Set a 12-minute timer and have students read the 4 rules before attempting exercises.
Project answer keys for self-correction and lead a quick wrap-up on nuance.

First, read the 4 patterns and examples in the table carefully.
Next, complete the 12 items from Station 1 to 4 and check your score.

❌ 100% Absolute Claim

"Social media destroys real human friendship completely."

Risky, overgeneralized, hard to defend.

✅ Balanced Hedged Statement

"Social media appears to affect personal connection."

Objective, professional, academically sound.

1. Select the sentence that correctly softens the claim using [algorithm]:

(algorithm)

____ The video recommendation algorithm may well to shape user preferences. ____ The video recommendation algorithm may well shape user preferences. ____ The video recommendation algorithm likely shape user preferences.

2. Choose the sentence expressing a recurring habit regarding a [notification]:

(notification)

____ Office workers tends to react every time a notification pops up. ____ Office workers tend to reacting every time a notification pops up. ____ Office workers tend to react every time a notification pops up.

3. Pick the most natural hedged prediction about users who endlessly [scroll]:

(scroll)

____ People who scroll late at night are likely to lose track of time. ____ People who scroll late at night likely lose track of time. ____ People who scroll late at night seem likely losing track of time.

4. Rewrite using may well:

(privacy)

Original direct sentence: "Weak password habits compromise online privacy."

5. Rewrite using are likely to:

(restrict)

Original direct sentence: "Schools restrict smartphone access during examinations."

6. Rewrite using seems to:

(profile)

Original direct sentence: "An anonymous public profile creates misunderstanding among peers."

7. Complete the sentence describing a constant [distraction]:

(distraction)

Type the missing two words that mean quite likely: ____ (Type your answer)

8. Complete the habitual tendency of an [addictive] application:

(addictive)

Type the missing habit phrase (verb + preposition): ____ (Type your answer)

9. Complete the hedged assessment regarding peer [influence]:

(influence)

Type the softening phrase (singular verb + to): ____ (Type your answer)

"My parents likely monitor my screen time more strictly after seeing my report card."

Correction task: The phrase likely monitor lacks the proper auxiliary and infinitive marker. Write the correct 4-word phrase:

____ (Type your answer)

"I know that feeling! I tends to scrolling through short videos for two hours whenever I feel tired."

Correction task: Fix the subject agreement and the verb form after 'to'. Write the correct 3-word phrase:

____ (Type your answer)

"Yeah, and turning off notification sounds seem be the only realistic solution that works."

Correction task: Fix the subject-verb agreement for the gerund phrase and add the missing 'to'. Write the correct 3-word phrase:

____ (Type your answer)