An international film magazine wants readers around the world to contribute a review to a special edition entitled The Art of Advertising: Selling Products through Film. You decide to write a review of a particularly memorable advertisement. In your review, you should evaluate the visual impact of the advertisement, outline its other features, and assess how much influence such advertisements have on us.
Sample answer
It is true that advertising has become an art form in its own 1_________. Nowadays, some of the very best film directors are employed to produce a visually impressive fifty or sixty seconds of footage 2________ we will remember and associate ever afterwards with the product being sold. My own favourite is a recent Guinness advert, which lives 3__________ to the high standards set by earlier adverts for this dark beer from Ireland.
The product becomes part of a visual extravaganza, 4_________ somewhere in South America or the Caribbean. 5_________ the outset, you are unsure what you are witnessing. Tension is in the 6_________ and you realise that a race is about to start – incredibly, a snails’ race! Each snail lines 7__________ in its own lane, with a number on its 8_________, and bets are taken 9_________ which one will be the winner. Snails being what they are, the race gets 10__________ to a slow start, but then, one snail finds its way into an almost-empty glass of Guinness, takes 11_________ the necessary sustenance 12__________ streaks home, to the wild cheers of the crowd.
One striking image follows another and special effects are judiciously 13_________ to accentuate the snail’s speed. The film is also shot from unusual angles – a snail’s eye 14_________, you might say, where human faces become slightly distorted and more unusual. At the end, we are almost participants in the vibrant celebration, which is fuelled 15_________ Guinness and exudes 16________ good humour and love of life.
Characteristically of a Guinness advert, busy scenes alternates 17__________ stillness. There is no need for a voice-over, which would only labour the 18_________. The overwhelming 19___________ created is that you are watching something utterly unique, a message that you will then associate with the product itself.
In general, I believe adverts have a huge effect on our lifestyle and aspirations. If they didn’t, far 20__________ money would be spent on them.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NzRSCIKUlk
KEY
1. right
In your own right: because of your personal qualifications or efforts, not because of your connection with somebody else. As a result of your own ability, achievements, qualifications etc and not because of anyone else. E.g. She sings with a rock band, but she's also a jazz musician in her own right. Her father's a well-known author, but she's an excellent writer in her own right.
2. that/ which
Footage: /ˈfʊtɪdʒ/ part of a film showing a particular event. E.g. Old film footage of the moon landing. People see live footage of the war at home on their televisions.
3. up
Live up to: to do as well as or be as good as other people expect you to. E.g. He failed to live up to his parents' expectations. The team called ‘The No-Hopers’ certainly lived up to its name.
4. set
set something + adverb/preposition to place the action of a play, novel or film/ movie in a particular place, time, etc. E.g. The novel is set in London in the 1960s.
Extravaganza: /ɪkˌstrævəˈɡænzə/ a large, expensive and impressive entertainment. Sp. Gran espectáculo. E.g. A musical extravaganza. A five-day extravaganza of art, music and dance.
5. At
At/from the outset (of something): at/from the beginning of something. E.g. I made it clear right from the outset that I disapproved.
6. air
in the air: felt by a number of people to exist or to be happening. E.g. There's romance in the air.
7. up
Line up: to stand in a line or row; to form a queue/line. E.g. Line up, children! Cars lined up waiting to board the ship.
8. shell
9. on
bet: an arrangement to risk money, etc. on the result of a particular event; the money that you risk in this way. E.g. to win/ lose a bet. Bet on something We've got a bet on who's going to arrive first. He had a bet on the horses. They all put a bet on the race. I hear you're taking bets on whether she'll marry him.
10. off
Get off to a slow start: slow beginning.
be/get off to a good/bad/slow etc start used for saying that something begins in a particular manner, especially a race or a competition. E.g. She got off to a slow start in her election campaign. The Games are off to a flying start with a new world record in the women's marathon
Get off to a flying start/ get off to a flyer: to make a very good start; to begin something well. E.g. She's got off to a flying start in her new career.
