Sistema para aprobar el writing del FCE

1) Conoce bien en qué consiste el "writing" y qué

se espera que hagas
En el FCE, tiene dos partes (Part 1 y Part 2) en las que debes redactar dos tipos
de textos; uno obligatorio (Part 1) y otro a elegir (Part 2) entre varios tipos de
textos. Veamos, a continuación, en qué consiste cada parte.

Obligatorio. En "Part 1" tendrás que escribir un texto de carácter obligatorio

(compulsory). Este texto será una carta o email (semi-formal).

Tipo de texto: Carta o email (letter or email)

Estilo: Deberá coincidir con la información que te suministren en el examen. Si por
ejemplo, tienes que redactar una carta pidiendo información el estilo será formal o
semi-formal, nunca informal.

Longitud: 120 -150 palabras. Consejo: Cuando practiques antes del examen,
cuenta el número de palabras que tienen tus líneas. Por ejemplo: suponiendo que
escribes 10 palabras por linea, deberás escribir 15 líneas en total para tener 150
palabras.
Tiempo: 1.20 hora. en total . Sugiero utilizar. 40 minutos en esta parte y otros 40
en la segunda parte.
Contenido: El email, o carta, se debe redactar utilizando la información que te
darán en el examen: un anuncio, una carta, un email. Dependiendo de la
información deberás: disculparte, comparar, describir, explicar, expresar opiniones,
justificar, persuadir, recomendar, o sugerir.

A elegir. En "Part 2" tendrás que escribir otro a elegir entre varias categorías.
Estas son las categorías

 a report /un informe

 a review/ una crítica u opinión
 a story / una historia
 a letter/una carta
 an article/un artículo
 an essay/un ensayo

Tipo de texto: Debes elegir el estilo de texto que domines mejor. Eso lo sabrás
cuando ya tengas cierta experiencia redactando, pero en general es más fácil
escribir una carta, que un ensayo, o una historia, o una opinión, porque es más
frecuente redactar cartas que otro tipo de textos.
Estilo: Dependerá del tipo de texto.
Longitud: 120 -180 palabras. Suponiendo que escribes 10 palabras por linea,
deberás escribir 18 líneas en total para tener 180 palabras.
Tiempo: 40 minutos.
Contenido: Dependiendo del tipo de texto deberás aconsejar, comparar, describir,
explicar, expresar opiniones, justificar y recomendar.
Qué hacer:

 Lee cuidadosamente las instrucciones del examen.

 Utiliza el estilo adecuado para contestar en función de la información que se
te suministre.
Por ejemplo, si se supone que no conoces a la persona a la que vas a escribir solicitando
información sobre los cursos de inglés, no es correcto dirigirse a esa persona con una saludo
como: "Hello Fred". Será, más bien, "Dear Mr Davidson".

 Haz un esquema primero y redacta un borrador. Luego, pásalo a limpio.

 Escribe claramente para que el examinador pueda leer tu respuesta sin
problemas.
 Utiliza un vocabulario amplio (adjetivos, adverbios, verbos).
 Ten especial cuidado con las estructuras, tiempos verbales, plurales y
ortografía.

Qué NO hacer:

 Al redactar tu escrito, no copies toda la información que se te da

exactamente igual. La idea es demostrar que eres capaz de escribir con tus
propias palabras, pero tampoco inventes frases si no estás seguro de que son
correctas.
 No mezcles estilo informal con el estilo formal.
Por ejemplo: Dear Mr Davidson, How are you doing? Long time no see you. I would like to
inform you....

 No utilices conectores formales en una carta, o email, informal.

Por ejemplo: Hello Peter, I hope you are doing fine. I would like to go to the cinema with you
next weekend. Nonetheless, I can't. I have to be in Paris on Friday...."Nonetheless" es una
conector formal, deberás utilizar simplemente "but" (pero).

 En la carta, no incluyas direcciones porque no es necesario hacerlo.

 No te preocupes si excedes el número de palabras, pero sólo un poco.
Tampoco escribas menos palabras de las que te exigen.
 Si estás acostumbrado a escribir inglés americano no se te penalizará por
hacerlo, pero sé consistente con tu elección. No escribas un párrafo en inglés
americano y otro en británico.
2) Detecta tus problemas de escritura
Estos son los problemas más frecuentes que tienen los estudiantes cuando
intentan escribir en inglés:

 Escriben en inglés con palabras y estructuras traducidas literalmente

del español.
Por ejemplo, supongamos que quieres escribir en inglés: "Actualmente estoy trabajando en un
banco".
Incorrecto: I actually work in a bank.
Correcto: I'm currently working in a bank.

¿Por qué ocurre esto? Porque el alumno piensa en español y traduce las frases
al inglés sin conocer las alternativa correcta para expresar la misma idea en inglés.

¿Cómo se soluciona este problema?

Hay que aprenderse frases hechas en inglés y aprender a unirlas en párrafos. No

se debe inventar nada, sólo copiar lo que escriben los nativos.

 Escriben con un lenguaje demasiado simple (casi infantil), sin tener en

cuenta los tiempos verbales, ni las estructuras propias del inglés, ni la forma
de conectar una idea con otra.
Por ejemplo:
Supongamos que tienes que describir un paisaje.
Deficiente: We arrive to the village. There was a mountain with snow, a river and trees.
They wasvery nice.
Mucho mejor: When we arrived to the village, we saw a river bordered by a line of trees
leading to a tall and snowy mountain.

¿Por qué ocurre esto?

Por no haber leído lo suficiente, carecer de vocabulario y no haber practicado lo

suficiente.

¿Cómo se soluciona este problema?

Leyendo diferentes estilos de escritura y aprendiéndose las estructuras y

vocabulario en frases hechas.

