Section 3 Writing

An appraisal of a book or a film.

Exercise 1 Here are two appraisals of a book. Read them carefully. Work in groups. Compare their organization, and the way they present points.

I I once read a book called 'The Collector'. It's about a man who kidnaps a girl, and she eventually dies. It's quite a horrible story, but I liked it. Ferdinand Clegg is very inhibited with women, he doesn't know how to talk to them, so he kidnaps a girl he's seen in the town. He keeps her in a cottage and takes her photograph. In the end she dies but he didn't kill her. It was written by John Fowles. I liked it very much.

II 'The Collector' is a novel written by John Fowles. It was first published in 1963, and it is a sort of horror story. It is one of the most sinister books I have ever read. It holds your attention from the start and becomes more shocking as it progresses. 'The Collector' is a good title. The 'hero', Ferdinand Clegg, collects butterflies, but he adds to his collection the girl of his dreams, Miranda, who is an art student. We learn enough about his background, an orphan brought up by his aunt and uncle, to have some understanding of his behaviour. He is a very lonely character and painfully shy, especially with women. We see him following Miranda from a distance, fascinated by her every move. There is a turning point when he wins some money, and his plans become a reality. He buys a remote country cottage, captures Miranda and keeps her there just to look at and admire. All he wants of her is to take her photograph. She is his latest and most precious 'butterfly'. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the portrayal of Miranda, as she tries to handle the bizarre situation she finds herself in. Her behaviour goes to extremes - from trying to understand Ferdinand and be his friend to violence and trying to escape. In the end she falls ill and dies, while he does nothing to help. The reader feels all Miranda's hopes and fears until the final dreadful outcome. This is a book which, once you have started, is impossible to put down.

Exercise 2 Divide the second version into paragraphs. What is the purpose of each paragraph?

Exercise 3 Analyse what tense is used to tell the story and describe the characters? Why, do you think?

Exercise 4 Underline any words or expressions which you think are useful to describe a book or film.

Exercise 5 Write down an appraisal (or review) of an article, a book, a film, etc. (you may choose to your liking) using the patterns given below. Enlarge this list with your own structures.

The book under review is headlined …

The title strikes as unusual.

The title restores the main idea.

The title intrigues the reader.

The key words of the the text are …

It is written by … whose real name is …

The author focuses on/discusses/informs (tells) the readers about/points out/pays attention to/draws attention/develops the idea of/touches the problems of …

The author starts by telling …

The author begins with general information about …

The author continues …

The idea is developed …

The author perfectly described the problems of … and (vividly) showed…

Reading this text we noticed (found out) that…

At the end of the text (book) …

I found this book interesting and informative.

This book is rather easy to read.

I was intrigued by the book.

The language of the book is …

This article is popular, scientific, etc.

Exercise 6 Read the text without a dictionary. Sum it up in two sentences. Learn the meaning of the words given below:

subject matter – зміст;

final judgement – остаточне рішення.

The review of the books for the Press, and for the newer media of the radio and television, has a number of functions to perform. The relative importance of these functions will always remain a matter of debate on which there can, perhaps, be no final judgement.

We suggest that the main function of the reviewer is to keep the reading public informed about the new book; he provides, in other words, an information service. He tells his readers something about the subject matter of those books which he thinks important enough to find a place in his column.

Exercise 7 Be ready to retell the current events (news). You may use some analysis. You may write down your own report on the burning issues which bother you and your groupmates.

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Section 2 Reading materials	\|	Section 4 Listening comprehension

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