the worst case, if
meeting minutes are not written it may end up having to repeat the meeting. In some instances,
meeting minutes may be required for legal reasons. An example of this is where local bylaws
require it for certain types of organizations. Also, they may be required for disciplinary meetings
with employees. Getting into the habit of taking meeting minutes is good practice.
When writing meeting minutes, different kinds of information need to be included such
as the reason for the meeting, what it was about and where and when it was held. It is important
to include a list of the attendees both their first and last names. If it is not clear, ask the attendees
to make sure that the names were right, otherwise the meeting minutes may be a source of
irritation for attendees. If someone did not attend but it was important that they did, this should
be included. For example, sometimes decisions cannot be made without a particular person being
present.
Before recording any details, a designated minutes recorder should familiarize

themselves with the type of information that they should record. A group may be using a specific
format to record notes but, overall, the minutes of a meeting typically include the following
details:
1. Date and time the meeting happened

2. Names of attendees, as well as absent participants
3. Acceptance of, or amendments made to, the previous meeting’s minutes
4. Decisions made regarding each item on the agenda, such as:
a. Activities undertaken or agreed upon
b. Next steps
c. Outcomes of elections
d. Motions accepted or rejected
e. New business
f. Date and time of the next meeting
When the meeting ends, the individual tasked with writing minutes should get all the
resources he needs to write up the minutes in a clear, presentable way. Here are some tips to
consider:
1. Once the meeting ends, don’t take too long to write the minutes. This way, everything
that took place in the meeting is still fresh in the mind.
2. Review the outline that had been created earlier and make adjustments where necessary.
This might include adding extra information or clarifying some of the issues raised. Also,
check to see that all verdicts, activities, and motions were clearly recorded.
3. Revise the minutes and ensure they’re brief but clear.
4. Distributing the Meeting Minutes
CONCLUSION
Related to listening skill especially interpreting specific expression for business meeting,
18 groups of expressions with some examples have been presented. For the next speaking skills
in chairing a business meeting, there are three main discussions related to the definition,
chairman responsibilities, and general tips to handle a business meeting. Lastly, it is important to
keep up with the meeting through the existence of Minute of Meeting (MoM) as the media to
help you in following up the agreement. Therefore, in the final part of this session, some details
information and the general format of MoM is presented.
REFERENCES
0133248128
Francis Group. London. ISBN:
9781138481688https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPhKhTI0Lss
5. http://www.prolancom.com/meetings/315-language
6. https://www.itro.com.au/how-to-chair-succesful-online-meetings/
7. https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/conduct-meeting.html
8. https://www.wildapricot.com/articles/how-to-write-meeting-minutes
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2llzsF_hR3k
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecd9OhMf73k
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPhKhTI0Lss
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnJVEpyy-Bw
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA-E7ryacmI
LECTURE NOTES
Week 5
Dealing with Business Negotiation

&
Composing Business Negotiation
Email
LEARNING OUTCOMES
professionally
professionally.
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Listening: Language expression for business negotiation
B. Speaking Skill: Dealing with business negotiation
C. Writing Skill: Composing email dealing with business negotiation
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In today’s online class, we will focus on English listening, speaking and writing
skills. Specifically, there are three main discussions related to the language expression
for business negotiation, tips dealing with business negotiation, and composing one of
the business documents that is business email. In this email composition, the topic
will still relate to the business negotiation process. All of those three discussions will
be presented. Moreover, the strategy to do it in general will also be shared in this
session.
DISCUSSION
A. Listening: Language expression for business negotiation
Learning how to communicate using a formal negotiation language gives you an

advantage. May you be a professional or a business owner, you can use this skill in different
situations. If you are targeting to deal with a foreign company, venture into the export market or
enter into foreign trade, knowing how to communicate in the international market effectively will
increase your chances of being successful. Part of going global is encountering people that are
speaking a language different from you, hence requires you to use a bridge language to be able to
interact and negotiate with them. Since much global business is conducted in English, it is best to
learn how to negotiate using it. To increase your chances of getting the best deal possible for
yourself or for your company here are some general negotiation phrases you can use during a
negotiation.
1. Welcoming and establishing a connection
Fostering a positive image even at the start of the negotiation will help you to lay the
groundwork for a positive relationship. People become more agreeable when they see that you
are considerate and welcoming. Also, business owners prefer to do business with companies with
which they have a good relationship. Interacting with professionals in a positive and inviting way
creates an encounter that they will want to repeat. People naturally want to deal with companies
that have earned a good impression during a meeting.
a. “I would like to welcome you to…”
b. “How was your trip?”
c. “Did you have a good journey?”
d. “Is this your first visit to…?”
e. “Would you like anything to drink?”
2. Setting the negotiation agenda
The way you begin the discussion sets the tone for the entire negotiation meeting.
Breaking the ice with a light small talk could help reduce any tense atmosphere. You may do this
by agreeing on the agenda and stating the positive goals that both parties want to achieve for the
meeting. To start a negotiation, here are some of the phrases you can use.
a. “Before we begin, shall we have a look at the main points on the agenda?”
b. “Should we have a look at the main points for today’s discussion?”
c. “To start with, I think we should establish the overall procedure”
d. “I’d like to outline our aims and objectives.”
3. Asking if the other party is in agreement
After laying down the agenda, it is best to ask if the other party is in agreement. This
shows your consideration on your counterpart and helps you to confirm whether there is
something more to include in the discussion. Some of the questions you can use are listed below.
a. “How do our objectives compare to yours?”
b. “Is it acceptable to you?”
c. “Is there anything you’d like to add?”
4. Making proposals
After formally setting up the agenda, the next phase is delivering a value proposition.
This has to be presented in an effective way to increase the chances of your success. To
introduce your proposal, you may use the following phrases below.
a. “We’d like to propose that…”
b. “Concerning your proposal, our basic position is…”
c. “We’ve got several options…”
5. Effective questioning for proposals
To better understand what is being proposed, you would have to get further information.
This will help you to identify possible opportunities and repercussions, uncover the needs and
find alternative options that you can use when making a decision. Some of the questions you can
use when asking further details are listed below.
a. “What are your views on…?”
b. “How do you feel about…?”
c. “Could you be more specific?”
d. “Would you like to suggest a course of action for…?”
6. Responding to suggestions
At some points in the negotiation, you would have to provide suggestions and solutions
to the proposal that have been presented. This is especially needed when a deadlock has been
reached to avoid being stuck. When providing your suggestion, here are some phrases you can
use:
a. “Considering that I would like to suggest…”
b. “Now that you mentioned it…”
c. “Maybe it would be better to…”
d. “Perhaps a better idea would be…”
e. “I’d like to make an alternative offer. I propose that…”
f. “From where we stand, a better solution might be…”
7. Reasoning
After introducing your suggestion, it is best to justify it by supporting it with good

arguments. If the arguments are sound and make sense for both parties, it will possibly be the
option that can be taken. You may use the following phrases below to present your reasons.
a. “One of the key reasons for this is…”
b. “This is because…”
c. “I am basing my solution on three ideas/points/reasons: first,… second,… lastly..”
8. Expressing priorities
Conveying your priorities at certain points of the discussion will help in making the other party
understand your target. Knowing what aspect you give importance to the most will enable them
to consider your preferences and needs. This will help you to come up with an agreement that
works best for both of you. You may express your clear goals by using the following phrases:
a. “We might like to…”
b. “Our main priority is…”
c. “Our intention is…”
d. “The most important issue for us is…”
9. Giving clarification
To avoid taking the negotiation in the wrong direction, it is best to ask for clarification on the
spot when a detail presented seems ambiguous or vague to you. Use any of the phrases below to
clarify a detail.
a. “What exactly do you mean by…?”
b. “Are you suggesting that…?”
c. “Could you clarify one point for me?”
d. “Could you be more specific?”
e. “In other words, you feel that…”
10. Expressing agreement
When an acceptable suggestion or proposal has been presented, express that you are in
agreement with it. This will help you to come to a favorable negotiation outcome. You may
convey your understanding or agreement on a point by using any of the phrases below:
a. “I agree with you on that point.”
b. “You have a strong point there.”
c. “I think that would be acceptable.”
d. “That’s a fair suggestion.”
e. “That sounds great to us.”
f. “I am with you on that.”
11. Expressing disagreement and giving reasons
Disagreements are part of negotiating and should be expressed to let the other party know
that you are not on the same page. However, this does not have to sound hostile but should be
conveyed in a tactful and polite manner. Utilize the following phrases below to express your
disagreement while using a diplomatic tone.
a. “I understand where you’re coming from, however,…”
b. “I can’t quite agree with you on that.”
c. “I’d have to disagree with you there.”
d. “I’m afraid we have some reservations on that point…”
e. “I’m afraid that doesn’t work for me.”
f. “I’m afraid I had something different in mind.”
g. “That’s not exactly how I look at it.”
12. Compromising
On certain occasions, you would need to compromise during a negotiation. You have to
meet your partner halfway to come up with a mutually beneficial outcome. In this case, you have
to tell them what are the acceptable alternatives to you, what are you willing to trade and what
are you not prepared to budge. To express your willingness to compromise, use the following
phrases below.
a. “We might be able to work on… if you could…”
b. “We are ready to accept your offer; however, there would be one condition.”
c. “Would you be willing to accept a compromise?”
d. “In return for this, would you be willing to…?”
e. “Could you meet us halfway?”
13. Bargaining
Part of the negotiation is talking about the conditions, transaction or price. It is normal to
debate about these aspects to get the best possible deal. However, you must be firm and be able
to justify offers. Some of the bargaining phrases you can use are:
a. “I’m afraid we can only go as low as…”
b. “From where we stand an acceptable price would be…”
c. “Our absolute bottom line is…”
14. Delaying
On occasions when you need some time to study both the opportunities and repercussions
of an offer or when you need to consult or wait for the approval of someone, it is best to delay a
decision. Here are some ways to express a request for a delay in decisions.
a. “I have to admit that we will have to study this. May we get back to you on this point
later?”
b. “I’ll have to consult with my bosses back in the office.”
c. “I will need to think about it more and return to you again later.”
d. “I am not entitled to make decisions of that kind by myself.
15. Refusing a proposal while maintaining goodwill
Not all negotiations can result in successful deals. Some do not get completed since one
of the parties may be dissatisfied with the proposal or incapable of providing the requirements of
the agreement. In this case, refusing a proposal must still be expressed gracefully to ensure that
goodwill is still maintained. Here are some ways to express it:
a. “I am afraid I can’t agree with that.”
b. “With all due respect, I must kindly decline your offer.”
c. “That’s not really a viable option for us.”
d. “That would be very difficult for us because…”
16. Accepting the proposal
When the deal is good for both parties, accepting the negotiation proposal must be
expressed. Some of the ways you can express your acceptance are listed below.
a. “This agreement is acceptable to us.”
b. “I think we have reached an agreement here.”
c. “That sounds reasonable.”
d. “I think we have a deal.”
e. “I believe we have an agreement.”
f. “I can agree to that.”
17. Concluding
Before the negotiation ends, it is best to summarize the points that have been agreed or
disagreed on. This will help to formally clarify the points and a chance to ensure that both parties
are amenable to the agreements discussed and are willing to take the respective actions for it.
Some of the ways to recapitulate the negotiation discussion are the following:
a. “Let’s look at the points we agree on…”
b. “Shall we try to sum up the main points of our discussion?”
c. “Have I left anything out?”
d. “I think you’ve covered everything.”
e. “Let’s just confirm the details, then.”
f. “This is where we currently stand…”
18. Closing
Regardless that the negotiation has been successful or not. It is best to close the
discussion properly. Here are some ways to close the negotiation.
a. “Let’s leave it this way for now.”
b. “I’m willing to work with that.”
c. “I think we both agree to these terms.”
d. “I’m satisfied with this decision.”
e. “I think we should get this in writing.”
f. “Would you be willing to sign a contract right now?”
g. “Let’s meet again once we’ve had some time to think.”
By learning these basic phrases, you will feel much more confident when communicating
during a negotiation. Remember to listen and consider what others are saying to ensure that the
respond and use the phrases are correct and appropriate at the right time. Also, don’t forget to
treat the other party with respect and prepare thoroughly to increase the chances of success.
B. Speaking Skill: Dealing with business negotiation
A Business Negotiation is a process between two or more parties. Each of them

