In Preparation for the Final

English Language Examination

2008

Student Booklet

By,
Anne Schillig
Peace Corps TEFL
MAK 11
Gostivar, Macedonia

Course Contents and Schedule of Classes

SECTION
OVERVIEW

Section 1:
JOURNALS

Section 2:
TESTTAKING
SKILLS

Section 3:
WRITING
SKILLS

Section 4:
FORMAL
ESSAYS

LESSON CONTENTS
Overview of Course and Expectations
Explanation of the Test
Journal 1: World War II is Over! Writing a story about
the picture.
Journal 2: What rules would you get rid of if you were
in charge of your school? What rules would you add? Why
would you add or get rid of these rules?
Journal 3: Pretend that you are applying for a job. Tell
me about all of your skills.
Journal 4: Many countries around the world have
proposed a smoking ban. This means that people cannot
smoke inside any public buildings (restaurants, cafes,
stores, malls, hospitals, schools, universities). To smoke
outside, they must be 7 meters from any building. Should
they have this law in Macedonia? Why or why not?
Test-Taking Skill #1: Understanding the Question,
and How to Answer it!
Test-Taking Skill #2: Speculating / Drawing a
Conclusion; Horror Story!
Test-Taking Skill #3: Main Idea, Summarizing the
Text
Writing Skill #1: Connecting Words, Linking
Sentences
Writing Skill #2: The Writing Process (Brainstorming
and Pre-writing, School Rules)
Writing Skill #3: The Writing Process (Organization
and Editing)
Writing Skill #4: Writing a Persuasive Essay
Writing Skill #5: Writing a Letter
The Persuasive Essay: Smoking Ban
The Letter: Applying to Study Abroad

Overview of the Course:

This is a six-session course. It is merely a review and extra practice
of everything that you have been learning in high school for the past few
years. In six classes, you can expect to improve your skills, particularly in
writing. You can expect to do better on the test as a result. However, I am
no miracle worker, and six classes is not enough to completely teach you
everything. That is why you have had four years with qualified English
teachers at this school.
I am prepared to work hard during these six classes. In addition, I am
always available to meet with interested students to improve their writing
and reading skills. You can send me an e-mail any time at
anneschillig19@yahoo.com. Please ONLY WRITE ME IN ENGLISH and NEVER
SEND ME SPAM OR JUNK MAIL.
I look forward to these six classes together!

Course Expectations:

1.

Come to class prepared. Always have a pen/pencil and

this notebook. I wrote this and printed it out for you;
please respect me by bringing it to class.

2.

Respect me and the others in the class. Do not talk

when I am talking, or while other students are talking. Do
not make fun of other students for making mistakes; we
all make mistakes, and you could be next!

3.

Do your work. The only way to learn how to write is to

write. The only way to learn is to learn. Work hard, do
your work, and take this opportunity to become a wiser
student!

4.

Take my time seriously. I have worked hard preparing

this for you so that you will do better at the end of the
year. Your English teacher has also worked hard. Respect
our time, and do not waste it.
Explanation of the Test

The English Matura test consists of:

1).

Several Reading Passages:

In the practice test, these consisted of:
o An incomplete interview with Celine Dion
o A biography of a scientist
o Information from a brochure that needed to be put in
order
Following the reading passages were several types of
questions:
o Multiple choice questions highlighting a word in the text
o Directions to fill in missing pieces from the text
o Directions to summarize or make a title for a text
o True-False questions relating to the text
o Questions about vocabulary
o Matching words from the text to their definitions

2).

Two Writing Passages:

In the practice test, these were:
o A letter of application to work at a summer camp in
America (80-100 words)
o A persuasive essay about your opinion on school
uniforms (120-150 words).

