Visiting the Universal Studios theme park, finding out about 'hard-boiled' fiction and Ebonics along with some Hollywood stars.

Group planning

Work in small groups. Plan a day at the theme park. Answer the following questions: 

1. Who will you go to the theme park with? Why?
2. You are arriving at the airport. How will you get from the airport to Universal Studios?
3. How much will the day cost? (Include transport, ticket cost, food and anything else you will buy.)     
4. You are on a very short visit so you can stay in the park for only one day.  Plan ahead. What will you do?

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Class presentations

There are two tasks. Each group should choose one task. You are going to investigate a person or place in groups. Use the links below to collate some information about the person or place and then present the information to the class. Use the information in the web sites to help you.

Task 1) Writer – Raymond Chandler

1.  What are “one-liners” and why was Chandler famous for them? 
2. What is Marlowe and what type of personality does he have? 
3. Can you think of any similar characters from film, literature or cartoons? 
4. In your group prepare a presentation on the ‘hard-boiled’ detective novel. What type of characters are in this genre? 
5. What characteristics does the dialogue have? 

Task 2) The tar pits

1. What type of animals have been found in the tar pit digs? 
2.  Where is Pit 91? Who works in Pit 91?
3. Try to describe the process of excavation to the rest of the class.

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Grammar - reported speech and reporting verbs

We often need to explain to people what other people said or thought. There are a number of ways to do this:

a) No tense change

• We can use quotations: He said “I am not hungry.”
• When we report a statement immediately we can use: Jim is on the phone. He says (that) he is not hungry. (The use of ‘that’ is optional.)

 b) Tense changes 

• We can use the following patterns. this is more formal and the statements are seen as more distant.  
• Present simple to past tense:  “I am not hungry.” -- He said (that) he was not hungry.
• Present continuous to past continuous: “We are eating brunch.” -- They said they were eating brunch.  
• Past simple to past perfect: “We talked for an hour.” -- He said they had talked for an hour.   

Look at the article on Ebonics. Work with a partner. In the first paragraph language is reported using the following words and patterns:

1. Jackson, who initially criticized the board’s decision as “an unacceptable...”
2. “The intent is. .” Jackson said.

Below is the reporting pattern from the next two paragraphs. Fill in the gaps. You may wish to use some or all the following reporting verbs: add, claim, conclude.

1. Jackson (a) ________ he (b)________ Ebonics a “language pattern” rather  than a distinct language, (c) ________ Oakland’s intention (d)________ “not to elevate the pattern….” “They’re looking for tools…..” Jackson (e)________.
2. In number 1) who says the words ‘rather than a distinct language’?
3. Look at the rest of the passage. What patterns are used to report speech?
4. Listen to the quote from Jesse Jackson. Report his words: Jesse Jackson said....

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Web information hunt

Make questions from the 10 jumbled sentences below. Look at the Seeing Stars site. Next, try to find answers to the questions in this big Hollywood site:

1. David Schwimmer school to from go where Friends did?
2. Restaurant in a Elton John party 1998 what in have big did a?
3. Mother the Milky Way whose owns called on Pico boulevard the restaurant?
4.  Does her cut Sharon Stone where hair have? 
5. In comedy his club Jim Carey career did what start? 
6.  Ghost seen has the Marilyn Monroe been of where? 
7. Sit does when the Staples Center Jack Nicholson where goes to he? 
8. The Smashing Pumpkins, the Cranberries and Hole bar with popular band members what is from?  
9. Hollywood in studio was Jurrassic Park shot which? 
10. ER an church recently episode shot what in was of? 

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Sister, sister – who ….?

Work in groups and find the answers to these questions about the tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams. Which group can find the answers first?

Which sister ….

1. … loves reading?
2. … is ill if she eats peanuts?
3. … is the youngest?
4. … admired Boris Becker?
5. … would love to win Wimbledon?
6. … would like to speak lots of languages?
7. … has two dogs?
8. … likes looking at herself?
9. … has been caught driving too fast?
10. … finds Russian things fascinating?

Now write some more questions about the two sisters to ask the rest of your class.