English for academic purposes exercises, Apuntes de Lengua y Literatura

¡Descarga English for academic purposes exercises y más Apuntes en PDF de Lengua y Literatura solo en Docsity! 1 ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES Answers to exercises 1.2 – Features of academic writing Exercise 1 a) The company has made substantial changes in its approach to marketing. b) Numerous attempts have been made to find a relationship between the two major contributing factors. c) First impressions are extremely important. d) A rise in unemployment is just one of the consequences that will happen with the introduction of automated production lines. Exercise 2 Exercise 3 (example answers) a) The data enables scientists to formulate precise predictions. The data enables the formation of precise predictions. b) The students researched the topic but uncovered no relevant evidence. The student’s research uncovered no relevant evidence. Analyse Analysis Deduce Deduction Illustrate Illustration Indicate Indication Invest Investment Implicate Implication Progress Progression Reject Rejection Revise Revision Suggest Suggestion 2 c) Candidates need to impress the employers during an interview. Candidates need to give a good impression during an interview. Exercise 4 (example answers) a) Officials are in the process of organising a summit to discuss potential strategies. b) Staff members who breach their contract will be fired. c) A country’s economy is affected by factors such as population, natural resources, and infrastructure. d) Therefore, the company’s future is likely to be positive. Exercise 5 a) Apple's App Store provides users with access to over 2.2 million apps (Statista, 2018), which generates $26.5 billion (USD) for its developers (Leswing, 2018). Each app has to go through a rigorous review process to determine if they are suitable for its users. Issues that Apple will monitor for are: system crashes, user interface errors, misleading information, and malicious files that affect its user's security (Apple, no date). Exercise 6 (example answers) a) In the following section, we will introduce the potential consequences. The following section will introduce the potential consequences. b) You can increase productivity by taking regular breaks. Taking regular breaks can increase productivity. c) We gathered research by conducting interviews with the general public. Research was gathered by conducting interviews with the general public. d) You should take note of the suggestions outlined in this textbook. The suggestions outlined in this textbook are noteworthy. ▪ Paragraph a) remains objective throughout. The information presented does not try to persuade the reader, and simply outlines details about Apple’s App Store business. Whereas, b) criticises Apple’s app review process, and suggests that the system on Android is much better for developers. ▪ Furthermore, only paragraph a) provides references for any evidence used. 5 2.2 – Creating new ideas Exercise 1 (example answer) 6 2.3 – Planning an academic paper Exercise 1 (example answers) a) When students attend university, they develop in many different ways. Their attitude, personality traits, and habits are all affected by this move from high school into higher education. Illustrate three ways in which students change while studying at university. b) Brainstorm example: c) Three chosen ideas d) Three examples for chosen ideas ▪ ‘Students’, ‘university’, ‘develop/change’, ‘attitude’, ‘personality traits’, and ‘habits’ could all be considered subject/focus words. Furthermore, the topic is further limited by providing you with a request for only ‘three ways’ in which students change. ▪ ‘Illustrate’ is the task word – Use evidence/examples to present a clear picture of the subject in your reader’s mind. 1) Students are required to manage their own time. 2) A level of independence is developed during university. 3) Internal motivation is necessary to be successful on any course. 1) Meeting deadlines – by making a schedule and understanding consequences. 2) Taking care of finances – Creating a budget and/or taking on a part time job. Covering the cost of course fees. 3) Less guidance from tutors – No direct instructions for passing assignments. Requirement for pre-view, review, and reading around the subject. 7 e) Making the connection: f) A student’s personality and habits are forced to develop when entering university. g) Specifically, they will become better at time management, independently taking care of themselves, and finding internal motivation to complete their studies. h) During high school education, studying for exams takes priority over all other aspects of a student’s life. At this time, parents or guardians are often around to support and guide a student through this period. However, once they enter higher education, students need to adjust to a growing number of responsibilities. Introduction General statements (h) During high school education, studying for exams takes priority over all other aspects of a student’s life. At this time, parents or guardians are often around to support and guide a student through this period. However, once they enter higher education, students need to adjust to a growing number of responsibilities. Thesis statement (f) A student’s personality and habits are forced to develop when entering university. Essay map (g) Specifically, they will become better at time management, independently taking care of themselves, and finding internal motivation to complete their studies. Idea Example What is the connection? 