English learning

If you expect your potential clients to read the texts on your site, be especially particular about the content. Writing for the web has its own peculiarities in comparison with common publications. It is known that 79% Internet users just skip over the web pages, but rarely peruse them. It suggests that we should take pains to make their reading useful for them. Do not make these mistakes. Surely the site should make a bright and lasting first impression, but not with the help of the flash, the pet chip of many web designers. They consider flash to be very cool. In fact the visitors of the site can’t stand irritating flashes and start looking for the reference to do away with the annoying picture. The aim you make up a flash may be various, freelance technical writing for example, but the reaction to the flash will not be quite adequate. They have opened the page to acquire necessary information and the flash reel is a nuisance for them. The users don’t know if the information on yo...

Question: What was it like as new authors in the publishing world? Answer: As free-lance writers of informative articles, we had no prior experience with book publishers. We did a lot of research and were aware of some basic contract and publishing procedures, yet there were many things we were not prepared for. For instance, there was the book cover design to conceive of - which our good friend Brian McAndrew created. The back cover text had to be developed, an author's bio written, photos to have taken and lists of nearly 2 hundred contacts to sort out. The marketing research took weeks to do, but it resulted in a 12-page plan to ease our way. Then there were formal things like dealing with the Library of Congress and Copyrighting. For instance, copies of the book had to be sent to the Library of Congress at our expense. There are rules to be aware of as well. The rights for free use (using quotes from other people) is so gray that we opted out of including this kind of text. Unf...

Good essay writing requires certain essay writing guidelines which should always be adhered. It is a critical requirement for every academic essay that the student should prove his point or argument in the most transparent way. This can be done through the presentation of original thoughts or ideas or by analyzing what others have researched on the topic that is about to be written. It should always be realized that while writing an academic essay simply summarizing or repeating a set of text is seldom adequate to the assigned essay assignment. For example, while writing a research essay, only presenting an idea would not get the job done but it should be further spiced up by the inclusion of relevant facts and figures on a particular topic of study. The essay writing guidelines for a particular essay varies depending on the topic of the essay as well as the type of the essay. One important guideline that should always be followed is the format or structure of the essay should always b...

The college essay should not pose a challenge if you have kept up the writing habit after leaving school. The best way to do so is to keep in touch through writing letters. Whether you write with a pen or a mouse the heart of the matter is that if you have kept your thoughts flowing through words, writing a college essay should not pose a problem. Writing involves your style and habit as well as vocabulary. You must have a rich vocabulary bank. For that be a voracious reader. There is no other way of increasing your bank balance of words. Writing a college essay has become very important because with each passing day gaining entrance into colleges is becoming more and more difficult. The number of seats just cannot cope with the number of applicants. One of the best ways to gain entry is to write a star college essay as part of your application for admission. Usually it should consist of five hundred words. The essay must show why you are different from another. Thus admitting you w...

Learning how to express your ideas through article writing is a great means to becoming a professional writer. The crux of an article is the content. Organizing your ideas will make your article more readable and will earn you a greater audience. Consider these two steps when writing an article: 1. Choose simple language By writing in simple language, you are able to reach a broad range of people. Most magazine and newspaper writers compose their articles at a fourth grade level so their material is understood by the maximum number of readers. These writers are highly skilled and could write at a much higher level, but keep their reporting at an almost universal level, so the news can reach more people. Of course not all publications can communicate at such a remedial level. This does not mean that they dont possess the capabilities to write in hi-fi language, they just wish that the news should reach to more and more people. But surely, using simple language is not possible for all t...

A personal statement is a crucial part of your graduate school application, but writing it can also be one of the most stressful things on your to-do list. Many students do not consider writing to be their strong suit, and matters are only made worse due to the intense importance of this particular essay. It may help many students to remember what the purpose of the personal statement is. The grad school admissions board uses it to determine two things: • Whether you will be an asset to the graduate program • Whether you will be an asset to the school itself Graduate schools are typically judged by the performance of their students. As a result, no school wants to admit a student who will be a black mark on its record. Your personal statement’s purpose, therefore, is to convince the admissions board that: • You are deeply motivated to learn about (and excel in) your chosen area of study • You are a capable student who will perform well in your studies In order to accomplish these task...

IX. A sample TOEFL essay (based on the outline above) It is a good idea for teenagers to have jobs while they are students because they can learn about responsibility; they can learn the value of money and they can learn how to work as a member of a team. When teenagers have jobs while they are students, they can learn how to be responsible. As an employee, you must follow a weekly schedule. This means, you have to come to work on time. If you are scheduled to begin work at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning, you have to be there at 8 a.m. It doesn’t matter if you went to a party the night before and do not want to get up. You have to get up. Your boss is relying on you to do your job. As an employee, you also learn that you must serve the customer in a friendly manner. If you are not friendly, the store may lose business and you may lose your job. Finally, an employee is responsible for maintaining the store shelves with inventory. If you work in a department store, you have to ...

