Writing "News Item Text"

All of you of course have ever watched a news program on TV or read news on the newspaper. But, have you ever try to write a text that consists of news or an important event of the day?

Here, we will learn about a text that tells the readers about news or important event. That text is called News Item Text.

SILABUS ETM

Listening "News"

 Listen to the news and complete the following text using the suitable words or phrases!

INTERNET PRIVACY

Just how much (1) ………. should people have over their online (2)……….? Should they be able to demand that an unflattering photo be permanently (3) ………. from a website like Facebook? Does everything people write online have to stay there? What about bank details, addresses – can websites hold onto this information forever?

These were the kinds of questions being asked by the European Commission as it investigated the issue of internet (4) ……….. . Its guiding principle throughout has been what it called "the (5) ………. to be forgotten". It has now decided on what this (6) ………. sounding phrase actually means.

It means that a person does have the right to demand their personal information be permanently deleted if it is (7) ………. that they themselves have put (8) ………. . But they don't have the right to have things like unflattering blogs or newspaper profiles written by others deleted.

The EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding said the changes will help build (9)………. in online services.

The Commission also says that businesses should have to tell their customers within 24 hours if their online accounts have been hacked into.

Some internet companies have reacted with concern to the proposals, warning that they could become bogged down in trying to meet the new (10)………. and that could affect their ability to grow.

source: BBC Learning English

Writing "Descriptive Text"

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT

The Definition and Purpose of Descriptive Text
Descriptive text is a text which say what a person or a thing is like. Its purpose is to describe and reveal a particular person, place, or thing.

The Generic Structure of Descriptive Text
Descriptive text has structure as below:
Identification; identifying the phenomenon to be described.
Description; describing the phenomenon in parts, qualities, or/and characteristics.

The Language Feature of Descriptive Text
Using attributive and identifying process.
Using adjective and classifiers in nominal group.
Using simple present tense

Example of Descriptive Text

MY SPHYNX CAT

My Sphinx cat is the only pet I have. He has a little hair but is not totally hairless as he has peach fuzz over much of his body. His coat is often a warm chamois. My Sphinx has a normal cat proportion.

I like his tail although my mom says that it is like a rats tail. I love his usual color varieties including, tortoiseshell, chocolate, black, blue, lilac, chocolate etc. He is really an amazing cat. Believe it or not, he is very intelligent cat. He can respond my voice commands.

He is really funny as well as my friends get a joke. I love him so much as I love my mother.

Task: Write a descriptive text based on a picture below! 

Reading "Report Text"

Report Text

Definition of Report
Report is a text which presents information about something, as it is. It is as a result of systematic observation and analysis

Generic Structure of Report
1. General classification: Stating classification of general aspect of thing; animal, public place, plant, etc which will be discussed in general
2. Description: Describing the thing which will be discussed in detail; part per part , customs or deed for living creature and usage for materials

Language Feature of Report
• Introducing group or general aspect
• Using conditional logical connection; when, so, etc
• Using simple present tense

Example of Report Text

THE PELICAN REPORT

General Clasification

The white pelican is one of the most successful fish-eating birds.

Description

The success is largely due to its command hunting behaviour. A group, perhaps two dozen birds, will gather in a curved arc some distance offshore. The birds then begin to move forward towards the shore, beating the water furiously with their wings, driving the fish before them.

When the water is shallow enough for the birds to reach the fish, the formation breaks up as each bird dips its bill into the water to scoop up its meal. As the bird lifts its head, the water drains from its bill leaving the fish which are then swallowed.

Pelicans are among the oldest group of birds, Fossils of this genus have been found dating back 40 million years.

Task: Read the text below and answer its following questions!

Kangaroo

A kangaroo is an animal found only in Australia, although it has a smaller relative, called a wallaby, which lives on the Australian island of Tasmania and also in New Guinea.

Kangaroos eat grass and plants. They have short front legs, but very long, and very strong back legs and a tail. These are used for sitting up and for jumping. Kangaroos have been known to make forward jumps of over eight metres, and leap across fences more than three metres high. They can also run at speeds of over 45 kilometres per hour.

The largest kangaroos are the Great Grey Kangaroo and the Red Kangaroo. Adult grow to a length of 1.60 metres and weigh over 90 kilos.

Kangaroos are marsupials. This means that the female kangaroo has an external pouch on the front of her body. A baby kangaroo is very tiny when it is born, and it crawls at once into this pouch where it spends its first five months of life.

1

1. What is the main idea of the text above?
2. Where does the kangaroo be found?
3. Where does the wallaby live?
4. What does the kangaroo eat?
5. What are the uses of kangaroo’s back legs and tail?
6. How many meters can kangaroo jump?
7. What are the names of the largest kangaroos?
8. Does the female kangaroo have an external pouch on the back of her body?
9. How does the baby kangaroo when it is born?
10. When does the baby kangaroo crawl at once into its mother pouch?

Speaking "Asking and Giving Direction"

EXPRESSION OF ASKING AND GIVING DIRECTION

This expression is used when someone wants to ask about location and how to get there.

Here are some clues for asking and giving direction:

      Asking for directions

·         How do I get to …?

·         What’s the best way to …?

·         What’s the quickest way of getting to your office?

·         Where is …?

·         Where are you exactly?

·         Can you tell me the best way of getting to your office?

      Some Phrases to Show Direction

·         Go straight on (until you come to …).

·         Turn back./Go back.

·         Turn left/right (into …-street).

·         Go along ….

·         Cross …

·         Signpost

·         Opposite

·         Near

·         Between

·         Next to …

·         at the end (of)

·         on/at the corner (of)

·         across from

·         traffic lights

·         behind

·         in front of, in back of, in the middle of

·         Take the first/second road on the left/right

·         It’s on the left/right.. / (to) (on) the right/left of

·         To be (is) located/situated

·         (just) around the corner

Example of giving and asking direction:

Situation : Mr. Hermawan is out of his town. He doesn’t know how to get to BCA bank, so he 
                 stops a man in the street.
Mr. Hermawan            : Excuse me, can you tell me where the nearest BCA bank is?
Man                             : BCA bank? I’m sorry. I don’t know. I’m not from around here myself.

Then he meets a policeman and asks him the direction.

Mr. Hermawan            : Excuse me, where’s the nearest BCA bank, please?
Policeman                    : Go straight down this street. Turn left at the T-junction, BCA bank is just around the corner, on your left.

Mr Hermawan             : How far is it from here?
Policeman                    : It will take about 5 minutes if you go there on foot.
Mr. Hermawan            : Thank you very much. I’m sure I’ll find it easily, if I walk there.
Policeman                    : Sure, but there’s one thing you have to know.
Mr. Hermawan            : What’s that?
Policeman                    : Today is Saturday. The bank is closed.
Mr. Hermawan            : But not the ATM service, don’t you think? I just need to withdraw some cash. Thanks anyway.

Task: Make another dialogue of asking and giving direction in pair, and practice it in front of the class!