school of language studies and academics unit 2 understanding technical and academic texts cm 1190

School of Language Studies and Academics

Unit 2 Understanding Technical and Academic Texts

CM 1190


Introduction to Unit 2

Unit 2 will cover:

1. Textbook Tools

2. Active Reading

3. Context Clues

4. Word Structure Clues

5. Tables and Charts

6. Diagrams


Textbook ToolsUnit 2.1

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Textbooks as Learning Aids

Textbooks are books that aid in studying and learning information important to your courses.

Textbooks contain a variety of textbook tools, or devices an author uses to emphasize important material or to show how it is organized.


Common Textbook Tools

Common textbook tools include:

1. Chapter introductions, objectives, and outlines

2. Vocabulary aids and glossaries3. Boxes4. Chapter summaries5. Study questions6. Preface, index, appendix, bibliography7. Graphics (tables, charts, and diagrams)


Chapter Introductions

A chapter introduction is a textbook tool at the beginning of the chapter that describes the overall purpose and major topics.


Chapter Introductions

Chapter introductions might also include:

A description of how the chapter is related to earlier chapters.

A short case study or anecdote (story) that “sets the scene” for the chapter.

Chapter introductions are a helpful guide to what lies ahead.


Chapter Objectives

Chapter objectives appear at the beginning of a chapter and tell you what you should know or be able to do after studying the chapter.


Chapter Outlines

A chapter outline is a list of chapter topics or headings in their order of appearance in the chapter. It shows chapter content and organization.


Vocabulary Aids

Vocabulary aids identify important terms and definitions. Important terms may appear in:

Boldface Italics, or Color

They may also appear in the margins (blank

space at the side of the page).


Glossaries

Glossary is a list of important terms and definitions from the entire textbook that is located near the end of a textbook.


Boxes

A box, or sidebar, is extra material that is separated from the regular text. It may appear at the bottom or top of a page, or on one or more pages by itself.


Boxes

Boxes can contain a wide variety of information, including:

Case studies Research studies Biographies Interviews Practical applications…


Chapter Summaries

A chapter summary consolidates the main ideas of the chapter. It is a very useful textbook tool.


Study Questions

Study questions are exercises, drills, and practice sections that direct your attention to or review information you will be expected to know.


Preface and Index

A preface is an introductory section in which the author tells readers about the book.

An index is an alphabetical listing of topics and names in a textbook, with page numbers, usually appearing at the end of the book.


Appendix

An appendix (plural: appendices) is a section at the end of a book that includes additional material or specialized information.

Engineers often use appendices to look up important values or formulae used to solve engineering problems.


Bibliography

A bibliography is a list of sources from which the author of the text has drawn information.


Resources

Cortina, J. & Elder, J. (2008). New Worlds: An Introduction to College Reading. New York : McGraw Hill.

Giesecke, F.E. et al. (2001). Modern Graphics Communication. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall.

Ullman, D.G. (2010). The Mechanical Design Process. New York : McGraw Hill. http://www.capandcompass.com/glossary.gif http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kc90853/PersonalFiles/FamilyNot

es/BIBLIOGRAPHY.bmp

http://www.capandcompass.com/glossary.gif

http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kc90853/PersonalFiles/FamilyNotes/BIBLIOGRAPHY.bmp

http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kc90853/PersonalFiles/FamilyNotes/BIBLIOGRAPHY.bmp


Textbook ToolsEnd of Unit 2.1

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Active ReadingUnit 2.2

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Understanding Vocabulary

Different areas of study use unique vocabulary. English: noun clause, plot, metaphor… Geometry: obtuse angle, congruent, hypotenuse… Chemistry: proton, mole, valent… Algebra: variable, denominator, integer…

It is important to understand the vocabulary of an area of study because your teachers use it, in the future your co-workers will use it, and you will be expected to use it.


