WRITING TASKS

Noemí Barrera Rioja

English Language I
The exam
◦ You will be given two options and you will pick and do one

◦ You will have to write 250-300 words

◦ You will have 1 hour to write your text

◦ You should
• avoid repeating words in the task

• answer all the questions and be relevant

• use linking words to connect your ideas and structure your text

• use correct grammar and a wide range of vocabulary

• This part is worth 30% of your final mark

ESSAY
◦ Purpose: To discuss a topic and express your opinion on it.

◦ Language: Formal and mostly impersonal.

◦ Structure:
• It needs a title.

• Introduction: introduce the topic in a general way (2-3 sentences), you may also introduce your opinion.

• Body: present arguments for and against your point of view, discuss one idea per paragraph.

• Conclusion: summarise the topic and give your opinion (2-3 sentences).
 It is cruel to keep animals in zoos. Do
you agree?

ESSAY - Example Write about:

1. Safety
2. Lifestyle
3. _________ (your own idea)

◦ Title: use your thesis statement

◦ Introduction: comment generally on the topic (e.g. Keeping animals in zoos is an important issue today
because there are many people in favour of animal rights) and tell the reader what to expect (e.g. In this
essay, I intend to discuss/examine…)

◦ Body paragraphs: state and discuss one of the points. Is this point an argument for or against your thesis
statement? Make that clear, explain the point, give reasons to support it and add examples if needed.

◦ Conclusion: give your opinion (thesis statement) and sum up points that you have already made.
 In my opinion

ESSAY – Useful language I believe

To sum up
Furthermore
Moreover
Introducing the first point In conclusion First of all
Finally
Introducing further points However Thus
In addition (to this)
Such as For this reason
Introducing the last point For instance
Lastly In contrast
An example of this is
Linking similar ideas Consequently In my view
To conclude
Because On balance
Adding a reason Last but not least
For example I would say that
Giving a consequence As a consequence
As Whereas
or result Aside/Apart from that
Secondly Nonetheless
I am (not) in favor of
Introducing a contrast Next Nevertheless
I (dis)agree that
Giving examples Since Firstly
On the one/other hand
Therefore To begin with
Giving a conclusion As a result
Expressing an opinion Despite
Although
ESSAY – Useful language
Introducing the first point Firstly, To begin with, First of all
Introducing further points Secondly, Next
Introducing the last point Lastly, Finally, Last but not least
Linking similar ideas In addition (to this), Furthermore, Moreover, Aside/Apart from that
Adding a reason Because, As, Since
Giving a consequence Consequently, As a consequence, Therefore, Thus, For this reason, As a
or result result
However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Despite, On the one/other hand, In
Introducing a contrast
contrast, Although, Whereas
Giving examples For example, For instance, Such as, An example of this is
Giving a conclusion In conclusion, To sum up, On balance, To conclude
I believe, In my view, In my opinion, I am (not) in favour of, I would say
Expressing an opinion
that, I (dis)agree that
Let’s practise!
It is cruel to keep animals in zoos. Do you agree?
Write about:
1. Safety
2. Lifestyle
3. _________ (your own idea)

Write:
◦ the plan for the whole text
◦ the introduction
◦ the conclusion
REVIEW
◦ Purpose: To give your opinion about a product or an experience.

◦ Language: Informal and friendly.

◦ Structure:
• It needs a title.

• Introduction: present the product or experience (2-3 sentences).

• Body: describe the product or experience and say what you liked and what you disliked.

• Conclusion: make a recommendation (2-3 sentences).

 What did you think of the last holiday
home you stayed in? Write a review for

REVIEW - Example our website. Describe the holiday home

and say why you did or did not enjoy
your stay there.

◦ Title (e.g. Apartment in Central London, Cabin in the Swedish forest…)

◦ Introduction: when you stayed, where the home is located…

◦ First body paragraph: description of the home.

◦ Second body paragraph: positive (or negative) aspects of the home.

◦ Third body paragraph: negative (or positive) aspects of the home.