In the test at the end of the year, there will probably be two
topics for you to write about.
These are graded based on
o Appropriateness of Contents
o Coherence
o Grammar
o Vocabulary
o Spelling and Punctuation

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work,

and learning from failure.
- Colin Powell

Journal #1:

Tell a story about this picture. Where did the man come from?
Where did the woman come from? How did they meet? Why are
they kissing in the street, and what are the reactions of the people
near them?

[World War II Is Over! The Kiss:

New York City, 1945]

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Journal 2:

What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your
school? What rules would you add? Why would you add or get rid
of these rules?
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Journal 3:

Pretend you are applying for a job. Tell me about all of your skills.
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Journal #4:

Many countries around the world have proposed a smoking ban.

This means that people cannot smoke inside any public buildings
(restaurants, cafes, stores, malls, hospitals, schools, universities).
To smoke outside, they must be 7 meters from any building.
Should they enforce this law in Macedonia? Why or why not?
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Test-Taking Skill #1:

Understanding the Question

Many students mess up tests because they dont read the directions
carefully. In an essay
Do you answer every question or do you have choices?
Do you need to include a certain number of ideas?
How much should you write (sentences, paragraphs, pages)?
Are you supposed to include examples?
Make sure you know what these words mean:
Synonym
Antonym
Similar to
The same as
The opposite of
Assume that
All but one
Only one correct
Defend
Contrast
Prove
Summarize

None of
All of
If
More than one correct
Describe
Explain

Sample Essay Questions:

There is a job opening teaching the children of American Embassy
workers. Please describe your English language background, related
job experience, and any other skills that would help you in this job in
a letter to Embassy staff.
What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your school?
What rules would you add? Why would you add or get rid of these
rules?
Sample Multiple Choice Questions:
1).
Which song is not sung by Mariah Carey?
a).
We Belong Together
b).
Shake it Off
c).
Its Like That
d).
Goodies
2).

Put the following in order from most recent to oldest:

a).
World War II
b).
The internet is invented
c).
The first man walks on the moon
d).
The War in Iraq begins

3).

The main idea of Eminems The Way I Am is:

a).
Marshall Mathers is a bad boy.
b).
He doesnt care what people say about him or what they expect
him to be, he just is who he is.
c).
Eminem is not like NSync.
d).
People get angry about the content of his music and the media
blame
him for ruining society.

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Test-Taking Skill #2:

Speculating / Drawing a Conclusion; Horror Story!

Sometimes it is helpful to think about what is going to happen next as you
read different texts. Some questions on exams ask you to write what
would come next or put things in order or make a conclusion about a
text. This is easier when as you read you are constantly thinking about
the clues that the author writes about what is going to happen next.
Basic, Generic Horror Movie Beginning
The movie begins rather darkly. A thunderstorm is pelting the house with rain
and tree branches hit the house where a young woman is alone. She is sitting by
herself in a house with no lights on except for a few candles. She is wrapped up in a
blanket and is reading. Then, she hears a knock at the door. As she walks to the
door, she is rather spooked by the storm. The woman peers through the eye piece
in the door but sees no one. She apprehensively begins to unlock the deadbolt,
very, very slowly. She turns the doorknob slowly (her hand is shaking) and as she
does, the door creaks. She slowly opens the door, eyes wide open in fright, and
glances around frantically. Seeing no one, the woman steps outside of her house,
closing the door behind her

So, what do you think will happen next?

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The woman has just made a gigantic mistake. Anyone and everyone
in the movie theater is nervous. They know something bad is going
to happen.
Horror movie writers and directors know this and plan for this. They
give you clues that help you know to begin panicking for the main
characters.
This is what makes horror movies fun, entertaining, scary,
suspenseful, and (largely) predictable.

