WRITING BANK Letters: Informal/Formal INFORMAL LETTERS (WRITE THE FIRST LUNE NEXT TO THE MARGIN, FOLLOWED By A COMMA. ALWAYS USE A NAME. NEVER BEGIN’ © | Dear Friend. WITH AN INFORMAL, GREETING (e.g. Yours, Best wishes, (on Love) WRITTEN NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE: 0 v0UR UTR va | LOSKiNe Funan TO tT___ 23 Ox fore Ra. Cheltenham. Glos. GL50 40Z A August 19- Pear GE} > PONT OHS ‘Ceag. FRIEND Thank you for your postenrd from New York.! really envy you going to all those exciting places! There's no chance of a hstiday for me this yeas, Vin afraid. I'm sairing up to kuy @ car. The driving lessons ave going well and my test is booked for next month. Wishime [uck! T haven't seen you for ages owd I'd love bo hear all your news. Why don't you come down ond Pee lies Ufwhen youl be Looking foruned to hearing from you. bs Love frase e © Peerenitions + NOUN. | aire YOUR ADDRESS (@UT NOT | YOUR Nate) ON SEPARATE LINES IN THE TOP RIGHT. HAND CORNER. | WAITE THE DATE BELOW YOUR ADDRESS. | use sepanare PARAGRAPHS TO: = BEGIN YOUR LerTER = DEAL WITH | DIFFERENT ToPIcs = CLOSE YOUR LETTER, Important note: In the First Certificate exam, you do not have to include your address in the letter. PyNotes and useful language BEGINNINGS. It is usual to begin by referring to a letter you've received, or by making some other polite introductory comment: + Thank you for/Many thanks for your recent) letter/postcar + Tt + Pm sorry haven't written : es scat riom al hope you're wwell/you and your family are wel. ENDINGS. It is usual to end with a polite remark, written on a separate line: + Took forward totboking forward to hearing fromiseeing you. + See ; soon./Write soon./Hope to hear from you, APOLOGIES Say what you are apologising for and give reasons to explain your behaviour. Try to suggest a way of putting things right, if possible + Tm writing to apologise fot missing your party last week but Pm afraid Iwas in bed with flu + Pm really sorry that I forgot to send you a birthday card but I was 50 busy with my new job : ins a apna shere you bought it/how much it cost, Pll gladly pay for it/replace it + Please let me know how much the bill is and I'l gladly pay it. INVITATIONS ~ ACCEPTING/REJECTING Say what the event is and give clear details of the date, time and place. It may be helpful to give other information such as how to get there, who else is coming and what (if anything) to bring. Itis usual, 100, to ask for confirmation: + P'm/We're having a party on Friday 19th and we hope you'll be able to come. + Would you like to come/go to see ‘Room With a View" with me at the weekend? + was wondering if you'd like to go to the theatrescome on holiday with us? *+ Could you let me/us know if you can come/you'd like 10 join ust + Thank you very much for your invitation. I'd love to come. warms en + Thank you for asking mefinviting me to ... but I'm afraid I won't be able to come/join you because REQUESTS In some cases, you may want to introduce your request immediately. In others, you may prefer to begin your letter with some brief news before going on to make the request. Either way, explain exactly what the request is, with reasons, and emphasise how grateful you would be for the help you are asking for: + I'm writing to ask for your help/you (if you could do me) a favour. + wonder if/I was wondering if you could help me/do me a favour. + Thope you don't mind me asking but could you (possibly) ...? + I'd be very/really/terribly grateful if you could... THANK YOU/ CONGRATULATIONS/GOOD Luck When thanking someone for something, it is usual to say as much as possible about how useful/enjoyable/helpful it was. When offering congratulations for some success, you usually mention how well deserved it is. When wishing someone good luck, try to reassure them or offer some friendly advice: + Din writing to thank yous for your hospitality/the wonderful present. + It was so kind of you to invite me to stay with you. + [really appreciated all your help/advice. + Congratulations on passing your exams/your excellent exam results! + You really deserved to succeed after all your hard work! + Iwish you good luck/Good luck in/with your exams/your driving test/your interview. + Don't worry, I’m sure you'll do well/pass. + Do be on time, won't you, and don't forget to ... NEWS/INFORMATION + [thought you might be interested to hear about/know that + This is just to let you know that ... + By the way, have you heard about/did you know that ? 