Speaking Task One - 179 Reason #4 You are not confident using G+TiC=C. Solution 1. Practice developing and delivering responses until you have memorized G+TiC=C and you can remember it automatically without notes. Reason #5 You blank out. Solution 1. You are trying too hard or are too nervous. Try to relax. When you practice speaking, don’t time yourself, just speak until you are confident. When you are more confident, then time yourself. 2. Forget about trying to demonstrate OPDUL=C. Just speak. The more you speak, the more confident you will become. A clean start means you start speaking with no hesitation. You state your opinion clearly and succinctly, then progress to your supporting illustration, for example: G = Personally, I think that students should have part-time jobs while in high school. TiC = For example, when I was a high school student, I had a job at an English bookstore in Budapest, Hungary. My job was to put books on the shelves and help customers. A rough start means you are using conversational (non academic) English. This will result in a lack of fluency and automaticity (OPDUL =C), and coherence (OPDUL=C), for example: G = Yo. I think it’s good. Working in high school. Everybody should do it. Make some money. Cool. TiC = A good example? There are lots. Really. A clean end means you clearly and succinctly restate your opinion and stop. Resist the temptation to say more or to correct yourself, for example: C = For those reasons, working in a bookstore in high school really helped me to become more independent and responsible. Clean Start Rough Start Clean End 180 - Speaking Task One e A rough end means you are speaking conversationally. This will result in a lack of fluency and automaticity (OPDUL =C), and coherence (OPDUL=C), for example: C = Working was, you know, fun. Everybody should do it. That’s all. No. Actually, I hated it. Money causes nothing but problems. Is this microphone on? To maximize scoring, apply the following advanced strategies to develop a basic response into an advanced response. One way to develop a basic response into an advanced response is by adding a second body paragraph. Do so by changing G+TiC=C to G+2TiC=C. Introduction G = opinion = general TiC = body paragraph #1 = specific Body TiC = body paragraph #2 = specific Conclusion C = restated opinion = general A second body paragraph will result in greater topic development (OPDUL=C). For example, read the following prompt. Now read the sample response on the next page. Prompt Which person has been the greatest influence in your life? Give examples and reasons to support and develop your opinion. Rough End Advanced Strategies G+2TiC=C Speaking Task One - 181 Which is better? G+TiC=C or G+2TiC=C? If can demonstrate OPDUL=C using G+TiC=C, good. G+2TiC=C? Great. What about G+3TiC=C? If you try and develop three examples (G+3TiC=C), you will run out of time trying to develop all three body paragraphs. What if I keep running out of time when practicing using G+2TiC=C? Develop only one example using G+TiC=C. One well-developed example is better than two or three examples that lack development. Personally, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life. For example, I am now in America working as an au pair. An au pair is like a babysitter who lives with an American family. I am doing this for a year in Stamford, Connecticut. At first I didn’t want to come to America and leave all my friends in Estonia, but my mother said it would be a great experience and a great way to develop my English. She was right. Living with an American family has been a wonderful experience and my English is so much better. Also, my mother is my inspiration. When I was growing up, she was a high school teacher. This was strange because all my friends’ mothers were housewives. But my mother wanted to work. She always told me to just follow my heart. I remember these words whenever I have problems in America, and they give me strength. For those reasons, my mother has been the biggest influence in my life. Words: 173 A Q Q A Q A Remember! 182 - Speaking Task One e To maximize scoring, apply the following advanced introduction strategies to develop a basic response into an advanced response. A simple hook uses the information in the prompt. In the following examples, notice how the hook comes first, followed by the transition and the opinion . Combined, they form the introduction (G) of your response. introduction (G) = hook + transition + opinion a. Or Question Hook For this hook, start with an or question. Next, give a transition, then answer the question . The answer is your opinion, for example: G Is surfing the internet dangerous or not? From my point of view, I believe that surfing the net is not dangerous. b. Restate-the-Prompt Hook For this hook, first restate the prompt. Next, give a transition, then state your opinion , for example: G The question is whether fast food is good or bad for children. As far as I’m concerned, I think fast food is bad for children . c. Pro-Con Hook For this hook, state the pro (positive) side and the con (negative) side of the argument. Next, give a transition, then state your opinion , for example: G Some think that homeschooling is best for children while others argue that children should go to a regular school. In my estimation, I believe that homeschooling is best for children . Advanced Introduction Strategies Simple Hooks Speaking Task One - 183 d. General Fact + Question Hook For this hook, start with a general fact. Next, ask an or question. Write a transition, then answer the question. The answer is your opinion , for example: G Children all over the world watch a lot of television every day. Is it good or bad for them? Personally, I think it is bad for them . A complex hook uses information from researched sources, information you bring to the test. For complex hook strategies you can use to develop your introduction for this speaking task, see Complex Hooks for the Independent Essay. Watch the clock. Hooks can use up a lot of time. Why is a hook an effective strategy? Because your introduction (hook + transition + opinion) will look like an inverted (upside down) pyramid in which the ideas progress from general to specific. general (hook) Some think that homeschooling is best for children while others argue that children should go to a regular school. In my estimation, specific I believe that homeschooling is best (opinion) for children. The raters will listen for an inverted-pyramid introduction. An inverted-pyramid introduction demonstrates OPDUL=C. Complex Hooks Warning!! Inverted-Pyramid Introduction Remember! transition 184 - Speaking Task One e To maximize scoring, start your response with a predictor thesis. Because you only have 45 seconds to speak, develop a predictor thesis with two predictors only (G+2TiC=C ), for example: opinion = Personally, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life conjunction = because predictor she encourages me (reason #1) conjunction = and she