I usually communicate with my family by using an Internet phone

service. I usually text my friends.

I use social networking sites because I like to stay in touch with all of
my old friends./ I don’t use social networking sites because I like my
privacy.
Email is fastbeand
She might easy.at
looking Sending
a Web asite
letter takes
or an a long
email time.
on the second
Calling
phone. or meeting people is better because people express
themselves more on the phone and in person.
Social networking sites let people communicate in ways that were
possible before. I can send my friends and family pictures, videos,
and links to articles very quickly and I can invite them to come to
Do people
events or joincommunicate better now than in the past?
group conversations.
Be right back
By the way
Talk to you later
Got to go
Great
Just kidding
VOCABULARY: Here are some words from Reading 1. Read the
sentences. Circle the answer that best matches the meaning of
each bold word.
1. Curiosity sometimes leads parents to read their
children’s emails. They are interested in what they are
talking about.
a. love b. desire to know c. shyness
2. Membership in the student council is restricted to
students who have good grades.
a. prohibited b. limited c. encouraged
3. Email has added a new dimension to communication.
Today, people can send messages, pictures, and
documents almost instantly.
a. disadvantage b. result c. aspect
4. Many teenagers do not use conventional spelling when they
text their friends. They mix numbers and abbreviations from
certain words.
a. typical b. unusual c. foreign
5. One feature of many cell phones is a built-in camera.
a. characteristic b. gift c. idea
6. There is consistency in her choice of friends. All of her
friends are intelligent and interested in technology.
a. aggressiveness b. likeness c. reality
7. We are looking for creative employees with new, interesting
ideas to help design our website.
a. imaginative b. punctual c. caring
8. Cell phone companies keep improving their products to
satisfy the demands of their customers.
a. schedules b. needs c. friends
Yes, because it’s convenient and popular./ No, because every
technology gets replaced eventually.
T
not new
F
T
(the letters, symbols, and words run together, without
F spaces)
T
T
T
3

