Ready for C1 p 77. Surveillance Cameras. Written Mediation. Open Cloze

Read the instructions for the task. With the information given, write a blog post using your own words.

Task description:

Your class is working on the topic of "security". You come across these two texts about surveillance cameras . Write a blog post about what you have read and what messages you think these texts convey. As you elaborate on these thoughts include your own ideas.

1)

Text 1

To Protect and Serve

Nowadays, if you enter places such as malls, banks, stadiums and airports, a network of cameras is plainly visible. It's clear to all that they are likely to be captured on film in these public places, and any questionable behaviour such as vandalism or theft will be documented. Most people realise that it is in the interest of public safety that surveillance cameras continue to be operational. In fact, the mere presence of these cameras seems to make the public feel a sense of security knowing that the "bad guys" are being watched.

2) 

Text 2

People's Guardian

The purpose of surveillance cameras is not to invade homes and other personal spaces but rather to protect the public by deterring criminal activity. This works because cameras provide material evidence when a crime has been caught on film that enables law enforcement agencies to make a case. What is more, security analytics can actually raise alarms about potential crimes or accidents before they even take place, raising the possibility of prevention. And prevention is, of course, the primary goal.

Sample answer

What title would you give your post?

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Surveillance Cameras: an In-depth Look

If you walk through any public space in any city, chances (1)_________ that you will spot at least one surveillance camera. How does that make you feel? Do you agree that this has become a controversial issue?

Evidently, there are enough reasons why we should not only tolerate but also welcome these cameras. First of all, (2)___________ everyone can see the cameras, they know that any misdeeds they commit will be recorded on film, (3)_______________ is comforting rather than threatening for most law-abiding citizens. Secondly,  cameras are there to prevent crime and they accomplish this (4)___________ providing evidence that can lead to prosecution, as (5)__________ as flagging up suspicious situations (6)__________ that police officers can act before a crime is even committed.

(7)_______________ these are valid points, I personally feel that the power of security analytics is the most significant factor in crime prevention. This is (8)____________ it can predict and give law enforcement a chance to prevent crimes rather than just punishing the perpetrators. (9)____________, while most people agree that cameras discourage planned crimes (10)_________ vandalism and theft, critics have raised the point that cameras have little effect on crimes that are committed (11)__________ impulse. What is more, the prediction of crimes comes with a (12)____________: who sets the parameters of (13)_______________ is suspicious, and what happens if someone gets it wrong?

(14)_________________ I believe there are clearly factors that need close public scrutiny when it (15)___________ to surveillance cameras, especially regarding security analytics, I would agree that the sense of protection they offer is well (16)______________ some sacrifice of privacy in public places.

Vocabulary

flag something up

​(British English) to draw attention to something

• The report flagged up the dangers of under-age drinking

 

Security Analytics is an approach to cybersecurity focused on the analysis of data used to detect potential threats to IT systems.

KEY

1. are

chances are: it is very likely that. E.g. Chances are she has already heard the news.

 

 

2. since

 

 

3. which 

 

 

4. by 

 

 

5. well 

 

 

6. so 

 

 

7. While/ Although 

 

 

8. because 

 

 

9. However 

 

 

10. like 

 

 

11. on 

 

 

12. catch 

catch: a hidden problem or difficulty  E.g. This deal looks too good to be true – there must be a catch somewhere. The catch is that you can’t enter the competition unless you’ve spent $100 in the store. 

 

 

13. what  

 

 

14. Though 

 

 

15. comes

when it comes to (doing) something ​when it is a question of something. E.g. When it comes to getting things done, he's useless. There's nothing she doesn't know when it comes to computers. He's a sweet guy, but he's a bit useless when it comes to kids. 

 

 

16. worth

well worth: 

certainly worth.

