Week 12 — Cohesion, review and executive summaries

This week

Grammar: Linking words and cohesion · Vocabulary: Review, spaced repetition round · Idioms & phrasal verbs: Idiom review round · Speaking: Shadowing practice 2 · Writing: Executive summaries · Soft skill: Cross-cultural communication Light week (20 min per day). Exercises are shortened to about 6 items and 3 new words. Checkpoint comm-3: at the end of the week, re-read your error log from Weeks 7-11, pick your three most frequent errors, and write one correct sentence for each in docs/log/. Then record a 2-minute talk (Day 6) and compare your rubric score with Week 8.

Day 1 — Grammar: Linking words and cohesion

⏱ 20 min · Mon Cohesion is what makes a paragraph read as one argument rather than a list of sentences.

Rule in 60 seconds

Linking words belong to three grammatical classes, and each has its own punctuation and structure.

Class	Examples	What follows	Punctuation
Conjunctions	although, whereas, because, since, so, but, while	a clause (subject + verb)	comma before but/so; comma after a fronted clause: Although it worked, we rolled back.
Conjunctive adverbs	however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, consequently, in addition	start a new sentence or follow a semicolon	...; however, ... or . However, ... with a comma after
Prepositions	despite, in spite of, because of, due to, owing to, in addition to	a noun phrase or -ing	no special punctuation

Function map

• Contrast: but, although / even though, whereas / while, however, nevertheless, that said, despite / in spite of.
• Cause: because, since, as; because of, due to, owing to; result: so, therefore, consequently, as a result, hence.
• Addition: and, moreover, furthermore, in addition, besides; in addition to + noun/-ing.
• Sequence: first, then, subsequently, finally; example: for instance, such as, in particular.

Rules and the errors fluent speakers make

• Two contrast words in one clause: Although it was slow, but we shipped it is wrong. Use one: Although it was slow, we shipped it or It was slow, but we shipped it. The same goes for Because ... so ....
• Despite takes no of: Despite the delay or In spite of the delay. Despite of is wrong. Despite the fact that + clause works.
• Because needs a clause; because of needs a noun: because the vendor was late / because of the vendor's delay. Due to follows be in careful usage (The delay was due to a bug), but is common as a sentence opener in business writing.
• Comma splice: The pilot succeeded, however we cannot scale it is wrong. Use The pilot succeeded; however, we cannot scale it or . However, ....
• In addition to takes a noun or -ing: In addition to fixing the bug, we added a test; the to is a preposition, not part of an infinitive.
• Overusing connectors: a sentence starting with Moreover or Furthermore every time reads mechanical. Use them only when adding a stronger point.

Cohesion beyond connectors

• Old before new: start with what the reader already knows, end with the new point: We migrated the database. The migration exposed a stale index.
• This + noun beats bare This: This delay, This change. A bare This caused the outage after three actions is ambiguous.
• Repeat key terms rather than switching synonyms in technical writing (the cache... the cache, not the buffer).

Exercise

Correct or complete (6).

1. Although the migration was successful, but we found several defects.
2. Despite of the delay, we shipped on 14 March.
3. We slipped ___ the vendor's delay. (because / because of)
4. The pilot succeeded, however we cannot scale it yet.
5. ___ fixing the bug, we added a regression test. (In addition to / In addition)
6. We changed the schema, migrated the data and updated the clients. This caused the outage. What is the problem, and how would you fix it?

Answers and explanations

1. Although the migration was successful, we found several defects. Only one contrast marker per clause.
2. **Despite** the delay... (or In spite of). Despite never takes of.
3. because of: followed by a noun phrase (the vendor's delay).
4. The pilot succeeded; **however,** we cannot scale it yet. (or . However,). However is an adverb, so a comma alone makes a comma splice.
5. In addition to: a preposition plus -ing.
6. This is ambiguous: it could refer to the schema change, the migration or the client update. Fix: The schema change caused the outage. (choose the actual cause, or say Two of these steps caused the outage). Note: the model fix depends on the facts; the point is that this needs a clear referent.

