Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
WRITING Overview
•Presentation Basic Guidelines
- place no title/s
- follow margins fully without splitting words
- write legibly, printed form, if possible
- write every paragraph in block format
- write from the very first line
- allot a line space only between paragraphs.
ACADEMIC GENERAL TRAINING
You will be SCORED on your ability to detect and You will be SCORED on how you comply with the
interpret information from statistics or task requirements using appropriate language
representations. and organization.
• Select the main/key features of the graph, • Identify the TONE of the letter you are
chart, map or process. being asked to write. Is it a formal, semi-
formal or informal letter? The entire tone of
• Write a clear ‘OVERVIEW’ that includes the your letter is based on your answer to this
main/key features (main trends, differences, question. Adjust your style and choice of
stages etc.) of the graph, chart, map or words according to the type of letter you
process. have been asked to write.
ASKS:
Do not contract words (e.g. don’t / can’t / won’t / isn’t / aren’t / I’m /
you’re / he’s / it’s), but with exception to informal GT letter writing,
where contractions are expected.
•CONSISTENT and PERSISTENT punctuation and spelling errors constitute
to deductions.
Watch out for your agreements and tenses, in particular, the second and third
person singular. (you, he, she, him, her, they, them, us, we), A.K.A as
NOMINALS
ELEMENTS of a GOOD ‘Introduction’
Should have:
The Opening Hook – A general or interesting fact, an interesting fact, or a clearly
opinionated claim about the topic whose function is to attract the reader’s attention and
make that reader want to read further.
The Background Information – A brief description of both sides of an issue. This lays
the groundwork for your argumentation.
OPTIONAL:
* The Thesis Statement - A statement that clearly states your opinion or recommendation.
* The Forecast – An outline of all the main arguments your essay will discuss.
ELEMENTS OF GOOD BODY PARAGRAPHS
The 4 Ways of Topic Sentence Expansion
1. THE HYPOTHETICAL:
Speculates what would happen if the topic sentence were or were not to be.
‘If newspapers continue to be printed then it would not help the drive
for environmental sustainability.’
2. THE ELABORATION:
Expounds and expands on the topic sentence, answering the question “what do you
mean?”
‘Newspapers are old news, meaning, all that newspapers contain have
already come out on television and the internet.’
3. THE RATIONALIZATION:
Answers the question as to “why” the topic sentence should be.
4. THE EXEMPLIFICATION:
Strengthens the idea behind the topic sentence by providing due examples, answering the
question “for example?”
‘Newspapers are not as handy as gadgets such as tablets or cell phones, from
which the same information can be seen.’
ELEMENTS OF GOOD BODY CONCLUSION
The Concluding Statement - To ‘conclude’ means to arrive at an informed
decision or summary after careful evaluation of the facts. Your conclusion
should link conceptually with the body paragraphs. It should answer the
question, “So what’s your point?”
Utilize the Closing Hook – An anecdote, an interesting fact, or a clearly
opinionated claim about the topic whose function is to leave the reader with
something to reflect on.
after a while, afterward, again, also, and then, as long as, at last, at length, at that
time, before, besides, earlier, eventually, finally, formerly, further, furthermore, in
time sequence addition, in the first place, in the past, last, lately, meanwhile, moreover, next, now,
presently, second, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far, soon, still, subsequently, then,
thereafter, too, until, until now, when
Writing is more than just
a creative process; it
requires discipline.
GENERAL TRAINING WRITING TASK 1
Full Block Format X Indent
• Formal Letter
• Semi - Formal Letter
• Informal Letter
Who is the recipient of the letter?
According to the situation given, do
you know who you will be writing
to?
General Training Writing Task 1
Formal Writing
P1 (Introduction):
•Introduce yourself
•Explain your intention for writing
P2-Pn (Body)
Answer your guide questions (may be done in separate
paragraphs, or just one, depending on length of answer)
Pc (Conclusion)
•Express what you want the receiver to do.
•Express what you shall be doing
General Training Writing Task 1
Semi-Formal Writing
NOTE on INTRODUCTION:
Since this is a friendly letter, then introduction must be started with
something that will bring warmth to the letter though you must still
state your purpose for writing. Also, there is no need to introduce
yourself.
E.g.:
“Dear John,
How are you doing? It has been a long time since I wrote. I hope
you are in good health. I am writing to tell you the good news: we
may see each other this May! I plan on going on vacation and I
have chosen to visit Japan.”
A. Formal Language Dear Sir/Madam
Beginning
• I am writing this letter with regard to… I am writing to inform you that I recently lost my digital camera
while on holiday in Vietnam.