commonly has its own aims, needs, and viewpoints seeking to discover a common ground and
reach an agreement to settle a matter of mutual concern, resolve a conflict and exchange value.
In another point of view, negotiating is about winning. For others, it's about compromise or a
collaboration, frequently both sides can get what they want.
Negotiations can be called as a way of resolving disputes. It is considered as being
synonymous to settlement, agreement, collaboration, and bargaining. Negotiation can be defined
as a channel of communication intended to reconcile differences between parties and to settle
conflict jointly. The parties aim at achieving a win-win position. Business Negotiations requires
a lot of homework, such as asking what the need of negotiation is, who all are involved, what are
their viewpoints, what are your aims, what is expected from negotiation, etc. Here are five things
we can do to collaborate when negotiating
1. Know your objectives.
Make a list of the results you'd like to achieve. What are your priorities? Remember that
maintaining a good relationship might be one of your objectives.
2. Separate the people from the issue.
Understand the difference between the content of the negotiation and the people who are
negotiating. Try to be objective and manage your negative emotions.
3. Ask questions and listen.
Some people enter a negotiation prepared with a speech about what they want. However,
it is important to also understand your negotiation partner's interests and objectives. Ask
questions, listen and get an overview of everyone's situation can be great to do.
4. Find shared interests.
Get to know how different your interests from your negotiating partner are. Which
interests clash and which ones are shared. An understanding of shared interests will help you see
this as an opportunity to work together rather than a competitive situation.
5. Look at creative options.
The first solution you think might not always be the best one. Think creatively and discuss
different alternatives that might work for everyone.
Most people have positive intentions and they do want to get along, even in potentially
tense situations. By showing that we are professionals capable of collaborating, we can not only
please everyone involved but also set a strong foundation for future negotiations.
In addition, there are certain do’s and don’ts in case of negotiations:
1. Do not discuss too many issues, emphasize on the prior issues.

2. Be honest and straightforward. Don’t get carried away by rumours.
3. Never give deadlines, it might lead to delays in deals.
4. Keep away personal differences. Just focus your arguments on facts.
5. Keep on giving recaps during the negotiation process.
6. Avoid being rigid. Listen to the other parties view point if valid.
7. Give testimonials for your argument. Support your argument with facts.
8. Don’t make demands which can’t be accepted at all.
9. Don’t let emotions overwhelm you.
10. Be optimistic. Don’t fear losing. There are opportunities in other transactions also.
C. Writing Skill: Composing email dealing with business negotiation
Negotiating with email is entirely different from negotiating physically or over the phone.
In this style of communication, it is possible to risk miscommunicating with one another if there
is a failure to use one of the five modes of communication, that is: tone of voice, words, posture,
touch, and facial expression. In the day to day lives, negotiating is frequently done without being
aware. Then, how to overcome the barriers in having real communication with email.
Unlike a telephone conversation where spoken words are clear, with an opportunity to
explain any misunderstood point and oftentimes adjust to the other person’s tone; when
negotiating with email, you only get one chance, once the sent button is used, that ends the
conversation until a response is received. Be that as it may, negotiating over the phone cannot
fully convey body language and facial expressions, something that’s most important when
negotiating. Here are a few ways to add the right tone, emotions, and context to negotiating with
email, alongside a customizable sample you can adjust. Now let’s use the example of a seller
supplying you with some materials but you want a lower price.
1. Ensure your tone is polite and professional, that is, the other party should feel well
respected When you're negotiating with email. For example, if you need a price reduction
on goods with a vendor, gently tell him what he needs to do so that the price reduction is
accepted.
2. Use words that show you believe in his ability.
3. Make him empathize with you. When your tone is not confrontational or passing off that
you are weak, but one that gets the reader to empathize with your position, then you are
on the winning side.
4. Subtly let the vendor know the action you intend to take if he does not accept your
proposed price.
5. Intimate him about your desire to continue doing business with him in future. However,
when you do this, be careful not to commit too much so that your words are not used
against you.
Winning at negotiating requires tactical skills but it is as simple as it gets. Mastering the
art of getting the point across in a way that a mutually beneficial outcome is reached is needed.
In that way, everyone is happy. Here is a sample for negotiating with email
Dear Chintya,
I received your proposal, and I must say I am extremely impressed. I appreciate the effort
you put into sending such a comprehensive and well-tailored proposal to us. Indeed it must have
taken a lot of your time and resources to ensure that all we require was succinctly outlined, with
nothing left out.
My partner and I reviewed the proposal and we are happy to let you know that, with all
indication, you got our needs right and proffered adequate solutions to them. However, there is
one thing that may not allow us to accept the proposal and it’s nothing more than the attached
price.
You see, our budget for this project is below your stated price, and we have received two
other proposals which seem to fall within the budgeted price. As much as I know that you have
been the best hand for this project, it is sad to say that if you will not be able to bring this price
down to our earlier stated budget, we may be forced to consider other suppliers.
As a reminder, the budget we have is 10% lower than your stated price and we would
love to hear positive feedback from you in this regard. Should you reject this offer, we may be
forced to use another supplier until you can agree to our terms. I believe you will find a way
around getting the job done within our budget so that we can remain in the good working
relationship we already built from previous years, one we believe will result in future contracts
between your company and ours.
We look forward to your positive response within the coming week.
Sincerely,
Justin Sean
Dr Ltd.
CONCLUSION
Related to previous discussion on business negotiation listening, speaking, and writing,

there are 18 expressions on welcoming and establishing a connection, setting the negotiation
agenda, asking if the other party is in agreement, making proposals, effective questioning for
proposals, responding to suggestions, reasoning, expressing priorities, giving clarification,
expressing agreement, expressing disagreement and giving reasons, compromising, bargaining,
delaying, refusing a proposal while maintaining goodwill, accepting the proposal, concluding,
and closing. Five general tips on negotiating and an example of writing a business negotiation
email are presented.
REFERENCES
0133248128
Course, Fourtg Edition. Pearson Longman. New York. ISBN 0-13-199311-
Francis Group. London. ISBN: 9781138481688
5. https://www.businessphrases.net/negotiation-phrases/
6. https://www.fluentu.com/blog/business-english/business-english-negotiation-phrases
7. https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-negotiate-over-email
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ZDNgtAsbw
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05uFs8qVCcI
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3mFnAk9sbw
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tu1jN65slw&t=1s
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amJZXjxnhTI
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODgy-wY0WhU
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQNK38iKRxk&t=74s
LECTURE NOTES
Week 6
Statement of Fact and Opinion

LEARNING OUTCOMES
professionally.
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Indicating the opinion and fact from the passages
B. Speaking Skill: Stating another point of view from an existing information
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In this meeting, the focus of the discussion will be about English reading and speaking
skills. Specifically, there are two main agenda on indicating the opinion and fact from the
passages and stating another point of view from the existing information. For the further
discussion, there will be presented the different of facts and opinion and how to identify them
easily. Then, in the speaking session, restating definition and also the way to restate information
properly will also be shared.
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Indicating the opinion and fact from the passages
In order to read effectively, students must be able to identify and comprehend which
statements are fact, and which are opinion. This is an essential part of understanding the
meaning of the passage, whether it is read as part of an assignment in universities or in the
workplace. Knowing the difference between fact and opinion may be even more important when
the purpose of reading is for news or entertainment.
1. Fact vs. Opinion
Facts is objective. Factual information present just the facts, and everyone could agree with
them. Those are the sort of items that students could use in a research report, such as facts about
size, number, and others. In addition, facts are useful to inform or make an argument.
Examples:
a. The United States was established in 1776.

b. The pH levels in acids are lower than pH levels in alkalines.
c. Beethoven had a reputation as a virtuoso pianist.
Opinion in the other hand is subjective. Writers may not say anything so obvious as, “I
think”, “I feel” or “In my opinion” to state that opinions are following facts, but most writers
have a point of view. Perhaps they are writing to persuade and stacking their examples to make
a particular argument. Perhaps they are presenting circular reasoning, partial truths, or
questionable cause and effect. For example, advertisements for new cars often show them driven
in perfect weather by attractive people to fun destinations. Therefore, opinions are useful to
persuade, but careful readers and listeners will notice and demand evidence to back them up.
Examples:
a. That was a good movie.

b. Strawberries taste better blueberries.
c. George Clooney is the sexiest actor alive.
d. The death penalty is wrong.
e. Beethoven’s reputation as a virtuoso pianist is overrated.
2. Comparison Chart of Fact and Opinion
BASIS FOR FACT OPINION

COMPARISON
Meaning Fact refers to something that Opinion refers to a judgement

can be verified or proved to be or belief about something.
true.
Based on Observation or research. Assumption or personal view.
What is it? Objective reality Subjective statement
Verification Possible Not possible
Represents Something really happened A perception about

