Showing your Position in a Text
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The document discusses how language choices, including pronouns, adverbs, verbs, and adjectives, can express the writer's position, feelings, and attitudes in formal writing. It explains the use of various linguistic elements to indicate subjectivity and personal opinions while addressing topics like home education versus schooling. Additionally, it highlights the importance of careful selection of words and structures to convey tone and intent in written communication.
Showing your Position in a Text
- 1. S howing Y our P osition in a T ext
- 2. S howing Y our P osition in a T ext W e can choose language to indicate our feelings, attitudes, judgments and beliefs. W e can choose from certain pronouns , adverbs , verbs and adjectives to show our position on a certain subject.
- 3. P ronouns I n formal writing, first person pronouns (e.g. I , you , we ) are not very common, but we can use them to:
- 4. P ronouns G ive our opinion of the topic being discussed with I or we : I would argue that all children should attend school.
- 5. P ronouns S how we are part of the group and identify with the reader, usually with we or us . Is it better for us to educate our children at home rather than send them to school? Is it better for parents to educate children at home rather than send them to school? T he use of us in the first sentence changes the text from an objective comment to a more subjective one.
- 6. A dverbs T o show our attitude, feelings or assessment of something we can use S ingles adverbs A dverbial phrases A dverbial phrases of opinion
- 7. A dverbs S ingle adverbs actually, frankly, fortunately, unfortunately, personally, luckily, interestingly, naturally, surprisingly Frankly , I’d be totally bored staying at home all day. But, unfortunately , schools do seem to be more overcrowded and less well-funded these days.
- 8. A dverbs A dverbial phrases that express the writer’s view of a generalization broadly speaking, by and large, in general, overall, on the whole, to a great extent But in general , I don’t think it is a good idea.
- 9. A dverbs A dverbial phrases of opinion in my/our view, in my opinion In my opinion that’s an advantage.
- 10. A dverbs T o soften the tone of an argument we can use adverbs of possibility certainly, definitely, maybe, perhaps, possibly, presumably, probably Well, that’s certainly the way my friend felt. Perhaps she had enough of them as a child. So, maybe that’s the result of her education experience.
- 11. A dverbs T o show that the information has come from somewhere/someone else, we can use adverbial phrases that report the views of other people. apparently, according to (somebody), evidently According to my friend they did fun things like going out for walks. Apparently there is a network of parents who teach at home. (someone else has told me this)
- 12. A dverbs P osition of adverbs C omment adverbs often come at the beginning or the end of a clause. according to, fortunately, interestingly, luckily, surprisingly, unfortunately Interestingly , she doesn’t have a great relationship with her parents these days. She doesn’t have a great relationship with her parents these days, interestingly .
- 13. A dverbs P osition of adverbs M any adverbs can also come before the main verb or after be . It is probably best. He would possibly feel quite differently. Note: Definitely is not usually used at the beginning of a clause. I am definitely coming to the party. ( not Definitely I am coming to the party. )
- 14. V erbs T o show our position or feelings we can use verbs such as think, suppose, believe, feel, guess, see. I think that is a good point. I can see that being educated at home would be good for some children. (= I can understand)
- 15. V erbs W hen the subject is I , it is sometimes preceded by personally . Personally, I feel the teachers did a really good job.
- 16. V erbs T o show that we are expressing our ideas rather than facts or to sound more cautious we can use modal verbs of possibility (e.g. may, might, could, must, can ) and verbs like seem or appear . I think he must look back at his schooldays and feel really bad.
- 17. A djectives W e can use adjectives T o show our feelings (e.g. glad, delighted, overwhelmed ). Anyway, I’m glad that my parents didn’t educate me at home. W ith it + be + adjective + that to show possibility and opinion. (e.g. clear, possible,probable, likely ) Yes, but it is likely that those people will be very similar.
- 18. Q uestions?
- 19. This presentation was based on: Grammar for IELTS By Dianna Hopkins with Pauline Cullen