An English Cher in a Strange Strange World

Situational Writing Format

2010-10-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Dear all, for the format of situational writing, whether you put in a SENDER'S address is dependent on whether you are in the SAME ORGANIZATION. If you're writing out to someone else in a formal capacity, then go ahead and put an address. If you're writing as a student to a member of the staff, you DON'T need an address.

If you're still unsure, use the following format for FORMAL LETTER (necessary stuff in highlights):
_______________________________________________________________________
Sender's address
Sender's postal code

DATE

Recipient's name
Recipient's title / post in organisation

Dear (Recipient), (<-- note the comma!)

Re: (Purpose of letter)

(body of letter in sensible paragraphs)

Yours sincerely, (<---- Capital Y, small letter s, note comma!)

SIGNATURE
FULL NAME
SENDER'S DESIGNATION (if any)

Vocabulary for Narratives

2010-10-03T22:58:00.001-07:00

Appearance

rangy build (lean and muscular figure)
running to fat (nearly obese figure)
grizzled and hoary old men (gray-haired, gray-bearded, tough old men)
aquiline features (very sharp features)
perspiration rolled down in tiny rivulets
pleasingly plump figure
nails that had been gnawed into jagged stumps
slender pianist fingers (very elegant fingers)
long raven tresses tumbling down her back (long wavy black hair)
hair gelled into spikes (spiky hair)

Posture/actions

shoulders slumping as if he/she had been defeated
insolently leaning against [vertical support]
devil-may-care swagger
smug and self-satisfied saunter / sashay (for females only!)
huddled together in a corner for safety
wringing his/her hands while he/she tried to find an excuse
fingers flexed and relaxed in an effort to calm (oneself) down
hobbled painfully along the pathway
rubbed the back of the head, as if embarrassed to be caught in a lie
lounged confidently in the seat, aware that all eyes were on him/her.

Description of indoors

musty darkness of an unused room
dust motes danced up the narrow shaft of light
All sound was deadened by thick curtains
the room glittered with assorted brightly-colored knickknacks
spartan room with hardly any furniture, let alone decorations
opulent furnishings spoke of a taste for luxury, if not of style (not a stylish room!)
the room was slightly cluttered, indicating the busy lives of the owners
every surface was polished to a mirror finish (everything is gleaming)
papers littered the surface and there was no organization evident to the naked eye (a very messy desk)
Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed sunlight to flood into the room, giving it a cozy atmosphere

Description of outdoors

heat shimmered over the pavement (very hot day)
rain hammered on the roads and the drains were churning with miniature rapids and assorted debris
leaves brushed and whispered high above in the canopy
sandy grit stuck to his/her ankles (walking on sandy or pebbly ground)
veritable maze of alleys and side streets, all crammed with push carts and stalls (in a city with lots of small shops and small alleyways)
wide-open field, where tiny white and pink flowers dotted like stars in a verdant sky
gray-blue expanse of water, interrupted by occasional white lines of foam slowly washing up ashore (the sea)
The brisk wind danced about, whipping dead leaves into frisky jogs about the pavement
sun beat down relentlessly, baking everything in its sight
sloshed wetly through puddles of muddy water

Description of emotion/attitude using physical cues

eyes glimmering with [emotion] (nearly overwhelmed by happiness or sadness)
obstinate set of his/her jaw (showing stubbornness)
gleeful smirk (very satisfied smile)
diamond-hard glint of his/her eyes (showing determination)
lazy slouch over his/her desk
forceful strides headed towards [whatever location] (indicating sternness or determination)
shy shuffling of feet and lowered heads
cleared his throat pompously (wants to show that he's important)
rebellious snarl and the squaring of her shoulders (defiant and aggressive)
timidly edging forward

Nearly exams...

2010-09-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, here are some things to take note:

1. Always, always, always label your questions. Which one did you answer?

2. Write legibly. Meaning: IT MUST BE READABLE BY A NORMAL HUMAN ADULT.

3. Don't use correction liquid i.e. Liquid Paper. That thing is sticky, messy and generally makes it harder to read your work (see point 2). No word out on correction tape, but if you know you always make mistakes, use one or cross out neatly.

Sites for Language revision

2010-08-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/studyzone/

http://www.englishcorner.vacau.com/grammar/grammar.html#htmltbls

Grammar etc. available

Taylor Mali on what teachers make

2010-07-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

This is on behalf of all teachers :)

Adventure

2010-07-09T16:12:00.003-07:00