EFL Writing Lesson

Personal Descriptions - ESL/EFL Writing Lesson Learning to write personal descriptions is important to provide information about yourself or others. This guide to writing personal descriptions is perfect for beginners, or beginning level English learning classes. Begin by writing about yourself by reading the paragraph below, and using the tips to help you write your own personal description. Continue by reading a description of another person and then write a description about one of your friends. ESL teachers can print out these simple paragraphs and tips to use in class when helping beginning level students write personal descriptions. Read the following paragraph. Notice that this paragraph describes the person who is writing the introductory paragraph. Hello, my name is James. Im a programmer and I come from Chicago. I live in Seattle with my wife Jennifer. We have two children and a dog. The dog is very funny. I work at a computer company in the city. The company is very famous and successful. Our daughter is named Anna and our Son is named Peter. She is four years old and he is five. We like living and working in Seattle. Tips for Writing a Personal Description about Yourself Use come from for the city or country where you were born. Use live for the city where you currently live.Use the present simple tense to explain what you do every day.Use have or have got to speak about your children, pets, etc.Use a the first time you mention something. For example, I live in a house. Then use the after the first time you write about it. For example, I live in a house. The house is in Seattle.Remember to use he, his, him for boys and men and she, her, her for girls and women. Use our when speaking about the whole family.Use like doing when speaking about hobbies. Read the following paragraph. Notice that this paragraph describes a different person than the person who is writing the introductory paragraph. Mary is my friend. She is a student at a college in our town. The college is very small. She lives in an apartment in the center of town. She doesnt have a dog or a cat. She studies every day and sometimes works in the evening at a small shop. The shop sells gift items like postcards, games and other small items. She enjoys playing golf, tennis and walking in the countryside. Tips for Writing a Personal Description about a Friend Remember to add s to the present simple tense when writing about other people.In the present simple tense, doesnt takes the s in the negative form. Remember to use doesnt verb in the negative.Use sometimes, often, never, etc. before the main verb in a sentence.Remember to use he, his, him for boys and men and she, her, her for girls and women.Use enjoys doing when speaking about hobbies. Its okay to connect a few verbs using commas, but place and before the final verb in the list when speaking about someones hobbies. For example, She enjoys playing tennis, swimming and riding horses. Exercise Write a paragraph about yourself. Try to use a variety of verbs and a and the correctly.Write a paragraph about someone else. You can write about a friend or a someone from your family.Compare the two paragraphs and note the differences in pronoun and verb use. For example,  I live in Seattle BUT She lives in Chicago.My house is in a suburb. BUT His house is in the city.

Public Administration Degree and Career Options

Public Administration Degree and Career Options What Is a Public Administration Degree? A public administration degree is an academic degree awarded to students who have completed a postsecondary college, university, or business school program with a focus on public administration. The study of public administration typically includes an examination of government organization, policies, and programs. Students may also study government decision-making and the behavior of elected and non-elected officials. Types of Public Administration Degrees Students who major in public administration have a number of degree options available to them. The most popular degree options include: Bachelors Degree - A bachelors degree in public administration, business administration, management, or political science can help graduates get entry-level positions in the public administration field. Bachelors programs typically take four years of full-time study to complete. However, accelerated and part-time programs are also available.Masters Degree - A masters degree with a focus on public administration, public policy, or a related topic is the next step for students who have earned a bachelors degree. Students may choose to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on public administration or management or a Master of Public Administration (MPA), which is the equivalent of an MBA in the public administration field. Some students may also choose to pursue a Master of Public Policy (MPP), which focuses on analyzing and solving public policy issues. Masters, MBA, MPA, and MPP programs usually take two years to complete. One-year and part-time programs are also available. Doctorate Degree - The two most advanced degrees in public administration are the Doctor of Public Administration and the Ph.D. in Public Administration. Both are research degrees with a focus on the practice of public administration. The amount of time it might take to complete an advanced research program varies depending on the school you choose. Choosing a Public Administration Degree Program There are many different schools that offer a public administration degree. When choosing a program, you should consider rankings (U.S. News and World Report offers a list of the best public affairs schools) as well as school size, faculty, curriculum, cost, location, and career placement. Here are 8 tips for choosing an MPA School. NASPAA Accreditation Accreditation is always important when choosing a school. Accredited programs have been evaluated for quality. Many different agencies accredit schools. One organization, the NASPAA, focuses specifically on public administration accreditation. NASPAAs Commission on Peer Review and Accreditation is considered the authorized accreditor of graduate-level public administration programs in the United States.   Public AdministrationCareer Options There are many different career paths available to students who have earned a public administration degree. The majority of grads take public service jobs. They may work in local government, state government, or federal government. Positions are also available in non-profit administration and management. Other job options include careers with independent or government agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, or positions with business and healthcare organizations. Another career path involves politics. Grads can run for political office or offer political support through lobbying and campaign management. Common job titles for public administration grads include Budget AnalystCity ManagerCounty ClerkLegislative SupportLobbyistNon-profit ManagerPolicy AnalystPolicy ConsultantPolitical ScientistProgram ManagerSocial Services AdministratorSocial Worker Learn More About Earning a Public Administration Degree Click on the links below to learn more about earning a public administration degree and working in the public administration field. ASPA - The American Society for Public Administration is a professional association for public administration. They focus on advancing study and practice of public and non-profit administration. You can view various publications on the ASPA website and learn more about student opportunities and careers in public administration.