something
Change Universal Differs from person to person
Words Shown with unbiased words. Expressed with biased words.
Debatable No Yes
Influence Facts has the power to Opinion does not have the
influence others. power to influence others.
B. Speaking: Stating another point of view from an existing information
The ability to condense information to its essential points, ideas, or facts is a valuable
skill. Learn what restating is and how to restate information from the books, short stories, essays,
and other literature are crucial.
1. What is Restating Idea?
Restating means expressing the same idea in different words, but not necessarily in a
shorter form. A restatement uses different sentence structure. For example, let's say that we just
read a biography about Abraham Lincoln. The biography contains a whole bunch of details about
Lincoln's life. If you had to tell someone about the biography or write an essay about it, you
wouldn't restate every sentence you read in the book word for word. Instead, you would rephrase
the facts that you have learned and summarize key points about Lincoln's life and
accomplishments. In this lesson, we'll explore ways to restate an idea and condense large
amounts of information.
2. How to restate an idea?
When you want to restate an idea, don't start with the original phrasing and try to change
it. In fact, don't look at the original phrasing at all. Instead, think of the idea in mind and try to
come up with a different way of putting it from scratch.
Here is the practice. Take the following sentence: Saskatoon is colder than Chicago, but many
cities in Siberia are even colder than Saskatoon. To restate that idea, start by taking the words
out. Do not get distracted by the way of the originally phrased. That gives an idea of what the
sentence means, but without the original wording to distraction. Keep the keywords and try to
paraphrase it.
a. Chicagoans might complain about the cold, but residents of Saskatoon have more reason
to grumble, and people living in Siberia often have it even worse.
In this version, the focus is on the people living in each place, not just the place itself.
b. Temperatures in Saskatoon often drop precipitously in the winter. The city is colder than
Chicago on average, but it still doesn't measure up to parts of Siberia.
Here, the focus is back on the cities with the sentence simply rearranged to say the same
thing in a different way.
There are many other equally correct ways that can restate that idea. It is fine to restate
differently. These are just examples of two possible ways that you could use different words to
communicate the same idea.
CONCLUSION
To improve the ability to read effectively, identifying fact and opinion are important.
Facts are objective. Opinions in the other hand are subjective. In this session some comparison of
facts and opinions are presented. Besides that, restating ideas which is defined as expressing the
same idea in different words is also discussed. A restatement uses different sentence structure.
To restate an idea, close the original phrasing at all, think of the idea in mind, and try to come up
with a different way of expressing the idea. Look at the examples in the discussion of this
session.
REFERENCES
0133248128
9
4. https://webapp.ln.edu.hk/ceal/elss/sites/default/files/exercise/cate/reading/Reading%2
0Skills2%20-%20Differentiating%20Fact%20from%20Opinion/index.htm
5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs9ZGW_1oMM
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5l7e6oW-GM
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFyjQTYbIZA
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njstk6xlrh0
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0C3_W15Tc4
LECTURE NOTES
Week 7
Discussion Essay
LEARNING OUTCOMES
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Grammar: Present vs Past Tenses
B. Writing Skill: Writing a discussion essay (recommendation)
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In addition, to prepare the writing foundation, especially in creating sentences, a specific

part of grammar point will be discussed in this lesson. The grammar points will talk about
present vs past tense. This grammar section will be equipped with the example and function.
Related to the discussion essay topic, the definition, types, and essay writing theory will also be
presented part by part. Together with the essay theory, the organization and example of the
discussion essay especially the recommendation essay will be shown as follows.
DISCUSSION
A. Grammar: Present vs past tenses
1. Present simple
The Present Simple tense is a tense which says about something that was true in the past,
is true in the present, and will be true in the future. It is used for general statements of facts.
Example:
a. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen.
b. The sun rises in the east.
c. Tiger kills other animals for food.
Another use of Present Simple is to express habitual or everyday activity.
Example:
a. He plays tennis most weekends.
b. I study for two hours every night.
c. Maya goes to school on foot every morning.
2. Present continuous tense
The Present Continuous tense is a tense which expresses an activity that is in progress at
the moment of speaking. It began in the past but still continuing in the present and will probably
end at future.
Example:
a. John is sleeping right now.
b. Billy is taking a shortcut to school because he thinks he’s late.
c. A: What are you doing with that book?
d. B: Oh, I’m reading it. It’s quite interesting.
Another use of Present Continuous is to tell about an activity or plan for the future.
Example:
a. We're looking for a new flat for next month.
b. I am taking four courses this semester.
c. Lydia is trying to write another book this year.
Note how, in all these examples, we use the present continuous to talk about events which
are temporary/ limited in time. The present simple to talk about events which are
habits/permanent. For “Lydia is trying to write another book this year.”, it means that writing a
book is a general activity she is engaged in at present, but it does not mean she is sitting and
writing at the moment.
3. Future simple
The Future Simple tense is a tense which says about something or an activity that will
happen or not happen in the future. Besides that, the future simple tense can also be used to
express prediction, a prior plan, and willingness. For the usage of expressing prediction, we can
make a sentence using will or be going to.
Example:
a. According to the weather report, it will be sunny tomorrow.
b. According to the weather report, it is going to be sunny tomorrow.
c. Look at that car! It will hit someone.
d. Look at that car! It is going to hit someone.
From the examples above, both (a) and (b) has no different meaning. The examples (c) and (d)
also has no difference in meaning.
Another use of Future Simple tense is to express a prior plan. When the speaker is
expressing a prior plan (something the speaker intends to do in the future because in the past s/he
has made a plan or decision to do it), only be going to is used.
Example:
a. A: Why did you buy this stairs?
B: I’m going to fix my roof tomorrow.
b. I talked to Ennie yesterday. She lost her keys and almost couldn’t enter her home. She is
going to buy a new key chain for her new keys.
Another use of Future Simple tense is also to express willingness. When the speaker volunteers
to do something, the speaker uses will to show his/her willingness. This is different because there
is no prediction or prior plan. It shows about the spontaneous action and willingness from the
heart.
Example:
a. A: Why is it so cold here?
B: Ah, the AC temperature shows 18 degrees of celcius. I’ll turn it off for you.
b. A: I hate these mathematic problems.
B: What’s the matter? You don’t know the answer? Here, I’ll help you.
c. A: Oh, no! The copying machine is broken and I still need to make another copy.
B: Quick, call Adrian. He’ll fix it. He’s the best.
4. Present perfect
The Present Perfect tense is a tense which expresses the idea that something happened
(or never happened) before now, at an unspecified time in the past but still have some impact
or effect in the present. The exact time it happened is not important which is different in past
smiple tense. If the exact time is mentioned, then we can’t use the present perfect tense. We have
to use the past simple tense.
Example:
a. I have already seen that movie.
b. Have you ever visited Singapore?
c. I have never eaten pizza in my whole life.
The present perfect tense also expresses the repetition of an activity before now. The
exact time of each repetition is not important.
Example:
a. We have had five tests so far and there’s still more.
b. She has met her boyfriend every other day for the last three months.
c. I have flown to Makassar for many times.
5. Past simple
The Past Simple tense is a tense which says about something or an activity that began in
the past and also ended at a particular time in the past.
Example:
a. I walked from my home to the school yesterday.
b. He lived in Bandung for two years, but now he lives in Jakarta.
c. Two days ago, I lost my wallet around here.
Another use of Past Simple is to express past activities in sequence. This applies if there is a
sentence using “when” and has both past simple in each clauses. For this type of sentence, the
activity in the “when” happens first.
Example:
a. I stood under the tree when it began to rain. (The rain began first)
b. When she heard the noise, she got up. (She heard the noise first)
c. When I walked on my way home, the car accident happened beside me. (I walked first)
6. Past continuous tense
The Past Continuous tense is a tense which expresses an activity which began earlier and was
in progress when the other action occured. Sometimes the past continuous tense is used as a
background detail in story-telling.
Example:
a. John was sleeping when the thief broke into the house.
b. I was attending the math class last night at 6 p.m.
c. A: What’s wrong? Why is everybody seems to panic?
B: Tommy was climbing the tree to get a boy’s kite but he slipped and fell unconscious!
As we can see, there is a slight difference in example A from past continuous and past simple. If
there is a past continuous tense and a “when clause”, the activity in past continuous tense
happens first.
B. Writing Skill: Writing a discussion essay (recommendation)
1. Discussion essays
Many essay titles require you to examine both sides of a situation and to conclude by
saying which side you favour. These are known as discussion or for and against essays. In this
sense, the academic meaning of the word discuss is similar to its everyday meaning, of two
people talking about a topic from different sides. For a discussion essay, a balanced view is
normally essential. This makes discussion essays distinct from persuasion essays, for which only
one side of the argument is given. When writing a discussion essay, it is important to ensure that
facts and opinions are clearly separated. Often you will examine what other people have already
said on the same subject and include this information using paraphrasing and summarising skills,
as well as correct citations.
2. Discussion essay organization
Although the organization of a discussion essay may vary according to length and
subject, there are several components which most discussion essays have in common. In addition
to general statements and thesis statement which all good essay introductions contain,
the position of the writer will often be stated, along with relevant definitions. The main body will
examine arguments for (in one or more paragraphs) and arguments against (also in one or more
paragraphs). The conclusion will contain a summary of the main points, and will often conclude
with recommendations, based on what you think are the most important ideas in the essay. The
conclusion may also contain your opinion on the topic, also based on the preceding evidence. An
overview of the organization of the essay is given in the table below.
Table 2.1. Discussion essay organization
Structural Purpose Stage of

component essay
General To introduce the reader to the subject of the essay. Introductio

statements n
Position To give the opinion of the writer (not always possible).
Definition(s) To explain any important technical words to the reader.

(optional)
Thesis To tell the reader what parts of the topic will be included in the
essay.
Arguments for To explain to the reader the evidence for the positive side of the Main body
issue, with support. The most important ideas usually come first.
This may be covered in one or more paragraphs.
Arguments To explain to the reader the evidence for the negative side of the
against issue, with support. The most important ideas usually come first.
This may be covered in one or more paragraphs.
Summary To give the reader a brief reminder of the main ideas, while Conclusion
restating the issue. Sometimes also says which ideas the writer
believes have the strongest evidence.
Opinion & To give your opinion and tell the reader what the writer believes is
Recommendati the best action to take, considering the evidence in the essay.
on
Moreover, a discussion essay presents and discusses issues about a specific topic. The
topic should be debatable and open to argument. A good discussion essay requires
comprehensive analysis on both sides of the topic. When writing a discussion essay, you are
required to provide a comprehensive explanation of the issues you are discussing before
presenting your personal opinions and conclusions. The quality of a discussion essay is based on
the writer’s ability to provide research as well as enough evidence to support their views on the
topic.
The following is another discussion essay outline. In creating your discussion essay, the
composition of course should be structured carefully to present your ideas in a completely logical
way that is easy for your reader to interpret. Commonly, a four-paragraph structure is used in
composing an essay but some people prefer to use five paragraphs in this sort of essay. The
difference would look like this:
Table 2.2. Four and Five Paragraphs Discussion Essay Outlines
Aspects Four-paragraph essay Five-paragraph essay
Introduction Introduce the main idea State your Introduce the main idea State your
opinion opinion
Body paragraph 1 Discuss the first point of view Discuss the first point of view
Body paragraph 2 Discuss the second point of view Discuss the second point of view
Body paragraph 3 – Give your opinion
Conclusion Summarise the issue and reaffirm Summarise the issue and reaffirm
position position
In a longer scientific discussion essay, there are six aspects that should be considered
starting from the introduction until the references. In details, the discussion of each aspect can be
seen here:
a. Introduction
Discussion essay’s introduction should set up and state your claim. Your introduction
should include the following:
• An interesting hook in order to grab the reader’s attention.
• A brief explanation of your theory if you are discussing a theory.
• The author’s name and title when discussing a literary work.
• The director, year and title when discussing a film.
• Some background information that will help the reader understand your claim.
• State your claim at the end of your paragraph.
b. Background paragraph
Write a background paragraph after the introduction. It could be one to two paragraphs
long. The purpose of the background paragraph is to lay a foundation for proving your argument.
It should include:
• Summary of the work being discussed.
• Definition of key terms
• Explanation of key theories.
c. Supporting evidence paragraphs
These can be three or four paragraphs that are used for proving your argument. They
include:
Topic sentence. This could be facts or details that you can tell your readers to help them
understand your essay’s topic better.
• An explanation of the topic sentence.
• Evidence. Introduce your evidence in a few words or in a full sentence.
• An explanation of the evidence. Show how the evidence you have provided proves your
arguments.
• Concluding sentence. Finish off your last paragraph with a concluding sentence that
explains how the topic sentence helps the readers understand your essay’s overall claim.
d. Counterargument paragraph
This paragraph should help you sound more objective and reasonable. It helps to prepare
you for your reader’s objections. Include discussions that your readers might bring up against
your discussion and argue against them. End the paragraph with a concluding sentence that
restates your essay’s claim.
e. Conclusion
The conclusion should restate your essay’s overall claim and supporting evidence. Your
conclusion should:
• Restate your thesis statement.
• Restate your introduction paragraph. However, it should not talk about the same exact
thing as your introduction.
• Serve as your essay’s climax.
• Explain to your readers why they should care about your essay.
• Create a sense of movement to a more complex understanding of your essay’s topic.
• Have concrete language to avoid leaving the readers with the impression that your
argument was vague and unsure.
f. References
Provide a list of sources that you have borrowed ideas from to support your topic
sentences.
3. Discussion essay common vocabulary
a. Mark the order
When summarising the stages in a discussion or in presenting your
arguments, it can be useful to mark the order of the items or degrees of
importance. The following words and phrases can be used.
• First..., First of all..., The most important...
• Second..., In the second place...
• Finally..., Lastly...
b. Opinion introduction
The following can be used when introducing your opinion.
• There is no doubt that...
• I believe that...
• One of the main arguments in favour of/against X is that...
c. Synonym
It is important in English writing, including academic writing, to use synonyms rather

than repeating the same word. The following are useful synonyms for 'advantage' and
'disadvantage'.
• advantage: benefit, a positive aspect/feature, pro (informal)

