Textbook Reading Aids

6 October 2007

Table of Contents

This part will give you an overview of topics of the book.  It is located at the beginning of the book.  Included are Chapters, Titles and subtopics and the number of pages of the book.

Preface or Introduction

This part states the author’s purpose and writing the book.  Most of the time the author states information about the book that gives the reader grasp what are the gist to be extracted upon reading.

Index

This part is located at the back of the book where you can easily find information due to all is listed alphabetically including the pages where you will find such information.

Appendix

This page serves as a reference.  Located at the back of the book where list, charts, documents and other materials related to the subject of the book.

Bibliography

This is the part where the author extracted some of the ideas stated in the book.  This page contains list of other books, articles and other sources the author basis in writing the book.  This is also useful in making further reading about the book.

Using the SQ4R Method

Survey

You need to preview the reading material you are going to read.  In the preview, you should include the following: chapter title, topics and subtopics, introduction and the questions or exercises to be done afterwards.

Question

Under this, you should use the following: who, what, where, when, why and how.  Turn the heading and subheadings into questions.  You will get the information you are trying to extract by using this question.

Read

Read comprehensively to locate all the possible answers to all the questions posted above.

Recite

One thing for you to familiarize the questions and the possible answers is by reciting it orally or mentally.

Record

Jot down all the information to further reinforce your thesis.  List down the main idea and supporting detail for future references.

Review

You need to review the material to permanently inculcate it into your mind.  Use all the steps above.

Context Clues

4 July 2007

One of the obstacles learners/readers encounter in reading are the vocabulary words stated in the reading materials, Magazines and news papers and other periodicals contain general information that could help boost the awareness of a reader.

Learners of English as the Second Language get bored on reading because they do have the tools and guides to unravel these vocabulary words. These learners are having a hard time in comprehending these reading materials. Thought the dictionary is always at hand, it is far better if the reader/learner has the ability to unravel the meaning of a vocabulary words encounter while in the process of reading.

Contextual clueing techniques should be imparted to readers/learners before instructing them to read. I would like reiterate that contextual clueing is used and can be taught only to higher grades or to high school students in particular.

Context clues is used to determine the meaning of the unfamiliar words while reading.

Let us analyze the sentences below:

1. Feeling nervous, she is reluctant to join the contest. a) nervous, b) interested, c) unwilling

In this sentence, reluctant is the unfamiliar word. Based on the words surrounding reluctant, without looking in the dictionary, you can see and feel that “she is unwilling to join the contest” because of nervous. There are thing to be considered why “she is nervous.” The contestant is not prepared to compete because if she really is prepared to compete, the feeling of being nervous will be replaced by excitement.

Let have another sentence:

2. Only ashes remain after the conflagration. a) fire, b) smoke, c) burned

In this sentence, conflagration is the vocabulary word. The words that surround the vocabulary word give emphasis on the exact meaning. “Only ashes remain,” this phrase indicates that there is a big fire occurred. Therefore, conflagration means fire or a big fire that made the things into ashes.

Though the dictionary is the best source to learn the meaning of the unfamiliar words, when reading, most of the times you don’t have your dictionary at hand. Context clues, therefore, will be of great help for you to understand and comprehend any reading materials.

Phrases and Clauses

11 May 2007

Phrases and Clauses

The first thing to know to determine a phrase and a clause is to know first what is meant by subject and predicate.

What or who we are speaking about in a sentence is called the subject.

What is said about the subject is called the predicate.

1.    He cleans.  (HE is the subject and CLEANS is the predicate)

2.    John cleans the room. (JOHN is the subject and CLEANS THE ROOM is the predicate.)

3.    The mother monkey takes care of her baby monkey. (THE MOTHER MONKEY is the subject and TAKES CARE OF HER BABY MONKEY is the predicate.)

4.    In the classroom, the janitor sweeps.  (THE JANITOR is the subject and SWEEPS IN THE CLASSROOM is the predicate.

Just like the subject and predicate, PHRASE and CLAUSE have also distinguishing marks that differ from each other.  A Phrase is a group of words or a sequence of related words forming as a part of the whole sentence, but it does not have a subject and a predicate. A Clause is a group of related words containing a subject and a predicate.

Though there are several types of phrases, the important thing is to determine which pat of the sentence is phrase and clause.

Prepositional Phrase is of course signaled by a preposition.  Let see the example below:

The scissors is mine.

This is a simple sentence which indicates THE SCISSORS as the subject and IS MINE is the predicate. By adding a prepositional phrase IN THE DRAWER the sentence becomes:

The scissors in the drawer is mine. (Prepositional phrase)

Infinitive can also be expanded to infinitive phrase.  Read the sentence below:

Los Angeles is my dream. A simple sentence with subject and predicate.