Get off to a good start: begin with success. E.g. In Math, it's important to get off to a good start. I tried to get off to a good start with my new job.
11. in
Take sth in: to absorb something into the body, for example by breathing or swallowing. E.g. Fish take in oxygen through their gills /ɡɪlz/ (Sp. branquias).
12. and
Sustenance: /ˈsʌstənəns/ the food and drink that people, animals and plants need to live and stay healthy. Sp. Sustento. E.g. There's not much sustenance in a bowl of soup.
Streak: /striːk/ to move very fast in a particular direction. E.g. She streaked home in under 54 seconds.
Home: a place on a sports field that a player must try to get to in order to score a point in some sports. Sp. Meta. E.g. He was four fences from home.
13. used
Judiciously: /dʒuˈdɪʃəsli/ carefully and sensibly; showing good judgement. E.g. A judiciously worded letter.
14. view
a bird's-eye view (of something) a view of something from a high position looking down. E.g. From the plane we had a bird's eye view of Manhattan.
15. by
Fuel: /ˈfjuːəl/ to increase something; to make something stronger. E.g. To fuel speculation/rumours/fears. Higher salaries helped to fuel inflation.
16. only
Exude: /ɪɡˈzjuːd/ if you exude a particular feeling or quality, or it exudes from you, people can easily see that you have it. Sp. Emanar, irradiar. E.g. She exuded confidence.
Humour: (uncountable)
17. with
Stillness: /ˈstɪlnəs/ the quality of being quiet and not moving. Sp. Quietud, calma, tranquilidad. E.g. The sound of footsteps on the path broke the stillness.
18. point
Labour the point: to continue to repeat or explain something that has already been said and understood. Sp. Insistir, machacar. E.g. I understand what you're saying—there's no need to labour the point.
19. impression
Overwhelming: very great or very strong; so powerful that you cannot resist it or decide how to react. E.g. The evidence against him was overwhelming. The overwhelming majority of those present were in favour of the plan. An overwhelming sense of loss. She had the almost overwhelming desire to tell him the truth. You may find it somewhat overwhelming at first. There was overwhelming support for our policies.
20. less
Showing posts with label 11 Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 11 Shopping. Show all posts
On Screen p 51. Fashion Trends. Article. Word Formation
TASK description:
A magazine is inviting readers to write an article about the fashion trends people follow. You decide to write an article commenting on why people follow fashion trends, and assessing if people use fashion as a form of self-expression or not.
Sample answer
Following Fashion- Why Do We Do It?
Is fashion important to you? For most people it is, at least to some extent. From those who wear (1)________ (TREND) ripped jeans and loose-fitting T-shirts to those who wear smart (2)___________ (TAILOR) suits and expensive designer outfits, each individual can have their own style. But why are people following fashion? And what impact can this have on their self-expression?
(3)___________ (ARGUE), one factor that influences what people wear is the need to impress others. People who dress well and keep up with the latest styles seem to be more noticed than those who are not concerned about their (4)____________ (APPEAR). For this reason, people wear fashionable clothing and assume an identity which makes them feel they impress. Yet, by copying general looks, people actually suppress their (5)_____________ (ORIGIN), leading to a conscious or subconscious (6)________________ (SUPPRESS) of their individuality.
At the same time fashion is perceived by some as a tool for success and one that denotes wealth or prestige. For instance, people (7)__________ (INTENTION) try to elevate their status by wearing famous brands or expensive clothes which are admired by others. These clothes are not actually giving a personal statement of the (8)___________ (WEAR) as they are just the means to promote a specific image of power and control. In this case, fashion does not express personal individuality but could perhaps be said to give a false (9)____________ (IMPRESS) of appearance for a specific purpose.
That being said, following fashion may not have anything to do with copying current trends but with using them as an inspiration to create outfits expressing individuality. An example of this is reforming fashionable pieces and making small (10)______________ (PERSONAL) changes. Adding glam here and there, rolling up a pair of trousers or even wearing two different shoes can be considered a form of self-expression demonstrating originality.
