Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
TASKS FOR
COURSE PARTICIPANTS 1
Content Page
WRITING 1
1. GET IT RIGHT! 2
2. CHECK IT OUT! 3
5. WHAT’S IN TREND? 8 – 11
6. DATA MATTER 12 – 14
8. STEP BY STEP 18 – 19
WRITING 2
4. HELLO… 30
6. PUTTING IT TOGETHER 32 – 33
7. WRITE RIGHT! 34 – 36
Writing a Complete Essay
GET IT RIGHT!
Task 1
Task Sheet 1
A one part
B two parts
C three parts
A 40 minutes
B 60 minutes
C 90 minutes
A 20 minutes
B 40 minutes
C 50 minutes
CHECK IT OUT!
Task 2
Task Sheet 2
Look at the following list and decide whether they might appear in Question 1 or Question 2.
Tick the right column.
Question 1 Question 2
A A pie chart
B An opinion
C A current issue
D A point of view
E A graph
F A table
A significant event in
G
history
H A diagram of a machine
I A global phenomenon
J An illustration of a process
Task Sheet 3
(NB: You may use any of the phrases more than once.)
DOs DON'Ts
Question 1
Question 2
Question 1 &
Question 2
Suggested Phrases
LINES GALORE
Task Sheet 4
MUET 800/4 PAGE 6
Course Participant’s Module: Writing
MAJLIS PEPERIKSAAN MALAYSIA
(MALAYSIAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL)
4.1 Look at the following graph and put one of the numbers next to the given word below:
( ) fluctuations ( ) a decline
( ) a sharp recovery
to surge to crash
to tumble to soar
to slump to plummet
4.3 Adjectives and adverbs can be used to describe the degree of change.
Complete the table with the correct adverbs.
WHAT’S IN TREND
Task Sheet 5
In the table that follows, there are nine line graphs (A-I) illustrating trends or developments in the
column on the left. Opposite each graph, you have four statements which describe the trend or
development. In each case decide which statement is correct. There may be more than one
answer for each illustration.
Matching Task
MUET 800/4 PAGE 10
Course Participant’s Module: Writing
MAJLIS PEPERIKSAAN MALAYSIA
(MALAYSIAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL)
1 ______________________________________
2 ______________________________________
3 ______________________________________
4 ______________________________________
5 ______________________________________
6 ______________________________________
7 ______________________________________
Task 5.3
For each item below, choose the most appropriate option to complete the statement.
a slight increase.
a dramatic decline.
a dramatic increase.
decreased slightly.
increased dramatically.
decreased dramatically.
DATA MATTER
Task Sheet 6
Task 6.1
MUET 800/4 PAGE 12
Course Participant’s Module: Writing
MAJLIS PEPERIKSAAN MALAYSIA
(MALAYSIAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL)
The bar chart below shows the results of a questionnaire to find why native and non-native
speakers of English at a university in Australia learn languages. The questionnaire was given to
2000 students.
You need to develop your speed in using language and finding information from a graph, chart or
diagram. Write down the answers to the questions below about the bar chart as quickly as you
can. Remember to write the information accurately.
Task 6.2
Based on Task 1 write sentences for each piece of information elicited from the chart.
Examples:
1. The bar chart shows the results of a survey.
2. Two thousand students took part in the survey.
3. The students were from a university in Australia.
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Task 7
Read and understand the information in the table below and attempt the exercises below.
In the model answer below, seven (7) parts of the text have been jumbled. Put the words in the
right order and write them out in the blanks provided below.
The table shows how (1) different groups people age in spend their leisure time in
Someland over the course of a year. It can be clearly seen that the (2) amount available of varies
leisure time considerably across the age groups and that (3) levels people ways of different age
different have very of spending their leisure time. According to the figures, as people age in
Someland their social lives decline. (4) Teenagers twenties and people socialising in their on
average 500 hours per spend year on and 350 hours of that time is with a group of more than 4
people. Although the total hours of socialising by people in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s is fairly
constant (between 300-350), socialising with more than 4 people drops dramatically to 50 hours
in the 30s and 40s age groups and to only 25 hours for 50 year olds. Group and individual task
follow a similar pattern.
