Exam Essentials Practice Tests provide students with an invaluable combination of exam information, task guidance and up-to-date exam practice. This revised edition provides updated tests along with two completely new tests written by experts in the field and are at least the same level as the real Cambridge English exam. Students can be confident that if they do well in the Practice Tests, they'll do well in the real exam

Revised and updated throughout, this 10th-anniversary edition of Can Creative Writing Really Be Taught? is a significantly expanded guide to key issues and practices in creative writing teaching today. Challenging the myths of creative writing teaching, experienced and up-and-coming teachers explore what works in the classroom and workshop and what does not. Now brought up-to-date with new issues that have emerged with the explosion of creative writing courses in higher education, the new edition includes: * Guides to and case studies of workshop practice * Discussions on grading and the myth of "the easy A" * Explorations of the relationship between reading and writing * A new chapter on creative writing research * A new chapter on games, fan-fiction and genre writing * New chapters on identity and activism

Have you ever wondered why some public speakers are so successful while others are not? What do they know and do that is different from the rest?

Great speakers understand and employ many of the proven principles contained in this book. The good news is that you too can learn and apply these very same principles and improve as a public speaker.

Purpose-Centered Public Speaking helps you develop as a presenter by showing you some ways to deal with anxieties and fears related to speaking in public. It also demonstrates how to develop and deliver purposeful talks, speeches, and presentations that get planned results.

Here you will find a clear and systematic approach to speaking that is easy to follow. This simple yet comprehensive method will equip you with all you need to improve and enhance your public communication. Whether you are an aspiring speaker or an active presenter, this book will encourage and enrich you.

"In Purpose-Centered Public Speaking, Gary Rodriguez takes the fear out public speaking. Relating years of public speaking experiences, Gary provides a great game plan for you to become a fearless public speaker. His insights and wisdom will certainly make you a better public speaker. He will also make you a stronger communicator in all areas of your life." - Brent Jones, Former San Francisco 49er Tight End and Winner of Three Super Bowl Rings

"Purpose-Centered Public Speaking offers aspiring as well as active speakers valuable tips and techniques for improving their communication skills. In addition to the helpful instruction, you will also find this book highly entertaining. If you are a public speaker this is a book you should read." - Stephen G. Newberry, President & CEO Lam Research Corporation, Fremont

"Whether you are speaking for the first time or have a great deal of public speaking experience, this book is filled with grand advice." - Dr. Haddon Robinson, Distinguished Professor of Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"This book is so much more than a 'how to' on public speaking Rodriguez inspires the reader through compelling stories both deeply personal and at times universal. Anyone who wants to feel at ease in front of audiences will gain strength, encouragement and useful resources and tools on how to step into the spotlight and create rapport and connection with one's listeners." - Pamela Mclean, CEO, Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara

"Don't just read this book. Digest and practice the principles recorded here, and soon you will find an increasing ease in communicating and a more favorable response from your listeners." - Wayne Cordeiro, Founding Pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, Honolulu

"Great book and a must read for new, as well as seasoned managers having difficulty with public speaking or just looking to hone their skills. Simplifies and lays out a format that guides you through the process of speaking to large groups or smaller defined audiences. The pointed real-life examples keep the reader engaged and interested from cover to cover." - A. Mark Walter, President, Christenson Electric, Inc., Portland

"Dr. Rodriguez provides this guide for the novice public speaker and helps the reader to understand the skills necessary to present a great speech while also showing the many pitfalls that aspiring public speakers fall into. Developing one's own style is a very important aspect of public speaking and Dr. Rodriguez helps the reader to understand how to accomplish this. A thoroughly enjoyable read " - Randy Hahn, San Jose Hockey Play-by-Play Announcer

"Purpose-Centered Public Speaking will inspire public speakers of any caliber. It offers practical tips to improve speeches and encourages those who fear it most. A must read for any person tackling public speaking " - Kanoe Gibson. Miss Hawaii 2003 and first runner-up at Miss America 2004

With more than 65,000 copies sold in two editions and recommended by "Forbes "and "U.S. News & World Report, " this newly updated guide offers sound advice on every aspect of researching, writing, and delivering an effective speech. Filled with anecdotes, examples, and practical advice, this accessible guide makes one of the most daunting tasks manageable--and even fun.
Speaking coach Joan Detz covers everything from the basics to the finer points of writing and delivering a speech with persuasion, style, and humor.
Topics include:

• Assessing your audience
• Researching your subject--and deciding what to leave out
• Keeping it simple
• Using imagery, quotations, repetition, and humor
• Special-occasion speeches
• Speaking to international audiences
• Using Power Point and other visual aids
• And many more

Updated to include new examples and the latest technology, as well as a section on social media, this is a must-have for anyone who writes and delivers speeches, whether novices or experienced veterans at the podium.

This work discusses the assessment of writing across the curriculum. It is the first volume in a series analyzing perspectives on writing. The series provides a broad-based forum for monographs and collections in a range of topics that employ diverse theoretical research and pedagogical approaches. The editors emphasize inclusion, both conceptually and methodologically, in the series to highlight the strength and vibrancy of work in rhetoric, composition and writing.