• disadvantage: drawback, a negative aspect/feature, con (informal)
4. Discussion essay example
Below is an example discussion essay entitled “An increasing number of students are
going overseas for tertiary education. To what extent does this overseas study benefit the
students?”
Most people spend around fifteen years of their life in education, from primary school to
university study. In the past, students only had the opportunity to study in their own country.
Nowadays, however, it is increasingly easy to study overseas, especially at tertiary
level. Tertiary education, also called post-secondary education, is the period of study spent at
university. As the final aspect of schooling before a person begins their working life, it is
arguably the most important stage of their education. While there are some undoubted benefits
of this trend, such as the language environment and improved employment prospects, there is
also a significant disadvantage, namely the high cost.
The first and most important advantage of overseas study is the language learning
environment. Students studying overseas will not only have to cope with the local language for
their study but will also have to use it outside the classroom for their everyday life. These
factors should make it relatively easy for such students to advance their language abilities.
Another important benefit is employability. Increasing globalisation means that there are
more multinational companies setting up offices in all major countries. These companies will
need employees who have a variety of skills, including the fluency in more than one language.
Students who have studied abroad should find it much easier to obtain a job in this kind of
company.
There are, however, some disadvantages to overseas study which must be considered,
the most notable of which is the expense. In addition to the cost of travel, which in itself is not
inconsiderable, overseas students are required to pay tuition fees which are usually much higher
than those of local students. Added to this is the cost of living, which is often much higher than
in the students' own country. Although scholarships may be available for overseas students,
there are usually very few of these, most of which will only cover a fraction of the cost.
Overseas study therefore constitutes a considerable expense.
In summary, studying abroad has some clear advantages, including the language
environment and increased chances of employment, in addition to the main drawback, the heavy
financial burden. I believe that this experience is worthwhile for those students whose families
can readily afford the expense. Students without such strong financial support should consider
carefully whether the high cost outweighs the benefits to be gained.
CONCLUSION
The present and past tenses are basic grammar to be mastered. Overall, we have
discussed simple, continuous, perfect, and future present and past tenses with the function and
examples. That knowledge will be useful in writing paragraph or composition. In addition,
discussion essays are a common form of academic writing. This section has given information
on what a discussion essay is and how to organize this type of essay. Some vocabulary for
discussion essays is also given, and there is an example of discussion essay on the topic of
studying overseas.
REFERENCES
Francis Group. London. ISBN: 97811384816881. Mable Chan. (2020). English for
Business Communication. 1st Routledge, Taylor et Francis Group. London. ISBN:
9781138481688
2. https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-discussion-essay-model-answer/
3. https://www.eapfoundation.com/writing/essays/discussion/
4. https://www.ieltsadvantage.com/2015/03/18/writing-task-2-discussion-essay-lesson/
5. https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/support/helps/self-help-
resources/grammar/present-vs-past-tense
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7sVe5z1qIY
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1LKzp2ozVM
LECTURE NOTES
Week 8
Delivering Business Presentation

LEARNING OUTCOME
professionally
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Listening Skill: Taking notes from some business presentations
B. Speaking Skill: Delivering a business presentation
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In this session, we will focus on English listening and speaking skills especially in taking
notes from some business presentation before learning about delivering the business presentation
itself. This section will discuss the effective ways to take notes while listening and move toward
the definition of business presentation, types of business presentation in general, how to design,
how to deliver excellent business presentations, and show the example of important expression in
a business presentation. In addition, in this section there will be shown a best practice in the form
of a short business presentation example.
DISCUSSION
A. Listening Skill: Taking notes from some business presentations
Before practicing your speaking skills especially in delivering a business presentation. It

will be great to find as much as exposures of effective and excellent business presentation. Then
try to highlight the best things you can get on the ways of delivering it, the media, the language,
and many more. From all exposures, it will be easy to later find the best methods of your own
presentation styles. In order to take the lesson from some business presentation topics, you must
take good notes as you listen actively throughout the entire listening.
Many students struggle with that. Students take either no notes and have trouble
remembering important information or they take too many notes and sacrifice understanding and
comprehension. Many students also think they can do better without taking notes because they
feel it distracts them. Without practice and knowing what notes you should write down, it could
be faster to simply not take notes. However, once it has been mastered, note taking will
significantly help to get the important points quickly and most importantly, accurately.
Taking notes on conversations is easier in comparison to a single presentation. First,

conversations are usually much shorter. Second, conversations take place on a college campus
and deal with situations related to university life, so you are most likely familiar with these
subject matters. If you miss what one speaker says, the other speaker will probably give you a
clue as to what you missed. Here are some tips for taking notes for a business presentation.
a. Take notes on the new ideas when introduced and the following clarifications
b. Take notes on the main ideas and overall structure of the presentation
c. Take notes on verbal and non-verbal communication, and special methods
d. Find a balance between listening and note-taking.
e. Keep moving if there is a missing point
f. Use symbols
B. Speaking Skill: Delivering a business presentation
To build the understanding of a business presentation, here is the discussion of business

presentation. Business presentation is a purposive communication of key information about the
company’s plans, products, or practices, designed for either internal or external audiences.
Project proposals, HR policy presentations, investors briefings are among the few common types
of presentations. Fascinating business presentations are key to communicating important ideas,
persuading others, and introducing new offerings to the world.
1. General types of business presentations
A business presentation can be given for several reasons. Respectively, they differ a lot in
terms of content and purpose but overall, all types of business presentations can be classified as:
informative, persuasive, and supportive.
a. Informative business presentation
As the name suggests, the purpose of an informative presentation is to share the

knowledge you have or explain what you know. It is the most common type of business
presentation out there. The examples of informative presentations are team briefings
presentation, annual stakeholder report, quarterly business reviews, business portfolio
presentation, business plan presentation, etc.
b. Persuasive business presentation
The goal of this type of presentation is to persuade your audience of your point of view
and convince them of what you believe is right. Developing business presentations of this
standard requires a more skills as well as expertise in public speaking. Unlike an informative
business presentation, your goal here is to sway the audience’s opinions and prompt them
towards the desired action. The examples of persuasive presentations are pitch deck/ investor
presentations, sales presentation, business case presentation, business proposal presentation, etc.
c. Supportive business presentation
This category of business presentations is meant to facilitate decision making or explain

how can get something done. The underlying purpose here is to communicate the general action
plan. Then break down the necessary next steps for bringing it to life. The examples of
supportive presentations are roadmap presentation, project vision presentation, and so on.
2. Components of business presentation media
Overall, the content of your business presentation will differ depending on its purpose
and type. However, at the very minimum, all business presentations should include:
a. Introductory slide
b. Agenda/purpose slide
c. Main information or Content slides
d. Key Takeaways slides
e. Call-to-action/ next steps slides
3. Effective business presentation tips
A business presentation consists of two parts, a slide deck, and a verbal speech. In this
section, we provide tips and strategies for nailing your deck design. In the next section, you can
see more detail on the verbal communication.
The first slides of the presentation make or break the success of the presentation. By
failing to frame the narrative and set the scene for the audience from the very beginning, it will
struggle to keep their interest throughout the presentation. There are several ways of how to start
a business presentation:
a. Use a general informative opening: a summative slide, sharing the agenda and main
points of the discussion.
b. Go for a story opening: a more creative, personal opening, aimed at pulling the audience
into your story.
c. Try a dramatic opening: a less apparent and attention-grabbing opening technique, meant
to pique the audience’s interest.
In the main points of your presentation, use images, instead of bullet points. If you have
ever watched Steve Jobs’s presentations, you may have noticed that he never used bullet-point
lists because using bullet points is the most universal advice in presentation design. If the goal of
the presentation is to improve the memorability, always replace texts with images and
visualizations when it makes sense.
Remember also that fewer slides are better. No matter the value, a long PowerPoint
presentation becomes tiring at some point. People lose focus and stop retaining the information.
Here are several quick tips to shorten your slides:
a. Use a three-arc structure featuring a clear beginning (setup), main narrative

(confrontation), ending (resolution). Drop the ideas that don’t fit into the presentation.
b. Write as you tweet. Create short, on-point text blurbs of under 156 symbols, similar to
what you’d share on Twitter.
c. Contextualize your numbers. Present any relevant statistics in a context, relevant to the
listeners. Turn longer stats into data visualizations for easier cognition.
In a solid business presentation, each slide feels like part of the connecting story. To
achieve such consistency, apply the same visual style and retain the same underlying message
throughout your entire presentation. Use the same typography, colour scheme, and visual styles
across the deck.
In the closing part, people best remember the information shared last. Therefore, make
those business presentation takeaways stick in the audience’s memory. We have three strategies
for that. The rule of three, closing technique, and questioning technique.
The rule of three is a literary concept, suggesting that we best remember and like ideas
and concepts when they are presented in threes. The Rule of Three works because three is the
maximum number of items most people can remember on their first attempt. Likewise, such
pairings create a short, familiar structure that is easy to remember for our brains. Many famous
authors and speakers use this technique:
• “Duty – Honor – Country. Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought
to be, what you can be, and what you will be”. Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
• “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” are the unalienable rights of all humans that
governments are meant to protect.” Thomas Jefferson
Another popular presentation closing technique is Title Close is going back to the
beginning of your narrative and reiterating your main idea (title) in a form of a takeaway. Doing
so helps the audience better retain your core message since it is repeated at least two times. It
brings a sense of closure and a feel-good state our brains love. Also, a brief one-line closure is
more memorable than a lengthy summary and thus better retained.
The third, if you want to keep the conversation going once you are done presenting, you
can conclude your presentation with a general question you’d like the audience to answer.
Alternatively, you can also encourage the members to pose questions to you. The latter is better
suited for informational presentations where you’d like to further discuss some of the matters and
secure immediate feedback.
In the verbal communication especially in delivering the business presentation, practicing

the opening, main, and closing parts are crucial. To start a presentation, you can: introduce
yourself, tell about your topic, tell the reason why you choose that topic, tell about time limit for
your presentation, give a plan of your talk, and invite questions.
1. Introducing yourself
a. Good morning, everyone.

