WRITING HELP

To help you revise the different writing tasks we have dealt with this year, click on the links below:

REVIEW

REPORT

ANECDOTE

ESSAY

FORMAL LETTER


Click here to find a document containing information about different linking words.

Hope it helps!

WRITING 5: PERSONAL STATEMENTS (answers)

Click here to check the answers to the activities on pag. 128 and 129.

Remember I told you to write your own "Personal Statement" to apply for a course or a job you are really interented in.

UNIT 9: HOW TO WRITE A COVERING/ APPLICATION LETTER

Imagine you came across this job offer:

Teaching Fellow in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy

Loughborough University - School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Location:	Loughborough
Salary:	£38,511 to £45,954
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Contract / Temporary

Placed on:	17th April 2015
Closes:	11th May 2015
Job Ref:	REQ15273

An exceptional Teaching Fellow is required to lead modules and contribute to teaching in the area of physical education and sport pedagogy, specifically covering sport pedagogy, teaching and coaching, physical education teacher education, including professional studies and school experience.   
The successful applicant will work with partnership schools and co-ordinate aspects of physical education teacher education such as mentor training and development, and teaching practice placements, and supervise the work of students, providing them with academic support and advice.
Applicants should have a good undergraduate degree and a Masters degree in a relevant area, hold a recognised teaching qualification, have experience of teaching at Secondary and Further and/or Higher Education level, and of physical education teacher education.
This full-time post is offered on a fixed-term contract for 2-years to start on 1 September 2015.


How would you write a good application letter to apply for that post?

Click here to learn the basics to write a proper letter of application.

This is the way a covering letter should look like:  
Remember that this type of letters requires a formal style, and they have a particular format. 

WRITING TASK: TIPS FOR A GOOD ESSAY

Hello everyone!

It's time you wrote an essay!

Last day we spoke for a while about how to write a good "For & Against" or "Opinion" essay. This is the powerpoint I showed you:





Here you have a document containing more good samples of essays, and 

also "Useful Language" to help you express different ideas when writing (contrast, addition, ...)

Remember I told you to write an essay, either a "for & against" or a "opinion" one, on the following statement "LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME"

See you after Easter,

Ana

PUNCTUATION TIPS

Look at the answers to the activity I gave you last week to help you with the use of the "comma":

1. When going on a trip, I like taking my guitar with me.
2. I've been to France, Germany, China and Spain.
3. Next week, I am going to have a party, so I invited my friend, Mark and Sue.
4. There are exactly 4,897,341 people living in this city, most of whom take a train, a bas or a tram to work.
5. "Look at this", he whispered.
6. Paulina, his wife for many years, decided to live in Greece.
7. As the plane was coming to a halt on the runaway, I was beginning to feel less nervous.
8. The thief had very impractical shoes, so he couldn't run very fast.
9. "I'm warning you", said the teacher, "don't even try to cheat, or else you will be expelled from school".
10. I dedicate this work to my brothers, Jonh Smith and God.
11. Sarah, the most intelligent pupil in the class, was always late for work.
12. I said that she is intelligent, not pretty.
13. Once the storm was over, we could sail to the island.
14. Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.
15. India, a truly beautiful, interesting and exotic country, is now a popular holiday destination.
16. During lunch, at the campus cafeteria, Henry noticed the dirty tables, the overworked cashiers and the high prices of food.
17. During the race, I tried to keep up with Mark, who can run 100 meters in under 12 seconds.
18. To study for the exam, Bill drank seven cups of coffee, which kept him awake all night.
19. I only earn 2,000 USD a month for my hard work, and my wife gets 12,000, which is unfair.
20. Ron, who is 15, was doing his best to win the contest, but he failed.

WRITING TASK: ANECDOTES

Last day we learned how to tell an anecdote. This is the powerpoint Kerrin used in class (Thank you, Isabel):




Remember I told you to write an anecdote, and to help you with that writing task I showed you this document.