• I am writing to bring to your attention…
• I am writing to inform you that… The camera is a black Canon 70d and cost $1550 when I bought it
• I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with….. new last month. It has a resolution of 20 megapixels, a Canon 67
millimeter lens and was in a brown leather case with my name on
Requests and Suggestions it.
• I would be grateful if you would…
I lost it when I was having coffee with my husband in the
• I would like you to…
backpacker area of Ho Chi Minh City. I believe the coffee shop was
• I am entitled to request that you…. called Highlands Coffee and it was on Pham Ngu Lao Street. We
• I was wondering if it would be at all possible to…. had been at the coffee shop for around 45 minutes when I noticed
it was missing.
• I would like to suggest that….
Ending I am entitled to make a claim for the value of the above mentioned
• I look forward to hearing from you. item and request that you send me details on what I need to do to
in order to proceed.
• I look forward to receiving your response.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
• I await your prompt service.
• I thank you for your consideration. Yours faithfully
• Please respond at the earliest convenience.
John Smith
B. Informal Language Dear Tom
Stating Purpose
I’m just writing to let you know that…. I’m just writing to let you know I quit my old job and found
I’m writing to tell you about….
something new.
Apologising
I was really fed up with being a brain surgeon because it
I’m very sorry about….. wasn’t really much of a challenge anymore. You know me, if
I’d like to apologise for…. I’m not learning new tricks, I get bored too easily and have to
Asking for help find something new.
I’d be really grateful if you could…..
I’m now teaching English as a foreign language in Vietnam
I was wondering if you would give me a hand with….. and it suits me down to the ground. I teach two adult classes
I was wondering if you would do me a favour. and a kindergarten class, which is not only challenging but
Expressing Satisfaction also rewarding too. Can you believe it?
I was over the moon to hear about….
I also have some other amazing news- I’m getting married.
I was thrilled to find out that/about……
She was one of my first ever students and I guess it was love
Giving bad news at first sight for both of us. Make sure you keep the first
I’m afraid I’ve a bit of bad news for you. weekend in July free, so you can come and celebrate with us.
Ending
All the best.
Keep in touch
Keep in touch.
Chris
Plan/Structure
On a recent holiday you lost a valuable
item. Fortunately you have travel Dear Sir/Madam
insurance to cover the cost of anything
Paragraph 1- Say why you are writing to them. (I am
lost.
writing with regard to…)
Write a letter to the manager of your Paragraph 2- Bullet point 1 and supporting details
insurance company. In your letter: Paragraph 3- Bullet point 2 and supporting details
Paragraph 4- Bullet point 3 and supporting details
•describe the item you lost
•explain how you lost it I look forward to hearing from you.
•tell the insurance company what you Yours faithfully
would like them to do [Your Full Name]
Dear Sir/Madam
Salutation—copy exactly what is instructed
I am writing to inform you that I recently lost my digital camera while on holiday in Paragraph 1- Say why you are writing to
Vietnam. (purpose of the letter) them. (I am writing with regard to…)
The camera is a black Canon 70d and cost $1550 when I bought it new last month. It
has a resolution of 20 megapixels, a Canon 67 millimeter lens and was in a brown Paragraph 2- Bullet point 1 and supporting
leather case with my name on it.
details (describe the item you lost)
I lost it when I was having coffee with my husband in the backpacker area of Ho Chi
Minh City. I believe the coffee shop was called Highlands Coffee and it was on Pham
Ngu Lao Street. We had been at the coffee shop for around 45 minutes when I
Paragraph 3- Bullet point 2 and supporting
noticed it was missing. details (explain how you lost it )
I am entitled to make a claim for the value of the above mentioned item and request
that you send me details on what I need to do to in order to proceed. Paragraph 4- Bullet point 3 and supporting
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
details (tell the insurance company what
you would like them to do)
John Smith
Dear Tom
I’m just writing to let you know I quit my old job and found
something new.
I was really fed up with being a brain surgeon because it
wasn’t really much of a challenge anymore. You know me; if You have recently started work in a new company.
I’m not learning new tricks, I get bored too easily and have to
find something new. Write a letter to an English-speaking friend. In your
letter
I’m now teaching English as a foreign language in Vietnam and
it suits me down to the ground. I teach two adult classes and - explain why you changed jobs
a kindergarten class, which is not only challenging but also - describe your new job
rewarding too. Can you believe it? - tell him/her your other news
I also have some other amazing news- I’m getting married.
She was one of my first ever students and I guess it was love
at first sight for both of us. Make sure you keep the first
weekend in July free, so you can come and celebrate with us.
