PART TWO Writing (Alan Bray et al)

In Part 2, you choose from a variety of tasks. These may include:

a letter
an article
an essay
a report
a review
a story.
Questions 2-4 are general questions, ased on a range of to!ics, such as health and
fitness, s!ort, music and so on.
Questions "a and " are ased on t#o set te$ts. There #ill e one question on each of
the set te$ts.
Task ty!es for the set te$t o!tions are as for Questions 2-4 #ith the e$ce!tion of a
story.
%ach #riting task in Part 2 has a conte$t, a !ur!ose for #riting and a s!ecified target
reader. &ou are e$!ected to sho# that you are a#are of the kind of #riting required to
accom!lish a task, and must e ale to demonstrate a!!ro!riate use of one or more of
the follo#ing functions: descriing, e$!laining, e$!ressing an o!inion, giving
information, narrating.
How is the exam assessed?
'ns#ers are assessed using oth a general mark scheme, #hich is used for all the
questions, and a se!arate task-s!ecific mark scheme for each question. The criteria
used to assess the candidates( ans#ers in the general mark scheme include:
) range of structure, vocaulary and e$!ression
) effectiveness of organisation, including !aragra!hing and linking devices
) accuracy of grammar and s!elling
) a#areness of the situation and target reader.
Essentials for good answers
1. Answer the question
2. Plan
3. Use paragraphs
4. Revise your work
*ake sure you ans#er the question e$actly and no more.
It is essential to !lan your #riting. This should take at least +, minutes to !lan for each
question.
In a relatively short !iece of #riting you #ill need 4 or " !aragra!hs. The first !aragra!h
#ill e your introduction. Paragra!hs 2, - and !erha!s 4, #ill contain the ody of your
ans#er, and the last !aragra!h your concluding comments.
'llo# at least " minutes for each question to check your ans#er. .ook out for silly
mistakes #ith tenses, #ord order, s!ellings etc.
Writing formal letters or emails
/riting formal letters is a necessary skill that you need for most %0. or %1. e$ams
at Intermediate .evel and aove.
%$am!les:
&ou are given an article to read from a ne#s!a!er. &ou #rite to the ne#s!a!er
disagreeing #ith the article.
&ou #rite to com!lain aout something.
&ou #rite making suggestions aout something.
&ou #rite requesting information.
&ou #rite giving information.
&ou #rite requesting !ermission.
sef!l "hrases 2/riting formal letters and emails3
a) Writing formal letters generally#
4reetings:
ear !ir
ear "adam
ear !ir#"adam
ear "r $rown
ear "s %ones etc.
5eason for #riting:
& am writing in response to your article#advertisement#letter
& am writing with regard to your article#advertisement#letter
& am writing regarding your article#advertisement#letter
& am writing on 'ehal( o(
%nding the letter:
& look (orward to receiving your reply
& look (orward to your reply
& look to hearing (rom you
& am) yours (aith(ully *i( you don+t know the name o( the person you are writing to,
& am) yours sincerely *i( you know the name o( the person you are writing to,
-ours (aith(ully
-ours sincerely
$) Writing formal letters to %om"lain#
Writing formal letters or emails
5eason for #riting:
& am writing in order to complain a'out
& am writing to complain a'out
Introducing the com!laint:
.irstly
&n the (irst place
.irst o( all
"y (irst complaint is
/he (irst pro'lem is
/he (irst thing & would like to draw your attention to is
"y (irst concern is
Introducing further com!laints:
!econdly
&n the second place
0ot only 11.'ut also
&n addition
&n addition to this
Added to this
11.was also unaccepta'le
6emanding action:
& suggest that you replace the item
& there(ore suggest that & 'e given a (ull re(und
& would 'e grate(ul i( my money was re(unded
& would 'e grate(ul i( you could give me a (ull re(und
%nding the letter:
& look (orward to hearing (rom you
& look (orward to receiving a (ull re(und
& look (orward to receiving a replacement
& look (orward to receiving your e2planation
%) Writing formal letters to ma&e s!ggestions#
5eason for #riting:
& am writing to suggest
& am writing to arrange
& am writing to o((er suggestions
*aking first suggestion:
"y (irst suggestion is
.irst o( all & suggest
& would like to suggest
Writing formal letters or emails
*aking further suggestions:
Another possi'ility is
A (urther possi'ility is
& (urther suggest
& would (urther suggest
0econdly
7ffering a choice:
3ould you there(ore mind choosing 'etween 1.4
5ither11or
-ou might choose either 11. or
d) Writing formal letters to re'!est information
5eason for #riting:
& am writing to receive (urther in(ormation a'out
& am writing to enquire a'out
& am writing to receive more detailed in(ormation a'out
& am writing to receive (urther details a'out
5equesting first !iece of information:
/he (irst thing & would like to know is
.irst o( all & would like to know
& wonder i( you would mind telling me (irst o( all 1.4
5equesting further information:
6ould you also tell me1.4
6ould you also in(orm me 1.4
3ould you also mind in(orming me 1.4
3ould you also mind telling me 1.4
o you know 1.4
& would also like to know i(
& would also like to know whether
& hope you might also let me know a'out 1
Thanking for information:
& would like to thank you in advance (or this in(ormation
/hanking you in advance (or this in(ormation
/hanking you in advance
e) Writing formal letters to gi(e information#
5eason for #riting:
& am writing to in(orm you a'out
& am writing to provide you with in(ormation a'out
& am writing to let you know that
Providing first !oint:
/he (irst thing & would like to in(orm you o( is
/he (irst thing & would like to tell you is
/he (irst thing & wish to in(orm you o( is
& would like to 'egin 'y in(orming you
Providing further !oints:
& would also like to let you know that
& would also like to in(orm you that
-ou might also (ind the (ollowing in(ormation use(ul
&t might also 'e use(ul (or you to know that
Another piece o( in(ormation that might 'e use(ul
%nding the letter:
&( you require (urther in(ormation) please do not hesitate to as
&( & can 'e o( (urther assistance) please do not hesitate to ask
& will willingly provide (urther in(ormation on request
& am at your disposal should you require (urther in(ormation
& am at your disposal should you need (urther assistance
Please do not hesitate to ask should you require (urther in(ormation
f) Writing formal letters to re'!est "ermission
5eason for #riting:
& am writing to ask permission to
& am writing to ask permission (or
& am writing to request permission to
& am writing to request permission (or
& am writing to ask i( & might
*aking first request:
.irstly & wonder i( you would
.irst o( all & wonder whether you would mind
/he (irst request & would like you to consider is
*aking further requests:
& would 'e grate(ul i( you would also consider
& wonder i( it might 'e possi'le (or me to
& would also like to request permission (or
& would also like to request permission to
Writing formal letters or emails
Thanking for !ermission
"any thanks (or kindly considering my requests
/hank you (or considering my requests
Writing informal letters and emails
)ntrod!%tion 2/riting informal letters and emails3
/riting informal letters and emails involves #riting letters or emails to friends or
relatives.
/hen #riting an informal letter or email our language is more rela$ed and #e are
ale to use areviations, #hich is rare in other forms of %nglish #riting, e$ce!t
!erha!s #hen using direct s!eech.
.ook also at /riting 1ormal .etters and %mails and com!are.
sef!l "hrases - 2/riting informal letters and emails3
)nformal *etters + ,reetings#
ear %im
7ello %im
7i %im
)nformal *etters + )ntrod!%tory "aragra"h#
!orry & haven+t written (or ages
!orry it+s taken me so long to write
7ow+s it going4
7ow are you4
7ow are things with you4
7ow are things4
An informal letter referring to good news#
8lad to hear a'out
&+m really glad to hear a'out
&+m very happy to hear a'out
& was very happy to read a'out
8reat news a'out your
An informal letter referring to $ad news#
&+m e2tremely sorry to hear a'out
&+m very sorry to hear a'out
!orry to read a'out
&ts very sad to hear a'out your
& can+t tell you how sad & am that
)nformal letters + )ntrod!%ing "oints
Writing informal letters or emails
$y the way
id you hear a'out
id you see
7ave you seen
/ell me a'out
9h) another thing
Ending an informal letter or email#
3ell) time to go
3ell) it+s time to go
3ell) got to go
3ell) time to close
I8ve got to leave off no#
3rite soon
"ake sure you write soon
:ove
:ots o( love
All my love
3ill write again soon
:ook a(ter yoursel(
/ake care o( yoursel(
All the 'est
5verything good
Writing stories
Writing stories
)ntrod!%tion and ti"s 2/riting stories3
'90/%5 T:% Q;%0TI79
P.'9 your story.
