Skills for expression

1. Grammar: contrast - present simple and present progressive

Read the description of a business meeting below. Underline all the verbs. Then discuss these questions with the class.

1. Which verbs describe actions that are taking placer now?

2. What form do these verbs have?

3. Look at the nonaction verbs that express emotions or describe mental states. What form do these verbs have?

It’s 7:00 P.M. The business people want to go home, but they cannot. They are having an important meeting. At this meeting, they are planning a television advertising campaign for a new fast-food restaurant, Veggie Delight. They hope to reach the young parents’ market. Young parent are often busy and don’t have time to cook. People in this market care about the health of their families. Right now, the business people are discussing ways to send the message that Veggie Delight offers healthy fast food. Several people are writing down ideas for the campaign.

PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

1. The present simple is used to describe what sometimes happens, what usually happens, or what always happens.

• Busy parents sometimes buy dinner at fast-food restaurants.

2. Nonaction verbs describe emotions, mental states, and situations.

• Some people worry that fast food is not good for their health, (emotion)

• Most people believe that home-cooked food is better for their health.

(mental state)

• There are many television advertisements for fast-food restaurants.

(situation)

3. The present progressive is used to describe actions that are happening at the present time.

• The business people are having an important meeting now.

• At the moment, some of them are discussing ideas for their campaign.

• At the same time, others are listening carefully and writing down ideas.

Read the following sentences. Complete each one with the correct verb tense: present simple or present progressive. Use the choices below the blanks.

1. Television ads for fast food always the food look

delicious. make/are making

2. Some people today the habit of cooking at home because

they are busy. lose/are losing

3. Many of them that there is nothing wrong with eating fast food

once in a while, believe/are believing

4. Nowadays, the number of fast-food restaurants around the world

increases/is increasing

5. These restaurants are usually different foods in different

parts of the world. serve/are serving

6. Many people McDonald’s to be an excellent example

consider/are considering of a successful global restaurant.

2. Style: paragraph development

Read the following paragraph from “advertising all over the world. ” then discuss the questions with the class.

1. Where is the main idea?

2. Where are the examples?

3. How many examples are there?

Global advertisers must also consider differences in laws and customs. For instance, certain countries will not allow TV commercials on Sunday, and others will not allow TV commercials for children’s products on any day of the week. In some parts of the world, it is forbidden to show dogs on television or certain types of clothing, such as jeans. The global advertiser who does not understand such laws and customs will soon have problems.

PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

A paragraph usually presents one main idea. This idea appears at the beginning of a paragraph and is followed by one or more examples. The sentence that states the main idea is called a topic sentence. In many paragraphs, the topic sentence is the first sentence. Then the following sentences give examples to prove that the topic sentence is true or to discuss the topic in more detail. At the end of the paragraph, there is usually a concluding sentence that repeats key words from the topic sentence. Look at the following examples:

Topic sentence: Global advertisers must consider differences in laws and customs.

• Example 1: Some countries do not allow TV advertisements on Sunday.

• Example 2: Other countries never allow TV advertisements for children’s products.

• Example 3: In some parts of the world, dogs and jeans cannot be shown on television.

Concluding sentence: The global advertiser who does not understand such laws and customs will soon have problems.

Identify each sentence below as follows:

TS = Topic Sentence D1 = Detail 1

CS = Concluding Sentence D2 = Detail 2

D3 = Detail 3

Then write a paragraph by putting the sentences in order. Indent the first sentence.

1. In addition, Veggie Delight serves potatoes that are baked, not fried

in oil.

2. They can enjoy the tasty Veggie Burger, which contains no meat.

3. They can also enjoy fresh juices instead of soft drinks.

_____ 4. Busy families love to eat at Veggie Delight.

5. Eating these foods is a healthy pleasure for busy families.