5
6

2
I think texting has changed language. Some people even use text
abbreviations when they’re talking. I think texting is a bad thing. People
are using incorrect language when they speak and write. If people
continue to text, they will forget how to write correctly.
I agree with the author. Writing texts can take a long time, so texters have
come up with an easy solution. Shorten the words! The author says there
isn’t consistency between texters. This means that texter creates his or
her own spellings for words, and I think it’s very creative.
One advantage of texting is that you can communicate quickly. Another
advantage is that you can communicate when it’s convenient for you. You
don’t have to wait until other can have a conversation. Also, you can
communicate with several people at once. One disadvantage is that it’s
difficult to explain complicated ideas through texting. Also, people
sometimes misunderstand texts because they can’t hear the speaker’s
voice or see their body language.
 Identify the author’s purpose,
audience and tone
• Writers have a purpose for their writing. For example, a
writer may want to explain, inform, describe, persuade,
entertain, ox give an opinion of something. Sometimes a
writer has more than one purpose.
• Writers use words in ways that create different tones, or
moods, in their work.
• For example, a written passage can have a serious, light and
playful, or funny tone. The tone of the writing depends on
the audience, the people reading the piece, and is
determined by the words the writer chooses. The tone tells
us how the author feels about the subject.
• It's useful to identify an author's tone and purpose when
you read- You should also keep your purpose and audience
in mind when you write and use the appropriate tone.
 A. Look back at Reading 1. Answer these questions in
your notebook.
1. Who is the audience for this piece? How do you know this?
People who dislike texting. Because the author defending texting and
explaining the behavior of the texters.
2. What is the authors purpose for writing this article? What sentence in
the reading tells you this? Underline it.
To give an opinion: … all the popular beliefs about texting are wrong …
3. How can you describe the writer’s tone? Find examples in the reading to
support your ideas. Put a check mark (√) next to them.
Serious/defensive
… texting has been condemned … It is not a disaster. … [texters] they also
know they need to be understood … Adults who condemn a “c u” in a
young person’s texting have forgotten that they once did the same thing
themselves (though not; on a cell phone)… An extraordinary number of
prophecies have been made about the linguistic evils unleashed by
texting
B. Read each excerpt. Choose the writer's purpose and tone
from the boxes. Remember, a writer may have more than one
purpose.
• Purpose
• to describe something
• to entertain the reader
• to explain something
• to express an opinion
• to inform the reader
• to persuade the reader
• Tone
• funny
• light and playful serious
• serious
1. A trip to the city of Charleston, South Carolina, is
an enjoyable experience. Not only is the weather
perfect, but the ambiance of the old-fashioned
streets brings you back to a simpler time. There
are a few spots that cannot be missed 011 your
visit.
• Purpose: to describe something
• Tone: light and playful serious
2. Installing a new television is not as simple as it
used to be, but if you follow these steps, it should
take only an hour or so.
• Purpose: to explain something
• Tone: serious
3. The number of accidents involving teenage drivers is
enormous. Last year alone, 70 percent of fatal accidents
involved teen drivers. It is time to raise the driving age to
20 for these and many other reasons.
• Purpose: to persuade the reader
• Tone: serious
• I thought I knew a lot about being a parent until I became
one. It really is not that difficult; that is, if you don’t mind
having spaghetti poured over your head or having grape
juice spilled all over your brand-new while pants. Oh and
then there’s the part about sleeping, or not sleeping, as
the case may be with parenting.
• Purpose:
• Tone: to describe something; to entertain the reader
funny; light and playful serious
VOCABULARY: Here are some words from Reading 2. Read their
definitions. Then complete each sentence.
• complementary (adj.) going well together; adding
something that the other thing does not have
• debatable (adj.) not certain; something that could be
argued about
• instantaneous (adj.) happening at once or immediately
• moderation (n.) the quality of being able to control your
actions so that they are within sensible limits
• potentially (adv.) possibly
• react (v.) to behave in a certain way because of what
someone says or does
• reconsider (v.) to think again about something
• shorten (v.) to become not as long or to make something
become not as long
• warn (v.) to tell someone to be careful or aware of
something, often bad, that exists or might happen
1. The issue of texting is still debatable People
disagree about whether the effects of texting are
positive or negative.
2. I was planning to get my 12-year-old daughter a cell
phone, but now I’m not sure if it s a good idea. I might
reconsider my decision.
3. Parents should warn children that
communicating with strangers on the Internet can be
dangerous.
4. People react differently to changes in
technology. Some people are excited to learn about
new devices, while others feel safer using what they
already know.
5. Spending too much time on the Internet could
potentially cause someone to be less social in real life.
6. Jeanne planned to take a five-day vacation, but she
had to shorten it because of an urgent
meeting at work.
7. I like paying bills online because it is instantaneous
.
As soon as I click the “pay” button, the payment is
made.
8. She never eats too much or works moderation She
believes in too hard.
9. We make a good team because our skills are
different, but complementary I love talking to
clients, and Leila is great at managing our finances.
√
4

2
 a social networking site

real relationships with people

the development of illnesses

self-esteem

a lifeline
1.
2. INo,
think people
I don’t usewe
think social
should networking sites mainly
be concerned to staywarnings.
about these in touch Iwith
thinkold
if
friends. It’s easy
people never getto keep
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of their withand
houses a lot of people
only from you
communicate past on
through a social
social
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likeall of them.
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The people usesee
know still these sites
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though theyandspend
to share
timepictures
on these and linksThey
sites. thatcommunicate
they think aremore
interesting.
now that they use social networking, so I think the sites are good for people to
use.

3. Yes, I agree with the author. I use a social networking site, and I do certain
things with my friends online and certain things in person. My friends and I
use the site to share photos and interesting we find online. But we also use it
to make plans to get together, or use it to tell each other about events. Then
we do get together and spend time face to face. If I didn’t use a social
networking site, I think I might see my friends less because I wouldn’t always
know what was going on.
I think communication has been improved. We can communicate more
quickly and with more people. / I think communication has been harmed.
People don’t communicate long or communicated ideas any more.
 Using the dictionary
• A prefix is a group of letters at the beginning of some
words that can help you guess a words meaning. Some
prefixes change the meaning of the base word to its
opposite.
• ... that seems like an unhealthy way to live. (Unhealthy
means "not healthy.")
• Here are some other prefixes that mean no or not.
• a- Atypical means "not typical."
• dis- Disconnected means "not connected."
• im- Impossible means"not possible"
• non- Nonstop means "does not stop."
 Using the dictionary
• Here are some other common prefixes.
• bi- two
• con- with; together
• de- taking away; the opposite
• in- (if, im-, ir-) not
• inter- between; among
• pre- before re- again
• self- relating to oneself; by one's own efforts
• out- beyond; out of the usual
A. Match each word from Reading 1 with its definition