3DP wamacwn oa ‘THE WISE OWL BOOKSHOP Part-time sales assistant required, Please apply in writing to: The Manager, ‘The Wise Owl Bookshop, Market Street, Malvern, WR12 2PO 23 oxford Road Cheltenhan ed Gloucestershire WRITE THE NAME Gus0 4gz [AND ADDRESS OF THE PERSON OR COMPANY YOU ARE | WRITING To ON, ‘THE LEFT-HAND SDE, BELOW THE are, 4th August 19- warte Dear NEXT TO THE LEFT: I was interested in your advertisement in today’s edition HAND MAN, of the ‘Evening Mail’ and I would like to apply for the FOLLOWED ey A position of part-time sal sistant. peer I am 19 years of age and have recently returned from six months’ travelling in the United states. I have ‘A’ levels in French and Art History and I have gained some work experience since leaving school, both as a waitress and a an assistant in a newsagent’s shop. My reason for applying for this position is that T hope to go to university next year and I would like to combine part-time work with studying for a further ‘A’ level. feel that the work would be very interesting and that I would enjoy the opportunity to mest people and help then with their enquiries. END YOUR LETTER Yours faithfly, OR I would be free to attend for interview on any day after Yours sincerely, nn FOLLOWED BY A COMMA. (FOR THE Yours faithfully, DIFFERENCE, see pace 115). ~ HAZEL SITH (Hs) \WAITE YOUR NAME e CLEARLY AFTER YOUR SIGNATURE. _| wamTe YOUR, [ADDRESS ON. SEPARATE LINES IN THE TOP RIGHT | HAND CORNER, Do Not wrrre | YOUR Nave SS, warre THE DATE | “estow Your “noones. | Use sepanare PARAGRAPHS TO: = sav wit You |ARE WRITING — Give DETALS OR EXTRA INFORMATION = CONCLUDE YOUR LETTER, Important note: In the First Certificate exam, you do not have to include the addresses in the letter.Notes and useful language BEGINNING/ORGANISATION Write Dear + the person's name, if you know it (Dear ‘Mr Smith). If not, begin Dear Sir (for a man), Dear Madam (for a woman), or iit could be either). Don’t use a title like Dear Manager. {In the first paragraph, clearly state your reason for veriting. Use the middle paragraphs to explain the etails, beginning a new paragraph for each main point. In the final paragraph, sum up and/or say what action you want to be taken. ENDINGS Don't forget! If you began with a person's name, eg, Dear Mrs Blake, you must end with Yours sincerely, not Yours faithfully. These endings are followed by a JOB APPLICATIONS First make it clear which job you are applying for, and mention where you saw the advertisement, and when. Give all the necessary information about yourself (including age, qualifications, past employment and other experience). Say why you are particularly interested in the job, and what you have to offer. Use a new paragraph for each main topic. It may also be useful to mention when you would be available for an interview: Business Administration. + My reason for applying is that I am interested in tourism and I would like to be able to use my foreign languages. + Iwould be happy/able to attend an interview at any time which is convenient to you. APOLOGIES Explain why you are apologising and what the reasons were for your behaviour. If possible, offer to make up in some way (e.g. by paying for the damage) and/or promise that the problem won't happen again: + Lam writing to apologise for the things I said at our last meeting/losing my temper. : Iwo iy a luisa ice Thave caused/that you were disturbed. + The reason I missed the meeting was that my car broke down. + Please let me know how much it cost and I will gladly replace it. a | + Lassure you that this will never happen again. COMPLAINTS State the subject of your complaint clearly in the first paragraph. Use the following paragraphs to give all, the necessary details (including dates and times, the people involved, the inconvenience you've been caused, etc.). Try to be clear and factual rather than emotional. Use the final paragraph to say what action you want to be taken now: + Lam writing to complain about a holiday I booked ‘ith your company standard of service at your restaurant. + Tmust insist that you refund the cost of the bill, + Imust ask you to... ENQUIRIES In the first paragraph, explain what information you need. If you are responding to an advertisement, mention where you saw this. Use extra paragraphs to mention any specific questions you would like answers to: + Iwould be grateful if you could send me full + Could you send me your brochure/catalogue? + Tlook forward to hearing from youlreceiving the information. OPINIONS Introduce the topic and give details of any letter, article, book or TV programme you are responding, to. Develop your argument in separate paragraphs and sum up in the final one: + Istrongly disagree with/I completely agree with Mr Smith's leter, which appeared yesterday. + was interested to read the article on immigration in Monday’s edition of your newspaper but I don’t think it gave all the facts. + Iwas interested/fascinated/amused/delighted to see/hear/read ... + Iwas