THERE IS ONE QUALITY THAT BUILDS TRUST AND LOYALTY

“It’s not the kind of thing you can normally bring up in a conversation”

By: Renuka Rayasam

Published: BBC, 31 January 2017, http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20170130-there-is-one-quality-that-builds-trust-and-loyalty

Level of difficulty:*

BEFORE YOU READ

·         Watch the video: 5 steps to improve customer satisfaction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK3cNcuvuMs

·         Learn about the company presented as an example in the text

Pink Jeep Tours https://www.youtube.com/user/pinkjeeptours

·         Now study the findings of the Deloitte’s workplace pulse survey

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/well-being-survey.html

QUESTIONS

1.       We understand from the information about Pink Jeep that their main key to success is

·         The fact that they drive distinctive pink jeeps

·         The fact that they are unlike any other company

·         The fact that the guides wonderful people

·         The fact that they think customer satisfaction is vital

2.       The reason for the above is the fact that…..

3.       We learn from the text that ……………..may bring down barriers and bring people together in the business community.

4.       We deduce from the Deloitte study that CEO’s need to be: mark as many as necessary

·         More human

·         More approachable

·         More professional

·         More businesslike

·         More personal

·         More experienced

5.       What Kohut means by warmth is: mark the odd one out

·         Understanding

·         Empathy

·         Sympathy

·         Closeness

6.       We understand from the Princeton study that warmth can: Mark true or false

·         Bring people together

·         Promote business

·         Increase trust

·         Decrease snap judgments

7.       Companies cannot disregard the importance of customer loyalty in the modern world because…………………………………

8.       We understand from the text that warmth can be evaluated by: mark the odd one out

·         Conducting questionnaires involving everyone

·         Sitting down and talking to people at the firm

·         Giving brownie points for helping the company

·         Conducting questionnaires with the public

9.       Read the example of Grant &Toy. It is implied in this section that the customers didn’t trust the company because the company had never offered proof to the effect / was losing business to competitors . Circle the correct answer.

10.   Read the last four paragraphs of the text. We can draw the conclusion from this section that Grand &Toy should do what Pink Jeep is doing and………………….

WRITING TASK

Write a brief summary of the text. If you don’t know how to write summaries, check out the videos under Learning Strategies on this blog.

THERE IS ONE QUALITY THAT BUILDS TRUST AND LOYALTY; KEY AND TEACHERS’ NOTES

Most business texts are quite complicated but there are many adult learners who wish to tackle issues related to the business world at a more simple level. This text is relatively straight forward, and the accompanying task is pre intermediate in level but it is about a very serious issue: increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty

1.       The third one

2.       The company’s guides must complete 150 hours of training before giving a tour

3.       Warmth

4.       More human, more approachable (Nothing else will fit)

5.       Closeness

6.       The last one is false, the rest are true. (Making snap judgments is a fact of life)

7.       With social media, customers notice ill intent and the word travels further and faster

8.       Number two

9.       The first

10.   Upgrade its hiring and training programs

THE SECRET TO LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE

“Your ambitions to improve your life do not need to be confined by your personality”

By: Christian Jarrett

Published: BBC, 1 February 2017, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170131-the-secret-to-living-a-meaningful-life

Level of Difficulty:*

BEFORE YOU READ

You will need to watch the video to be able to answer some of the questions.

·         Brian Little: Who are you, really? The puzzle of personality

https://www.ted.com/talks/brian_little_who_are_you_really_the_puzzle_of_personality#t-158985

QUESTIONS

1.       What qualities of an extrovert does Brian Little seem to have? Refer to the video and use your own words

2.       Why does the fact that he is an introvert come as surprise? Use your own words

3.       What proof does he offer of his introversion?

4.       What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This isn’t a peculiar quirk”? There are two answers; find both.

5.       What does “This” refer to in the phrase “This is an empowering finding”? Discovering…………………………….

6.       What is the key to happiness according to Brian Little?

7.       Read the paragraph that follows the title “How your projects affect you”.  What is the take home point from this paragraph? In order to be truly happy, you should……

·         Have an ambitious project and striving to achieve it

·         Having an unassuming project and striving to achieve it

·         Having a personal project and striving to achieve it

·         Having a realizable project and striving to achieve it

8.       What is the reason for the above?

9.       It is implied in the text that the more motivated you are to work on a project, …

10.   Why do people need consider their true traits and not just act different all the time?

11.   One way to deal with stalled projects is to:

·         Make the project more realistic

·         Determine an alternative project

·         Reduce the stress in your life and relax

·         Identify your source of unhappiness

12.   Which of the concluding statements below could be added on to the paragraph beginning “Another strategy…”?

·         In short, parallel projects could be a solution to the problem

·         In short eclectic thinking could be a solution to the problem

·         In short, pigeon-holing could be a solution to the problem

·         In short, the correct working environment could be a solution to the problem

