Englisch - Vertiefungskurs
Kursthemen
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INTRODUCTION
Module 2: The world of film:
Writer's Workshop
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CONTEXT
Your English class has decided to have an English film session. Now you have to decide which film(s) to watch. To prepare the decision, every member of the class has the opportunity (and the obligation) to suggest a film.
Your suggestion - a review - should include the following:
- a plot summary
- a personal comment on the film
- optional: stills, photos of actors, important quotes etc.
If you are not a great film fan and/or are looking for ideas which film to suggest, it might be a good idea to consult the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB), which is the most important information on films on the internet and used by millions of film fans all over the world every month.
Purpose
The focus of this project is on improving your writing skills. You will learn how to write summaries and reviews. These two text forms are not only important for this project. You will also come across them again and again in your regular English classes in Years 11 and 12, especially in written exams. Here you will get the chance to learn or revise things. You decide how much help you need.
You will improve your writing skills by dealing with feature films of your choice. Apart from being fun this is meant to give you the opportunity to share personal experiences with your group as well as improve your viewing skills. Hopefully this will help you cope with film analysis in your regular English class.
Process
Step 1: Produce your personal suggestion (review: plot summary, personal comment) in the moodle workshop and have it evaluated by others.
Step 2: Put your final draft in a forum. Read your classmates' suggestions.
Step 3: Take a vote. Choose one or two films that you want to watch.
BUT before you start all this, fill in the self-assessment sheet. Evaluate your writing skills again at the end of the module.
Start writing in your journal/writing log called "My writing process".
Use the forum if you have problems with this task.
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Have you got difficulties or questions concerning this task?
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WARMING UP
The following warming ups deal with film genres and their popularity among your age group. Use the glossary to learn the key terms genre, film beginnings and setting.
Step 1: Matching exercise: genres
Step 2: Survey: popular genres
Step 3: Wiki: typical elements of a particular genre
Decide which film genre you like best and enter that wiki group to explain typical elements of that genre.
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Choose one genre that you are interested in or that you know well. Write an article including the following to describe and explain this particular film genre:
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typical setting
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typical plot
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typical characters
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typical visual and sound effects
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an example of a typical beginning (real or imaginary)
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popular films of this genre (e.g. youtube video)
Click on "biopic" to view an example wiki.
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Have you got difficulties or questions concerning this task?
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SUMMARIZING
In this unit you will explore and write summaries. The unit consists of different activities which you choose according to your level of English.
Compulsary
- Summarizing a short story
- Making notes in your writing log.
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WORKSHOP 1: WORD POWER - TALKING ABOUT TEXTS
1. Take the test. Tip: The three text beginnings in this test may serve as models for how to begin your text when the tasks asks you- to summarize a newpaper article
- to outline an author's intention or line of argument
- to give your own opinion.
3. Give feedback after you have finished the exercises in this workshop.
4. Make an entry in your writing log "my writing process". Note down phrases and strategies. -
REVIEWING
In this unit you will explore and write reviews. You will produce your own review on a film of your choice.The unit consists of different activities which you choose according to your level of English.
Compulsory
- analysing a review on the film "Pirates of the Caribbean"
- writing in your writing log
You can improve your skills in workshop 2 (optional exercises).
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WORKSHOP 2: STRUCTURING A TEXT
1. Take the test.
2. Then decide if and which exercises you want to do in order to improve your writing skills (optional).
3. Give feedback after you have finished the exercises in this workshop.
4. Make an entry in your writing log. Note down phrases and strategies.
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PROOFREADING AND REWRITING
In this lesson there will be three main stages:
- individual proofreading
- publishing in the " course workshop" and cooperative proofreading. Here you give a feedback on the quality of the review.
- publishing in the forum. Here you give a feedback on the quality of the film.
Stage 1: Individual proofreading
With the help of a dictionary proofread your own text. Use workshop 3 and the extra section below for help.
Put it in the " course workshop".
Stage 2: Publishing in the "workshop" and cooperative proofreading
1. Remember the rules of how to write a review before you proofread.
2. Read two of your classmates’ texts.
3. Fill in the feedback form.
Stage 3: Publishing in the forum
1. Put your review in the forum "our reviews"
2. Make comments on the suggested films
3. Read your classmates’ comments. Make sure you understand their ideas.
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WORKSHOP 3: REWRITING
- Take the test.
- Then decide if and which exercises you want to do in order to improve your spelling (optional).
- Give feedback after you have finished the exercises in this workshop.
- Make an entry in your writing log. Note down words, phrases, strategies.
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EXTRA: WORKING WITH DICTIONARIES
A dictionary is a very useful tool. Besides helping with spelling and word meanings, being able to use a dictionary effectively (and regularly) is a perfect way to improve your English language skills. A (good) dictionary provides a range of helpful information on everyday usage and grammar.
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YOUR SUGGESTION FOR A FILM
Eventually, when you have read all reviews and comments in the forum, it is time do decide which film to watch. Vote.
Fill in the self-assessment form again.
Give a final written evaluation of your work in your writing log.
- Evaluate the tasks, methods and the material in this moodle course.
- Name tasks that were difficult and explain the difficulties.
- Evaluate what you have learnt (methods, strategies, vocabulary etc.)
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zum vorliegenden Kurs
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