horrified/shocked/disgusted t0 ... + In my opinion there is far too much violence in television dramas these days. + Inconclusion I feel/I believe ... usrr | Descriptions INTRODUCTION ‘sets the scene character | | SONCLLSION | ‘sums up your feelings ‘An English penfriend has asked to hear more about your family. Write a description of a favourite member of your family My cousin, Christopher, isthe son of my father's brother. He's three years younger than me and we didn't knoweeach other ——_ different tenses to very well as children because he and his family livedon the nee e other side of the country at that time. Since then, (he's married) |———_— and moved closer so we meet quite often and Ie got to know) ‘him much better. ‘There's nothing very remarkable about Chris's appearance, He's of average height and medium build, and he's got curly, mousy hair and a fair complexion. As he’s quite shortsighted like me, he wears glasses. The clothes he likes are mostly casual: jeans or shorts and a tee-shirt, [ don't think I've ever seen him in a suit! He's a very active person who loves the outdoor life. He’s extremely practical and he can build or repair almost anything, ‘no matter how complicated it is. Another characteristic he has) is that he's very outgoing. Ifyou go to a show with him and "vary the sentence members ofthe audience are invited onto the stage, Chris will __— structure | be the first to volunteer:(The thing I appreciate most about him, however, is his sense of humour. I'm depressed, he can always cheer me up with a joke or a funny story. ‘They say you can choose your friends but not your relations. In Chris's case, I feel I'm very lucky because he’s not only my cousin but also one of my best friends.Dwar ean ‘A young people’s travel magazine has asked readers to write about a town or city anywhere in the world that they particularly like. The best description will win a holiday! Write a description that you can send to the magazine, INTRODUCTION special attractions atmosphere amenities CONCLUSION people summing up ve visited many interesting cities in my life but I think my favourite must be Sydney in Australia, I've been lucky enough to go there several times and it's certainly a iggest advantage is its superb setting on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. The views of the harbour bridge and the Opera House are ‘magnificent and you find that you are never very far from water wherever you go. ‘Then, a short drive away you have beaches like the famous Bondi beach and national parks where you can walk for miles without meeting anyone except, perhaps, the odd Kangaroo! sets the scene place I would be happy to live L, Sydney's location It's a very relaxed and cosmopolitan city and there's plenty to see and do. Even if you can't afford the price of an opera ticket, you can visit some of the museums and art galleries or wander round Darling Harbour or Paddington Market completely free. And when you're hungry, there are hundreds of restaurants, at all prices, serving every possible type of cuisine from Australian to my favourite, Mongolian! So, with its wonderful setting and all its other attractions, Sydney takes a lot of, beating, in my view. But in the end, it's the people who make a city and Sydney-siders. (as they're called) are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I know. Notes and useful language STRUCTURE Descriptions need to be structured, like other types of ‘writing, so that they have an introduction, a middle and an end. In the introduction, you should briefly set the scene, perhaps by Sng ou ve che he ey rou're going to desc ter that you should deal with the different main aspects of the subject in separate paragraphs. Use the final Dernaraphfsum tp your elings bout the subject, if possible in a humorous or memorable way. us PERSONALISATION ‘Some topics give You more opportunity for personal comment than others. In general, though, including your reactions and feelings and an occasional touch of humour will make your description more interesting and enjoyable for the reader.