Having considered all this, to my way of thinking fashion can be used as a means of communication and a way to communicate your self-image to people around you. As a famous (11)___________ (DESIGN) once said, "Fashion is instant language."
KEY
1. trendy
2. tailored
3. Arguably
4. appearance
5. originality
6. suppression
7. intentionally
8. wearer
9. impression
10. personalised
11. designer
On Screen p 27. School Uniform. Extra Listening
If people came to school wearing exactly what they pleased, we would see some 1.________/ ______/ __________.
If you look at the 2.__________/ __________, you’ll see almost everybody is wearing a uniform.
At the finest schools like 3.____________, Winchester, 4_______, St John’s school, 5__________. And I do not 6._________ those schools _______ for 7.________ reasons. Many go into the music business, so you cannot say uniform has made them 8._________________.
If a monitor was to catch 9._________/ ________ year boys 10. ________/ ________ the 11.________/ ___________/ _________, how would they know that it is a monitor?
There is yet another side to this 12.____________/ ___________: having to choose what to wear. I for one don't want to stand 13._____________ in front of eleven pairs of trousers.
Dereck Bainbridge claims the official uniform is expensive and a 14_________/ _________/ _______ the parents of the poorer children. If they passed exams in 15___________ and business management, they could afford new 16___________ and holiday 17____________ in Fuengirola. But I 18__________.
Since some people cannot be trusted to sign the punishment book without 19________/ _________/ __________, they cannot be trusted to dress 20__________ for school. If certain people arrived in 21____________ sweaters and the heating was off due to 22____________/ ___________, they would be 23__________/ ____________ their monitors to borrow their 24___________. A hypothesis which, as Hamlet said, is "25___________ not to be wished"
School uniform promotes a sense of 26__________ and 27__________/ ____________. Two, it prevents discrimination 28______/ _________/ ___________/ _______ class and economic differences. Three, my father is the 29__________/ ___________ of uniform to this school.
KEY
1. pretty funny sights.
2. Bayeux Tapestry (a finely decorated cloth wall covering made in the 11th century. It shows the events that led to the Battle of Hastings (1066) between the Normans under William the Conqueror and the English under King Harold II, and the death of King Harold. It is 74 yards/68 metres long and is kept in a museum at Bayeux in northern France.)
3. Eton (an English public school for boys near Windsor in Berkshire, started in 1440 by King Henry VI. Its students are mainly from rich families, and many of Britain’s public figures were educated there. Its former students are known as Old Etonians. There is a strong sense of competition between Eton and Harrow, another boys’ public school
Princes William and Harry were sent to Eton.)
4. Harrow
5. Leatherhead
6. Pick out (to choose somebody/something carefully from a group of people or things. Select)
7. snob
8. fuddy-duddy (a person who has old-fashioned ideas or habits. E.g. You're such an old fuddy-duddy! Adjective: fuddy-duddy ideas)
9. two fourth
10. hanging around
11. lower corridor pegs
12. vexed question (vexed question/issue a problem that is difficult to deal with. Thorny. E.g.
The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls.)
13. dithering (dither: to hesitate about what to do because you are unable to decide. E.g. Stop dithering and get on with it. Dither over something She was dithering over what to wear.)
14. great strain on
15. accountancy
16. blazers
17. flatlets (flatlet: a very small flat/apartment)
18. digress (/daɪˈɡres/ to start to talk about something that is not connected with the main point of what you are saying)
19. drawing private parts
20. suitably
21. backless
22. education cuts
23 crawling to (crawl (to somebody) (informal, disapproving) to be too friendly or helpful to somebody in authority, in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get an advantage from them. E.g. She's always crawling to the boss.)
24 cardigans
25 devoutly
26 identity
27 team spirit
28 on the grounds of (a reason for doing sth)
29. sole supplier
If you look at the 2.__________/ __________, you’ll see almost everybody is wearing a uniform.
At the finest schools like 3.____________, Winchester, 4_______, St John’s school, 5__________. And I do not 6._________ those schools _______ for 7.________ reasons. Many go into the music business, so you cannot say uniform has made them 8._________________.
