Prose fiction:

Fiction: Non-fiction:
- Not real, invented story - Real facts
(e.g. diaries, journals, essays,
- Fictitious (out of reality) (auto)biographies, newspaper articles)

- Can be either realistic or fantastic

(e.g. fairy tales, legends, short stories,
novels, plays, poems)

Prose : Verse :
- Written in sentences and paragraphs - Follows a metrical structure: written
in lines and stanzas
- Grammatical correctness with
sentences. - Lax grammar (negligent, faible)

- No metrical structure. It follows - Rhythm

natural patterns of speech and
communication. - Poems can be structured, with
rhyming lines and meter.
- Uses everyday language
- Poems can also be freeform
- Sentences and thoughts continue
across lines - Works of poetry

Prose fiction formats:

1) Short stories: Can be read in one sitting, has a few thousand words, a limited
number of characters and themes, a single plot, and often revolves around a
moral lesson.

2) Novella: Middle ground between a novel and a short story, with a single plot,
more conflicts and development than a short story, but fewer subplots than a
novel, and is not always divided into chapters.

3) Novels: Features several characters multiple plots and subplots. Is divided into
chapters, and ties up all the loose ends by the end of the book.

Prose fiction genres:

Detective, thriller, psychological novels, fantasy, comedy, gothic novels, fable, myth,
horror, science fiction, wester, fairy tale, legend.

Prose fiction analysis:

1) Settings: Events and thoughts that make up the story

 2) Plot story:

A linear plot has a beginning, middle, and end, and is constructed chronologically.
A nonlinear plot contains the same components (beginning, middle, and end) but is not
chronological. It may contain flashbacks and flashforwards.

A) The exposition: The situation before the story stars; introduction of setting and
characters. Background information on the setting, the characters’ backstories,
prior plot events, historical context. It also reveals the type of narration

B) The rising action: Begins to move the story forward, generally characterized by
conflict (introduction of problems and challenges that the characters must
overcome)
The trigger = the event that sets the plot into motion
The quest = how the characters respond to the trigger
The surprise/twist/turn
The critical choice = the decision(s) the main character(s) make that lead to the climax

C) The Climax
The tipping point where tensions are at their highest and the reader is most engaged by
what is happening.
The moment of truth for the protagonist.
The event which the narrative has been building up to.

D) The Falling Action

Helps deescalate the tension and ease readers into the conclusion of the story
The focus is on resolving conflicts and tying up loose ends

E) The Resolution or Denouement

Where the plot comes to an end
Where the major problems are solved, and loose ends are tied up

3) Characters: The protagonist = the hero/heroine, the main character

The protagonist = The character that opposes the protagonist, sometimes (but not
always) the villain.
Minor characters = the foil, their personality and actions are there to emphasize the
good sides of the main characters

ð Flat: Static (stays the same) throughout the story, secondary characters,
supporting roles, characterized by one or two traits only, predictable and cannot
surprise the reader.
ð Round: Dynamic (changes over the course of a story), form of a lesson learned,
complex, characterized by many di]erent, even contradictory traits, di]icult to
sum up and may surprise the reader

Description: Appearance and behaviour; inner emotional, intellectual, and moral

qualities
Action: What do they do?

Reaction: How do others react to them, what do others think about them?

Thoughts: What do the characters think?

Speech? How do they speak?

4) Narrator: Omniscient: Knows all of the thoughts and feelings of all of the
characters in the story.
Limited: Relates only their own thoughts, feelings, and knowledge about various
situations and the other characters. Reader sees things through the eyes of one
character -> bias.

First person: Always limited point of view, essential to know who is speaking
(main character? narrator? someone else?)
Third person: Determine whether the point of view is limited or omniscient

Reliable: Accurate and impartial

Unreliable: The narrator is dishonest, misinformed, or even deluded. Not
necessarily a liar (i.e. young, ill-informed). This is most common with limited first-
person narrators.

5) Conflict: Internal: Man vs. himself

External: Man vs. man, man vs. society, man vs. nature, man vs. technology

6) Themes: Usually deal with general areas of human experience:

The nature of humanity or society, the relationship of human beings to the environment,
the question of moral responsibility.
They serve to convey a message, what the author wants to show us (e.g. Power, love,
death)

7) Symbols: Sth that represents sth else. An image, event, or physical object used
to represent sth non-physical such as an idea, a value, or an emotion.
Authors uses symbols to suggest meaning.

