CPE Speaking for assessment

Using a concordance/boosting and hedging review

For concordance technology, go to:

http://www.lextutor.ca/concordancers/concord_e.html


BOOSTING/HEDGING REVIEW (Speaking/writing):
Imagine that you and your partner work for a large department store such as Selfridges. You have the responsibility for deciding what sort of new products the store should buy based on trends outlined by consumer research agencies like THE FUTURE LABORATORY.

Skim through one of the Future Laboratory reports below in order to find out what are the main trends in the market at the moment. Divide your notes into trends that you think are quite important (these you will boost in your report), trends you believe might have an impact on the market (these you will have to heavily hedge in your report) and trends you feel just might be passing fads (these you will criticise with hedging language in your report).

Once you've had a quick read and made some notes, discuss with your partner which trends you both feel will have the most/some/the least impact and see if you can brainstorm some product areas which Selfridges would need to invest in in order to capture the market that these new trends will create.

Prepare a three minute presenation of your findings to be given at the next meeting of the Selfridges board of managers (13 October).

Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4