Unless people try new things, they never develop new ideas.

Exercise 12:

Complete the following sentences in your own words.

 

1. I feel most creative when....

2. It is easiest for me to write (sing, draw, etc.) if....

3. Most of my best ideas come after....

4. It is hard for me to concentrate unless....

5. I have done my best work since....

6. I really enjoy listening to music while....

7. I am fascinated whenever....

8. It is not easy for me to start a project before....

9. I am often afraid to... until....

10. New ideas usually come to me after....

 

Exercise 13:

What type of student are you? What type of person are you?

Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

 

1. When do you do two things at once?

2. Do you watch t.v. while you are doing your homework?

3. What else do you do while you are doing your homework?

4. Can you concentrate if people around you are talking or doing

other things?

5. Are you nervous before you take a test?

6. Do you celebrate after you have turned in a big assignment?

7. Do you always take notes (listen carefully) when you are in

class?

8. Do you get depressed if you get less than an A?

Activity Who is someone that you consider creative? Do you

have a friend or relative who is good at making or fixing things,

at painting, at cooking or baking, at playing or writing music? Give

a brief presentation on a creative individual you know. Use the

following questions to help you prepare.

1. How is this person creative?

2. When is he or she the most creative? What seems to inspire

him or her?

3. Has this person always been creative?

4. What interesting things has he or she done or produced?

5. What is this person doing now? Is he or she still involved in

creative activities?

 

Exercise 14:

The following exercise gives you information on Michelangelo and some of his accomplishments.

The sentences are listed in chronological order. Use the cues in parentheses to combine each pair.

Make other changes when necessary and pay close attention to verb tenses.

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564)

1. Artists used the technique of fresco3 for centuries. The Italians

perfected the technique of fresco, (before)

2. Both Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci worked with fresco.

Michelangelo and Leonardo were commissioned to work on a

painting in Florence, (when / already)

3. Michelangelo started work on the Council Room in Florence.

The pope called Michelangelo to Rome, (when / scarcely)

4. Leonardo da Vinci planned to fresco another part of the Council

Room. Leonardo did not finish his work, (but)

5. Michelangelo went to Rome. The two artists never had another

opportunity to work together, (after)

6. Michelangelo arrived in Rome. The pope commanded Michelangelo

to fresco the Sistine Chapel, (when / just)

7. Michelangelo didn't finish the ceiling. The pope impatiently

opened the Sistine Chapel in 1509. (when / yet)

8. Michelangelo, without assistance, covered 5,800 square feet with

fresco painting. Michelangelo finished the Sistine Chapel ceiling,

(by the time that)

Activity Leonardo da Vinci was definitely "ahead of his time."

He drew plans for a number of inventions that were not developed

until centuries later.

In small groups, discuss one of the following

drawings. Try to imagine what da Vinci had been thinking, doing,

or feeling before he created his plans and how he arrived at them.

You might want to use the following questions in your discussion.

After you have finished, choose one member to give a brief

summary for the entire class.

 

Exercise 15:

The following sentences give a brief chronology of the

life of Albert Einstein. Combine each group of sentences by using

coordinating conjunctions (and, but,...), subordinating conjunctions

(when, while, as, before, after, until, if,...), or transitions.

Change words, phrases, verb tenses, and punctuation when

necessary.

Example:In 1900, Albert Einstein graduated from the Polytechnic

Academy in Zurich. Later that year, Albert

Einstein became a Swiss citizen. Later that year, Albert

Einstein took a job in a Swiss patent office.

In 1900, after Albert Einstein had graduated from the

Polytechnic Academy in Zurich, he became a Swiss

Citizen and took a job in a Swiss patent office.

1. Albert Einstein worked in the patent office for three years. Then,

Albert Einstein married Mileva Marie.

2. Albert Einstein worked in the patent office for several years.

During that time, he developed many of his theories.

3. Albert Einstein did not publish any scientific papers. Then, in

1905, Albert Einstein published five scientific papers.

4. These papers were published. Einstein immediately became

famous in the scientific community.

5. These papers contained many revolutionary ideas. The scientific

community reacted with respect and amazement.

6. During the next six years, Einstein continued to develop his

theory of relativity. During that time, Einstein continued to

study the relationship between mass and energy. During that

time, Einstein tried to incorporate gravity into his theory.

7. Einstein worked on his theories. During that time, Einstein

taught in Switzerland and in Prague. During that time, Einstein

had two sons, Hans Albert and Edward.

8. Einstein taught in Prague for a brief time. Then, the Einstein

family returned to Switzerland. Einstein taught at the

Polytechnic Academy in Zurich.

 

Exercise 16:

The following is a continuation of the chronology of

Albert Einstein's life. Use the information to write a short

paragraph on him. Combine ideas by using coordinating

conjunctions, subordinating conjunctions, and transitions. Change

words, phrases, verb tenses, and punctuation when necessary.

 

1914: Einstein accepted a position at the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

The Einstein family moved to Berlin.

Einstein's wife and sons vacationed in Switzerland.

World War I began.

His family was unable to return to Germany.

This forced separation eventually led to divorce.

1916: Einstein published his paper on the general theory of

relativity.

This theory was revolutionary.

It contradicted Newton's ideas on gravity.

It predicted irregularities in the motion and light from Mercury.

During this time, Einstein devoted much of his time to pacifism.

Einstein began to write and distribute antiwar literature.

1919: The Royal Society of London verified Einstein's predictions

about Mercury.

Einstein quickly became famous.

Einstein married Elsa, the daughter of a cousin of his father.

Einstein stayed in Berlin.

Einstein continued to work for pacifism.

1921: Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics.

On Your Own At the library, research the later part of Einstein's life.

Use this along with information given to write a short biography of Albert Einstein.

Activity M. C. Escher was a Dutch artist who lived from 1902

to 1972. He created some of the most unusual and stimulating

drawings in history. The drawing below is his interpretation of

Relativity. In pairs or in small groups, discuss the following questions

about this work. Be sure to include your own questions, too.

 

As a class, look at a decision that one of you must make. Choose

one of the following and form sentences with if or unless.

1. Is someone in your class planning to buy a car, a house, or a

business?

2. Is someone planning to take a long or unusual trip?

3. Is someone in the process of applying to other schools?

On Your Own Think of a decision that you must make soon.

Then make a decision tree. Think of all the effects of each action

and write them on your decision tree. Use this information to help

you make your decision.

 

Exercise 17:

The following guidelines for excellence in business

are from In Search of Excellence by Thomas J. Peters and Robert

H. Waterman. According to Peters and Waterman, these are the

eight attributes of "excellent, innovative companies." After reading

the list, think about the causes and effects of these attributes. Then,

think about the consequences for a company that does not have

them. Form sentences using if, unless, before, after, and when to

express your ideas. You may have several opinions for each.

Excellent, innovative companies:

Example: 1.take action

They make theories and analyses, but most importantly,

they try new ideas.

If a company is innovative, it will take action.