To go back to Los Angeles is my dream. (to go back - is the Infinitive phrase).

When a verb is used in its ing form it is called GERUND.

Gerundial phrase on the other hand, starts the phrase forming the verb into the ing form.

Sailing the oceans aboard a ship is his job. (Sailing the oceans -  is the gerundial phrase)

Non-Sexist Language

24 April 2007

Some suggestions on How to Use non-sexist language

1. Eliminate the generic use of He, His or Him unless the antecedent is obviously male by:

a) using plural nouns

traditional: The lawyer uses his brief to guide him.

Suggestion: The Lawyers use their briefs to guide them.

b) deleting he, his and him altogether, rewording if necessary

Traditional: The architect uses blueprint to guide him.

Suggestion: The architect uses a blueprint as a guide.

c) substituting articles (a, an, the) for his; using who instead of he

Traditional: The writer should know his readers well.

Suggestion: The writer should know the readers well.

d) using one, we or you

Traditional: As one grows older, he becomes more reflective.

Suggestion: As one grows older, one becomes more reflective.

e) using the passive voice

Traditional: The manager must submit his proposal today.

Suggestion: The proposal must be suggested by the manager today.

2. Eliminate the generic use of Man, instead, use People, Person(s), Human(s), Human being(s), Humankind, Humanity, The Human race.

Traditional: ordinary man, mankind, the brotherhood of man

Suggestion: ordinary people, humanity, the human family

3. Eliminate sexism in symbolic representations of gender in words, sentences, and text by:

a) Taking the context of the word, analyzing its meaning, and eliminating sexism in the concept

Traditional: feeling of brotherhood, feelings of fraternity

Suggestion: feelings of kinship, solidarity

Traditional: the founding fathers

Suggestion: the founders, the founding leaders

Traditional: the father of relativity theory

Suggestion: the founder of relativity theory

4. Eliminate Sexual stereotyping of roles by:

a) using the same term for both genders when it comes to profession or employment

Traditional: salesman, stewardess

Suggestion: sales agent, flight attendant

b) using gender fair in lexical terms

Traditional: sportsmanship

Suggestion: highest ideals of fair play

c) treating men and women in parallel manner

Traditional: I now pronounce you man and wife

Suggestion: I now pronounce you husband and wife

d) avoiding language that reinforce stereotyping images

Traditional: a man’s job, the director’s girl Friday

Suggestion: a big job, the director’s assistant

e) avoiding language that catches attention to the sex role of men and women

Traditional: working mothers, spinsters o old maids

Suggestion: wage-earning mothers, unmarried women

Traditional: busboys, chauvinist pigs

Suggestion: waiter’s assistants, male chauvinists

5. Eliminate sexism when addressing persons formally by:

a) using Ms. instead of Mrs.

Traditional: Mrs. Smith

Suggestion: Ms. Smith

b) using married woman’s first names instead of her husband’s

Traditional: Mrs. John Smith

Suggestion: Ms. Karen Holmes-Smith

c) using the title of the job or group in letters to unknown persons

Traditional: Dear Sir

Suggestion: Dear Editor, Dear Credit Manager, Dear Colleague

Dangling Modifiers

26 March 2007

Modifiers

Every part of the sentence should be so placed that its relation to the rest of the sentence is clear and unmistakable. Modifiers should be placed as close as possible to the words they modify. In shifting the position o placement of modifiers, meaning may change, as in the example given in the previous post.

Things to remember:

1. One-word modifiers are used as adjectives and are placed before the nouns they modify.

eg.        Mr. Rogers is the first speaker in the occasion yesterday.

Dick met Arvin walking at the hospital’s corridor .

After eating lunch , Christine slept for two hours.

2. One-word adverb modifiers particularly those of time, place and manner can be placed anywhere in the sentence. They may be placed at the beginning, in the middle or end of the sentence as the meaning allows.

Sometimes, we have to be reminded to say “thank you.”

We sometimes have to be reminded to say “thank you.”

We have to be reminded to say “thank you” sometimes.

a) Adverbs of frequency such as already, ever, never, seldom, occasionally, frequently, still, and always are generally placed before     the verb or between auxiliary and main verb. However if the main verb is a form of the verb be (is, are, was, were) the adverb comes after the verb.

eg.         Our neighbor frequently travels. (before the verb)

Roger has already been to Canada. (between the auxiliary and the main verb)

Rey is never late to meeting called by the General Manager. (after the verb be)

b) Adverbs of degree and intensity such as quite, too, very and extremely are placed before the adjectives or adverbs they modify.

eg.         Edward is extremely interested in the project.

