Finally, a new blog post! https://wordpress.com/post/megmoenglish.com/973
Megan Moriarty
For UP and IGSPP students at UCI
For the next several weeks, we are going to focus on the SAT essay in this blog. Although the essay is an optional part of the test, many colleges and universities request that students submit an essay score as part of the admission process. In addition, certain skill areas in the essay can be applied to the Reading and Language and Writing portions of the exam, so learning how to build a strong essay can help you with the entire verbal section of the test. [ 1,238 more word ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2017/01/22/beginning-with-your-best
Beginning with Your Best For the next several weeks, we are going to focus on the SAT essay in this blog. Although the essay is an optional part of the test, many colleges and universities request that students submit an …
For non-native students of English, analyzing the sentences in the verbal section of the SAT can be quite challenging. To help with this, I suggest a process I call "sentence mapping". Sentence mapping helps a reader to identify the essential parts of a sentence in order to determine the basic ideas and the relationship of ideas to one another. For today, I am going to give a simplified version of sentence mapping. [ 1191 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/07/17/sentence-mapping
Sentence Mapping For non-native students of English, analyzing the sentences in the verbal section of the SAT can be quite challenging. To help with this, I suggest a process I call “sentence mapping”.…
Today, I would like to once again talk about the reading section of the SAT. As mentioned in a previous post, the new SAT has five passages* with a total of 52 questions on this part of the test. You have 65 minutes to answer these questions, which breaks down to about 13 minutes for each passage. To illustrate the tips I am giving, I am going to refer to… [ 931 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/07/10/sat-reading-tips
SAT Reading Tips Today, I would like to once again talk about the reading section of the SAT. As mentioned in a previous post, the new SAT has five passages* with a total of 52 questions on this part of the test. …
This week, a very motivated student told me he wanted to buy a good vocabulary book to practice for the SAT. He asked for my recommendation. I told him I would do a little research and let him know. My research taught me this: many of the books out there are for the previous version of the test. Even the books that say "New" SAT vocabulary have lists and practices relevant to the test made before 2016. [ 504 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/07/03/words-words-words
Words, Words, Words… This week, a very motivated student told me he wanted to buy a good vocabulary book to practice for the SAT. He asked for my recommendation. I told him I would do a little research and let him kn…
In preparation for a new quarter of instruction that starts tomorrow, I want to talk about an essential university skill in American universities: critical thinking. What exactly is critical thinking? Critical thinking is a process of developing a conclusion (or answer) based on logic, open-mindedness, and the use of evidence. Logic involves using facts and a clear, reasonable, and systematic method of thinking. [ 929 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/06/26/think-about-this
Think about This In preparation for a new quarter of instruction that starts tomorrow, I want to talk about an essential university skill in American universities: critical thinking. What exactly is critical think…
Because of my brother’s visit, I have been very busy this past week. Because we grew up in Ohio, we both are fans of Ohio sports teams. Since the Cleveland Indians were playing another local team during my brother’s visit, we went to a baseball game. Due to my husband’s ability to find a bargain, we were able to sit in great seats at the stadium for an inexpensive price. [ 663 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/06/12/whats-causes-this-part-1
What’s Causes This? Part 1 Because of my brother’s visit, I have been very busy this past week. Because we grew up in Ohio, we both are fans of Ohio sports teams. Since the Cleveland Indians were playing another local team…
As students, you are often asked to remember many things: dates, names, vocabulary, and so on. This is a weekend for remembering in American culture: Memorial Day weekend. On Memorial Day - which falls on the last Monday in May - Americans remember the people who died from fighting for us in wars. It is a tradition that began after the Civil War in the US. [ 244 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/05/29/remember
Remember… As students, you are often asked to remember many things: dates, names, vocabulary, and so on. This is a weekend for remembering in American culture: Memorial Day weekend. On Memorial Day – …
I’ve had a very tiring week because I moved. Packing everything up was very tiring, and I was definitely very tired when I finished. In fact, I was so tired I could not move the next day. If you read last week's blog entry, you will remember that I mentioned passive use and active use of verb forms. One of the ways we use these forms is as adjectives to talk about physical and emotional feelings. [ 602 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/05/21/are-you-excited-or-exciting
Are you Excited… or Exciting? I’ve had a very tiring week because I moved. Packing everything up was very tiring, and I was definitely very tired when I finished. In fact, I was so tired I could not move the next day. If you …
Look at the two statements below and decide which is correct: Comparing to English, Spanish has a more consistent language structure. Compared to* English, Spanish has a more consistent language structure. If you chose the second option, good work! Can you explain why the second option is better? How about if you look at these two statements: Comparing Spanish to English, Spanish has a more consistent language structure. [ 560 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/05/15/lets-compare
Let’s Compare Look at the two statements below and decide which is correct: Comparing to English, Spanish has a more consistent language structure. Compared to* English, Spanish has a more consistent language st…
We have spent the past few weeks looking at the introduction and body sections of a standard essay. Today, I would like to talk a little about the conclusion of an essay. The purpose of a conclusion is of two parts: 1)to remind people of the main points of your writing and 2) to leave people thinking about your writing after they finish reading it. [ 917 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/05/08/lets-wrap-this-up
Let’s Wrap This Up We have spent the past few weeks looking at the introduction and body sections of a standard essay. Today, I would like to talk a little about the conclusion of an essay. The purpose of a conclus…
