http://www.grammarstation.com/servlet/GGuide?type=INVIIUI

Don't forget 'Mert's' page on inversions, which was posted earlier in this blog.

http://www.editthis.info/cyprus_views

Let me know if you have any questions about the details.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

http://text.kify.com/

This is a free online summarizer.  Works reasonably well.  You have to indicate the number of sentences you want in the summary.

http://home.hccnet.nl/m.b.wieling/autosummarizer.html

This is also free and online, but it has been designed to deal with scientific texts.  Also, you have to indicate the size of the summary in terms of percentage. 

You be the judge...following is the summary of CARTOON WARS from the first site (limited to 5 sentences)

" That, with apologies to Voltaire, seems to have been the initial pathetic response of some western governments to the republication by many European newspapers of several cartoons of Muhammad first published in a Danish newspaper in September. And they offend because they can be read as equating Islam with terrorism: one cartoon has Muhammad with a bomb for his headgear. But on the European mainland, some of the papers that published the cartoons say they did so precisely because their right to publish was being called into question. There are many things western countries could usefully say and do to ease relations with Islam, but shutting up their own newspapers is not one of them. People who feel that they are not free to give voice to their worries about terrorism, globalisation or the encroachment of new cultures or religions will not love their neighbours any better. 

And this is the summary of CARTOON WARS from the second site:

"I DISAGREE with what you say and even if you are threatened with death I will not defend very strongly your right to say it." That, with apologies to Voltaire, seems to have been the initial pathetic response of some western governments to the republication by many European newspapers of several cartoons of Muhammad first published in a Danish newspaper in September. It was "unacceptable" to incite religious hatred by publishing such pictures, said America's State Department. And they offend because they can be read as equating Islam with terrorism: one cartoon has Muhammad with a bomb for his headgear. But that is and should be their own decision, not a decision for governments, clerics or other self-appointed arbiters of taste and responsibility. Last week, however, another British jury acquitted Nick Griffin, a notorious bigot who calls Islam "vicious and wicked", on charges of stirring racial hatred.
But on the European mainland, some of the papers that published the cartoons say they did so precisely because their right to publish was being called into question. There are many things western countries could usefully say and do to ease relations with Islam, but shutting up their own newspapers is not one of them. And freedom of expression, remember, is not just a pillar of western democracy, as sacred in its own way as Muhammad is to pious Muslims. Ultimately, spreading and strengthening it may be one of the best hopes for avoiding the incomprehension that can lead civilisations into conflict.

In her article “A generation of unabashed flirts”, written for MSNBC.COM in 2002, Lisa Napoli suggests that internet dating really hasn’t really made a significant impact on the search for love.  Although internet dating, seen as a ‘modern’ way to find love, uses technology to categorize and narrow the search for a partner, the basic principles of using personal ads is the same regardless whether it is pixels on a screen or ink on paper.  The Internet may increase the scope and scale of a person’s quest for love, but in the end people have to meet face-to-face to see if they really are a compatible match.

BURAK:

According to New York City,Sept.19.2002,by Lisa Napoli for MSNBC.com, new generation is finding love,lust or more via internet personals.In modern age, you are answering a few questions about yourself,filling in the blanks about what you are looking for, putting your best photo and you can dial up a spouse,date or little fun.You can easily weed out what you are looking for and find yourself in a serious relationship quicker than you think.Although others of varying ages find all this sad and horrific, it is good way for us to meet new friends.

IBO:

According to Lisa Napoli writing  for MSNBC.com in Sep,19,2002, in the past years all people have to married that is the thing which is seen  as a obligation but now  it is not.Time and realitionships have changed.Therefore , you can dial up love online by composing a catchy headline and attaching your best  photo.

FULYA:

This  passage  was  writen by Lisa Napoli for  MSNBC.com.Itis about meetig style  before being married.The  old way of  meeting with someone is in the  bar .The other way of is on the  internet popular in nowadays.She  mentions  some real examples about  all ways and  does not  forget  to give  some  clues especially on the  internet  way for  security.The meeting  on the  internet  is  so interesting,so pop stars  can join this thing,too.Because  everyone on the  world is  looking for  somebody to  love, when you find  it is charming thing in the  life.