If a monitor was to catch 9._________/ ________ year boys 10. ________/ ________ the 11.________/ ___________/ _________, how would they know that it is a monitor?
There is yet another side to this 12.____________/ ___________: having to choose what to wear. I for one don't want to stand 13._____________ in front of eleven pairs of trousers.
Dereck Bainbridge claims the official uniform is expensive and a 14_________/ _________/ _______ the parents of the poorer children. If they passed exams in 15___________ and business management, they could afford new 16___________ and holiday 17____________ in Fuengirola. But I 18__________.
Since some people cannot be trusted to sign the punishment book without 19________/ _________/ __________, they cannot be trusted to dress 20__________ for school. If certain people arrived in 21____________ sweaters and the heating was off due to 22____________/ ___________, they would be 23__________/ ____________ their monitors to borrow their 24___________. A hypothesis which, as Hamlet said, is "25___________ not to be wished"
School uniform promotes a sense of 26__________ and 27__________/ ____________. Two, it prevents discrimination 28______/ _________/ ___________/ _______ class and economic differences. Three, my father is the 29__________/ ___________ of uniform to this school.
KEY
1. pretty funny sights.
2. Bayeux Tapestry (a finely decorated cloth wall covering made in the 11th century. It shows the events that led to the Battle of Hastings (1066) between the Normans under William the Conqueror and the English under King Harold II, and the death of King Harold. It is 74 yards/68 metres long and is kept in a museum at Bayeux in northern France.)
3. Eton (an English public school for boys near Windsor in Berkshire, started in 1440 by King Henry VI. Its students are mainly from rich families, and many of Britain’s public figures were educated there. Its former students are known as Old Etonians. There is a strong sense of competition between Eton and Harrow, another boys’ public school
Princes William and Harry were sent to Eton.)
4. Harrow
5. Leatherhead
6. Pick out (to choose somebody/something carefully from a group of people or things. Select)
7. snob
8. fuddy-duddy (a person who has old-fashioned ideas or habits. E.g. You're such an old fuddy-duddy! Adjective: fuddy-duddy ideas)
9. two fourth
10. hanging around
11. lower corridor pegs
12. vexed question (vexed question/issue a problem that is difficult to deal with. Thorny. E.g.
The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls.)
13. dithering (dither: to hesitate about what to do because you are unable to decide. E.g. Stop dithering and get on with it. Dither over something She was dithering over what to wear.)
14. great strain on
15. accountancy
16. blazers
17. flatlets (flatlet: a very small flat/apartment)
18. digress (/daɪˈɡres/ to start to talk about something that is not connected with the main point of what you are saying)
19. drawing private parts
20. suitably
21. backless
22. education cuts
23 crawling to (crawl (to somebody) (informal, disapproving) to be too friendly or helpful to somebody in authority, in a way that is not sincere, especially in order to get an advantage from them. E.g. She's always crawling to the boss.)
24 cardigans
25 devoutly
26 identity
27 team spirit
28 on the grounds of (a reason for doing sth)
29. sole supplier
Close-up p 144. Consumerism. Oral Mediation
A
friend of yours from England is going to give a TED talk about consumerism in different parts of the world. While doing his
research, he
came across these Google images about consumerism in Spain.
He sends them to you so that you can shed some light on consumerism in
your country. Your friend also asks you some questions about
this topic. You
decide to
send your friend a voice message with an explanation of 2 minutes.
1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you? Is the Spanish society too consumer oriented?
2. Do you believe that people in Spain tend to give money too much importance?
3. Do you believe that consumer culture has been crucial to improve lives in Spain?
4. Do Spanish citizens feel guilty about spending money on anything? Why?
5. Do you think Spanish people today have an unhealthy interest in material things?
6. Do you know any Spanish people who have more money than sense? In what way?
7. Would you say Spaniards are good at saving money? Why (not)?
8. What do Spanish people normally save for?
9. Do many people in Spain take out loans? What for? Do some people in your country struggle to make ends meet and fall behind with their mortgage repayments?