************
Nota: Cuando ya empieces a escribir detectarás otros problemas que serán
específicos tuyos. Ponlos en un papel, y ponte a pensar cómo
solucionarlos. IMPORTANTE: Sé siempre muy específico.

Por ejemplo:
Problema: No sé dónde poner comas.
Solución: Buscar toda la información respecto a este tema, procesarla y practicar.. Puedes
empezar por aquí.

3) Ponte metas cortas, específicas y realizables

Vamos a poner en práctica, una de las herramientas más importantes de las que
hablé la semana pasada, la herramienta "metas cortas".

En función de los problemas que hayas detectado en tu forma de escribir, deberás

establecer unas metas cortas, específicas y realizables para ir practicando y
mejorando.

Pongo ejemplos:

1) Aprende las estructuras básicas de la escritura en inglés.

Aquí tienes un post muy claro sobre cómo hacer una composición y sobre el
orden que deben llevar las palabras. Léelo varias veces, y escribe ejemplos de
frases. Intenta ver si son correctas utilizandoLinguee.

2) Aprende de memoria frases hechas para cada estilo de escritura.

Esta es la clave para compensar la falta de tiempo. Se trata de NO inventar

nada, sino de copiar lo que escriben los nativos.

2.1. Encabezamientos de carta, o email, formal.

Por ejemplo:

Dear Sir
Dear Madam
Dear Sir/Madam
Dear Mr Wilkinson
Dear Ms Hartford

Hacer: Redactar distintas cartas con cada uno de estos encabezamientos.

2.2. Frases para iniciar una carta, o email, formal.

2.3 Frases para recomendar algo en una carta o email formal, semi-formal o
informal.

2.4 Frases para disculparse.

2.5. Frases para despedirse en una carta o email formal.

Aqui tienes una lista de frases donde podrás sacar ejemplos de todo tipo.
Divídelas, ordénalas, tradúcelas, busca más ejemplos; ponte a trabajar ¡ya!

4) Practica hasta quedarte sin fuerzas

MUY IMPORTANTE: Deberás coger modelos de cartas, emails, y todo tipo de
escritos, procedentes de exámenes anteriores y utilizarlos para practicar. Lo
ideal es que luego los textos te los corrija un profesor, pero si no es posible,
utiliza Linguee.

A continuación, tienes un ejemplo de pregunta de la Part 1 y su contestación.

Instructions:

Answer the question below.

Write 120-150 words.

You have received an email from an English-speaking friend who is planning to come to your
country in the summer. Read Steve’s email and the notes you have made, then answer Steve’s email.
***********
From: Steve Richards
Sent: 20th October 2012
Subject: Summer holiday

Hello,

How are you doing? As you know, I have always wanted to visit your country and, finally, we are going
to be able to go next summer. Louise and I are very excited about it and we want to plan our trip very
well.

Before we book anything, we’d like to have some advice from you. For example, which month is better
for visiting: July, August or September? Say when and why.

We are planning to stay 10 days. Do you have any recommendations regarding hotels, guest houses? We
want something clean and well-located, but not too expensive because we want to spend most our money
eating out and on excursions.Suggest.

Another question: Should we rent a car? If so, can you recommend any car rental company? Say no,
unless they are planning to visit other cities.

Finally, what kind of clothes should we take? I’m not sure if we should take our
raincoats and umbrellas. Suggest very light clothes.

Thank you very much for your help.

Best regards,

Steve

Recuerda que tienes que redactar primero un esquema, y luego un borrador.

Aquí tienes un ejemplo.

Esquema/borrador:
 Happy to receive news,
 September is the best month because it’s not as hot as July and August. I have
checked online hotels and would like to suggest "The Great Maison" which is located in
the city centre.
 You don’t need to rent car unless you want to visit other cities. There are excursions
by bus.
 Suggestion for a car rental company "Carfleet". Friends told me it was inexpensive
and reliable.
 Very light clothes and one light jacket. No umbrellas or raincoats.

****************

Respuesta:

Hello Steve,
I'm very happy to hear that you are coming to Spain with Louise.
Regarding your questions, first let me suggest that you come in September. July and August are extremely
hot months, and it's not always nice to be touring the city.
I have checked several online hotels, and I would like to suggest "The Great Maison". It's conveniently
located in the city centre very close to most museums and landmarks.
You don't need to rent a car unless you want to visit other cities, and you don't want to book an excursion
by bus. If you insist on having a car, I recommend "Carfleet"which friends told me is inexpensive and
reliable.
Finally, please, take light clothes and a jacket. You don't need raincoats or umbrellas because it hardly
rains.
If you have more questions, please let me know. I'll be happy to answer them.
Looking forward to seeing you next summer.
Your name

Total: 156 palabras.

Fíjate bien en los detalles de esta contestación.
1) Estilo informal porque le escribo a un amigo, por ejemplo,
"Hello Steve"
2) Frases cortas, en párrafos claros y concretos. "I'm very happy....."
3) Orden de las ideas con "First" y luego, contestación 1, 2, 3, y acabo
con "Finally".
4) Meses del año con mayúsculas.
5) Se incluyen las notas que hay en la información suministrada, pero se añade
otra información, por ejemplo; "You don't need to rent a car unless you want to visit
other cities, and you don't want to book an excursion by bus" (info nueva).
6) Tiempo verbales correctos. "I'm very happy...", "Let me suggest that you come",
"I have checked".
7) Utilización de adjetivos un poco más "sofisticados". No
digo "cheap"sino, "inexpensive" y añado "reliable" (fiable).
*****

Aquí tienes una fantástica página donde podrás coger modelos de todo tipo de
escritos y seguir practicando.

Recuerda que tienes a tu disposición también nuestro curso gratuito FCE.

