8 Reading

Before You Read

Complete these pre-reading activities to help you recognize different styles of instructions and understand them better.

Direct and Indirect Ways of Getting People to Act

There is always more than one way to direct, or instruct, other people to take action. By our tone of voice, choice of verbs, and how few or how many words we say, we may sound demanding. People may think we are too direct. If we are too indirect, people may think we are only making a suggestion and that they don’t really need to do anything.

Fill in the boxes with sentences or questions to give the same instructions in different styles. The first one is done as an example.

Vocabulary: Synonyms

There is often more than one way to say the same thing in English. Words with different spellings and sounds but with the same or similar definitions are called synonyms.

Here’s an example. In the chapter video, Claire says to Ivan, “Could you hang on a second?” Ivan understands that “to hang on” means “to wait.” “Hang on” is more informal than “wait.” “Hang on” and “wait” are synonyms.

Choose ALL the words or phrases on the right that are synonyms for the word on the left.

Predictions

You are going to read an article in the local newspaper, the Maskwa Times. The title of the article is “New Event at the Folk Festival Looks for New Musical Talent.”

Think about the characters from Chapter 1 and from the video for Chapter 2. Which characters have information and opinions about the festival?

If you were the newspaper reporter, who would you interview?

Choose the people who you think could talk could talk about this topic:

What questions would you ask if you were a reporter?

To prepare for an interview, write five to ten questions.

Examples: “Roshan, what style of music are young adults like you really into?”

“Ivan, what would attract seniors to a music festival?”

Compare your questions with those of another “reporter.”

Reading 1

Read an article from the local newspaper.

After You Read

Comprehension

Strategy 1: Scanning

Let your eyes pass quickly over each line in the Maskwa Times article to find the numbers and names on the left in the table below.

Match the names and numbers on the left with the descriptions on the right.

Strategy 2: Recognizing Meaning

Choose all the correct answers.

1. Joe Nolan thinks that

a) winning the top prize would help his career as a musician

b) he will win the top prize

c) the top prize is the most important part of the contest

d) folk music appeals to the younger generation

2. Emerging folk musicians

a) make a lot of money

b) are not established

c) sometimes work a couple of jobs

d) want people to visit the festival’s SpaceBook page

Strategy 3: Summarizing

Choose the sentence that best sums up, or restates the main idea of, the following paragraphs.

1. The top prize in the contest is $5,000. “Oh, that would be huge,” said Joe Nolan. Nolan is a Maskwa County musician who is playing at the folk fest for the first time. He hopes to take home the top prize. “Most new musicians don’t make much money. Sometimes we work two jobs and don’t have much time to write music or play. The prize will help with touring, recording, or paying rent.”

But the contest is not just about money. “Musicians work really hard writing songs,” said Nolan. “It’s important to be noticed by an important music festival like this one.”

a) Musicians work really hard writing songs, so they should make a lot of money.

b) It’s common for new musicians to work two jobs to pay for touring, recording, and their other expenses.

c) New musicians really struggle, so winning the contest would help them financially and with getting noticed.

2. Not everyone is receiving the changes well. Maskwa County farmer Ivan Broz says that “the festival doesn’t care about the community.” Doucette stated that the changes are supposed to help the community. “We’re having the festival at a totally new location,” he said. “And there are some growing pains as we try to fit in. It is a good idea for folks to visit the festival’s SpaceBook page to get important news and updates.”

a) There are disagreements about whether the folk festival is causing positive or negative changes to the community.

b) The folk festival is causing some negative changes to Maskwa County that the local people are unhappy about.

c) Local people can visit the festival’s SpaceBook page to get information about the changes to the community.

Vocabulary

Strategy 1: Reinforcement of Words and Definitions Through Use in Context

Fill in each blank with the correct word from the list.

1. The musicians who enter the contest must not be ___________ , or, in other words, not yet famous or not making a lot of money from their music.
2. Some of the changes to the community and the festival include putting up new electrical poles and _____________ alcohol.
3. The festival is experiencing ___________ because it is being held in a new location and some changes have to be made.
4. If a band is not yet well known, that means it is an ___________ band.

Reading 2

Read the threads on the Maskwa Folk Music Festival SpaceBook page.