1) Students are required to manage their own time. Meeting deadlines – by making a schedule and understanding consequences. Knowing consequences of missing deadlines, avoiding pressure by making a plan. 2) A level of independence is developed during university. Taking care of finances – Creating a budget and/or taking on a part time job. Covering the cost of course fees. Becoming more mature by gaining an appreciation for the value of products or services. 3) Internal motivation is necessary to be successful on any course. Less guidance from tutors – No direct instructions for passing assignments. Requirement for pre-view, review, and reading around the subject. They need to go out and do more reading beyond the reading list. Nobody else will push them to complete their work. 10 4.1 – General statements Exercise 1 a) Topic: The future of print media The notion that print media is on its way to becoming extinct may be an overstatement. b) Topic: Investing in cryptocurrencies Original used as form of payment on the black market, cryptocurrencies have now grown in popularity amongst mainstream users (Foley, Karlsen, and Putninš, 2018). c) Topic: The importance of human resource departments In 2014, Netflix sent shockwaves through the business world by essentially reinventing the human resource department (McCord, 2014). ▪ The first hook uses the phrase ‘With the development of…’, which is overused and not very interesting to a reader. ▪ The second hook is far more interesting as it challenges the idea that print media is a dying form. Upon reading this sentence, the reader has a desire to continue reading in order to find out why this in an ‘overstatement’? ▪ The first hook provides the reader with too much detail and is a little too specific. It is essentially telling the reader ‘Yes – people should invest in cryptocurrencies, because they are going to replace the current system’. This information should be provided at the end of the introduction, as part of the thesis statement, not in the opening sentence. ▪ The second hook provides some background detail, stating that cryptocurrencies first grew in popularity amongst the black market. This is information that many readers may not have previously been aware of? Thus, peaking their interest in the topic. ▪ The first hook provides an example relating to the topic (possible from a report/article provided by your tutor). This is used to set the scene, while also holding back specific details. Again, this will peak the reader’s interest and encourage them to keep reading the essay in order to find out more. ▪ The second hook uses a rhetorical question. These should be avoided in academic writing. Furthermore, the question is essentially repeating the essay title – making it unnecessary/redundant. 11 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Introduction 1 The millennial generation places health and fitness high on their list of concerns. They are especially interested in the amount of time spent exercising, while also keeping track of their nutritional intake. Tech companies such as Apple and Samsung have taken notice of these concerns and decided to address them through the use of wearables. Notably, smartwatches have enabled users to track their health through collecting data such as heart rate levels, exercise metrics, and calorie counting. However, this data can be misleading and inaccurate, leading to users potentially risking their wellbeing. Introduction 2 In 1996, Australia drafted a law banning all automatic and military-style weapons in a bid to eradicate mass shootings. This move proved to be successful, as 22 years later, the country has yet to experience any gun- related massacres. Based on this example, questions are often raised as to why the United States does not take the same action. Furthermore, one report suggests that the US is subjected to a mass shooting, on average, every 64 days (Cohen, Azrael, & Miller, 2014). These statistics highlight the importance of change, and that it is now time that the US takes action to restrict access to firearms. b) e) a) d) c) d) b) c) a) e) 12 Exercise 4 (example answer) The tourism industry is growing at an alarming rate, with an expected figure of 1.8 billion international tourists by 2030 (Perrottet, 2016). For many destinations, especially those in developing counties, this offers a range of business opportunities. However, these economic benefits often overshadow the negative effects that appear on a social and environmental level. Developing tourism can put a serious strain on the lives of locals, the surrounding wildlife, and access to resources. 4.2 – Thesis statements and essay maps Exercise 1 a) The government is telling lies about the so-called effects of global warming. b) Global warming is bad. c) This essay will discuss global warming. d) Global warming has contributed heavily to recent unpredictable weather patterns. e) Global warming is an issue that must be solved. Perrottet, J. (2016) What is the impact of tourism on development? Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/02/what-is-the-impact-of-tourism-on- development (Accessed: 28th June 2018] ▪ Too subjective. Purely opinion and difficult to prove. ▪ Too obvious, as most people know that global warming is ‘bad’. Also, too broad. ▪ Only provides details of the topic. There is no claim presented. Also, uses an ‘announcement statement’ (“This essay will…”). ▪ This is by far the clearest thesis statement. There is a claim that global warming has affected weather patterns, and evidence can be presented to back up this claim. ▪ Too broad/vague. Again, a fairly obvious statement that does not need to be argued. 15 Exercise 3 (example answers) a) Professional development; career development; promotions; career growth; employee development. b) Employees feel motivated in their careers when they are aware of their professional development opportunities. 5.2 – Presenting your ideas Exercise 1 Animals kept in captivity are subjected to unrealistic and cruel environmental conditions. Especially in zoos, where the artificial surroundings heighten stress levels amongst the animals. Attempts may be made to provide stimulation, in the hope that the animals will be put at ease. However, their well-being is overshadowed by the primary goal of entertaining the ever-growing number of guests and increasing profits. The possibility of civil war breaking out in countries such as the UK or US is highly unlikely. This is because these countries do have the two main characterises often associated with the outbreak of civil war, which are an underdeveloped economy, and a general population that is lacking in diversity. Although both countries do face economic challenges at times, they are often able to quickly recover. Furthermore, their populations are extremely diverse with many citizens from the majority of the world’s nations. Exercise 2 Firstly, it is crucial to understand if students are aiming to digest as much knowledge as possible or do the bare minimum to pass. Biggs and Tang (2011) categorised two approaches to learning, which are known as a 'surface' or 'deep' approach. The surface approach is often adopted by students who are not internally motivated to study, taking on a university course due to social or family pressure. Therefore, it is essential for teachers to foster or encourage an in-depth approach to learning to raise motivational levels. By coaching students and providing small achievable goals, the tutor should be able to raise the student's self-belief in their abilities (Zepke and Leach, 2010). Through this method, the students become more engaged in the classroom and with the subject itself. Once students shift away from a surface approach towards in-depth learning, the next step is the encourage an inclusive learning environment. f) c) a) b) e) d) Statement Evidence Discussion Statement Evidence Discussion e) b) f) h) c) a) g) d) 16 Exercise 3 Evidence 3: Research conducted by Harvard Graduate School of Education (2017) revealed that since 2015 there has been a significant increase in the number of students from Asia and the Middle East choosing to study their undergraduate degrees at UK universities. Discussion (example) This growing number of students over the past few years suggests that a British degree is valuable, especially when considering the cost involved in studying in the UK. 5.3 – Concluding sentences Exercise 1 (example answers) UK housing crisis For those living in the UK, the shortage of homes is both a population and investment issue, but there are also external factors influencing this housing crisis. Negatives of social media Networking sites allow for this access to details of every individual’s life and opens the door for negative criticism, while also empowering those who wish to spread rumours based on invalid information. 5.4 – Cohesion a) As of 2017, companies such as BMW, Jaguar, and VW can be found parked up next to Tesla in the charging bays of your local car park. In other words, electric vehicles are here to stay. b) Upcoming regulations will restrict the sale of coal. Therefore, many agencies are responding to this by developing alternatives, such as ‘clean coal’ variants. ▪ Evidence 1 only mentions data from one particular year, when the supporting point states ‘every year’ – meaning a range of years will be required. Furthermore, it only focuses on one specific university, and is not a suitable representation for universities across the country. ▪ Evidence 2 simply describes/repeats that general idea of the supporting point. Also, there is no citations provided, as this is likely to be the author’s own opinion. ▪ Evidence 3 provides a citation to a reputable source and refers to a range of time (“Since 2015…”). Additionally, it is very specific as to which international students are increasing in numbers (“Asia and the Middle East…”). ▪ The mention of ‘value’ and ‘cost’ would lead into another supporting point/evidence surrounding the cost of British education. 17 c) Based on this experiment, the results showed a 74% increase in the amount of gases released. Admittedly, due to some contaminations, the experiment may not have produced an accurate set of results. d) Jones (2014) proposed a drastic overhaul of all written assessments within the university. Similarly, Smith (2015) commented that assessments in their current form were unacceptable and needed updating. e) Those customers who were unhappy with the final product had the option of downgrading to the previous version. Alternatively, customers were also provided with a refund option. f) Finally, due to localising the advertisements, the Asian market saw a tenfold increase in product sales. In conclusion, by merely making a few adjustments to the marketing material for each region, an apparent increase in sales can be achieved. g) In March of 2016, the administration announced they would soon call for a public vote on the matter. Subsequently, in the following month, the vote took place and the results did not allow for the law to pass. h) The cost of the insurance policy will increase proportionately with the expansion of the grounds. Generally, this implies that as the buildings are erected, the potential pay-out by the insurer is likely to be higher. 