Assignment C - Part 1
An Evaluation of Cutting Edge Advanced
✓
Use the checklist from unit 10 ('Evaluating course book material') to write a general evaluation
of the book.
✓
You won't be able to comment on all items as you only have one unit and the contents but say
as much as you can.
✓
This must be presented as a coherent essay, not just a list.
✓
Then say whether you personally would like to use the book with an advanced class and why
or why not - this is just your opinion, so there is not a right or a wrong response to this part.
✓
You do not need to refer to the class described for Part 2 of this assignment.
✓
Write 300 - 500 words.
The book contains a wide range of relevant and functional materials and exercises, that
include mind-maps, role-plays, fill in the blanks, matching exercises, as well as conscious-raising
activities and discussion questions. I also can see that the four skills are well balanced in terms of
activities offered to develop each skill. I can see that all the materials are attractively and clearly
presented in the book.
The fact that a lot of mind-maps are repeatedly used throughout the unit helps students to
assimilate the material much easier as well as demonstrate the connection of different lexical
terms making them more memorable. Furthermore, the contents pages show that the book has a
functional focus, thus, the units are organized with an emphasis on functionality and there are a
lot of activities that give students the ability to communicate effectively in various everyday
situations.
The topics are very interesting and appropriate for the age of the group. Since adults have
a lot of experience in life and their opinions about its different aspects are quite formed, I am sure
1
,that they will find topics such as globalisation, self-improvement, education very interesting and
entertaining.
On the other hand, I can see that the book offers contextualized practice of grammar and
vocabulary to make the learning process more memorable and engaging (this point is of utmost
importance for the learners). The speaking activities are very well structured and provide students
with the effective and meaningful practice which can be carried out in pairs as well as in the
small/big groups.
The book also contains a variety of real-life photos that makes it appealing to adults and
young adults (which I guess this book is aimed at). Besides, these colourful visuals introduce
characters, stories and set the settings for the listening exercises, so the students are able to
activate their previous knowledge about the topic and make predictions about the language and
vocabulary being used.
Every unit starts with the clear goals and it ends with an “after unit” section in which
students can evaluate themselves by reflecting on their own progress and what they are able to do
after completing the unit. These kinds of self-evaluating activities tend to give students not only a
sense of achievement, but also help them identify the areas to improve and to practice more.
I also like the idea that all the points seen during the lesson are summarised in the
language summary and practice sections at the end of the book (language summary, grammar,
and vocabulary practice). It can help students who are having difficulty and can provide more
practice for students who want to practice more and revise the material.
I was wondering if the coursebooks currently offer a digital version as well. If this is the
case it would be one of the biggest points in its favour.
All in all, since my knowledge of the students will be based on their need’s analysis, and
our relation will be developed throughout the course because I will get to know them better, I will
decide whether I need to add or omit something from the course book material, but I definitely
would use this book in my course!
2
, Assignment C - Part 2.i
Authentic Text
✓
Check the Class Description and Notes on Part 2 on the assignment platform before you begin.
✓
The text should be 500 - 700 words long. (4-5 minutes for listening texts).
✓
In this document, provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you have
chosen.
✓
Ensure the text is referenced, and if you have selected a listening text or video, provide a link.
✓
If you choose a reading text, you can shorten and/or adapt it slightly.
✓
Please supply a copy of the original and your adapted version.
✓
If you have adapted the text, briefly explain the decisions you've made about changing the text in section b)
of the essay.
Highlight 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which would be useful to pre-teach.
Part A: Adapted/shortened text
The bad things that happen when algorithms run online shops
Smart software controls the prices and products you see when you shop online – and
sometimes it can go spectacularly wrong, from causing offence to destroying livelihoods. But that’s
the trouble with algorithms. All sorts of unexpected results can occur. Sometimes these are costly,
but in other cases they have benefited businesses to the tune of millions of pounds. What’s the real
impact of the machinations of machines? And what else do they do?
Errant algorithms can also cause human headaches when it comes to prices. The costs of
products that appear on retail websites are constantly fluctuating thanks to software that sets them
competitively. The frequency at which these changes happen is so great that dedicated websites
have been set up to “watch” the pricing on websites like Amazon. Daniel Green has been running
one of these sites for years. He explains that prices don’t just change daily – but sometimes several
times in one day.
“They will drop the price of a product every few days or every few hours until a product is
purchased by someone and then the price goes back up,” he says. “We know that they keep prices
low on a lot of their most popular products to give the impression that they have great deals and
1
An Evaluation of Cutting Edge Advanced
✓
Use the checklist from unit 10 ('Evaluating course book material') to write a general evaluation
of the book.