Y aquí tienes toda la serie de artículos sobre para ayudarte a aprobar el

writing:
 Sistema para aprobar el writing del FCE
 Cómo escribir una historia (story)
 Cómo escribir una crítica (review)
 Cómo escribir un ensayo (essay)
 Cómo escribir un informe (report)
 Cómo escribir un artículo (article)
 Cómo escribir una carta o email semi-formal (semiformal letter or
email)

Lo primero a tener en cuenta cuando escribimos un texto en un idioma

diferente al nuestro son varias cosas:
1.- Tipo de texto que nos piden: narración, texto de opinión..etc.
2.- Tema a tratar: Para ello es importante estar al día de temas de
actualidad, leer periodico, ver noticias, etc.
3.- Hacer un listado de vocabulario que conozcamos sobre el tema
para incluirlo en la redacción.
4.- Hacer un listado de conectores. Esto da mucho prestigio al texto
que escribamos. La puntuación será, por lo tanto, mejor.
5.- Incluir diferentes tiempo verbales, sobre todo en narraciones.
6.- No complicarnos la vida con frases largas y complejas. Mejor:
Sujeto+ verbo+ complementos. Nota: podemos utilizar algún
relativo pero sin abusar.

7.-Olvidarnos del Spanglish. Nos resulta muy fácil hacer

traducciones literales de expresiones hechas y eso queda horrible. Es
mejor aprenderse unos cuantos proverbios o frases hechas de las más
utilizadas y olvidarse de lo anterior.
8.-Hacer un listado de expresiones adaptadas a nuestro nivel para
demostrar a quien nos lo corrija que lo tenemos. Imagínate que estás
en un nivel avanzado y por ejemplo solo escribes en presente simple,
no utilizas conectores, ni frases gramaticales que has aprendido o que
se corresponden con el nivel que dices que tienes pensarán que tienen
un nivel muy elemental.
9.-Utilizar un vocabulario rico. Para ello son muy útiles los
"diccionarios visuales" que agrupan el vacabulario por familias tipo: la
salud, la natualeza, el cuerpo humano, la moda, la religion..etc..) Para
tener un vocabulario rico de nada nos sirve "darnos un atracón" y
"meternos" todo el diccionario en 2 o 3 días. Nos haremos un follón
que no veas y terminaremos "odiando profundamente el inglés". Todo
en exceso es malo, así que poco a poco.
10- Tener en cuenta que el medio escrito es mucho más formal que
el oral. Cuando hablamos tenemos más libertad. Cuando escribimos
tenemos que tratar de cuidar más la lengua. Por ejemplo: cuando
hablamos "hay que utilizar contracciones siempre: isn´t, aren´t, etc.
Cuando escribimos es mejor no utilizarlas.

Y sobre todo y lo más importante no agobiarnos, practicar mucho las

redacciones y poco a poco iremos mejorando. Nadie nace sabiendo.

A man may learn wit every day.

Todos los días se aprende algo
_________________________________________

Además del "Decálogo" que he puesto arriba, aquí te dejo

algunas cosas importantes a tener en cuenta:

 Una buena redacción tiene tres partes:

1. Introducción
- Puedes empezar con un párrafo como introducción en el cual hables
de tu experiencia personal, presentando el tema que vas a tratar. Para
comenzar puedes resumir algunos de los principales argumentos en
contra de tu punto de vista: Some people argue that..., Many people
think that..., It is said that...
2. Cuerpo
- Establece tu opinión personal de forma clara y muestra datos, cifras
y ejemplos que apoyen tu punto de vista:According to..., Statistics
show...
- En un nuevo párrafo, discute las ventajas según las ves. No olvides
utilizar conectores. Para comparar o contrastar dos cosas utiliza: Both
(of them), On the one hand, On the other hand, In spite of (the fact
that), In comparison with, On the contrary
- En otro párrafo puedes hablar de las desventajas o inconvenientes.
- Las siguientes palabras y expresiones te pueden ser útiles para
mostrar tu opinión: Personally, I think... Fortunately/unfortunately,
Obviously, In my opinion, I believe , I agree/disagree (with/that), It
seems to me, From my point of view, As far as I'm concerned, To be
honest, I am in favour of, I am for, I am against, The way I see it.
3. Conclusión
- Finalmente, escribe una breve conclusión resumiendo lo que has
dicho. Puedes decir si crees que hay más ventajas que inconvenientes.
También puedes ofrecer una solución o advertir de las consecuencias
si no se toman las medidas necesarias para hacer frente al problema.
Para indicar la conclusión puedes utilizar: In conclusion, Finally, In
summary, To sum up, In short, Therefore, Thus.
 Para que las ideas estén conectadas de forma clara y lógica
hay que:
- Repetir los nombres clave a lo largo de la redacción.
- Usar pronombres para referirse a los nombres clave.
- Escribir las oraciones siguiendo un orden lógico y utilizando
conectores tales como: First, Second, Then, Later, Next, Since then,
Finally.
- Los conectores son muy importantes para unir ideas: Moreover,
Whereas, For instance, Furthermore, such as, Although, However, In
contrast.
 Es importante que expresemos nuestras ideas y argumentos
correctamente. A continuación tienes un recordatorio de algunas
reglas básicas a la hora de escribir:
 Orden de los elementos de la oración en frases afirmativas y
negativas. En inglés hay un orden establecido. Cada oración debe
tener un sujeto y un verbo, aunque puede haber otras partes de la
oración. El orden básico es:
Sujeto + verbo + c. indirecto + c. directo + c.c. modo + c.c. lugar + c.c. tiempo
I solved the problem quickly at home yesterday
S V C.D. C.C. modoC.C. lugar C.C. tiempo
 Recuerda:
- Las expresiones de tiempo también pueden ir al principio de una
oración.
- Los complementos indirecto y directo deben ir detrás del verbo.
- Los adverbios de frecuencia van a menudo delante del verbo
principal (pero detrás del verbo BE)
- Cuando tenemos un complemento indirecto y otro directo, el
indirecto se coloca a menudo delante del directo:

She gave him a book

S V C.I. C.D.

aunque también se puede decir:

She gave a bookto him

 S V C.D. C.I.

