I. General information about the article
1) the headline
The article is headlined... or The article is entitled...
or The headline of the article is... or The title of the article is...
2) the author
The author of the article is... or The article was written by...
3) the date and place of publication
The article was published in... or The article was printed in...
or The article is taken from...
II. The main idea of the articleThe main (chief, primary, central, special) objective (task, aim, stress) is (to survey, to describe, to examine).
| The author | gives | a brief survey of the problem of… |
| presents | ||
| describes | the nature of the relationship between… | |
| discusses | ||
| outlines | ||
| surveys | ||
| studies | ||
| investigates, examines | the topical problem of… | |
| analyzes | ||
| assesses | ||
| tackles | ||
| provides the reader with | useful information of… | |
| has embarked on | a detailed discussion of… |
III The body of the article (about 1 sentence from each paragraph)
| How to begin? | First the author says/ reports/ states that... The author starts by telling the reader... |
| How to continue? | The author goes on to say that... After that/ further/ next the author points out/ emphasizes. |
| How to conclude? | Finally/ in conclusion it is stated/ stressed that... The author draws the conclusion that |
The fundamental idea is formulated as follows....
The author gives (offers, focuses on) a full assessment (solution, heart) of the problem.
The author furthers the theory of (takes the standard view, provides
etс. information, uses examined data).
IV Your opinion of the article
| + | - |
| It is greatly to the author's credit that he -raised such a controversial/ topical problem as... -substantiates his view with examples/ figures/ statistical data -presents an unusual approach to... -his article is (the first) comprehensive analysis of... | It must be noted that -the problem raised by the author seems to be farfetched/ no longer topical -the author failed to substantiate his point of view with any examples, figures or statistical data -the article lacks true information about... -the article contradicts the main ideas of... -the article does not give any new information on... -the analysis of the problem of...given in this article is far from comprehensive |
| It deserves to be mentioned that - the article is clearly and logically developed | It can also be mentioned that -the article is confusing and lacks logical structure |
| In the whole, -the article is an excellent, lucid and well-motivated presentation of... and may be of (practical) use to all those interested in... | For all its drawbacks, -the article may be of some use to... |
Satisfactory (the well-known, exact, final, important similar, principal, contradictory, convincing) results (facts) were obtained (derived from, presented, collected, expressed, associated, summarized, should be analyzed).
In conclusion it may be (should be) noted that (stated that).
The publication is a useful backdrop to ... (interesting to, clearly and logically developed, well-organized, an excellent and well-motivated presentation of, an important contribution to the complete understanding of, a ble resource to researches).
The reader will find the book useful (important, actual). The study lacks supporting examples. The reviewer wonders about the accuracy of the author's account of.
PART 2
Exercise 1. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under discussion?
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down cliches. Classify them.
Fourteen different cultures from five continents are represented in this volume, which asks Western psychologists to rethink the premises of their discipline and conceptualize a new universal psychology.
With examples from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and North America, contributors emphasize that psychology has traditionally meant Western psychology. However, psychology practiced in other parts of the world raises alternative views of human behavior. Contributors argue that indigenous psychology requires each culture to be understood within its own frame of reference and examined in terms of its own social and ecological context.
Exercise 2. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under discussion?
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down cliches. Classify them.
In this volume, Roger Poppen explores the life and the work of Joseph Wolpe, a key figure in the foundation of behaviour therapy.
In a clear and accessible style, the book traces Wolpe's influence on the behavioural school and discusses his ongoing theoretical and practical contributions to the field. Poppen assesses the. criticisms that Wolpe's work has attracted from both outside and within behaviour therapy and provides an evaluation of whether, and to what extent, they are justified.
Exercise 3. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under discussion?
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down cliches. Classify them
An exciting challenge to social psychology, this volume, advances a realist interpretation of psychological theories that surmounts the problems of traditional empiricist accounts and repudiates the relativism of more recent social constructionist critiques. The author demonstrates that realism offers many more theoretical possibilities than are recognized by these two alternatives.
This wide-ranging book illustrates that a realististist account is entirely compatible with theories of the social dimensions of mind. Greenwood develops an original theory of the intrinsically social dimensions of identity and emotion; he documents many areas that have been neglected by both empiricist and constructionist accounts. He concludes that consideration of the social dimentions of identity and emotion pose no threat to the objectivity, or prospects, for the empirical evaluation of those psychological theories.
Exercise 4. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under discussion?
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down-cliches. Classify them.