(5) People spend of time all ages their a good part of leisure on entertainment such as
TV/video viewing and cinema. In both cases, teenagers and retired people spend around twice as
much time as those who are of working age. Home entertainment ranges from just over a
thousand hours for teenagers and retired people and an average of 600 hours for everyone else.
(6) Cinema hours for 100 of the teenagers’ accounts leisure time and 25-50 hours for retired
people and the rest.
In conclusion we can see there is a (7) significant activities towards solitary and smaller
group trend as people grow older and that teenagers and retired people spend a lot more time on
entertainment than those of working age do.
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Find the following words in text 7.1. What other words or phrases can replace them?
111. 132.
12 14
153. 174.
16 18
195. 216
20 22
237. 258.
24 26
279. 2910.
28 30
STEP BY STEP
Task 8
Read and understand the information in the table on television viewing according to age and
location of city or town. Answer the following questions and give suitable reasons why you think
the trends are as reported.
1. Which town has the highest total average hours per week of television viewing?
2. Is there a change in viewing habits from town to town?
3. Compare and contrast their television viewing habits.
Question
Write a report on the distribution of viewing hours in the towns mentioned in the table.
Step A
Step B
Summarise topic, introduce data.
Step C
Plan the body – state the main points and state other important and relevant points.
Step D
Task 9
Read and understand the information in the table, pie chart and text below. Answer the following
questions and give suitable reasons why you think the trends are as reported.
Lead-in Questions:
15. Why are adult women more susceptible to mental problems compared to adult men?
Based on the information derived from answering the questions above, write a report on Mental
Health for your community newsletter. In your report, include factors affecting mental health.
Your report should not be less than 150 words.
Task 10
Using the information given above, write an article on the sales of vehicles in Indonesia,
Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, to be published in the consumer association newsletter.
In your article, include factors affecting the sales of vehicles in these four countries. Your article
should not be less than 150 words.
Task 11
The pie charts give a profile of the Internet users of Guland. Using the information given in the
charts and textbox, write an article entitled A Profile of Guland’s Internet Users. In your article,
explain the relationship between the use of the Internet and the various locations. Your article
should not be less than 150 words.
TASKS FOR
COURSE PARTICIPANTS 2
What do you think would help students most to improve their writing? Tick your answer.
4. Improving handwriting
6. Learning to type
9. Improving spelling
1. The topic
2. Ideas
3. The words
4. Neatness
5. Spelling
5. Coherence
Yes No
1. are good spellers.
2. do not feel anxious about or intimidated by writing.
3. understand punctuation.
4. always use the right words.
5. need help with their writing.
6. may have problems getting started.
7. have very large vocabularies.
8. are well educated.
9. achieved good grades in writing when they were in school.
10. write from personal experience.
11. need to be alone in order to write.
12. took to writing naturally.
13. are usually women; most men don’t write well.
14. get it right the first time (don’t have to re-write).
15. are able to know how to find their mistakes and correct them.
Task 2
Here are some examples of language. Determine the level of formality of each example
and write the letter representing it in the right column in the table below. (Some examples
can go in two boxes.)
Analyse the following question and brainstorm for ideas. You may use the following mind maps
to do so.
QUESTION:
It is generally accepted that families are not as close as they used to be.
Why has this change happened and what could be done to bring families closer together?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your experience.
HELLO...
Task 4
Read the notes on the structure of an essay. Then write introductory paragraphs for the following
topics.
1. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat
food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
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2. Is it better for children to participate in team sports or individual sports? Why? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
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3. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place
would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
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1. Here is a text without paragraphs. Decide where it would be best to divide it into paragraphs,
then underline the topic sentences.
