Science and Technology

Now and then ...

Science and Technology: Context

Science and technology have facilitated human life and made us feel comfortable and enabled us to live in a modern way of life. They have evolved over the years, and today we need them in every sphere of our life like to treat diseases such as cancer or even to book a cab or train/flight ticket.

How often do you read science or technology articles? Reading these types of texts may be a complex task. Informative texts use specific terminology and grammar, so let's learn about it!

Learning goals, competences and key contents

- You will be able to read informative texts about science and technology and identify specific and global information, as well as the useful language elements related to the topic.
- You will be able to write an informative essay about a science or technology topic taking into account key features of explanatory texts.

Tasks and final products

- You will write an informative essay. To do so, you will read informative texts, magazine articles, about science and technology in order to identify useful language elements and then apply and identify them in your written production.

Assessment

- Reading comprehension test
- Written expression final product: An informative essay about science and technology.
- Assessment tool: Informative essay RUBRIC

Technology - English ESL video lessonESL video lesson with an interactive quiz: Deep listening comprehension . Multiple choice questions to check listening comprehension of technology related vocabulary.

Smart classrooms - English ESL video lessonESL video lesson with an interactive quiz: Mixed practice. Ss will practice vocabulary related to education and technology and interact with the video.

What is an informative / explanatory text?

Informative / Explanatory texts

Informative/explanatory writing communicates facts and information on a specific topic to an audience. The purpose is for the writer to share their knowledge by conveying ideas and information clearly.

Informative essays or expository essays are written for many purposes. hey can compare viewpoints (pros and cons) controversial subject but they DON’T include the writer’s opinion. They can also analyze data, or educate people on how to do certain things in a simple way.

Structure of an informative essay:

Introduction:

- Introduce the topic clearly with a topic sentence

- Grab the attention of your reader.

- Write 2 or 3 sentences

Body:

- It will contain all the most important facts that you are explaining. This part will have to answer these questions:

who, what, where, when, why, and how.

- Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details (moving from general to more specific)

Conclusion:

- Re-state your topic idea and make a summary of the previous paragrapahs.

- This part should encourage the reader to learn more about the topic after finishing reading your essay.

REMEMBER: Write a full plan before you write the essay:

+ include ideas for the introduction, body and conclusion.

+ Use paragraphs to organize information

+ write the keywords o topic vocabulary that you will use.

+ take note of the grammar structures that you are going to use, depending on the type of essay.

+ Use linking words and phrases (e.g. also, another, and, more, but, however) to connect ideas

+Avoid repetition.

+ Do not use personal pronouns - an essay should inform not express your attitude. Imagine yourself a writer of an encyclopedia article. Provide facts, not thoughts.

+ do an error checklist: When you finish writing your essay, do a checklist of mistakes (agreement, verb tense, spelling, etc).