Use it

Write a 3-sentence paragraph about a real trade-off in your project with one contrast connector, one cause connector and one this + noun. Check punctuation.

Day 2 — Vocabulary: Review, spaced repetition round

⏱ 20 min · Tue Three new words, then a round of review from Weeks 7-11.

Word	Part of speech	Meaning	Example
nuanced	adjective	Showing subtle distinctions rather than a simple, all-or-nothing view.	The board wanted a nuanced assessment of the vendor, not a simple recommendation.
contingent	adjective	Depending on something that may or may not happen; (contingent on).	The go-live date is contingent on the regulator's approval.
reconcile	verb	To make two conflicting things consistent, or to check that two sets of records agree.	Finance needs us to reconcile the billing totals with the ledger by month end.

Collocations and word family

• nuanced: a nuanced view / understanding / position / discussion; noun nuance (a subtle difference); nuanced is a positive word for careful thinking.
• contingent: contingent on / upon; noun contingency (a plan for a possible problem: a contingency plan); do not confuse with continuous.
• reconcile: reconcile A with B / reconcile A and B / reconcile differences / reconcile accounts; noun reconciliation; be reconciled to (accept) is a different sense.

Exercise

Cloze (6). Words from earlier weeks: corroborate, leverage, materially, negligible, candid, scrutiny, expedite.

1. Please ______ the two ledgers before the audit.
2. The launch is ______ on legal approval.
3. Give me a ______ view: is the new model better in every segment?
4. Independent tests ______ the vendor's benchmark.
5. The change did not ______ affect revenue; the impact was ______.
6. If we ______ the vendor's existing connectors and ______ the approval, we can still meet the date. (two different words)

Answers and explanations

1. reconcile: make the records agree.
2. contingent: depends on approval.
3. nuanced: not a yes/no answer (the phrase in every segment asks for detail, not a yes/no).
4. corroborated (Week 8).
5. materially, negligible (Week 9).
6. leverage (Week 10) and expedite (Week 11).

Use it

Write three sentences: one with contingent on, one with nuanced, one with reconcile. Say them aloud as if in a steering meeting.

Day 3 — Speaking: Shadowing practice 2

⏱ 20 min · Wed

Prompt: Shadow a 90-second clip of a fluent professional speaker (for example, a segment of a BBC Learning English or 6 Minute English episode, or a TED talk). Do not analyze content; imitate the rhythm.

Structure of a shadowing session

1. Listen once for meaning (30 s).
2. Read the transcript and mark stressed words (30 s).
3. Shadow three passes: speak 0.5 seconds behind the speaker, first with the transcript, then without.
4. Record your last pass and compare it with the original.

Pronunciation micro-drill: weak forms. In connected speech, function words (to, for, of, and, the, a, can, have) are usually unstressed and reduced to a schwa /ə/. Content words carry stress.

Written	Spoken	Say it
a lot of it	a LOT_a it	a LOT-uv-it
ready for the release	READy fer the reLEASE	weak for /fə/
we have to decide	we HAFta deCIDE	have to becomes hafta
roll it out and test it	ROLL_it OUT_n TEST it	and becomes /n/
the cost of the delay	the COST_uv the deLAY	of becomes /əv/

Common error: stressing every word equally, which sounds flat and tiring for listeners. Stress the content words and let the rest shrink.

Self-check

• I matched the speaker's pauses within about half a second.
• I reduced function words instead of stressing them.
• I stressed the content words (nouns, verbs, numbers).
• My last pass sounded closer to the speaker than my first.

Day 4 — Idioms & phrasal verbs: Idiom review round

⏱ 20 min · Thu Five expressions from Weeks 1-6 that turn up on almost every project call.

