Report Writing 3 : Accidents

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In class this week we looked at Accident Reports using the example of the fitter and turner being injured while using the lathe. (See Beisler, Sheeres and Pinner, Communication Skills , 2nd Edition, 1985).

Here is the Dictation based on that exercise for you to practice again:



Here is the cloze text for you to print, fold, practice and check.

GUIDED WRITING

You applied the model to the situation shown in the Worksafe Video above.

You are an Inspector employed by Worksafe to investigate the accident.

Here are the Notes we took together and used.


In pairs you used the Notes and Report model to write a report. (Excellent!)

Here is my final version of the report for you to compare your own:



How similar or different is your report? Have you followed the model? Have you included:

Terms of Reference
Introduction
Procedure (interviews)
Findings
Conclusions
Recommendations

NOW YOU WRITE A REPORT ON YOUR OWN

1) Watch the video below.



2) Submit your final version using the form



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Report Writing 2 : Cats and People

Cats and people dictation text (Print, fold, fill in the gaps ... and check your answers)

Spelling : Playing with words ...

We have started organising spelling lists in class. Congratulations! Now take some time off studying to have fun practicing your spelling with these games and activities ...

Here is a list of the 500 most commonly misspelled words.

Want to improve your typing skills? Type against the clock using the first 125 words.


For fun (super easy) ... X-Ray the suitcases at an airport (practice simple common words)


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International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA Chart)


This chart can help you sound out words using a dictionary




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Phoneme Checker


Confused about letter sounds and sound combinations in English?

Click here for small letter sounds and combinations

Writing Short Reports : Aussie Icons

Aussie Icons: Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars

Welcome back to the Reading and Writing website! Watch the video above. It is a TV Commercial from the 1970s for Holden Cars - the Holden is still an "Aussie icon" but its sales have fallen over the years.

Discussion: What is an icon? Can you think of other products made in Australia which are iconic? What do you think about Aussie icons in our multicultural society? Do they appeal to you? Are they relevant to you?

Exercise 1: In class we read about the "Aussie Tinnie", highlighted topic sentences, ordered information, and took notes to write a short report. Look at the poster below and choose another "Aussie icon". Here are some icons you might like to write about:

(difficulty: medium) Sydney Opera House

(difficulty: medium - hard) Vegemite

(difficulty: easy) Kylie Minogue

(difficulty: easy) Boomerang

Take some notes, order your information and write a first draft. Bring it to class for proofing and editing.












Exercise 2: After having reviewed and edited your first draft. Type up your report and send me your final copy using the form below



Dictation & Spelling

Click here for the "Aussie Tinnie dictation" sheet we used in class last Thursday. (Word Doc 13kb)

1) Print out the sheet 2) fold it in half and 3) play the sound file below 4)fill in the gaps.



Spelling

Next week we will start creating some spelling lists. For the time being write down and learn these words from the dictation. (Can you think of others that follow the various patterns?)

ea

seats
feature

ow

bow
cowl

sh

shelf

ck

jacket

ai

drain-hole

ew

few

sight words to learn:

their / there / they / they're

where / wear / were / we're

If you are really keen to work on commonly misspelled words, play this video a few times through and study some of the words (but don't try to remember too many at once)



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Summarizing Texts / Spelling Review

SUMMARIZING & MIND MAPS

This week we are using MIND MAPS to summarize "difficult" texts. In class we looked at a "mind map" or "spider" when we read the story about Gold.

Click here and then print out this free mind map template (pdf)



Exercise: Take a short text from a course book you are using and summarize it using the mind map template.

In term 2 you will learn more of these summarizing skills




Skillswise (BBC)


Skimming ... 1. Learn to skim a text for important information

Exercise: 2. Try the worksheet activity about Primary School Information

Scanning

1. Learn to scan a text for important information


Exercise: 2. Try the worksheet about the Green Arrow Job Advert

HOME DICTATION : Unit 5

Click here to listen to the dictation called Talking to an Aunt which is associated with Unit 5 of our textbook.

Note: Use your printed Spelling Appendix to help you.

Writing Short Observations

This week we will practice writing an OBSERVATION. This exercise should help you with your study in Child and Aged Care courses.



*Where is the activity taking place?

*Describe the children

*What activity are the children involved in?

*What materials have been provided?

*How would you describe their behaviour?

