Instructing, explaining and transforming information itis sometimes necessary to write instructions. Itis important that they are in adlear and logical order. instructions are often written in the imperative form. (You) Spread the mixture on a board ‘Sequencing words are often used to make instructions clearer e.g. then, next, afterwards, before, beforehand, first(ly), second(ly) etc. Exercise 1 Look at the pictures showing how to make a hollow painted egg. White instructions using the imperative form to tell someone how to do it. Use sequencing words. You may also use the words in the box. o ffthe white the yolk bow!Itis sometimes necessary to describe the steps in a process. These are often written in the passive form. An agent is not generally needed. ‘The mixture is spread on a board bysemeene. ‘Sequencing words are often used to make steps in a process clearer e.g, then, next, afterwards, before, beforehand, first(ly), second(ly) tc. Exercise2 Rewrite the steps for making a simple pot using the passive form where the verb is underlined. The first sentence has been done for you. How a simple pot is made People use clay to make pots. They dig the clay from the ground and put it ina shelter. They allow the clay to dry and then they putit through a grinder so that all the clay particles are the same size. Then they mix the clay with water until itis soft and can be shaped. They made the first pots over three millennia ago, They did this very simply. They took pieces of clay and rolled them into long sausage-shapes. Then they put each rollin a circle on top of another to build a ot. Once the pot was the right size, they put it into a kiln, or oven, to bake. Once they had finished the baking, they opened the kiln and there was the pot. Clay is used to make pote.Exercises @ Use the pictures to write a description of one way of making sak. Use the imperative where appropriate, and sequencing words. You may use the words in the box. aig shallow seawater evaporate There is a very simple and very ancient way of getting salt from the sea. Firstly,G Exercisen Think about a short journey to a place, for example, a shop, park or cinema, near your home or school. Write clear instructions for a friend, using the imperative form to tell him or her how to get from one place to the other. Begin your instructions with: When you leave the school, or When you leave my building,Expositions, giving more than one e point of view You may be asked to write an exposition (review) about abook, film or TV programme. This should include: * an outline of the story (main events) + who (the characters) * where and when (the place and the period) * highlights (things that are particularly good) * weaknesses (things that are not very good) * your opinion and recommendation. For the outline of the story itis useful to draw a ‘timeline’ and mark on the main events, For the characters, write down their name, their part or role, and some key adjectives to describe them, Put the letter of the events listed in the correct place on the timeline. beginning ending | i) J H (Abeautiful (She finds a princessis born.) spinning wheel inthe tower and pricks her finger onit.)‘A Aprince rides by and sees the castle. B_ Theaunt curses the princess that she will prick her finger and die. C__Theprincess and everyone in the castle fall asleep for 100 yecrs. D Everyone in the castle wakes up. E He enters the castle and finds everyone asleep. F He sees the princess, falls in love, and kisses her. G__Theprincess has a 16th birthday party. H She finds a spinning wheel in the tower and pricks her finger on it. 1 Agood fairy softens the curse—she will not die, but sleep for 100 years. J Abeautiful princess is born. K —Theking and queen hold a party—one aunt is not invited, L_ Theprince and princess get married and live happily ever after. M__ Theprincess wakes up and fallsin love with the prince. Bxercse2 Write the events from Exercise 1 into a paragraph giving an outline of the story. Add more details and link your sentences. (One day, a beautiful princess is born. Her parents are so delighted that theyExercise 3 Put these adjectives that describe character under the correct heading. Two of them have been done for you. ingpiring —dishoneot calm heroic cruel dashing deceitful evil fierce greedy vengefol considerate angry jealous kind resiient romantic Positive adjectives Negative adjectives resilient vengeful exercises Read the following sentences. Tick (/) the ones that give a positive opinion, and put a cross (X) against the ones that are negative. Underiine the words and expressions that express the opinions. The first one has been done for you. 1 Bytheend of the film, | was on the edge of my seat as it W) was so thrilling. 2. [had high expectations after seeing the first film, but the can sequel was a complete let-down, 3. Itwasan enthralling read and totally unputdownable.ive and too far-fetched to C ) 4 The action was repe be believable. 