13.   Read the last two paragraphs of the text. What overall conclusion can we draw from the text?

·         We have different sides to our personalities and they are all important

·         We are all free to choose our projects and follow them throughout our lives

·         Our third natures can enable us to have happy and fulfilling lives

·         The three forces that govern our lives also influence our choice of project

WRITING TASK

Use all you have learned to write a paragraph for the Sunday supplement of a national newspaper about how to lead a meaningful and fulfilling life

THE SECRET TO LIVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE

Leading a happy and meaningful life is a common goal for humanity.  Dr. Brian Little shows us that it is within our capacity to achieve this goal so what could be better? The article covers an important issue but is simple and straightforward, which means it can be done quite early on. The video at the beginning must be watched to be able to follow the text.

1.       Possible answer: he can speak comfortably in public, make jokes and seems to enjoy all the stimulation he gets from his social environment

2.       Possible answer: he acts like an extrovert

3.       He states at the end of the talk that he is going to take refuge behind the locked door of a toilet cubicle

4.       Enacting what he calls a free trait OR behaving extroverted

5.       Discovering your core projects

6.       Choosing the right projects and approaching them in the right way

7.       The last one

8.       Because findings show that when someone is engaged in a personal project that makes them stressed and miserable, this is an even more powerful drag on their well-being than more obvious factors like poverty. (This answer is much better than the previous sentence, which is too general. One wants to ask why)

9.       The more likely the projects will be to be sustainable and joyful

10.   Because acting different can take a toll over time

11.   Make the project more realistic

12.   The second one

13.   The third one

THE BIRTH OF HALF HUMAN, HALF ANIMAL CHIMERAS

The quest to create animals with human organs has a long history – and it is now becoming a reality. Has science taken a step too far?

By: David Robson

Published: BBC, 5 January 2017, http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170104-the-birth-of-the-human-animal-chimeras

Level of Difficulty:***

BEFORE YOU READ

·         BBC to create human animal hybrids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yccCmULoags

WATCH A FILM

·         The Island of Doctor Moreau http://ffilms.org/the-island-of-dr-moreau-1996/  

ALTERNATIVELY, READ THE BOOK

·         The Island of Doctor Moreau http://www.planetebook.com/ebooks/The-Island-of-Doctor-Moreau.pdf

QUESTIONS

1.       The Island of Doctor Moreau gives the impression of being a horror story / an adventure story / a crime novel / a mystery story because the main characters are a veterinarian/ a medical researcher/ a crazy scientist and ……………………………

2.       We get the impression that past literature and some modern papers regard the issue of half human and half human chimeras with suspicion / disgust / fear / horror

3.       Why does the writer start his article the way he does?

4.       What does “It” refer to in the sentence “It’s going to open up a new understanding of biology”?

5.       We need to stop and think before proceeding down the path of creating chimeras because…………………….

6.       Read the information about the incidence of chimeras in nature. From the information we can draw the conclusion that

·         Homer accurately expressed the presence of chimeras in the world

·         Chimeras in the animal kingdom are all twins

·         Human chimeras cannot be detected from their appearance

·         Chimeras of various kinds already exist in nature

7.       Rossant showed that the key factor when trying to create chimeras is to make sure that……………………

8.       Rossant also thinks that the work done with chimeras could help shed light on……………………………………………….

9.       Read the story of the Soviet Ape Man. In what way is this experiment similar to or different from what scientists are currently trying to do?

10.   Growing human organs in animals has two distinct advantages: ………………would be reduced and …………………..could be more effectively tested.

11.   The biggest technical hurdle that needs to be overcome at present is how to deal with…………………………………

12.   Why does Rossant say “I do think that has to be something that is taken into account and discussed extensively”?

13.   Stuart Newman is not happy with the current solutions because:

·         He feels they may not be affective enough

·         He feels the research may not be carried far enough

·         He feels the research may be carried too far

·         He feels the research is still in its infancy

14.   Why does Newman think scientists will be unable to stop themselves from overreaching?

15.   Why does Newman think this research could pave the way for designer babies?

16.   What are the possible implications of research into human and animal chimeras in terms of society?

17.   Read the remainder of the text to the end. Which of the statements below best express the writer’s views?

·         He is deeply disturbed by the repercussions of the research

·         He has serious reservations about this new research

·         He mostly agrees with the arguments put forward in the journal nature

·         He expresses an understanding of the pros and cons of the issue

18.   Why does the writer end the article by referring back to “The Island of Doctor Moreau?

WRITING TASK

Write an argumentative essay on whether to allow research into chimeras in your own country or not. Consider the arguments below:

For:

·         Organs for transplant could be created

·         Waiting times for organs could be reduced

·          Drug tests could be carried out more affectively

Against:

·         Scientists may go too far

·         It will numb our sense of our own humanity

·         It is unethical

THE BIRTH OF HALF HUMAN, HALF ANIMAL CHIMERAS KEY AND TEACHERS’NOTES

Chimeras do exist in nature occurring naturally in the womb  or in the animal kingdom but actually creating human animal chimeras for organ transplant is a completely new phenomenon but it needs to be discussed as it has recently been legalized in the UK. It should lead to a good argumentative essay. Some will feel that scientists can be prevented from going too far with legislation others will feel this won’t stop them but at least they will have formed an informed opinion.

1.       A horror story, a crazy scientist and grotesque travesties of men

2.       Horror

3.       It is standard practice to start with the counter argument and then introduce your own argument. A striking example like the one in this text will motivate the reader to continue reading, especially if he agrees with the counter arguments

4.       Implanting human stem cells into an animal embryo

5.       It may permanently change our understanding of what it means to be human

6.       The last one

7.        Ensuring that the placenta matches the mother’s DNA

8.       The behavioral differences between species

9.       The foreign tissue in the chimeras would be limited to specific organ in the new research

10.   Waiting time, drugs

11.   The evolutionary gap between humans and pigs

12.   Because she found her chimeras shared the temperaments of both species; OR because stem cells have reached the brains of animal chimeras

13.   He feels that the research may be carried too far

14.   Because there is a momentum to the whole enterprise that makes you want to go further and further

15.   Because it would numb our sense of our own humanity

16.   If the public thinks a human is a compilation of capacities, those existing humans with fewer of these valued capacities will be considered of lesser value

17.   The last one

18.   It is good stylistically

A DIRTY SECRET: COAL MINING

The new US president is planning to make the lives of the big coal mining corporations a lot easier than they were under the previous government but is he right to do so or is he making a mistake? Do your research and get an accurate and detailed picture then write about the effects of coal mining.
Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

Familiarize yourself with the issue:

·         Mining-Strip Mining and Mountaintop Removal https://prezi.com/zepsbtztobbq/mining-strip-mining-and-mountaintop-removal/

·         Longwall mining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXORrVmxwbM

Background information

·         Choosing a mining method

https://global.britannica.com/technology/coal-mining/Choosing-a-mining-method  

Reading material to make notes on:

·         The environmental effects of strip mining https://sites.google.com/site/stripmininghandbook/chapter-2-1

·         Citizens against long wall mining http://www.citizensagainstlongwallmining.org/coal-ash-and-slurry-disposal/ Watch the video

·         Residents of Southern Appalachia regard coal slurry farms as looming threats  https://fsrn.org/2014/05/residents-of-southern-appalachia-regard-coal-slurry-dams-as-looming-threats/ 

·         Subsidence from longwall mining http://www.iesc.environment.gov.au/publications/subsidence-longwall-coal-mining

Videos to watch and make notes on

·         Plundering Appalachia - The Tragedy of Mountaintop-Removal Coal Mining https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoOIB3_7bzU

·         The land of mountaintop removal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5RcbPZXUZo

·         Martin county coal slurry spill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB8WQddz8x0

·         Longwall coal mining horrors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNEQHt1vRds

·         Subsided ground – Fallen futures Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqG_M73Zgv0

Subsided ground – Fallen futures Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q5WjJQj97M

Further Reading:
* Gray Mountain by John Grisham

WHAT CONSTITUTES NATIONAL IDENTITY?

In the current age of mass migration and globalization, the concept of national identity has gained new momentum. Do your research and discover what determines national identity and write an essay.

Familiarize yourself with the issue:

·         What defines a nation’s identity? http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/02/daily-chart-0?cid1=cust/ddnew/n/n/n/2017023n/owned/n/n/nwl/n/n/E/email

Podcast:

·         National Identity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HebGm8D85N0

Reading material to make notes on

·         What defines national identity? http://www.citylab.com/politics/2017/02/what-defines-national-identity/515415/?utm_source=nl__link4_020317
      Panel discussion

National identity and belonging: what does it mean to be a citizen? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUfXdDDQBIY

 Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com.tr/  

WHY IT PAYS TO BE GRUMPY AND BAD TEMPERED

“Being bad tempered and pessimistic helps you to earn more, live longer and enjoy a healthier marriage. It is almost enough to put a smile on the dourest faces”

By: Zaria Gorvett

Published: The BBC, 10 August 2016, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20160809-why-it-pays-to-be-grumpy-and-bad-tempered

Level of difficulty:**

WHATCH AND LISTEN

·         Study: Being miserable can get you further in life http://www.daikhlo.com/watch/yt_0lL2Be56ggI

QUESTIONS

1.       Read half of the first page of the text. How can we tell that the article is going to be about the superiority of grumpiness? What kind of writing do you expect the text to be?

