AS Language - Work in my absence

Hi everyone,

I have gone home sick today and so it is unlikely that I will be in college tomorrow (Wednesday).

In my absence, please complete the following tasks which continue with our theme of language and communication via technology. You may not get completely through both tasks today, however if I am not feeling better by Thursday I will be absent again, and so this should be enough work for 2 lessons.

First of all, watch the following TED talk. Summarise the talk and make notes on your own blog. Discuss the following:

• The main points the talk covers
• The opinion of the speaker
• Do you agree/disagree?
• Why or why not?

John McWhorter - Txting is killing language. JK!!!!

After your have made notes and summarised the video, your next task is to analyse your own text messages. Complete the following tasks:

• Choose a selection of your own text messages, a conversation with a friend and a parent would make a good comparison. 
• Make notes on register, purpose and context 
• Using this grid (follow the link), analyse the language features of your own text messages: Text Message Analysis Grid

Once you have completed the grid, turn your findings into a short PEE essay in which you analyse your own text speak. This will be used as your half-term assessment. Answer the following questions in your essay:

• Is there anything you notice about your text speak? 
• What is characteristic about it? 
• Are there any differences between the way to text a friend and the way you text a parent? 
• Do you notice any patterns in your language when you are texting?