20 7.2 – Types of evidence 7.3 – Conducting research Exercise 1 An example answer is given in the table - High-speed railway / Fuel / Prices - with a result of 2,040,000. This is a very open ended exercise about using search engines and tracking results with notes in the table. 7.4 – Reliability Exercise 1 Authority (Who?) Dr. Jennifer Simmonds has the authority to discuss ‘challenges faced by environmentally friendly hotels’. Currency (When?) The article titled Recent ‘devastating’ cuts places strain on London’s hospitals is more suitable for this supporting point. a) b) c) d) e) Fact Opinion Fact Statistic Example f) g) h) i) j) Opinion Statistic Opinion Quotation Example k) l) m) n) o) Statistic Quotation Fact Quotation Example ▪ ‘Adventurous Dave’ is an online name. He does not provide his surname/family name, so we are unable to check his reliability elsewhere. Furthermore, he is simply a travel blogger. This does give him plenty of hotel living experience, but there is no mention of knowledge regarding ‘environment’ in his background – what would give him the knowledge or authority to discuss this topic in an objective manner? There is no proof provided that he is suitable for this topic. ▪ Jennifer Simmonds holds far more authority, as she is a lecturer in business, with specific knowledge of ‘sustainable tourism’. This area of study touches upon (but is not limited to) environmental issues regarding the tourism industry (which include hotels). Furthermore, we have a full name, a detailed background, and information regarding other work she has published (that may be useful for the topic of discussion). 21 Accuracy (Where?) c) According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (2018), the percentage of smokers who managed to quit smoking rose from 3.4 to 4.5 percent between 2016-2017. A report from the Department of Health and Human Services (2018) interprets this data as “in 2016, nearly 21 out of every 100 adults were smokers”, but in 2017 that number had decreased to “nearly 15 out of every 100 adults”. Objectivity (Why?) a) On average, people spend roughly 90 minutes a day poking away at their phones, and according to the study by Lepp et al. (2013), this leads to inferior aerobic fitness. Furthermore, Lepp et al. (2013) drew links between heavy phone use and insomnia. This is due to the light emitted from the phone screen unbalancing the sleep hormone melatonin. However, for all the adverse effects phones have on our health, they are also excellent tools for tracking and keeping us motivated. One study found that 82% of recreational athletes relied on smartphone apps paired with fitness tech, with 75% stating that the phone motivated them to workout (Bailey, 2016). ▪ Although this article does only focus on London, it was published on 22 May 2018, which is more recent than the second article (Real effects of NHS job cuts revealed) from 2011. ▪ The second article may be useful when making comparisons, but it does not effectively support the ‘most recent job cuts’ (as stated in the supporting point). ▪ Source a) does not provide any references to where the data comes from (just states that it came from a government survey). ▪ Source b) also provides no references to its sources. Furthermore, with no mention of dates/years, or even location, there is no clear indication this information is about smokers in the US during 2017. ▪ Source c) is far more detailed, making comparisons to the previous year. Furthermore, it references two organisations as the source of data. ▪ Source a) is balanced and looks at both the positives and negatives effects of smartphone use to a person’s fitness and health. Furthermore, each piece of evidence provides a reference to the original source. ▪ Source b) does mention the negative effects, but this is done in a way to set up the positive (like an advertisement). Some phrases use emotional or informal language. Finally, the last sentence lists many apps that are suggested for use (again, as an advertisement), but does not go into their strengths or weaknesses. 22 8.2 – Skimming and scanning Word search answers Exercise 1 a) How do pre-arrival programmes support international students? Arrange medical insurance, tuition fees, visa requirements, accommodation reservation. b) Why are international students invited to attend orientation a week earlier? The campus is less crowded (to help them feel less overwhelmed). 