inspires me (reason #2). Look at the following predictor thesis. Notice how each predictor becomes a topic sentence in each body paragraph. Notice also how she becomes the topic identifier My mother in each body paragraph topic sentence (T iC). G Personally, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life because she encourages me and predictor (reasons) she inspires me. TiC My mother encourages me. For example… TiC My mother inspires me. For example… C For those reasons, my mother has been the biggest influence in my life. Predictor Thesis Speaking Task One - 185 Look at the following predictor thesis. Personally, I think that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. To demonstrate language use, replace “Personally” with a synonymous phrase, for example: In my opinion, As far as I’m concerned, In my experience, I think that customers should be In my view, allowed to return purchased items In my estimation, for a full refund within thirty days. From my experience, From my perspective, Personally speaking, Next, look at the main verb think followed by that. Personally, I think that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. Replace think that with a synonymous phrase. This will demonstrate language use (OPDUL =C). 1. In my experience, I feel that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. 2. In my view, I posit that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. 3. From my perspective, I contend that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. 4. Personally speaking, I believe that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. 5. In my estimation, I postulate that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. 6. From my perspective, I reason that customers should be allowed to return purchased items for a full refund within thirty days. Predictor Thesis: Using Synonyms 186 - Speaking Task One e Look at a following response with a predictor thesis. Notice that the predictors unite with each body paragraph topic sentence. This demonstrates organization, progression, development, unity and language use (OPDUL =C). This demonstrates coherence (OPDUL=C ). Only by practicing will you know if you can develop and deliver a spoken response that demonstrates a predictor thesis and OPDUL=C in 45 seconds. Watch the clock. A predictor thesis can use up a lot of time. A predictor thesis is an excellent advanced strategy; however, if your body paragraphs are not well-developed, a predictor thesis will not substantially increase your score. A predictor thesis and well- developed body paragraphs will substantially increase your score. Personally speaking, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life because she encourages and inspires me. My mother encourages me. For example, I’m now in America working as an au pair. An au pair is like a babysitter who lives with an American family. I am doing this for a year in Stamford, Connecticut. At first I didn’t want to come to America and leave all my friends in Estonia, but my mother said it would be a great experience and a great way to develop my English. She was right. Living with an American family has been a wonderful experience and my English is so much better. Also, my mother inspires me. When I was growing up, she was a high school teacher. This was strange because all my friends’ mothers were housewives. But my mother wanted to work. She always told me to just follow my heart. I remember these words whenever I have problems in America, and they give me strength. For those reasons, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life. Words: 185 Remember! Warning!! Remember! Speaking Task One - 187 The rhetorical why is a question you ask and answer yourself at the start of your argument. Asking yourself why is like having a conversation with yourself. More importantly, it signals the start of your argument. It is also a good way to start speaking, especially if you are nervous or shy. Look at the following examples. In the previous examples, notice how the rhetorical why is followed by the predictor. Notice also that the predictor begins with “Because.” “Because” signals the start of your argument. Often a rhetorical why is reduced to simply “Why?”, for example: By simply asking why, you will save time. Use that time to develop your supporting illustrations. You can use the rhetorical why when writing your independent essay. Personally, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life. Why has my mother been the biggest influence in my life? Because she encourages and inspires me. In my opinion, exercising is good for you. Why is exercising good for you? Because it reduces stress and helps you sleep. In my opinion, exercising is good for you. Why? Because it reduces stress and helps you sleep. Personally, I believe that my mother has been the biggest influence in my life. Why? Because she encourages and inspires me. The Rhetorical Why Remember! Remember! 188 - Speaking Task One e To maximize scoring, apply the following advanced conclusion strategies to develop a basic response essay into an advanced response. a. Suggestion For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a suggestion. C In sum, I assert that video games are a bad influence on kids. Instead of playing video games, I think that parents should make their kids go outside and play. C As I have illustrated, video games are a bad influence on kids. If you want healthy kids, I suggest that you turn off the computer for a few hours every day and make your kids go outside and play. b. Suggestion + Prediction For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a suggestion and a prediction. Notice how the prediction contains the auxiliary verb “will” to describe a future action. C In the final analysis, I contend that playing sports is good for children. They should try and play a winter sport like hockey and a summer sport like soccer or baseball. It will teach them how to socialize and be team players. C In the end, I think that it’s better to spend the money you make. Be like me and spend all the money you earn. By doing so, you will be happy and never worry about tomorrow. c. Warning + Prediction For this strategy, start with a transition, restate your opinion, then end with a warning that contains a prediction of future of events. C It goes without saying that global warming is a serious problem. The ice at the North Pole is melting so fast that soon there will be no more ice, just water. C As far as I’m concerned, I believe that a new factory in my home town is a good idea. It will create a lot of new jobs and provide more tax money, money the town can use to build new roads and bridges. Advanced Conclusion Strategies . the prompt. In the following examples, notice how the hook comes first, followed by the transition and the opinion . Combined, they form the introduction. bad for them? Personally, I think it is bad for them . A complex hook uses information from researched sources, information you bring to the