2008 March 10 | Hands Across the Oceans

Briefly discuss what is meant by the word outline. Outlines are used by writers to work out plans for their paragraphs and essays. In 101, you will develop your knowledge of outlining by outlining the reading passages at the end of this book.

B Points to Remember

The main points to remember when making an outline are to:

1 Delete all the articles (a, an and the)

2 Delete the helping words (will, shall, must, may, might, can, could, is, are, has, have)

3 Find the main points and supporting details

4 Leave out irrelevant or repeated information

5 Present the ideas in a logical order, going from the most general to the most specific

6 Use headings and subheadings to show main ideas

7 Use the standard format for outlining – see below

8 Use abbreviations and symbols where possible

9 The first part of the outline should be a definition

C Rules for Writing Outlines

The rules for writing an outline are as follows:

1 The title must be centered

2 Headings: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VII, IX, X

3 Sub-points: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H

4 Sub-sub points: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

5 Sub-sub-sub points a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, I, j

Or (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8)

6 Sub-sub-sub-sub points i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii, ix, x

7 Sub-sub-sub-sub-sub points ai, aii, aiii, aiv, av, avi, avii, avii, aix, ax

8 Remember to indent when you write the letters and numbers that show the points and sub-points

Exercise 1 - An Example of an Outline

Look at the skeleton of the following outline for countries in the European Union, and decide what headings and subheadings you are going to include in it. Then add information for the U.K. and Germany following the same order.

Title: EU Countries

I Definition:

II European Union:

III Germany

IV UK

Exercise 2 - An Example of an Outline

Now choose a topic and make up an outline following the rules mentioned above.

Exercise 3 - Outlining

If you need more practice, you can make up an outline for one of the paragraphs or pages in one of your textbooks.

Exercise 4 - Internet Activities

A If you go to http://www.english-zone.com/index.html, you will find information about outlines and writing paragraphs.

B If you go to http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml,you will find information about making up outlines. Read the information, then download a reading passage from the Internet, and make up your own outline. If this is too easy, download 2 passages and make up an outline based on the information in the 2 texts. Suggested topics: vertebrates, animals, fish, software, industries, automobile industry, automobiles, science. (The list is endless!!). When you do your research essay, you will need to make an outline using information from 3 sources. When you prepare your presentation, you will need to use more than one source too.

C If you go to http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml, you will find the MLA layout for outlines which is a little different from the layout above. If you are going to study in the USA, ask which form your bibliography is supposed to use. The ones used in the UK are sometimes different.

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Mar 10 2008

Introduction to Fact Versus Fiction

Published by Dot MacKenzie under Essay Writing

A Introduction

When you are reading or listening, you are constantly working out what is true and what is false. What do you know about the following topics?

1 Superstitions

2 Conspiracy Theories

3 Da Vinci Code

4 Angels

5 UFOs

6 Traditional Medicine

7 ESP

8 Ghosts

9 Bermuda Triangle

10 A film that pretends to tell the truth

B Mini Presentation

For the next class, you must search the Internet to find out more information about one of the topics above that interests you. You will then tell your class about it. When you are researching, try to work out what are facts and what is fiction regarding your topic. Make up a table with the following headers and then fill in the boxes.

1 Topic

2 URL or website address

3 Notes

4 Fact

5 Fiction

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Mar 10 2008

090 CALL Component Syllabus

Published by Dot MacKenzie under 090 Remedial CALL Project, CALL

Week 2 - Introduction to Useful Websites

The 090 CALL Project can be accessed by clicking on the link. It is designed for remedial students studying in the ELUs in the Faculties of Arts, Education, Science, Engineering, Law and Science in Kuwait University. It introduces the students to basic computing skills and researching, using the Internet.

http://bb.kuniv.edu

Up to date information about Kuwait University courses

http://elu090.tripod.com

090 information

http://kuniv.edu.kw

Kuwait University website

http://kuc02.kuniv.edu.kw/~elu_sci

ELU Science website

http://kuwaituniversity.blogspot.com

Virtual library

http://handsacrosstheoceans.edublogs.org

Information for KU students