 Orden de los elementos de la oración en preguntas: Hay tres

posibles modelos:
- Auxiliar + Sujeto + verbo [+ complementos]
Do you live here?
- Pronombre interrogativo (como complemento) + auxiliar + sujeto +
verbo [+ complementos]
Who did you invite to the party? = ¿A quién invitaste a la fiesta?
- Pronombre interrogativo (como sujeto) + verbo [+ complementos]
Who invited you to the party? = ¿Quién te invitó a la fiesta?
 Orden de los elementos de la oración en preguntas
indirectas: Las preguntas indirectas siguen el modelo de las oraciones
afirmativas o negativas:
Subjeto + verbo
He asked me who she was.
He wanted to know where she lived.

Y por último, aquí te dejo cuantos enlaces para que disfrutes

escribiendo.Ánimo...
Un saludo
Marta
Colaboradora de "El blog para aprender inglés"

 Basic Guide to Essay Writing - Describe los pasos que nos

guiarán en el proceso de escribir una redacción.
 English Works! Writing: Essays - Excelente sitio que muestra
la estructura de una redacción así como sus tipos más comunes y
ejemplos.
 Essay Info :: Essay Writing Center - Consejos para mejorar la
destreza de writing.
 Homework Center: Writing Skills - Consejos para escribir
distintos tipos de redacciones.
(nota:Fuente desde la que se han obtenido
enlaces:http://www.telefonica.net/web2/allp/ew/Writing.html)

¿Qué son los conectores?

Los conectores son palabras o grupos de palabras cuya función
principal establecer algún tipo de relación entre las oraciones que
forman parte de un texto. Dependiendo del tipo de conector que
empleemos, le daremos un sentido determinado a nuestro texto. Es
decir, si cambiamos de conector, le daremos un sentido totalmente
diferente.

Por qué son importantes los conectores en inglés

Se trata de una herramienta esencial para poder expresarte con
propiedad y fluidez en tu segundo idioma.

En primer lugar, ayudan a estructurar un escrito o discurso

hablado. Esto es vital para tus lectores u oyentes. Un texto funciona
como una especie de mapa, donde el lector debe saber, en todo
momento, donde se encuentra con respecto al todo global. Los
conectores pueden ayudarte a ofrecer esa estructura tan importante.
Por otra parte, también funcionan muy bien para darle riqueza y
fluidez a tus escritos o discursos. No es lo mismo usar frases
simples, cortas, inconexas, que enlazarlas todas en una usando un
conector.

Conectores copulativos en inglés

Los conectores copulativos en inglés tienen la función de unir
dos sucesos. Estos sucesos no tienen por qué estar siempre al mismo
nivel gramatical, sino que uno sea subordinado de otro. Además de
añadir ideas a las ya mencionadas en la frase anterior, los conectores
copulativos también pueden servir para contraponerlas, así como
equilibrarlas a nivel de importancia.

And: y
Not only… but also: no solo… sino también
Not only… but… as well: no solo… sino…también
Both… and: tanto… como
No sooner… than: apenas…cuando

Conectores disyuntivos en inglés

A diferencia de los conectores copulativos, los conectores
disyuntivos en inglés sirven para dar una o varias alternativas a
la idea propuesta por la frase anterior. Como en el caso de la mayoría
de conectores en inglés, los conectores disyuntivos también tienen sus
empleadas para la negación. En algunos casos también expresan
circunstancia, es decir, que mencionan el hecho que puede ocurrir de
no cumplirse otro suceso.

Or: o
Either… or: o… o
Neither… nor: no… ni
Wether… or: si… o
Or else: o sino
Otherwise: de otro modo

Conectores condicionales en inglés

Como su mismo nombre indica, los conectores condicionales
en inglés sirven para expresar una condición. Se usan para unir dos
ideas de manera que una depende del resultado satisfactorio o no de
la otra. Pueden expresar casos puntuales o verdades más generales.
Los conectores condicionales se utilizan, sobre todo, en los cuatro
condicionales del inglés.

If/whether: si
Unless: a menos que
Provided/providing/as long as: siempre que, mientras
In case: en caso de que

Conectores concesivos en inglés

Los conectores concesivos en inglés sirven para expresar una
objeción a la idea principal de la frase. Normalmente esta objeción se
presenta como un suceso negativo al hecho positivo expresado por la
frase principal. Es importante prestar atención al uso de cada una de
las formas aquí expresadas, pues aunque parezcan significar lo
mismo, cada conector concesivo se utiliza en unas condiciones
específicas.

Although/though/even though: aunque

Even if: incluso si
Not even if: ni siquiera si
Despite/in spite of: a pesar de
Regardless of: sin importar

Conectores conclusivos en inglés

Los conectores conclusivos en inglés se utilizan para dar
conclusión y/o circunstancia al suceso propuesto en la oración
principal. A diferencia de lo que pasaba con los conectores
concesivos, en los conectores conclusivos el mayor problema que
podemos encontrarnos es en la formalidad de cada uno de los
conectores. Hay que prestar especial atención al registro utilizado en
cada momento por tal de adecuarnos a la situación.

Therefore: por lo tanto

Hence: de ahí
Thus: por lo tanto
So: entonces
Consequently: por lo tanto, en consecuencia

Conectores continuativos en inglés

Los conectores continuativos en inglés sirven para añadir un
suceso relacionado con el principal. Se dice también que los
conectores continuativos en inglés sirven para dar continuidad a la
frase principal, es decir, a rellenar el vacío temporal después de un
suceso explicado anteriormente.

