written mediation tips

tips and practice

written mediation

Use your own words, but there’s no need to find a synonym for everything! Some words have no synonyms.

You’ll have to reduce the text significantly, so there’s no room for irrelevant information. You can change the order of the information, if you want.

Stick to the information in the text – don’t give your opinion or refer to your previous knowledge.

Make sure you know what you’re being asked to do: summarise, explain, expand, simplify…

Read the context carefully and adapt the message to the recipient (formal, informal, level of difficulty…)See if the context gives you clues to select the right information.

TIPS

When mediating, you'll be asked to do different things (microskills).Try mediating the paragraphs in the following slides, using the strategy indicated in each case.When you're ready, click on the image to see a sample answer.

PRACTISE

“When you don't get enough sleep, your brain doesn't function at optimal speed," says Leigh Winters, a neuroscientist and wellness expert. "Brain imaging research shows that sleep deprivation results in reduced blood flow to areas of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex that's responsible for higher level thought processes like working memory. It's also likely to make you more irritable and prone to mood swings. Getting through the day is bound to be a struggle. That said, it's still possible to power through, and do it as productively as possible, until you're finally able to crash into the sweet softness of your mattress.

SIMPLIFY and summarise

The internet seems to be the most popular place to find information these days and it’s not hard to see why – it is all just a click away. But, couldn’t that also be why problems arise? After all, how do we know that the information we read is correct? What is the original source of these facts? And do we really understand the difference between opinion and fact?

EXPRESS IN YOUR OWN WORDS

Did you know that there are now over 1000 World Heritage Sites around the globe? These are places of outstanding natural beauty or cultural significance, which the international community has designated as worth preserving and protecting. These include China’s celebrated Great Wall in the cultural category, Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in the nature category and Peru’s historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, which is actually an example of both. However, most of the list consists of lesser-known sites, which are equally unique and diverse, including the historic city of Timbuktu in Mali and natural wonders such the West Norwegian fjords.

EXPLAIN

expand the information