Keep in touch
Chris
Letter to a landlord
You are experiencing financial problems and want to ask your
landlord if you can pay your rent late. Write a letter to your
landlord. In your letter, explain that:
Oscar Tower
You ordered a new cheque book from your bank two weeks ago
but you have received nothing.
You do NOT need to write your own address. Begin your letter as
follows:
Dear Sir,
FORMAL SEMI - FORMAL INFORMAL
Begin letter with:
Start the
Introduction by:
Give a
complementary
close like:
Finally, sign the
letter:
QUESTIONS ?
Task One Academic
Introduction + Basic/ General Trends + Details
Description + Conclusion
Examples how ‘General Statements’ are written
‘The given pie charts represent the proportion of male and female employee
in 6 broad categories, divided into manual and non-manual occupations. ’
‘In general the employment opportunity has increased till 1970 and
has dropped down afterward.’
‘As is observed, the figures for imprisonment in the five
mentioned countries show no overall pattern of increase or decrease
rather shows the considerable fluctuation from country to country.’
‘Generally speaking, USA had far more standard life than all the
other 4 mentioned countries.’
Clustering of Data
Model Task 1 Answer : INTRODUCTION
General statement:The table shows how people in different age groups spend their leisure time in
Someland over the course of a year.
Overall trend : It can be clearly seen that the amount of leisure time available varies considerably
especially amongst teens and young adults these age groups have very different ways of spending their
leisure time.
273
words
Model Task 1: FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH.
According to the figures, as people age in Someland their social lives reduce. Teenagers and people
in their twenties spend on average 500 hours per year on socializing and 350 hours of that time is
with a group of more than 4 people. Although the total hours of socializing in their 30s, 40s, 50s and
60s is fairly constant (between 300-350), socializing with more than 4 people drops dramatically to
50 hours in the 30s and 40s age groups and only 25 from 50 years old. Group and individual exercise
follow a similar pattern.
Model Task 1: SECOND BODY PARAGRAPH
People of all ages spend a good part of their leisure time 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 at 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. Cinema
accounts for 100 hours of the teenagers and retired people’s leisure time and
25-50 hours for the rest.
273
words
Model Task 1 Answer. Note how the model essay below complied
with the four key Task 1 attributes of tensing, the nominal traps, the cluster,
and the overview:
The table shows how people in different age groups spend their leisure time in
Someland over the course of a year. It can be clearly seen that the amount of
leisure time available varies considerably across the age groups and that people
of different age levels have very different ways of spending their leisure time.
According to the figures, as people age in Someland their social lives reduce.
Teenagers and people in their twenties spend on average 500 hours per year on
socializing and 350 hours of that time is with a group of more than 4 people.
Although the total hours of socializing in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s is fairly
constant (between 300-350), socializing with more than 4 people drops
dramatically to 50 hours in the 30s and 40s age groups and only 25 from 50 years
old. Group and individual exercise follow a similar pattern.
People of all ages spend a good part of their leisure time 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 at 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. Cinema accounts for 100
hours of the teenagers and retired people’s leisure time and 25-50 hours for the 273 w
rest.
TYPES OF DIAGRAMS IN TASK 1
TABLE
TYPES OF DIAGRAMS IN TASK 1
LINE GRAPH
TYPES OF DIAGRAMS IN TASK 1
BAR GRAPH
TYPES OF DIAGRAMS IN TASK 1
PIE CHART/S
TYPES OF DIAGRAMS IN TASK 1
PROCESS
TYPES OF DIAGRAMS IN TASK 1
MAP/S
From 1880 to 1984, there was no
significant change in the number of
complaints made about noise in thce
household.
A slight dip was seen in 1984 to 1989:
from 500 complaints, the numbers went
down to 400.
From 1988 to 1996, however, the
complaints about household noise
increased rapidly from 400 to more than
1,200.
Comparison of Diagrams:
What are the differences?
What changes had taken
place?
Useful Words to show Relations:
across, across from, where, in in the middle, adjacent, mid point
which, to which, from which, under, halfway, interior, diagonal, edge
over , inside, on top of, along, limit, parallel, parallel to,
through, as far as, northern, perpendicular to, opposite,
southern, eastern, western, to the overlapping, exterior, intersection,
left/ on the left hand side, to the rectangle, square, circle, vertical,
right/ on the right hand side, to the horizontal.
south, in back, behind the, in front,
in front of the
Describing a Process
Introduction:
The illustration presents the
process and equipment used for
production of cement and
concrete. There are several steps
to this process.
Body:
What comes first?
What comes next?
What is the last procedure?
What is the final product?
QUESTIONS ?