8) Styles: Some figures of speech:

- Metaphor: Compare two things, saying that one thing is like another, i.e. Your love is a
hurricane.
- Simile: Comparison with “like” or “as”, i.e. Your love is like a hurricane.
- Hyperbole: Exaggerated remark or comment, i.e. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
- Personification: The giving of human qualities to inanimate objects or animals, i.e.
The leaves danced in the breeze.
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Arguing for your opinion:
 1) Asking someone for their opinion:

What do you think of the barbie movie? (asking about a specific thing or person)

What do you think about working on weekends? (asking about a general topic)

How do you feel about working with other people?

Are you for or against the death penalty?

Are you in favor of long prison sentences? Or are you opposed to them?

2) Give your opinion:

(Personally,) I think that ghosts exist.

(Personally,) I feel that there is no such thing as too much garlic.

In my opinion, Beyonce is overrated.

My feeling is that no one really likes the taste of beer.

If you ask me, American pancakes are better than English ones

To my mind, travelling is a waste of time.

Common mistake = According to me

It’s a way of reporting sth, an authority or another person stated, not sth. you said or
think.

3) Strong opinions:

I strongly/ firmly believe that the earth is flat.

It is clear that morning people cannot be trusted.

It is undeniable that happiness can be bought.

4) Agreeing

I agree with you that taking an ice-cold bath is enjoyable.

I agree with you on the fact that ice-cold baths are enjoyable.

è I entirely/ fully/ completely agree

è I couldn’t agree more

You’re (absolutely) right. Vanilla ice cream tastes horrible.

I share your opinion that soggy fries are better than crispy fries.

Common mistake = I am agree, are you agree?

5) Disagreeing

I disagree with you (that/ on)

è I fundamentally / totally/ strongly disagree.

I don’t agree (at all)

You are wrong

è You are absolutely wrong

6) Partially agreeing

It is true that karaoke is only fun for the person who is singing. However, it is a great way
to have a good time with your friends.

I agree with you that ironing is a pointless chore. This being said, it still needs to be
done.

I see what you mean, but…

I (can) see your point, but … / That is a good/valid point, but…

I agree to some extent, but …

I agree up to a point, but …

7) Interrupting

I am sorry to interrupt, but your speaking time is up.

If I might add something, …

I might jump in here, …

8) A few idioms

Contrary to popular belief, it is not true that blondes are dumb = contrary to what many
people think (= contrary to what people think)

We are poles apart in our attitudes to life (= completely opposite)

Their views on teaching are polar opposites (=completely di]erent)

You’ve hit the nail on the head (= you are exactly right about something)

We see eye to eye about most important issues (= we agree)

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Tenses:

Simple present: infinitive + s/es with 3rd person singular

Simple present continuous: present of “to be” + -ing form

Simple past: Regular: infinitive (1st column) + ed (⚠irregular)

Simple past continuous: past of “to be” + -ing form

Present perfect: present of “to have” + past participle

Present perfect continuous: present of “to have” + been + -ing form

Simple future: will + infinitive

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Technology:
Vocabulary:
To shape, it reshapes how we communicate
Ai is uncountable => AI + singular, or an AI program
It depends on
Our digital world
Its impact is wide-ranging
The advent of smartphones
Messages erase distances
Face-to-face interactions are replaced by virtual interactions
Technology has revolutionized the way we access/ look for/ research information.
With just a few clicks
The sheer (amount) of information can be overwhelming, and identifying misinformation
(not on purpose)/disinformation (on purpose)/fake news has become.
Entertainment and leisure activities.
The way we unwind and relax after a long day at work - perhaps even remote work.
excessive screen time
Sedentary lifestyles
Physical and mental health, state, well-being.
Find a balance between its pros and cons/ advantages and disadvantages/ positive and
negative side/ benefits and drawbacks, …
To play a role in
To raise concerns about
To work from home
To strike a balance between… and…
To youth of today have grown up
The Internet
This is an example of how technology is reshaping businesses.
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Is it the end of social media ?