MUSTAFA:

The text , written by Lisa Napoli on 19 September 2002 , is about a new way of finding a love. You meet with your partner on internet and flirt with him/her. Meeteing a partner at a bar and on internet are compared in a paragraph. The writer said that people are embarrassed to admit that they met with their partner on internet. She thinks that traditional values are disappearing. Different from past, there are many ways of finding a partner today. The writer admitted that she met with some guys that she chat on internet.At the last part of her text, she gave an example. She said that pop-star Bill Joel is going to rent an apartment in Manhattan in order to meet more prospect because the only thing that he wants is a love. She suggested him to list himself online and console himself with the fact that quest for love is universal.

CENGIZ:

According to Lisa Napoli who wrote for MSNBC.com in Semtember 2002,the old-based relationships replaced with internet-based relationships. now,people use internet to meet because it's easier,faster and there is no limit as country and she adds;times and relationships have changed,but only two things;concept of personal ads and quest for love has never changed.

GIZEM TURKELI:

In article named "A Generation Of Unabashed Flirts" ,established on 19 September 2002 in New York City,written by Lisa Napoli,author mentions that in this technological era,the datings are more becoming a part of technology such as,intenet dating.Before the internet datings' this spread position,sometimes people emberrased whereas they have boy/girl friend from virtual world,if they met in virtual world by adding personal ads in online dating web sites.Spouses can find eachother with searching their interests virtually when they found a person for his/her self then they can meet firstly in internet.You can choose whoever you want,who looks attractively to you,and who is willing same things with you.You can categorize people depends on what you expect to see.Internet can enable you to find a spouse.

Thanks Gizem...the only student who bothered to do this activity.  Well, as they say in English:  you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink!  Anyway, here is one way to report the dialogue given in the supplementary book at the end of the reported speech section:

Mrs. Cantor came into the living room and asked her son, Andy, what he was doing. He looked up and answered that he was fixing his radio. Mrs. Cantor wanted to know where his sister was. Andy replied that she was in the kitchen making a sandwich. Mrs. Cantor ran into the kitchen and ordered Dolores not to eat anything before dinner. Dolores quickly swallowed a piece of cake and exclaimed to her mother that she was starving. Mrs. Cantor suggested having some cheese instead of the cake. Dolores informed her mother that there wasn't any cheese left because she had eaten it the day before. Mrs. Cantor spoke angrily and ordered Dolores to go to the store and to buy some more because she was making lasagna that night. Dolores agreed and said that she would go when she finished her homework Andy entered the kitchen and asked his mother when his father was coming home. Dolores reminded him that their father was working late that night. Mrs. Cantor admitted that she had completely forgotten. Andy told his mother not to worry because his father didn't like her lasagna anyway.

1. RTI - U1 Background set A
2. RTI - U1 Background set B
3. RTI - U1 Internet is passe (Thanks Yasin for the bug report!)
4. RTI - U1 Double Click

Yigit and Sahan...let me know if this is any better.  Thanks for your feedback.

1. A great site with many readings and interactive quizzes:
   http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/exercises/main/reading.html
   
2. Here is an amazing site, with literally tons of exercises and activities:
   http://www.world-english.org/
   and this is the link directly to the reading skills page:
   http://www.world-english.org/improve_reading_skills.htm
   
3. This is a great site with timed readings, based on texts of an American theme.  Most are quite interesting, and the timer helps you build in more self-discipline and awareness of speed reading:
   http://www.geocities.com/yamataro670/readinglab.htm
   
4. Not quite so professionally laid out, but still many useful readings.  Also includes a 'speed' reading section which trains your eyes to pick up on keywords.  Worth a look, but there is an annoying advert popping up for a language school:
   http://eslus.com/LESSONS/READING/READ.HTM
   
5. This is a neat site, based on Voice of America.  Great for practicing logical connectors, as you are asked to 'piece together' the stories by selecting which sentence comes next.  Also, nice storyboard exercise where you have to build up the story word by word.  Hard work, but really good at improving your awareness of how an English text hangs togehter:
   http://cla.univ-fcomte.fr/english/reading/voa/index.htm

Let me know if any of these are useful.  If you stumble across others, share them with the group.

Thanks!

Steve

I suggested last span that you read at least one article from an English newspaper every day, and pick out some interesting vocabulary items or some examples of grammar in use that we have dealt with in class.  If you don't like reading online, and you can't find a printer, remember that there are English newspapers in SAC where you can touch, feel and read them at your leisure.