Unit 7: The mass media
D: Writing
Writing about advantages and disadvantages
Task 1: Read about the advantages and disadvantages of television below:
memorable(a)[`memərəbl]
đáng ghi nhớ,
không quên được
effective(a) [i`fektiv]
có hiệu quả
increase(v) [`inkri:s]
tăng lên
popularity (n) [,pɔpju`lærəti]
phổ biến
responsibility [ri,spɔnsə`biləti]
trách nhiệm
global (a) [`gloubəl]
toàn cầu
encourage (v) [in`kʌridʒ]
khuyến khích
violent (a) [`vaiələnt]
hung bạo,quá khích
interfere (with st.) (v) [,intə`fiə]
gây trở ngại; cản trở
Radio
1. It only provides information aurally.
2. It increases the popularity of sports and games.
3. It can be boring because we can`t watch films or sports programs.
4. It helps us to learn more about the world and to know many new things.
5. It encourages us to buy things that we don’t needs.
6. We can listen to it almost everywhere with little cost and great convenience.
Task 2: Work in pairs, choose the advantages and disadvantages of each type of the mass media, and write them down in columns below
2, 4, 6
1, 3, 5
1. They are easy and cheap to use. We can take them along and read them everywhere
2. They interfere with people’s private life. Some articles on them don’t say the truth.
3. They increase the popularity of sports and games.
4. They help us to learn more about the world and to know many new things.
5. They are less updated than other kind of mass media.
6. The text and pictures are not moving so they are as not exciting as other kinds of media.

Newspapers
1, 3, 4,
2, 5, 6
1. It costs much money. We have to pay when we do things on-line such as watching films, listening to music or playing games.
2. It is sometimes harmful for people. They spend too much times playing games on-line or watching bad programs.
3. It can help us do a lot of things such as paying bills, sending and receiving letters, learning foreign languages.
4. It makes us confused when there is too much information . Thus, it is difficult to find the necessary information.
5. It helps us to learn more about the world and to know many new things.
6. It provides a quick daily access to information
and entertainment.



The internet
3, 5, 6
1, 2, 4,
Task 3: Read the ideas in Task 1 again and complete the passages about the advantages and disadvantages of television:

Television brings us a lot of advantages. Firstly, television helps us (1)................ more about the world and to know and see many new things. Secondly, it can make things (2) …................ because it presents information in an effective way. Thirdly, it entertains us. (3) .................. it is an enjoyable way to relax. Fourthly, it increases the popularity of sport and games. Finally, television makes us aware of our global responsibilities.
However, there are some disadvantages of television. First of all, television makes us (4) ................ We don’t have to think so our brains become lazy. Another disadvantage is that it encourages us to (5) ......... things that we don’t need. In addition, it takes time away from activities such as reading and games. Furthermore , some television (6) ......................... may make people violent. Lastly, television interferes with family life and communication.
On balance, I ‘d like to say that (7)………………is neither good nor bad. Television is as good or bad as we make it.
to learn
memorable
Watching
passive
buy
programmes
television
Task 3: Read the ideas in Task 1 again and complete the passages about the advantages and disadvantages of television:

Television brings us a lot of advantages. Firstly, television helps us to learn more about the world and to know and see many new things. Secondly, it can make things memorable because it presents information in an effective way. Thirdly, it entertains us. Watching it is an enjoyable way to relax. Fourthly, it increases the popularity of sport and games. Finally, television makes us aware of our global responsibilities.
However, there are some disadvantages of television. First of all, television makes us passive. We don’t have to think so our brains become lazy. Another disadvantage is that it encourages us to buy things that we don’t need. In addition, it takes time away from activities such as reading and games. Furthermore , some television programmes may make people violent. Lastly, television interferes with family life and communication.
On balance, I ‘d like to say that television is neither good nor bad. Television is as good or as bad as we make it.
Outline
- Listing of points
- Coordinating conjunction
- Introducing contrast
Firstly, secondly, …, finally(Lastly)
- Fisrt of all,
- Another (dis)advantage is that …
Besides, / Moreover, / Furthermore, / and, / In addition,.…
However / On the other hand,… But,.…
* Concluding
In conclusion / In short / On balance, I’d say that.…
Paragraph 2:
Paragraph 1:
-Topic sentence
Paragraph 3:
- Topic sentence
- Listing of points
- Coordinating conjunction
Read about the advantages and disadvantages of radio below:
Read about the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet below:
Task 3: Write about the advantages and disadvantages of Radio or the Internet (using the ideas in Task 2.)
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages of the Internet. First of all, It is sometimes harmful for people. They spend too much times playing games online or watching bad programs. In addition, it costs much money. We have to pay when we do things online such as watching films, listening to music or playing games. Furthermore, It makes us confused when there is too much information . Thus, it is difficult to find the necessary information.
Samples: The Internet
The Internet has its own advantages and disadvantages. The Internet makes life easier and enjoyable. Firstly, it helps us to learn more about the world and to know many new things. Secondly, it can help us do a lot of things such as paying bills, sending and receiving letters, learning foreign languages. Finally, it provides a quick daily access to information and entertainment
On balance, I ‘d like to say that the internet is neither good nor bad. The internet is as good or as bad as we make it.
Radio
Radio brings us a lot of advantages. Firstly, it increases the popularity of sports and games. Secondly, it helps us to learn more about the world and to know many new things. Lastly, we can listen to it almost everywhere with little cost and great convenience.
However, it also has some advantages. First, it only provides information aurally. Besides, it can be boring because we can`t watch films or sports programs. In addition, it encourages us to buy things that we don’t needs.
In short, I’d like to say that radio is neither good nor bad. Radio is as good or as bad as we make it.
Homework
- Write about the advantages or disadvantages of Newspapers
- Prepare the next lesson: Section E: Language Focus (p.79).