This volume explores the major methodological and conceptual approaches to the study of human development with the aim of integrating these heterogeneous methods. Each contributor either summarizes a major methological perspective within development psychology - for example, developmental mechanisms, developmental differences that vary between individuals and developmental changes that are shared by most people - or provides a commentary on the pleading contributor's summary.
Exercise 5. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under discussion?
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down cliches. Classify them.
This book makes clear why gender relations are power relations. It analyzes the complex strands that inextricably link gender and power relations, exploring: the incorporation of gender relations into theorizing on power; the links between gender and political arrangements; the socially constructed nature of gender; and the connections between gender and power within the specific context of women's life.
Power/Gender shows how gender is constructed through the practices of power, how 'female' and ‘male’ are shaped not only at the micro-level of everyday social interaction but also at the macro level where social institutions control and regulate the practice of gender.
Exercise 6. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under discussion
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down cliches. Classify them.
An exciting challenge to social psychology, this volume advances a realist interpretation of psychological theories that surmounts the problems of traditional empiricist account and repudiates the relativism of more recent social constructionist critiques. The author demonstrates that realism offers many more theoretical possibilities than are recognized by these two alternatives.
This wide-ranging book illustrates that a realist account is entirely compatible with theories of the social dimentions of mind. Greenwood develops an original theory of the intrinsically social dimensions of identity and emotion; h.9 documents many areas that have been neglected by both empiricist and constructionist accounts. He concludes that consideration of the social dime nations of identity and emotion, pose no threat to the objectivity, or prospects for the empirical evaluation, of those psychological theories.
Exercise 7. Read the annotation and answer the questions.
1. What is the subject matter of the book?
2. What problems are under the discussion?
3. Entitle the text.
4. Write down cliches. Classify them.
Competing research results have led to bitter debates on family violence. In this comprehensive volume, outstanding researchers and practitioners discuss the principal current controversies in the field. Areas explored include: child abuse and neglect: parther-abuse; date and acquaintance rape; abuse of the elderly, and alcohol abuse.
The thoughtful, often heated, contributions presented in a debate formatcover such issues as: whether prevention programmes affect rates of child sexual abuse; whether alcohol and drug use are causes of' family violence; and whether child-abuse is transmitted from generation to generation. The volume highlights the implications for research and policy directions.
PART 3
A space to think
As Albert Einstein once reflected, 'Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature.' As our lives get fuller and we feel pulled in an increasing number of directions, spending time alone takes on a new significance. Achieving and appreciating solitude doesn't come easily to many of us. Yet if we can rise to the challenge, there are significant benefits to be gained, including improved problem-solving, better perspective on our lives and a sense of reconnection with our real, inner selves.
Throughout history there are many examples of those who have found not just peace but glory in their own company. Religious figures such as Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha discovered spiritual truth in their retreats from the world, while Wordsworth found inspiration for his poetry on solitary strolls in the Lake District. But you don't have to be a mystic or creative genius to benefit from quiet reflection. Solitude can be deeply restful; it allows us to think through our problems in a new way and puts us in touch with our emotions. For many of us, a key barrier to finding solitude is creating the physical space we need to be alone. Buddha retired to the forest to seek enlightenment; Jesus and Mohammed spent time in the desert, and the wilderness itself has a symbolic function in many of these stories.
For some of us the prospect of an entire weekend in our own company, walking and dining alone, is a terrifying one. Why do some of us relish a weekend alone while others dread it? Most psychologists agree that our preference is partially innate and depends on whether we are introverts or extroverts. Natural 'loners' are more comfortable in their own company, but extroverts can feel under-stimulated and self-conscious when alone. In his book Solitude (Harper Collins), the late Dr Anthony Storr points out that even extroverts need time to themselves. Solitude, writes Storr, 'facilitates learning, thinking, innovation and the maintenance of contact with the inner world of the imagination.'
For those with an over-active mind, solitude can feel overwhelming at first. Time alone will often bring us face to face with thoughts and feelings we find hard to cope with: the Voices' in our head we would sometimes rather block out. Avoiding solitude is a natural response to a traumatic event such as bereavement, says psychologist Felix Economakis, director of The Heath Clinic in London. 'We need time to process our emotions, so we have to shut them out and let those feelings drip-feed back gradually.'
Solitude can help us access the inner thoughts and emotions that are running deep below our surface. 'If you are rushing around occupying your mind with other people's thoughts and problems, you never have a chance to listen to your own solutions,' says Economakis. Time alone lets us initiate our own thoughts, instead of endlessly reacting or responding to others.