10. Why do you think Spanish people buy counterfeit goods? What ways of combating counterfeiting can you think of in Spain?
11. An ethical consumer is aware of the impact of the goods he is buying and then makes the best possible purchase decision available. Should Spanish buyers shop more ethically? What would that involve? Can you think of some benefits of buying locally produced food and other goods in Spain? How could Spanish buyers contribute to improve working conditions in sweatshops?
12. Do Spaniards follow the latest fads or do they have their own sense of style?
13. Do people in Spain spend a lot during the sales? Is this justified? Do you believe in the sales? Do you think some people buy things on impulse? What do you think about imported sales promotions like Black Friday landing in Spain?
14. How popular is shopping online in Spain?
15. How popular are flea markets in your area?
16. What effects have shopping centres had on the high street in your region?
17. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having a global economy for Spain? Is globalisation an opportunity or a threat to you?
Useful language to describe a chart:
This chart illustrates how...
This chart compares...
The results that are shown in the chart are...
As can be seen from these results, ...
According to this chart,
From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ...
We can see on this chart how...
The chart indicates that...
The chart represents...
The information given in the chart...
The percentage of people who... is shown on the chart.
The chart shows quite clearly the impact of...
1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you? Is the Spanish society too consumer oriented?
2. Do you believe that people in Spain tend to give money too much importance?
3. Do you believe that consumer culture has been crucial to improve lives in Spain?
4. Do Spanish citizens feel guilty about spending money on anything? Why?
5. Do you think Spanish people today have an unhealthy interest in material things?
6. Do you know any Spanish people who have more money than sense? In what way?
7. Would you say Spaniards are good at saving money? Why (not)?
8. What do Spanish people normally save for?
9. Do many people in Spain take out loans? What for? Do some people in your country struggle to make ends meet and fall behind with their mortgage repayments?
10. Why do you think Spanish people buy counterfeit goods? What ways of combating counterfeiting can you think of in Spain?
11. An ethical consumer is aware of the impact of the goods he is buying and then makes the best possible purchase decision available. Should Spanish buyers shop more ethically? What would that involve? Can you think of some benefits of buying locally produced food and other goods in Spain? How could Spanish buyers contribute to improve working conditions in sweatshops?
12. Do Spaniards follow the latest fads or do they have their own sense of style?
13. Do people in Spain spend a lot during the sales? Is this justified? Do you believe in the sales? Do you think some people buy things on impulse? What do you think about imported sales promotions like Black Friday landing in Spain?
14. How popular is shopping online in Spain?
15. How popular are flea markets in your area?
16. What effects have shopping centres had on the high street in your region?
17. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having a global economy for Spain? Is globalisation an opportunity or a threat to you?
Useful language to describe a chart:
This chart illustrates how...
This chart compares...
The results that are shown in the chart are...
As can be seen from these results, ...
According to this chart,
From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ...
We can see on this chart how...
The chart indicates that...
The chart represents...
The information given in the chart...
The percentage of people who... is shown on the chart.
The chart shows quite clearly the impact of...
Close-up p 77. Commenting on a Story. Written Mediation
WRITTEN MEDIATION
In a written mediation activity, the student will be presented with some
kind of information (input) that s/he will have to interpret, and
produce some kind of text with it. This input can be given in various forms
such as a written text, a chart, a graph, an infographic, images, etc.
In the same way, the outcome
of the mediation may be presented in different ways; for instance, an email, an
article, a comment,.... The student
should respect the structure and peculiarities of the type of writing
s/he has been asked to do.
All kinds of mediation have some features in common. Any mediation
activity needs a context. The
scenario describes a situation (in which we have to intervene), the people involved, the purpose of the mediation and the final product. Read it thoroughly and consider:
1. What
is the situation? Circumstances
in which you have to mediate.
2. What are you requested to do? Transmit
information, explain data, express your opinion...
3. What
is the purpose of it? What is your
goal? Help someone with a problem, give your opinion in a blog...