He will be very willing to contribute to it.

3. A phrase or elliptical clause modifier is said to dangle when it does not modify the word which is common sense tells it should, or when it modifies no word in the sentence.

eg.             At thee years , the father taught his son how to draw.

Should be: At three years , the son was taught by his father how to draw.

or             When the son was four year old, the father taught him how to draw.

Modifier makes the idea vivid

5 January 2007

We are making sure that our sentences express the right view we are trying to point out. By using descriptive words, it makes the idea vivid for the reader. But most of the time we are not aware about the placement of the modifier, even professionals (not all) commit this mistake. Thus the need to understand the rules of modifiers should be taken seriously.

In the ESL world I’ve learned that when you express your thoughts by way of speaking and you commit mistake(s) is not a big deal (speaking the second language), but when you express your thoughts by way of writing and you commit the same mistake, this is considered a mortal sin (under ESL only).

Why?

Under speaking it is forgivable because it is obvious that you can not undo anymore the damage, but of course you can say it again in a better and more appropriate manner. While under writing it is a mortal sin because you have all the time to review and rewrite your sentences and yet you still commit mistake, do you think this is a simple o normal offense? Of course not. Therefore we have to be careful in writing especially if there are lots of modifiers needed to make the idea vivid.

Let us analyze this sentence:

“ The boy was lost in a cowboy suit yesterday at the plaza.”

At first glance you might say the sentence is correct. Also, if we listen about it being spoken, it is correct. Is it correct?

Be aware where you put your modifiers.. I’ll be posting more topics about dangling modifiers.

My students (3rd yr high school) reacted vehemently about this sentence. I laughed too. And you know what happened next? They become motivated, their eagerness to learn more about the modifiers grew more intense.

Later on, they’d learn that “in a cowboy suit” is a modifier modifying the “boy” as the subject. Thus the sentence goes like this:

“The boy in a cowboy suit was lost yesterday”

I’ll be posting more topics about dangling modifiers for you to express your ideas better.

Primer on Insurance

20 December 2006

Many of as avail an insurance because we are convinced by a neighbor or a friend. Due to some incident experienced by some of our friends and because they were insured, they share some of the valuable part where insurances really played a vital role. This is only one of the reasons why some of us avail insurance. But the core of insurance should be known to everybody, not coming from a friend or a neighbor, but coming from different side of point of view is also a good start.

INSURANCE is a method of protecting against future loss. Through insurance, the risk of such loss is transferred to an insurance company or other insuring organization. In many forms, it is used to handle a wide range of financial risks. Individuals and families, groups of employees, self-employed persons, and business firms both large and small buy insurance.

Why do people engage in the business of insurance and why do people buy insurance?

Businessman thinks that it is wise idea to invest their money in an insurance business. In a business oriented mind, they think that they can generate more income through the premiums paid by the insured. However, in a service oriented mind, they also think that they can help those who worry about their life, health and properties whether real or personal. At any rate, the two mentioned purpose can be achieved simultaneously in an insurance business.

How insurance business works?

Suppose 100 people buy 100 brand new cars. Thinking that at any time it could be stolen or destroyed in a collision, they decided to insure them for their protection. According to past statistics, an average of 1 out of 100 cars insured is stolen or destroyed each year. By charging for example $300 each of the 100 cars, the company will accumulate $30,000, that amount will be enough to pay for the expected $15,000 loss. The $15,000 is enough to cover the company’s operating expenses, including sales commissions, salaries, rent and other miscellaneous expenses for the operation of the business.

In actual operation, the owner of the car pays the premium indicated in the policy. In turn, the insurer pays the insured for the damage to his automobile resulting from car accidents. It also covers lawsuits arising from the said accident. Likewise, auto insurance can help pay the medical bills of those injured by the accidents. The same procedure is observed in health insurance. The policy holder pays the premium and in turn the insurer pays the insured the costs of his medical treatment in case of illness. The insurer also replace some of the income lost while the worker is disabled by accident or illness.

For more info: Email at walterdcvalerio@yahoo.com

GLOBALIZATION

3 December 2006

GLOBALIZATION

The world we are into is continuously changing. Some changes were easily adopted, like the ever-changing fads and fashion of dresses. We noticed that in the later years of 1980s, the long pants (denim) for teenager was stretchable, as they called it. But during 1990s, six pocket denims were introduced, and then came the straight cut. And today, the waistline cut of denim pant is the most popular, even famous celebrities like Britney Spears to some teenager, she introduced the waistline cut of denim pants for the ladies.