5 The book was dull and uninspiring. ¢( ) 6 Theplot was slow and rather predictable. c) 7 ttwas a well-paced and action-packed plot. ( ) 8 Thespecial effects were fantastic. GC) Brercises @ Read the review about the book ‘Jack Holborn’ by Leon Garfield. Number the paragraphs 1 to 4 in the correct order. Then match each paragraph with its function. Allin all, itis one of the best books | have ever read andi strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast-moving, action-packed adventures. Jacks a young boy with no home or family. In order to survive, he runs away to sea, but on his first voyage the ship he is working on is captured by pirates. Although Jack is terrified at first, he is very brave and is determined not to show his fear. The pirates make him work in the ship's kitchen urtil one day he meets the Captain of the pirates. Jack is confused by the Captain as he looks and seems a very kind and gentle person, not at all like a bloodthirsty pirate. The Captain makes a deal with Jack. He tells jack that if he saves the Coptain’s life three times, he will tell Jack about his family. Jack is so delighted, and puzzled, that someone knows something about his family that he immediately agrees. With this agreement, the exciting adventures start. ‘The best bits for me were the wonderful descriptions ofthe places Jock and the Captain went to and the fact that I could identify with the boy Jack. Sometimes, | found the language a bit difficult but overall, it was not a problem, and certainly did not put me off reading the book.This book is about a young boy called Jack Holborn who runs away to sea and has many adventures. Itis set in England and on the high seas in the late eighteenth century. Introduction Paragraph 1 Opinion and recommendation Paragraph 2 Storyline Paragraph 3 Strengths and weaknesses Paragraph 4 ‘You may be asked to write about a subject and to give either the positive or negative points about it, orto give both points of view about it. ‘There are two patterns for expositions like these: Pattern 1 Introduction—giving the topic in a thesis statement. All points or arguments for All points or arguments against Conclusion—including a summary of the main point(s) and your personal opinion Pattern 2 Introduction—giving the topicin a thesis statement First point or argument for + against Second point or argument for + against Conclusion—including a summary of the main point(s) and your personal opinion 2Use linking words such as Furthermore, Moreover and In addition to add similar points or arguments. Use linking words such as However, On the other hand, although, despite and Having said that to indicate other opinions or contradictory arguments. Remember to support opinions with examples and / or reasons. exercise Brainstorm the following propositions. Write down at least three arguments for and three arguments against. The first one has been done for you. 1. Young people should not be allowed to watch more than two hours of television a day. Arguments for Arguments against Not good for health to just eit | Good programmes can last and watch longer than two hours 2 Water in people's houses should be rationed, Arguments for Arguments against af3. Allschoolchildren should have to lear to play a musicalinstrument. Arguments for Arguments against | Exercise7 Draft the introductory paragraph for each of the propositions in Exercise 6. The first one has been done for you. been suggested that young people should not be allowed to watich more than two hours of television a day. However, there are ot. argumente for why this isa good suggestion, and why t leexercises Read the following paragraph giving all the arguments supporting the proposition about television-watching in Exercise 6 (Pattern 1). Add the linking words and phrases from the box to complete the paragraph. For example Furthermore 'n addition ft is argued One argument a for why more than two hours of watching television is inadvisable is that just sitting around watching programmesis bad for young people's health. (2) that if young people watched less television, they would be able to take part in more sporting activities. (3) many of the programmes today are rather stupid and meaningless. (4) , there are many programmes that are just about people living in a house together or on an island, and each week the public vote to remove a person they do not lke. © many programmes contain violence or abusive language and this is a bad model for young people. Exercise9 Use the points below to write a paragraph against the proposition about television-watching in Exercise 6. Use linking words and phrases. Give examples or reasons. Write about 80 words. * Young people watch TV in the evening—would not do sports at this time. + Many programmes are educational + Some good programmes last longer than two hours.Exercise 10 Read the following paragraph about the proposition about television-watching