2VIP Class Notes (Ally)

Vocabulary

pace of life – living rhythm

socioeconomic status

time consuming(adj) – takes a lot of time

not very cost-effective – waste moneyVI

on this note – related to this point, which brings to my other point…

Study
– stay on task / stay focused on one’s schoolwork
– find motivation/motivated by
– distracted by / short attention span
– disturbed by outside interference
– long, tedious lectures
– a mountain of information/homework/ homework piles up if you procrastinate/keep putting things off
– skilled in different areas/industries
– natural talent/intelligence vs hard work/persistence
– better chance at being offered a higher salary/of getting accepted into better schools

Topic: Some people say that you should not move to new city because you will lose old friends.

Topic: Some people in the education industry say that the advantage of examinations outweigh its disadvantages. What are your thoughts?

contrary to popular belief, SVO
while critics claim that …/claim otherwise, SVO
Many believe that [opposite argument]. However, that is just a common misperception.

Introduction:

With the rapid development of society, people’s lives are getting harder and busier in recent years. People are taught to believe that hard work has plenty of benefits and the pursuit of a better life and higher economic as well as social status is the most meaningful objective in life. In reality, this hotheaded chase after materialism and fast development is more destructive than it is helpful/destructive to society. […]It causes people live under high pressure and feel depressed.

How to make your writing “flow”?

To make writing cohesive/ “flow”: old -> new information, use some words/IDEAS from the sentences before

1. Repeating key words
2. Using synonyms
3. Changing the part of speech
4. Using pronouns
5. This/these +summary phrase
6. Using transition words

Repeating key words:
1. I was born in Jinan. The largest city in SD is Jinan. -> I was born in Jinan, which is the largest city in SD. -> I was born in Jinan. Jinan is the largest city in SD, and it is……

2. In the past years, as many as 65 different classification systems have been developed to define leaderships. One such classification system is …

*maybe for intro, start with something general, then use this sentence format “one of … one such…” to go specific -> your thesis.

Using synonyms/words with close relationship/meaning:
1. The interrelation of the currents and voltages between all electrodes is hard to define. These relationships …..
2. The rapid development of technology has had a defining influence on people’s lives. These new scientific breakthroughs/internet sensations/Our modern lifestyle/Our current way of life …

Changing part of speech: (usually SVO -> noun)
1. She graduated from Peking University in 1994. After her graduation ….
2. Since the 20th century, scientific technology has been rapidly developing. Since these developments/Thanks/due to these developments…/ ….. caused by these developments/ These new technology breakthroughs are not without their price.

Using pronouns:
1. Since the 20th century, scientific technology has been rapidly developing. It is unfortunately not without its price.

This/these+summary phrase:
1. Since the 20th century, scientific technology has been rapidly developing. This rapid development has had a huge influence on our lives.
2. This is case….
3. In this case/way…
4. From this aspect…

Introduction:

如今， 人们越来越意识到A的必要性
Nowadays, people have more awareness of the significance of A.
More people are becoming aware of the significance/importance of A.
Now there is a growing awareness/recognition of the significance/necessity of A.

在过去的10年里，A发生了巨大的变化
Since the past ten years, there has been a dramatic change in A.
In the past ten years/decade/century, dramatic changes have taken place in/to A.

最近，我们展开了一场热烈的讨论，是关于是否有必要A
Recently/in recent years, there is a intense/heated debate/discussion about whether it is necessary to A../A is necessary.

我的想法是。。
There is a public debate/controversy/discussion on the issue of A. In my opinion/personally, I believe

如今，人们普遍认为A但是我怀疑。。
It is a stereotypical thinking that A, but I doubt/think…/in reality…
Nowadays, it is commonly/widely/generally believed/thought/held that… but in my opinion…

可以进一步证实
A may be further supported the fact that B…

为什么A很重要？
However, why is A important/indispensable/necessary?

人们应该增加对A的重视，因为。。
It is necessary to pay greater attention to A because

除此之外，另外一些方法

Besides/in addition/Apart from this, other ways/another way/aspect/function/method
A is but one of many effects, another is..
Another equally important aspect is…
Closely connected with/related to/associated with this factor is …

In spite of/despite all the difficulty…

For years, A have been viewed as … but people are taking a fresh look now.
Some people claim/argue that.. but more often than not/actually/when actually the opposite/reverse is true.