VIII. A sample TOEFL outline: TOEFL Question: In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details. I. It is a good idea for teenagers to have jobs while they are students because they can learn about responsibility; they can learn the value of money and they can learn how to work as a member of a team. II. Students can learn responsibility a. They have to come to work on time every day b. They must serve customers in a friendly manner c. They have to maintain the store shelves with inventory III. Students can learn the value of money a. Students will learn that it takes a lot of time and effort to make money b. Students will make wiser choices when buying things with their own money IV. Students will learn how to work as a member of a team a. Students will learn how to compromise with other employees (helping out when someone is sick, etc.) b. Students will learn about the...

V. How to write good body paragraphs: Each paragraph in your essay introduces a new idea. It should include a thesis statement followed by support and examples. Be sure to use LOTS of examples. Within and between paragraphs be sure to use transition words like: on the other hand, however, though, for example, in contrast, likewise, in addition, first, finally. The paragraph should end with a concluding sentence which briefly summarizes the ideas in the paragraph. VI. The elements of a good concluding paragraph: A good concluding paragraph should include a summary of your main points. It may also include the author’s opinion. It should NOT introduce any new ideas. A good concluding paragraph often leaves an impression on the reader. It may make the reader think more deeply about the topic. VII. Preparing to write and writing your answer: I. Read and understand the essay question. (2 minutes). II. Organize your ideas on paper by writing a short outline of the introduction,...

TOEFL essay question #2: Is it better for children to participate in team sports or individual sports? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. Restatement & Thesis: It is better for children to participate in team sports rather than individual sports. In team sports, children learn how to cooperate. They learn good sportsmanship and how to rely on their teammates. These are important lessons that will benefit children throughout their lives. Analysis: The first sentence clearly states the author’s opinion. This is followed by three reasons for the opinion. Finally, the author mentions life lessons. In the essay, the three reasons will make up the three main idea paragraphs in the body of the essay. In addition, the author will mention how each main idea is useful throughout life. TOEFL essay question #3: Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons an...

III. The parts of an essay: In every essay, there should be an introduction, a body and conclusion. A. The introduction: The introduction restates the question using different vocabulary and/or sentence structure. The introduction also includes your thesis statement…the most important sentence in your essay. B. The body: The body of your essay is also the “heart” of your essay. It will include your main ideas and details and examples to support those ideas. Each new idea should be a new paragraph. Typically, a TOEFL essay will have 3 – 4 body paragraphs. C. The conclusion: The conclusion will be your final paragraph. It will summarize all the main ideas in your essay and it may also include your opinion. IV. How to write a good introduction: Let’s look at some more essay questions to see how to restate the question and how to write your thesis statement. TOEFL essay question #1: Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare a...

I. Before you begin: I. Relax and feel confident. II. Remember that you have 30 minutes to write your essay. Use your time wisely. III. You may write your essay on the computer or on paper. Choose the one you are MOST comfortable with. II. You can write an excellent essay if you remember all these tips! II. Understanding the TOEFL question: There are different types of TOEFL questions. You never know which question you will receive, so you must be prepared to write on ALL the types of questions. It is very important that you completely understand the question BEFORE you begin to write. Below are some different essay question types. 1. Choose a point of view and support that view. Example: Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer. This type of question asks you to...

Learning the lessons taught by failure is a sure route to success. (THESIS STATEMENT) The United States of America can be seen as a success that emerged from failure: by learning from the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the founding fathers were able to create the Constitution, the document on which America is built. (BEST SUPPORTING EXAMPLE [1]) Google Inc., the popular Internet search engine, is another example of a success that arose from learning from failure, though in this case Google learned from the failures of its competitors. (NEXT BEST SUPPORTING EXAMPLE [2]) Another example that shows how success can arise from failure is the story of Rod Johnson, who started a recruiting firm that arose from Johnson’s personal experience of being laid off. (NEXT BEST SUPPORTING EXAMPLE [3]) The United States, the first great democracy of the modern world, is also one of the best examples of a success achieved by studying and learning from earlier failures. (TOPIC SEN...

Group 1 Sequencing / Listing First of all, ……….. In the first place, …………. To begin with ……….. First (ly), ……--> Second (ly), ….. --> Third (ly), ……. First, ….--> Next, …--> Then, ..… --> After that, ….---> Finally, ….. Group 2 Reinforcing Also, …………. Besides, ………. Furthermore, …………. In addition, …………… Moreover, ……………. Group 3 Equating In the same way, …………… Likewise, ………….. Similarly, ………….. Group 4 Summarising In conclusion, ………. In summary, ………… To conclude, ………... To sum up, …………. Group 5 Referring For example, ……….. For instance, ……….. In particular, ………… Particularly, …………. …… such as ……….. …..., that is, ……… ......., that is to say, ……… Group 6 Showing Results ……, namely, ……. As a result, ……… Consequently, ……. Hence, ……… So, ……….. Therefore, ……….. Thus, Group 7 Inferring In other words, …….. In that case, ……….. Then, …………… (Or) else, ……….. Otherwise, ………. Group 8 Giving Alternatives Alternatively, ………. On the other hand, ………….. Then again, ……………. Group 9 Restat...

