Module 1
Critical Thinking
Before attempting the website activities, Module 1 should be completed and understood from both the Student Book and the Student Workbook so the tasks can be completed accurately with full comprehension.
Target language and vocabulary
Task 1: Jumbled words
Here are 25 points of important vocabulary chosen from Module 1: Critical Thinking in the Key to EAPstudent book and student workbook. Unjumble the letters to find the vocabulary words.
Jumbled vocabulary / Unjumbled vocabulary1. pplay
2. ppviteerosc
3. fidnocceen
4. sepharpara
5. cctnoep
6. ulaevate
7. atomccus
8. bratormins
9. prnanedomitly
10. eerp
11. doptsac
12. sbai
13. mmmciottne
14. eamntgur
15. coehendmpr
16. praapisal
17. asstioumpn
18. plasegiari
19. olmverwhe
20. enmthusias
21. ssssmeeant
22. geonnerasilati
23. cmsieompro
24. etoricarhl
25. aettibelm
Task 2: Definition matching
Match these words from Task 1 with their correct definitions below.
accustom / argument / overwhelm / prospective / assumption / commitment / paraphrasegeneralisation / predominantlyassessmentrhetoricalpeerappraisalbiasplagiarise
1expected to do something or to become something
2to express what somebody has said or written using different words, especially in order to make it easier to understand
3to make yourself or somebody else familiar with something or become used to it
4mainly; generally
5a person who is the same age or who has the same social status as you
6a promise to do something or to behave in a particular way; a promise to support somebody/something; the fact of committing yourself
7a reason or set of reasons that somebody uses to show that something is true or correct
8a judgment of the value, performance or nature of somebody/something
9to have such a strong emotional effect on somebody that it is difficult for them to resist or know how to react
10asked only to make a statement or to produce an effect rather than to get an answer
11to copy another person’s ideas, words or work and pretend that they are your own
12an opinion or judgment about somebody/something that has been thought about very carefully
13a strong feeling in favour of or against one group of people, or one side in an argument, often not based on fair judgment
14a general statement that is based on only a few facts or examples; the act of making such statements
15a belief or feeling that something is true or that something will happen, although there is no proof
Task 3: Parts of speech
The table below contains ten words from Task 1. Complete the table with the appropriate parts of speech.
*no parts of speech
Noun / Verb / Adjective / Adverb______/ apply / * / *
______/ confide / ______/ ______
concept
______/ * / * / *
______/ evaluate / ______/ *
podcast
______
______/ * / * / *
______/ comprehend / ______/ ______
brainstorm
______/ ______/ * / *
enthusiasm / ______/ ______/ ______
compromise / ______/ ______/ *
timetable / ______/ * / *
Task 4: Vocabulary use
Choose the correct form of the word to match the context. The vocabulary is from Module 1.
1The lecturer was overwhelmed/overwhelm/overwhelming by the amount of work students had put into their last assignment.
2All personal documents handed in to student services at Meldon University are confidence/confide/confidential.
3The report has been subject to appraisal/appraising/appraise.
4A peer/peering/peered review system is being introduced to help students who are experiencing difficulty with their essays.
5There are many strong and effective argues/argument/arguments for and againsteuthanasia.
6‘Do you think I am that naïve and innocent?’ the school principal asked rhetorical/rhetorically/rhetoricaly.
7Lecturers and tutors must consider all candidates’ essays and assignments impartially and without biasing/biased/bias.
8Many lecturers ask students to try to paraphrase/paraphrasing/paraphrased the question before answering it to show that the question is understood.
9The student failed his assignment as his actions were based on a false assumings/assumptions/assumption.
10His behaviour was completely beyond comprehends/comprehension/comprehensive, resulting in expulsion.
Reading
To procrastinate or not to procrastinate is the question
As students, we all come across this feeling at one time or another, however it is becoming an alarming statistic. What is it, you ask? Looking mournfully at a blank Word document, desperately wanting to be outside or in a café, anywhere but at your laptop attempting to do your essay for the third time. Your word count states 278 and you have 2222 words to go and it has already taken you three hours for these annoyingly countable words. You promise yourself not to go to Facebook or play Legend of Zelda or Super Mario Galaxy until the work is done,
but …
An American study estimates that over 70% of students exhibit this behavior, which is known as the new contagious student disease, procrastination.