Another example of change that had occurred just recently was the innovation of the model of cellular phones. On the first years cell phones were introduced, only those individuals with businesses were the one using it. There was an advertisement about cell phones; it was about a two txt-mate. This two txt-mate were both deaf-mute, but through the use of this sophisticated communication gadget the two had the chance to communicate with each other in behalf of their disabilities. But before this, the first model of cell phones if you still remember, it was big and bulky in the pocket, and it doesn’t have text messaging. But today, what happened to cellular phones? After only a few years, it became highly sophisticated with its model, and today, its not only those with businesses are the one using it. In the Philippines, we became the number 1 texting country worldwide. It only proves that we adapted these changes. In fact, even a below minimum wage earner person has a cell phone. Just like personal computers (PC). In this generation of robotics, personal computers are no longer for business establishments, like televisions, computers are now considered necessity.

The ironic part, there are changes that we, as ordinary persons took it for granted. Just like what had happened in the world of a factory worker. Especially those workers working in a manufacturing industry engaged in the world market. We tend to ignore what is happening in the world market because our objective focuses only on personal satisfaction. Also, the world market is too far from us to get affected, and we tend to ignore it.

Let us try to look and analyze this diagram:

Based on the diagram, what do you think is the objective of the worker? How does the worker achieve this objective? What are the details of activities to achieve the objective? And, how broad is the range of the objective?

THE WORKER

According to the 6,268 attendees that had been questioned about their objective why they need to work, 99 percent answered; “they need to work to earn a living and bridge the gap of their growing financial capability.” The worker should get a job to earn a living. In addition, as they work, they should be paid accordingly.

Let us try to look on the idea closer, a student’s objective is to finish his/her studies. To achieve this, he/she should study hard, and the details of studying hard are: (1) should be always present in class, (2) participate in the class discussions and group works, and (3) do the homework, projects and other requirement for the course. The range of the objective of the student focuses merely on the course.

On the other hand, to achieve the worker’s objective he/she should: (1) follow the company rules and regulations (CRR). Every worker follows the CRR. The range of objective focuses only on the worker’s personal satisfaction. He/she gives only a bit of his thought on the company/factory where he/she gets the source of living.

Let’s try to imagine this analogous situation. There is a lake in a nearby village near a mountain where different species of fish abound. This lake produces enough fish for the villagers. As time passes by, the village grew doubling its population. The lake that had been producing fish for every table became source of recreation and playing grounds for the youngsters.

During the early stage of civilization, the father was the one responsible for the food of his family. The head of the family as breadwinners noticed that they were catching lesser and lesser fish from the lake. They became aware of the help the lake was extending to them. And so, an assembly was called, every member of the village young and old were required to attend. The leader discussed some problems, as earlier reported to him, on how to preserved the lake so as to produce again abundant fish for the increasing population. Policies, rules and regulations and some precautionary measures were introduced. The leader emphasized the importance of the lake as source of living. It was then agreed upon that these rules and regulations should be strictly observed, that who ever violates would be punished, and be exiled from the village if the degree of destruction created is severe. For just a short time, the lake was revived. But due to unavoidable circumstances, the villagers continue to cut trees from the mountain forest for their fuel, shelter or just to clean the land for their agricultural crops. The trees were no longer enough to hold the watershed, and the mountain was almost denuded. What do you think will occur if the mountains will be denuded? For just a few years, the lake that had been supplying fish for the villagers was gone.

Let us apply this scenario to the present situation. On the diagram, the workers source of living is the company. Every worker is required to follow the rules and regulations implemented by the company. But the behavior extended by the workers on how to follow the CRR differs from each other. On the part of he worker, they are following these CRR because it requires them to do so, so as to meet the quota. Not to mention that their minds are set that as they work they should be paid accordingly. And majority of the workers are not aware that a single mistake could ruin the entire production, that the only way to avoid such mistakes is for them to work harmoniously.

The Manufacturing Industry

Who owns these manufacturing industries?

The investors, capitalist or businessmen, or corporations who was then captivated by the strategic location of the country and the promising skills and characteristics a Filipino worker portrays. These investors came here in the Philippines to put up business. And they intend to make this business grow and earn profit. One of the most important means for them to gain profit is to have brand new or well-conditioned machinery (sewing machine) and a productive and efficient manpower. However, let as say the machine and the operator have been working for a few years now, there are possibilities that the operator will get bored on the task, likewise the machines malfunction and no longer producing well and good product. The management will not let the production be hampered by such conditions. They will study and make counter-measures for the production to flow smoothly, or otherwise the effects could intolerable.

