Academic Communication Lesson 7 Please pick up two handouts from the front desk. Please sit in pairs. Each person needs one partner. (http://staff.ustc.edu.cn/~acadcom)

Careful Description of 6 Differences Presenting science involves describing things carefully, sometimes very carefully. Vocabulary Exercise Using only English, find and describe 6 differences between the 2 pictures. PLEASE Do Not Draw on the Cards!! Put your pen down – point with finger only Watch for angles: 30º angle vs. 45º angle

Explain differences to another pair Use good vocabulary Use good sentences (Do not use Chinese!)

Now… the hard way Look only at your half of the card Describe what you see Ask each other questions Find all six differences… if you can Please do not write on the cards! Remember, this is an exercise for your vocabulary – Describe things well!

Please give back the 6-difference cards during the break today

Pronouncing Math and Chemistry Principle 1: Unless it’s really simple, show it on a PowerPoint slide Principle 2: Have an easy way to refer to it Principle 3: Know vocabulary to discuss interesting parts individually

Example from Spring 2009

Note Particularly! 𝑑𝑓 𝑑𝑥 : “dee f by dee x” is a good short form (“dee f over dee x” ok but not as good) x=5 : “x equals 5” or “x is equal to 5” not “x equals to 5” a 2x3 matrix 𝑐 𝑎 3 12 𝑑 𝑎 : say “2 by 3” not “2 times 3” 1.75 : say “one point seven five” But $1.75 is “one seventy-five” (money) For “Fig. 3” or “Tab. 4” (written) say “Figure 3” (not “fig 3”) or “Table 4” (not “tab 4”)

Describing a Figure Overview: State simply what the figure is Figure = graph, diagram, picture, table, … Communicates much information quickly “Jia you”  you=oil  O – I – L Overview: State simply what the figure is Interpret Interesting parts: Point out what to notice and interpret it, i.e. say what that tells us Link: State how this relates to your overall goal For your exam: It is better to do one figure well than to do several in a weak way.

Graph Vocabulary Examples Be sure you understand the examples on the handout sheets. Be familiar with vocabulary like this so you can use it freely in your explanations

Graph Vocabulary & Sentences Many words are both noun and verb Get syllable emphasis correct but “increase” or “increase” ? Both ok. Verb form exceptions: Today it falls; yesterday it _______ Today it rises; yesterday it _______ Common patterns: verb+adverb adjective+noun increased slowly a slow increase

Order of data is flexible A: 1930-1940 D: #farmers B: sudden E: Europe C: drop EDCBA “In Europe, the number of farmers dropped suddenly from 1930 to 1940.” BCAED “A sudden drop occurred from 1930 to 1940 in the number of European farmers.” Almost any order will do, so use a variety! Put the most important info near the front, or Use stress (emphasis) to indicate importance

Describe graphs 1 (bar) and 2 (line) (Remember useful words from the other handout too) Rise sharply = skyrocket Rise sharply then fall sharply = spike Very high or very low level: “off the chart” Something unexpected = anomaly Angle of line = slope Trend = basically one slope but has anomalies Patterns: saw tooth, sine wave, wavy, regular, cyclic, periodic No pattern: irregular

Continue G1 & G2 but also state reasons for the graph features due to <cause> because of <cause> the cause of <effect> is <cause> the reason for… <cause> caused <effect> <effect> is ascribed to <cause> this peak is assigned to <some element> (in a spectrograph showing elements)

A triple line graph 3 graphs in one = efficient use of space Have a look at this after class and fill in the blanks for practice. Most blanks have several correct answers E.g. Rise = Increase, gradual = slow Look for sentence patterns you could use in your exam presentation! It is a very good idea to describe a graph in your final exam, if you have any.

A graph of my life Graph your contentment and stress over the past two years and be ready to describe your graph Contentment: happiness, joy, satisfaction with where you are and what you’re doing Stress: amount of pressure, feeling over-worked, # problems in life or work

Homework Next class: You MUST bring to class a printout of your transcript. If you do not bring a transcript to Lesson 8, then Lesson 8 will be useless to you! Must include for each slide: A picture or printout of the slide The exact words and sentences you will say while that slide is showing. Exactly how long you plan to spend on that slide (Check how long it takes you to read what you will say for that slide)