Chinese 431-Advanced Conversation

Assignment 4: Describe a Procedure

For the 4th assignment, you will describe a procedure of how to do something. You can tell the class how to cook a dish, how to assemble a piece of furniture, how to program a VCR and so on. The key is to be detailed enough so that we can replicate the results by following your instructions.

You can of course look at recipes or other kinds of instruction materials to get ideas and the words you need. But be aware that the language used in written recipes and instructions are often not appropriate for oral delivery to an audience. They tend to be cryptic and too formal and written in style.

You can also bring props, such as pictures and flowcharts.

First, we have practice sessions with partners.

You should always make sure that you are understood. Do not ignore the audience. If you have watched Emeril Live!, you must have noticed how often he says “Are you with me?”, “Are you with me so far?”

The tape is due on 3/7/06, Tuesday.

 Some key pointers:

What you need:

Tools, materials, ingredients

Amount:

Use the right measure words

Use sequencing expressions:

Before, after, at the same time as, while

Use the right action verbs:

Be as specific as possible; avoid overuse of generic verbs and “do” or “make”

Use the right adverbs to describe how some action is to be performed:

Slowly, carefully, etc.

Use the BA construction for “doing some action B to some object B with result C”