a. not considered correct

b. not of the form accepted as
1. informal (Paragraph 4) standard
2. precomputer c. to think something or
(Paragraph 4) someone is not pleasant
3. unusual (Paragraph 8) d. suitable for a friendly
4. nonstandard situation
(Paragraph 9) e. to let a strong force, etc. be
5. preteenage felt or have an effect
(Paragraph 11) f. not having the time,
6. unleashed (Paragraph knowledge, or skill to do
U) something
7. dislike (Paragraph 12) g. before computers were used
8. unable (Paragraph 12) h. under the age of thirteen
B. Look at these words from Reading 2. Try to guess their
meanings. Then match each word with its definition. Check your
answers in the dictionary.

1. interaction a. to be more important

2. outweigh than something else
3. reconsider b. a feeling of being
4. self-esteem happy with oneself
c. to think again about
something
d. the act of working
together or mixing
C. Choose five words from Activity A and Activity B. Write a
sentence using each word.

1. Some preteenagers how low self-esteem and

little confidence.
2. There was a lot of interaction between the
soccer players on the field.
3. I am unable to go to the concert because I have
to work.
4. Some people say that slang is nonstandard
English.
5. I dislike horror films because I don’t like to be
scared.
 Writing an opinion essay with a
counterargument
• Like an opinion paragraph, an opinion essay expresses how
you feel about a topic. For example, it might express
whether you agree or disagree with an idea.
• The introductory paragraph in an opinion essay includes
the thesis statement, which clearly states the writer’s
opinion or view of something. In the introductory
paragraph of an opinion essay, the writer states an opinion
about the topic.
• The introductory paragraph may include background
information and a counterargument to the writer’s opinion.
A counterargument is the opposite opinion. Writers
sometimes mention a counterargument and then explain
why it’s not true in order to make their point stronger.
 Writing an opinion essay with a
counterargument
• Each body paragraph of an opinion essay
includes a topic sentence that states a reason for
the writer’s opinion. Examples or facts are given
to support each reason.
• The concluding paragraph of an opinion essay
restates the opinion and refers to the
counterargument. A concluding paragraph also
summarizes the reasons the writer has this
opinion. Often, the concluding paragraph
includes an additional idea, sometimes a
prediction, about the topic.
A. Reread the essay in Activity A. Then answer the
questions.
1. Look at the introductory paragraph. Which sentence
describes the writers opinion about the topic?
Underline it. What is the counterargument? Draw a
circle around it.
2. Look at the body paragraphs. What are the three
reasons that the writer gives for his or her opinion?
• Reason 1:
• Reason 2:
• Reason 3:
3. Look at the concluding paragraph. Does the writer add
another idea to the essay? If so, what is it?
 In Praise of Technology
counterargument
• Communication in the 21st century has changed a lot.
Now it’s so easy to talk to people because of
computers and cell phones. Some people think that we
communicate less frequently because talking is
becoming a thing of the past, whether in person or on
the phone. I don't think that is the case. In fact, I think
it’s just the opposite. Just because we don’t “talk” on
the phone as much as we used to doesn’t mean that
we communicate less frequently. We just prefer typing,
whether it’s a text message on a ceil phone, an email,
or an instant message on the computer. This type of
messaging is preferable to talking on the phone
because it’s fast, convenient, and fun.
opinion
 In Praise of Technology
Typing messages is faster than using a phone.
• First, you have to type in your message or note, and this is
actually faster than using a phone. If you call someone, you
may not reach the person, so you leave a message. The
person may not call back when you’re free, so he or she
leaves a message, and you begin playing "phone tag." If you
email or text your friend, you simply have to wait until he
or she responds.
• Second, it’s very convenient. It’s particularly convenient for
places like schools. Say you're a parent, and you need to
contact your child’s teacher. Most teachers don’t have
access to phones during the day, so it’s difficult to reach
them. If you leave them an email, they can check when
they have a break or at lunch and respond to the email.