b. Hello everyone, welcome to …
2. Structuring the presentation
a. I’m going to divide my talk into 4 parts. First, I’ll give you… After that, … Finally, …
b. There are four discussions in this presentation. Those are…
3. Inviting questions
a. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be glad to answer any questions (at
the end of my talk).
b. Is there any question?
4. Giving background information
a. I’ll give you some background

b. Let’s start with the background
c. Referring to the audience’s knowledge
d. As you know, … / As you are aware, …
5. Changing the topic
a. Right, let’s move on to …

b. OK, I’ll now look at …
6. Referring to visuals
a. If you look at the graph …

b. Could I draw your attention to the chart?
7. Concluding
a. To sum up, …
b. To summarize, …
8. Ending
a. Thanks very much. Any questions?

b. Well, that’s all I have to say
c. Thank you for listening.
Beside paying attention to those structure, in doing presentation there should be a hook to
grab the audience attention. The way to do hook such as:
1. Tell a personal story
Example, “when I was on holiday a few years ago in Greece, I remember talking to the
owner of a taverna. He said to me that in 20 years’ time, the little island where he lived would be
a popular tourist resort.”
2. Offer an amazing fact
Example, “Let me start by giving you a statistic: 92% of all Americans do not possess a
passport. Think about that & consider the opportunity it presents to the travel industry.”
3. Use a quotation
Example, “Someone once said that ‘travel broadens the mind’. What I hope to do in this
presentation is demonstrate how to convince the next generation of travelers that this is still
true.”
4. Ask a question
Example, “I wonder if any of you here know the answer to this question: What’s the most
popular holiday destination in Europe for people under the age of 25?”
5. State a problem
Example, “We’re facing a crisis with our market share.”
For the full example of a short presentation, have a look at the following draft of the
presentation. Remember, this is only a guideline, for a good presentation it is suggested for the
presenters to speak naturally and don’t ever try to memorize word by word.
A Short Business Presentation Example
Welcome to my presentation. I know you’re all very busy, so I’ll be as brief as possible. OK
then, I’m going to talk about the new noodle product we’re putting on the market, the SuperMie.
I’ll tell you about the test launch we carried out in several malls in Jakarta a few weeks ago.
My presentation is divided into 3 parts. First, I’ll give you some background about the launch.
After that, I’ll tell you how we got on & assess its effectiveness. Finally, I’ll outline our future
plans for the product. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Right, let’s start with the background to the launch. As you know, SuperMie is a low-calorie but
high nutritious rice noodle with a distinctive taste. It’s been thoroughly tested in focus groups &
special attention was paid to the packaging. It’s wrapped in a recycle paper. The colors are
dominantly green, soft, to give an environment-friendly impression. OK everyone?
So, that’s the background. Right, let’s now move on to the test launch. How successful was it?
Well, in 2 words, very successful. If you look at the graph, you’ll see the noodle’s actual sales
compared with forecast sales. Quite a difference isn’t there? The sales were over 20% higher
than we predicted. In other words, a really good result. Well above our expectations. The sales
show that the pricing of the product was correct and they show that, as a premium line, the
SuperMie should be successful nationwide.
To sum up, a very promising test launch. I believe the noodle has great potential in the market.
Right, where do we go from here? Obviously, we’ll move on to stage 2 & have a national
advertising & marketing campaign. In a few months, you’ll be visiting our sales outlets & taking
orders, I hope, for the new product. Thanks very much. Any questions?
CONCLUSION
Overall, the business presentation listening and also speaking skills have been discussed
in the previous discussion. In the development of meaningful learning skills, gaining a better
understanding of business presentation through note taking study of the business presentation
exposures will be so beneficial. Effective notes will lead to the long-term memorizing. After
knowing the content, best aspects of delivering an effective business presentation verbally and
non-verbally, doing a practice on the opening, main, and closing parts of a short business
presentation covering the introduction, structuring, telling the reason, changing topic, using
visual aids, concluding, ending, and doing a good hook become the activity of smoothing a
business presentation.
REFERENCES
0133248128
9
4. http://www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/static_resources/1133951147/47405/level
1.html
5. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/collegesuccess2x48x112/chapter/chapter-
activities-listening-taking-notes-and-remembering/
6. https://www.bestmytest.com/blog/toefl/how-take-notes-toefl-listening-section
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80UVjkcxGmA
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8c50Z0J8ts
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQtxd-93fTM
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyi1bNnvbCY
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N37yt4EKc6g
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDqqupXNr1o
LECTURE NOTES
Week 9
Business Documents
LEARNING OUTCOMES
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Grammar: Formal & Informal Language
B. Writing Skill: Composing a project business proposal (cover letter & complete proposal)
C. Writing Skill: Creating letter/ Email (promotion, inquiry, and complaint)
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In this part, we will focus on English grammar and writing skills. Specifically, there are
three main discussions related to formal and informal language used in English. After that a
discussion on composing a project business proposal, including the cover letters and complete
proposal will be discussed. Thirdly, the other business documents such letter and email related
to the promotion, responding to inquiry, and complaint will also be presented. The materials are
commonly in the form of theoretical discussion followed by the general structure and some
examples.
DISCUSSION
A. Grammar: Formal & informal language
Knowing when to use formal or informal English at work will depend on the business,
the industry, the speakers, and what topic discussed. working in a cross-cultural or with well-
known people, using formal language helps eliminate any misunderstandings and helps in
sounding polite and professional. Here are some tips on how to use formal and informal
language.
1. Situation
This table shows the main scenarios in which situation formal language is properly used.
Using very formal English in everyday situations can sound exaggerated, so always think about
the context and your target audience.
Table 1.1. Formal vs Informal Language Situation
Formal language Informal language

When you are communicating with Situations that are more relaxed and that involve
someone that you don’t know very well people that you know well or know each other well
Business emails Some business correspondence
Academic writing/ articles In everyday conversations
Professional academic situations Personal emails
Presentations Social media
Reports Advertising
Public tenders Spontaneous speech
Official documents Text messages
Talking to superiors Talking to peers
Legal documents Some meeting minutes
Public speaking (speeches, lectures, etc) Networking or socialising with clients
Job interviews Team meetings
2. Grammar
In formal language, grammar is more complex and sentences are generally longer.
For example:
a. We regret to inform you that the delivery will be delayed due to adverse weather
conditions (formal)
Sorry, but the delivery will be late because of the weather (informal)
b. Have you seen my glasses? (formal)
Seen my glasses? (informal)
c. I am sorry to have kept you waiting (formal)
Sorry to keep you waiting (informal)
3. Modal verbs
Formal language uses modal verbs. For example:
a. We would be grateful if….
b. Could you kindly inform us as as to whether..?
4. Pronouns
Formal language is less personal, and is more likely to use the ‘we’ as a pronoun rather
than ‘I’: For example:
a. We can assist in the resolution of this matter. Contact us on our help line number (formal)
I can help you solve this problem. Call me! (informal)
b. We regret to inform you that……(formal)
I’m sorry, but…. (informal)
c. We have pleasure in announcing….(formal)
I’m happy to say…(informal)
5. Vocabulary
In formal language, words are generally longer. For example:
a. Require (formal) vs need (informal)
b. Purchase (formal) vs buy (informal)
c. Acceptable (formal) vs okay (informal)
d. Assistance (formal) vs help (informal)
e. Require (formal) vs want (informal)
6. Pronunciation
Speech is generally slower in formal language, allowing for correct and clear
pronunciation, and the tone of the voice is more serious.
7. Contractions
These are not used in formal language. In informal language they are used for easier flow
and faster speech. For example:
She has decided to accept the job offer (formal)
She’s decided to accept the job offer (informal)
8. Abbreviations and acronyms
These are not used in formal language. For example:
a. As soon as possible (formal) vs asap (informal)
b. Advertisement (formal) vs ad or advert (informal)
c. Photograph (formal) vs photo (informal)
9. Colloquial language
This is not used in formal language. For example:
a. Would you like a cup of tea? (formal) vs Fancy a cuppa? (informal)
b. Would you like to… (formal) vs Do you want…. (informal)
10. Emojis
Emojis are never used in formal language.
B. Writing Skill: Composing a project business proposal (cover letter & complete
proposal)
1. Business Proposal
a. Definition
A business proposal is the first document a business owner writes prior to starting the
business and offering services. A business proposal document includes a description of the
business, a list of services and products to be offered and a chart of the current management and
departmental structures. In addition, it should also include a list of risks associated with running
the business, a fully developed budget and sales forecasts. If the business is a wholesaler, a list of
manufacturers and products should also be included. There are some business proposals types as
follows.
b. Types of business proposal
Most proposals can be divided into several categories:
• Internal proposal is a proposal to someone within your organization (a business, a