25 9.2 – Paraphrasing Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Original 1 c) The number of children missing out on a secondary school education had decreased by 35 million between 2000 and 2015. Original 2 b) In comparison to last year, there had been an increase of roughly 77% in the number of people having to wait four hours to receive medical treatment. Original 3 c) The 8% decrease in Barnes & Noble’s stock price was the result of an article pleading for their support. ▪ Paraphrase 1 is an example of plagiarism. The order of the information has been switched around, but very few words are different to the original (e.g. jumped > rose, data > research). ▪ Paraphrase 2 is far more original in its formation. The ideas are clearly the same as the original, but this information has been expressed in a unique way that is very different to the original extract. ▪ Paraphrase a) is implying that the 62 million students are ‘dropouts’, meaning they have attended school at some point in the past. However, the original does not state this fact. ▪ Paraphrase b) overgeneralises, by stating these students as simply being ‘absent’. Furthermore, without mentioning dates (2000-2015), it implies this is the case now. However, between 2015 and now there may have been a change this this data. ▪ Paraphrase a) does not make any comparison to the previous year (the increase). Additionally, it generalises by saying they are waiting to see a doctor – but they could be waiting for other medical treatments that simply require a nurse (or other medical staff). ▪ Many may choose paraphrase c) as the correct answer. However, this paraphrase uses the phrase ‘steady increase’, but the original does not state if this number has slowly increased, or if it increased sharply over the previous few months. 26 Exercise 3 (example answers) a) An overreliance on smartphones often brings users many problems and should reduce their use if they wish to see an improvement to their lifestyle (Ward et al. 2017). b) For those who suffer from limited mobility, perhaps due to serious medical conditions, social media sites often play an essential role in communicating with the outside world (Primack et al. 2017). c) In comparison with the typical classroom setup, Ekahitanond (2017) found that the students who use an online learning environment are far more engaged and appear to share their own ideas freely amongst their peers. ▪ Paraphrase a) is very close in meaning, but there is a slight error in the choice of keywords. The original simply states a decrease in stock price, not specifically their market value. Although the two are related, they are not exactly the same. Furthermore, it only mentions that the New York Times published an article, but it does not specify what the article focused on (and why this would potentially cause a drop in their stock price). ▪ Paraphrase b) is an overgeneralisation and is somewhat ‘emotional’ – by using the word ‘blame’ when talking about the article’s publisher. NOTES BASED ON ORIGINAL ▪ The more a person uses their smartphone, the more issues they face. ▪ Another way to look at it is, using a smartphone less often brings more benefits. ▪ Both ideas say essentially the same, but one looks at it from a more ‘optimistic’ perspective. NOTES BASED ON ORIGINAL ▪ People who suffer from health conditions use social media to communicate with other people. ▪ Specifically, people who may be stuck in one location (perhaps due to health issues?). ▪ Although the point above is not explicitly mentioned in the original sentence, the article does imply this is the correct meaning behind the phrase ‘geographically isolated’. NOTES BASED ON ORIGINAL ▪ Compared to studying in the classroom, the online learning environment allows students to engage with learning anytime of the day. ▪ Students feel more freedom in expressing their own ideas and opinions. 27 d) Ramaswamy (2014) warns that the reliability of information found online has recently decreased due to the act of digital vandalism, especially on sites such as Wikipedia. 9.3 – Summarising Exercise 1 (example answers) Extract 1 Controversially, although he was not the first man to invent the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell is considered by many to be the inventor due to the wealth and success gained after he patented the device in 1876 (Barnes, 2018). Extract 2 Capturing digital photography has come a long way in the past thirty years, from Nikon unleashing the very first DSLR camera during the 1980s, to the devices that are now common place due to their portability, high- quality images and low prices (Barnes, 2018). Further notes NOTES BASED ON ORIGINAL ▪ Information online is becoming less reliable recently, especially on sites like Wikipedia. ▪ ‘Vandalism’ in a digital form is responsible for the spread of fake data/news. ▪ Could elaborate on ‘digital vandalism’ in the discussion. NOTES BASED ON ORIGINAL ▪ Alexander Graham Bell was not the first man to invent the telephone. ▪ Patented the telephone in 1876. ▪ This made Graham Bell very rich and seen by many as the true inventor. NOTES BASED ON ORIGINAL ▪ 1986 the first DSLR (by Nikon) was released > ten years until consumer product > twenty years until a common and less expensive product (thirty years total). ▪ Now less bulky (portable) and higher quality images. ▪ For both example summaries above, you may feel that some important details are missing from the original extract. However, what information you decide to keep will depend on how you plan to use the evidence in your paper. 