One of the first important lessons a writer learns is that writing is a process, a series of steps that take an idea from concept to completed work. This is true whether the work is an article, a poem, a report, a short story or a book. Understanding this process -- and the role a writer plays in it -- is crucial to their success. One of the most important steps in this process is learning to look at one's own work objectively. To focus on the intended message and ensure that it is delivered properly. While that may seem obvious enough, as the work progresses, it can become blurred. As the old song goes, "I have so much to say; but the words get in my way." To clarify that 'blurring' effect, it is essential to be able to edit your own work. But how does a writer edit their own work? While the process may vary depending on the writer, there are six steps that are integral to editing. 1) COMPLETE THE DRAFT Novice writers should not attempt to edit as they write. Eve...

This article on the 10 (no, 11... yes, 11) tips for newbies is not written from the catbird seat point of view of the article host or data base manager. Rather it is by and from the perspective of an author who remembers the early misgivings. It is written especially for the beginning article writer. The Tennessee Mountain Man has written and submitted hundreds of articles for publication to thousands of article hosts and database managers and still finds article writing his nemesis. 1. Necessity vs. Desire: Articles and Blogs are necessary in today's scheme of search engine indexing. Not what the newbie wants to hear. Just remember what the Bible says, "there has nothing over taken you that is not common to man". That's right! All of us hate article and Blog writing at times, and some of us dread the journey to pen and paper (or keyboard as the case may be) all the time. Many a web master would call them "a necessary evil" as they are not generally anyo...

Innovative English writing software that carries a worldwide patent is only one click away. To improve your writing skills and see a substantial difference in your work, use the comprehensive WhiteSmoke solution. For the first time ever, you can actually enrich your texts. This revolutionary tool instantly checks spelling, verifies proper English grammar use, and analyzes your complete document to provide context-based recommendations that enhance your vocabulary with synonyms, adjectives, and adverbs. In this state of the art online software, the smart algorithm of WhiteSmoke enriches your English writing. Your entire text is compared to a vast database of authentic language samples, so you see only relevant English grammar corrections and suggestions for improving your text. Experts worked for years to develop this cutting edge Natural Language Processing technology; you reap the benefits in an instant. In addition to providing these useful features, WhiteSmoke is appropriate for all...

English is the dominant Internet and business language so making cash online (or offline) often involves English writing. More importantly perhaps, is the fact that everyday, but life-changing documents, resumes job applications, essays, term papers, business plans, loan and rental applications, and sales letters, are often written in English. How often has your next career or business initiative relied on the English writing in a document? How often has the reader chosen someone else's document instead of yours? How often have subtle messages in the writing, often sub-conscious, swung a life-changing decision against you? Often, you will not be told the real reason. English is a very complex and forgiving spoken language, but a demanding and unforgiving language in its written form. When people are talking, there is usually enough contextual and other information to work out the meaning. So, if the words are spoken in the wrong order, or wrong words, or incorrect grammar used, the...

As college admissions become more and more difficult and applicants become more and more qualified, the college essay gains clout as a vital part of the application process. An outstanding personal essay, no matter how long, is sometimes the deciding factor for a prospective student. But it’s not enough to show proficiency with the written word -- at least not anymore. Today’s personal essays revolve around the sense of personality and style gleaned from each sentence, and it’s your responsibility to harness those elements. The following tips will get you on your way to the acceptance pile. BRAINSTORM EARLY The most important part of a college essay is the actual topic, so you need plenty of time to mull over the choices. You’ll want something interesting, but not cliché, significant but not trite. Consider the following questions during your brainstorming process: 1. What distinguishes you from others in your age group? Any special skills, talents, interests or attributes? 2. Have yo...

Links to writing skill practice : http://scc.losrios.edu/~langlit/esl/links/writinglinks.html Wordiness : http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/style/wordiness.html http://owl.english.purdue.edu/ http://staff.jccc.net/pmcqueen/Tips/wordiness.htm http://web.uvic.ca/~gkblank/wordiness.html http://www.class.uidaho.edu/adv_tech_wrt/resources/sentence_style/Wordiness.htm Business Letter: http://esl.about.com/cs/onthejobenglish/a/a_basbletter.htm http://esl.about.com/library/howto/htbusiness.htm http://jobsearchtech.about.com/library/bl-business-letters.htm http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_basicbusletter.html http://www.bkkonline.com/business/ http://www.io.com/~hcexres/textbook/ http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/letters.html http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/BusinessLetter.html Plain English: http://home.comcast.net/~garbl/writing/concise.htm http://www.askoxford.com/betterwriting/plainenglish/ http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/ Form: http://www.parapal-online.co.uk/exercises/multichoice.swf?...