Graduate Diploma Reading & Writing Session 15 A quick look at your writing Complex 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 adverbialinfinitive clausecomparative participle clauseconditional clausewh- 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 adverbialinfinitive clausecomparative participle clauseconditional clausewh- 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