Second essay assignment: Comparison and contrast

This article on a historical topic is a fine example of comparison and contrast in English which we used in class on 20th November. The activities were as follows. First, students had to interact in pairs to discover 11 missing elements from their particular version of the text, A or B. Second, they had to guess the meaning of a number of possibly unfamiliar expressions highlighted in bold in the text, using English synonyms or Italian translations.Thirdly, they highlighted in the text all the words or phrases expressing comparison and contrast. Lastly, they had to note whether the text was a 'block' comparison or a 'point by point' comparison (it is the latter). This text was also proposed as the basis for a summary writing exercise instructions for which I am providing HERE below.

Summarise the text in about 330 words. As far as possible, organise yourselves into groups of maximum 10 students and do this as a group writing exercise. (I can mark 12 summaries, but 120 is beyond my powers at the present). You may wish to change the order of the information appearing in the text. That is fine. Economy is the key, as always.

The lecture provides an insight into how rolling news, the internet and social media have radically changed diplomacy in the last 25 years or so, empowering citizens and breaking down borders between nations. Useful material, perhaps, for the comparison and contrast essay on politics and diplomacy. We used the first 10 minutes of his lecture (up to the account of the 2009 killing in Iran of Neda Agha-Soltan) for a listening test in class on 12/12/2018.