Then: entonces
Moreover/furthermore/besides: además/ por otra parte/ para
colmo
In addition to: además de
Not only… but also: no solo…sino que también/incluso
What´s more: lo que es más
Parallel that: paralelamente, junto a eso

Conectores adversativos en inglés

Los conectores adversativos en inglés sirven para oponer
una dificultad a la situación presentada anteriormente. Estos
conectores adversativos en inglés pueden presentar un inconveniente
puntual o una alternativa diferente a la inicial. Como pasa con los
conectores conclusivos también hay que presentar mayor atención al
registro utilizado, pues algunos resultan ser fuertemente más formales
que otros.
But: pero
However: sin embargo
Nonetheless/nevertheless: sin embargo
Yet/even so: aun así, sin embargo
Still: sin embargo
Instead: en su lugar, en lugar de ello
Whereas/while: mientras que
On the contrary: por lo contrario
On the other hand: por otro lado
In other matters: por otro lado
Nor: ni
Notwithstanding: a pesar de que

Conectores causales en inglés

Los conectores causales en inglés son usados para dar una
razón a un hecho. En la gran mayoría de los casos la oración principal
explica un suceso provocado por el resultado de la oración secundaria.
Como pasa con muchos tipos de conectores, los conectores causales
también son utilizados según el registro de habla del hablante, por lo
que hay que ir con cuidado para no ser ni demasiado formales ni
demasiado vulgares.

Because: porque
Because of: debido a
For: porque
Since: puesto que
As: puesto que
Due to/owing to: debido a
In order to: para/con tal de
By means of: por medio de
For lack of: por falta de

Conectores comparativos en inglés

Los conectores comparativos en inglés sirven para, como su
nombre indica, expresar un grado de igualdad o diferencia entre dos
oraciones. Muchos de estos conectores comparativos no se basan
sólo en una palabra, sino que están formados por dos vocablos
separados por un adverbio o adjetivo que establecen la calidad de
diferenciación de ambas sentencias.

As: como
As…as: tan…como
Not as/so…as: no tan… como
As if:/as though: como si
Than: que

Conectores funcionales en inglés

Los conectores funcionales en inglés sirven para expresar la
causa u objetivo de una oración. La oración principal expresa una
situación normalmente llevada a cabo para que la segunda oración
fuese posible. Posiblemente los conectores funcionales sean los tipos
de conectores en inglés más difíciles de aprender, aunque para
nada suponen una gran dificultad.

So: entonces
So that: para que
So as to: para que/de manera que
So as not to: para no
In order to: para
Conectores secuencidores

First/firstly: primero/en primer lugar

Second/secondly: segundo/en segundo lugar
Next/then: seguidamente/luego
After/afterwards: después de/más tarde
Finally/eventually: finalmente/al final
Last but not least: por último, si bien no menos
At the same time: al mismo tiempo
Joined: sumado a
Likewise: igualmete, al igual
Nowadays: hoy en día
Currently/at present/at the present time/now/these
days: actualmente
A long time ago: hace mucho tiempo
In ancient times: en la antigüedad
Not long ago: hace poco tiempo
In former times: en tiempos pasados
Formerly: antiguamente
In the old days: en los viejos tiempos

Conectores para dar ejemplos

For example: por ejemplo

For instance: por ejemplo
Such as: tal como
Like: como
Apart from: aparte de
Conectores para generalizar

Mostly: prácticamente/ normalmente/ mayoritariamente

In general: en general

Conectores para clarificar

That is to say: es decir

In other words: en otras palabras
i.e. (id est): es decir

Conectores para enfatizar

as a matter of fact: por cierto/ de hecho

definetely: en efecto/ definitivamente
obviously: obviamente
above all: sobre todo
actually: de hecho
indeed: es más
in fact: de hecho

Conectores para concluir

In conclusion: en conclusion
To sum up: para resumir
In short: en resumen
All in all: en suma, en definitive, después de todo
In brief: en resumen
On the whole: en general

Conectores positivos y negativos

Fortunately: afortunadamente
Happily: afortunadamente/por fortuna
Unfortunately: desafortunadamente/desgraciadamente
Sadly: desafortunadamente/desgraciadamente/tristemente

Conectores para declarar certezas

Obviously: obviamente/evidentemente
Undoubtedly: indudablemente
Surely: seguramente
Indeed: verdaderamente/en realidad/en efecto
Apparently: claramente/aparentemente/al parecer
Possibly: posiblemente

Los conectores en inglés se agrupan en diferentes categorías. En cada categoría

distinguiremos entre los conectores más habituales y los de registro formal:

1. Conectores que indican la secuenciación de las ideas o de los argumentos:

 Registro neutro: first, then, next, at the same time, finally, in the end
First, watching TV every day is bad for your eyes. Second, watching TV is really a waste
of time.

 Registro formal: firstly, secondly, thirdly, simultaneously,

subsequently, lastly
Subsequently, the disease spread to the rest of the village.

2. Conectores para añadir información o argumentos a una afirmación anterior:

 Registro neutro: and, also / too, besides, what is more, as well
I don’t have a mobile phone. What is more, I totally dislike modern technology.

 Registro formal: moreover, in addition, furthermore

He has been appointed Prime Minister. Furthermore, this popularity with the voters is at
its highest.

3. Conectores para expresar un contraste con una afirmación anterior:

 Registro neutro: although, though, even though, however, despite,
inspite of, but
I was tired. However, I went jogging.

 Registro formal: on the one hand / on the other hand, by contrast,

nevertheless, nonetheless, on the contrary, yet
On the one hand, children eat lots of sweets. On the other hand, they do not do enough
exercise to burn those extra calories.