◦ Conclusion: recommendation.
 Praising Criticising

Recommending
REVIEW – Useful language Advising against

◦ I was pleased to see that…

◦ … was even better than we had expected ◦ We were (rather) disappointed to find that…
◦ It was a nice surprise to find that… ◦ … was (a little) disappointing.
◦ … was absolutely perfect. ◦ There should have been…
◦ We had a/n pleasant/enjoyable/marvellous time at… ◦ The advertisement said that…, but in fact…
◦ It was one of the best … I have ever … ◦ There wasn’t/weren’t any … at all.
◦ There wasn’t/weren’t enough … to …
◦ It was too … to …
◦ If you get the chance to…, I would advise…
◦ Don’t miss the opportunity to… ◦ I (would) suggest finding a better … than this.
◦ Anyone who likes… will really enjoy… ◦ My advice is to avoid this …
◦ I’m sure everyone will find… worth… ◦ I (would strongly) advise against … this …
◦ I would advise anyone to…
REVIEW – Useful language
Praising
◦ I was pleased to see that… Criticising
◦ … was even better than we had expected ◦ We were (rather) disappointed to find that…
◦ It was a nice surprise to find that… ◦ … was (a little) disappointing.
◦ … was absolutely perfect. ◦ There should have been…
◦ We had a/n pleasant/enjoyable/marvellous time at… ◦ The advertisement said that…, but in fact…
◦ It was one of the best … I have ever … ◦ There wasn’t/weren’t any … at all.
◦ There wasn’t/weren’t enough … to …
Recommending ◦ It was too … to …
◦ If you get the chance to…, I would advise…
Advising against
◦ Don’t miss the opportunity to… ◦ I (would) suggest finding a better … than this.
◦ Anyone who likes… will really enjoy… ◦ My advice is to avoid this …
◦ I’m sure everyone will find… worth… ◦ I (would strongly) advise against … this …
◦ I would advise anyone to…
Let’s practise!
What did you think of the last holiday home you stayed in? Write a review for our website. Describe
the holiday home and say why you did or did not enjoy your stay there.

Write:
◦ the plan for the whole text
◦ the introduction
◦ the conclusion
REPORT
◦ Purpose: To give factual information for the reader to make a decision.

◦ Language: Formal and mostly impersonal.

◦ Structure:
• It needs headings.

• Introduction: explain what the objective of your report is (2-3 sentences).

• Body: present the requested information and make recommendations if required.

• Conclusion: make a recommendation with supporting reasons (2-3 sentences).

 Your teacher has asked you to suggest a
sport that could be played at your

REPORT - Example college. Describe a sport that you have

tried and say why you think it would be
popular with students.

◦ Introduction: heading + state the purpose of your report (e.g. The aim of this report is to describe an
activity in which I have taken part, as well as to explain why other students would enjoy it.)

◦ First body paragraph: heading + description of the sport.

◦ Second body paragraph: heading + positive aspects of the sport.

◦ Third body paragraph: heading + reasons why it would be popular.

◦ Conclusion: heading: recommendation with reasons (e.g. To sum up, I recommend basketball because…
Therefore, I suggest it should become part of the sports curriculum at our college).
REPORT – Useful language

◦ The aim/purpose of this report is… ◦ In conclusion

◦ This report aims/intends to… ◦ To sum up
◦ On balance
◦ All things considered

◦ I would recommend/suggest…
◦ I strongly recommend…
Introduction
◦ I have no hesitation in recommending…
◦ The following improvements are recommended: Conclusion
◦ It would be (highly) advisable to…
Recommending
REPORT – Useful language

Introduction Conclusion
◦ The aim/purpose of this report is… ◦ In conclusion
◦ This report aims/intends to… ◦ To sum up
◦ On balance

Recommending ◦ All things considered

◦ I would recommend/suggest…
◦ I strongly recommend…
◦ I have no hesitation in recommending…
◦ The following improvements are recommended:
◦ It would be (highly) advisable to…
Let’s practise!
Your teacher has asked you to suggest a sport that could be played at your college. Describe a sport
that you have tried and say why you think it would be popular with students.

Write:
◦ the plan for the whole text
◦ the introduction
◦ the conclusion
TO SUM UP
ESSAY REVIEW REPORT
To give your opinion To give factual
To discuss a topic and
PURPOSE about a product or an information for the
give your opinion
experience reader to decide
Formal, impersonal, and Formal, impersonal, and
LANGUAGE Informal and friendly
neutral neutral
- Title - Title - Headings
STRUCTURE - Introduction, 2-3 body - Introduction, 2-3 body - Introduction, 2-3 body
paragraphs, conclusion paragraphs, conclusion paragraphs, conclusion
GIVING YOUR Yes, in the conclusion No, you should remain
Yes, throughout the text
OPINION (and introduction) objective
MAKING A
No, just your opinion and Yes, in the conclusion (or
RECOMMENDATIO Yes, in the conclusion
supporting arguments also in the body if asked)
N