IGCSE English - Writing (all text types), Appunti di Inglese

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ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE WRITING REPORT • What is a report • General tips • Time fixer phrases • Phrases for introduction • Phrases for generalizations • Phrases for the positive side • Phrases fot the negative side • Phrases for opinions • Phrases for reccomendations • Conclusion • Report example SUMMARY • What is a summary • How to write a summary: structure and tips • Summary example ARTICLE • What is an article • Before you start: the plan • Vocabulary and grammar • Title and first sentence strategies • Article example INFORMAL LETTER • What is an informal letter • Introduction • Body • Conclusion • Tips • Informal letter example FORMAL LETTER • What is a formal letter • Salutations and signatures • Introduction • Body • Details of the situation • Further development • Conclusion • Tips • Formal letter example • Advice table REVIEW • What is a review • Introduction • Brief description • Opinion • Reccomendations • Grammar tips • Review example Contents REPORT A report usually tells the reader about an event that has happened. It tells what they learnt from or did at the event and gives some ideas about how it could be improved in future. Or a report can be suggestion and reccomandation to do something. Reports are always written for a particular audience. They are clear and objective (unbiased), reporting the facts and giving recommendations so they are quite formal. You have to write a general title and a title for each paragraph. Some general tips for formal writing 1. When writing formally it is appropriate to include formal tone and register 2. You should not use the words and phrases that belong to the friendly register. 3. No slang words or phrases. 4. No humor because topics are serious of nature or factual. 5. No personal style (should be impersonal) 6. You should always keep your audience in your mind. Time fixer Phrases Ø I soon as we reached there… Ø We arrived at the site… Ø Once we all arrived Ø The journey to the site was tranquil and scenic.. Phrases for introduction Ø The aim of this report is to highlight what we learned… Ø The report aims to highlight… Ø This report purports to highlight … Ø This report aims to investigate … Ø This report aims to recommend… Ø The purpose of this report to highlight… Ø This report aims to present what we learned from the trip… Phrases for generalization Ø A significant number of students… Ø I love the number of parents… Ø Almost all students… Ø A vast majority of students… Ø A large number of teachers… Phrases for the positive side Ø Many students were captivated to see… Ø It was fascinating to see… Ø We all got insight into the importance… Ø We managed to study fascinating facts about… Ø The vast majority of students were stunned as they discovered … Phrases for negative sides Ø It was appalling to see… Ø However many people felt that it was Ø Notwithstanding the boons, it was totally saddening to see that… Ø A large number of students found that the trip was a bit haphazard… SOLO DINING POINTS (SUMMARY EXAMPLE) 1. fitting more bar seating 2. encouraging waiting staff to be more attentive / waiters have conversations 3. offering tasting menus / offering up to eight small courses. 4. table in a quiet corner / left alone 5. a free lunch to guests who have booked a table for two then find themselves alone 6. sitting by the kitchen “to see a show” from chefs / cooking demonstrations by chefs 7. free tastings 8. conversations with the chefs 9. take a customer’s email to send them information There are many things that restaurants are doing today to make people who dine alone feel more comfortable. (introductory sentence) Firstly, some provide bar seating so as to allow diners to be close to other guests. Waiting staff are often trained to be more attentive to single customers and are encouraged to provide them with table in a quiet corner if privacy is needed.(here I have included two points in one sentence) Solo diners are offered diverse course combinations with free tastings or even offered a free lunch if they find themselves alone after having booked for two. (there are three points in one sentence) Another strategy is to allow solo diners to sit by the kitchen and watch the chefs in action while having a conversation with them. (two points here too) Finally, restaurants might email customers information about ingredients and recipes. LINKING WORDS INTROUCTOREY SENTENTCE: This is not an introduction like you write in an article, for example but just ONE sentence saying what the summary is about. ARTICLE You will be given a topic (more like a question to ponder up on) on which you have to write your views and opinions. Before you start it is a good idea that you come up with a plan. Use the blank space below the question to make your plan, in pencil. In your plan write down the answers to these questions: • The audience: this will be specified in the question (it is almost always a school magazine). So when you write, keep in mind that you need to write to that audience. Your language, tone and vocabulary should reflect this. • Is my article going to be two-sided or one-sided? If you know a lot about the topic and can weigh up the pros and cons, then go for two-sided. If you’re not too knowledgeable about it, stick to one-sided. • How do I introduce the topic? Start off by saying what the topic is and how important the topic is in today’s world. Why it is such a problem? Or is it a problem? • What’s in the body? Write down three points. (If it’s two-sided write two pros and two cons). You will develop your body based on these points. A few points will be given in your question paper, and you can use those! • How will I conclude the article? You need to sum up your points and give your final opinion (even if it’s two-sided, give your final opinion on the matter). Organise. • One-sided Article:Paragraph 1: Introduction • Paragraph 2: First point with justification (or counter-argument) • Paragraph 3: Second point with justification (or counter-argument) • Paragraph 4: Opposing point which you contradict (here, you state a point said by people who have a different opinion from yours and explain why they are wrong) • Paragraph 5: Conclusion- summary, (solution?), repeat your opinion • Two-sided Article:Paragraph 1: Introduction • Paragraph 2: Advantages/’For’ • Paragraph 3: Disadvantages/’Against’ • Paragraph 4: Conclusion- Summary and final opinion Write. Use a variety of connecting words and argumentative phrases. Examples: • Expressing opinions:I agree/ disagree with the above statement that In my opinion/I believe that / I am in favour of /I am against the idea of/ It seems to me that. • Presenting and contrasting opinions:The main argument in favour/ against is/ It is often said that/ First of all I should like to consider/ Apart from that/ Even thug /Furthermore/ In addition/ Nevertheless/ Finally/ Lastly/ Despite the fact that/ In spite of/ On the other hand/What is more/ What matters most in this case is/ It is a fact that/Besides/After all /There is no doubt that. • Reasoning:As a result of/ Owing to/Through/ Due to/ Consequentl/ On account of/ Therefore/Henc. • Concluding:To sum up/To conclude/ It can be concluded that/I believe that/ Thus, I am of the opinion that. • Argumentative verbs (use these instead of say/tell): Claim/ Assert/ Insist/ Argue/Allege/Suggest/ Point out/Maintain. THE TITLE MUST ATTRACT THE READER AND THE FIRST SENTENCES MUST MAKE US WANT TO CONTINUE READING….. First sentence stratagies …. • Use a rhetorical question … Do you spend feel your friends are closer to you than your family • Tell a story: I can remember as a child spending many hours around the dinner table with my family, with no television, telephones … just us speaking. • Imagination: Imagine looking around and seeing all your classmates with both their parents by their side but you only have one parent … Today this situation is becoming more and more familiar • Give Generalizations: In today’s growing and changing world, it is believed that the idea of family is quite different than that of many years ago INFORMAL LETTER EXAMPLE Hi Mary, How are you? We’ve not spoken much in the last few days, I was very busy studying for my exams… But let’s stop beating around the bush! I’m actually writing to inform you that my teacher is going to make a video to advertise the school and she needs some students to help. First of all we should both take part in this video because it is a really great experience. We can interview the teachers, the principal and also some students. We can make a video of some lessons and of the activities we do during PE. Moreover I know you have a passion for photography and you are really talented so this could be also a way to exercise this passion of yours. As well I think that we should include to this video all the extracurricular activities that are done at school. For example: a lesson of biomedical curvature, a school band performance, the olimpiads and all the courses which help us students to practice on the things we’ll study at the university that we choose. Anyway we’ll discuss this with the teacher and the other students. The meeting will take place in the library on monday at 2 pm. I hope you’re interested in this project but please if you come to the meeting do not start off on the wrong foot by arriving late as you always do! Hope to see you soon! Erika. FORMAL LETTER These will be written to somebody in a position of authority, usually to your school principal, the manager of a company etc. I’ll give a very brief idea of how to write one. Salutations and Signatures: use either of this format Dear Sir or Madam……. Yours faithfully Dear Ms Weasley………….Yours sincerely Introduction: Dive straight into the point. Why are you writing? To appreciate, complain, suggest, request or disagree? What are you writing in regards with? A new project, a newspaper advertisement, an article or an event? Mention it. That’s your introduction. Body: This can be divided into two paragraphs Details of the situation: give previous history of event or your background or experience. Say what happened exactly if you are making a complaint, or focus directly on the text you are arguing with. This section should include specific data such as names, dates, facts and details. Further development: Give further support to your claim or request. Summarise the current situation and why you should be given consideration. Persuade the reader. Conclusion: Say what you wish to happen next. Suggest, firmly but politely, what may happen if you do not receive a response to a complaint. Wrap up by once again, stating your request/complaint/suggestion and politely say something along the lines of ‘I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS AND TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’. TIPS Use formal vocabulary only. Instead of ‘can’t wait for your reply’ say ‘I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THE ABOVE SUGGESTION AND TAKE PROMPT ACTION‘. Don’t use contractions like can’t, won’t, don’t, we’re etc. Use their full forms. Contractions are informal. Don’t use exclamation marks. Your tone should be serious and respectful OPENING I AM WRITING TO REQUEST, COMPLAIN, THANK ETC REQUEST FOR ACTION I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD/COULD …. APOLOGY I FEEL I MUST APOLOGISE FOR I owe you a full apology for Please accept my apologies for I apologise for any inconvenience I may have caused. THANKS THANK YOU FOR I am extremely grateful for I feel I must thank you for MAKING ARRANGEMENTS WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO Would it be convenient for you to May I make a suggestion? PRE-CLOSING IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me. I trust you will deal with this problem to prevent it from happening again. Thank you for your attention in this matter. I hope this information has been of some help. CLOSING I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. I look forward to your reply. Yours faithfully/ Yours sincerely