✓
You won't be able to comment on all items as you only have one unit and the contents but say
as much as you can.
✓
This must be presented as a coherent essay, not just a list.
✓
Then say whether you personally would like to use the book with an advanced class and why
or why not - this is just your opinion, so there is not a right or a wrong response to this part.
✓
You do not need to refer to the class described for Part 2 of this assignment.
✓
Write 300 - 500 words.
The book contains a wide range of relevant and functional materials and exercises, that
include mind-maps, role-plays, fill in the blanks, matching exercises, as well as conscious-raising
activities and discussion questions. I also can see that the four skills are well balanced in terms of
activities offered to develop each skill. I can see that all the materials are attractively and clearly
presented in the book.
The fact that a lot of mind-maps are repeatedly used throughout the unit helps students to
assimilate the material much easier as well as demonstrate the connection of different lexical
terms making them more memorable. Furthermore, the contents pages show that the book has a
functional focus, thus, the units are organized with an emphasis on functionality and there are a
lot of activities that give students the ability to communicate effectively in various everyday
situations.
The topics are very interesting and appropriate for the age of the group. Since adults have
a lot of experience in life and their opinions about its different aspects are quite formed, I am sure
1
,that they will find topics such as globalisation, self-improvement, education very interesting and
entertaining.
On the other hand, I can see that the book offers contextualized practice of grammar and
vocabulary to make the learning process more memorable and engaging (this point is of utmost
importance for the learners). The speaking activities are very well structured and provide students
with the effective and meaningful practice which can be carried out in pairs as well as in the
small/big groups.
The book also contains a variety of real-life photos that makes it appealing to adults and
young adults (which I guess this book is aimed at). Besides, these colourful visuals introduce
characters, stories and set the settings for the listening exercises, so the students are able to
activate their previous knowledge about the topic and make predictions about the language and
vocabulary being used.
Every unit starts with the clear goals and it ends with an “after unit” section in which
students can evaluate themselves by reflecting on their own progress and what they are able to do
after completing the unit. These kinds of self-evaluating activities tend to give students not only a
sense of achievement, but also help them identify the areas to improve and to practice more.
I also like the idea that all the points seen during the lesson are summarised in the
language summary and practice sections at the end of the book (language summary, grammar,
and vocabulary practice). It can help students who are having difficulty and can provide more
practice for students who want to practice more and revise the material.
I was wondering if the coursebooks currently offer a digital version as well. If this is the
case it would be one of the biggest points in its favour.
All in all, since my knowledge of the students will be based on their need’s analysis, and
our relation will be developed throughout the course because I will get to know them better, I will
decide whether I need to add or omit something from the course book material, but I definitely
would use this book in my course!
2
, Assignment C - Part 2.i
Authentic Text
✓
Check the Class Description and Notes on Part 2 on the assignment platform before you begin.
✓
The text should be 500 - 700 words long. (4-5 minutes for listening texts).
✓
In this document, provide a copy of the reading text or a transcript of the listening text you have
chosen.
✓
Ensure the text is referenced, and if you have selected a listening text or video, provide a link.
✓
If you choose a reading text, you can shorten and/or adapt it slightly.
✓
Please supply a copy of the original and your adapted version.
✓
If you have adapted the text, briefly explain the decisions you've made about changing the text in section b)
of the essay.
Highlight 12 vocabulary items (words or phrases) which would be useful to pre-teach.
Part A: Adapted/shortened text
The bad things that happen when algorithms run online shops
Smart software controls the prices and products you see when you shop online – and
sometimes it can go spectacularly wrong, from causing offence to destroying livelihoods. But that’s
the trouble with algorithms. All sorts of unexpected results can occur. Sometimes these are costly,
but in other cases they have benefited businesses to the tune of millions of pounds. What’s the real
impact of the machinations of machines? And what else do they do?
Errant algorithms can also cause human headaches when it comes to prices. The costs of
products that appear on retail websites are constantly fluctuating thanks to software that sets them
competitively. The frequency at which these changes happen is so great that dedicated websites
have been set up to “watch” the pricing on websites like Amazon. Daniel Green has been running
one of these sites for years. He explains that prices don’t just change daily – but sometimes several
times in one day.
“They will drop the price of a product every few days or every few hours until a product is
purchased by someone and then the price goes back up,” he says. “We know that they keep prices
low on a lot of their most popular products to give the impression that they have great deals and
1