Expression	Meaning	Example
on the same wavelength	Thinking in a similar way and understanding each other easily; informal, US and UK.	The two leads are on the same wavelength about the rollout order, which speeds up every review.
fall behind	To make less progress than planned, or than others; neutral, common phrasal verb.	The integration team is starting to fall behind because of the vendor's delays.
on the horizon	Likely to happen soon; neutral, common in both US and UK business writing.	Three new carrier integrations are on the horizon for next quarter.
a tangled web	A complicated, interconnected situation that is hard to unpick; neutral to literary in register, common in business writing.	The billing logic had become a tangled web of special cases for individual customers.
check in (with)	To make brief contact to get an update; informal to neutral, common in US and UK business.	I'll check in with the vendor on Monday to see where things stand.

Exercise

Choose or complete (6).

1. Rewrite plainly: We need to get on the same wavelength about the release scope.
2. Fix: The project is falling behind of schedule.
3. The permissions logic in this migration has become ______: three teams, two clouds and one deadline of overlapping rules. (a tangled web / big picture)
4. A redesign of the feature is ______ for next quarter. (on the horizon / on the same wavelength)
5. Rewrite: I will contact them again on Friday to check. with check in.
6. Which idiom would you avoid in a formal letter to a regulator?

Answers and explanations

1. We need to agree on the release scope.
2. The project is **falling behind** schedule. No of.
3. a tangled web: a complicated, interconnected set of rules.
4. on the horizon.
5. I will **check in** with them on Friday.
6. Any of them; on the same wavelength and a tangled web are the most informal or figurative. Use agreed and a complicated set of rules.

When NOT to use them

Use idioms to speed up internal conversation, not to explain a serious issue to a regulator, customer executive or non-native reader. If a listener looks confused, restate in plain language rather than repeating the idiom louder.

Day 5 — Writing: Executive summaries

⏱ 20 min · Fri

Bad draft:

This document provides an overview of the various considerations associated with the potential migration of the tracking platform to a new cloud provider. There are several factors, including cost, risk, and timeline, and the team has done a lot of analysis. Overall, the migration has both advantages and disadvantages. More details are in the following pages.

Task: Rewrite as an executive summary of 80-110 words that lets a reader make a decision without reading further. Include: the recommendation, the reason with a number, the main risk, the cost or time, and the decision needed with a date.

Model answer and what changed

Recommendation. Migrate the tracking platform to Provider B in two phases, starting in January.

Why. Provider B reduces run cost by about 28 percent (1.4 million dollars a year) and removes the regional capacity limit that caused three outages this year.

Risk. The data migration is the main risk; we will mitigate it with a four-week parallel run. Total cost is 900,000 dollars over nine months.

Decision needed. Approval by 15 November, so the vendor contract can be signed before year-end pricing expires.

• Recommendation first, not an overview of considerations.
• Numbers replace several factors and a lot of analysis.
• Risk and cost stated honestly, each in one line.
• A decision and a date replace more details are in the following pages.
• Labeled sections let a busy reader skim; the whole page fits one screen.

Day 6 — Speaking record: Shadowing practice 2

⏱ 20 min · Sat

Record a 2-minute talk: Summarize, as if for an executive, the most important project in your area: recommendation, reason with a number, main risk and the decision you need. Use at least two linking words from Day 1 (one contrast, one cause) and one word from Day 2. Then listen back for reduced function words.

Rubric (score 1-4)

Criterion	1	2	3	4
Clarity	Message unclear	Recommendation buried	Clear recommendation	Recommendation and decision unmistakable
Structure	No order	Order weak	Recommendation, reason, risk, ask present	All present with clear linking
Fluency	Frequent stops	Several long pauses	Occasional hesitation	Smooth and steady
Grammar accuracy	Errors block meaning	Frequent connector errors	Few errors	Connectors and punctuation-in-speech correct
Vocabulary range	Repetitive	Basic	Some precise words	Precise and varied
Pronunciation	Flat, every word stressed	Some reduction	Mostly natural rhythm	Natural stress and weak forms

Shadowing task: Choose a different clip from Day 3 (another 90 seconds from a TED talk or a BBC Learning English episode). Do one pass with the transcript and one without. Log which phrases you reduced correctly.

