Writing

Throughout the world there has been a marked increase in thetaking of recreational drugs. These drugs are not restricted to so-called ‘soft’ drugs like marijuana, but they also include very damaging ones like LSD and P. Given the current cost of enforcing drugs laws a debate about the legalization of recreational drugs is very timely. This essay aims to examine find the issue in four categories: health, economics (includeing supply and demand), the role of the individual and the state, and the decriminalization of drugs.

There is no doubt that drugs have damaging effects on users’ health, even if they used the ‘soft’ drugs. Some people believe that the trend of addiction by drugs were getting more serious if recreational drugs were legalized, whereas others argued that they should be legalized because it were more beneficial. For example, if they were legalized, legal companies could supply purer and safer drugs, Moreover, more drug users could go and see the doctor. These ideas could contribute to decrease the danger of using drugs and to save their lives. However, people who against the ligalization point out the possibility of containing poisonous materials into drugs, that is like what have happened with foods in recent years, and the pressure and the overload of doctors.

Writing

The children of today are surrounded by numerous technology and entertainment. While there are many positive social and educational effects for children from them, there are also serious negative impacts on their physical and mental health. This essay will examin the positive and negative effects of technology and entertainment in our modern society on the children and show which side holds more strength.

Music is a big part of children’s lives, especially as the children become older and enter adolescence. Music is an important filed of the art and listening to the music should be encouraged. However, it also should not be ignored that the use of earphones or headphones may have a bad effect on children’s ears. Furthermore, some scientists say some kind of music may affect on children’s aggressive behaviour behavior.

Television is especially influential on the children of today. It is obvious that television helps children to learn a variety of things from it, giving educationally benefitial beneficial effects. On the other hand, it is also clear that television may be harmful for children, having socialy socially unacceptable contents.

Another form of entertainment that can have a strong influence on a child’s behaviour is video games. Nowadays video games are recognised as one of major free-time activities. Also some study say that some kind of games may have good effects on children. However, there are other kind of games which contains harmful contents like violence, and they seem to have problems to children’s mental conditions. Moreover, the bad effects on health caused by playing video games, such as bad eyes or less movement, are well know.

In conclusion, music, television and video games are all things that are fun and sometimes educational for kids. However, these media can have negative effects on children and may be a bad influence on them, depending on the content. Children are extremely impressionable and if they are exposed to violent television, music or video games then they will start to emulate that show, artist or song, or video game with their behaviour. These are all so powerful that they should be used to teach children how to problem solve and hep them expand their minds, not show them how to kill someone or teach them other violent behaviour behavior.

The figures show that four out of five countries increased their total CO2 output during the selected period. The total amount of CO2 emittion in the US, which produed most during the five countries, increased significantly from 4,817.5 in 1990 to 5,834.5 in 2002. In India, which was the lowest producer in 1990, it sharply increased, rising from 677.9 to 1,218.9 during 12 years. However, it decreased slightly in Russia, from 1,984.0 to 1,430.6.

In perspective of per capita metric tons, the figures show the same trend as the total. In every countries except Russia the amount of CO2 emission per capita increased slightly during the measured period, whereas it fell dramatically in Russia.

Are there any countries (other than NZ) that have sheep?

there is no jutification for (any member of the general public) having a gun for their own private use

Vocabulary

* devastate : [verb] destroy or ruin (something)
* devastation
* massacre: [noun] an indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of people
* atrocity : [noun] an extremely wicked or cruel act, typically one involving physical violence or injury
* perspective : [noun] a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view
* reference : [noun] the action of mentioning or alluding to something
* criticism : [noun] the expression of disapproval of someone or something based on perceived faults or mistakes
* sarcasm : [noun] the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
* thick-skinned : [adjective] insensitive

Kids and Sports

Writing

… spend time -ing
… have a greater chance of -ing

there is less deforestation for farming

One [ main | significant ] advantage of -ing

One of the main disadvantages of -ing is that …

electric cars -> they

contagious disease

can be physically and psychologically healthier

2009/07/14 10:44

[whereas and while]

[Method for Writing Essays about Tables]

(1st Paragraph)

1. Read the question. Change it slightly and use it as a first scentence.
2. Write about the tables (ex. units, countries, years, …).

(2nd Paragraph)

1. Write one or two overall scentence(s). No number is included (except the year).

(3rd Paragraph, …)

1. Write one or two specific paragraph(s). Make them simple.

(Example)

The given table chart gives a breakdown of CO2 emissions in total metric tonnes and on a per capita basis in five  countries: the US, China, Russia, India and Japan.

Overall, most countries increased their production of CO2 during the [ selected | mentioned ] period except for Russia, which decreased significantly. The highest producer of CO2 emission was the US in both categories and both years.

The figures show that four out of five countries increased their total CO2 output during the selected period. …

…

Vocabulary

* hygienic : [adjective] conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, esp. by being clean
per capita (= each person) : [adverb & adjective] for each person; in relation to people taken individually
Look what the cat dragged in

[Describe a mistake you have made in your life that you regret.]

You should:

• say what the mistake was
• say when you made the mistake

and discuss why you regret making it.

Expressions

problem -> problematic

If she had (she’d) [come|-ed] last year, she would (she’d) have (she’d've) [found|-ed] a job.

Writing

[THE ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANUAGES]

(Introduction)

There are numerous advantages in learning another language.
It should not be surprising that English, Spanish and Mandarin are becoming increasingly popular, given that they are so useful.
The advantages of leaning another language can be divided into three broad areas: a personal satisfaction, as a support for business an as a way of promotiong international tolerance.

