Graduate DiplomaReading & Writing Session 15

A quick look at your writingComplex Sentences

Noun phrases

Read the following paragraphs and feel free to comment on, challenge, or ask about either content or language used to express it:

Farisa

Today I conducted a survey in class on the question "What is your

opinion about our University?". My classmates had various views

about the question, from "beautiful" to "not bad in the UK". Most

people are not very satisfied with our University; some think "it is

good except accommodation", and some say "the campus is too

small". Also, one person believes that ”the building is too old”.

From all of the above, we can conclude that most students think

there are some weaknesses in our University.

Chimuco What is the typical food in England? 

A survey of EAP students on typical English food was

conducted by Chimuco. Fish and chips dominated

preferences and is considered the most popular typical food in

England. However, some respondents have no or little idea

about typical English food. Surprisingly, one of them said that

quince jam is the most popular food amongst English people.

Seiko

 

There are few countries where people eat raw seafood, but in Japan,

people have a taste for raw fish. This survey shows the opinions of

international students towards eating raw fish. The result indicates that

the habit is received and understood widely regardless of country,

including China, Saudi Arabia and Angola in Africa, even though they

never eat raw seafood products in their countries. At the same time, the

survey also produced negative responses. Some students assume it is a

terribly disgusting habit and some tend to show indifference. The results

of the survey highlighted slight regional and national differences between

positive or negative opinions on the subject.

Yasir The question: What is your opinion about /r/ in English people’s speech? 

The respondents provided a wide range of answers to this

question. Naïf thinks that it is bad. In contrast to Naif, Omar

characterises the English /r/ as “soft and nice”. Farisa

believes that it is the original pronunciation. Chimuco, Lucy,

and Konstantinos answered this question strangely, saying

that they have no idea.

Naif 

I asked my classmates about the British climate. They wrote

many different answers; some gave their opinion, such as

“horrible”, ”not bad”, ”very lovely”, ”good”, and ”crazy”. One

student, Seiko, wanted to show me her feelings, stating “I

miss the sun”, but some respondents simply decided to

describe the climate as “cold“ .

Lucy What’s your opinion of the British bus driver’s strike?  

A piece of research was undertaken to discover the opinions

of international students on the recent bus drivers’ strike in

Colchester. The respondents’ ideas can be divided into three

categories. Almost half agree with the strike, because they

“can see their job environment” and the drivers have the right

to get more from the government. Almost 25% of international

students surveyed consider it “not a good behavior”(sic). And

another 25% of people have no idea about it. In their opinion,

“it’s none of my business”.

Can you complete the following sentences so that they are true for you. Don’t worry if there are any sentence beginnings that you can’t continue:

1.It’s a mystery why…2.I’m never happy until…3.I came to England to…4.If I feel ill…5.I hate people who…6.I like Colchester more than…7.Being a student, I…

time adverbial infinitive clause comparative

participle clause conditional clause wh- noun clause

relative clause

Here are seven more examples. Can you match them to a similar sentence from 1-7? Maggie sings much more sweetly than Lucy does.  Being an honest person, Chimuco decided to hand in the wallet containing £5000.  Seiko will dance for us, provided Naif dances too.  When you see Mark, ask him for more homework.  Omar has a plan to give up his studies and become a TV presenter.  The man beaten up by Yasir was taken to hospital.  Where Konstantinos goes at night is unknown but he often comes home with lipstick on his collar.

time adverbial infinitive clause comparative

participle clause conditional clause wh- noun clause

relative clause

Now look at your article and try to find an example of each of these complex structures:

1. the eating habits of Chinese people

2. the drinking habits of British people

3. the eating habits of raw fish

4. the habit of eating raw fish

5. eating raw fish