‘TENSES ‘You may be asked to write a description in the present, in the past or to make a comparison between the past and the present. Think carefully about the tenses you use: He rides a bicycle (present habit), He's learning to lay the violin (happening now), We've been friends for years (links past and present), It was raining (sets the scene), She frowned when she saw me (past action). SENTENCE STRUCTURE One problem which arises with this kind of writing is that you can find yourself beginning all your sentences in the same way: He looks ..., He's got ..., He wears . ‘This makes the description rather boring to read, so ag 2 the sentence structut sass pe VOCABULARY Descriptions give you a golden opportunity to show off your vocabulary. Don't waste it! Avoid using a narrow range of adjectives like big/small, good, nice — think about better, more precise ones. DESCRIBING PEOPLE Possible aspects: your relationship with the person/how ‘you met, their appearance and style of clothing, their character, and your personal feelings about them. Appearance (SEE FUNCTIONS BANK, PAGE 111): + She/he looks/seems/appears ... + She/he's got short, curly hair and a fringe. + She/he’s short with a pale complexion. Clothes (SEE PAGE 63): She/he usually wears jeans. ~ Order of adjectives (SEE STUDY BOX, PAGE 52): DESCRIBING PLACESIEVENTS Possible aspects: the place/event,)76UiE) Impreions er ‘you main aracteristics, location, atmosphere, sights, sounds, peopl, summing up/comparison wih ater ist) Location (SEE FUNCTIONS BANK, PAGE 108): + in the middle, at the top/botiom, on the left/right + in the north, to the north of .. + in front of, behind, beyond, above, aver, below, under DESCRIBING OBJECTS Possible aspects: structure, shape, colour, material, use Shape (SEE FUNCTIONS BANK, PAGE 109-110): + Its shaped like a circle /Its circular in shape/Its star- shaped. + straight, curved, horizontal, diagonal, vertical, poirtted, sloping Sensory perception (SEE FUNCTIONS BANK, PAGE Ho} * It looks/seems/appears ... + adjective + It tastes/smells/feels/sounds ... + adjective + It feels/sounds lke ... + noun + It's pretty pale pink colour. DESCRIBING PROCESSES/INSTRUCTIONS Sequence markers: + First ..., Next/Afier tha + Whe + Beforel Purpose clauses (see Study Box, + for + -ing + ‘tofin order to/s0 as to + infinitive + so that + clause page 188): Practice 1 Describe your ideal house and its location, giving, reasons for your choices. 2 Write a description of a person who has had an important influence on your life. 3 Describe a party you've attended recently. 4 Describe a favourite meal or dish. What ingredients are needed and how is it prepared? 5 Write a des and contents. iption of your bedroom, its furniture Important note: In the First Certificate exam you must write between 120 and 180 words. The models given on pages 117-118 are longer, in order to illustrate the various useful points. ngOPENING introducing topic and argument. points in favour of telephoning Introduce opposite point of view points against telephoninglin favour of writing further support for letter writing CONCLUSION expressing personal view and summing up 120 Discussions Your class has been asked to write a composition discussing the topic: There's no need to write letters any more. Telephoning is a better way of communicating with people, Write a discussion composition. It's certainly quicker to telephone than to write a letter but it te. The right form of communication to use depends, like so many other things in life, on the circumstances, may not always be the best way to commut ‘Telephoning is ideal if you want immediate action. You wouldn't want to write to the plumber if you had water pouring through your ceiling, for example! It's also the obvious choice if you need a quick answer to a question like ‘What time is the next train to Oxford?" or ‘Did I leave my wallet in your shop?” Many problems can be solved more easily and decisions taken ‘more quickly if you can discuss them with someone on the phone rather than wait for a reply to a letter. Finally, few people would disagree that telephoning is a pleasant way to keep in touch with friends and family. (On the other hand) there can be a number of disadvantages to telephoning. (In the first place) some problems are too complicated to explain on the phone, especially if they involve facts and figures, and it may be clearer if you set them out in a letter, Secondly})it might be important to have a record-of what you say, especially if it’s a booking or-a.complaint. Last but not least, telephoning, especially long-distance, can be terribly expensive, ‘The nice thing about receiving letters is that you can keep them and re-read them. Who wouldn't rather have a six-page letter full of news from a friend abroad than a two-minute telephone call on a bad line? To sum up, letter writing is far from dead, in my view. Each form of communication has its advantages and disadvantages: the important thing to recognise is which is more appropriate for what you want to say, and to whom. qualifying the statement giving specific examples balancing the | argumentNotes and useful language Topics Typical discussion topics include statements which you are asked to agree or disagree with (e.g. There's 00 much violence on television.) and invitations to discuss aspects of a subject (e.g. What are the advantages and disadvantages of air travel?) APPROACH