Essay Advice - The reading 'thinks' The listening 'says'

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Madison Hanks

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I am working with students to help them get ready for their TOEFL and SSAT writing. I am a biology teacher, not specialized in this ESL stuff.

The students must write an essay about a listening and reading they are given. But the most common thing I see, that i just don't think seem right is when they write

"the reading thinks..."
"The listening says..."
"The reading disagrees with the listening..."

Somehow this seems wrong. A reading can't think correct? A reading doesn't say.

I should be having them change it to write
"the author of the reading believes that...
"the speaker in the listening said...

Am I correct or is it ok to have a reading 'think' etc?

I don't want to give bad advice, it just sounds odd. But I haven't taken a writing class since HS.
 
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Hi there,

Although this post was just a tad confusing, I think I know what you are trying to ask for.

It seems that your students are writing 'reading and listening' instead of 'reader and listener.'

So; "The reader believes that...." and "The listener said...." etc.

I hope this is the advice you were looking for!
:)
 

zeusi

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This was my problem, too. Now it is clear.
Thank you for all.
 
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