in Exercise 6. The arguments in this paragraph follow Pattern 2. Underline the argument for the proposition. Circle the linking expression that introduces an opposite argument. Draw a box around the argument against the proposition. It is argued that just sitting around watching television is bad for young people's health. However, most young people | know watch television in the evening after doing homework and having dinner with their family. This is not the time they ‘would be doing sports even if they did not have a television,Exercise! Write two paragraphs. Each paragraph should contain an argument for and an ‘argument against the proposition. Use linking words and phrases to show the points are contradictory. Write about 50 words for each paragraph. For proposition Against proposition | Programmes are stupid or contain _| Programmes are educational and violence informative ‘Two hours is enough watching Some programmes last longer than ‘two hours there might be two good programmes that together last more than two hours 7Itis important to write a concluding paragraph that accurately summarises the arguments in the essay, and expresses a logical opinion based on the arguments. Before writing your conclusion, read your essay again and ask Are there more / stronger arguments in favour? Are there more / stronger arguments against? Are there the same number of arguments for and against? Do the arguments reflect my personal opinion? Exercise 12 Read the following essay. Decide whether there are more arguments for or against the proposition or the same number for each. Put the number of ‘arguments in the blanks provided. Proposition: Young people should not be allowed to watch more than two hours ofttelevision a day. thas been suggested that young people should not be allowed to watch more than two hours of television a day. However, there are both arguments for why this is a good suggestion, and why it is not. (One argument for why more than two hours of watching television is inadvisable is that just sitting around watching programmes is bad for young people's health. Itis argued that if young people watched less television, they would be able to take part in more sporting activities. Furthermore, many of the programmes today are rather stupid and meaningless. For example, there aremany programmes that are just about people living in a house together or on anisland, and each week the public vote to remove a person they do not like. In ‘addition, many programmes contain violence or abusive languageand this is a bad model for young people. However, while watching too much television may be bad for young people's health, most young people | know only watch television in the evening after / This is not the time they doing homework and having dinner with their fami would be doing sports even if they did not have a television. Moreover, many Programmes are educational and informative. For example, there cre channels which show only geography or nature programmes. In addition, many good programmes, including, for instance, well-made and entertaining family films, last more than two hours. Exercise 13 Read the following concluding paragraphs to the essay in Exercise 12. 1 Whichis the best conclusion? 2 Whichisillogicalr 3 Whichis inaccurate? A In conclusion, itis clear that the arguments for restricting young people's television-watching are convincing. Children's health is affected by just sitting around, and a lot of the programmes are a waste of tie. | believe, therefore, that young people should be encouraged to watch a maximum of two hours of television a day. B _Inconclusion, itis clear that the arguments for restricting young people's television-watching are unconvincing. Children would not usually be00 exercising at the same time as they watch television and any of the programmes are educational. | believe, therefore, that yong people should be encouraged to watch a maximum of two hours of television a day. C__ Inconclusion, itis clear that neither the arguments for or against young people watching more than two hours of television are entirely convincing, I believe, therefore, that while young people's television-watching should not be restricted to two hours, they should be encouraged to choose what. they watch carefully, and to take up a sport or other active hobby as well @urther practice Exercise Choose a book or film that you have read or seen recently. Write a review about it. + Drawatimeline. * List the main characters and think of some adjectives to describe them, * Note where and when the story is set. * Note the things you liked most and the things you liked east. * Decide whether you would recommend the book and ta whom. Write at least 150 words.Exercises Choose one of the propositions and your arguments for and against it from Exercise 6. Decide ifyou are going to use Pattern 1 or Pattern 2 for your exposition. Write an essay of at least 150 words 101