WEEK 1: EXERCISE USING ON-LINE DICTIONARY

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WEEK 1 EXERCISEUSING ON-LINE DICTIONARY

• Fundamental English Writing Skills

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USING THE DICTIONARY

• When you write in English, it is important to use
  correct grammar and accurate vocabulary.
• One way to improve your grammar and vocabulary
  abilities is to use dictionary frequently.
• You are advised to use English-English dictionary
  as much as you can.

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USING ENGLISH-ENGLISH DICTIONARY

• A Chinese-English or English-Chinese dictionary
  is useful when you are not sure about the
  definition.
• But if you use bilingual dictionaries too often,
  you may develop the habit of translating.
• An English-English dictionary can help you learn
  or write English more effectively because it
  helps you think and express in English naturally.

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USING ON-LINE DICTIONARY

• Since now you are taking an on-line composition
  course, now lets try to use an on-line
  dictionary.
• When you write and type with your computer, you
  may find an on-line dictionary very useful.
• But remember, if you have a paper-back
  English-English dictionary, that is also very
  good for you.

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ONE LOOK

• Please try this website
• http//www.onelook.com/
• It is one of the most powerful on-line
  dictionaries.
• It actually links to many on-line dictionaries.
• You can choose what you like and what need.
• Now, please use this ONE LOOK on-line dictionary
  to look up the following words.

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WHAT DO THEY MEAN?Do you know all these words?

• Glimpse
• Collect
• Sample
• Accompany
• Astronaut
• Tiny
• Engulf
• Startling
• Sensation
• Encompassing
• Aura

• Universal
• Boundary
• Dissolve
• Companion
• Planet
• Luminous
• Consciousness
• Absolute
• Glittering
• Cosmos
• Conscious

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PRE-READING

• We are going to read a short article. Before you
  read it, try to answer the questions below.
• What do you think about the Earth?
• Are you interested in space travel?
• Can you imagine how Earth looks like if you see
  it from outer space?

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READING- A GLIMPSE OF COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESSBY
DEBORAH WILLOUGHBY /YOGA DECEMBER 2006

• Edgar Mitchell was on his way home. Tow days
  before he had been on the moon collecting rock
  sample, and now he was speeding through space
  accompanied by two other astronauts. Gazing at
  Earth and the stars through the tiny window of
  Apollo 14, he was engulfed by a new and startling
  sensation an all-encompassing aura of universal
  connectedness. All sense of boundaries
  dissolved, and he saw that he, his companions,
  and everyone and everything on the shining planet
  in the window were held in a luminous web of
  consciousness. What is more, he knew with
  absolute certainty that, as he put it later, the
  glittering cosmos itself was in some way
  conscious.

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AFTER READING

• Do you think it is difficult to write a short
  article like this?
• Why does the author say the glittering cosmos
  itself was in some way conscious? What is your
  interpretation?
• Do you agree with him?
• Can you write a short paragraph about what you
  saw and how you felt in one of your recent
  trips?

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REFLECTION

• A Glimpse of Cosmic Consciousness is a
  one-paragraph article.
• It is short but beautiful and meaningful.
• It shows us that a good article is not decided by
  its length but its words and the writers ideas.
• During this semester you will learn how to write
  articles in a similar length.
• We hope you will be able to write beautiful and
  meaning content, too!
• For this, you will need to read extensively or
  observe your world carefully from now on!

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LEARNING POINTS

• Do you know how to use the on-line dictionary?
  Can you use it efficiently?
• http//www.onelook.com/
• How many new vocabulary words you learned from
  todays exercise?
• Did you read the article? Did you understand it?
• Did you try to write a paragraph on one of your
  recent trips? (You are welcome to send your work
  to your instructor or TA for review.)
• Will you begin to observe your world carefully?

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