As can be seen from the examples last week, many of my students struggle with developing relevant ideas. This is a common struggle, so I would like to point out a few potential reasons that people have trouble. Not understanding the question/assignment: To avoid this, divide the question/assignment into sections and analyze each part. For the TOEFL prompt in last week's example, many of the students overlooked or misunderstood the phrase “advertising directed toward children”. [ 759 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/04/24/lets-work-on-that-body-part-2/
Let’s Work on that Body – Part 2 As can be seen from the examples last week, many of my students struggle with developing relevant ideas. This is a common struggle, so I would like to point out a few potential reasons that people…
A couple of weeks ago, in a TOEFL class I am teaching this quarter, I had the students respond to the following TOEFL prompt: Should television advertising directed towards children aged 2-5 be allowed? As I read the students’ responses, I realized that their answers provided the perfect topic to address in this week’s post: writing an effective body section* for an essay. [ 608 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/04/17/lets-work-on-that-body-part-1/
Let’s Work on that Body – Part 1 A couple of weeks ago, in a TOEFL class I am teaching this quarter, I had the students respond to the following TOEFL prompt: Should television advertising directed towards children aged 2-5 be all…
English is the official language of over 60 countries around the world. Though it is second to Mandarin (a Chinese language) in the total number of speakers, it is first in the number of countries that use it as the main form of communication. Over 500 million people speak English as a first or second language, and the number is growing every year ( [ 919 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/04/10/introducing
Introducing… English is the official language of over 60 countries around the world. Though it is second to Mandarin (a Chinese language) in the total number of speakers, it is first in the number of countries…
Hi Everyone, Today I want to take a break from specific tests and test-taking skills, and talk about something you might not be familiar with, but will definitely help you improve both writing and speaking clarity: collocations Collocations are pairs or groups of words that often go together in sequence when we speak or write. They are different from compound words or phrasal verbs because each word in the phrase has its individual meaning and the word keeps the individual meaning within the phrase. [ 645 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/04/03/im-sure-you-agree-with-me
I’m Sure You Agree with Me Hi Everyone, Today I want to take a break from specific tests and test-taking skills, and talk about something you might not be familiar with, but will definitely help you improve both writing and …
Today, we're going to talk briefly about the SAT essay for the new test. Of all the sections on the verbal portion, the essay has changed the most. I want to give you the good news first. One, the essay is optional. This means if the college or university you want to apply to does not require the essay score, then you don't need to take this part of the test. [ 490 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/03/27/the-sat-essay
The SAT Essay Today, we’re going to talk briefly about the SAT essay for the new test. Of all the sections on the verbal portion, the essay has changed the most. I want to give you the good news first. …
As I mentioned last week, this post is going to focus on the new SAT writing section. In the old version of the test, SAT had three distinct multiple choice sections: Improving Sentences; Identifying Sentence Errors; and Improving Paragraphs. Now, SAT has combined all of these sections into one large multiple choice part. The new Writing Section has 44 questions and test takers have 35 minutes to complete the section. [ 627 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/03/20/sat-writing-section
SAT Writing Section As I mentioned last week, this post is going to focus on the new SAT writing section. In the old version of the test, SAT had three distinct multiple choice sections: Improving Sentences; Identify…
Hi Everyone, This is for my students who will be taking the new version of the SAT, which offered its first test at the beginning of March. Many native speaking high school students said that they found the new version of the SAT to be easier than the old version. However, in looking at the verbal section of the new test, I think ESL students will face some unique challenges. [ 514 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/03/13/lets-talk-sat-reading/
Let’s Talk SAT Reading Hi Everyone, This is for my students who will be taking the new version of the SAT, which offered its first test at the beginning of March. Many native speaking high school students said that they …
I want to continue the discussion on vocabulary by focusing on a targeted way to review words: flashcards. Flashcards (in case you don't know) are small handheld cards with information on the front and back to help a person review smaller pieces of information, such as math calculations, spelling, and of course, word use. They are an extremely convenient way to learn and build vocabulary. [ 732 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/03/06/the-word-is-part-2
The Word Is… Part 2 I want to continue the discussion on vocabulary by focusing on a targeted way to review words: flashcards. Flashcards (in case you don’t know) are small handheld cards with information on the…
Hi Everyone, Check out the post below. It's the second installment of my new blog and it's all about how to learn vocabulary, plus, I've added a couple of links to get you started!
Vocabulary; words; terms: Whatever they are called, words are the most essential part of any language. There is so much to learn about the words of a language - and so, so many words to learn! Where do you start? Believe it or not, I am going to suggest that you DON'T start with a word list. Instead, you need a system. [ 691 more words. ]
http://megmoenglish.com/2016/02/28/the-word-is-part-1
The Word Is… Part 1 Vocabulary; words; terms: Whatever they are called, words are the most essential part of any language. There is so much to learn about the words of a language – and so, so many words to lear…
Hi Everyone,
I've decided to start a blog on language and study issues that I see a lot of students facing. I think it will be far more effective for me to share ideas there. Check out the first entry.
http://megmoenglish.com/
MegMo English Helping students think, read, and write more effectively
Hi Guys, I know it's been a while since I've posted. I hope you are all doing well. I've had some changes in the past year, including getting married! Now that it's settling down a little, I hope to be on a little more often. Let's make 2015 great!