Academic Writing and Reading Project Compare and contrast the two articles, making clear your criteria for comparison. To what extent do these articles show that national and cultural stereotypes are no longer a useful way of examining the human condition and economic activity? Choose an element in the articles which you find interesting and explain your reaction to it by giving examples from your own experience. |
Length: 1,000- 1,500 words.
Deadline: July 23rd 2012
Task 1: Analysing the question/predicting the content
Discuss the various elements of the question – how many parts are there? What do the question words expect you to do?
Use these questions as a guide to help you decide possible content. What criteria for comparison would normally be used between two texts?What are national stereotypes? What is a cultural stereotype? Do they explain how people behave in your opinion? Do they explain economic activity? What kind of economic activity? Do you have any national or cultural stereotypes in mind?Does this question ask for your personal views or what it says in the texts? |
Task 2: Text approach and prediction
Examine the texts, looking at: * The source, publication date – make a note of this * Title, headings, non-textual clues as to content * Comparison between them
What do you think each text will be about? Which one is easier to predict? Why?
Task 3: Reading for gist
Text 1 ‘East meets West’
Read the first 3 paragraphs and the conclusion carefully and skim the rest of the text.
What is the main idea?
Text 2 ‘Intercultural Communication for sale’
Read the Chapter Objectives and Conclusion carefully and skim the rest of the text, paying particular attention to the headings.
What are the main ideas?
Task 4: Making notes
When making notes, you have to decide: * How much detail is needed – how do you decide? * What form the notes should take – e.g. linear or branching