5%<I0% your story to correct mistakes.
4ive your story a title.
*ake sure you have at least 4 !aragra!hs.
Paragra!h + = ackground information.
Paragra!hs 2 and - the main !art of the story.
Paragra!h 4 = %IT:%5 the clima$ or key moment of the story 75 #hat ha!!ened
after the clima$.
6on8t change the #ords you are given at all.
5ead the #ords you are given carefully. 0ometimes you can choose #hether to start
or finish #ith the #ords. 't other times you have no choice.
;se !ast continuous for ackground information. 1or e$am!le = &t was raining heavily
as we le(t the house1.
;se !ast !erfect efore the main events of the story. 'ut Anne had kindly lent me her
um'rella.
;se sim!le !ast for the main events. /here wasn+t a single person on the street.
Try to include some direct s!eech.
&ou can use contraction 2haven8t, couldn8t etc3. >ut a story should not e as informal
as an email to a friend, for e$am!le.
sef!l "hrases 2/riting stories3
Time "hrases#
&t all 'egan
!hortly a(terwards
"eanwhile
0ot long a(terwards
!ome time later
:ater that day
A little later
.inally
&n the end
5ventually
Phrases for dramati% effe%t#
!uddenly
All o( a sudden
3ithout warning
9ut o( the 'lue
%ust at that moment
;uite une2pectedly
As i( (rom nowhere
Writing stories
-ire%t s"ee%h#
<1..=) said .red
<1..=) shouted .red
<1..=) screamed .red
<1..=) whispered .red
<1..=) announced .red.
=1..=) thought .red
<1..=) cried .red
<1..=) promised .red
.on%l!ding stories#
3hen it was all over
:ooking 'ack now
&n retrospect
&n the end
A(ter all that had happened
Writing arti%les
Writing arti%les
)ntrod!%tion and ti"s 2/riting articles3
'90/%5 T:% Q;%0TI79
P.'9 your article.
4ive your article a title.
*ake sure you have at least 4 !aragra!hs.
'sk rhetorical questions to get your readers8 attention. %g. /hat #ould the #orld e
like #ithout oil? /hat #ill life e like in 2, years time?
0!eak directly to your readers. %g. .et8s @ust imagine some of the !ossiilities.
4ive e$am!les #here a!!ro!riate.
;se humour #here a!!ro!riate
4ive a conclusion and summary in the last !aragra!h.
1inally, give your o!inion #here a!!ro!riate.
5%<I0% your article to correct mistakes.
sef!l "hrases 2/riting articles3
Rhetori%al "hrases#
7ave you ever 11..4
3hat do you think a'out 11..4
Are you one o( those people who thinks that 114
Are you one o( those people who 1....4
3hat would li(e 'e like i( 114
3ill the (uture 'ring us 1.. 4
)ntrod!%ing yo!r first "oint#
.irstly
&n the (irst place
.irst o( all
/he (irst thing to consider is
9ne thing to consider is
/o 'egin with
)ntrod!%ing more "oints#
!econdly
Another consideration
-et another consideration
Another thing to consider is
Added to that
Apart (rom that
&n addition to this
)ntrod!%ing yo!r final "oints#
Writing arti%les
&n conclusion
/o conclude
/o sum up
!o
)ntrod!%ing yo!r o"inion#
& think
&n my opinion
Personally & 'elieve that
&n my view
&( you ask me
/o my mind
"y personal opinion is
Writing essays
)ntrod!%tion and ti"s 2/riting essays3
'90/%5 T:% Q;%0TI79
P.'9 your essay
5%<I0% your essay to correct mistakes.