4. Who are the participants? Who is your
writing aimed at? To whom? An
institution, your friend, a blog...
5. What
is the final product you’ve been asked? A
comment, an article, an email...
After having the questions above clear, focus on the input
given. These are basic questions you need to answer before starting writing,
but keep in mind that the answer doesn’t always have to be ‘yes’.
a) What
information should Iselect for my goal?You do not need to use all the information.
b) Should
I use my previous knowledge
and relate it to it?
c) Should
I give examples to facilitate a better understanding?
d) Should
I add any extra information
that may be important or may help in the mediation?
e) Should
I deconstruct complicated information? i.e.use bullet points.
f) What
style, tone and register should I adopt?Type of writing and who it is
aimed at (formal vs informal)
g) How
am I going to organize my writing in order to make it coherent? Think
of the number of paragraphs and what type of linking expressions you may need.
h) What
type of vocabulary and grammar structures should I use?
i) Am
I respecting the length required?
A COMMENT
A comment is a remark expressing an opinion, a reaction or an explanation. In general, comments comply with the style of an opinion essay.
Structure of a comment
1. Title: find an appropriate title.
2. Introduction: use the introduction to get the reader's attention and interest in the
topic. Present the topic you are going to discuss and provide a short overview
on what you think and why. If it is a literary comment, present the story
briefly (put the topic into context) and go straight to the question.
3. Body: give
reasons for your opinion. Concentrate on one main point per paragraph.
What to write exactly, depends on the task:
a) Comment: state your opinion and give examples and arguments
that support your opinion. statement – reason – example
b) Compare:
find common and distinct features. Draw conclusions.
c) Criticize:
find advantages and disadvantages. Comment on somebody's opinion.
d) Discuss:
analyse all aspects of a problem (What is …? / Is it okay to …?)
e) Evaluate:
analyse a problem.Show advantages and disadvantages.
f) Justify:
support an opinion. Show advantages.
4. Conclusion: Summarize the most important arguments that best support your opinion.
Tips for writing a good comment
1. Think about the topic first. What's your opinion? What arguments can you use to support your ideas?
2. Plan the paragraphs you are going to write.
3. Select the information you are going to write about. Summarize or paraphrase what you find important. DO NOT JUST COPY
4. Decide whether you need to resort to previous knowledge, include examples or add extra information in order to develop your arguments.
5. Use a relatively formal register and an objective tone. Don’t be too emotional. It is more effective to write in an informative, convincing and professional way that enables to get your message across.
6. Use phrases and linking expressions common in an opinion essay.
7. If you do not have solid evidence for your ideas, use modal verbs such as might, may or could.
8. Try to use challenging and relevant vocabulary. Use natural-sounding collocations.
9. Avoid repetition by using synonyms or words with similar meanings.
TASK
At the beginning of the year you joined the school’s online Reading Group for C2. Your assignment this week was to read the micro-story “With One Wheel Gone Wrong”. Your host has posted the following questions:
How would you describe the main character, in terms of lifestyle and personality?
What do you think the magazine means for her?
Write your comment on the group’s blog.
With One Wheel Gone Wrong
By A.M. Homes
With one wheel gone wrong, she careens into the checkout line. A perfect shopper, she prides herself on sailing the circulars, clipping coupons, buying in bulk. Her basket is overflowing with catnip and kitty litter, Pull-Ups and pomegranates—plenty of all. She takes a magazine out of the rack; there's a spot to scratch, an offer she can't resist—"Got an itch you can't identify, don't know what you want, let this be your moment." The background photo is of a beautiful house with everything just as you would want it to be—untouched by reality. She scratches; her finger is quickly coated with gold powder and under that is something a little sticky—tugging at her. It is as though she is being pulled into the magazine. A sudden burst of light, an explosion of inspiration, a fleeting illumination, and she is inside the picture and it is clear—this is her house, this is who she is, the life she is supposed to live. It is incredible—she's seeing not only the future but the pathway there—and it's a new kind of floor tile—you just put one foot in front of the other, don't stop, and watch where you're going. And then, as though in a faraway dream, she hears the scanner beeping, she hears the checker say, "Are you taking that magazine?" Drawing a deep breath, she pulls herself back into the checkout line. She takes every copy of the magazine out of the rack. "I'll take all you've got," she says. "Paper or plastic?"