On the part of the machine, if it could no longer produce quality products, the management will repair the part of which it is defective, yet after repair and still defective, the last option to be taken by the management is to replace that particular machine. On the other hand, if the person operating the machine is no longer productive, the management looks for remedy to make these workers become efficient and productive again. By letting these workers attend training /retraining, lecture or seminar/workshop, he/she will be reconditioned and motivated. But after these reconditioning and still inefficient and unproductive, the management, just like what they did with the defective machines, they will replace the entire manpower with a new set.

The focus of the manufacturer is to meet the buyer’s demand for them to gain and live. Since the products being manufactured are to be sent in the world market, they will then formulate strategies to comply and go along with the trends of globalization and business competition. Today, the competition falls no longer within the country but the country itself, they are competing with each other.

Due to population explosion, every country including the Philippines becomes excessive of its manpower. Thus, the government invites foreign investors. But other countries have also available manpower that offers low labor cost comparing to the Philippines. Labor cost is one of the biggest problems the manufacturer is to undertake - the cost of production to be spent because in it lies whether they will gain or not.

And when it grows, both the investor and the worker will benefit. But if it doesn’t grow, who do you think will be severely affected?

The World Market

Where do you think the product being produced in the factory came from?

If a product or materials is being channeled from outside the country, the term is called world market. The persons or corporations from the world market are the one making orders to the manufacturing industries. And before orders are made, both the manufacturer and buyer (world market) set an agreement. This agreement will bind both parties for a period of time depending on the terms that had been agreed upon.

Let us again view the diagram and visualize this situation. The world market (business/corporation) will contact the manufacturer to produce a product, which the manufacturer will then give instruction to the workers to study and work on this specific product. After doing so, the workers will report time to time on the progress of the product. These products have timetable, and it should be done before deadline. The earlier the product is finished the better.

The demand of the buyer or the world market, sad to say, but a large number of the manpower in the production line doesn’t give a bit of enthusiasm about this situation.

The world marker is inevitable for the labor sector. It is the depot where we are getting our source of living. Everybody should learn and understand what is going on around in this manufacturing world. Ignorance has proven to be one factor that blinds us on the real essence of growth. Do we have a choice?

“Together we stand, divided we fall,” this well known quotation will help us to compete in the world market. Education is the key to success. By way of attending seminars/workshops, retraining and lecture, every worker will have the chance to be educated about the situations, thus implant in the mind that efficiency and productivity is the key component to become globally competitive.

HID

3 December 2006

By Erick Cortez

Sometimes word cannot explain

Even gestures faked

Clean but rough,

Clear yet tricky.

DISGUISE

3 December 2006

By Erik Cortez

How can we answer the riddle if we are clueless in this life? How can we face the world if our root was shallow? How can we overcome life without a rope? Can we ever beat ourselves? Can we? In a one woody place, there was a young tree standing and wondering if he can survive the storm coming through, he cried as he knew that he cannot endure such a thing like storm, he knew that storm can break his branches, can scatter all his leaves and maybe put him laid on the ground. He cried for this trial more than he could do, as his tears falling to the ground he notices the small ants, he watched as the ants carry there foods. They are helping each other, as they work with there colonies extending their mighty strength. Then he said to himself, I want to be an ant, I want to be as strong as they carry their future. One morning as he woke up, he notice the birds playing around and jumping over his branches as they sing, then the birds fly to hunt some of their foods. He smiled and said to himself, I want to be a bird flying to their very dreams that even the wind couldn’t resist as they fly. They only dance with the wind of trials and pursuing as they reach their goals. As he watched the birds flew, he noticed the dark clouds seems to carry a heavy rain that could destruct all things that living, then again he said to himself, I wish I am you, for I can carry such a heavy rain to water every forest and of every tree, to nourish all the dry lands and to ease thirst, but not to destruct the living. Then the wind started to get wild, it seems the storm has come, the rain is bursting that every little drops of rain seems to pierce you enough to make you cry, his leaves scatter and his branches break as he knew from the very start, he couldn’t survive the storm. His trunk laid into the ground and he knew that later he will die. As the morning comes after the storm, he find himself laying on the ground, he cried and said to himself, I was one who doesn’t believe in my own strength, that’s why I can’t dig deeper my roots under the ground. All I can do now is to wait until someone finds me, to cut my trunk and burn into the furnace or maybe cut in halves to be a timber. One morning as the tree laid to the ground, he noticed the tiny little green leaves on his trunks, again his tears falls to the ground, truly that God gives us hope to stand up again, to learn every lesson that he gave, to be contented, to call upon Him and to thank for every littlest thing that we have. Sooner I stand again and have fruits to share, and to scatter my seed to every people to know the lessons God teaches me….

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