30 10.2 – Citations Exercise 1 a) Too many authors names have been listed. If there are more than four authors, you will need to use the phrase ‘et al.’: Smith et al. (2014). b) If multiple articles are used to support one idea, then the details are separated by a semicolon (not by the word ‘and’): (Ryan, 2017; Osmond, 2018). c) There is no way an idea by Liss in 2016 could be cited in an article written by West in 2011. Either the years have been mixed up, or both the author and year are incorrect. You will need to return to the original source to check: Liss (2011, as cited in West, 2016) or West (2011, as cited in Liss, 2016) d) Only the family name (surname) is required in a citation: (Laidler, 2016). e) The term ‘no name’ should never be used in referencing. If there is no author, then give the name of the organisation (for websites). If this is unclear, then the final option is to use the title of the article instead. f) If a publication year can be identified, it must be given. However, if there is no clear date provided, you may use the phrase ‘no date’, as follows: (Hambly, no date). g) The author’s initials (the first letter of their given names) do not need to be given in citations. Surname and initials are only provided in the reference list: (Graham, 2017) h) If an article has four or more authors, you must use the phrase ‘et al.’ to demonstrate this. You cannot replace this phrase with ‘etc.’: (McKinlay et al. 2013). 10.3 – Reference lists Exercise 1 a) Christensen, C.M. (2003) The innovator’s dilemma. New York: Harper Collins. b) Cox, C.K. (1993) ‘Tertiary level writing’, EA Journal, 12(1), pp. 52-60. c) Perry, D. (2006) Are games better than life? Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_perry_on_videogames (Accessed: 25 March 2010). d) Morgan, C. (2017) Sustainable practice [PowerPoint presentation]. SSP7057: Sustainable Tourism. Available at: http://www.ucm.ac.uk/resources/2017-11-09/sustainable-practice-ppt (Accessed: 11 November 2017). ▪ The above rule only applies for end of text citations. The equivalent in-text citation would appear as follows: Ryan (2017) and Osmond (2018) suggested that… 31 Exercise 2 Below is the correct format for all six sources, provided in the correct (alphabetical) order. NOTE: the accessed date will vary depending on when you completed the exercise. Borodisky, L. (2017) How language shapes the way we think. Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/lera_boroditsky_how_language_shapes_the_way_we_think (Accessed: 1 July 2018). Cottrell, S. (2013) The study skills handbook. 4th edn. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Office for National Statistics (2018) Who does the UK trade with? Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/internationaltrade/articles/whodoesth euktradewith/2017-02-21 (Accessed: 1 July 2018). Steers, R.M., Nardon, L. and Sanchez-Runde, C.J. (2016) Management across cultures: developing global competencies. 3rd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wessel, M., Thies, F. and Benlian, A. (2017) ‘Open the floodgates: the implications of increasing platform openness in crowdfunding’, Journal of Information Technology, 32(4), pp. 344-360. doi: 10.1057/s41265-017-0040-z. Zhang, J.H. (2018) ‘Accounting comparability, audit effort, and audit outcomes’, Contemporary Accounting Research, 35(1), pp. 245-276. doi: 10.1111/1911-3846.12381. 32 11.2 – Improving cohesion Exercise 1 a) The company was losing money, so they decided to sell some of their assets. b) Researchers claimed they gathered enough data, but the sample size was too small. c) Their product was not innovative, and it was also not priced competitively. d) Perhaps the event failed because of the weather, or perhaps it was the inaccessible location. Exercise 2 (example answers) e) Although technology offers many benefits, it can also cause some difficulties. f) Some employees require careful guidance, while others are far more independent. g) Because the student finished her work early, she had time for her tutor to provide feedback. h) Samsung has steadily increased its share in the smartphone market, whereas Nokia’s share has rapidly decreased. i) Even though inflation is rising, the national average wage has not increased. 11.3 Proofreading Exercise 1 Proofreading your work is quite essential, as even professional writers make mistakes in they earlier drafts. Many writers believe their word processing software will identify all the errors as they writing, and that proofreading in an unnecessary process. However, even the best spelling and grammar checking software can overlook obvious some mistakes. Therefore, it is important to review any written work armed with some revision Proofreading techniques. Firstly, reading an text out loud can help, as this forces the writer to the focus on every single word. Silently reeding a paper will often lead to rushing through and self-correcting any errors within the brain. Reading backwards will also direct the attention to each word, as the grammar and context are removed. this method is especially usefully when checking for spelling mistakes. Focusing on once sentence at a time can also reduce the risk of reading too quickly. This can also be achieved by reading backwards.Start with the last sentence in the paper, then move on to the previous sentence. This should be repeated until the opening sentence of the paper has being reached. Checking for grammatical errorr is possibly the most challenging stage. Sometimes something will seem in of place, or there may be a case of uncertainty regarding situations where 'that' or 'which' could be used. Be prepare to do a little research by having a good grammar book ready to review any grammatical rules that cause confusion (missing full stop)