Have you ever found harmful content on social media ?

Should the government take care of that ?

How often do you post pictures of yourself on social media ?

Have you ever felt judged when you posted a picture ?

Do you care about likes, do them make you feel more popular ?

Do you show your real self on social media ?

Are influencers good role models for young people?

Are you addicted to social media?

Is social media making it harder for people to enjoy real-life activities?

Do you feel pressure to be perfect because of what you see on social media ?

Can people who make art with AI be considered real artists?

Is AI-generated art as valuable as art made by humans?

Do you trust viral news and fake news ?

Is viral news harmful to society?

Do you use social media as a source of information?

How can people spot fake news online?

Do people believe fake news more than real news?

Should we worry that robots will take over most jobs in the future?

Are students going to lose opportunities to work because of robots?

Do you use ChatGPT? What for?

Should schools allow students to use ChatGPT for learning?

Should ChatGPT be regulated by the government?

Can everyone find love on dating apps?

Should all cars be electric?

Are books better at sparking imagination than phones?

Should cloning be allowed?

Should children not be allowed to use smartphones?

Will humans colonise Mars this century?

Is technology making us smarter?

Is online education as good as traditional classroom learning?

Does social media contribute to social isolation?

Ex: it is said that…, but I think that…

“Some children are afraid to go out because of online bullying and violence”.
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Success and failure: VOC
(EVU for collocations and word formations)

Expressions and idioms

• A blessing in disguise
o Something that seems bad at first, but turns into something good

• From rags to riches

o From poverty to wealth
o A rags-to-riches
o E.g., My father was born in a poor family, but now he's a successful lawyer. He really
went from rags to riches.

• A recipe for success

o E.g., Hard work and determination are key ingredients in the recipe for success

• To rise to the occasion

o To perform better than usual in response to a special situation or event
o E.g., When faced with an unexpected challenge at work, Sarah showed her true
leadership skills by rising to the occasion and finding a creative solution that impressed
her team.

• On top of the world

o E.g., I asked my girlfriend to marry me, and she said yes! I am on top
of the world.
• To climb the ladder of success
o E.g., After years of dedication, John managed to climb the ladder of
success in his company, eventually reaching the position of CEO.

• To break through barriers

o To succeed in forcing your way through it
o E.g., Susan's determination allowed her to break through barriers and
achieve her dream of starting her own successful business.

• To hit the jackpot

o E.g., The team hit the jackpot when they made a groundbreaking
discovery that could revolutionize medicine.

• To go places
o To be increasingly successful
o E.g., I always knew Serena Williams would go places and win many
trophies.

• To reach new heights

o E.g., The company reached new heights in its annual revenue,
surpassing all previous records.
• To hit the big time
o To become successful nationally or/and internationally and make a lot
of money
o E.g., She is a good writer, but she has never hit the big time.

• Don’t stand/have a ghost of a chance

o To have very little chance in succeeding in something
o E.g., He doesn't stand a ghost of a chance of selling the house.

• To be the victim of one’s own success

o E.g., Her relentless commitment to her job led to burnout, making her a victim of her
own success as she struggled to maintain a healthy work- life balance.

• To throw in the towel

o To give up
o E.g., She was ready to throw in the towel but remembered her goal and kept going.

• To miss the boat

o Be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity
o E.g., Tom wanted to buy tickets for the concert, but he missed the boat, and they were
all sold out.

!!:
To succeed in
To reach/secure an agreement.
To reach/attain/achieve one’s targets
To realise/attain/fulfill/achieve one’s ambition
To find it very di]icult to…
To have di]iculty (in) -ing with…
To have trouble + ing
To cope with…
To have much di]iculty + -ing
To come to nothing.
To manage to complete sth
success = uncountable

What is your definition of success?

Is there a recipe for success?

Does luck play a role in someone’s success?

Does success bring happiness?

What is your definition of failure?

Can we benefit from failure?

What is your biggest failure and what did you learn from it?

Describe a moment when you felt successful. What did you achieve?

Who inspires you in your journey towards success and why?

Share a dream you have for the future. What steps are you taking to achieve it?

Discuss a challenge you faced and how you overcame it.

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