2019-02-15 - 2019-02-15
Workshop
Writing Workshop
Auditório ILCH, 16h
By Deborah Shechter (Tel Aviv University). Writing has become a major component in CEFR aligned English courses. Graded writing tasks are now an integral and a significant part of the curriculum. Writing skills involve not only a good knowledge of grammar and vocabulary, but also the ability to write clearly and concisely.
This workshop will cover, among others: the elements of a well-written paragraph; the implications of information in the subordinate clause vs. in the main clause; the characteristics of clear and concise sentences; the components of a successful motivation letter.
We will first analyze sample independent paragraphs. Then, we will compare paragraph pairs conveying the same information in different types of clauses. We will learn how to revise heavy sentences: eliminate wordiness, minimize nominalizations and passive verbs, avoid buried verbs and put familiar information first. We will also read an inadequate motivation letter, discuss its weaknesses and suggest solutions. Finally, we will examine the revised version of the letter and point out the improvements. This is a worthy skill to acquire, as students may need to write motivation letters when they apply for graduate studies at foreign universities, for scholarships or positions as teaching assistants etc. We will also look at useful Web resources for improving writing skills. This workshop will raise the students’ awareness and encourage them to develop their writing skills independently.
Registration
