Unit 3. Education

You are going to read some sentences from different texts about education. For each of the sentences, decide what kind of point the writer was making in the previous sentence.
Key.1С 2A 3B 4A 5B 6B 7C 8C 9B 10A
Write in the gap:
A for a point which CONTRASTS (disagrees) with the point made in the second sentence
В for a point which SUPPORTS (agrees with) the point made in the second sentence
С for a point which gives the CAUSE (the reason) for something happening

Example:
     B      Moreover, many educational psychologists argue today that strict classroom discipline is actually a disincentive to effective and efficient learning.

1. _________. As a result, more and more graduates are leaving university with bank balances deeply in the red.
2. _________. However, this ignores the fact that mixed-ability classes often discriminate against the more able students in those classes.
3. _________. In addition, society has to recognise that schools can never totally replace the role of the parent when it comes to moral guidance.
4. _________. On the other hand, school uniforms do instil in pupils a sense of belonging.
5. _________. Apart from that, we also need to consider the important issue of whether university lecturers have actually received any training in how to communicate their knowledge effectively to their students.
6. _________. What's more, it has never been proved that children who are taught by their parents at home receive less of a grounding in social and life skills.
7. _________. In consequence, it seems clear that the way forward is to have as highly educated a workforce as possible.
8. _________. Thus, until we deal with the generally inadequate standard of state school teaching, there will always be a market for private schools.
9. _________. Lastly, the school has recently introduced craft, design and technology courses to the curriculum.
10. _________. Despite this, teachers are still leaving the profession in droves, fed up with the education system being treated as a political football by politicians.

Underline the words or phrases in each second sentence which helped you make your decision. Then write them in the appropriate column in the table below.
Key.1. As a result
2. However
3. In addition
4. On the other hand
5. Apart from that
6. What's more
7. In consequence
8. Thus
9. Lastly
10. Despite this
Introducing contrast: However, On the other hand, Despite this
Introducing a supporting argument: In addition, Apart from that, What's more, Lastly
Introducing a result: As a result, In consequence, Thus

1. _________. As a result, more and more graduates are leaving university with bank balances deeply in the red.
2. _________.However, this ignores the fact that mixed-ability classes oftendiscriminate against the more able students in those classes.
3. _________.In addition, society has to recognise that schools can never totallyreplace the role of the parent when it comes to moral guidance.
4. _________. On the other hand, school uniforms do instil in pupils a sense of belonging.
5. _________.Apart from that, we also need to consider the important issue ofwhether university lecturers have actually received any training in howto communicate their knowledge effectively to their students.
6. _________.What's more, it has never been proved that children who are taught bytheir parents at home receive less of a grounding in social and lifeskills.
7. _________. In consequence, it seems clear that the way forward is to have as highly educated a workforce as possible.
8. _________.Thus, until we deal with the generally inadequate standard of stateschool teaching, there will always be a market for private schools.
9. _________. Lastly, the school has recently introduced craft, design and technology courses to the curriculum.
10. _________.Despite this, teachers are still leaving the profession in droves, fedup with the education system being treated as a political football bypoliticians.

Introducing contrast	Introducing a supporting argument	Introducing a result

Here are some more sentences. For each one, decide what kind of point the writer makes in the next sentence.
Key.1A 2B 3G 4F 5E 6C 7D
Write in the gap:
A   for a point which CONTRASTS (disagrees) with the point made in the previous sentence
В   for a point which SUPPORTS (agrees with) the point made in the previous sentence
С   for a point which gives the EFFECT (the result) of the point made in the
previous sentence
D   for a point which is the writer's own OPINION
E   for a point which is someone else's OPINION
F   for a CONCLUSION
G   for an EXAMPLE

1. On the one hand, we do have to have a system that adequately tests what has been taught. On the other hand, _________________.  
2. Firstly, there is no evidence that left-handed students are treated anydifferently by teachers than right-handed students. Secondly, _________________. 
3. A number of teachers have managed to reduce the amount of homeworkthey assign their students without it affecting overall performance.
   For instance, _________________.
4. We have seen in this chapter that there are a number of ways for theteacher to attempt to motivate a troublesome class. To sum up, _________________.
5. The number of school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds enteringhigher education is falling dramatically. According to the EducationResearch Foundation, _________________.
6. If education doesn't prepare our children for the realities of modernworking practices, then it is failing both our children and our societyas a whole. Therefore, _________________.  
7. Corporal punishment is seen by most people today as being barbaric,unnecessary, destructive and old-fashioned. To my mind, _________________.

Here are some more words, phrases and expressions which we sometimes find in texts. Writers use them to make their argument clearer. What do they tell us?
Write a letter from the list A-G in exercise С next to each expression below.
Key.1G 2B 3D 4F 5C 6A 7D 8B 9D 10В 11D 12D 13F 14С 15G 16A

1. For example, ____________
2. Furthermore, ____________
3. As far as I'm concerned, ____________
4. In conclusion, ____________
5. For this reason, ____________
6. But... ____________
7. As I see it, ____________
8. Secondly, ____________
9. Personally, ____________
10. Finally, ____________
11. In my opinion, ____________
12. It seems to me that... ____________
13. To conclude, ____________
14. Because of this, ____________
15. ... such as ... ____________
16. Having said that, ____________

• Qualifications are exam results which prove you have reached a certain level.
• I'm going to get a job as soon as I graduate from university.
• The qualification you get when you graduate from university is called a degree.
• In Britain, a public school is a private, fee-paying school.
• In the USA, a public school is a state school, which is run by the government and is free to attend.
• She went to nursery (school)/kindergarten when she was two years old.
• We're not taking exams this year at school; all our work is assessed.
• I'd like you all to write an essay entitled 'Deception in Hamlet.'
• If you are illiterate, you don't know how to read and write.
• Your skills are the things that you can do well.

1. I've got to write an _____________ this weekend on the causes of the First World War.
2. Apart from a GCSE in English, do you have any other _____________?
3. 35% of this course is examined, and the rest is _____________ throughout the year.
4. Because Jeffrey had been a boarder at an expensive _____________, he adapted to prison life remarkably easily.
5. I personally believe that the _____________ system is much fairer, as every pupil, irrespective of how much money their parents have, receives the same quality of education.
6. There are far too many _____________ adults today; something must be done about it.
7. Almost all children round here go to a _____________ until they're five years old.
8. He's got some very impressive qualifications, but do you think he's got the necessary _____________ for the job?
9. As long as I don't completely mess up my university final exams, I should _____________ from Warwick next July.
10. I think Helen's got an honours _____________ in German Literature from Hull University.