Exam Orientation: English for Studying
∙This document is prepared based upon the structure of the actual test paper for this course. You need to be familiar with the test components and
then refer to the purple fonts below for review foci in each unit before the
final examination.
General Notes on the Sample Test Paper
Part 1: Summary (Unit 3, Activity 4)
Focus:
∙General-specific: differentiating between general and specific ideas.
∙Paragraph construction
∙Cohesive devices: logical connectors
Techniques:
1.Identify and focus on key information and leave out unimportant specifics;
2.Attend to coherence when writing the summary paragraph.
3.Summarize in your own words and DO NOT copy from the original
4.Stay close to the original in meaning, tense, point of view and sequence of
information presented.
5.DO NOT add your personal views!!!
6.Stick to the length requirement (70-100 words).
Compare Sample Summaries:
Sample 1
The Swedes are among the most attractive peoples in Europe. Their charm comes from an obvious contradiction in the national character. All social occasions in Sweden are regulated by rules and traditions, which are expressed in a specific rite. The Swedish acceptance of modern technological equipment is equally attractive. Since the Swedes are an efficient people, punctuality is more than a virtue to them. It is the way they respect their friends.
Sample 2
Known as the most attractive peoples in Europe, the Swedes are traditional in social relationships, yet modern in technological advances. They follow strict rules and traditions in social situations. Moreover, they stick to punctuality in the respect for their people and people from other countries. On the other hand, they show their progressiveness by equipping their homes and outdoor places with efficient modern devices. They have also made use of the modern technology to modify the social system.
Marking Criteria for Summaries:
⏹Check that all the information is included on the main aspects. (20 points)
⏹Check that all the information is organized logically– main points listed in
the order they are presented, the use of transitional markers such as
“moreover”, “also”, “on the other hand”, etc. (8 points)
⏹Check that the language used is appropriate and accurate. The summary is
written in the stud ents’ own words. (12 points)
Part 2: Essay Writing (Units 6 & 7)
Focus:
∙Exposition (Unit 6: Activities 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5)
∙Argumentation (Unit 7: Activities 2 & 3)
Techniques:
∙Do read the instructions carefully to fully understand the requirement on the topic, the type, the length, the audience, the format, etc.
∙Do wisely manage the time: 2 minutes to study the instruction, 5 minutes to brainstorm and form an outline, 30 minutes to draft, 15 minutes to check
grammar and spelling or to polish.
∙Remember there should be a title for this essay, which should follow proper title rules.
∙During proofreading stage, focus on subject-verb agreement, tense consistence, comma splice sentences, proper article use, proper pronoun
reference, sentence patterns, and punctuation marks.
∙Do keep nice layout and neat handwriting.
Marking Criteria:
⏹Check the unity of the passage –the idea presented in each paragraph is
related to the topic statement. (20 points)
⏹Check the organization of the passage – three paragraphs, topic statement,
conclusion, ideas supported by relevant examples, use of transitional markers. (15 points)
⏹Check the language use of the passage –use of grammar and punctuation,
spelling, sentence structure, word choice. (15 points)
⏹Check the length of the passage –300~400 words (5 points)
⏹Check the layout of the passage –handwriting, space, paragraphing (5 points)
Essay writing – An example
Write an expository essay of 300~400 words on the following topic: Pollution Around Us. You should write 3~5 paragraphs including the following 3 sections:
1. An Introductory Paragraph: An introduction to the topic;
2. Body Paragraph(s): A discussion of kinds of pollution we have in everyday lives (propose at least three kinds);
3. An Concluding Paragraph: Conclusion.
Note: The style of your essay should be formal, and the logical development should be clear.
☞How do you classify?
▪Nature: air pollution, water pollution, sea pollution
▪Place: home pollution, office pollution, public place pollution
▪Visibility: obvious pollution, hidden pollution
▪…
☞What is your logical development pattern?
☞Should you explain in detail the cause and effect of pollution? Common problems and remedies in student essay writing:
∙Going off the topic →Read the prompt carefully before committed to writing. Ask relevant questions about the given topic to help you get started.
Then decide on one particular question and center your writing around the answer to it and nothing else :)
∙Common grammar mistakes → Always leave out some time for revising. Pay close attention to subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, comma splice, pronoun reference, spelling, dangling modifiers.
∙Lack of time → No, no, no, this may happen in a nightmare but never in this test. You will have plenty of time for the final summary and essay. If I were you, I would read the essay topic as soon as I get the test paper to get my inspiration going on in the back of my brains, and then start working on the reading test. *Do not spend too much time on one section, at least not more than the suggested time for that section. Otherwise your essay section will be at risk.* By the time I reach the actual essay, I might already know my focus for this essay (again, remember that your focus should be relevant to the given topic :). All I need to do now would be to sketch a rough outline to my thesis for this essay, and 2-3 relevant sub-points to prove my thesis.