2.       What revelation does the writer make concerning negative feelings?

3.       What does “the link” refer to in the sentence “For years, the link remained a mystery? Be careful.

4.       What is the take home point from the 2009 experiment carried out by Baas?

5.       What basic intellectual response to anger best explains the link between anger and unstructured thinking? The fact that

6.       The evolutionary purpose of the physical reaction to anger, dealing with ………………….is often not called for in the modern world. The same response is still triggered and it is observed to provide…..

7.       Watch the following video before you answer this question: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUKPtMBBN2A Who is more likely to have a heart attack? Why?

8.       We understand from the section of the text focusing on the relationship between anger and successful negotiating that: Mark True or False

·         Angry people increase their physical strength

·         Angry people are quicker to discover injustices and unfairness

·         People need to learn to be angry to be successful negotiators

9.       Read all about the ultimatum game. What conclusion can we draw from this experiment?

10.   Socially, happiness is considered “intrinsically virtuous” according to the text. Is this truism born out (supported) by the dictator game? How do you know?

11.   Both the ultimatum game and the dictator game come up with the same surprising conclusion: the ……………………..we are, the …………………….our sense of fairness.

12.   Study the paragraph beginning “In some situations”. Imagine you were asked by the editor of The Atlantic magazine to reorganize the paragraph. How could you do so without changing the message or the place of the first sentence?

13.   Read Forgas’ experiment. According to the results of this experiment which of the people below would you personally want to be in a happy mood?

·         Your Dad when you ask if you can borrow his car

·         Your basketball coach who is trying to sort out a disagreement

·         Your wife / husband; you have cheated on her/him but you have provided an excuse

·         Your mentor in the ER; you are an intern

14.   Why do good moods result in more stereotyping?

15.   We understand from the information concerning optimism that…Mark True or False

·         Being more stressed and a bit of a worrier is conducive to future success

·         Being happy and relaxed leads to a sedentary life

·         Optimistic people have no hope of succeeding and getting ahead

·         The more pessimistic you are the less likely you are to try to succeed

·         The more optimistic you are the more likely you are to succeed

16.   Read the section titled “Defensive Pessimism”. What does “the risks” at the beginning of this section refer to? There is more than one answer and you need to find them.

17.   We understand from the text that optimism bias can

·         Lead to attention to detail

·         Lead to the worst possible outcomes

·         Lead to the use of Murphy’s law

·         Lead to unnerving finds

·         Lead to more problems

·         Lead to lower employment rates

WRITING

Write an essay in which you discuss the advantages of “pondering the worst” and the disadvantages of optimism bias.

WHY IT PAYS TO BE GRUMPY AND BAD TEMPERED KEY AND TEACHERS’ NOTES

This text touches on the issue of the dangers of overconfidence and the increased possibility of trouble as a result in the form of oversights, miscalculation, lack of attention to detail and the like. It is a problem students may also face on exams. As such, it should lead to a lot of discussion.

1.       Possible answer: The writer starts out by describing the current emphasis on happiness. We know immediately he is going to refute it; argumentative

2.       They are adaptive OR They evolved to serve useful functions and help us thrive.

3.       The link between anger (or being bad tempered) and success

4.       Angry people are better at moments of haphazard innovation, or so called unstructured thinking

5.       The fact that anger really prepares the body to mobilize resources – it tells you that the situation you are in is bad and gives you an energetic boost to get you out of it

6.       Physical aggression; a boost to motivation and the gall to take mental risks

7.       The member of his kitchen staff; because suppressed anger increases the chances of having a heart attack three-fold

8.       All False

9.       Negative feelings enhance our sense of fairness and the need for everyone to be treated fairly

10.   No it isn’t. Happier participants keep more of the prize for themselves

11.   Angrier, greater

12.   Sentence 1 +5+6+7+2+3 OR reduce the information in sentence 2 to a dependent clause and add it on to sentence 3

13.   Happy (you want him to give you the car), sad (you want him to be fair), happy (you want her to believe you), sad (if you make a mistake people die)

14.   Because people in a good mood are less likely to think skeptically

15.   The first is true, all the rest are false

16.   Fantasizing about success, wishful thinking, optimistic thoughts

17.   Lead to more problems