Vocabulary
careen: /kəˈriːn/
(of a person or vehicle) to move forward very quickly especially in a way that is dangerous or shows a loss of control.
sail: control a ship
circular: /ˈsɜːkjələ(r)/ a letter, notice or advertisement that is sent to a large number of people at the same time. E.g. The company will dispatch a circular to its shareholders giving details of the takeover.
catnip: (also catmint /ˈkætmɪnt/) a plant that has white flowers with purple spots, leaves covered with small hairs and a smell that is attractive to cats. Sp. nébeda.
Litter: a dry substance that is put in a shallow open box for pets, especially cats, to use as a toilet when they are indoors. E.g. cat litter, kitty litter.
pull-up (also pull-ups): A disposable nappy with an elasticated waistband enabling it to be pulled up and worn like underpants, typically worn by children during potty training. E.g.‘now she only wears a pull-up at bedtime’,‘start the process gradually by swapping their nappy for a pair of pull-ups’
itch: a strong desire to do something. E.g. She has an itch to travel.
tug: to pull something hard, often several times. E.g. tug (at/on something) (Sp. tirar de) She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention.
fleeting: brief
draw breath: to pause for a moment to take a breath or breathe more slowly.
paper or plastic: cash vs. credit card.
Useful language
Introduction
The purpose of this comment is to analyse...
A.M. Homes with this story tries to describe/ examine/ show
With One Wheel Gone Wrong illustrates/shows..
It is obviously a metaphor for something bigger.
The theme of the story is...
Sequencing
Firstly/In the first place / To begin with, …To start with, I should point out that ...
Firstly/In the first place / To begin with, …To start with, I should point out that ...
Secondly/A second area to consider is …
Another point to remember is ...
Last but not least, I would like to add that...
Opinion and speculation
Personally I feel that ... Let me explain why.Last but not least, I would like to add that...
Opinion and speculation
As I see it, … The reason is ...
It seems to me that… This is because ...
She appears/seems to be ....
Her greatest love seems to be ...
What she loves most in life is likely to be ...
She might spend all her time ... -ing. I would argue that for the following reasons: She could be described as an impulsive/impetuous shopper.
I feel very strongly that ...
I am convinced that ...
I am inclined to believe that...
I am of the opinion that ...
The reasons why I believe that she is a compulsive/inveterate shopper are as follows:...
I think it is true that ...In my view, she seems totally absorbed in the magazine.
It is questionable whether …
It beggars belief how things could have got this bad for her.
She showed a lack of common sense that beggars belief.
I am sure/I doubt whether …
It beggars belief how things could have got this bad for her.
She showed a lack of common sense that beggars belief.
It is true that ... On the other hand, ...
While nobody can deny that ... , I would like to point out that …
At first sight she....,but in fact she...
At first sight she....,but in fact she...
I agree that …For all that, she...
Although it is true that , we must take into account that...
It could be argued that … However, I would like to point out that ...
Despite all the arguments, I still feel that ...
Notwithstanding the suggestion that she may have left without paying for the magazine, I would argue that this was not her intention.
It may be true that ... . However, ...
In no way would I agree that she is a shoplifter.
Surely it is completely unacceptable that she was leaving without paying for the magazine. Nevertheless, she makes up for it when she goes back to the queue and pays for all the magazines.
I am sure you will agree that…
Surely you must agree that…
I was extremely impressed by…
What is
particularly spectacular/interesting is…
I would like to stress that...
It should be noted that...
It is worth bearing in mind that...
I was rather disappointed by…
My overall impression was that …
On the whole, it appears/seems that ...
In general,…
Generally
speaking,…
Broadly speaking,
By and large, she was pretty well-behaved as she was so impervious to anything surrounding her.