To finish, read the following anecdote:

"Here is a good story to show why you shouldn't leave things to the last minute!. 
I'll never forget the day I had to hand my first essay in to literature teacher- what a nightmare!. "I want the 350- word essay on my desk by 10:30" he ordered at 7.30 in the morning. "Oh my God!", I thought, I couldn't believe my ears. I was supposed to write an essay, as long as the Quijite in just 3 hours! I felt like bursting into tears, but instead,  I sat in front of my laptop determined to do it. 
It was 10 o'clock, and I had just finished and was about to save it when, all of a sudden, the lights went off. I was absolutely livid and just wanted to run away from it all. Obviously, I didn't have time to prepare another essay, so I googled and just copied a report I found on the net. What a big mistake! Unfortunately, that essay had been written by my teacher himself!. 
I still feel embarrassed every time I remember that awful event."


Hope it helps!

WRITING BANK: REPORTS

Last day I gave you a document with information on how to write a report in English and told you to write a report on "The use of the Media in Spain". For more information and samples of reports, have a look at this really interesting site where, apart from helpful advice on reports, you can also find writing help for other different pieces of writing (letters, essays, ...):

WRITING REPORTS

WRITING HELP: SENTENCE LENGTH AND USE OF PARAGRPHS

 




 Last Monday I gave you back your reviews after checking them. If you remember, I told you about the use of paragraphs and appropriate sentence length. 

Surfing the net, I have come across some useful sites to help you writing good sentences and combining them into good paragraphs.

Click on the different links below:



1. SENTENCE LENGTH: SHORT - LONG SENTENCES

2. MORE ON SENTENCE LENGTH (with audio)

3. PARAGRAPHS

4. PARAGRAPH LENGTH

5. WRITING TUTORIALS (to help you write good paragraphs)


Checklist for creating well-written paragraphs: 

· Does the paragraph cover one main idea?
· Is this main idea clearly presented in the topic sentence, or at least very clear?
· Does each sentence in the paragraph support the point made in the topic sentence?
· Is the paragraph organized in a logical way?
· Do the sentences flow smoothly from one to another?
· Is the main idea sufficiently developed with examples, details, arguments, statistics and/or facts? 

Hope it helps you improve your writing skills,

Ana

WRITING ACTIVITIES (pag. 121, 122)

Click here to check the answers to the writing activities on pag. 121 and 122 I told you to complete.

If you find it difficult to understand the different meanings of the conjaction "OTHERWISE", read the information provided here.

Examples:

I studied a lot for my mid-term exams. Otherwise, I wouldn't have passed them all! (IF NOT)

The concert venue was overcrowded. Otherwise, it was fun. (APART FROM THAT/ EXCEPT FOR THAT)

UNIT 3: SHOPPING COMPLAINTS

 


Hello everyone!

When was the last time you had to take something back to a shop?
What was wrong with it?

Click here for some listening comprehension practice.

Here you have some useful language to complain (if you are the customer) or to deal with complaints (if you are the shop assistant):

USEFUL LANGUAGE – COMPLAINING 

Making the complaint

• I’m ringing to complain about…
• I’m sorry, but I’m not satisfied with…
• Unfortunately, there’s a problem with…
• I am very dissatisfied with the service I received 

Insisting

• It really isn’t good enough
• I’d like to know why…
• I’d like an explanation for… 

Threatening

• If you don’t replace the product, I’ll complain to the manager
• If you can’t deliver on time, we’ll have to contact other suppliers 

USEFUL LANGUAGE – Dealing with Complaints 

Showing understanding

• I’m sorry to hear that
• Yes, I see what you mean
• I apologise for…
• I understand you're upset about

Getting the facts

• Could you give me some details, please?
• ·What happened exactly?
• What seems to be the problem? 

Making Excuses

• It’s not our policy to replace items
• It’s not our fault that it hasn’t arrived
• I’m afraid that’s not quite right
• I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do 

Promising action

• Ok, I’ll look into it right away
• I’ll check the details and get back to you

Another important thing for you is to know how to write a letter of complaint.
Click here for some information and samples.