1ª EM - Situates Learning 7: Newspaper readers

 Localizem a seção Letters to the editor   (Cartas ao editor) em um jornal ou revista on-line e façam uma rápida leitura para responder à seguinte pergunta:

→ What is it about? 
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No geral, essa seção Letters to the editor aparece no primeiro caderno dos jornais e ocupa um espaço relativamente pequeno da página. A seção Letters to the editor às vezes aparece sob o nome “Opinião do leitor” e traz comentários enviados por leitores sobre artigos publicados em edições anteriores. A existência dessa seção garante apenas parcialmente o compromisso da imprensa com a precisão das informações que veicula, bem como com seus leitores. Muitos jornais possuem um ombudsman, um profissional sem vínculos institucionais diretos e que funciona como um ouvidor, cuja tarefa principal é garantir que as reclamações e as opiniões dos leitores sejam consideradas.

1. In a news article entitled “Women: go back to where you belong”, published in the Opinion section of a newspaper, the columnist firmly stood up for his argument that violence among teenagers is a domestic problem, and the solution for it can only be achieved if women take over their role as mothers and caretakers who stay at home educating their children instead of competing against men in a game that both sides are fated to lose. After reading this article, two readers sent letters to the newspaper.

 Read the following letters and answer: Who supports the ideas presented by the author? Who is against them? What evidence in both texts helped your answer?

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To the editor
I want to congratulate you for publishing such an insightful article. It is time we went back to traditional values, and it seems that, on the account of what is “politically correct”, people have been hiding the truth about what has been making our society fall apart. I totally agree with every single line I read and I want to say it loud and clear.

Johanne Sushbeck, 40

To the editor
When I read the article “Women: go back to where you belong”, I was totally shocked. In a society which is struggling hard to guarantee and protect the rights not only of women but also of several minority groups – or maybe I should call them priority groups –, it is outrageous to find people who still think like this. It was a shame to see that all the gains in the field of social democracy and equity were totally disregarded by the author. 

Kean Smashfield, 53

2. Read the letters to the editor again and answer in Portuguese: 

a) Kean Smashfield suggests an alternative term for minority groups. What is it? Why do you think he makes this suggestion? 

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b) Johanne Sushbeck calls for a return to traditional values. What do you think these values are? 

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1. Study the sentences below. Then copy them in the correct place in the table. 

I’d say the exact opposite

I couldn’t agree with you more.

I don’t think so.

That’s so true.

You’re absolutely right.

That’s exactly what I think.

I agree with you 100 percent. 

I have a different opinion!

I’m afraid I disagree with you.

That’s not always true.

Expressing agreement

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Expressing disagreement

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2. Read these statements. Do you agree or disagree with each of them? Use sentences from Activity 1 to express your opinion.

In my opinion, men and women have similar social roles and should have the same rights.

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The way I see it, men tend to be more successful than women in their professional life! 

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If you want my honest opinion, I think people should only get a driving license when they are 21.

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As far as I’m concerned, a 16-year-old person is responsible enough to drive!

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I believe television is just like a drug. The more you watch it, the more addicted you become.

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If you ask me, I think television is great not only for entertainment but  also for educational purposes!

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3. The following sentences have factual mistakes. Follow the example to correct them. 

a) Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered America. 

 Pedro Álvares Cabral didn't discovered America. He discovered Brazil.

b) The Berlin Wall came down in 1998. 

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c) The first atomic bomb exploded during World War I.

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d) The First Industrial Revolution took place in Germany. 

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e) Shakespeare wrote Great expectations. 

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