Broadly speaking,
By and large, she was pretty well-behaved as she was so impervious to anything surrounding her.
Annoyingly,…
Naturally,…
Strangely,…
Surprisingly,…
Evidently,…
Indeed,…
In fact,…
In fact,…
Admittedly, she was leaving without paying for the magazine.
Admittedly: /ədˈmɪtɪdli/ used when you are accepting that something is true. Sp. cierto es que, ciertamente.
Presumably,...
Presumably: /prɪˈzjuːməbli/ used to say that you think that something is probably true. Sp. Supuestamente
Presumably: /prɪˈzjuːməbli/ used to say that you think that something is probably true. Sp. Supuestamente
While some people will love ... , others may feel less happy.
A major problem is that ...
I was less happy with ...
Her reaction/behaviour struck me as odd. She struck me as being...
Her reaction/behaviour struck me as odd. She struck me as being...
On reflection, I think the character of this story...
It is clear that the magazine shows her what she aspires to. For her it seems to be the springboard to her lifelong ambitions.
We must take into account the fact that ....
It goes without saying that ...
Needless to say,
The woman in the story seemed oblivious to what was going on around her. This means that she was engrossed with the ad on the magazine.
She imagines herself already stepping on the floor tiles of the house in the magazine. This is largely due to the fact that she might have for long reflected on what she would like her dream house to be like.
Paraphrasing
In other words, she seems to be obsessed with the magazine and the house depicted in it.
Or, to put it another way, she...
What I mean by that is that she ...
The voice of the narrator leads us to believe...
The writer explores different aspects of human nature.
The writer experiments in terms of ambitions and motivation.
The author of the story seems to believe that...
According to the author/story...
As far as the author is concerned,...
The motivation/intention of the author is to make the reader aware of...
It could be argued that this story epitomises the impact of capitalism on a woman.
epitomise: epitomize something to be a perfect example of something.
The story is a good illustration of how capitalism can exert a strong influence on our minds.
It's a story strongly reminiscent of my adolescence, when I used to be carried away by the sales and offers.
Her experiences resonate powerfully with readers, living, as many do, in a similar situation.
resonate (with somebody/something) to remind somebody of something; to be similar to what somebody thinks or believes.
reminiscent of somebody/something: reminding you of somebody/something
Engaging the reader
Have you ever wondered what life would be like without dreams and passions? ...
Doesn’t she just make all of us feel more positive about our own aspirations?
Have you ever had a secret ambition?
Have you ever wondered...?
What would your life be like if...?
What would you do if...?
Are you one of those people who tend to act on impulse?
Isn't it extraordinary how/that...?
Imagine if/ what...
Suppose that she had a difficult childhood,
Let us suppose, for example, that she suffers from...
Addition It could be argued that this story epitomises the impact of capitalism on a woman.
epitomise: epitomize something to be a perfect example of something.
The story is a good illustration of how capitalism can exert a strong influence on our minds.
It's a story strongly reminiscent of my adolescence, when I used to be carried away by the sales and offers.
Her experiences resonate powerfully with readers, living, as many do, in a similar situation.
resonate (with somebody/something) to remind somebody of something; to be similar to what somebody thinks or believes.
reminiscent of somebody/something: reminding you of somebody/something
Engaging the reader
Have you ever wondered what life would be like without dreams and passions? ...
Doesn’t she just make all of us feel more positive about our own aspirations?
Have you ever had a secret ambition?
Have you ever wondered...?
What would your life be like if...?
What would you do if...?
Are you one of those people who tend to act on impulse?
Isn't it extraordinary how/that...?
Imagine if/ what...
Suppose that she had a difficult childhood,
Let us suppose, for example, that she suffers from...
In addition...
What is more...
Besides...
Moreover...
Furthermore...
In addition to being absent-minded, she...
As well as behaving childishly, she...
Conclusion
All things considered, I believe that ...
All in all, I think that ...
On balance, it seems to me that...
To finish with, I would like to say that...
Finally, ...
To sum up, I believe that ...
In conclusion, her actions suggest that ...
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