Generally, the important thing is to consider the various aspects of the topic before giving a balanced opinion. Occasionally, you may be asked directly for a personal opinion (e.g. What's the best way to bring up children?); but even here you would need to consider some different views so that you can contrast them with your own. STRUCTURE The structure of a discursive composition should be clear and logical. In the first paragraph, In the bee wit Give supporting evidence i follox eee or he toes oli the the final paragraph, sum and give a balanced personal opinion, INTRODUCING THE TOPIC SUPPORTING YOUR ARGUMENT is that... + One of the main advantages o + In the frst place,/Firstl,/To begin with,/Secondly,/ Thirdly/Finally, /Last, but not least, ADDING FURTHER REASONS + both... and/not only ... but also + Inaddition,/What is more, /urthermore, ... (see Addition Links, page 83) EXPRESSING AN OPPOSITE POINT OF VIEW + On the other hand, there are (also) a number of disadvantages. warmcane LINKING SENTENCES + Although ..../However,/In spite of this,/Despite .. (see Concession links, page 83) + Some people ... while/whereas others .. * On the one hand ... on the other hand EXPRESSING OPINIONS + In my view/opinion,/It seems to me that ... + Lithink/feel that. (see Functions Bank, page 105) SUMMING UP In conclusion/To sum up,/On balance, Practice 1 What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of living in the country may be? 2 What, in your opinion, is the best way to learn a languag 3 Ithas been said that childhood is the happiest time of one’s life. Do you agree? 4 What do you think of the idea, expressed in some countries, that women should be paid a wage for the work they do in the home? 5 ‘The most important quality in a partner is a sense ‘of humour? Do you agree? Important note: In the First Certificate exam you must write between 120 and 180 words. The model given on page 120 is longer, in order to illustrate the various useful points.‘OPENING | 0 catch the | reader's attention past continuous to set the scene events in clear sequence new paragraph for each main stage ENDING | to explain the final “result or to | surprise or amuse “the reader 12 Narratives Write a short story for your school/college magazine about a journey where everything went wrong. You don't necessarily expect everything to go smoothly when you're travelling. There's always likely to be the odd delay or ‘small problem to deal with. Just occasionally, though, it seems that everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and then you begin to wish you'd stayed at home. Thad spent a week staying with friends in Eastern Europe and was now begin journey home. Having got t0)the background station in good time to catch the train, I went to the ticketeffice to buy a ticket. Imagine my dismay when the ticket clerk explained that the train had been cancelled and that there wasn't another one that day. Luckily there was a bus I could perfect participle for events before the main events catch, but it didn't leave for two hours so I spent the intervening time walking the streets of the town, getting hotter and stickier by the minute, When I finally boarded the bus, all the seats had been taken, so I had to stand for the first hour of the journey. By the timewe arrived, I was exhausted and longing for a shower, so I looked for a ind showed the driver the name of the hotel my friends had recommended. You've guessed it had a map so I walked the last kilometre before collapsing in the hotel. practically sequence link Things seemed to go better éfier that) was relaxing in my room when an American girl fd mefjat Reception knocked on my door and said, “Hi, Tve got a lot of food left over from my past perfect for events before the main events journey and I can't possibly eat it all. was wondering if you'd like to come and share it?’She was very friendly and we had ‘great fun picnicking and chatting about our adventures. My speech for variety and interest flight was leaving the next morning so, after an hour or so, I said goodbye to her and returned to my room to pack my bags and look out my travel documents. It was only then that I discovered I had lost the return half of my airline ticket!Notes and useful language BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS ‘A narrative needs an interesting beginning to catch the reader's attention and encourage him or her to read on, and a clear ending to round the story off satisfactorily. A weak beginning or ending can spoil the effect of the story, so it’s worth spending time working out how to start and finish. THE STORY It’s usually easiest to write a story which is based on your own experience, but don't be afraid to change the details slightly