Leaving messages for people who can’t respond right

away is convenient.
• Sara Mannion uses email to contact her older children at school.
“Children are not allowed to use cell phones during the school day,
but sometimes I need to remind one of my children about something
important.
Using emailRather
canthan
behave
a fun theway
school
to secretary find mywith
stay in touch child in a
class to give him the message, I leave a text message on his phone.
people.
So at the end of school, he’ll have the reminder that he has a dentist
appointment," says Mannion.
• Finally, using email can be a fun way to stay in touch with people
you don’t see that often or who live far away. Jack Bianco started
a reunion of his elementary school friends a few years ago. "I
could never have gotten in touch with all of my friends without
the Internet and emailing. It’s great. I've ‘spoken' with people
whom I haven't seen in years. It’s great catching up this way. I
wouldn’t have been able to do it by calling all of these people/'
Besides reunions, people use emailing for clubs, athletic teams,
and organizations in which all of the members can be reached by
one simple email.
• We now have new technology that some people
think is making talking and using the phone go out of
style. But text messaging and emails are just an
easier way to communicate with people. Though we
may not talk on the phone as often as we did 50
years ago, it’s still important for most of us to hear
the voice of people we care about. It just may be
preceded by a text or email saying, "Let me know
when you’re free to talk.’’

it’s still important for most of us to hear the voice of

people we care about.
 Sentence fragments
• A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that
cannot stand alone. Sentence fragments are usually
considered errors. It is important to avoid sentence
fragments in your writing. Look at the examples.
• Fragment: When you write a text message.
• Fragment: Because I like to text my friends late at
night.
• As you learned in Unit 9, these examples are
dependent clauses. When used alone, they are
fragments. They need to be combined with a main
clause.
 Sentence fragments
• When you write a text message, you don't
have to spell every word correctly.
• I go to sleep very late because I like to text my
friends late at night.
• Words such as because, since, although, when,
or after are often used with dependent
clauses. These words connect an incomplete
sentence to a main clause to avoid a fragment.
 A. Read the sentences. Identify each sentence as a complete
sentence (S) or a sentence fragment (F).

1. When I can't talk to someone on the phone. F

When I can't talk to someone on the phone, I send them a message.
2. He likes to text his friends late at night because it
S
doesn't disturb anyone in the house.
3. After I finish all of my homework. F
After I finish all of my homework, I chat with my friends online.
4. I stay in touch with all of my friends when I go on
S
Facebook.
5. Although she's a very sociable person. F
Although she's a very sociable person, she doesn’t
communicate online very much.
B. Read the paragraph and correct any fragments.

• I love going on social networking sites. When I

was in high school. I was a very shy person, it was
difficult for me to speak with people. Because I
was so shy. Then someone invited me to be his
friend on Bebo. I signed up, and two more people
invited me to be their friends. Soon, I had many
friends. We talked about lots of things, like school
and sports. Although I saw these people in school
every day. There was something about talking to
them on Bebo that seemed different. Now I have
more friends than I ever had. Because I’m not shy
on the computer.
B. Read the paragraph and correct any fragments.

• I love going on social networking sites. When I was in

high school. I was a very shy person, it was difficult
for me to speak with people. Because I was so shy.
Then someone invited me to be his friend on Bebo. I
signed up, and two more people invited me to be
their friends. Soon, I had many friends.

When I was in high school, I was a very shy person.

It was difficult for me to speak with people,

because I was so shy.
B. Read the paragraph and correct any fragments.

• We talked about lots of things, like school and

sports. Although I saw these people in school
every day. There was something about talking to
them on Bebo that seemed different. Now I have
more friends than I ever had. Because I’m not shy
on the computer.
Although I saw these people in school every
day, there was something about talking to them
on Bebo that seemed different.
Now I have more friends than I ever had
because I’m not shy on the computer.