4. Conectores para corregir o dar otro enfoque a una afirmación anterior:

 Registro neutro: actually, in fact
The weather was awful. Actually, it rained every day.

 Registro formal: as a matter of fact, in reality

I didn’t pass the exam. As a matter of fact, I failed with the lowest mark in the class.

5. Conectores para introducir ejemplos o especificaciones:

 Registro neutro: such as, like, this means that, namely
Paintings by Impressionist artist such as Manet and Monet can be seen in the Orsay
Museum in Paris.

 Registro formal: for example, for instance, that is to say, in other

words
We cannot continue losing money. That is to say, unless we start making profit soon, we
will be out of business by the end of the year.

6. Conectores para indicar el resultado o las consecuencias de algo:

 Registro neutro: so, consequently, as a result
They have hired new teachers and consequently they can offer new classes.

 Registro formal: therefore, thus, hence, thereby, accordingly

The evidence has disappeared. Thus, it will be impossible for the police to continue their
investigation.

7. Conectores para concluir:

 Registro neutro: to sum up, in short, briefly
To sum up, we need to take urgent measures against corruption in our party.

 Registro formal: in conclusion, in summary

In conclusion, today’s economic crisis is mostly due to financial speculation.

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IMPORTANCE OF WRITING LETTER

In today’s internet and email driven society, there is less use of letters arises but it still has
its major use. It is still occasionally necessary to pgfhjresent a Formal Letters Examples For
Students to obtain information, to apply for the academic programme, job or service, to
complain about product or service or to simply express your opinion in expressive and
coherent manner.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE FORMAL LETTER

While writing a letter you should consider some points regarding it, which you have to
mention while writing. It must consist of address (business/private), style of the letter,
greeting, what is the message and how to end it.

It’s structure consist of some these basic points:

-The sender’s address is put on the top right-hand side.

-Include telephone number or email if available.

-The address of the person receiving the letter goes on the left-hand side below the
sender’s address.

-Mention the date

-Greeting- Dear sir or madam. you can use the title Miss, Mrs. Or Mr. if you know the name
of the person whom you are writing.

-Now express your message in the body.

-Complimentary close- Yours faithfully or Yours sincerely.

-Signature.

-Write name in block letters.

Use these tips when writing a formal letter

In today's Internet- and email-driven society, the need to write a formal letter
arises less often than in the past. However, it is still occasionally necessary to
present a formal letter to obtain information, to apply for an academic program
or a job, to write a complaint letter, or simply to express your opinion in an
effective and coherent manner.

Be concise

State the purpose of your formal letter in the first paragraph and don't veer from
the subject. Try to avoid flowery language or long words. Keep the letter short
and to the point. This excerpt from Strunk and White's The Elements of
Style (4th edition) provides the perfect rule of thumb:

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary

words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that
a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no
unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences
short, or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every
word tell.
Use the right tone

A business or formal letter should be written in a tone that is slightly more formal
than your everyday language. Avoid the following: slang or jargon; contractions
such as I'm, can't, it's; and vague words such as good and nice. Be polite and
respectful, even if you are complaining. Take a look at our formal letter
example to see what tone is appropriate.

Proofread

Proofreading is so important. Once you have written your formal letter, check
the grammar and spelling carefully. Use the spell-checker on your computer and
then read the letter over yourself as the spellchecker will not catch every
error.Use a dictionary or thesaurus, if necessary. Check the grammar and
punctuation for correctness and make sure the sentences are complete.

It is a good idea to have someone else proofread your formal letter, even
after you have done so, as you may have overlooked errors in something that
you have read over many times. If this formal letter is important enough for you
to take the time to write, don't rush its completion. Errors will diminish the impact
of the statement or impression you are trying to make.

Use proper format and presentation

Remember that the first impression is the one that lasts. Use good quality paper
and a matching envelope for your formal letter. Make sure the recipient is
addressed properly and that his or her name is spelled correctly. Equally
important—don't forget to sign the letter! Check out our letter writing ebook,
which features several examples of formal letters.

Present your ideas properly: Formatting a formal letter

Adhering to the standard conventions of good formal letter writing and

presenting your letter attractively will ensure that your thoughts are seriously
considered by the recipient and given the attention and consideration they
deserve. Here are a few formatting tips:
Heading

The heading consists of your address (but not your name) and the date.
Telephone numbers and email addresses are not usually included here, but
they are acceptable. Using block format, the heading goes in the top left-hand
corner of the page.

123 Elm Ave.

Treesville, ON M1N 2P3
November 23, 2008

Inside Address

The inside address consists of the name and address of the person to whom
you are writing. You should try to address the formal letter to a specific person,
but if you do not know his or her name, at least try to include his or her title. This
address is usually placed four lines below the heading if a word processor is
used or one line below the heading if the letter is handwritten.

Mr. M. Leaf (name)

Chief of Syrup Production (title)
Old Sticky Pancake Company
456 Maple Lane
Forest, ON 7W8 9Y0

Salutation

Skip one line after the inside address and then type the salutation. Your choice
of salutation depends on whether or not you know the intended recipient of the
formal letter. The most usual greeting is

Dear

followed by the person's name and punctuated with a colon. If you don't know
whether the person you are addressing is a man or a woman, you may begin
with

Dear Sir or Madam,

again followed by a colon.

Ms.

may be used if you don't know the marital status of a woman. Furthermore, if
the person has a specific title such as

Dr.

make sure that you use it. Here are some examples of each salutation:

 Dear Mr. Trunk,

 Dear Ms. Root,
 Dear Mrs. Branch,
 Dear Dr. Acorn,

Body

Skip one line after the salutation and begin typing the body of the formal letter.
This is the main part of the letter. Keep in mind the rules outlined above
regarding brevity and coherence. It is best to use short, clear, logical
paragraphs to state your business.