government agency, etc. With internal proposals, you may not have to include certain
sections (such as qualifications) or as much information in them.
• An external proposal is one written from one separate, independent organization or
individual to another such entity. The typical example is the independent consultant
proposing to do a project for another firm. This kind of proposal may be solicited or
unsolicited, as explained below.
• Solicited proposal is a solicited proposal in which the recipient has requested the
proposal. Typically, a company will send out requests for proposals (RFPs) through the
mail or publish them in some news source. But proposals can be solicited on a very local
level: for example, you could be explaining to your boss what a great thing it would be to
install a new technology in the office; your boss might get interested and ask you to write
up a proposal that offered to do a formal study of the idea.
• Unsolicited proposals are those in which the recipient has not requested proposals. With
unsolicited proposals, you sometimes must convince the recipient that a problem or need
exists before you can begin the main part of the proposal.
c. A business proposal cover letter
The cover letter of the business proposal is one of the most important parts of the
business proposal. It has been proven that in general, three parts of the business proposal are
examined accurately: the cover letter/ introduction/ executive summary, the costs, and the
timescales. The cover letter has a strong correlation with the executive summary of the proposal.
Therefore, the cover letter is the stripped-down version of the executive summary. It only
presents the key points on the major topics of the business proposal. It stands independently on
its own; when the investor is unable to read the business proposal as a whole or even the
executive summary, the cover letter can still present the major keys of the whole business
proposal.
The cover letter is the file that can open a chance to have a personal word with the
investor and prepare about what’s in-store. It should state that there is in fact a business proposal
attached with the letter and that you are applying for a business loan or to start your own
business. It also states the benefits the investor will gain when they invest in your business, and it
helps you make the investors believe that there is a good return of investment in your business. It
does not merely introduce what the business proposal is all about, in fact it clearly summarizes
the major points made in the executive summary.
It carefully concentrates the message you are trying to relay in your business proposal. In
the other word, it is a summary of a summary, it does not need to be lengthy. So long as the
major points have been thoroughly discussed and presented, your cover letter is doing just fine.
As mentioned before, it also acts as the cover of your proposal. Therefore, it should display your
passion, eagerness, and desire to fully pursue and work for the intended project. As it aims to
convince the investors, important details that greatly affect the whole proposal must be included
in the cover letter. The structure of the cover letter in the business proposal consists of three
parts:
• Introduction: This part is a crucial part of your letter. It captures the reader’s attention.
You should keep it clear and broad but not too broad. Don’t add too much detail.
However, to be direct and straight to the point is the better option.
• Body: The body of your letter must be direct and away from indecision. It clearly
describes the purpose of your business proposal. Don’t use maybe and if in your letter.
• Conclusion: In this part, you should invite the investor to read the proposal as a whole.
Since it is the purpose of your cover letter to encourage the reader to read and understand
the rest of your proposal. Most importantly, in the closing of your letter, must include
your contact information. This is because the investors know when and where to reach
you when they need you for more discussion.
You may also check out a professional cover letter example below.
KY Company
1234, New Avenue Complex, Jakarta, DX, 232323
(021) 777-1234 | kycompany.com | kycompany@gmail.com
To:
Mr. Park Medison, CEO Great Company, Camelia Street.
Dallas, Texas 90237
August 31, 2021
Dear Mr. Medison,
We at KY Company are thrilled to have the opportunity to submit a proposal to help your
company significantly lower its marketing costs. In the accompanying business proposal, we
have outlined how we can help your company transform from simply trying to acquire new
clients to a powerful new dual approach that will help you increase the retention of your existing
customers by over 80% while at the same time targeting and acquiring new clients at a client
acquisition cost that is 30% lower than you are spending now.
After a thorough analysis of your end-to-end marketing and sales process, we found that by
incorporating our proprietary Dual Approach marketing System, we can help your company:
• Increase brand awareness
• Enhance and leverage word of mouth marketing
• Increase your marketing ROI by at least 40%
• Streamline your pre-sales and post-sales process
• Target new client segments, including an untapped local client base, and lower your new
client acquisition costs by over 30%
By using this novel marketing and sales system, your company can increase revenues by almost
40% and create an optimal environment for the marketing of your future products.
The enclosed proposal includes in-depth information detailing how we have helped other
companies in your space achieve their branding and marketing goals. You will also find
examples of work we have done within your sector.
Call us at (021) 777-1234 if you have any questions or require further information. We are
confident that we can create a personalized plan that suits the requirements of your company.
Sincerely,
Xivana
d. A complete business proposal coverage
Before you start creating your business proposal template, you need to know what it
comprises. At a high level your effective business proposal should include the following:
1) Title
2) Table of contents
3) Executive summary
4) The problem statements
5) The proposed solution
6) Qualifications
7) The timeline
8) Pricing, billing and legal
9) Terms and conditions
10) The acceptance
Below, each of the item will be discussed.
1) Business proposal title
A compelling title could mean the difference between someone reading your proposal or
ignoring it in favour of a competitor’s. Here are the essential elements to include: your name
along with your company’s name; the name of the prospect (or their business); The date you’re
submitting the proposal.
2) Table of contents
The table of contents is a fundamental part of every winning business proposal template.
It makes your proposal scannable and easy to read. The people you will be pitching to are usually
executives’ level. These are busy people who don’t have time to read your entire proposal in one
go. Adding a table of contents to your document makes it easy for them to go through it at their
own pace. They can also skim through parts of the proposal that they deem more important. You
can also make your business proposal template easier to navigate by adding hyperlinks to the
document, particularly in the table of contents. This way your clients can jump to specific
sections without having to scroll through the entire document.
3) Executive summary
The executive summary is a staple in all kinds of annual reports, project plans and
even marketing plans. It is a concise summary of the entire contents of your document. In other
words, write a business proposal outline that is easy to glance over and that highlights your value
proposition. The goals of your executive summary are: introduce your company to your buyer;
provide an overview of your company goals; showcase your company’s milestones, overall
vision and future plans; include any other relevant details.
Take a note of how precise this business proposal example is. You want to keep your
executive summary concise and clear. This sets the right tone for the rest of your proposal. It also
gives your buyer a reason to continue reading your proposal. Try to write an executive summary
such that, even if your prospective client doesn’t read the entire proposal (with a good executive
summary, they most likely will), they should have a clear idea about what your company does
and how you can help them.
4) The problem statements
The point of writing a business proposal is to solve a buyer’s problem. Your goal is to
outline the problem statement as clearly as possible. This develops a sense of urgency in your
prospect. They will want to find a solution to the problem and you have that solution.
A well-defined problem statement does two things:
• It shows the prospect you have done your homework instead of sending a generic pitch
• It creates an opportunity for you to point out a problem your prospect might not be aware
they had in the first place.
5) The proposed solution

In the proposed solution section, it shows how you can alleviate your prospective buyer’s
pain points. This can fit onto the problem statement section but if you have a comprehensive
solution or prefer to elaborate on the details, a separate section is a good idea. Spare no details
with respect to the solution you will provide. When you write a business proposal, explain how
you plan to deliver the solution. Include an estimated timeline of when they can expect your
solution and other relevant details. For inspiration, look at how this business proposal template
quickly and succinctly outlines the project plan, deliverables, and metrics.
6) Qualifications
At this point, the prospect you’re pitching your solution to likes what they’re reading. But
they may not trust you to deliver on your promises. It’s because they don’t know you. Your job
is to convince them that you can fix their problem. This section is important because it acts as
social proof. You can highlight what your company does best and how qualified your team is
when you write a business proposal for a potential client. Attaching in-depth case studies of your
work is a great way to build trust with a potential client by showcasing how you’ve solved
similar problems for other clients in the past. Our case study examples post can show you how to
do just that.
7) The timeline
To further demonstrate just how prepared you are, it’s important to outline the next steps
you will take should your buyer decide to work with you. Provide a timeline of how and when
you will complete all your deliverables. You can do this by designing a flow chart. Or add
a roadmap with deadlines. Pitching a long-term project? A timeline infographic would be a better
fit. If you look at this abstract business proposal template below, even something as simple as a
table can do the trick.
8) Pricing, billing and legal
On this page, you can outline your fees, payment schedule, payment terms, as well as
legal aspects involved in this deal. The key to good pricing is to provide your buyer with options.
A pricing comparison table can help with this. You want to give your client some room to work
with. Make sure you’re not scaring off your client with a high price, nor undervaluing yourself.
Breaking up your pricing in stages is another great way to make sure your potential client knows
what he’s paying for.
9) Terms and conditions
Summarize everything you have promised to deliver so far. Include what you expect from
your prospective buyer in return. Add the overall project timeline from start to end, as well as
payment methods and payment schedule. This way, both of you will be clear on what is being
agreed on. This step is very important as it outlines all the legal aspects of the deal. That is why
the terms and conditions section of your proposal needs to be as clear as possible. It is
recommended to consult a lawyer or your legal team when working on this section of the
business proposal. If you’re a business veteran and understand the legalities of your business,
you can use the same terms and conditions across all your proposal.
10) The acceptance
The final step of this whole process. Your client has read your business proposal and they
want to buy what you have to offer. Add a small section at the end of your proposal to get the
necessary signatures. This way, you and your client can sign the proposal and the partnership
becomes official. Be sure to also include your contact information in your business proposal
template. It acts as a gentle prompt to your client to contact you in case they have any questions.
Pictures 1.1-1.9 Business Project Proposal Examples
Nowadays, in this digital era, business proposal design is important to attract the clients’ interest.
Here are some tips focusing on the proposal design with the examples.
1) Know your audience
2) Put your brand front and centre
3) Try less text, more visuals
4) Switch up your business proposal designs with some extra colors.
Pictures 1.10-1.12 Nowadays Business Proposal Design Examples
C. Writing Skill: Creating letter/ email (promotion, inquiry, and complaint)
1. Letter
In writing a formal communication, it is possible to convey message in a business letter.

For example, if you are writing about a contractual issue, it is wise to have a hard copy of your
correspondence. The disadvantage to this is that pieces of paper can get lost. Writing a business
letter seems challenging, it may be helpful to know that all business letters should follow a basic
template. The template can be used for any business situation but here, there are some letter
examples for specific business condition as well.
a. General structure
• Date
Start your letter by writing the full date of your letter about two inches from the top on
the left side of the paper. In the United States, dates are always written as month, date,
and year: April 23, 2009.
• Addresses and Salutation
Drop down one line from the date and put your street address on one line, your city, state
and ZIP code on the next line, and your email address on the third line. Drop down
another two lines and put the recipient’s name on the first line, her title on the next line
beneath that, her company name on the third line, the company’s street address below
that, and her company’s city, state and ZIP code beneath that. Begin your letter with
“Dear” and either Ms. or Mr. and the person’s last name, unless you know the person
uses another honorific, such as Dr. or Rev., followed by a colon. The top of your letter,
under the date, will look like this:
123 Your Street Yourtown,
ST 12345
yourname@email.com
Ms. Clara
Wills Human Resources Director
456 Company Road Company City, ST 67890
Dear Ms. Wills:
• Body
For the body of your letter, make each paragraph left justified (even with the left margin)
and leave a line between paragraphs. Your writing in the body of the letter should be
professional and to the point: Clearly state the nature of the letter, your reasons for
sending it and what you hope to gain in response to the letter. Separate each idea of the
letter into a separate paragraph. If you have more than one request or purpose for your
letter, state them both in your introductory paragraph and then treat each fully but
separately in subsequent paragraphs. Avoid using acronyms or abbreviations as they can
cause confusion: Spell out exactly what you are talking about. Use proper grammar and
spelling, and always Spellcheck your letter before you send it.
• Closing
End your business letter with “Sincerely,” or “Sincerely Yours.” Drop down four spaces
in a print letter and put your full name. Sign in the space between the closing and your
name. In an email, put your name on the next line after your closing.
b. Promotion letter example
Here is the sample of marketing letter to get clients.
Name of the sender

Organization name
Designation
Contact details
Email details
Date – DD/MM/YYYY
Name of the receiver

Organization name
Designation
Contact details
Email details
Subject: ………
Dear ………,
Hope you are doing well.
I ……… (mention your name) working as ……… (mention work designation)
with ……… (mention company name) located at ……… (mention the location)
would like to connect with you over the discussion of ……… (mention about
the product/service).
We are in the same industry ……… and would like you to know about the
multiple possibilities that are listed with the introduction of ……… (mention the
benefits of products/services). It is created to ……… (mention the benefits) as
we are aware of the problems faced by the companies in the industry ………
(mention some of the problems).
The ……… product/service is designed to bring a positive change to the daily

work schedule and dealings. We would like you to know more about the ………
and how it can be of use in the daily schedule and routine.
In case of any further query or clarification please feel free to call or email us at
the mentioned details.
Yours truly,
Your name
c. Inquiry letter example
Wednesday, August 20th, 2020

Beamy Johansen,
Resident – Ohio State,
13183 State Route 13,
Millfield, Ohio 45761
Dear Mr. Kelvin Anderson,
RE: Inquiry Letter
I earnestly implore you to grant me access to Mr. Bobby Brian’s tax returns records and the birth
certificate. My plea is in line with the Access to Public Information Act 2004 which, among
others, mandates any member of the public to seek sensitive information about anyone gunning
for the top seat.
Kindly use my address that I have furnished to revert to me. In case you want a one-on-one
conversation or interview, kindly reach me on 1-330-465-9807.
I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Regards,
Beamy Johansen
d. Complaint letter example
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
(Your email address, if sending by email)
Date
Name of Contact Person, Title, Company Name

