Homework

This week i've learned..

Grammar
A phrase is a sentence, and always has a main word, otherwise known as a head word. It also includes a modifier which puts the head word into context, e.g gives us extra info on the head word.
Pre modifier- info before the head word.
Post modifier- info after the head word.

Noun phrases have a noun as the head word. e.g the beach.
Verb phrases have a verb as the head word and the rest of the phrase is made up of auxiliary (makes tense clear)
A clause is made up of a verb phrase and some other types of phrases:
Subject, verb, object, complement, adverbial.

Nouns
A noun can be split into 2 groups, a proper or common noun. From here, the common noun is split up into concrete, abstract and collective nouns.
Abstract noun is a concept/idea that you can't see. e.g thought.
Concrete noun is a thing you can see and touch. e.g chair.
Collective noun is a group of something. e.g swarm, government.

Voices
There are 2 voices you use in English:
An active voice emphasises the person doing an action. e.g the politician issued an apology.
A passive voice is based more on the actual object. e.g an apology was issued.

Lexis/semantics
Lexis are the words you use, and semantics are the actual meanings behind them.

Denotation- This is the exact description of what a word means, the literal meaning.
Connotation- Different context of the word, deeper meaning.

Idiom- A sentence which doesn't make sense when you think about it literally, and has a deeper meaning.

Final Task

Final task- interview to my younger self, as a 16 year old.

Q- Is there anything you've regretted, and if so, any advice to your younger self?
A- I regret not being more confident, if I had the confidence, i'd be alot happier in myself, and would probably have more friends. My advice? Don't hold back, talk to new people and look after yourself, you'll be alot happier.

Q- Is there anything you wish you had not done?
A- Yeah, I wish I hadn't cut my hair, because now it will not grow!! Do not cut your hair!

Q- What would you change about your personality?
A- Well 1, I wish I was more confident as i've already stated. 2, I wish I was more motivated to succeed in more things, I don't have the motive to do it, and then I regret not doing well enough. 3, I wish I was more outgoing when it came to social events, my low confidence has stopped me from going to many places/doing things. Advice to my younger self, take every opportunity!

Q- Do you wish you were more academically successful?
A-Yeah, I wish I paid more attention in year 10 when it was all starting to get serious, I did well in my GCSE's, but I could have done alot better with more hard work.

P.s. Do not eat school dinner food in primary school, you will get food poisoning!

Phone Article

Mobile phone article - Persuasive article

I found a news article about the use of mobile phones in schools and the public. Should they be allowed in school? Are they causing more bad than good?
This article stresses how much of an annoyance mobile phones can be in public, how they're loud, obnoxious and disrespectful when it comes to using them when you're not supposed to, also how it can provoke crude profanity amongst teenagers.
However it also addresses the other side of the argument, how they can be extremely useful in times of emergency, and can potentially save lives.

The article is all serious, telling us the dangers of using mobile phones, about how they can 'brainwash' us and swiftly push us into a new age of technology. On the other hand, the article engages the reader through personal addressing, and throws you head first into a scenario which may leave you undecided of the consequences of these 'annoyances'.

The scenario in question is a rainy day, you're driving along a highway and a driver crashes into you. After you're done spinning out, you reach for your mobile phone, battling the pain of a broken leg, and a searing pain through your neck. But this phone could save your life, and someone else's. The phone could literally be the difference between life or death.
Are they still a nuisance?

Using this scenario personally addresses the reader and engages them into the article, making it seem like the article was specifically made for them, and then wanting to read on. It also gives quotes from people who now want a mobile phone because they thought of that scenario, which would leave the reader thinking; what about if they were in that situation too?

The end of the article changes your mind yet again, saying one teenager sends 345 text messages a day, quoting that "it's like a game of ping-pong, as you send one and you have no choice but to send one back" could you be hooked too?

You decide!