"Salzburg is well worth a visit"

Empower p 58. Crime and Punishment. Written Mediation Task

A friend of yours from England is going to write a newspaper article about crime in different parts of the world. While doing his research, he came across these pictures on Google. He shares them with you and asks you some questions about them. You decide to send your friend an email answering his questions.

1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you? 
2. What kind of crime do people in your neighbourhood fear the most?
3. What is your opinion about the rehabilitating capacity of your prisons today?
4. Are your prisons an effective deterrent against crime? Why / why not?
5. Can the public in your country do anything to reduce crime?
6. What do you think of the judicial system in your country?
7. What are the most common types of crime in your area? Is safety a big concern in your area? Has it always been like this? What can be done to improve the situation?
8. What are the biggest criminal issues affecting your country today?

Useful language to describe a chart:
 
This chart illustrates how...
This chart compares...
The results that are shown in the chart are...
As can be seen from these results, ...
According to this chart, 
From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ...
We can see on this chart how... 
The chart indicates that...
The chart represents...
The information given in the chart...
The thousands of cybercrimes committed in Spain are shown on the chart.  
The chart shows quite clearly the impact of... 

Empower p 58. Listening. True or False

1. A French man had forged his passport _______.
2. A sixteen-year-old used to miss classes _______.
3. The thieves called the emergency services to brag about their exploits _____ .
4. John Parsons was released from prison because he is an honest fraudster _____.
5. Police are looking for a thief who might have been stung by a bee _________.


KEY

1. F (an English man)


2. T (skip classes, truant)


3. F (pocket-dial)


4. F (he emailed his own  fake release form to officials)


5. F (a host of bees)

Ready for C1 p 77. CONFLICT AND RESOLUTION. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. Speaking and Vocabulary

1. Conversation: Talk about the following questions with your partner for about 5 minutes. The pictures are there to help you.

1. How would you tackle the problem of gender-based violence in our country? Do you know anybody who has been subjected to continual sexual or racial harassment. What should have been done?
2. What are the biggest criminal issues affecting your country today?
3. Is safety a big concern in your area? Has it always been like this? What can be done to improve the situation?
4. Can you think of a famous person who has been in the dock recently? Why? What is the public opinion? Do you think public opinion can influence the jury's or the judge's decision when they return a verdict? Do you think the media plays a crucial role?
5. Are there any effective measures to prevent identity theft? If so, which ones?
6. What type of sentence should be given to petty offenders?
7. Would you be in favour of a zero tolerance policy for drink-driving?
8. There have been incidents of people going on the rampage recently. What do you think has triggered it? What actions marked an escalation of the conflict?
9. The topic of intellectual property has been very controversial recently. Where do you stand on this issue? Have you ever downloaded anything from the internet illegally?
10. Do you think capital punishment is a solution to the problem of crime?
11.  What are your biggest regrets in life? What do you think are the most common regrets people have at the end of their lives?

2. Below there are some issues related to the topic. You must talk about at least two of them for 3 minutes. You may be asked further questions about the topic when you have finished.

Partner A:

•          Is prison an effective deterrent against crime? Why / why not?

•          Do you think that the recession has made many people turn to crime?

•          What do you think of the judicial system in your country?

Partner B:

•          Talk about the most common types of crime in your area?

•          Is cybercrime becoming more pervasive? Do you know of any phishing or pharming scams? Have you ever fallen victim to a con artist?

•          What is your opinion about the rehabilitating capacity of prisons today?

Vocabulary

vandalism: the crime of destroying or damaging something, especially public property, deliberately and for no good reason. E.g. an act of vandalism.

vandal: a person who deliberately destroys or damages public property

dustbin: (North American English garbage can, trash can) a large container with a lid, used for putting rubbish/garbage in, usually kept outside the house.

Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of their gender. Both women and men experience gender-based violence but the majority of victims are women and girls.

harassment : /ˈhærəsmənt/ /həˈræsmənt/ the act of annoying or worrying somebody by putting pressure on them or saying or doing unpleasant things to them. E.g. racial/sexual harassment

be on speaking terms (with somebody), be speaking (to somebody) to be willing to be polite or friendly towards somebody, especially after an argument. E.g. She's not been on speaking terms with her uncle for years. Are they speaking to each other again yet?

clear the air to improve a difficult or tense situation by talking about worries, doubts, etc.

let off steam (informal) to get rid of your energy, anger or strong emotions by doing something active or noisy. E.g. I went for a long walk to let off steam.

offence: /əˈfens/ the act of upsetting or insulting somebody. E.g. I'm sure he meant no offence when he said that. The photo may cause offence to some people. No one will take offence (= feel upset or insulted) if you leave early. Don't be so quick to take offence.

cry over spilt milk to waste time worrying about something that has happened that you cannot do anything about. E.g. As the saying goes—it's no use crying over spilt milk.

make up (with somebody) to end a disagreement with somebody and become friends again. E.g. Why don't you two kiss and make up? Has he made it up with her yet? Have they made it up yet?

White-collar crime refers to financially motivated nonviolent crime committed by business and government professionals. Typical white-collar crimes include fraud, bribery, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, embezzlement, cybercrime, copyright infringement, money laundering, identity theft, and forgery.

bribery: /ˈbraɪbəri/ the giving or taking of bribes. E.g. She was arrested on bribery charges. Allegations of bribery and corruption.

dock: the part of a court where the person who has been accused of a crime stands or sits during a trial. E.g. He's been in the dock (= on trial for a crime) several times already.

return a verdict to give a decision about something in court. E.g. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.

Identity theft is a form of stealing someone's identity in which someone pretends to be someone else by assuming that person's identity, usually as a method to gain access to resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name.

petty: (of a crime) of lesser importance. E.g. petty theft.
A misdemeanor (also spelled misdemeanour) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than felonies

felony: the act of committing a serious crime such as murder or rape; a crime of this type. E.g. a charge of felony.

rampage: a sudden period of wild and violent behaviour, often causing damage and destruction. E.g. Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday. A state of emergency was declared following overnight rampages by student demonstrators. 

trigger something (off) to make something happen suddenly. Nuts can trigger off a violent allergic reaction.

escalation: the act of becoming or making something greater, worse, more serious, etc. E.g. an escalation in food prices. Further escalation of the conflict

capital punishment: punishment by death.

deterrent: /dɪˈterənt/ deterrent (to somebody/something) a thing that makes somebody less likely to do something (= that deters them). E.g. Hopefully his punishment will act as a deterrent to others. the country’s nuclear deterrents (= nuclear weapons that are intended to stop an enemy from attacking).

turn to something to start to do or to use something in an attempt to help yourself when you are having difficulty dealing with a situation. E.g. turn to crime/ drink/ drugs:  He turned to drugs after his wife left him. 

pervasive: /pəˈveɪsɪv/ existing in all parts of a place or thing; spreading gradually to affect all parts of a place or thing. E.g. a pervasive smell of damp. Her influence is all-pervasive (= it affects everyone and everything). A sense of social change is pervasive in her novels.
phishing: the activity of tricking people by getting them to give their identity, bank account numbers, etc. over the Internet or by email, and then using these to steal money from them.

pharming: /ˈfɑːmɪŋ/ the practice of secretly changing computer files or software so that visitors to a popular website are sent to a different website instead, without their knowledge, where their personal details are stolen and used to steal money from them.

scam: a clever and dishonest plan for making money. E.g. an insurance scam.

conman/ con woman/ con artist: a man/woman/person who tricks others into giving him/her money, etc. E.g. An eighty-two year old lady had her pension and other belongings stolen by a con man.

rehabilitate: /ˌriːəˈbɪlɪteɪt/ rehabilitate somebody to help somebody to have a normal, useful life again after they have been very ill/sick or in prison for a long time. E.g. a unit for rehabilitating drug addicts