Consumer Complaint Division, Street Address
City, State, ZIP Code
Re: (Your account number, if you have one)
Dear, (Contact Person or Consumer Complaint Division)
On ……. (date), I ……… (bought, leased, rented, or had repaired/ serviced) a ……… (name of
the product, with serial or model number or service performed] at [location and other important
details of the transaction).
Unfortunately, ……… (your product has not performed well/ the service was
inadequate) because ……… (state the problem, like the product doesn’t work properly, the
service wasn’t performed correctly, I was billed the wrong amount, or something was not
disclosed clearly or was misrepresented, etc).
To resolve the problem, I would appreciate a ……… (state the action you want, like a refund,
store credit, repair, exchange, etc). Enclosed are copies ……… (do not send originals] of my
records [include receipts, guarantees, warranties, canceled checks, contracts, model and serial
numbers, and any other documents) concerning this purchase ……… (or repair).
I look forward to your reply and a resolution to my problem. I will wait until ……… (set a
reasonable time limit) before seeking help from a consumer protection agency or other
assistance. Please contact me at the above address or by phone at ……… (phone number with
area code).
Sincerely,
Your name
2. Email
Related to the previous definition of a letter, a business email can convey the same
message, but if it is a serious matter, business email often is seen as less formal than a business
letter. If your communication requires a wet signature, you obviously cannot sign a business
email in ink. You can affix an electronic or digital signature to an email message, however and a
business email can remain in an electronic folder forever. Face-to-face interaction often can be
replaced by business emails for routine business correspondence.
a. General structure
• Preparation and Formatting
Consider the audience of the business email before composing a message. An email to a
trusted and longstanding vendor will differ in tone than one intended for a potential
customer. The subject line should clearly identify the email's purpose without being
vague. Begin your email with a professional salutation such as "Dear," including the
recipient's full name, or "Sir" or "Madam" if it is unknown. After initial contact, the
recipient may be comfortable with a more informal salutation. Be careful for some other
details such as:
Present a respectable email profile. Your address and the subject line should be
identifiable and reflect your business or professional status. For example, if you are
sending email to clients, it should be "johndoe@mybusiness.com" instead of
"doefamily1987@bigmail.com."
There is no need for an inside address as with traditional letters, so begin with the
greeting, which should reflect your relationship with the recipient and be as formal as
possible. A common business email faux pas is the lack of a simple greeting, which tells
the recipient that the email is intended for him.
• Content
Effective business emails focus on a central idea, so the message should be as short as
possible. Since facial expressions cannot be conveyed in emails, avoid ironic or sarcastic
statements that may lead to misunderstandings. Write in complete sentences.
Abbreviations, slang, and colloquialisms may confuse the reader and even decrease
credibility. Do not use an email to resolve a business issue that should be handled in
person.
Avoid email confrontations and remember that emails live forever on hard drives and
servers and can be used in court. Avoid rambling in business emails. If you must include
many details, create a document for them and attach it instead of putting them in the
body of the email. Avoid emoticons, computer slang, exclamation marks or question
marks more than once, and caps lock. If you have doubts about the content or format, try
printing it on letterhead and evaluating its professionalism. If it doesn't seem
professional on paper, it is not professional in an email.
• Closing
Make the closing professional with "Thank You" or "Sincerely." Your business and
contact information should go in your email signature. A scanned or otherwise
electronically formatted signature is acceptable. If you normally use a quote, tagline, or
other information, evaluate how appropriate it is for business situations.
b. Promotion email example
Picture 2.1. An example of Promotional Email
c. Responding to inquiry email example
Subject: Re: M Company | Product inquiry: Frozen Food
Dear Ms. Xivana,
First of all, we would like to express our thanks for your interest in our frozen food product.
Regarding your inquiry, we are happy to provide you our Frozen food product brochure and our
Wholesale price list. Please note that the brochure included all the information you asked for.
Both items are attached at the end of this email.
In addition to the items above, we have also enclosed a Frozen food catalog (presenting different
types of food available) and our Logistics guidelines for this product. We believe that this will be
of help to you.
We hope our response has satisfied your request. Should there be any questions, please feel free
to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Dieya.
Sales Department | A Company.
d. Acknowledging complaint email example
Dear Samuel,
Thank you for contacting Queen Industries by email. Note that we take our customer’s
satisfaction seriously and we are glad to hear from you.
This email is to let you know that we received your message and we will get back to you with a
response as soon as possible.
Please be advised that our response time can take up to 8 hours due to our large customer base.
During working hours we do our best to reply as quickly as possible and on weekends, our
response time can take a little bit longer due to our limited staff on weekends.
For any questions or further assistance, please reply to this message or call us at
+8779090232323 or visit kingindustry.com.
Kind Regards,
Orlyn Smith.
Customer service director.
CONCLUSION
Differentiating formal and informal language in English can be really useful both in
academic and professional communication. Especially, inside of the discussion, formal language
is used in composing the business proposal, including the cover letters, promotional letter,
inquiry letter, complaint letter, promotional email, inquiry email respond, and complaint email
acknowledgement. All of those documents has been discussed theoretically and followed by the
general structure and example.
REFERENCES
Francis Group. London. ISBN: 9781138481688[Main Textbook]
2. https://bizfluent.com/facts-5841341-difference-business-letters-business-email.html
3. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/sample-customer-complaint-letter
4. https://ejoy-english.com/blog/most-effective-inquiry-response-email/
5. https://engdic.org/formal-and-informal-words/ => pic
6. https://images.template.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/New-Business-Proposal-Format-
Download.pdf
7. https://templatearchive.com/marketing-letters/#google_vignette
8. https://www.doctemplates.net/letter-of-inquiry-templates/
9. https://www.teachenglishtoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FORMAL-AND-
INFORMAL-ENGLISH.pdf
10. https://www.woculus.com/7-examples-of-replies-to-customer-complaints-email/
11. https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2020/07/21/promotional-email-examples
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ZDNgtAsbw
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18E1ZA-yUgw
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FOptwGnD8I
15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3uQEaKT88E
16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkQn76-8MvM
17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdKYl8Tg_FQ
18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsGBuu88WE0
LECTURE NOTES
Week 10
Capturing Ideas in Different Texts

&
Summarizing and Paraphrasing Texts
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of this Ccourse, students will be able to:
professionally.
professionally.
OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Skimming and scanning texts
B. Writing Skill: Summarizing and paraphrasing the readings
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
INTRODUCTION
In today’s online class, we will focus on English reading and writing skills. Specifically,
there are two main discussions. Those are skimming and scanning. Inside of the skimming and
scanning skills, the definition, reason, and strategies to improve the skills will be discussed.
Besides, a review on the writing skills, summarizing and paraphrasing, will be presented in this
session. In the summarizing and paraphrasing skills, the definition, reason, strategies, and
example will be presented as follows.
DISCUSSION
A. Reading Skill: Skimming and scanning texts
Skimming and scanning are two very different strategies for speed reading. They are
each used for different purposes, and they are not meant to be used all the time. They are at the
fast end of the speed-reading range, while studying is at the slow end. People who know how to
skim and scan are flexible readers. They read according to their purpose and get the information
they need quickly without wasting time. They do not read everything which is what increases
their reading speed. Their skill lies in knowing what specific information to read and which
method to use.
Shortly, skimming and scanning are reading techniques that use rapid eye movement and
keywords to move quickly through text for slightly different purposes. Skimming is reading
rapidly to get a general overview of the material. Scanning is reading rapidly to find specific
facts. While skimming tells you what general information is within a section, scanning helps you
locate a particular fact. Skimming is like snorkelling, and scanning is more like pearl diving.
1. Skimming
a. Definition
Skimming is one of the tools you can use to read more in less time. Skimming refers to
looking only for the general or main ideas and works best with factual material. With skimming,
your overall understanding is reduced because you don’t read everything. You read only what is
important to your purpose. Skimming takes place while reading and allows you to look for
details in addition to the main ideas.
b. How to skim
Many people think that skimming is a random process placing the eyes wherever they
fall. However, to skim effectively, there must be a structured, but you don’t read
everything. What you read is more important than what you leave out. Let’s say you are doing
research on a long chapter or a web site. By reading the first few paragraphs in detail, you will
get a good idea of what information will be discussed. Once you know where the reading is
headed, you can begin to read only the first sentence of each paragraph or topic sentences. They
give you the main idea of the paragraph.
At the end of each topic sentence, your eyes should drop down through the rest of the paragraph,
looking for important pieces of information, such as names, dates, or events. Continue to read
only topic sentences, dropping down through the rest of the paragraphs, until you are near the
end. Since the last few paragraphs may contain a conclusion or summary, you should stop
skimming there and read in detail. Remember that your overall comprehension will be lower
than if you read in detail. In skimming, if you feel you are grasping the main ideas, then you are
skimming correctly.
Good skimmers do not skim everything at the same rate or give equal attention to
everything. While skimming is always faster than your normal reading speed, you should slow
down in the following situations:
• When you skim introductory and concluding paragraphs

• When you skim topic sentences
• When you find an unfamiliar word
• When the material is very complicated
In reading a book, generally you can follow these steps:
• Read the table of contents or chapter overview to learn the main divisions of ideas.
• Glance through the main headings in each chapter just to see a word or two. Read
the headings of charts and tables.
• Read the entire introductory paragraph and then the first and last sentence only of each
following paragraph. For each paragraph, read only the first few words of each sentence
or to locate the main idea.
• Stop and quickly read the sentences containing keywords indicated in boldface or italics.
• When you think you have found something significant, stop to read the entire sentence to
make sure. Then go on the same way. Resist the temptation to stop to read details you
don't need.
• Read chapter summaries when provided.
c. When to skim
Because skimming is done at a fast speed with less-than-normal comprehension, you

shouldn’t skim all the time. Here are some conditions when skimming is very useful.
• Suppose you are taking a presentation skills class and have to deliver an oral report in a
few days about the first computers ever made. You locate six books and four newspaper
articles about this topic. Because you must be ready soon, you do not have time to read
each word, but you need a large quantity of solid information. Skimming will help you
locate the information quickly while making sure you use your time wisely. It will also
increase the amount of usable material you obtain for your research.
• Suppose you have an exam in a few days. You need to review the material you learned,
but you don’t want to reread everything. By skimming, you can quickly locate the
information you haven’t mastered yet and study only that material. Use skimming in
previewing (reading before you read), reviewing (reading after you read), determining the
main idea from a long selection you don't wish to read, or when trying to find source
material for a research paper.
• Use scanning in research to find particular facts, to study fact-heavy topics, and to answer
questions requiring factual support. Use skimming to overview your textbook chapters or
to review for a test. Use skimming to decide if you need to read something at all, for
example during the preliminary research for a paper. Skimming can tell you enough
about the general idea and tone of the material, as well as its gross similarity or difference
from other sources, to know if you need to read it at all.
2. Scanning
a. Definition
Scanning is another useful tool for speeding up the reading. Unlike skimming,
when scanning, you look only for a specific fact or piece of information without reading
everything. You scan when you look for your favourite show listed in the cable guide, for your
friend’s phone number in a telephone book, and for the sports scores in the newspaper. For
scanning to be successful, you need to understand how your material is structured as well as
comprehend what you read so you can locate the specific information you need. Scanning also
allows you to find details and other information in a hurry.
b. How to scan
Because you already scan many different types of material in your daily life, learning
more details about scanning will be easy.
1) Establishing your purpose
Locating the appropriate material, and knowing how the information is structured before
you start scanning is essential. The material you scan is typically arranged in the following ways:
alphabetically, chronologically, non-alphabetically, by category, or textually.
• Alphabetical information is arranged in order from A to Z.