(Body 1)

It is thought that learning another language helps to develop personal satisfaction because as people studay as a second language they get exposed to a wide variety of experiences at the same time. When you make a friend from another country, it is essential that you can communicate in the same language. Additionaly by mastering other languages people become more confident because of their achievement; it is intrinsically pleasing.

(Body 2)

International business has increased very significantly in recent years.
English is the main means of communication, so more and more business people have begun leaning it.
In addition the vast majority of emails are in English.
However, English is not the only medium; Mandorin and Spanish are also two of the most important languages.
If business people study one of them, it will contribute to improve communication with foreigner companies.
Therefore, learning different languages can promote global trade.

(Body 3)

Learning a language can also be a way promoting international torelance. It provides greater opportunities for direct communication with foreigners. It leads to people getting closer to each other as a consequence began to appreciate culture diffecences. In addition, language learning helps to breakdown national stereotypes, given that when people communicate well they would understand better each other and racial backgrounds.

(Conclusion)

It has been shown in this essay that there are considerable advantages in learning another language.
These advantages are not restricted to personal reasons; they are also important from an international perspective.
Without English international business would not be so efficient.
However, given the number of international crises, parhaps the most important role of learning an additional languages is in the promotion of international understanding.

Vocabulary

• problematic : [adjective] constituting or presenting a problem or difficulty

[What are you like?]

What are you like?

• (Without waiting to blow my own trumpet,) I think I’m [quite|very] (+) but I can be a bit (-) at times.
• You [strikes me as being|seem to be] [quite|very] (+) but I think you can be a bit (-) at times.
  NZers …

(+) : conscientious, optimistic …
(-) : selfish …

Expressions

• I’m not exactly certain but …
• I’m not sure …
• I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on [politics, the economy, ...]

• as far as I know …
• I would say that …

• …can be divided into …

• The majority of most countries increased slightly.

• except for …
• apart from …
• with the exception …

• …, which decreased.

Vocabulary

• * self-sufficient : [adjective] needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs, esp. with regard to the production of food
• total immersion in English
• * immersion : [noun] the action of immersing someone or something in a liquid : deep mental involvement
• * rebel : [noun] a person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler
• in contemporary society
• * contemporary : [adjective] living or occurring at the same time

[Discuss a gift you have received that you value.]

You should say:

• what this gift is

• who gave you this gift

and explain why you value it so much.

Writing

[THE ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING ANOTHER LANGUAGES]

(Introduction)

There are numerous advantages in learning another language. It should not be surprising that English, Spanish and Mandarin are becoming increasingly popular, given that they are so useful. The advantages of leaning another language can be divided into three broad areas: a personal satisfaction, as a support for business an as a way of promoting international tolerance.

(Body 1)

(Body 2)

International business has increased very significantly in recent years. English is the main means of communication so more and more business people have begun leaning it. In addition the vast majority of emails are in English. However, English is not the only medium; Mandarin and Spanish are also two of the most important languages. If business people study one of them, it will contribute to communication with foreign companies. Therefore, learning different languages can promote global trade.

(Body 3)

(Conclusion)

Vocabulary

• to have a bad attitude towards …
• * satisfactory : [adjective] fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable, though not outstanding or perfect
• * satisfied : [adjective] contented; pleased
• * extinct : [adjective] (of a species, family, or other larger group) having no living members
• turning a blind eye
• * exhaust : [verb] drain (someone) of their physical or mental resources; tire out
• * promote : [verb] advance or raise (someone) to a higher position or rank

[Conditional Expressions]

1st conditional : Good chance

• If he [comes|is] late today, the teacher will get angry.

2nd conditional : Very small chance or no chance

• If I met MJ, I would tell him “thank you.”

3rd conditional : Past

• If I hadn’t …

Answering expressions for conditional questions

If that happen(s), …
If that happen(ed), …

I’m going to …
I’ll definitly …
I’ll probably …

If it [were|was] up to me,

I’d …
I might …

That’s a [pessimistic|cynical] view of love.
That’s an idealistic view of love.

Listening

• work long hard hours under high time pressure
• leads to overload and (mental) burnout
• set high standards which are extremely difficult to maintain
• take work home
• misunderstand by superiors
• compete with themselves
• feel frustrated by their work situation

Vocabulary

• harden up!
• * worsen : [verb] make or become worse
• * overcome : [verb] succeed in dealing with (a problem or difficulty)
• * obstacle : [noun] a thing that blocks one’s way or prevents or hinders progress
• have the edge on
• * consequence (=effect) : [noun] a result or effect of an action or condition
• * implication : [noun] the conclusion that can be drawn from something, although it is not explicitly stated
• * wane (=weaken) : [verb] (of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it
• appears to decrease in size
• take on a role
• * assume (=take on) : [verb] suppose to be the case, without proof
• slacking off : decrease in quantity or intensity
• * cohort : [noun]  a group of people banded together or treated as a group
• * aspect (=feature) : [noun] a particular part or feature of something
• mental burnout
• * burnout : [noun] physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress
• * spurious : [adjective] not being what it purports to be; false or fake
• set high standards
• * gross : [adjective] unattractively large or bloated
• * bloat : [verb] cause to swell with fluid or gas
• take a broader view of things
• look at the wider picture
• to have a bad attitude towards …