FCE Writing Overview Activity teachers notes

Description
A matching activity to give students an overview of some of the different text types in the
FCE Writing paper.
Time required: 45-60 minutes
Additional
materials
required:
sample tasks (FCE Handbook pp 23-4).
Aims: to raise students awareness of the different text types found in
Paper 2 by highlighting features such as text organisation,
register and text-specific conventions.


Procedure
1. Ask students to brainstorm in pairs/small groups what types of texts they usually
write (e.g. email, letter etc.), either in English or their own language. Give them 3
minutes to do this. Collect some feedback, writing the different text types on the
board as a spidergram.
2. Now ask students how often they write each different text type. Ask them, for
example, which they write most/least.
3. Divide students into As and Bs, and then put the As in pairs small groups, and Bs
in pairs/small groups. First, give the As a copy of the Part 1 task (FCE Handbook
p.23) and Bs a copy of Part 2 tasks (p.24). Then give each student a copy of
worksheet 1. Ask each pair to discuss the questions in relation to their part (Part 1 or
Part 2). Give them 5 minutes for this.
4. Now put the students into new pairs, As with Bs. They compare their answers in
relation to both parts and discuss the main differences.
5. Check the answers in class, and deal with any queries. Go through the different
types of task focus. Point out that students should only attempt question 5 if the set
texts are included in their exam preparation.
6. Elicit/Explain which of the text types are in the exam. These are: letter, email, article,
essay, report, review, story.
7. Tell students that they are going to look at some opening excerpts from each of the
different written texts that are found in the exam.
8. Give each student a copy of worksheet 2. Ask them to read each of the excerpts and
match each one to the relevant text type. In pairs/groups, they then discuss which
features of each helped them to decide.
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9. Check the answers in class.

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Suggested follow-up activities/questions (and answers)
Give students a simplified version of the mark scheme (FCE Handbook p.28) and a copy
of each of the sample answers (FCE Handbook pp. 30-36, with the Marks awarded
comment blanked out). In a large class, give each student/pair one sample answer each,
otherwise give 2-3 answers to each student/pair. Go through the simplified mark
scheme in class and then ask them to read their sample answer and predict which mark
their answer would receive. Ask them to justify their answers, before telling them which
mark each was awarded.


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FCE Writing Overview Activity answer keys
Key to Students worksheet 1

Part 1 Part 2
1 How many questions do you have to
answer?
One One
2 How many questions can you choose
from?
One this is the
compulsory task
4 question 5 is the
set text question
3 What type of text should you write?

Letter or email Article, essay, letter,
report, review or story
(Q2-4),
Article, essay, letter,
report or review (Q5)
4 How many words are you allowed to
write?
120 150 words 120 180 words
5 Is there any extra information, apart
from the question, to help you write your
answer?

Yes candidates are
required to deal with
input material of up to
160 words. They
must include all
content points in their
answer, and expand
them where
appropriate with
relevant ideas and
information.
Yes input material is
specified in no more
than 70 words, and
should help students
determine the target
reader of the text and
the required register.











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Key to Students worksheet 2
Article:
Top teacher Tania!

Ill never forget the first day I met Tania. She looked at me and said, You must be Pablo.
You have beautiful eyes. I really felt that she was talking to me, and I knew my eyes were
shining with happiness. From that moment on, she was my favourite teacher.

The main purpose of an article is to interest and engage the reader, so there should be
some opinion or comment, and an eye-catching heading will help.
Email:
To: Sara Martins
Sent: 29
th
J uly

Subject: Restaurant

I just received your message and
An email is written in response to the situation outlined in the input material. Candidates
should be aware that they will be expected to write grammatically correct sentences with
accurate spelling and punctuation in a style suited to the situation and target reader.
Essay:
Its easy to claim that country life is better than city life, but a balanced approach must take
in both sides.

An essay is usually written for a teacher and may be written as a follow up to a class activity.
It should be well organised, with an introduction, clear development and an appropriate
conclusion. The main purpose of this task is the development of an argument and/or
discussion of issues surrounding a certain topic.

Letter:
Dear Andrew,

How are you doing?

This is an informal letter, which would be written to a known reader, e.g. a pen friend, and
would usually be intended to interest the reader in some way. A formal letter would be
written to an individual or an organisation, e.g. to apply for part-time work.



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Report:
Keeping healthy in Bratislava

This report includes advice on how to stay in top shape while living in Bratislava, with
practical suggestions on where to eat and where to do sport.

A report may be neutral or formal in style, but the style should be consistent. It should be
well-organised, with clear sections. Section headings can help to make the report easy to
read.
Review:
I recently went to the cinema to see a film. It was the best film I have ever seen

A review is usually written for an English language magazine, newspaper or website. The
main purpose is to describe and express a personal opinion about something which the
writer has experienced (e.g. a film, a product, a holiday, a website etc.).

Story:
Alice knew that it was going to be a very special day for her.
A short story is often written for a magazine; its immediate purpose would be to engage the
interest of the reader, so a strong beginning is important.
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FCE Writing Overview Activity Students Worksheet 1

How much do you know about the FCE Writing paper? There are two parts to the paper.
Your teacher will give you either a Part 1 or Part 2. Look at the exam paper and answer the
following questions:

1 How many questions do you have to answer?



2 How many questions can you choose from?

..

3 What type of text should you write?

......

4 How many words are you allowed to write?

..

5 Is there any extra information, apart from the question, to help you write your
answer?

.

Now compare your answers with a student who was looking at a different part. What are the
main differences between the two parts? Look at the table below, showing the different text
types that are found on the FCE Writing paper. Which of the following text types were on the
sample paper you looked at? Discuss this in pairs.

Part 1 Part 2

Letter
Email

Article
Essay
Letter
Report
Review
Story


In Part 1 the task is compulsory. The task might focus on advising, apologising, comparing,
describing, explaining, expressing opinions, justifying, persuading, recommending or
suggesting.
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FCE Writing Overview Activity Students Worksheet 2
In Part 2, you choose one task from questions 2-5. Question 5 has two options and is based
on one of two stories. (Only choose this task if you have studied one of the set texts in your
examination preparation). The focus of the task may include: advising, comparing,
describing, explaining, expressing opinions, justifying or recommending.
Look at the following. These extracts are all from the beginning of the seven different
types of written texts that you can expect to find in the FCE Writing paper. Match each one
to the type of text it introduces. Think about what helps you decide.
Article Email Essay Letter Report Review Story

Dear Andrew,
How are you doing?


Keeping healthy in Bratislava

This report includes advice on how to stay in top shape while living in Bratislava, with
practical suggestions on where to eat and where to do sport.

To: Sara Martins
Sent: 29
th
J uly

Subject: Restaurant

I just received your message and

Alice knew that it was going to be a very special day for her


Top teacher Tania!

Ill never forget the first day I met Tania. She looked at me and said, You must be Pablo.
You have beautiful eyes. I really felt that she was talking to me, and I knew my eyes were
shining with happiness. From that moment on, she was my favourite teacher.


I recently went to the cinema to see a film. It was the best film I have ever seen


Its easy to claim that country life is better than city life, but a balanced approach must take
in both sides.


UCLES 2009. This material may be photocopied (without alteration) and distributed for classroom use provided no charge is made. For further
information see our Terms of Use at http://www.teachers.cambridgeESOL.org/ts/legalinfo

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