English 1st quarter

Fables

• Short fictional stories that teach a moral or lesson

• Usually features animals with human traits (anthropomorphism)

• Simple plot with a clear message at the end

• Ends with a moral (often stated explicitly)

Aesop

• Ancient Greek storyteller (6th century BCE)

• Known as the father of fables

• His stories were part of oral tradition, passed down for centuries

James Thurber

• American author and cartoonist (1894–1961)

• Known for modern fables with satire and irony

• Combines humor and moral lessons in his writing

“The Tiger Who Would Be King” – James Thurber

Modal Verbs - verbs combined with other verbs. Auxiliary or helping verb. 

• Not followed by “to” like infinitives

• Do not change their form according to tense

• Can have more than one meaning or function

1. Modal - Ability (“Can”, “Could”, “Cannot”, “Could not”)

   • “Can” and “Could” - can show whether or not the subject is able to do something.

   • “Cannot” and “Could not” - the negative form and the subject is unable to do something.

     • Not - expressing denial, negation, refusal

2. Modal - Permission (“Can”, “Could”, “May”)

   • Can - used in informal speech

   • Could - polite and courteous request

   • May - suitable for formal and polite inquiries 

3. Modal - Obligation (“Should”, “Must”)

   • “Should” - indicates advice and suggestion

   • “Must” - indicates a personal, legal, or strict obligation. Necessary or compulsory

4. Modal - Possibility (“May”, “Might”, “Could”)

   • May - more formal than might

   • Might - more uncertain than may, still polite or cautious

   • Could - imply potential ability or capability 

5. Modal - Prohibition (“Must not”, “Cannot”)

   • Must not - state rule, law, strong prohibition, an obligation not to do it

   • Cannot - impossibility or inability to do something, not permitted because of external factors or rules

Conditionals Sentences “If Clause” - used to describe real or hypothetical situations. 

There are two clauses: “If Clause” or the dependent clause, and “Main/Result Clause” or the independent clause.

Importance of Conditionals

• Expressing Choices

• Talking About Hypotheticals

• Giving Advice or Warnings

• Creating Complex Sentences

• Improving Communication

Condition - situation or circumstance

Clause - group of words that functions as one part of speech that includes a subject and verb

Conditionals Structure - If clause to Main/Result clause

Types of Conditionals

1. Zero Conditional “Real Conditional” - refers to things that are always true

   • Formula: “If/When” (50%) > Action > Comma > Result (100%)

2. First Conditional “Future Real” - uses “if” to describe a realistic action that might lead to a future result

   • Formula: “If” > Present Simple > Comma > future with “will” 

3. Second Conditional “Unreal” - uses “if” to describe an unlikely or unreal action. The described result is also very unlikely

   • Formula: “If” > Past Simple > Comma > “Would/Could” + base form

4. Third Conditional “Past Unreal” - used to describe unreal situations in the past. Often used to express regrets about the past

   • Formula: “If” > “Had” + Past Participle of Verb > Comma > “Would, Could, Might” > “Have” + Past Participle

Communication - the process of sharing our ideas, thoughts, and feelings with another person.

• When we communicate, we speak, listen and observe

Communicative styles for various situations

1. Frozen - highly formalized and structured communication 

   • Used in prose writing, public speaking, prayers, and pledges

   • Wording is exactly the same every time it is spoken

2. Formal - using polite and professional language, following established rules of etiquette, and mantaining a certain level of distance and respect. 

   • Business, interview, and presentation

3. Consultative - seeking input and advices from others

   • Used in seller-buyer, doctor-patient conversations 

4. Casual - casual or normal situation using informal language

   • Occurs in casual conversations between friends and colleagues

   • Use elipses “…” and slag

5. Intimate - used by close family members, lovers, parents and children

   • Used “private language” that is full of code words, only known to the two.

Essay - comes from the French word “essayer” which means to try or to attempt 

• Exagium (Latin Root) - means “a weighing” or “a test” 

• An organized piece of writing that focuses on a single topic

• Organized around a general idea or thesis

4 Major Types of Essay

1. Narrative Essay - the writer tells a story about a real life situation

2. Descriptive Essay - a cousin of the narrative essay, paints a picture with words

3. Expository Essay - an informative essay of writing that presents an idea

4. Persuasion Essay - the goal is to convince the reader to accept the writer’s recommendation.

Structuring the Essay: 

• Introduction - opening paragraph of your essay, where you’ll stare your thesis

• Body - the heart of your essay, 3 to 5 Paragraph

• Conclusion - the final paragraph of your essay. You’ll sum up the main points of the body and bring your narrative to an end.

Importance of Essay:

• To clarify communication essay

• To inform or explain

• To persuade or present an argument

• To reflect and derive meaning

• To strengthen critical thinking

• To enhance writing