• Chronological information is arranged in time or numerical order.
• Non- alphabetical order examples are a television listing, or by category, and listings of
like items such as an auto parts catalogue.
• Sometimes information is located within the written paragraphs of text, also known as
a textual sense, as in an encyclopaedia entry.
2) Using your hands
While scanning is very helpful in locating specific information, using your hand or finger
is extremely helpful in focusing your attention and keeping your place while scanning a column
of material. Your peripheral vision can also help you scan effectively. When your hand moves
down a list of names, you see not only the name your finger is pointing to, but also the names
above and below. Let your eyes work for you when searching for information.
3) Keep the keyword
Keep the concept of key words in mind while scanning. Your purpose will determine the
key words. Suppose you are looking for the time a train leaves from New York City for
Washington, D.C. The key words to keep in mind are “from New York City” and “to
Washington, D.C.” If you are looking for the cost of a computer printer with the code number
PX-710, the key word to locate in a list of many printers is “PX-710.
c. When to scan
You scan when your aim is to find specific pieces of information. If you were doing the
research for an oral presentation, you could scan the index of books, web sites, and reference
materials. You would discover whether they contain any information you want and the pages
where the information can be found.
In the past, you probably scanned without knowing you were doing it. Now with the
information provided in this section, you can use scanning more intentionally and frequently.
The more you practice, the more effective scanning will become. Finally, the most important
benefit of scanning is its ability to help you become a more flexible reader. Scanning adds
another high gear to your reading.
If after skimming you decide the material will be useful, go ahead and scan:
• Know what you're looking for. Decide on a few key words or phrases–search terms, if
you will. You will be a flesh-and-blood search engine.
• Look for only one keyword at a time. If you use multiple keywords, do multiple scans.
• Let your eyes float rapidly down the page until you find the word or phrase you want.
• When your eye catches one of your keywords, read the surrounding material carefully.
If you are scanning for facts to answer a specific question, one step is already done for
you: the question itself supplies the keywords. Follow these steps:
• Read each question completely before starting to scan. Choose your keywords from the
question itself.
• Look for answers to only one question at a time. Scan separately for each question.
• When you locate a keyword, read the surrounding text carefully to see if it is relevant.
• Re-read the question to determine if the answer you found answers this question.
Scanning is a technique that requires concentration and can be surprisingly tiring. You
may have to practice at not allowing your attention to wander. Choose a time and place that you
know works for you and dive in.
B. Writing Skill: Summarizing and paraphrasing the readings
Composing a piece of text for an assignment or a blog can require you to perform
thorough research, compose content, and ensure its uniqueness. That brings the need for
summarizing and paraphrasing the content. However, the terms summarizing and paraphrasing
are mistaken as synonyms. They are both related, but they are not the same. To clarify the
concepts, in this section let’s focus on summarizing and paraphrasing similarities and
differences.
1. Summarizing
a. Definition
Summary refers to a short review, a restatement of the major points, which is a

conclusion of the work in most cases. With this, summarizing refers to composing a summary of
the content or other resources. It has to communicate the most crucial part for the writer. You
have to prepare it in your own words, and it has to state the information you want to emphasize.
b. How to Summarize
Summarizing involves taking the ideas from a text, which can be some other author. You
must also add the citation information for sharing the source of the concept. here is the step by
step explanation of summarizing:
• Find and Read
The first step you need to do is select the text. It can be of four to five lines and can
support the idea. After that, you must thoroughly read it to get a detailed idea and
understanding of the topic. You must prepare notes, and add the keywords, terms, and
keywords you can use to understand it better.
• Filter the Content
Once done with this, you have to filter the content you will compose into the summary.
For this, you have to select the text you want to keep and eliminate the unnecessary. After
sorting the material, you have to include, you can write the summary in your own words.
• Revise and Edit
After completing your summary, you have to read it and correct any mistakes. You also
must verify the facts presented over there. To attain that, you can compare it with the text
and make sure that there are no aspects left for you to make changes. Before submitting
your summary, you must check if it can identify the writer of the actual text. It has to
consist and combine the ideas initially written and present unbiased information.
c. When to Summarize?
Several benefits come with the need to summarize. First of all, it allows you to
understand the structure in which the content has been organized and then combine them into the
major parts. With this, you can focus on putting lights in the most crucial part of the text. Here
are the conditions that require summarizing:
1. To reduce the source material and bring out the major and relatable points.
2. To remove extra information from the crucial source material.
3. To make the material simple and easy to understand.
d. Summary Example
To get a clear picture of what summarization can look like, let us present an example of
the summary. Here are a few paragraphs on the importance of language:
• Language plays a crucial role in communication among people. After becoming a master
in it, you can become well-versed with its grammar, the system of words, and structure to
facilitate the exchange of thoughts and emotions. It is also essential to express the ideas
and customs in societies and cultures. When you choose to learn the concepts of a new
language, you can connect with new thoughts and ideas. You can also make yourself
familiar with customs and the manner in which people greet each other.
• The role of learning a language also encompasses professional growth as a person with a
command in the global language can find more career possibilities. Several sectors and
industries need professionals well-versed in common languages. (Anonymous)
This is an anonymous paragraph, but it is necessary to identify the writer. So, let us
assume that Dr. A has written it for a paper presented in University Y in 2020. The title is The
influence of language on an individual. In that case, here is how you will present the summary of
the paragraph:
Summary: In the paper on The influence of language on an Individual at Y University, Z,

Dr. A presented his thoughts on language. It allows people to exchange their thoughts and ideas.
Learning a new language can allow people to connect to new thoughts and ideas and learn about
new customs. It can also pave the way for your growth at a professional level. This is because
industries often look for professionals who master a commonly spoken language.
This summary has the source, time, and writer while expressing the essential points. It
also states the perception presented by the author but in a different and neutral manner.
2. Paraphrasing
a. Definition
Paraphrasing refers to writing a piece of content again without changing its actual
meaning. It would require you to read the text and present that in your own words. A
paraphrased text can take a major part of the original text and can be generally shorter.
b. How to paraphrase
Plagiarism refers to presenting the work of some other authors. With many benefits and
usage of paraphrasing, using content without plagiarism is another. Either through adding
synonyms or changing the speech, there are different ways to paraphrase without plagiarizing.
To facilitate it for you, here are the steps you can proceed with:
• Understand the meaning
Before you begin to compose the content in your own words, it is necessary for you to
understand it properly. For this, you can read the resource several times, and you can
even look for multiple references. It can allow you to have several sources and a lot of
information.
• Note down the major points
Whether you consider single or multiple references, you should note down the important
points. With this, you can take the information and still not copy the same notion of the
writer. You can use the material and phrase it in your words.
• Write your content
Once you understand the meaning and take the major points, you can compose fresh
content. While doing so, you must make sure that you do not have to look at the original
passage and prepare from what you have understood.
• Compare the content
After writing your content, the next step should be comparing it with the original passage.
It can allow you to evaluate the authenticity of the facts and check if you have missed any
crucial information.
• Cite the Source
Even if you write the content in your own words, citation helps track the original idea. It
also gives the credit to the original source.
c. When to paraphrase
Paraphrasing can be the call for creating content in different situations. For a broader
picture, here is the set of reasons why you need to paraphrase:
1. To refine the specific text from a short passage.

2. To save from the overuse of the quotations.
3. To explain the word without focusing on wordings.
4. To report statistics and numerical data.
5. To share the crucial part of a passage.
6. To avoid plagiarism
d. Paraphrase example
To get a clearer idea of paraphrased content, you can take a look at these examples of
paraphrasing:
• Original Content
Digital marketing has been a growing field in the past decades. It includes using different
platforms to promote the businesses. Its purpose is to connect to its target audience
present on digital mediums.
• Paraphrased Content
Over the past decades, digital marketing has become a booming field. It consists of
promoting a brand while availing the different digital platforms. It paves the way for
businesses to reach their potential customers on various platforms.
Both passages have the same meaning but are written differently. The choices of the
words are not the same, and in the first sentence only, there is a change in the sentence structure.
That is how you can paraphrase the content.
CONCLUSION
In this last session, two reading strategies and two writing strategies have been discussed.
Shortly, skimming and scanning are reading techniques that use rapid eye movement and
keywords to move quickly through text for slightly different purposes. Skimming is reading
rapidly in order to get a general overview of the material. While skimming tells you what general
information is within a section, scanning helps you locate a particular fact. In addition,
summarizing explains the crucial points more concisely. Where paraphrasing is about conveying
the same messages without shortening the length
REFERENCES
0133248128
Francis Group. London. ISBN: 9781138481688[Main Textbook]
4. http://studyskills.curtin.edu.au/better-referencing/paraphrasing-and-summarising/
5. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/quoting_paraphrasing_
and_summarizing/index.html
6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy69pPGDeIg
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgUK-g4sDzI
8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefKPy5YYHI
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PigfCpCg15c&t=1s
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3F8pQLtY_Q
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5-EIeXskOs

All Week - English Profesional

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LECTURE NOTES

Introduction and Overview of the

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

A. Overview of the Course

B. Listening Skill: Sharing the rules and regulation

C. Speaking Skill: Introducing self

D. Academic vs Business English

E. Listening Skill: Making a generalization

F. Speaking Skill: Restating and giving opinion

What is English Professional? English Professional is one of the compulsory subjects in

A. Overview of the Course

English Professional is aimed at providing learners with English skills related to

An appealing self-introduction is important. It is crucial to convey essential details about

1. Clearly state your purpose

3. Show your uniqueness and cultural understanding

4. Introducing yourself professionally

a. Example 1: Meet the Classmates

c. Example 3: Meet A New Client

d. Example 4: Meet A Co-Worker

A. Academic vs Business English

In general, Business English is a form of English especially suited to international trade,

B. Listening Skill: Making a generalization

C. Speaking Skill: Restating and Giving opinion

1. After much thought, …

2. After weighing up both sides of the argument, …

4. As I see it, ...

5. Correct me if I’m wrong, but …

6. For me/ From my point of view, …

8. I am not very familiar with this topic, but …

10. I have come to the conclusion that …

11. I might change my mind later, but …

13. I tend to think that …

15. I’m pretty confident that …

16. I’ve always thought that …

17. If you ask me, …

18. I'm (absolutely) convinced that …

19. In my humble opinion / IMHO, …

20. It could be said that …

21. It seems clear to me that …

22. It would seem to me that …

23. My initial reaction is …

24. Not everyone will/would agree with me, but …

25. Personally speaking / Speaking for myself, …

26. The way I see it (is) …

27. To be (perfectly) frank, …

28. To the best of my knowledge, …

29. What I think is …

30. You could say …

Understanding Reading Passages and

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

A. Reading Skill: Comprehending reading passages

B. Speaking Skill: Pronouncing words correctly

A. Reading Skill: Comprehending reading passages

Reading comprehension is an action to understand what you are reading. Reading

2. The importance of reading comprehension

Deprived of comprehension, reading is nothing more than tracking symbols on a page

Especially, in the academic and professional settings, reading comprehension is a critical

3. Developing reading comprehension

Reading comprehension strategies must be refined, practiced and reinforced

B. Speaking Skill: Pronouncing words correctly

1. Vocalize the word loudly

The shortened form of a word or group of words in conversational English.