Understanding Vocabulary

There are three reading strategies you can use when you face new and unfamiliar terms:

Active Reading

Context Clues

Word Structure Clues


Active Reading

Active reading means:

Being in conscious control of your reading and learning.

Reading closely and thinking about each word, phrase, and sentence.


How to Read Actively

Read slowly (if you can, read aloud).

Ask yourself after each sentence, “What does that sentence actually mean?”.

Identify (underline or highlight) ALL new or unknown words as you read, then look them up in the dictionary.

Read the passage again after you have looked up all the new words.


Practicing Active Reading…Read the following text and identify all new or unfamiliar words. Look these words up in a dictionary and create a dictionary in your logbook.

Conductors

Conductors have a generous number of free electrons, and any introduction of thermal energy will have little impact on the total number of free carriers. In fact, the thermal energy will only increase the intensity of the random motion of particles within the material and make it increasingly difficult for a general drift of electrons in any one direction to be established. The result is that for good conductors, an increase in temperature will result in an increase in the resistance level. Consequently, conductors have a positive temperature coefficient.

Boylestad (2003)


Resources

Boylestad, D. (2003). Introductory Circuit Analysis, 10th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.


Active ReadingEnd of Unit 2.2

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Context CluesUnit 2.3

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Understanding Context

Context means:

That which surrounds and gives meaning to something else.

In reading, context refers to:

The parts of a written statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect.


Understanding Context Clues

Context clues are words or symbols in a passage that help us predict or guess the meaning of a word, phrase, or expression.

By following the clues we can better understand the word.



How does the word “plotting” mean something different in each passage? How do we know?

When plotting the outcome, I had to imagine the characters’ inner lives. I had to have an exciting crisis to really grab the readers’ imaginations and create a memorable climactic event.

When plotting the outcome, I had to imagine the characters’ inner lives. I had to have an exciting crisis to really grab the readers’ imaginations and create a memorable climactic event.

When plotting the outcome, I was surprised that the integers did not all fall on the correct curve. I had to reexamine the equation to be sure that all the variables were correctly correlated.

When plotting the outcome, I was surprised that the integers did not all fall on the correct curve. I had to reexamine the equation to be sure that all the variables were correctly correlated.



Remember this sentence from Unit 2.2?

“The word active means ‘being in conscious control of your actions.’”

‘Means’ is a definition context clue.


Types of Context Clues

Definition Clues Phrases or symbols that suggest a definition is

coming are:

is defined as is called is known as means refers to a term in bold print, italics, or color



Synonym Clues The meaning of a word is explained by a word or

phrase that has a similar meaning, such as:

in other words or that is to say also known as that is



Antonym Clues The meaning of a word is explained by a word or

phrase that has an opposite meaning:

in contrast on the other hand however but although even though unlike



Example Clues Examples are used that illustrate the meaning of a

word:

for example such as to illustrate like



Experience or Sense of Sentence Clues

The meaning of a word is understood through personal experience or from information available in another sentence.


Practice Identifying Context Clues…Identify the different types of context clues in the following text and label them in the margin.

Thermocouples

A thermocouple is an electrical thermometer consisting of two dissimilar metal wires joined at one end and a voltmeter to measure the voltage at the other end of the two wires. The hot junction, or measuring junction, is the joined end of the thermocouple that is exposed to the process where the temperature measurement is desired. In contrast, the cold junction, or reference junction, is the end of a thermocouple that is kept at a constant temperature in order to provide a reference point. For example, when the temperature changes at the hot junction, a measureable voltage is generated across the cold junction.

Adapted from Kirk, Weedon & Kirk (2005)


Resources

Kirk, F., Weedon, T., & Kirk, P. (2005) Instrumentation, 4th Edition. Homewood, IL: American Technical Publishers, Inc.