Closing and Signature

This is the end of the letter. Skip one line after the last paragraph of the body of
the letter and type the closing. Only the first word of the closing should be
capitalized. It is punctuated with a comma. Leave several lines after the closing
and type (or print) your signature. Your actual handwritten signature is to be
inserted between these two printed lines, written in ink.

Yours sincerely,

Ezra Twig
Your typed signature marks the end of your letter, and while you can write a
postscript (P.S.) containing additional information, it is better to include all
pertinent details in the body of the letter itself so nothing is accidentally
overlooked.

Now that your formal letter has been written, read it through in its entirety to
ensure you have communicated your points thoroughly and accurately. Then,
it's ready to be sent off to its recipient!

Writing a good cover letter will help you

clinch an interview
After weeks of searching, you've finally found it: a job posting that suits your
skills and interests perfectly. You know you're right for the position, but you're
worried. What if you submit your resume and don't get called for an interview?

Clinching an interview is vital when it comes to finding employment, so why take

a risk? Writing a cover letter that stands out could be all it takes to secure an
interview.

The purpose of a writing a cover letter

The purpose of a cover letter is to provide a prospective employer with

information on your skills, interests, and experience. A well thought out cover
letter will also show an employer that you're organized, professional, and,
above all, highly interested in the position. A poorly constructed cover letter can
show an employer that you're disorganized, disinterested, or simply desperate
for employment.

Consider your cover letter a platform that allows you the opportunity to market
yourself to the company. Re-read your cover letter or review cover letter
examples to get an idea of what you should include and how you should format
a cover letter.

What to include when writing a cover letter

An introduction

A cover letter, like all formal letters, begins with an introduction. In this section,
introduce yourself and specify the position to which you are applying. It is also
wise to point out that you are open to other similar positions in the event that the
one you are interested in is not currently available. This indicates to the
employer that you are flexible, adaptable, and willing to learn about the
company.

You should also point out how you learned about the job offer: was it by way of
a website posting, a family member affiliated with the company, a friend, or a
newspaper ad?

In some cases, you may have already spoken to the person to whom the letter
is addressed to ask some general questions about the position and the
company. In this case, start off by thanking the person for his or her time with a
reference to that conversation; the letter is then a follow-up to that brief
discussion:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this morning regarding the
technical support position currently being offered by ABC Company.

If you spoke to someone at that office and he or she suggested you address
your cover letter to someone else, you could write the following:

Thank you for taking the time to review my attached resume. In speaking with
Mr. John Smart from ABC Company earlier this week, I understand that you are
looking for someone who has experience in technical support.

Body

In a new paragraph, the body of the letter will follow the introduction. Here, we
recommend briefly describing how your qualifications will suit the employer,
keeping in mind that you are pointing out the highlights of your resume only, not
reiterating them in their entirety. You can talk about your education, work
experience, leadership skills, communication skills, or organizational abilities as
they pertain to the position. Go into some detail, but keep it short.
Remember to use key words or phrases that are used in the actual job offer, if
they apply to you. For example, if the job posting states that the company is
looking for an applicant who has communication skills and works well with the
public, highlight these traits in your description.

Keep in mind that many skills are transferable. If you are applying to a field in
which you have no direct experience, remember that, in some cases, you can
expand upon your existing skills, such as working with people or using your
organizational talents. If the company is looking for a specific quality or
certification but you are genuinely interested in the job, mention this but
highlight the skills you do possess. For example, you could write the following:

Although I do not have a degree in environmental engineering, my work

experience in the field of industrial wastewater treatment for Acme Inc. during
the past five years has given me a solid base of knowledge in this profession.

When writing the body of your cover letter, remember to always emphasize your
strongest attributes. Even if you think you may not have what the employer is
specifically looking for, he or she may be impressed enough to grant you an
interview based on your cover letter and experience.

Address the topic of availability

If you have prior commitments (such as finishing up a previous job or attending

school), state this in your cover letter:

I can start this position as of January 1, at the end of my fourth semester.

or

I can start within a few days' notice, or more immediately should the need arise.

If the position is of a temporary nature and you are, for example, going back to
school to continue a program, make sure you state this as well for clarification
of your availability.
Closing

In the closing of your cover letter, thank the employer for taking the time to
review your resume. Include a sentence that addresses your wish for a
response in the near future, and give the employer the opportunity to contact
you at his or her earliest convenience:

Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I look forward to an
opportunity to speak with you sometime in the near future regarding this
position. Please feel free to contact me at the number(s) below at your earliest
convenience.

After your name and signature, include one or two phone numbers (such as
your home and/or cell phone) where you can be reached. Although you have
already incorporated this in the heading of your resume, it is always a good idea
to add this to your cover letter in case the resume or application is misplaced or
they get separated from one another.

Make a first impression in person

Finally, if you have the opportunity to drop off the resume and cover letter in
person, do so. Contact the company and ask if the person to whom your letter is
addressed would be available for a few minutes to give you the opportunity to
introduce yourself with respect to the position being offered.

This is ideal, since it helps the employer "put a face to the name," especially if
there are numerous applicants for that job. The fact that you made the effort to
meet with the employer demonstrates your determination, and he or she will
remember you more clearly because of this.

However, use your discretion here. If the employer does not have the time to
see you, you can either bring the resume package to a receptionist or assistant,
which may still get back to the employer (i.e., "Mike Scott dropped off his
resume today, and he seemed quite nice"), or simply mail it in. Do not force the
issue by just showing up and asking for that person once you have been told
that he or she is not available. This may be seen as being too aggressive and
could land your application in a circular file (commonly known as the trash can).
Review your cover letter
As is the case with most written documents, if your cover letter is riddled with
errors, you may be perceived as unprofessional to your potential employer. To
ensure your resume and cover letter are free from errors and best represent
your abilities and talents, send them to our resume editors for a thorough
review.

