Presentations and lectures
Follow short lectures: use signposting to track structure, take efficient notes and separate main points from examples.
In this lesson you will
- Use lecture signposting to follow structure
- Take efficient notes with abbreviations
- Separate main ideas from examples and digressions
Learn
Lecturers signpost: Today I’ll look at three factors… ; The first point is… ; Let’s turn to… ; To give you an example… ; To sum up…. These tell you when a new main point starts.
Notes: write key words, not sentences; use symbols (→ leads to, ↑ increase, ≠ different, e.g., vs) and indent examples under main points.
Main point vs example: For instance, take… introduces support, not a new point. Digressions: As an aside…, By the way… — often not tested.
Emphasis: The crucial thing is…, What’s really important here is… — often the key idea.
Examples
- Note: urban heat ↑ → energy use ↑ (AC)
- Signpost: “Let’s turn to the second factor.”
- Emphasis: “The crucial thing to remember is…”
Vocabulary
lecture
a formal talk to students
digression
a move away from the main topic
abbreviation
a short form of a word
crucial
extremely important
urban heat island
a city that is warmer than the area around it
Practice
“Let’s turn to…” signals…
Listening: A lecture on urban heat islands
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Good morning. Today I’ll look at why cities are often several degrees warmer than the countryside around them — the so-called urban heat island effect — and at three ways of reducing it.
The first cause is materials. Concrete and asphalt absorb heat during the day and release it slowly at night. That’s why city nights can stay uncomfortably warm.
The second cause is a lack of vegetation. Trees cool the air through shade and by releasing water. As an aside, one large tree can have the cooling effect of several air-conditioning units — though I wouldn’t want to be quoted on the exact number.
Let’s turn to solutions. The crucial thing to remember is that small changes add up. First, planting trees along streets. Second, cool roofs — roofs painted white or light colours to reflect sunlight. For instance, one city found that light roofs lowered indoor temperatures by up to three degrees. Third, more parks and water features.
To sum up: materials and missing vegetation cause the effect; trees, cool roofs and green spaces reduce it.
1.What are the two causes mentioned?
2.Why do city nights stay warm?
3.Which part was a digression?
4.By how many degrees did light roofs lower indoor temperatures (up to)?
5.How many solutions are given?
6.The lecturer says small changes add up.
Speaking
Using only your notes, give a one-minute summary of the lecture with its causes and solutions.
Writing
Write your lecture notes as a clear paragraph summary (80–100 words).
Lesson quiz
“To sum up” signals…
Review
Key points
- Follow signposts.
- Notes: key words, symbols, indentation.
- Main points vs examples vs digressions.
- Listen for emphasis.
What you learned
- ✓ I can follow lectures.
- ✓ I take efficient notes.
- ✓ I separate main points from examples.