4 or " P'5'45'P:0, #ith Introduction and Aonclusion
The first !aragra!h should e a general introduction to the su@ect
6evelo! your arguments in the middle !aragra!hs
4ive reasons to su!!ort your argument
;se a variety of discussive #ords and !hrases
4ive e$am!les #here !ossile
;se formal language
6on8t use contractions 2#e8re, I8ve etc.3
0um u! your argument in the final !aragra!h
The final !aragra!h is the est !lace to e$!ress your o!inion clearly.
sef!l Phrases 2/riting articles3
Presenting two ad(antages or disad(antages together#
not only 1 'ut 1 also
not only 1 'ut also
Presenting two o""osing (iews#
on the one hand) on the other hand
Ex"ressing .ontrast#
nevertheless
even so
even though
however
in spite o(
despite
'ut
although
Ex"ressing res!lts#
Writing essays
'ecause o( this
there(ore
thus
as a result
(or this reason
consequently
,i(ing exam"les#
such as
like
(or e2ample
(or instance
Ex"ressing the o"inion of someone else#
some people say
some people say that
many people say
many people say that
people o(ten say
it is said
it is said that
according to
Writing re"orts
)ntrod!%tion and ti"s 2/riting re!orts3
'90/%5 T:% Q;%0TI79
P.'9 your re!ort.
*ake sure you have at least 4 !aragra!hs.
%very !aragra!h should have a heading #hich e$!lains #hat the !aragra!h is aout.
&ou first !aragra!h heading #ill e I9T576;ATI79 and your last, A79A.;0I79
'l#ays start #ith To: %.g. /o> "s %ones
Put 1rom: on the line elo# and then add your name.
Put 0u@ect: on the ne$t line. Ahoose a heading that descries clearly #hat the re!ort
is aout.
&ou do not need to !ut the date ut you can if you #ant to.
;se formal language.
6o not use contractions.
Try to make recommendations in the final !aragra!h.
5%<I0% your re!ort to correct mistakes.
sef!l "hrases 2/riting re!orts3
)ntrod!%tory )nformation#
/o>
.rom>
!u'?ect>
ate>
Headings + to in%l!de#
&ntroduction>
!u'?ect o( each paragraph>
6onclusion or recommendation*s,>
)ntrod!%tory Paragra"h
As requested & have 1..
/his involved visiting 11.
/his involved looking at 11.
/his involved investigating 1..
"y (indings are outlined 'elow.
"y (indings are presented 'elow.
& outline my (indings 'elow.
Re%ommending#
& would like to suggest 11
& would like to recommend 11
& there(ore suggest 11
& there(ore recommend 11
& there(ore suggest that we do not 11
& there(ore recommend that we do not1
& there(ore do not suggest 11
& there(ore do not recommend 11
& there(ore recommend 11
& 'elieve we should recommend 11
& 'elieve we should not recommend
11
-ou may wish to consider 11
Writing re(iews
)ntrod!%tion and ti"s 2/riting revie#s3
'90/%5 T:% Q;%0TI79
P.'9 your revie#.
*ake sure you have at least 4 !aragra!hs.
Ahoose an a!!ro!riate title.
The introduction #ill talk aout #hat8s eing revie#ed.
;se a rela$ed, friendly, chatty style.
&ou can use contractions such as I8m, I8ve etc..
;se a ne# !aragra!h for each !oint you #ant to make.
4ive your o!inion.
In the concluding !aragra!h give your o!inion.
sef!l "hrases 2/riting revie#s3
What ) li&ed
3hat & liked most was 1..
/he thing & liked most was 1.
& was pleasantly surprised 'y 1..
1.. would appeal to 1..
&( you get a chance to 1.
What ) disli&ed
3hat & disliked most was 1..
& was disappointed 'y 11
& was disappointed with 1..
& was very disappointed 'y 1..
& was very disappointed with 1.
Re(iews of $oo&s#
main character
is set in
comedy
science (iction
thriller
romance
comedy>
author
written 'y
chapter
(actual
(iction
un'elieva'le
'estseller
chapter
ending
Re(iews of films/ t( "rogrammes/ "lays#
lead role
star role
star
star actor
star actress
starring
secondary role
7e plays a 11.
!he plays a 11.
written 'y 1.
is set in 1..
'ased on a true story
'elieva'le
true to li(e
not very 'elieva'le
(ar@(etched
comedy
romance
science (iction
ending
Re(iews of hotels/ resta!rants/ et%#
location
service
setting
attractive setting
disappointing setting
owned 'y
run 'y
head che( *restaurant,
waiters *restaurant,
sta(( 11.
sta(( at reception 11.*hotel,
hotel (acilities 1.
reasona'le prices 1..
good value (or money 1..
e2cellent value (or money 1..
e2pensive
a 'it e2pensive
overpriced
not worth the money
poor value (or money
always (ully 'ooked
'ook in advance