A writer will change and grow many times in their writing life. This Journal Workbook aims to champion this journey. It answers those tricky questions writers long to ask, shares secret practices to inspire their writing confidence, and free their unique gifts from common obstacles and writing worries. In this Journal Workbook you will discover surprising new techniques from acting, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and spirituality to re-wild your creativity and empower your writing craft. Writing can seem overwhelming. You long to be a writer, but where do you start? And how do you bridge the gap between where you are right now and where you want to go? How do you discover your voice? What does that even mean? And what can you do to improve your writing? Or discover what you want to write about? This is not a book about getting published or finding an agent. This is a book about finding you. Finding your voice. Trusting your talent. Your creativity. It is about putting your heart and soul into your writing practice. Do the prompts and exercises. Reflect. This Journal Workbook will help you find that spark. This is your writing life, write it your way.

Winner of the 2017 NAGC Curriculum Studies Award Space, Structure, and Story integrates Earth and space science with science fiction and nonfiction texts, poetry, and art. This unit, developed by Vanderbilt University's Programs for Talented Youth, is aligned to the Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. Students explore advanced science and ELA content through the lens of structure-its parts, purpose, and function. Mobius strips, the hero's journey, dystopian fiction, black holes, Einstein's relativity, stars, and moons are just a few of the captivating in-depth topics explored through accelerated content, engaging activities, and differentiated tasks. Ideal for gifted classrooms or gifted pull-out groups, the unit features poetry from Carl Sandburg, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and C. S. Lewis; art from M. C. Escher, Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Salvador Dali; a novel study featuring A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle; short stories from Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury; speeches from President John F. Kennedy and President Barack Obama; and informational texts about gravity, orbits, and black holes. Grades 4-6

Critics shudder at mixed metaphors like 'that wet blanket is a loose cannon', but admire 'Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player', and all the metaphors packed into Macbeth's 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow' speech. How is it that metaphors are sometimes mixed so badly and other times put together so well? In Mixed Metaphors: Their Use and Abuse, Karen Sullivan employs findings from linguistics and cognitive science to explore how metaphors are combined and why they sometimes mix. Once we understand the ways that metaphoric ideas are put together, we can appreciate why metaphor combinations have such a wide range of effects. Mixed Metaphors: Their Use and Abuse includes analyses of over a hundred metaphors from politicians, sportspeople, writers and other public figures, and identifies the characteristics that make these metaphors annoying, amusing or astounding.

An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young adult and adult intermediate learners of Italian. Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too! - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in Italian for Intermediate Learners has been written specifically for students from a low-intermediate to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to B1-B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading. What does this book give you? * Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary * Controlled language at your level to help you progress confidently * Realistic spoken dialogues to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability * Beautiful illustrations accompanying each story, to set the scene and support your understanding * Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way * Pleasure! Research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!' With intriguing plots that will spark your imagination and keep you reading, Short Stories in Italian will take your grasp of Italian to the next level with key features to support and consolidate your progress, including: * A glossary for bolded words in each text * A bilingual word list * Full plot summary * Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language all without ever feeling overwhelmed. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in Italian for Intermediate Learners uses reading as the perfect tool to not only delight in learning Italian, but to accelerate your journey towards fluency.

Through its constuctivist orientation and Sociocultural perspective, this book contributes to an improved understanding of what it means to read and, particularly, to recall, second language texts in the context of both second language reading and research. It also serves as an introduction to Sociocultural Theory and demonstrates the usefulness of this type of analysis, not only of written recall protocols, but of other forms of learner language. Finally, it attempts to illustrate the nature of activity in relation to task, by showing the diverse ways in which learners approach the task of writing a recall protocol.

The easy way to learn the Japanese writing system! In this beginner's workbook, students of Japanese will learn to read and write the Hiragana and Katakana alphabets, as well as 50 basic Kanji characters. A step-by-step approach moves from tracing letters to reading and writing complete words quickly and effectively. This book gives you all the tools you need to learn to pronounce, read and write Japanese: A thorough overview of the hiragana and katakana alphabets. Audio recordings to improve your pronunciation and comprehension. A step-by-step approach to writing words and then sentences. Practice exercises featuring everyday activities and situations. An introduction to 50 key kanji characters. Free downloadable flash cards to aid memorization of the characters. Instead of dealing with separate Hiragana and Katakana workbooks, as is common, this comprehensive guide provides an efficient way to learn both with the help of one book.

Accessible teaching notes Extra ideas and developmental tips

An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young adult and adult intermediate learners of Russian. Olly's top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively. I love his work - and you will too! - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in Russian for Intermediate Learners has been written especially for students from a low-intermediate to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to B1-B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you and give you a feeling of progress when reading. What does this book give you? * Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary * Controlled language at your level, to help you progress confidently * Realistic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability * Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way * Beautiful illustrations accompanying each story, to set the scene and support your understanding * Pleasure! Research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!' With intriguing plots that will spark your imagination and keep you reading, Short Stories in Russian for Intermediate Learners will take your grasp of Russian to the next level with key features to support and consolidate your progress, including: * A glossary for bold-face words in each text * A bilingual word list * Full plot summary * Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading in Cyrillic, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in Russian for Intermediate Learners uses reading as the perfect tool to not only delight in learning Russian and reading Cyrillic, but to accelerate your journey towards fluency. Use the codes inside the book and ebook to access a bonus story for free and the discounted audiobook on our Language Readers Library site or on the Language Readers app.