Complaint letters can be tasteful and direct

You didn't get the service you expected.

You spent hours drafting a grant proposal that received no funding.

You were put on hold three times.

Do any of these complaints sound familiar?

Yes, indeed, life is sometimes about not getting what you want. Life is full of
disappointments, but sometimes these disappointments are so great that they
warrant further scrutiny. Rather than act like a spoiled child, ranting and raving,
wouldn't it be nice to be able to write a beautifully constructed letter of
complaint?

In the current age of "instant reactions," where a hastily constructed email or a

high-pitched, heat-of-the-moment telephone conversation can cause more harm
than good and will often get you nowhere, a complaint letter seems to carry
more weight. However, writing such a letter is seldom easy. Luckily, we're here
to help and will even provide anexample complaint letter for your reference.

Organize your letter of complaint to achieve clarity

Before you sit down to actually write the complaint letter, jot down the facts of
the case. These facts might include the date, time, and location of the incident,
and the names of the personnel involved. Then briefly write down what went
wrong and what impact (emotional, financial) it has had on you.
The layout of a complaint letter

Writing a letter of complaint is partly about getting an annoyance off your chest
(think of it as therapy) and partly about seeking redress for a wrongdoing. To
achieve both ends successfully, adhere to the following three-step sequence:

Step 1: Clearly state the facts of your case/causes for your complaint.

Step 2: Outline/discuss why you are so unhappy/upset.

Step 3: In some instances, it may be appropriate to set out your thoughts on a

remedy/fix that would be amenable to you and/or others; in other instances, it is
best to leave the solution in the hands of the perpetrator.

Keep your complaint professional

This should be a formal letter – after all, this is a serious matter, and you want it
treated as such. One-inch margins are used throughout. A professional letter
typically uses an easy-to-read and plain typeface (Arial or Times New Roman)
in 11 or 12 point. Avoid any fancy typefaces or small point sizes, as they send
the wrong message.

You should include your address in the top left (header) of the letter. The
address of the company/person you are writing to—in this example, "That Awful
Company"—should appear on the left. It is best if you can address your letter to
a particular person within an organization. If you do not have a name, Dear
Sir/Madam is acceptable in the salutation line.

Don't forget to end your complaint letter with a closing salutation such as "Yours
sincerely" or "Sincerely" and to leave sufficient space for your signature (usually
three lines). Last, be sure your letter is free from grammar and spelling errors by
sending it for proofreading by the professionals at Scribendi.
ips that will help you write a recommendation
letter
We have compiled some power tips that can help you get the style, tone,
content, and presentation of your recommendation letter just right:

1. Introduce yourself and state your position.

2. Say how you know the candidate and how long you have known him or
her.
3. Outline the candidate's skills that are relevant for the position, and any
relevant experience.
4. Give a brief description of his or her personal qualities, for example,
helpful, calm, etc.
5. Mention how the person interacts with others, for example, a good team
player, considerate of colleagues, etc.
6. Say why, in your opinion, the candidate is suitable for the position and
what you believe he or she could offer the organization.
7. Emphasize anything outstanding about the candidate. For example:
What are their particular talents?
8. Mention any important gaps in the candidate's skills or knowledge.

The person you are writing the letter for (the candidate) has asked for your
recommendation as he or she feels you know him or her sufficiently well. The
candidate believes you would be pleased to support his or her application.
These tips are for a generic recommendation letter, but they can also be applied
to writing a college recommendation letter for an academic position or
an employee recommendation letter to help them land a top job in the business
world. Your aim should be to provide support by giving a positive but balanced
summary of the person and his or her skills and qualities.

Strike a balance in your letter of recommendation

It is important that your letter be written in a balanced manner. Although the

focus of your recommendation letter should be on the good things about the
candidate, the person you are writing to needs to know if the candidate needs
particular help in any area. You may be concerned about writing something that
seems negative, but as long as you present your views in a positive way,
highlighting an area where the candidate needs to improve, your comment
should not be detrimental.

For example, imagine you are writing the recommendation letter for a student
(let's call him John) who has difficulties meeting deadlines. You have already
talked to John about this, and he is now working on his time management and
organizational skills. You feel it is right to mention this in the recommendation
letter as it is a fairly big problem for John, and you know he will need ongoing
support while he develops these skills.

One way to approach this could be to write:

"John has many skills and qualities that I have mentioned above. However, to
ensure he can achieve his long-term goals, he will need further support to
develop his time management and organizational skills. He has been working
hard to improve these skills over the last year, and I have already seen some
improvement."

Remember, your reputation for giving an honest recommendation is also

important.

Recommendation letter format

Now we have looked at the content; what about the recommendation letter
format?

The letter should be a standard formal letter with your contact details and the
date at the top of the letter. Times New Roman font always looks very
professional, and the font size should be 11 or 12 point. You should address the
recommendation letter directly to the person responsible for the application or to
the Human Resources department if you don't have a name (in the case of a
company). In the case of other types of organizations, you can address the
letter "To Whom It May Concern." However, it is always best to get the
candidate to provide you with a contact name if possible.

Try not to write an excessively long letter of recommendation. A page should be

sufficient, as the candidate will also have completed an application form and/or
submitted a resume or curriculum vitae.
Be mindful of your tone

The tone of a recommendation letter should be professional, with content that is

easy to read and clear in meaning. You should show the reader that you are
approachable and would be pleased to provide more help or information. You
can do this by adding the following sentence at the end of your letter:

"Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information."

Make an impression with the presentation of your

recommendation letter

Sometimes it may help to look at a recommendation letter example to see

exactly how this letter should look. And nothing looks more unprofessional than
a recommendation letter with spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes, and
poor attention to detail, so consider having it professionally proofread before
sending it in.

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