After You Read

Comprehension

Strategy 1: Locating Indirect Instructions

Re-read the three posts by the Maskwa Folk Music Festival.

Find four phrases with indirect instructions that the festival wants readers to follow.

Choose the actions readers should do

Strategy 2: Recognizing Phrases

Read the two posts by Steven Green below.

Find five phrases that he uses to soften his suggestions.

Choose expressions that sound easy-going rather than demanding.

Vocabulary

Strategy 3: Using Context to Determine the Meaning of Expressions

1. The word JUST has several meanings. In each sentence, indicate the word that could be replaced by JUST.

a) Gilles was recently interviewed by a reporter.

b) Mina could only sell cupcakes that are individually wrapped.

c) Most people simply wouldn’t pay $6 for one cupcake.

d) To be fair, all food sellers have to follow the same rules.

2. Verbs, or action words, such as KEEP may combine with a preposition to make a phrase. The meaning of the new phrasal verb is not the same as the verb alone. Fill in the blank after the verb KEEP in each sentence with one of the following prepositions:

IN ON TO UP

a) When many people post on SpaceBook, Gilles works hard to keep _______ with answering all the suggestions and requests.

b) Some private people keep _______ themselves and don’t post suggestions or questions on SpaceBook.

c) Gilles has many rules to remember, or keep _________ mind, as he plans the festival.

d) Steven keeps _____________ suggesting ways to protect the environment. He cares a lot about the Earth.

Discussion

In paragraph 8 of the Maskwa Times article, there are quotes from two speakers. Mr. Broz is negative, or critical of, the festival. The reporter asked Gilles Doucette to respond to that criticism.

NOTICE strong and soft words and expressions.

FIND examples of word choices that sound direct or indirect.

DISCUSS why the two men used different communication styles.

COMPARE how many words the reporter quoted from each man.

IDENTIFY, in the longer quotation,

• recognition of a conflict
• context or a reason for the conflict
• re-direction away from criticism and toward positive action.

DISCUSS what moods or emotions might be behind such different ways of speaking.

THINK about your relationships outside English class.

TALK about people who give you instructions. How do you feel when people use a direct style with you? Why? How do you think or feel about (perceive) people who only use a direct style? How do you think or feel about (perceive) people who only use an indirect style?

TALK about your own style when you respond to people who make demands, requests, or suggestions of things you cannot or don’t want to do. Are you short and direct or do you soften and lengthen indirect replies? How do you want people to think or feel about (perceive) you?

Extension Activity

Print another Language Observer Log. Continue listening and watching how people in your community
use words and expressions that you are learning.

Here is a sample of a different style of log, a Language User Log. Abdi wanted to use the expression “hang on” correctly when speaking or writing. First, he prepared to speak by planning what kind of conversation might include “hang on.” He thought about who he could say it to and how he would use it. After trying the expression in a real conversation in his community, Abdi reflected on, or analyzed, whether he had used “hang on” correctly.

Keeping a Language User Log helps you to try out words and expressions from this chapter in your daily life.

1.  Print a copy of the Language User Log.
2. Complete it.
3. Bring it to class later to share your experience.

Reading Progress Check

Read the questions and answers before you read the SpaceBook posts from Janet and the festival organizers.

This is a strategy to help you locate the answers more easily.

After you read the posts, answer the questions.

1. Choose the best answer. What is the purpose of Janet Ford’s message?

a) She’s making a request.

b) She’s giving instructions.

c) She’s making demands.

d) She’s offering a suggestion.

2. Choose the correct answer. The Maskwa Folk Music Festival’s response to Janet Ford’s request is

a) yes

b) no

c) maybe

d) unsure

3. Choose all that are correct. The Maskwa Folk Music Festival’s response is

a) direct

b) indirect

c) soft

d) strong

4. Choose all that are true. What are some of the reasons for the Maskwa Folk Music Festival’s response?

a) Janet Ford doesn’t live in Maskwa County.

b) People don’t want to elect Janet Ford.

c) Having a politician at the festival might upset people.

d) The festival doesn’t want to appear to support a political party.

e) Politics aren’t in line with the festival’s goals.

f) Janet Ford isn’t folksy.

5. The Maskwa Folk Music Festival doesn’t want Janet Ford to come to the festival.

__ True

__ False