***When you read, you should always think about what is going to
happen next. What does the writer want you to understand? Does
he want you to be scared, or to be excited, or to think about
something? Knowing WHY a writer is writing helps you to be able
to understand. ***

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Test-Taking Skill #3:

Main Idea, Summarizing the Text

[Britney] Spears busy Friday night began in the salon of Esther Tognozzi,
who told the syndicated television gossip show Extra that she was afraid
to shave Spears head in case she was sued for ruining the singers image.
After Tognozzi protested that Spears was maybe being hormonal and
would feel differently the next day, Spears coolly grabbed the buzzer and
started buzzing her own hair off. ... I just cleaned it up when she was done
with it, she said.
Tognozzi said Spears seemed to be just there in body and not really
emotionally there, but did get a little bit teary-eyed when she realized
her mother might get upset.
The whereabouts of the hair was a mystery, although an enterprising
person in Pennsylvania was selling 10 lots of the purported locks on eBay at
$50 per lot.
MSNBC, February 19, 2007

What is this story about? (Write a summary.)

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A good title for this story might be

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What is the main idea of this story?

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BEFORE THE TEST EAT, DRINK WATER, and SLEEP!

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Writing Skill #1:

Connecting Words, Linking Sentences

When I think of my father, I think of _____1_____ at mealtimes. _____2_____,
_____3_____ always sat at the head of the family table and asked _____4_____
children a lot of questions. He asked us about _____5_____ friends and our
day at
school. He was disappointed when he heard about any difficulties or
failures in
school. _____6_____, he never got angry.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

man him only everyone

often fat
then finally
he
she we
father
all
their naughty
his
our many much valuable
in addition therefore although

however

*** Use first, second, third, then, finally, and/or in conclusion to make
points in your essays! ***
Writing Skill #2:

The Writing Process (Brainstorming and Pre-writing,

School Rules)
Your journal entry for today was about:
What rules would you get rid of if you were in charge of your
school? What rules would you add? Why would you add or
get rid of these rules?
***When you are given essay topics like this one, it is helpful to pre-write
before you
actually begin writing your essay. This way, your thoughts will make sense
and be
logical to the reader. ***

A Rule Id Like to Change:

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Writing Skill #3:

The Writing Process (Organization and Editing)

Now that you have thought about the topic of a rule youd like to remove
from
school, you can begin to think about the organization of your essay and
write it!
I.

Introduction
A.
General Statement (which rule youd like to remove):
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B.
Main Idea of Essay (quick statement of why)
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II.

Reason # 1 (that the rule should be removed):

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A.
Explanation
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Reason #2 (that the rule should be removed):

III.

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A.
Explanation
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Reason #3 (that the rule should be removed):
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A.
Explanation
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Conclusion Statement
A.
Write your main idea of the essay again:
In conclusion, ________________________________________________________
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AFTER YOU WRITE YOUR ESSAY, ALWAYS GO BACK AND REREAD WHAT YOU
WROTE TO CHECK FOR MISTAKES. EVEN FAMOUS WRITERS GO BACK TO
CORRECT THEIR MISTAKES!
Writing Skill #4:

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Writing a Persuasive Essay

(ORGANIZING SPACE)
Introduction:
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Reason # 1 and Explanation
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Reason #2 and Explanation
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Reason #3 and Explanation
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Conclusion:
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Writing Skill #5:

Writing a Letter
(organization of letter)

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To Whom It May Concern,

I am ________________________________________________________________
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My skills ____________________________________________________________
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Thank you ___________________________________________________________
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Sincerely,
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Whoever reads your essay does not know you. You can say whatever skills
you want, and they will never know!
Appropriateness
Coherence
Grammar
Vocabulary
Spelling and
Punctuation
Many countries around the world have proposed a smoking ban. This
means that people cannot smoke inside any public buildings (restaurants,

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cafes, stores, malls, hospitals, schools, universities). To smoke outside,

they must be 7 meters from any building. Should they have this law in
Macedonia? Why or why not?
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Appropriateness
Coherence
Grammar
Vocabulary
Spelling and
Punctuation
Oxford University in England has just written you a letter asking you to
consider applying for their study abroad program. To apply, you need to

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write a letter describing how your educational background, personal

experiences, and job skills will help you to succeed at their school.
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