or invent new parts if this helps to make the story more interesting or entertaining. It’s usual to describe events in the order in which they happened and to use a new paragraph for each main stage of the story. The sequence of events is also shown by verb tenses and time links. VERB TENSES We use: @ the simple past to describe the main events (see Focus on grammar, page 28): Tran to answer the phone but it stopped ringing as I picked up the receiver. @ the past continuous to set the scene (see Focus on. grammar, page 33): It was raining heavily as we set off. @ the past perfect to describe events which happened before the main events (see Focus on grammar, page 139): When I got on the bus all the seats had been taken. © present participles to show two actions which are linked (see Focus on grammar, page 68): Noticing that she looked lost, asked if I could help. © perfect participles to show that one action was complete before another started (see Focus on grammar, page 6 Having reported my stolen passport to the police, 1 returned sadly to the hotel. TIME LINKS (SEE FOCUS ON GRAMMAR, PAGE 182): before .. then at first, next while later. during after that meanwhile, afterwards. when .. finally, as soon as eventually, immediately ... in the end, once. Make a point of knowing the difference between firstly /at first, lstly/at last, after/afterwards, while/during/meanwhile ADDING VARIETY AND INTEREST ‘There are various ways of making your story more lively and interesting. These include: . ng etapa, for dramatic effect (remember to use inverted commas correctly): ‘No, he yelled, ‘don’t touch that switch!” + sone afangfrepontingsisior posing speech (see Focus on grammar, page 156): eg. accuse, admit, advise, argue, ask, complain, deny, encourage, explain, invite, promise, recommend, remind, suggest, warn. «ssn ang fad ARRRURIE0 desi actions and feelings as precisely and vividly as possible: | was absolutely horrified when I saw the bill. He shook his arm threateningly at ws. Practice 1 ‘And I’ve never been on another camping holiday {from that day to this? Write a story ending with these words. 2 You had put your briefcase on the chair next to you but when you turned round it had gone. Describe what happened next. 3. Describe an event or day which changed your life. 4 You suddenly realised you were completely lost. Describe what you did and how you managed to get out of trouble. 5. ‘Irs all a big mistake. You've got the wrong person!” Write a story which begins with these words. Important note: In the First Certificate exam you must write between 120 and 180 words. The model given on page 122 is longer in order to illustrate the various useful pointsArticles and Reports Articles and reports both discuss a particular topic, but because they have different purposes and are aimed at different readers, the approach is a little different in each case. An article is written for a newspaper, magazine or newsletter and is designed to make a topic interesting for the general reader. A report is usually more formal and detailed because itis written for a particular person (or group of people) with a particular interest in a subject. ue You have been asked to write an article describing your experience of an unusual type of holiday fora students’ magazine. HEADING FANCY A DOWN-TO-EARTH HOLIDAY? SEES Ae you fed up with lazing on the beach? Do you want to do ames’ “INTRODUCE the something a little different this year? Well, there are now paaterareay topic in an quite a number of educational holidays available and I perenne ey, decided to try one of these out. Td always been interested in history so when I saw an advertisement for a week’s break which included training in archaeology, it seemed ideal There were eight of us in the group, including a retired school teacher, two American college students and an out-of- giving specific r= work actor. Accommodation was simple but comfortable and as fare ha tee the food was all home-cooked and delicious. ee different aspects of ee After some basic training, we were allowed to take part in a dig at a nearby archaeological site. It was a fascinating, process and the high spot for me was finding a tiny piece of uotin pottery which was later identified as Roman ~ ‘Beginner’s Bret? luck’, according to the teacher! ENDING | __Tean thoroughly recommend an educational holiday. As far overall comment +| _as I'm concerned, learning a new skill beats lying on the ‘concluding remark beach any day, and I still came home with a sun tan! 124Notes and useful language CONTENT An article is usually based on a discussion, a description or a narrative (or it may involve a combination of more than one of these). See the relevant sections in the Writing Bank