Also I might jot down some examples/reasons to support my sub-points in the outline. Then when I start drafting, I would already have got a plan well set. That would help me stay focused in the writing process. After the actual writing, I would go back and check the unity, coherence and grammar to make sure I have done my best.
Appendix 1: Sample Test
“高级英语写作”课程终结考试笔试试卷（模拟试题）
This examination consists of TWO sections. They are:
Section I: Summary Writing (40 points, 40 minutes)
Section II: Essay Writing (60 points, 80 minutes)
Section I Summary Writing [40 points]
Question 1: Please summarize the following passage in 70-100 words on the Answer Sheet.
The Swedes are among the most charming peoples in Europe. And their charm comes from an apparent contradiction in the national character. They are extremely conservative in social relationships; within the family and when meeting friends, their conduct is governed by strict social patterns. At the same time, they are one of the most intellectually progressive people in the world. They are always open to new ideas.
All social occasions in Sweden are regulated by rules and traditions. And these traditions are expressed in a specific ritual made up of formal bows, handshakes, and greetings. When a visitor enters a Swedish home, he is invariably received with a “Welcome”; wh en he leaves, his host will tell him “You will be welcome again.” These charming phrases are indestructible part of Swedish social life and they give it an old-world flavor of good manners.
The Swedes are also efficient people. Punctuality is more than a virtue to them--it is a rule of life originating from the most attractive characteristic of this northern people. This is their respect for their friends and acquaintances and especially for the visitors to their country. At whatever cost to themselves, they take care not to give another people the slightest degree of discomfort.
Equally attractive is the Swedish acceptance of modern technological equipment. A traveler never needs to search for a telephone in Sweden: telephone booths are placed at regular intervals along the main streets and highways. And in church, for example, long benches are fitted with hearing aids for worshippers who may be hard of hearing. Swedish homes are among the best equipped in the world and travelers in Sweden find their journeys made easy by the use of the most efficient modern devices.
This respect for technology runs through the whole Swedish social system. Sweden, and the Swedish people, have made an important contribution to world technology, especially in the field of communication. The Swedish telecommunications firm Ericsson is an example of this. The modern technology allows modify and adapt new social reforms and structures with ease. Section II Essay Writing [60 points] Question 2: Please write an expository essay of 300-400 words on the following topic: Pollution Around Us. You should write 3~5 paragraphs including the following 3 sections:
1. An Introductory Paragraph: An introduction to the topic;
2. Body Paragraph(s): A discussion of kinds of pollution we have in everyday lives (propose at least three kinds);
3. An Concluding Paragraph: The Conclusion.
Note: The style of your essay should be formal, and the logical development should be clear. Write your exposition on the Answer Sheet.
Appendix 2: Editing Checklists
Revision Checklist
______ 1. Does the introductory paragraph attract reader’s attention?
______ 2.Is the thesis statement clearly phrased in the introductory paragraph?
Does it include the topic and its controlling ideas? Does it promise how you are
going to proceed in the following body paragraphs?
______ 3. Do all the body paragraphs directly relate to your thesis statement? How are the body paragraphs logically ordered?
______ 4. Do all the facts, examples, statistics and analysis in the body paragraphs relate to the main idea of the paragraph? Do they actually explain, illustrate and support the topic sentences?
______ 5. Is the conclusion consistent with the information presented in the essay?
Does the conclusion include new ideas? (If yes, get rid of them…) Does the
conclusion make overgeneralizations or absolute claims? (If yes, adjust the
strength…)
______ 6. Check to see whether the title is relevant or well-chose. Check to see whether the title follows correct title style using our “Style Tips for Titles”
handout.
______ 7. Does the essay enjoy unity?
______ 8. Does the essay flow well? (coherence)
Proofreading Checklist
Language Issues 检查语言结构
______ 9. Is my pronoun use consistent in my writing? (Point of View) （文章视角选择与代词运用一致性）
______ 10. Is there any subject-verb disagreement? （主谓一致）
______ 11. Is there any comma splice? （错误使用逗号连接句子）
______ 12. Is there any false parallelism? （平行结构）
______ 13. Is there wrong use of articles? (Check singular nouns first: abstract nouns do not take articles unless qualified; No singular countable noun
should stand alone. Never! Then check plural nouns: specific reference or
generic reference? If specific, add the; if generic, get rid of the.) （冠词使用）
______ 14. Is my tense use correct and consistent? （时态正确一致）
______ 15.Is there any “there be” structure that is not necessary?
______ 16. Is there any fragment? (Incomplete sentences set off by a period) （不完整句子）
______ 17. Is there any spelling mistake? （拼写错误）
______ 18.Is there any capitalization mistakes? （大小写错误）
______ 19.Is there any punctuation mistake? If I have used dialogues, is my use of quotation marks correct? （标点符号运用）
Good luck in your finals, dear all!。