Conclusion:

It is no easy task to identify the reasons for this phenomenon which involves several complicated factors. Certainly, … is not the sole reason … .. is also responsible for change/problem.

Therefore, it is not difficult to draw the conclusion that..

Recognizing these factors, it becomes evident that/ it leads me to believe..

These evidence supports/confirms/leads us to the conclusion that..

Based on…

To sum up…

Ultimately…

In a nutshell/conclusion …

Writing Practice: Wrong questions and corrections

More people choose to study abroad. On the contrary, students returning to their home countries after graduation have been dropping.

People say/The common perception/A stereotypical thinking is that more people choose to study abroad. On the contrary, more students like to study in their home countries.

More people choose to study abroad. However/in contrast, students returning to their home countries after graduation have been dropping.

-> “in contrast”= comparison, “on the contrary”= idea before is incorrect, idea after is important/correct.

We should take action to recycle our household wastes. On the one hand, it protects our environment. On the other hand, it saves resources.
It protects our environment, while/at the same time/simultaneously saving resources/and/not only does it protect our environment, it also saves resources.

-> “One hand.. other hand” means “left hand versus right hand”… contradicting ideas

At last, I strongly believe the government should take steps to prevent the environment from being polluted.
In conclusion, All in all, Ultimately, finally … 

->”At last” does not = “in conclusion”, it means after a lot of hard work/overcoming obstacles, you arrive at some destination.

Environmental pollution has become very serious. Besides, all foods are at risk of getting contaminated.
Environmental pollution has become very serious. In fact (can also use so…that ..)/because of this/and, all foods are at risk of getting contaminated.

->”Besides” – adding extra information. ie. I want to go to the party because A, B, and C. Besides, it’s Friday and I have nothing to do.

Nobody can fully experience another person’s feelings. Moreover, we all have our own particular passions from which we take pleasure.
“and”, “as”/”because”
-> “Moreover” use for entirely new idea, not for small switch.

First and foremost, school education should be collaborative.
-> too much emphasis, just use “firstly” “first of all”.

People are more independent these days and cannot count on their relatives as much as they used to. On the other hand, this can cause problems.
Unfortunately/ultimately/however

-> “On the other hand” marks the beginning of an opposite idea. This is not an opposing idea.

The advantage of examinations is more than its disadvantage.
The advantages of examinations outweigh its disadvantages.

Teenagers shouldn’t swallow in online games. Otherwise, they can’t tell the illusion and the reality.
Teenagers should not be addicted to/be engrossed in online games. Otherwise, they cannot tell the difference between illusion and the reality/tell illusion from reality.

Today, media reports lots of crimes in horrible detail.
Nowadays, media often reports crimes in horrible detail.

Whether this policy can help expand the domestic labor market must be analysed.
Whether this policy can help expand the domestic labor market must be analyzed.

Many old people believe that kids have too much freedom nowadays.
The older generation believes that children have too much freedom nowadays.

Today, our world is becoming more and more reliant on the internet.
Today/nowadays/in the modern age/recently/with recent technological developments, our world is becoming increasingly reliant on the internet.

The conflict between humans and animals is really bad.
The conflict between humans and animals is particularly problematic.

Advertisements are everywhere. There are many ways to do advertisements.
Advertisements are everywhere, and there are many ways to do them.

The population is increasing with years. We must work together to cope with this situation.
The general population/population of China/the worldwide population is increasing with time/is gradually increasing/rapid increasing/increasing at a steady rate. Therefore, all the nations of the world/different nations must work together to cope/deal with this situation.

So, we should make sure that international tourism does not endanger our own traditional culture!
Therefore, we should make sure that international tourism does not endanger our own traditional culture.
(same for for, and, nor, but, or, yet … cannot start a full sentence)

If you look at it that way, it’s true that humans and animals have conflicting interests.
In this regard/from this prospective/in this case/from a broad historical perspective, it’s true that humans and animals have conflicting interests.

We must be friendly to others because the Bible said, “Treat your neighbours as you would like to be treated.”
Do not use words from famous people or bible…etc. in a academic essay.