Context CluesEnd o fUnit 2.3

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Word Structure CluesUnit 2.4

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Understanding Word Structure

Many English words come from other languages; most commonly:

Greek (angel/angle, encyclopedia, aerobic)

Latin (civil, diet, pavement)

French (face, academic, culture)

Many modern English words have parts that come from these other languages.


Understanding Word Structure

Word structure refers to: The different parts of a word that combine with

other parts to form meaning.

The most common word parts are: Root words Prefixes Suffixes


Root Words

Root The basic part of the word that contains the primary

meaning = the root of running is run

Some roots are full words: root

“jumper” = jump + er

Other roots cannot stand alone: root

“receive” = re + ceive


Roots Words

Many words are made up of more than one root that form new words.

root root ‘electro’ + ‘magnet’ = electromagnet

root root ‘photo’ + ‘synthesis’ = photosynthesis


Prefixes

A part that may come before a root word = the prefix of preview is pre

Some prefixes are common: prefix

recycle = re + cycle “re” means “again”

Other prefixes are less common: prefix

pseudonym = pseudo + nym “pseudo” means “false” and “nym” means “name”


Suffixes A part that may come after a word = the suffix of slowly is ly

Suffixes often determine the part of speech of the word (noun, verb, adverb, etc.)

Some common suffixes are:

suffix player = play + er “er” indicates someone who does the action, in this case “play” suffix colourful = colour + ful “ful” indicates an adjective


Practice Identifying Word Structure…

Identify the root(s) and/or prefix and/or suffix in the following words:

1. Inductance

2. Resistor

3. Electrochemical

4. Exterior

5. Automation

6. Oscilloscope

7. Kilometer


Word Structure CluesEnd of Unit 2.4

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Introduction to Graphics:Tables and ChartsUnit 2.5

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Understanding Graphics

A graphic uses visual elements (e.g. colours,

pictures, lines, shades, words, numbers) to help the reader understand a concept.

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Understanding GraphicsGraphics are used to express complex information in a more simple format. Read this paragraph:

Electricity Production in Wesland

There were four major sources of electricity used in Wesland last year. These sources were coal, nuclear power, petroleum, and hydroelectric power. Out of a total of 1,151 billion kilowatt-hours, 694 billion kilowatt-hours were provided by coal, 213 billions kilowatt-hours were provided by nuclear power, 143 billion kilowatt-hours were provided by petroleum, 94 kilowatt hours were provided by hydroelectric power, and the remaining 7 billion kilowatt-hours were provided by other sources.

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Understanding GraphicsCompare the previous paragraph to the following pie chart.

Is it easier to understand the information? Why?

Electricity Production in Wesland in Billion Kilowatt-hours

coal, 694nuclear power, 213

petroleum, 143

hydroelectric power, 94

other sources, 7


Understanding TablesA table is a mode of visual communication and a means of arranging data.

Tables consist of an ordered arrangement

of rows and columns.

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Table-sample-appearance-default-params-values-01.gif


Understanding Tables

Rows run horizontally across the table.

Columns run vertically up and down the table.

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Simple Tables

Simple tables display information in one dimension only.

The header row displays column names.

Information is read horizontally across the page

Item # Item Description – AVR Microcontrollers

Price

41335 ATMEGA8-16 QAR 20

22723 ATMEGA88-20 QAR 35

21337 ATTINYE13 QAR 15



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Multi-Dimensional Tables

Multi-dimensional tables display information in two dimensions.

Information is read both horizontally and vertically across the page.

XToronto Ottawa

Ottawa 247 km 0

Peterborough 80 km 173 km

Oshawa 34 km 222 km

Kingston 158 km 108 km

Kitchener 70 km 318 km

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Understanding Tables

A table is a mode of visual communication and a means of arranging data.

Tables consist of an ordered arrangement of rows and columns.

(1)

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Table-sample-appearance-default-params-values-01.gif


Multi-Dimensional Tables

Multi-dimensional tables display information in two dimensions.

Information is read both horizontally and vertically across the page.