Log your score (comm-3): total out of 24, and compare with your Week 8 presentation score in docs/log/.

Day 7 — Soft skills + weekly review: Cross-cultural communication

⏱ 20 min · Sun

Scenario. You lead a global project with engineers in Bangalore, Copenhagen and Houston. In review meetings, the Copenhagen team disagrees openly and briefly, the Bangalore team says "we will try" when a request is unrealistic, and the Houston team expects a decision at the end of every meeting. A Danish engineer told you, "Your Bangalore team never says no." You suspect the issue is culture, not competence.

Task: Write 120-150 words (or script your talk) to the team, proposing two working agreements that reduce misunderstandings without blaming any group.

Model response and techniques

Thanks, everyone. I want to suggest two working agreements, because we communicate in different styles and that is normal. First, when we make a request, we will state the level of confidence: for example, "high confidence, fully doable," "medium, contingent on the API," or "low, I see a risk." That way, "we will try" always comes with a number, and nobody has to guess whether it means yes or maybe. Second, disagreement is welcome, and we will separate the idea from the person by saying, "I see it differently, and here is why." Finally, every meeting will end with a one-line summary of decisions and owners. Please tell me if you want to change any of this; we can review it in a month.

Techniques used

• Normalize differences (different styles, and that is normal) instead of naming a culture as a problem.
• Make implicit signals explicit: a shared confidence scale converts we will try into a comparable message.
• Give a safe script for disagreement to lower the cost of directness.
• Close with decisions and owners, which serves the Houston expectation.
• Invite revision (a one-month review) to share ownership.
• Cross-cultural principle: shift from who is right to how do we make our signals clear; high-context speakers rely on tone and context, low-context speakers on explicit words. Both need to adapt.

Weekly recap (20 items)

1. Correct: Although it was slow, but we shipped it.
2. Correct: Despite of the delay...
3. Which is right: because the delay or because of the delay?
4. Which class is however?
5. Fix the comma splice: It worked, however it was slow.
6. What follows in addition to?
7. Why is a bare This risky?
8. What is old before new?
9. Define nuanced.
10. Define contingent; preposition?
11. Define reconcile (two senses).
12. Idiom: having the same understanding, easily.
13. Fix: The project is falling behind of schedule.
14. a tangled web meaning.
15. What does on the horizon mean?
16. What happens to to and of in fast speech?
17. Why shadow at 0.5 seconds behind?
18. What goes first in an executive summary?
19. What is a shared confidence scale?
20. Which two things does a good executive summary end with?

Answers and explanations

1. Although it was slow, we shipped it.
2. Despite the delay...
3. because of the delay (noun); because the delay was long (clause).
4. Conjunctive adverb.
5. It worked; however, it was slow.
6. A noun or -ing form.
7. It can refer to several things; use this + noun.
8. Start a sentence with known information, end with the new point.
9. Showing subtle distinctions.
10. Depending on something uncertain; contingent on.
11. Make two conflicting things consistent; check that records agree.
12. on the same wavelength.
13. The project is falling behind schedule.
14. A complicated, interconnected situation that is hard to unpick.
15. Likely to happen soon.
16. They reduce to weak forms: /tə/ and /əv/.
17. It forces you to copy rhythm as you hear it, not after.
18. The recommendation.
19. Speakers label each commitment high/medium/low to make implicit signals explicit.
20. The decision needed and the date.

Self-score

• I use one contrast marker per clause and avoid comma splices.
• I used nuanced, contingent, reconcile in real sentences.
• I reduced function words when shadowing.
• I can write a decision-ready executive summary.
• I can propose working agreements across cultures without blame.
• I completed the comm-3 checkpoint log.

Error log (comm-3): write your top 3 recurring mistakes from Weeks 7-11 (for example, passive of intransitive verbs, article errors, comma splices) and one correct model sentence for each. Note how each differs from your Week 8 list.