©Gonzalo Camina 2021
Students from the below groups will receive PIN numbers via email weekly to access activities on my iDoceo Connect platform and submit their exercises for correction.
200, 202E, 209S, 215, 220B, 268, 269, 276
The solutions to exercises will be published when the above groups have submitted them.
- Contents:
- Email your teacher to say who you are working with, the title and topic of your blog.
- If you do not have a team, email your teacher and s/he will find you one.
Introduction
Why leave comments on a blog?
Image credit: Medium.com
Do this activity in class with 3 partners.
I. Watching
Watch the video and then choose the best answer for each question (warning: this video contains swearing)
Now do the exercise.
1. Which of the following ideas is NOT mentioned as the ideal to which online comments sections should be?
2. What conclusion is understandable after reading typical comments online?
3. What is said about commenting online?
4. Why is it a bad idea to humiliate a person who you think is wrong?
5. Complete the ideal phrase to use when correcting someone: “I ________________ you might have missed something”
6. When you’re confused by something someone has said it’s best not to use which common acronym?
7. What should you try to convey when expressing your confusion? (2 possible answers)
8. What is the first reason given to explain why people are so rude online?
9. What is another reason that is mentioned?
10. What is important to remember?
Do this exercise on your own, and then discuss your answers with your nearest classmate.
Send your guesses to your teacher, using the dedicated iDoceo Connect platform (only for groups specified above).
DISCUSS: What do you think about the ideas in this video? Do you think you would follow the suggestions offered? (give reasons)
©Gonzalo Camina 2021
Do this activity in class with 3 partners.
II. Project Skills
Adapted from https://smartblogger.com/blog-comments/ (Original Post written by Kevin J. Duncan, as of Nov 13, 2018)
Don’t...
But instead, do...
And when you share the post on your favorite social media platform, be sure to tag the blogger —let them know you followed through...
1. Leave a comment for the authors of the video (you may criticize, but remember to leave positive, helpful criticism). OR 2. Leave trolling comments on the pictures in Session 5 —Then respond.
Do this activity with your partner and then read it to others.
III. Comments
Practice: What do you think about the following comments? Are they good or bad? Why?
Comments from White, Genevieve. Writing. London: HarperCollins UK, 2014.
https://wpsites.net/blogging/blog-comment-examples-best-practices/
http://www.blogherald.com/2012/10/08/how-to-write-comments/
http://blogbasics.com/examples-of-blogs/
Do this exercise on your own, and then discuss your answers with your nearest classmate.
Send your guesses to your teacher, using the dedicated iDoceo Connect platform (only for groups specified above).
IV. Language
Choose the correct word in these sentences.
Source: White, Genevieve. Writing. London: HarperCollins UK, 2014.
1. While / When many blogs are written by people who want to share their interest in something, there remain many who only want to talk about themselves.
Write one:
2. While / When blogs are written by people who care about their target audience, the result is usually much better.
Write one:
3. Blogs create streams of revenue for some famous bloggers. Moreover / However, it is a hobby for most bloggers.
Write one:
4. Admittedly / Admitting, many bloggers rely on advertisement to generate income. Yet / So we cannot deny the benefits of accessing them easily without paying. It raises the question of how free “free” content really is, although / though.
Write one:
Write one:
Write one:
5. If you want to start your own blog, then / so you need to clearly state what the main topic is, now / so your potential readers will find you easily.
Write one:
Write one:
6. Hey dude! Thanks for visiting my awesome blog! You’re my 1000th visitor, so you’re getting a cool gift. Moreover / Plus, you’ll be allowed to write the article of your choice which will be added to the blog.
Write one:
7. I won’t complain too much, since / although I did get compensation for this problem.
Write one:
Do this exercise on your own, and then discuss your answers with your nearest classmate.
Send your guesses to your teacher, using the dedicated iDoceo Connect platform (only for groups specified above).
If you are not sure about when to use one word or another, you can always check the internet for short explanations. For example:
V. Writing
Choose one of the two following situations to write a comment about (30 words max.)
Source: White, Genevieve. Writing. London: HarperCollins UK, 2014.
1. Read this comment on the rise of teenage smartphone addiction. Write a polite response, making sure to include your own point of view.
2. You have just read a travel blog in which some very uncomplimentary things have been written about your city—the blogger has described it as ugly, dirty, and unwelcoming. You are deeply offended, and would like to set the record straight for other visitors to the blog. Write a comment.
Do this exercise on your own, and then discuss your answers with your nearest classmate.
Send your text to your teacher, using the dedicated iDoceo Connect platform (only for groups specified above).
VI. Grammar Reminder
Conditional structures come in four types, plus two mixed types. (see table below)
Structures concerning THE PAST are in the grey boxes.
Condition | Result | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IF | SUBJECT | AUX | MAIN VERB | SUBJECT | MODAL VERB | AUX | MAIN VERB | ||||
R E A L |
TYPE 0 general |
If | one | sleeps | with dogs, | one | wakes up | with fleas. | |||
TYPE I likely |
If | she | drinks | too much tonight, | she | will / may / might | get | really sick. | |||
U N R E A L |
TYPE II unlikely / hypothetical |
If | you | dropped out | of university now, | all your work | would / could / may / might | mean | nothing. | ||
TYPE III hypothetical past |
If | I | had | practiced | more, | I | would / could / may / might | have | spoken | better in my oral test. | |
TYPE III/II | If | he | had | told | his girlfriend he loved her, | he | wouldn't | be | lonely now. | ||
TYPE II/III | If | mankind | was | less selfish, | many of the past disasters | wouldn't | have | taken | place. |
DID YOU KNOW?
In everyday English, the standard Type III Conditional structure could / should / would/ couldn't / shouldn't / wouldn't have is usually pronounced with a contracted have ('ve), so many native English speakers wrongly assume the structure is could / should / would / couldn't / shouldn't / wouldn't of.
example:
He should of told me. WRONG!
If you see this type of structure on the internet, don’t worry; it’s the writer's mistake, not yours! It can actually be written as He should’ve told me, or just in its uncontracted form He should have told me.
EXTRA CONTENT
Youtube singers have started composing songs with the negative comments they get from trolls and haters. Have a look at these two examples by Steve Terreberry and Madilyn Bailey.
Steve Terreberry
Madilyn Bailey
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