for more information about these types of writing, APPROACH An article should catch the reader’s attention and make him or her want to read on. Think about the age group you are writing for and ask yourself how SEP Eee might now hot the subj and howe you can make it interesting for them. With a light- hearted topic, humour is often helpful. You can also make your article more lively and readable by aedapeiny onc aes dea (Diao loi... ‘¢ using.a.personal approach (Personally, I can't imagine anything worse! ‘© giving specific examples and quotations'(As Mrs X explained, Sun) GENERAL STRUCTURE © Give your article a heading or headline which makes the subject clear and also catches the reader's attention. © Divide the article into paragraphs to help the reader follow the argument. Zio eee ee overall comment or concluding © End with an HEADINGS Use your imagination to make the headline catch the reader's attention. Here are some of the ways writers do this in this book: @ a dramatic word or phrase: Freezing! ea summary fib ‘My Lone Walk to the North Pole; Rescue from the rapids @ a question: What's the big idea? Just a normal day? fe asul : Seven banks a day are robbed in LA; Youre already well equipped to prevent crime. See the sections on Descriptions, Discussions and Narratives for detailed information about structure and useful language. Practice 1 You have been asked to write an article which will appear in a guide to your town or city for English- speaking visitors. Write about the sports and leisure activities which are available. 2 Your school or college wants to publish an article giving advice and encouragement to new students in its English language newsletter. Write the article. BsDe wornc one fern "HEADING INTRODUCTION SR SUBHEADINGS (or number each point) ‘The Student Services Manager at your school or college has asked you to write a report on the library facilities and to suggest any improvements that could be made. quoting summary and recommendation alternative heading | Rs Report on College Library Facilities In order to prepare this report, I visited the college library on saying how you several occasions and interviewed the librarians and a number re ere the of students. en General The library has a welcoming atmosphere and most people (said)that it was easy to find your way around. It is well / decoratéd and well-lit andthe only problem is that theréare merous not quite enough tables and chairs for everyone at busy negative point times. a Books: There is a very good selection of books for all subjects but «according tothe librari when a particular book has been recommended by a teacher. ingly there is sometimes a waiting li The catalogue system is rather complicated and surpr car to have been updated recently. aad ieee reporting an Newspapers and magazine: = Pests ‘The range of newspapers and magazines is excellent and these seem to be well used. Conclusion ‘ ‘The library facilites are very good, on the whole) but re would recommend providing additional copies of popular supplying a small number of extra chairs, and 1g and updating the catalogue system. From: AStudent To: ‘The Student Services Manager Subject: College Library FacilitiesNotes and useful language ‘APPROACH A report should be should present the n nas clearly as possible so that the reader can follow it easily, and it should express an ion at the end. You can simply begin with a heading or you can write the report in the form of a memo to a particular person or group if you wish, STRUCTURE + Give your report a clear, factual heading, + Divide the report into paragraphs or sections to deal with separate aspects of a subject and use numbers, letters or subheadings to make this clear. the situation (and a recommendation if necessary). INTRODUCTION This ea Sat In order to prepare this report, | visited/interviewed/ studied ... REPORTING IMPRESSIONS AND FINDINGS It seems/appears that ... Most people/The majority of people seem to/tend to ... I is imeresting/surprising/sn E Interestingly, Surprisingly, Strangely. QUOTING a. a + reported speech GENERALISING In general, On the whole, SUMMING UP Inconclusion, To sum up, On balance, MAKING A RECOMMENDATION In my opinion/view, I would recommend (+ -ing) wummawwn Practice 1 Your English penfriend is doing a project on the subject of television and has asked you for information about the different TV channels and the most popular programmes in your country. Write a report. 2 You belong to an English students’ club which has a meeting room and a small library of books, videos and tapes. The club has recently received a small grant, You have been asked to write a short report ‘on the club’s facilities and to suggest the best way in which to spend the money.