Dr Piers Steel, author of The Procrastination Equation, states that students are biologically and socially predisposed to put off until tomorrow what we should do today, ‘Aside from the cliché that students are more impulsive, in your early 20s you’re still developing your pre-frontal cortex, home of the will power.’ He argues that the closer you are to the temptation of fun, the more likely you are to indulge. At university, where even the library is filled with friends and has a quality Internet connection, a ‘short break’ can easily turn into an hour wasted.
First, get rid of all temptation. Work in an isolated place where you know no one can tempt you on to a game or social networking. Turn off the Internet as soon as you have completed the adequate research.
Second, work with conditions. Place an alarm clock or timer on and allow yourself the allocated time before rewarding yourself with a 15-minute break.
It can work if you believe in yourself and discipline. It has been proven. Now prove it to yourself when writing the next assignment!
Task 1
Read the short article ‘To procrastinate or not to procrastinate is the question’and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1What is the alarming statistic?
aThe fact that 70% of students exhibit this behaviour
bTo get rid of temptation
cTo have a 15 minute break.
2What is the new disease attacking students?
aTemptation
bProcrastination
cDiscipline
3Why does the doctor say,‘Aside from the cliché …’?
aIt’s widely known as a cliché that students are impulsive
bIt’s widely known as a cliché that students procrastinate
cIt’s widely known as a cliché that students are disciplined
4What is the pre-frontal cortex?
aThe first part of your assignment
bThe first concepts you have before writing an assignment
cThe front part of your brain
5Why can a ‘short break’ easily turn into an hour wasted?
aBecause temptation is there
bBecause you forgot your watch
cBecause once you are mingling with friends or using the Internet the time consumes you
Answers
Target language and vocabulary
Task 1: Jumbled words
Jumbled vocabulary / Unjumbled vocabulary1. pplay / apply
2. ppviteerosc / prospective
3. fidnocceen / confidence
4. sepharpara / paraphrase
5. cctnoep / concept
6. ulaevate / evaluate
7. atomccus / accustom
8. bratormins / brainstorm
9. prnanedomitly / predominantly
10. eerp / peer
11. doptsac / podcast
12. sbai / bias
13. mmmciottne / commitment
14. eamntgur / argument
15. coehendmpr / comprehend
16. praapisal / appraisal
17. asstioumpn / assumption
18. plasegiari / plagiarise
19. olmverwhe / overwhelm
20. enmthusias / enthusiasm
21. ssssmeeant / assessment
22. geonnerasilati / generalisation
23. cmsieompro / compromise
24. etoricarhl / rhetorical
25. aettibelm / timetable
Task 2: Definition matching
1prospective6commitment11plagiarise
2paraphrase7argument12assessment
3accustom8appraisal13bias
4predominantly9overwhelm14generalisation
5peer10rhetorical15assumption
Task 3: Parts of speech
Noun / Verb / Adjective / Adverbapplication / apply / * / *
confidence / confide / confidential / confidentially
concept
conception / * / * / *
evaluation / evaluate / evaluative / *
podcast
podcaster
podcasting / * / * / *
comprehension / comprehend / comprehensive / comprehensively
brainstorm
brainstorming / brainstorm / * / *
enthusiasm / enthuse / enthusiastic / enthusiastically
compromise / compromise / compromising / *
timetable / timetable / * / *
Task 4: Vocabulary use
1The lecturer was overwhelmedby the amount of work students had put in to their last assignment.
2All personal documents handed in to student services at Meldon University are confidential.
3The report has been subject to appraisal.
4A peer review system is being introduced to help students who are experiencing difficulty with their essays.
5There are many strong and effective arguments for and against euthanasia.
6‘Do you think I am that naïve and innocent?’ the school principal asked rhetorically.
7Lecturers and tutors must consider all candidates’ essays and assignments impartially and without bias.
8Many lecturers ask students to try to paraphrasethe question before answering it to show that the question is understood.
9The student failed his assignment as his actions were based on a false assumption.
10His behaviour was completely beyond comprehension, resulting in expulsion.
Reading
Task 1
1a. The fact that 70% of students exhibit this behaviour
2b. Procrastination
3b. It’s widely known as a cliché that students procrastinate
4c. The front part of your brain
5c. Because once you are mingling with friends or using the Internet the time consumes you