*How do they behave towards one another?

VOCABULARY:

to be involved in -ing something

to be provided

to take place

to appear / to seem / to look

contented, uninterested, bored, cooperative, independent (other adjectives)



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SPELLING

Use your Spelling Appendix (Unit 4 - Idle Chatter)

1. Use your dictionary to look up words you do not know and colloquial expressions you do not understand

2. What sound are we studying this week? Can you find it in your IPA Chart?

3. Listen to the Dictation : Talking About Football - The Grand Final

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DICTATIONSONLINE.COM

Use this website to do some short dictations at home. I suggest you start at Pre-Intermediate Level and work your way up.

Make sure you read the instructions carefully:

Let's try a dictation together : My Cat Trotsky (Click here)




Activity : Make yourself a Cloze Exercise

Look at the script of My Cat Trotsky. You be the teacher. Copy and paste the text into a new word processor file. Delete some of the words you have problems spelling. Add dashes. Print it out and try listening again until you get the text right!

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GRAMMAR



Do you need to brush up on your Grammar? Use Adele's ESL Corner to review your grammar and also do some listening exercises.

Also look at the MEDIUM LEVEL Grammar exercises for more difficult structures

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Medicines and Medication Records

In the last couple of weeks we studied INCIDENT REPORT FORMS. Now we turn our attention to MEDICATION RECORDS.

Exercise: Look at the 2 MEDICATION RECORD FORMS (STAFF and GUARDIAN) I gave you in class.

Let's brainstorm some vocabulary we need under these headings ...

NAME OF MEDICATION

DOSAGE

TIME GIVEN

DATE GIVEN

CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH MEDICATION IS TO BE GIVEN

ADMINISTERED BY

CHECKED BY

Exercise 1: Add these words to lists in your Spelling Diary


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SPELLING

Using a dictionary and the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)




Click here to download the International Phonetic Alphabet Chart (from www.speechmatters.com.au)

Listen to the vowel sounds (Australian Pronunciation) here

Listen to the consonant sounds (Australian Pronunciation) here


Exercise One: Use the chart and the listening links together to learn the ILP


This week we are using the IPA and our dictionaries to help us with spelling. Continue creating your own lists in your Spelling Diary, keep adding new words from your reading.

You might also like to use the Spelling Lists from the Appendix of Idle Chatter 2 (Margaret Von Perger, Oxford ANZ English 1997) to help you build up Spelling Diary. (I will give you a copy of this helpful appendix in class).

Exercise 2: Look up these words in your dictionary and practice pronouncing them with a friend. (Use the ILP Chart to help you)...

grievance
conceited
antique

exquisite
coincidence

physiotherapist
synthetic
sympathetic

build
busy
business

Exercise 3: Add these words to your Spelling Diary

DICTATION : At a Doctor's Surgery

Use the cloze exercise I gave you in class to complete the dictation. You will need to play it several times as the recording is quite long and the men speak fast. Use your Spelling List Appendix to help you.

Click here to go to the dictation

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Prepare to Write

DICTATION

1. Download the Cloze exercise and print out

2. Listen to the dictation and complete the exercise ...



3. Download the Dictation Script and check your cloze exercise

SPELLING:

Study the dictation script and add words you find difficult to spell to your Spelling Lists. Use the LOOK - COVER - WRITE - CHECK method to learn the words. Write them in new sentences. Use your Dictionary and Thesaurus to find similar words. Find other words that are spelled in similar ways.

WRITING

For the last two weeks we have used FORMS (eg. an Incident Report form) and POST-IT notes (eg. WHILE YOU WERE OUT) to help us write.

I gave you:

a) A model

b) We looked at the form and thought about the required information

c) We made a list of words and phrases for filling in such forms (eg. incident words / action words)

... and you all did a great job!

We are slowly learning to ...

PREPARE FOR WRITING

STEP 1

1. Think about what are you need to write

2. Collect the information you need

3. Find the words /phrases / typical sentences you need

4. Find a model

5. Use the model and your list to help you write

MODEL

2.30 pm 10/3/2011

Dear Bronwen,

You are still out at the Council meeting. I've still got a terribly sore back and managed to get an appointment to see a physio this afternoon at 3 pm. Will try to make it back to the office by 4 pm. I will ring in as soon as I am finished there. You can also catch me on my mobile : 04098765421

Dale