Requests: A Polite Effort!!!

To do it brilliantly, you should follow these steps:

1- This final task will be done in a colaborative way in which each member has to chose a role. Remember that you have to meet all together in order to reach an agreement to do the final project.

 PRETASK

2- It is necessary to establish the roles of each of the 5 members of the group. The function of each role is the following one:

• READERS: 2 members of the group must be the readers. They have to read the text and write the request expressions they have found. As the text is quite long, they must divide the text into 2 parts and each one read the corresponding one. In order to find out the request expressions,  it is required to click on the following link:Text about requests. Each reader must write their answers on a paper.
  

• CORPORA RESEARCHERS: 3 members are the corpora researchers. One corpora researcher must notice the difference in structure between "would you mind+...?" and "could you+...?" He/she needs to enter to the BNC for "would you mind+...?" and Corpus Concordance English for "could you+...?"  to answer this question. In the CCE, he/she should select the BNC Spoken (1 million). By typing both expressions in the pertinent corpus, the results will clearly appear.  Another one has to do the same with "would you mind+...?" and "can you+...?", that is, he/she must detect the different structure with "would you mind+...?" and "can you+ ...?" This corpora researher has to respond the question by utilising the BNC for "would you mind+...?" and press here: Hong Kong Corpus of Spoken English for "can you+...?" Once the expressions will be typed into the suitable corpus, the answer will be easily known. Furthermore, another different corpora researcher must see the difference in meaning between "could you...?" and "would you...?"  To do this, he/she must click on the Linguee dictionary and search the meaning for both structures by putting them into brackets (""), that is, by writing "could you" and "would you" and taking into consideration his/her mother tongue. Click on the "more results" button to see more examples in the Linguee dictionary. Each  corpora researchers must write their results on a paper.
  

4- Put together all your answers in one word document and send them to this e-mail: irinateacher@hotmail.com.

5- All the members of the group must arrange a meeting to discuss all together the aspects of structure, meaning and context  learned  while  completing this fill in the gaps exercise with the proper expression. It is important to bear in mind that only one correct answer in each gap can be possible and answers cannot be repeated.

• Erm now _________ help me on some of the the terminology used? Because I gather that six of the packages have been or about to be priced on the basis of an ascertained costs erm I just wondered if that was a sort of euphemism for a plus cost. (Formal situation)
• Dad, ___________ come upstairs?  But I think he's thinking of buying another phone. But it's still ridiculous, but not just now, I got Dad!(Informal situation)

• Oh I'm sorry that plane's not leaving tonight Mister ________ going and spending the night in the holiday hotel in so and so and so and so.
• Those who vote for that addendum . ______________ please sit? Thank you.
  

6- Send the whole group answers of the fill in the gaps exercice in a single word document to irinateacher@hotmail.com.

7-  All together, watch the video  to check if you have finally understood the topic of requests.

 TASK

1- After doing the previous activities, you must establish the roles for each group member to develop the task. There are 5 assigned roles with the following functions:

• SCRIPT WRITER: 1 memeber will be in charge of writing a script using requests which cannot last more than 15 minutes. To write it properly, it is highly advisable to click on Requests: Common mistakes when ordering at restaurants  to see how common mistakes in everyday speech when ordering a meal must be avoided to perform the role play. Furthermore, some vocabulary related to restaurants can be very helpful to write the script. Click on the following link: At a Restaurant vocabulary word list.
   Moreover, to have a clearer idea on how to write the performance, you have the possibility to watch the following video closely related to the topic:
  

• ACTORS/ACTRESSES: 3 members of the group will perform the role play in front of the camera. 2 of them will be the customers and 1 will be the waiter/waitress.They must read and memorise the script to practice their role several times in order to perform it right.
• CAMERA OPERATOR: 1 member of the group will have the function of recording with his/her camera the restaurant situation which cannot last more than 15 minutes. It must be recorded a good visual and audible video.

2- Polite-goers, after doing your job, your final task is done!