The care of old people is an issue all over the world, as it is no longer clear who has the
responsibility for looking after old people. There are two main choices: the government or the
family. If the government pays for the care of old people this usually means that the old people go
into old people’s homes. In these all people are given equal and high quality care. Countries such
as Sweden operate this system very efficiently. The problem is that this solution is very
expensive. The money comes from tax and many countries simply can’t afford it. It also often
means that old people go into homes where they know no one and have nothing to do. The
alternative is for families to support their elderly relatives. In theory this provides loving care and
means the old person can be an active member of the family. In practice, it often does not work
out, as families don’t have enough money, and so, much bitterness is created, and the old people
are neglected. I can see this happening all around me in my country where there is no government
support for old people. It is clear that neither of these solutions is good. Therefore, it seems to me
that a combination of the two is the best solution. The government should provide money to
families to look after their elderly relatives. But I also think that old people should save up money
during their working lives to look after themselves in old age.
(255 words)
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Information Box
Question: The care of old people is a growing problem. Some say the government should care
for old people. Others say that it is the family’s responsibility. Discuss these views and give
your own opinion.
Academic writing can involve discussing the advantages and disadvantages of different
solutions. In this case, it usually follows this structure:
1. Introduction
2. Body
NB. This topic shows just one kind of academic writing. Others include proposing
solutions and justifying opinions. These require different structures.
Read the writing below and identify the different parts in its structure. Write the appropriate letter
beside each part e.g. 1, 2A, 2B etc.
Question: The care of old people is a growing problem. Some say the government should care for
old people. Others say that it is the family’s responsibility. Discuss these views and give your own
opinion.
The care of old people is an issue all over the world as it is no longer clear who has
the responsibility for looking after old people. There are two main choices: the
government or the family.
If the government pays for the care of old people this usually means that the old
people go into old people’s homes. In these all people are given equal and high quality
care. Countries such as Sweden operate this system very efficiently.
The problem is that this solution is very expensive. The money comes from tax and
many countries simply can’t afford it. It also often means that old people go into
homes where they know no one and have nothing to do.
The alternative is for families to support their elderly relatives. In theory this provides
loving care and means the old person can be an active member of the family. In
practice, it often does not work out, as families don’t have enough money, and so,
much bitterness is created, and the old people are neglected. I can see this happening
all around me in my country where there is no government support for old people.
WRITE RIGHT!
Task 7
Write complete essays using the formats provided. You may wish to change some of the ideas.
Writing Task A
Question: In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think
this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.
Suggested Notes:
I. It is a good idea for teenagers to have jobs while they are students because they can learn about
responsibility; they can learn the value of money and they can learn how to work as a member of
a team.
V. Conclusion
It is a valuable experience for teenagers to have jobs while they are students because they will
learn to be responsible adults. They will have an appreciation for money and they will learn about
working with others. All of these traits will benefit them throughout their lives.
Writing Task B
Write an essay for the following question using the format provided.
“Education should be free for everyone. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?”
I. Introduction
A. Introductory statement
B. Thesis statement: ____________________
II. Body
A. First Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence):
____________________
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
B. Second Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence):
____________________
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
C. Third Supporting Idea (Topic Sentence):
____________________
1. ____________________
2. ____________________
3. ____________________
III. Conclusion
D. Closing statement
Writing Task C
Modern technology is transforming the way we work and benefits all in society. Do you
agree?
It is particularly important in writing an essay to display clear thinking and organisation. You
should:
• have a clear introduction telling the reader briefly what areas you are going to cover.
• make it clear which side of an argument you are presenting. Use clear linking expressions
such as ‘On the one hand ... On the other hand’ and make sure you do not mix two sides of
an argument in the same paragraph.
• give examples clearly. Choose good examples which illustrate your argument when you
take notes, and when you write, introduce them with phrases such as ‘We can see an
example of this ...’.
• make it clear when you are giving your own opinion. Use expressions such as ‘in my
view’.
• give a clear conclusion which relates your argument back to the original question/s and
summarises your opinion.
• make sure that your English is accurate.
• ensure that you write in an appropriate style, and that your grammar and spelling are
correct.
Reference
1. M.K. Tickoo, English Language Learning and Teaching.
2.Materials adapted from www.ielts.org.uk.