XToronto Ottawa

Ottawa 247 km 0

Peterborough 80 km 173 km

Oshawa 34 km 222 km

Kingston 158 km 108 km

Kitchener 70 km 318 km

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Understanding Charts

Engineers use a variety of charts to understand complicated information.

Bar charts Pie charts Line charts Flow charts Gantt charts

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Bar Charts

A bar chart is used to show how units compare with one another.

Number of Website Hits per Day

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Pie Chart

A pie chart shows a whole unit and the proportion that different parts represent.

Each division is called a segment.

Laptop Components that Drain the Battery

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Line Chart

A line chart shows changes in quantitative data over time.

Different types of lines can be used: Solid Dotted Broken

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Flow Chart

A flow chart represents the steps of a process as boxes connected by arrows.

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Gantt Chart

A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart that shows a project schedule.

Projects are broken up into discrete tasks with various start and end dates.

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How to Read a Table or Chart

Read the title

Examine the key The key tells how graphic features (colors, shapes,

pictures, etc.) should be interpreted.

Examine all labels. Labels describe what a graphic represents.

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Practice Reading a Graphic… What type of graphic is shown? What does this graphic show? How high does a transmitter aerial need to be to achieve radio line of

sight to a point 9 miles away?

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Resources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Table-sample-appearance-default-params-values-01.gif http://media.photobucket.com/image/engineering%20bar%20chart/radzmar/VerticalBarChart.jp

g http://enquiringmimes.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/laptop-power-chart.png http://content.edgar-online.com/edgar_conv_img/2007/03/20/0001130319-07-000183_O35357

O3535705.GIF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GanttChartAnatomy.png http://www.thrustssc.com/thrustssc/Engineering/Communication_System_2.gif

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Table-sample-appearance-default-params-values-01.gif

http://media.photobucket.com/image/engineering%20bar%20chart/radzmar/VerticalBarChart.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/engineering%20bar%20chart/radzmar/VerticalBarChart.jpg

http://enquiringmimes.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/laptop-power-chart.png

http://content.edgar-online.com/edgar_conv_img/2007/03/20/0001130319-07-000183_O35357O3535705.GIF

http://content.edgar-online.com/edgar_conv_img/2007/03/20/0001130319-07-000183_O35357O3535705.GIF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GanttChartAnatomy.png

http://www.thrustssc.com/thrustssc/Engineering/Communication_System_2.gif


Introduction to Graphics:Tables and ChartsEnd of Unit 2.5

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Introduction to Graphics:DiagramsUnit 2.6

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Understanding Diagrams

Diagrams are pictorial representations of concrete objects.

Common diagrams used by engineers include: Cross-section Cutaway Exploded view Circuit


Cross-Section Diagrams

Cross-section diagrams represent the intersection of an object with a line or plane. When cutting an object into slices, many parallel cross-sections are produced.


Cutaway Diagrams

Cutaway diagrams portray a three dimensional object with the surface removed to show the internal features.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ca/Yusupersonik.jpg


Exploded View Diagrams

Exploded view diagrams represent objects in three dimensions in which each part is separated equal distances from their original location.


Circuit Diagrams

Circuit diagrams represent objects within an electrical circuit. Standard symbols show connections between the different components of the circuit.


Practice Viewing Diagrams… What type of diagram is shown below? Why did the author choose that type of diagram? How does it communicate information?


Resources

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Seal_mechanical_compression.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yusupersonik.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Gear_pump_exploded.png http://vis.berkeley.edu/papers/exview3D/teaser.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_diagram

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Seal_mechanical_compression.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yusupersonik.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Gear_pump_exploded.png

http://vis.berkeley.edu/papers/exview3D/teaser.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circuit_diagram


Introduction to Graphics:DiagramsEnd of Unit 2.6

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End of Unit 2 Understanding Technical and Academic Texts

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school of language studies and academics unit 2 understanding technical and academic texts cm 1190

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